https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-266-Severing-the-Bonds-of-Affection/13450398/
Chapter 267: Impeaching the True Dragon
Chapter 267: Impeaching the True Dragon
Li Hao stood up, tidied himself, and then set off with the Candlelight Deity and Xiyan to the Li Family Divine General Manor.
This time, he was here to retrieve his Imperial Decree of Appointment and the Official Seal, among other items.
According to Master Son, the couple was unwilling to hand them over. Since that was the case, he had no choice but to come and fetch them himself.
Standing once again before the grand and imposing Divine General Manor, Li Hao lifted his head slightly and gazed at the large, gilded characters. Memories of the past flashed through his mind, but they gradually sank into the depths of his heart.
Upon receiving the news of Li Hao's arrival, the Divine General Manor was instantly abuzz with excitement. He Jianlan and others personally came to the gate to greet him.
Li Hao explained the reason for his visit, and the glimmer of hope and tension in He Jianlan's heart quickly faded into disappointment.
He Jianlan invited Li Hao to the Changchun Courtyard, treating him like a distinguished guest. With her fair, delicate hands, she personally brewed tea for Li Hao and then ordered someone to notify Li Tiangang at the Mountain and River Courtyard to bring Li Hao's belongings.
Upon hearing that Li Hao had come, the other Madams in the manor also hurried over. They knew that this young man's departure today might mean a long time before they saw him again, perhaps even many years.
The usually serene Changchun Courtyard suddenly became lively.
The news reached the Mountain and River Courtyard, where Li Tiangang, who had spent the entire night kneeling in the Ancestral Hall, had just returned.
Last night, he had intended to visit the ancestral shrine and then check on the military situation in Qingzhou. However, once he entered the Ancestral Hall, he never left.
He dared not hide anything from the ancestral spirits and reported everything truthfully.
He did not defend himself but objectively narrated the events, knowing that he was indeed at fault. His face was marked with sorrow and regret as he spoke.
The many heroic ancestral spirits of the Li Family were both shocked and enraged, but ultimately, they felt a deep sense of sorrow.
They found it hard to believe that such a prodigy of the Li Family had been driven out by his own parents.
In the dark of night, furious roars were muffled behind the doors of the Ancestral Hall.
The cries of anger and sorrow were buried in the darkness.
Only Li Qingzheng, sitting outside the Ancestral Hall, heard them. He leaned against a peach tree just beginning to bloom, with a few peach petals scattered on the ground. Beside him were several jars of wine he had brought back from the Cloudy Mist Tower.
He drank alone.
He heard every word of the ancestors' anger, but he felt no satisfaction, nor any stirring of emotion. His heart was like a still, lifeless lake.
He gazed at the bright moon, at the warm lights of the various courtyards in the Divine General Manor, which stood in stark contrast to the darkness.
There were thousands of lights, but the most precious one was missing.
The wine flowed down his throat and slowly seeped from his eyes.
At that moment, Li Tiangang, who had just dragged his weary body back to the Mountain and River Courtyard, saw his wife still sitting in the hall, looking exhausted and as if she hadn't slept all night. His heart ached.
But before he could sit down, he received a message from the Changchun Courtyard.
Upon learning that Li Hao had come, he felt a surge of joy, but when he heard that Li Hao was there to retrieve the Official Seal and the imperial decree, his joy was instantly extinguished, replaced by a deep, tearing pain.
He immediately headed for the Changchun Courtyard.
When Ji Qingqing heard the news, her numb, hollow eyes snapped back to life, and her dry eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
She quickly stood up and flew toward the Changchun Courtyard.
In the Changchun Courtyard, Li Yuanzhao, Li Wushuang, and others rushed over upon hearing the news. They watched the young man surrounded by the elders, a scene that seemed familiar but was now more heartfelt than ever.
Li Hao chatted and laughed with He Jianlan and the others. They asked about his future plans.
Li Hao only smiled and said that he planned to travel and explore, to see the mountains and rivers and the landscapes of various places.
Since he was in this world, he naturally wanted to see if it met his expectations.
Hearing Li Hao's words, Li Xiaoran, sitting on a rooftop outside the hall, felt a bitter smile tug at the corners of his mouth.
If that young man were still part of the Li Family, he would feel a sense of nostalgia, remembering the days when he, too, had traveled the land, incognito, defeating various martial sects.
But he had a home to return to, a place to call his own.
As for that young man, wherever he went, that would be his home.
The soft whispers inside the hall were soon interrupted by two swift arrivals. Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing arrived one after the other, landing in the courtyard.
Li Xiaoran, standing on the eaves, reined in the bitter smile at the corner of his mouth.
The whispers inside the hall seemed to fall silent, and everyone's gaze fell on Li Tiangang. He Jianlan's gaze lowered, and she saw that Li Tiangang's hands were empty. Her expression changed slightly, and she said:
"Tian Gang, where are Li Hao's belongings?"
Li Tiangang seemed not to hear her and walked straight into the hall. His eyes seemed to focus only on the young man sitting there.
The pain in his chest burned like a fierce fire, a sharp blade piercing his heart. He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and said:
"What do you want from me and your mother to forgive us?"
Li Hao frowned slightly and said, "I've already told you, we have nothing to do with each other. Don't claim to be my parents anymore. Please show some respect."
"Your mother had no choice. Do you expect me to give you my life right now?!"
Li Tiangang said through gritted teeth.
Li Hao's frown deepened, and his eyes grew colder.
"I've said it before, the past is the past. From now on, mountains are mountains, and seas are seas. You are you, and I am I. Isn't that clear enough?"
"Do you know how much we've suffered these past days? Your mother cries every day, filled with regret. We are in pain too!"
Li Tiangang's eyes were red, and beneath his thick brows, a mix of sorrow and anger welled up.
"..."
Li Hao looked at him calmly, realizing that this man was still the same as ever. Even in his regret and sorrow, he had never truly listened.
But fortunately, he no longer felt any waves of emotion.
Since he wouldn't listen, there was no point in speaking further. He picked up his teacup and took a sip.
Seeing the tension rise, He Jianlan became agitated and stood up, saying, "Tian Gang, why are you saying these things here? No matter how much you suffer, is it as much as Li Hao, who almost died several times?"
Li Tiangang's expression changed, his eyes filled with sorrow. "But what can we do?"
He Jianlan, her teeth gritted, said, "Isn't Li Hao's message clear enough? He has nothing to do with you anymore. He came here to claim his glory, the merit he earned in Liangzhou. Did you bring it?"
Hearing the stern words of this elder sister-in-law, Li Tiangang's heart trembled, and the sorrow in his eyes deepened.
He looked up at He Jianlan, then at Li Hao, who was sipping tea and remained silent, and said through gritted teeth:
"Since you've cut ties and let go of the past, why did you come here?"
Li Hao put down his teacup, his expression as calm as water, and said:
"Because I let go, I came."
Hearing this, He Jianlan and the others felt a sharp pain in their hearts, knowing that this young man had truly let go.
But it also made them feel even more distant from him.
Li Tiangang's face was grim. "Do you want me to beg? I'll beg you in public. Will you come back if I do?"
He Jianlan's face changed, and she angrily said, "Is this how you beg someone?"
Li Hao shook his head slightly, signaling He Jianlan to calm down. He turned to Li Tiangang and said seriously:
"Stop entangling me. You claim to follow the law, so if I'm no longer a member of the Li Family, then what justification do you have for keeping my official seal and imperial edict?"
Li Tiangang's face was hard to read. His mood was extremely complex. He could analyze the matters of the battlefield clearly, but these family affairs left him in a mess.
Deep down, he knew that if he handed those things to Li Hao, it would be the final break.
"Child..."
Ji Qingqing stepped forward, her face covered in tears, wanting to plead.
But when Li Hao saw her tear-streaked face, his brow furrowed, and he stood up, saying, "Forget it. If you won't give them to me, I don't want them."
He then turned to He Jianlan and the others, looked around, and bowed.
"Junior Hao Tian, farewell, esteemed seniors. Thank you for your past kindness. If we meet again, it will be by chance."
He then bowed deeply to He Jianlan and walked past Li Tiangang and his wife, heading for the door.
"Stop!"
Li Tiangang said urgently.
"Li Hao!"
Ji Qingqing, filled with sorrow, rushed forward but was stopped by a power barrier—Li Hao's Dao Domain.
Li Hao didn't stop. He walked until he saw a hunched figure at the door, and his cold expression softened. He said softly:
"Old Zhao, why didn't you come last night? I was waiting to offer you a toast."
The butler, Old Zhao, lowered his head and wiped away his tears, forcing a smile. "Young Master, the old servant had many duties and couldn't attend the banquet. Please forgive me."
Li Hao had guessed the reason and wasn't offended. He smiled and said:
"I'm no longer the Young Master of Mountain and River Courtyard. Call me kid from now on."
Old Zhao slowly shook his head. "You will always be my Young Master."
Li Hao's lips moved, and seeing the sincerity in Old Zhao's eyes, he didn't correct him. He raised his hand and summoned a Demon King Heart from the Heavenly Earth Space.
"This demon heart can be used as medicine, with effects to extend life and improve the body. Please take it."
"Young Master, the old servant doesn't deserve such a treasure..." Old Zhao quickly refused.
Li Hao handed it directly to him and said, "It's not a treasure. I find it too pungent for cooking anyway. I have plenty of these, and if I run out, I can just slay a few more."
Butler Zhao was instantly choked up. This boy hadn't changed; he always treated things everyone chased after as trivial, while placing great importance on ordinary matters.
"Child..."
Li Hao patted Old Zhao's shoulder, thinking of how Li Fu had died in Liangzhou. A sigh of regret escaped his lips, and he didn't say any more.
As he stepped out the door, he saw Li Xiaoran on the eaves of the opposite building. He nodded to him and smiled slightly.
He bid farewell to this Master Son, who had fought alongside him in Mourning River.
Li Xiaoran only nodded slightly, his emotions restrained, showing no visible thoughts on his face.
When Li Hao reached the steps, Li Yuanzhao and Li Jianming rushed over from the courtyard, but before they could speak, a series of Golden Lights suddenly swooped in from a distance.
It turned out these Golden Lights were numerous Li Family Ancestors, rushing over from the Ancestral Hall.
The leading Golden Light was tall and robust, his Divine Soul several times larger than other Heroic Souls. It was none other than Li Tianyuan, the Li Family Ancestor.
Seeing so many Ancestors arrive, everyone in the courtyard was taken aback and hurriedly knelt to pay their respects.
The various Servant Maids around the courtyard, hearing the Young Masters and Misses' calls, were also taken aback and quickly knelt down.
"Ancestor?"
He Jianlan and others inside the hall rushed out upon hearing the news. When they saw Li Tianyuan, they were all shocked and hurriedly knelt to pay their respects.
Ji Qingqing and Li Tiangang, who were inside the house, also saw this and their faces changed. They quickly knelt down.
In an instant, only one figure remained standing: Li Hao.
Facing the dozens of Li Family Ancestral Heroic Souls, Li Hao was somewhat surprised.
"Child."
Li Tianyuan looked at Li Hao with gentle eyes and said softly, "I have heard about your situation. It's your parents who have wronged you. Although we have disciplined them, we cannot replace them in making amends. However, could you consider staying in the Li Family for the sake of the others?"
Li Hao's expression was calm, his face like a clear breeze. "I have not forgotten the kindness of the Li Family elders. No matter where we are, we can still meet and gather. There's no need to be bound by whether we are in the Li Family. I hope you understand."
Upon hearing these words, the faces of Li Tianyuan and the other Ancestral Heroic Souls changed. Some looked sad, while others sighed inwardly, knowing that the child had severed his blood ties and couldn't be persuaded back with just a few words.
They had come here in a last-ditch effort.
"Your father made a mistake. Although he has achieved much outside, he has been tyrannical and biased within. From today onward, he will be deprived of his True Dragon Position."
Li Tianyuan said softly.
As these words echoed, the courtyard fell silent. Everyone was shocked, never expecting Li Tiangang's True Dragon Position to be personally revoked by the Ancestor.
In the past, only the gravest offenses and sins would prompt the Ancestor to personally intervene and strip a True Dragon of their position. Li Tiangang had fought in Yanbei and defended Liangzhou, achieving significant accomplishments, yet he was being deprived of his True Dragon Position.
But everyone understood that, as the Ancestor had said, while he had achieved much outside, forcing Li Hao out of the Divine General Manor was a stain on his character that could not be erased.
Inside the hall, Ji Qingqing was stunned and looked at her husband.
Li Tiangang, however, looked sad, not surprised, as if he had expected it.
At the entrance of the hall, Li Hao's expression remained calm, unchanged.
As he had said, he had let it go, which was why he had come.
Therefore, whatever decision the Li Family made was of no consequence to him.
"Although you no longer have the Li Family blood, if you are willing, I can announce an exception and make you the True Dragon of the Li Family. The Li Family will spare no resources to help you advance in cultivation and reach the Enlightenment Realm!"
Li Tianyuan looked at Li Hao with a serious expression.
The other Li Family Ancestors, who had already known the Patriarch's decision, looked at the young man standing alone with hopeful eyes.
Inside the hall, He Jianlan, Gao Qingqing, and Li Xuanli were all shocked. They were surprised by the Ancestor's decision to revoke Li Tiangang's True Dragon Position, but they could understand it. However, breaking the rules to let Li Hao, who no longer had Li Family blood, become the True Dragon of the Li Family was an unprecedented move!
For a moment, they all looked at Li Hao, their eyes filled with hope and expectation.
(End of Chapter)
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