Chapter 84: Bringing Up Old Memories

After Li Xuanli arrived, he first gave a respectful bow to Elder Lady He Jianlan. Then, he greeted each of the other ladies in turn, nodded warmly to the younger siblings, and finally sat down with a smile.

"Shuang'er," he said, "how’s your cultivation progress in the Qianji Sect? I heard you’ve made it to the Qian Rank. Impressive."

Hearing her father’s praise, Li Wushuang remained calm, her expression unchanged. But beside her, Li Yun’s eyes sparkled with pride, and Li Zhinin gazed at her elder sister with wide, shining eyes—as if she’d already come to see her as a role model.

"Only at the very bottom," Li Wushuang replied honestly. "If I could match Ninth Uncle’s feat—stepping into the Qian Rank and winning the Champion title in one leap, that would be truly formidable."

There was no boastfulness in her words—just simple truth.

Hearing her mention the Ninth Uncle, Li Xuanli’s expression flickered slightly. His smile dimmed, as if veiled by a shadow.

That once-bright, meteoric figure—just as Emperor Yu had said fourteen years ago—had been a fallen star. A light extinguished. A wound that never healed.

Though they were nine brothers, not counting the sisters, they had once been inseparable, united as one. But after marrying and settling into their own lives, they gradually drifted apart.

Once, they’d trained together in the courtyard, eaten together, laughed and played together, even sneaked away to avoid their father’s scolding.

Time had slipped by like sand through fingers.

The summer frogs that once chorused in the courtyard—now silent.

Noticing the atmosphere had grown quiet, Li Wushuang realized her mistake. She shouldn’t have reopened that old wound. A faint flush crept across her cheeks, and she fell silent.

Li Xuanli snapped back from his thoughts, noticing his daughter’s quietness. He realized he’d let his emotions color the moment. He chuckled lightly, brushing it off with easy grace.

"Want to rival your Ninth Uncle? You’re still too young. He was seventeen when he ascended to the Heavenly Human Master Stage. He stormed through the ranks, challenged the world’s elite at the Fengxian Platform outside Qingzhou City, and no one dared answer his challenge. He left them all broken."

As he spoke of those days, a warm smile returned to his face—nostalgia for a time when they’d still believed in the sky above them. When they still had a father, an elder brother, a future.

They’d roamed freely, drinking under the stars, riding horses across the Nineteen Provinces.

But then the sky fell.

Their father’s soul had returned to the Meh River, trapped—unable to rest, unable to return to the Li Clan’s Ancestral Hall, unable to be reborn.

And with the sky gone, so too had gone their carefree days.

They stopped wandering. They began to cultivate with fierce determination.

They took up the burden of the clan—guarding the border, charging into battlefields, slaying demons and purging evil.

The other ladies in the hall listened quietly, their eyes distant. That era had been the most innocent time for many of them—just after they’d married into the Li household, when love was fresh, and their husbands were still full of fire and promise.

Li Wushuang’s eyes filled with longing. Her father’s few words had painted in her mind a towering figure—invincible, unchallenged. Her Ninth Uncle. The man she’d been taught to admire since childhood, the one source of pride and joy in her heart.

To challenge the world—just the sheer audacity of it—how many could even dream of such a thing?

Li Hao, however, sighed inwardly. What a prodigy. And what a tragedy—so young, so brilliant, gone too soon.

"Come on, the food’s getting cold," said He Jianlan at last, the most level-headed of them all. She smiled gently, pulling everyone back to the present.

The others chuckled, and everyone resumed eating.

"Good dishes," Li Xuanli said, savoring a bite. "Shuang'er, you haven’t been home in ages. Try this Bamboo-Scented Ink Dragon Liver—it’s just as good as it was over a decade ago. I haven’t tasted it in years."

"Oh?" Li Wushuang, usually so composed, showed a rare hint of curiosity. Her expression softened into a childlike interest as she picked up her chopsticks and took a careful bite.

"Mm… it really is good," she admitted, grinning slightly.

Li Xuanli turned to his eldest wife with a warm smile. "You’ve been thoughtful, Madam Da. This Bamboo-Scented Ink Dragon Liver from the Cuihu Courtyard is truly the finest in Qingzhou. I’d almost forgotten what it tasted like."

He Jianlan smiled faintly, glancing at Li Hao, who was quietly eating. "It wasn’t me who prepared it. It was Hao’er and Yuanzhao who bought it. They said Shuang'er had been away so long—she mustn’t have tasted Qingzhou’s finest dishes. So they went out and got them especially."

Li Xuanli blinked in surprise, turning to Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao. "You two bought it?"

Li Hao looked up at him, respectful. He had great admiration for this Fifth Uncle—warrior of the battlefield, a man of honor. He nodded.

Li Yuanzhao grinned. "Fifth Uncle, Hao’er’s got a real taste for food. Those dishes you just ate? All his idea. He told me to get them. There are more coming—wait and see!"

"Ah?" Li Xuanli raised an eyebrow. He remembered Li Hao—the seventh son of Qingqing, the only child of his sister. He’d attended the Hundred-Day Celebration back then.

Lately, he’d heard the boy had been a Wasted Body, his meridians sealed. But somehow, he’d opened them again—maybe Second Uncle had found a way to help him. At any rate, he could now cultivate once more.

Still… it was a shame. The delay in Foundation Establishment and Blood Melting had inevitably weakened his potential. And with such a late start, years lost to stagnation—how could he catch up?

Thinking of this, Li Xuanli’s expression softened.

"Hao’er, you’ve been thoughtful. I heard your father is returning soon. Yanbei’s war affairs have concluded, and the report has been submitted to the Imperial Court. You’ll see him soon."

He turned to his daughter. "Shuang'er, why don’t you thank Hao’er? This gesture means just as much as any gift."

Li Hao felt a stir in his heart. The Fifth Uncle hadn’t arrived until the end, yet his words carried weight—clearly, he’d already sensed everything through his Divine Awareness.

He felt a deep respect. This man was wise, discerning.

For his sake, Li Hao let go of any lingering annoyance. He played it cool—pretending not to notice, casually glancing at Li Wushuang. She’d likely feel awkward.

But on the other side, Li Wushuang’s expression darkened at her mother’s words. Then, when her father said it aloud, her stomach twisted. The dragon liver in her mouth suddenly felt heavy, greasy—almost unbearable.

She glanced at Li Hao, who was now calmly reaching for another dish. He wasn’t waiting. He wasn’t even looking at her.

To her, that indifference felt like arrogance.

Coldly, she pushed her half-eaten portion of dragon liver onto the table, switching to another dish.

"Dad," she said, voice firm, "I already thanked him. And honestly—I don’t like this liver. Too greasy."

Li Xuanli froze. His chopsticks slammed down. His face darkened.

"Shuang'er! I’ve taught you since childhood—be honest, be open-hearted. You’ve just returned. What’s this grudge against Hao’er? Because he gave you an Elixir?"

He no longer hid his awareness.

His anger silenced the table. Everyone stopped eating. Gao Qingqing, who knew her husband’s nature, felt a pang of confusion. Shuang'er had never been like this before.

But the moment was tense. If she forced her daughter to apologize now, in front of everyone, it might wound her pride.

He Jianlan stepped in gently. "Xuanli, Shuang'er’s just returned. Don’t be so harsh. Shuang'er, is there something you’re holding against Hao’er?"

Li Wushuang felt a surge of hurt. She’d just come home—hadn’t even had a proper reunion with her father—and now he was scolding her over some outsider?

She bit her lip, eyes flashing at Li Hao. "Ask him yourself. While I was away, he bullied my younger brother. Dad, you’ve been meditating on the Recovery Mountain—you didn’t know."

"Ah?" Li Xuanli stiffened. Bullied his child?

Li Yun paled instantly, his hands trembling.

When Li Wushuang had first returned, the three siblings had plenty to catch up on. When she’d casually asked, “Have you been treated badly lately?” Li Yun had seized the chance—telling her about how Li Hao had once beaten him up.

It was something he’d never tell his mother—it felt too shameful. But with his elder sister? It felt like finding a protector.

He’d wanted to stand up to Li Hao himself—but every time he saw him, fear gripped his chest.

Now, Li Wushuang remembered the name. She’d made a mental note: find a chance to settle the score.

So this was the truth?

Li Hao felt a wave of disbelief. He glanced at Li Yun—still red-faced, nervous. He hadn’t realized the boy still held a grudge.

But then—had he really hit him that hard? Or had he hit him too lightly?

"Yun’er," Gao Qingqing asked sharply, "when was this?"

Li Yun, overwhelmed by so many elders staring at him, lowered his head. "A few years ago..."

"Exactly how long?"

"Five or six years ago..."

The room fell silent. Then laughter broke out—soft at first, then louder.

Five or six years ago?

At that time, Li Hao and Li Yun were only eight or nine. This was nothing more than childish squabbles—hardly bullying.

Besides, Li Hao had been a Wasted Body back then—meridians unopened, no cultivation at all.

While Li Yun had already trained for years in the Training Ground.

Wait… that doesn’t make sense.

Everyone exchanged puzzled glances, turning to Li Hao, then to Li Yun.

Gao Qingqing exhaled. Thank goodness. Not what I thought.

Most likely just a fight over a petty argument—nothing serious. The injuries probably weren’t even as bad as those from sparring in the Training Ground.

"You foolish child," she scolded, "that was ages ago. Why are you still carrying it around? Why go telling your sister?"

She shook her head. Her son was good-hearted, but too sensitive—lacking the broad-mindedness and generosity of his father.

The other ladies chuckled.

Liu Yuerong laughed. "Yun’er, Hao’er wasn’t even cultivating back then. So tell us—was you bullying him, or was it the other way around?"

The joke was light—but Li Hao instantly sensed a hint of testing in her tone.

Maybe he was just imagining things.

Li Yun turned even redder. He felt embarrassed. But he had been honest.

"I was careless," he mumbled. "He attacked me from behind. And his strength… it was too much."

The room erupted in laughter. Of course—Li Hao had been a Body Cultivator, his strength naturally far greater.

Seeing Li Yun’s flushed face, everyone understood. The boy was ashamed.

He’d trained hard in the Training Ground, yet had been bested by a boy with no cultivation at all. To admit it? It felt like a failure.

And now, he’d told his long-absent sister—only to expose his own humiliation.

"Hmph. Isn’t it obvious?" Li Yuanzhao sneered. "You’ve just been obsessed with Hao’er’s fiancée all this time."

He didn’t finish. His mother shot him a sharp glance—three silent words in her eyes: Shut up.

Li Xuanli finally understood. It was a misunderstanding.

He glared at Li Yun. "Useless child! Such a small thing, and you go running to your sister? A man of seven feet tall—want to settle it? Go spar with Hao’er in the Training Ground. Wailing for parents here won’t do you any good!"

His words stung. Li Yun sank even lower, face burning with shame.

Gao Qingqing shot her husband a look. "You don’t have to humiliate him like that."

She turned to Li Hao. "By the way, Hao’er—when’s your fiancée returning? She’s studied under the Sword Saint. When she comes back, have her spar with Shuang’er. Let them compare."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end