Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 351

Volume 3 - Chapter 73: The Silk of Sentiments – Part 2

Song Qiumo’s eyes flickered slightly before she broke into laughter. This young man was just as eccentric and unique as ever! "Uncle Liu..."

Li Hao suddenly called out and waved toward a small shop on the street. From behind a creaking door, an old man peeked out cautiously, as if still uncertain whether the demons had truly been eradicated.

Hearing Li Hao’s call, the middle-aged couple inside the shop hesitated briefly before cautiously stepping out. The husband gave Li Hao a puzzled look, but before he could speak, Li Hao smiled and said, "Could you make two servings of Cotton Jade Crisp for me?"

The couple exchanged unsure glances, likely recalling the rumors about the Li family, but in the end, they didn’t dare ask further questions. After all, other than that young master, many young men and women around here addressed them in a similar way.

"Not planning to set up shop today..." the middle-aged man muttered.

Li Hao looked a bit disappointed but replied, "Alright then." Song Qiumo’s eyes flickered, but she remained silent.

However, the man suddenly tensed up as if hearing something alarming. His gaze darted toward Li Hao with an apprehensive look, his body slightly trembling. After a brief pause, he stammered, "Actually... it’s not impossible to make. Please wait a moment." Uncle Liu hurriedly retreated inside.

His wife quickly added with a nervous smile, "Yes, yes! It will be ready soon!"

Li Hao smiled and nodded politely. "Thank you very much!"

The couple rushed back inside, their movements flustered. They hadn’t planned to work today and hadn’t prepared any dough in advance, so everything had to be made from scratch.

Li Hao turned to Song Qiumo and sighed. "Uncle Liu is a good man. Please don’t scare them."

Song Qiumo, expressionless, replied, "What?"

Li Hao could only smile helplessly at her response. Though her telepathic voice was subtle, it was impossible to hide from him at his current level.

The two of them stood quietly at the small shop's entrance, waiting.

...

Before long, several servings of Cotton Jade Crisp were ready. Li Hao accepted them and handed one to Song Qiumo, another to the Candlefire God, and one to Xiyan. "Here, give it a try. This is a human delicacy worth savoring!"

Curious, Xiyan unrolled her crimson whiskers, dove into the oil paper wrapping, and began eating. "Mmm! So crisp! So fragrant! Is this really what you humans eat?"

Her delighted and satisfied voice, accompanied by crunching sounds, echoed.

"If you like it, have some more," Li Hao said with a chuckle.

He turned to Uncle Liu and requested, "Could we trouble you for a few more servings?"

The couple nodded enthusiastically and immediately got back to work.

Once they finished preparing another bag containing four or five servings, Li Hao and Song Qiumo resumed their leisurely stroll down the familiar old streets, eating as they went.

"This tastes amazing," Song Qiumo remarked.

Li Hao smiled. "I used to come here because Qingzhi couldn’t buy anything from Uncle Liu’s stall after he moved to the foot of Tangong Academy. It’s the reason I ended up enrolling there."

"Only you..." Song Qiumo said, shaking her head. Who would have thought that Tangong Academy, a prestigious institution, would end up accepting such an extraordinary disciple—all thanks to a small-time vendor’s charm?

...

Reaching Yunxia Tower, Li Hao confidently booked the top floor's private room. He then instructed Yunxia Tower to send out invitations on his behalf to various guests.

As night fell, the mountains of demon corpses piled outside the city were gradually cleared away by soldiers. Inside Qingzhou City, announcements were posted, and Li family warriors rode through the streets, spreading the news: the demons outside the city had been completely eradicated, and Qingzhou City was safe once more.

This news, carried from afternoon into the night, lit up the city with joy. Lamps burned brightly in every household, and the streets became lively again as daring citizens ventured out, attracting more to follow.

Restaurants, tea houses, and other establishments reopened, bustling with activity. Those with some money gathered in these lively venues to discuss the day’s events, while others without means found corners in alleys and courtyards to cool off, talking in small groups about what they’d heard.

The most talked-about topics were, of course, the battle against the demon horde, the destruction of the demon kings, and the legendary name—Haotian.

"Did you hear? The demons were calling out for Haotian. Do you know who that is? Yes, it’s the very same Haotian who single-handedly quelled the demon plague in Liangzhou!"

"Truly, the heavens bless our Great Yu! A star has descended to save us. It's just a pity I didn’t get to see him with my own eyes!"

"Sixteen years old, already a duke and a supreme commander... incredible."

...

The chatter filled the streets, blending fact and rumor, as people tried to piece together the truth. Some recalled fragments of history, but for many, these details were muddled amidst their daily struggles. Gradually, discussions about Haotian drifted away from the Li family, and even fewer mentioned their prodigy.

...

At Yunxia Tower, Li Hao sat, awaiting his old friends, who would come upon receiving their invitations. His extraordinary hearing allowed him to catch snippets of the city’s conversations. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he noted how few people remembered his family name.

The passage of time, like a relentless river, erases all...

Li Hao sipped his wine, gazing at the myriad lights outside, appreciating the beauty of the night.

...

Meanwhile, invitations delivered to Tangong Academy and the Divine General Mansion reached people like He Jianlan. Though they sighed inwardly, they set aside their emotions, picked up the invitations, and headed to the banquet.

However, in the Tianshan River Courtyard, the lanterns burned brightly, and the atmosphere was different. Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing sat before a table full of dishes, seemingly without appetite.

Hearing commotion outside, their senses extended, discovering it was a procession of carriages leaving the Divine General Mansion. The passengers were He Jianlan and other prominent figures, heading to the banquet.

Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing’s faces turned grim as they occasionally glanced toward the courtyard entrance. Yet, no one arrived, and no messages were delivered.

Other than Wang Xiangru from the Flying Cloud Courtyard, every other faction had received an invitation. Now, it was evident—the child had no intention of inviting them.

Zhao the steward stood stiffly by the door, his face showing traces of sorrow as he repeatedly looked toward the hall where their gazes lingered. His expression dimmed further with each glance, and in his heart, he let out a deep sigh.

"If it was to end like this, why did it have to begin this way?" he murmured to himself, lowering his head to stare at his worn shoes, suddenly noticing how aged and tattered they had become.

The cold moonlight shifted, and the night grew ever quieter. The sounds of carriages outside faded away, signaling that all those invited had departed, and the banquet was likely already underway.

Li Tiangang’s expression darkened further. Picking up the chopsticks on the table, he roughly poked at the food in front of him and growled, "Eat! Don’t wait anymore. Once we’re done, go check the cleanup of the demon corpses outside the city. I’ll head to the ancestral shrine and deal with the situation in the other cities. We cannot afford to fall."

Ji Qingqing, however, stared blankly at the dishes, her face devoid of expression, her body motionless as though lost in thought.

Li Tiangang, having eaten only a few bites, lost his appetite and slammed his bowl and chopsticks onto the table. Gritting his teeth, he spat, "He severed our bloodline connection, but does he not realize that without our bloodline, his talents will be significantly diminished? He may be strong now, but this decision will limit him for life. Even if by chance he grasps enlightenment, it will only go so far."

"He was born with the potential to become a sage, an eternal existence of unparalleled strength. He has now thrown away his own greatest gift... utterly unwise."

Ji Qingqing’s eyes trembled slightly at his words, but her expression remained calm as she replied, "Even so, he is already exceptional. Besides, it is because of us that..."

Li Tiangang flinched, his face twitching involuntarily. He knew her words to be true.

But grief and anger churned in his chest, leaving him with nowhere to vent his frustration.

"He’s gone too far! He’ll regret this sooner or later." Clenching his fists tightly, he stood abruptly and stormed out of the hall.

...

The night grew deeper, and the moon hung round and full in the sky.

Meanwhile, in Yunxia Tower, the banquet was lively. Conversations and laughter flowed as Li Hao’s guests toasted together.

Among them, He Jianlan, Li Muxiu, and others had long given up trying to dissuade Li Hao from his decisions. Instead, they focused on sharing food, drinks, and camaraderie.

Still, as the night wore on and their spirits rose, some couldn’t resist bringing up their concerns. Yet, before they could finish, Li Hao gently interrupted with a smile.

For everyone present, accepting that Li Hao had completely severed ties with the Divine General Mansion would take time.

Throughout the evening, disciples of Tangong Academy also arrived to offer their respects, taking turns toasting and expressing their gratitude.

When Li Hao inquired about the two imperial princes, he learned they had completed their studies and returned to the capital, just as many had speculated. Their time at the academy had been more about networking and building connections than genuine study.

Li Hao still remembered the prince fond of poetry who had seen him off with a poem on their last meeting. Not seeing him here, he couldn’t help but feel a hint of regret.

The banquet continued until late into the night, with conversations and laughter filling the air. Only after midnight did the crowd finally disperse.

Li Hao found lodging at an inn, using the opportunity to rest. For the first time in a long while, he enjoyed a comfortable and rejuvenating sleep.

...

The next morning, refreshed and invigorated, Li Hao felt full of energy. During the feast the night before, he had learned from Li Muxiu that the Li family had dispatched elite cavalry carrying his battle flag and the heads of slain demons to rally support in other cities within Qingzhou.

With the demon horde outside Qingzhou City eradicated, the large force that had retreated within the city could now march forward to reclaim lost territories.

Meanwhile, those who had returned through the Ancestor’s Blood Array to answer the Li family’s call also prepared to head for the front lines. Together with the Li family’s main army, they would embark on the campaign to recover Qingzhou’s land.

Shaking his head to clear the slight fog left by the previous night’s wine, Li Hao smiled wryly. While his cultivation protected him from most effects of alcohol, the brew they had enjoyed was potent, and he hadn’t bothered to purify it from his system.

Still, it didn’t take long for him to regain full clarity.

"It seems that the stronger one becomes, the less ordinary drinks affect them... unless it’s some kind of specially brewed wine."

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