Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 269

Volume 3 - Chapter 26: Don’t Let Me Die with Regrets - Part 1

Li Tiangang was in disbelief. His father had actually slapped him.

The warmth and love that had been on his father’s face just moments ago had disappeared, replaced with anger and pain—disappointment?

Li Tiangang’s face turned pale. He was well aware of his own shortcomings: his inability to properly manage the Divine General Mansion or take care of his brothers. Yet his father had never been disappointed in him for these failures; instead, he had offered kind and comforting words.

But now, over the matter of Li Hao, his father’s expression was filled with both pain and disappointment.

The stinging pain on his face left Li Tiangang somewhat dazed. It wasn’t because the slap had been particularly forceful, but because, in that instant, his mind flashed back to a memory of that courtyard.

The slap he had delivered in anger...

The boy’s eyes had also held disbelief.

Suddenly, Li Tiangang felt his heart contract, an indescribable emotion spreading within him. What was it? Fear?

“Elder Brother...”

Li Xiaoran hesitated, but then sighed and remained silent.

He hadn’t wanted his elder brother to know about this matter. But now that the truth was out, it was too late to stop it.

Besides, even he couldn’t understand Li Tiangang’s actions regarding Li Hao. That child’s talent was one thing, but his temperament didn’t match the rumors in the family—careless, unruly, and undisciplined.

If anything, Li Hao could only be considered unconventional at most.

Standing silently at the side, Li Muxiu wore a cold expression, thinking that the slap was too lenient.

“No wonder that child’s gaze always felt slightly off when he looked at me,” Li Tianzong said, his eyes growing misty. “It turns out this was the reason. He left the Li family long ago... He doesn’t even want to acknowledge me as his grandfather...”

Tears welled up in Li Tianzong’s eyes, though he recalled how affectionate the boy had been, still addressing him warmly on their journey back.

Was it because the boy knew he would soon be completely gone and didn’t want him to worry?

Even though he no longer had a physical body, Li Tianzong felt as though his heart had been pierced.

That boy was so understanding!

Why? Why had it come to this?

“You... you tell me exactly what happened. I want to know everything!”

Li Tianzong gritted his teeth, looking at Li Tiangang with a mix of anger and grief.

Li Xiaoran’s face paled as he quickly interjected, “Elder Brother, this will take too long...”

“It doesn’t matter!”

Li Tianzong clenched his teeth. “If I don’t get to the bottom of this, I won’t die in peace!”

Hearing this, both Li Muxiu and Li Tiangang’s expressions changed. Li Muxiu immediately said, “Elder Brother, please don’t get upset. I’ll explain everything to you carefully.”

“Father, please don’t be angry. You can hit me if you like, but don’t get upset,” Li Tiangang said nervously, worried that something might happen to Li Tianzong.

“Speak! Right here and now!”

Li Tianzong demanded furiously through clenched teeth.

Li Tiangang hadn’t expected his father to react so strongly. Since his father’s passing, no one had disciplined him. Now, he felt like a child being scolded again, as though he had made a mistake while practicing martial arts and didn’t dare return to his quarters.

His expression shifted. Lowering his head, he said, “Father, please don’t be angry. I’ll tell you everything. It’s my fault—I was too impulsive...”

He began to recount the events in detail.

Beside him, Li Xiaoran’s face grew darker, each second feeling like torture.

He knew that his elder brother was using the last moments of his life to untangle this matter.

“...And then he decided to leave the Divine General Mansion.”

After Li Tiangang finished speaking, Li Tianzong’s face was grim. Turning to Li Muxiu, he asked, “Is that how it happened?”

Li Muxiu gave a faint, cold laugh. Noticing the meaningful glance from the fourth brother nearby, he was slightly surprised but didn’t overthink it. He replied:

“What he described is only from his perspective. In his eyes, he returned from the bitter battles of Yanbei to see Hao’er acting carefree, idling about, and neglecting his cultivation. But did he ever consider that Hao’er reached the Fifteen Li realm at just fourteen years old, breaking the cultivation record of the Great Yu Divine Dynasty!”

As he spoke, Li Muxiu added details that Li Tiangang’s account had omitted.

The same event, narrated by different people, produced different conclusions. Even a wise man could only strive for relative objectivity, never absolute truth.

Li Tianzong, combining their accounts with what he had witnessed in the River of Death, began to grasp the full picture.

His entire body trembled with rage. He could hardly imagine how much injustice that child had endured.

“You let him leave the Li family just like that? Do you not understand how much hatred and danger our family draws from demons and monsters?”

“You... how could you be so foolish!”

Li Tianzong raised a fist and struck Li Tiangang’s chest, forcing him back several steps.

He then condensed a spiritual whip in his hand and lashed it harshly against Li Tiangang. “I rarely disciplined you when you were young, but for such a grave mistake, you deserve punishment!”

Li Tiangang’s face was ashen as he endured the pain without making a sound or moving to avoid it.

“Elder Brother, don’t overexert yourself.”

Li Xiaoran couldn’t help but say, “If you must, let me handle it instead?”

Li Muxiu glanced at him, surprised at the fourth brother’s unusual eagerness.

“Leave it be!”

Li Tianzong continued lashing out, glaring at Li Tiangang. “Do you understand what you did wrong?”

Li Tiangang looked up sorrowfully, his heart aching. “Father, please don’t be angry. I know I was wrong.”

“What exactly was your mistake?”

“I was too impulsive. I shouldn’t have acted that way. I’ll bring Hao’er back and treat him well,” Li Tiangang said immediately.

Li Tianzong raised the whip again, but seeing the regret in Li Tiangang’s eyes, he couldn’t bring himself to strike again.

“You’ve truly let me down...”

His expression was filled with sorrow as the whip in his hand dissipated. Bitterly, he said, “It’s my fault for dying too early, for failing to be a good example of a father to you...”

“Father, you’ve already done so much for us!” Li Tiangang’s expression changed as he spoke hurriedly.

Li Tianzong raised his head, laughing bitterly. Then, sorrowfully, he said:

“To think that the Li family has such a venomous woman—and she’s the wife of our second brother! When the Liu family married her into our household, she seemed obedient and respectful, treating your mother and me with impeccable courtesy. There wasn’t a hint of ill intent back then.”

“But after the second brother’s death in battle, she dared to harbor such thoughts. How could such a tragedy occur in the Li family?”

Lowering his head, Li Tianzong looked at Li Tiangang with a pained expression. “What good will punishing you do? Tiangang, you must understand: some mistakes can never be made. Once committed, no amount of regret or repentance can ever undo them.”

“Father, please don’t be angry anymore. I’ll find Hao’er and bring him back. There’s still time—everything can still be salvaged!” Li Tiangang said, panic evident in his voice.

Looking at his son’s anxious and fearful expression, Li Tianzong felt a wave of sorrow.

He knew that Tiangang was a filial son—this had always been the case. But it was precisely this filial nature that cut at his heart.

Frustration at his son’s lack of initiative, anger at his foolishness, and yet deep affection for his loyalty—all these emotions surged within Li Tianzong, leaving him conflicted and exhausted. He let out a long sigh and said dejectedly:

“I originally wanted to return home and see our family once more. But now, it seems that I won’t have the time.”

Li Xiaoran’s entire body shuddered. Staring at Li Tianzong’s form, now even fainter than before, he cried out in anguish, “Elder Brother!”

Li Tiangang and Li Muxiu froze, their blood seeming to freeze in their veins at Li Xiaoran’s cry.

It was as if all their blood had reversed course, rushing to their heads before turning to ice, sending a chill that made them shiver involuntarily.

“Elder Brother?”

At that moment, Li Muxiu suddenly noticed that his elder brother’s form had grown significantly more insubstantial.

His heart skipped a beat. He asked urgently, “Elder Brother, what do you mean by that? Are you saying you can’t return to the family?”

A sudden realization struck him. Turning sharply to Li Xiaoran, he demanded, “Fourth Brother, what’s going on? Tell me—what’s happening?!”

“Father?”

...

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