Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 267

Volume 3 - Chapter 25: Slapping Li Tiangang - Part 1

Hearing Li Muxiu’s words, Li Tiangang’s face changed, and he immediately called out:

“Second Uncle!”

Li Muxiu lifted his head and gazed deeply at him, saying:

“He is my friend. Even before His Majesty, I would say the same. My relationship with him is clear and pure. I have never asked him to do anything for the Li family, nor has he done anything for us!”

As he spoke, his expression turned slightly unpleasant, and he hesitated briefly before continuing:

“Except for entrusting him to take care of Hao’er. But that’s your child...”

Feng Boping interjected, “Looking after Hao’er was my choice. It had nothing to do with your old self entrusting me or not. Do you think I would just ignore him? For the seven years of fish Hao’er grilled for me, I’d protect him for a lifetime!”

Li Tiangang’s eyes narrowed slightly. Seven years?

So Li Hao had been in contact with this thief saint for seven years.

Thinking of his second uncle’s peculiar hobbies, Li Tiangang quickly deduced the likely situation and sighed internally.

It seemed Hao’er had been influenced from a young age.

“Leaving Hao’er at home was my greatest mistake and the thing I regret the most,” he said, taking a deep breath before speaking firmly to Li Muxiu. “Second Uncle, I won’t hold you accountable for the impact you’ve had on Hao’er, but now, I invoke the name of the True Dragon to demand you sever ties with him completely and have no further contact!”

Li Muxiu’s expression shifted. He stared at him with a mix of anger and disbelief. “You would use the True Dragon to command me?!”

“That’s right,” Li Tiangang replied coldly, restraining his rising anger.

“Second Uncle, don’t forget the blood that flows in our veins or the surname we carry! Even though my father is gone and no one can restrain you, the Li family’s rules, established over a thousand years, remain unbroken for generations. Would you defy them now?”

Li Muxiu stared at him, his face a blend of shock and anger, but ultimately, his gaze turned to one of profound disappointment.

Closing his eyes, he remained silent for a long time before reopening them. His gaze held an indescribable sorrow and weariness as he murmured:

“I’ve lived recklessly for half my life and made many mistakes. I wronged your father, leaving him to guard an isolated city alone. I won’t break the rules again. My life belongs to the Li family. Let it burn away for the family...”

His body trembled slightly as he slowly turned to look at Feng Boping.

Their eyes met, and blood-tinged tears welled up in Li Muxiu’s eyes. “Old Feng...”

Feng Boping’s body quivered slightly, but a faint smile spread across his face. “Old Li, why are you crying at this age? Didn’t I say? Even if we’re separated by the ends of the earth, we can still share the sun and moon. Meetings and partings aren’t up to us. We’ve long reached the age of acceptance. Let it go...”

Li Muxiu clenched his fists tightly, his entire body trembling. His fists, known for their overwhelming strength as the “Fist Saint,” could not break the shackles of bloodlines or shatter the restraints within his heart.

Half-step Invincible was not true invincibility after all.

The step he had taken could never be retracted.

“This is for the best, for both of you. Don’t blame me, Li Tiangang, for being heartless,” Li Tiangang said in a deep voice.

Li Muxiu’s back remained bowed, his silence unbroken.

Feng Boping gave Li Muxiu a faint smile before glancing at Li Hao’s shadowed form. His eyes carried a trace of regret as he said, “But I promised Hao’er I’d guard Tianmen Pass for three years...”

“No need!” Li Tiangang snapped, his expression dark. “If you truly care for Hao’er, you should know that your notorious reputation will only be a burden to him!

“Do you want to destroy him? He will inherit the True Dragon of our Li family and radiate with brilliance. If others discover he’s entangled with you, what will they say?”

Feng Boping’s cheek twitched slightly. He wanted to retort but ended up chuckling softly instead.

“You’re right. I’m just a solitary wanderer in this world. I can’t compare to the grandeur of your Divine General Mansion, nor do I dare to...”

Shaking his head in self-deprecation, he looked at Li Hao’s shadowed form and murmured softly, “Hao’er has grown up and doesn’t need anyone to care for him anymore. If he can return from the River of Death, no one would dare invade Tianmen Pass. If someone does come, this old man likely won’t be of much use—it would have to be someone of the Supreme Dao Realm...”

He trailed off, giving another faint chuckle before looking warmly at Li Hao’s shadowed form. “Child, the road ahead is yours to walk.

“Through the wind and snow, I can only accompany you this far.”

Li Hao’s shadow stared at him blankly, wanting to speak but unsure what to say. Finally, he muttered two words, “Don’t go...”

Feng Boping’s lips quivered slightly, but he merely smiled, turned around, and looked out at the vast, desolate world. His gaze lingered on the distant silhouette of Cangya City.

His eyes glimmered faintly, but he said nothing. Suddenly, his figure vanished into thin air, disappearing completely.

The Heaven and Earth Unbounded Technique—if he wished to leave, none could stop him. This technique, of his own creation, allowed him to push his martial path to its utmost limits.

A gentle breeze passed, like a small hand tugging at the corner of Li Muxiu’s robe before letting go and drifting away.

Li Muxiu stood silently, as still as stone.

Li Tiangang glanced at him, knowing his second uncle was in pain. He said softly, “Second Uncle, we should head to Dragon City and the River of Death. I’ll go ahead to check on things there...”

Li Muxiu gave no response.

Suddenly, a distant whistling sound accompanied by an exclamation of joy echoed:

“Second Brother, Tiangang?!”

Both men jolted, their bodies stiffening. Even Li Muxiu lifted his head abruptly, staring in the direction of the voice.

A ragged figure wearing a tattered gray robe came hurtling toward them. His disheveled hair and shabby appearance resembled that of a beggar. Yet the man’s face and the blade at his waist unmistakably identified him as Li Xiaoran!

“Fourth Brother?!”

Li Muxiu froze.

Li Tiangang was equally stunned, momentarily doubting his eyes. Concentrating his divine light, he finally saw clearly—it truly was Fourth Uncle!

He had returned. But why here?!

“Where’s Hao’er?”

While Li Tiangang and Li Muxiu were still reeling from their shock, Li Xiaoran’s gaze landed on the shadowed form of Li Hao. He faltered, almost exclaiming in joy, but soon noticed something amiss. The aura of this “Li Hao” was weaker and lacked the rugged, battle-worn appearance he had when they parted.

Previously, Li Hao had been pursued to the River of Death after the brutal battle in Liang Province. His hair had been soaked in the blood of demons, and his clothing torn to shreds from the intense combat.

“Why are you the only one back? Where’s Hao’er?!”

Confirming that the person before him was indeed Li Xiaoran, Li Muxiu snapped out of his daze. His eyes widened in urgency, and his entire body seemed to tense with energy.

Li Xiaoran quickly calmed himself and reassured him, “Second Brother, don’t panic. Hao’er is fine. He has something left to do. He’s only one step away from crossing the River of Death. Right now, he’s heading to the Great Wilderness Heaven.”

At this, Li Xiaoran glanced at Li Tiangang, hesitating slightly as if unsure whether to continue.

After all, the Ancient Holy Clan of the Ji family was a sensitive topic.

Li Tiangang, who had spent over a decade campaigning in Yanbei, had learned of these matters after the war. He knew the situation involved a woman from the Ji family.

“He went to the Great Wilderness Heaven?”

Li Muxiu was stunned, but upon hearing that Hao’er was safe, the tension in his body eased. He immediately asked, “The Great Wilderness Heaven is extremely perilous. What is he doing there? How long will he stay?”

“He should return soon,” Li Xiaoran replied.

It was just a matter of escorting an elder of the Ji family back to their ancestral domain. It shouldn’t take too long.

As he spoke, he noticed that both Li Tiangang and Li Muxiu seemed to have more questions about Li Hao. Smiling faintly, he gestured toward the shadowed figure. “This is Hao’er’s avatar, right?”

“Yes,” Li Tiangang nodded. Though reassured that Li Hao was unharmed, his expression changed slightly upon hearing about the Great Wilderness Heaven. Memories of a certain woman came flooding back—his wife.

His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that child was going to see his mother?

During the battle between father and son in Qingzhou, he later learned that Li Hao had slapped Li Rumeng because she had insulted his wife. What’s more, Li Rumeng had revealed the truth about her.

“This child...”

Clenching his teeth, his face tightened with worry. The Ancient Holy Clan of the Ji family was not a place even he dared to visit, let alone Li Hao.

“Let’s set aside Hao’er’s matters for now. Look who I’ve brought back for you!”

...

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