Chapter 81: Registered Teacher
Chapter 81: Registered Teacher
Soon, Jiang Hanxing finished reciting his poem.
He then looked at Li Hao with a smug expression. "Young Master Li, what do you think of my poem?"
"Very moist."
Li Hao chuckled inwardly and replied dismissively.
Jiang Hanxing laughed. "Young Master Li's poem, though not quite fitting the current scenery, is still quite good."
You’re really full of yourself... Li Hao glanced at him. The Poetry Immortal's poem is considered good by you? Your face is really thick.
"Shall we do another one?"
As a literary plagiarist, Li Hao couldn't allow original works to be disrespected. He was determined to give Jiang Hanxing a lesson.
"Really?"
Jiang Hanxing's expression changed slightly, feeling a bit uneasy. "Another one? What topic this time?"
"You choose."
"Then... how about a waterfall?"
"Waterfall?"
Li Hao smiled.
You’re really asking for it.
"Fine."
Li Hao agreed immediately, then paused his brush and recited "Viewing the Lushan Waterfall" with ease.
When he recited the lines, "The waterfall plunges three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way had fallen from the ninth heaven", Jiang Hanxing was stunned, his face full of astonishment and his eyes wide open.
He hadn't found the previous poem particularly impressive, but this one was spot-on. He could almost see the image of a waterfall rushing down in his mind.
"The Milky Way falling from the ninth heaven—what a majestic and ethereal phrase!"
Seeing Jiang Hanxing stunned, Li Hao smiled faintly. There were plenty of ancient poems describing waterfalls, and he had initially considered using Du Fu's, but it was better to let the Poetry Immortal himself handle it.
Jiang Hanxing had wanted to try again but suddenly found himself at a loss.
It seemed that this poem had captured the essence of waterfalls perfectly.
Even though the poem wasn’t composed on the spot by Li Hao but was a well-known classic, it still showed Li Hao’s talent.
Composing a poem on the spot was just talk; they were ultimately martial artists, not scholars who spent their days searching for beauty in books!
"Your poem, Young Master Li, I am truly convinced." Jiang Hanxing bowed in admiration.
"Good to hear."
Seeing this, Li Hao picked up his brush again and continued painting.
"Born in the Divine General Manor, you have such profound skills in both poetry and painting. Don’t the elders in your manor manage you?" Jiang Hanxing couldn't help but ask curiously.
"Of course they do."
"Then how come..."
"They just can’t control me."
"..."
Jiang Hanxing was speechless, then couldn't help but laugh, feeling that he had truly met a remarkable person.
This was Jiang Hanxing's first conversation with Li Hao, and he would remember it vividly for years to come.
Li Hao ignored Jiang Hanxing and continued painting.
Seeing Li Hao's focused expression, Jiang Hanxing didn't disturb him and quietly left.
...
...
The next day.
Before Li Hao could go to the Cold Pool to paint the Water Qilin, Shen Yunqing called him to the Tan Palace.
Hearing the two conditions Song Yufeng had given him, Li Hao was a bit taken aback but didn’t hesitate, choosing to become a Registered Teacher.
Staying for a year was too long.
However, he had one condition: Song Yufeng and all the elders of the Tan Palace had to help him with something.
That was to pose for him.
In modern terms, it meant being a model.
Hearing Li Hao's peculiar request, Song Yufeng was a bit surprised, but since it was a minor matter, he didn't refuse and agreed immediately, considering it just a quirk of the Li Family genius.
As a Registered Teacher, he would need to teach three classes each year. If he missed any, they would accumulate and be carried over to the next year.
The term for a Registered Teacher was ten years, totaling thirty classes, which was relatively light.
Seemingly anticipating Li Hao’s choice, Song Yufeng also informed him that the disciples he would teach were not from the Alpha Court but from the Black and White Hall.
Li Hao didn’t pay much attention to this. After all, he only cared about teaching; whether anyone listened or who listened didn’t matter to him.
Seeing Li Hao agree so readily, a smile appeared at the corner of Song Yufeng’s mouth. Both the old and the young had gotten what they wanted, and the cooperation was very pleasant.
Leaving Tan Palace, Li Hao was about to head to Cold Pool when he suddenly saw Li Yuanzhao approaching.
“Hao Ge, Miss Wushuang is back.”
Li Yuanzhao said to Li Hao, “Mother said that a family banquet will be held tonight to welcome Miss Wushuang. She wants us to return early.”
“Ah?”
Li Hao was momentarily taken aback. After a moment’s thought, an image of a lively little girl popped into his mind.
Years ago, Fifth Lady had tearfully watched her leave with a venerable old man.
Now, had that little girl returned after completing her studies?
Thinking of this, Li Hao couldn’t help but think of the little tail in the Sword Hut, nine thousand miles to the south.
Shaking his head, Li Hao said to Li Yuanzhao, “It’s still early. I’ll take a walk around and arrive just in time.”
Li Hao didn’t have much feeling for that little girl, especially since the Li Yun siblings had deliberately kept their distance from him over the years, and he had seen Fifth Lady less often.
“Uh, should we prepare any gifts in advance?” Li Yuanzhao asked.
He had only a faint memory of Miss Wushuang, but over the years, he had heard many stories about her, knowing she was one of the best of their generation.
Of course, she couldn’t compare to Li Hao now.
“True.”
After all, it had been years since he last saw his cousin. Li Hao thought for a moment and said, “I don’t know what she likes, but she must enjoy eating. Go to Hongxiang Tower and buy a crispy roasted goose, and to Cuihu Academy for a plate of bamboo-scented ink liver… make sure they’re hot, and bring them to the banquet.”
Li Hao listed seven or eight famous delicacies from Qingzhou City, all of which he had personally tasted and found delicious.
Li Yuanzhao was taken aback. “Is that all? But these aren’t very expensive, and the total cost isn’t much.”
“We’re not short of money, and a small gift can carry a lot of sentiment. These delicacies, she probably hasn’t tasted while traveling. As for other things, she probably doesn’t lack them,” Li Hao said.
Li Yuanzhao thought it over. Miss Wushuang was a disciple of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, taught personally by a master. What could she possibly be lacking?
Cultivation techniques? She could pick them from Rain Listening Pavilion.
Weapons? She could find them in the armory.
As for gold, silver, and other vulgar items, she would most likely not even give them a glance.
“Alright, I’ll buy what Hao Ge said.”
Li Yuanzhao agreed.
After he left, Li Hao picked up his Painting Board and headed to Cold Pool.
He set up the Painting Board and dipped his hand into the pool water, stirring it.
Sure enough, a shadow suddenly surged up, splashing water everywhere.
Li Hao quickly returned to the Painting Board and said, “Elder Qiumo, please stay like this.”
Song Qiumo revealed her Water Qilin form, which was quite majestic. She had intended to transform, but upon hearing Li Hao’s words, she stopped and condensed the surrounding water droplets in the air, keeping them static.
Li Hao picked up his brush and quickly sketched, soon completing a picture of the Water Qilin emerging from the water.
“Done.”
As Li Hao finished speaking, Song Qiumo controlled the water droplets to retract back into the pool. She then stepped forward, her form shifting into a human-like appearance, and she moved her bare white feet to stand before Li Hao’s Painting Board.
“Hmm, not bad.”
Seeing the image on the Painting Board, Song Qiumo’s eyes sparkled, and a delighted expression appeared on her face.
Was her pose upon emerging really that beautiful?
She turned her head to look at Li Hao, smiling sweetly, "What do you think of my outfit today?"
Li Hao glanced over and saw her in a light blue silk dress, the same one from yesterday, but now she was wearing obvious silver bracelets and chains on her hands and feet, which sparkled in the light.
Do women really love shiny things... Li Hao smiled and said, "You look very beautiful."
Song Qiumo shot him a glance and said, "Then you draw me."
"Alright."
Li Hao immediately focused and began to draw.
Indeed, today’s Song Qiumo, adorned with jewelry, looked even more ethereal and radiant.
By the time he finished the drawing, he had gained an additional hundred points of Art Dao experience.
Clearly, these accessories were no ordinary items.
"Hmm, not bad."
Song Qiumo nodded slightly, but the joy and satisfaction in her eyes were unmistakable.
Li Hao smiled and then asked her to change her pose for another drawing.
Time passed slowly.
By the Cold Pool, Li Hao had already drawn over ten portraits of Song Qiumo.
Among them, he had also drawn her in her true form for about seven or eight of them.
In total, he had gained over four thousand experience points, bringing his total to nearly twenty thousand, including yesterday’s.
Li Hao had noticed yesterday that drawing Song Qiumo yielded more experience than drawing Second Uncle and the others.
Of course, he didn’t think it was because Second Uncle and the others had lower cultivation. It was probably because they usually kept their auras restrained, so he couldn’t capture their essence in his drawings.
In contrast, Song Qiumo didn’t hold back her aura, which was powerful and vibrant, making his drawings more impressive.
It seemed he would need to find Second Uncle and the others to draw them again... Li Hao thought to himself.
A Fourth Establishment Realm cultivator was worth over twenty thousand experience points. Second Uncle, Wind Uncle, and Fifth Master together were worth sixty thousand.
He had only managed to draw around five thousand experience points from each of them, thinking he had reached the limit.
It seemed he would need to talk to them and ask them to reveal their true strength... Li Hao mused, but he knew Second Uncle would be hard to persuade. He would need to prepare his favorite Stewed Chicken with Mushrooms.
"That’s enough for today." Li Hao glanced at the sky, which was already getting late, and said to Song Qiumo.
Song Qiumo held the numerous sheets of drawing paper, beaming with joy, and said, "If you ever need help with anything, just come to me. As long as I don’t leave this Tan Palace, I can basically assist you."
"Elder Qiumo, are you trapped here?" Li Hao was surprised.
Song Qiumo shook her head slightly, not elaborating, and said, "See you next time."
With that, she dove back into the Cold Pool with a perfect splash.
Seeing this, Li Hao packed up his Painting Board and headed home.
As Li Hao made his way down the mountain and passed by Alpha Court, he noticed that Li Yun and his sister were already gone, but the other Alpha Academy disciples were still practicing. Some of them saw Li Hao and called out in surprise.
Soon, the others also noticed Li Hao and all turned to look at him.
Li Hao smiled and waved, acknowledging them, then quickly left to avoid being bombarded with questions.
At the foot of the mountain, Li Hao rode his horse back to the estate.
As he approached the main gate, he could sense that the atmosphere inside the estate was lively, with the guards smiling.
Seeing Li Hao, the guards all bowed in greeting.
Li Hao returned to the Mountain and River Courtyard and learned from Old Zhao that Uncle Fu had sent word from Cangyu City, saying his injuries were almost healed and he would be returning tomorrow.
Old Zhao also presented a gift box to Li Hao, saying, "Young Master, today, Miss Li Wushuang from Snowfall Hall has returned home. The First Lady has prepared a family banquet and invited you to attend. This is a gift I prepared on my own initiative. You can take it with you to the banquet."
(End of Chapter)
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