Cultivation Begins from Infancy - Chapter 266

Volume 3 - Chapter 24: A Thief for Himself, A Bandit for the World - Part 2

Some demon clones share a life with their original form. These clones possess exceptional combat power, but the moment a clone dies, the original suffers grave injuries—or even perishes alongside it.

As for what type of clone Li Hao's was, it was currently impossible to determine.

Seeing that Li Tiangang still retained some rationality, Feng Boping secretly sighed in relief. He immediately turned to Li Hao and said, "Hao’er, listen to me and go back quickly."

"I can't leave."

The dark-side Li Hao shook his head.

Li Tiangang, hearing this, was so furious he almost laughed. "As a Divine General of the Li Family, you collude with thieves and shield them so openly. Truly, you are my good son!"

Feng Boping snapped angrily, "Shut your mouth! Hao’er hasn’t been your son for a long time. Didn’t you agree to the three-year pact when he left the Li Family? What right do you have to reprimand him now?"

"This is a matter for the Li Family!" Li Tiangang said coldly, his gaze icy as he looked at Feng Boping. "If not for the fact that you once protected Hao’er, I would have already dealt with you! Interfere in the affairs of the Divine General Mansion again, and you will face dire consequences!"

"Hao’er’s affairs are mine to handle. If you’re dissatisfied, I’ll teach you another lesson until you accept it!" Feng Boping said with a furious expression.

Li Tiangang’s gaze turned sharp. He was about to retort when a sudden whistling sound came from afar, breaking through the sky.

The sound was deafening, causing all three to instinctively look in its direction.

They saw a figure dressed in a dark robe flying rapidly toward them.

"So, it really is you."

The figure stopped midair. Upon seeing Feng Boping and Li Tiangang, his expression changed slightly.

Feng Boping was momentarily stunned when he saw the newcomer, but his body relaxed slightly. He said with a cold expression, "You still know to show up? Take care of your nephew yourself!"

As he spoke, he shielded Li Hao's clone behind him and stepped away from Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang’s eyes narrowed when he saw the figure. His expression darkened. "Second Uncle, why are you here? What about the Divine General Mansion?"

"Hao’er?"

Li Muxiu interrupted him directly. His gaze fixed on the dark-side Li Hao, whom Feng Boping was protecting, and his expression quickly grew agitated.

"When did Hao’er escape? Wasn’t he trapped in the River of Death? Where is Fourth Brother?"

Feng Boping sneered and said, "He hasn’t escaped yet. This is just Hao’er’s clone."

Li Muxiu was momentarily stunned. At the mention of a clone, his excitement was extinguished as if doused in cold water.

Scanning the scene, his expression turned grim as he addressed Li Tiangang, "From afar, I could sense the intense aura here. What’s going on?"

Li Tiangang glanced at Feng Boping, then back at Li Muxiu. His eyes narrowed. "Second Uncle, it seems you know this Thief Saint?"

From Feng Boping’s demeanor, it was clear the two had a long-standing relationship.

The connection seemed odd—Li Hao, still a youth, knowing the Thief Saint. Such a relationship could only make sense if the Thief Saint had initiated contact with ulterior motives.

And yet, if Second Uncle had acted as an intermediary, it was even more plausible.

Li Muxiu’s face changed slightly. Knowing Li Tiangang’s temperament, he sighed inwardly and admitted, "Yes, I’ve known your Uncle Feng for many years. But what is happening here? Are you two fighting?"

Hearing this confirmation, Li Tiangang felt a surge of anger rise to his head. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Second Uncle, I respect you as my father’s brother and my uncle! People have long said that your actions in your youth were reckless. But even now, as you’ve aged, must you remain so foolish?"

Li Muxiu’s face darkened. "Watch how you speak to me! My private friendships have never interfered with the Divine General Mansion’s duties. Do you think I need your advice on how to conduct myself?"

"I don’t care what else you do," Li Tiangang retorted angrily, clenching his fists. "Over the years, you’ve dedicated yourself to guarding the Divine General Mansion. I’ve seen it. But befriending a thief and dragging Hao’er into it? Second Uncle, how can you be so blind?!"

Li Muxiu’s expression shifted dramatically. He roared, "Li Tiangang! Let me make this clear—he’s not a mere thief. A petty thief steals for himself, but a Grand Bandit robs to aid the world! Your Uncle Feng’s deeds are worthy of the title of Saint!"

"And as for your accusation that he’s led Hao’er astray—what nonsense! Hao’er is exceptional, but the one who truly hurts him is you!"

"You mean to say he robs the rich to aid the poor?" Li Tiangang sneered. "Don’t talk to me about Uncle Feng or this so-called aid for the world. There are countless ways to help the country and its people—slaying demons, enlisting in the army, defending the borders. Each is noble. Yet he chooses theft!"

Feng Boping interjected coldly, "That’s right. Old Li, spare me the 'Uncle' nonsense. I’m unworthy of being called the uncle of the True Dragon of the Li Family!"

Li Muxiu sighed as he saw his old friend’s resentment and Li Tiangang’s cold smile.

"Tiangang, you grew up training in the martial courtyard, later commanding troops. You’ve been steeped in the imperial court and distant from the rivers and lakes. You know little of the grudges and dilemmas of the common world. If one could act openly and righteously, who wouldn’t wish to leave a legacy of honor?

"The world’s suffering is vast, beyond your comprehension. Yet instead of understanding, you stand aloof, passing judgment from the heights of the court."

Li Tiangang responded coldly, "For the sake of his past care for Hao’er, I can let him go. But from now on, he must not approach Hao’er again. Second Uncle, you know well that if word spreads of our Divine General Mansion’s collusion with the Thief Saint, how will the other Divine General Mansions—and His Majesty—view us?"

Li Muxiu remained silent.

He was well aware of the gravity of the situation. This was why his friendship with Feng Boping had always been kept private.

Initially, neither of them had known the other's identity, and their conversations had led to mutual respect. By the time their identities were revealed, their bond was too deep to sever.

Despite the risks and complications, their friendship had only grown stronger over the years.

Hearing Li Tiangang’s words, Li Muxiu let out a long sigh. As a child, he had been out of favor, fostering bitterness in his heart. At times, he had even wished he were not part of the Divine General Mansion. Now, that thought crossed his mind once again.

But his life had long ceased to be his own. The burdens he carried were too great. The youthful days of riding freely through the rivers and lakes, unrestrained by duty or consequence, were a distant memory.

"I have kept my connection with Feng hidden. Only you know about it. If you don’t reveal it, no one else will," Li Muxiu said calmly.

Li Tiangang sneered. "Second Uncle, you should know that paper cannot contain fire. Secrets have a way of coming to light."

Li Muxiu took a deep breath and said slowly, "Let’s set this matter aside for now. I came here intending to proceed to Dragon City and the River of Death to aid Hao’er. Passing through Tianmen Pass, I decided to stop here first to check on things. Why were you fighting? What’s the situation at the River of Death?"

Li Tiangang frowned. "I was about to bring that up. Did you investigate the situation in Qingzhou before leaving? Were your movements discreet? If your absence becomes known, you should realize how dangerous Qingzhou could become!"

"Rest assured, I know what I’m doing," Li Muxiu replied. "What about Hao’er’s current condition?"

Li Tiangang let out a faint sneer. While he usually trusted Li Muxiu’s judgment, recent developments within the family had left him increasingly uneasy.

"Hao’er is under Fourth Brother’s care and should be safe," Li Tiangang said. "Unless unforeseen circumstances arise. I came to Tianmen Pass to glean information from his clone, only to uncover this massive secret!"

At the mention of the "secret," anger flickered again in Li Tiangang’s eyes.

Li Muxiu ignored him and turned to the dark-side Li Hao, his expression softening. "Hao’er, tell me—can you sense your true body in the River of Death?"

The dark-side Li Hao shook his head slightly. "I can’t sense it."

"Is it because the River of Death obscures your senses, or is it something about your true body itself?"

Li Muxiu pressed for details, his tone serious.

The dark-side Li Hao explained everything truthfully, answering every question without hesitation.

Seeing how forthcoming Li Hao was with Li Muxiu, answering him with complete candor, Li Tiangang’s face darkened. A complicated mix of emotions churned within him—discomfort, anger, and something more painful.

I am your father!

Before long, Li Muxiu finished his inquiries, realizing that the clone knew little about the true body’s situation.

However, the information gleaned from the clone confirmed that Li Hao’s combat prowess was extraordinarily high—on par with that of a martial artist at the Absolute Technique Stage. With the clone’s unique methods, he could even approach the pinnacle of that stage.

Additionally, Li Tiangang had Li Muxiu ask about the battle flags. In response, the dark-side Li Hao paused in thought before using sound transmission to explain.

When Li Tiangang saw Li Hao deliberately avoid answering him directly, his expression grew even darker. Reluctantly, he resorted to using sound transmission through Li Muxiu.

Upon learning that the battle flags had indeed been crafted personally by Li Hao, Li Tiangang was shaken to his core, overwhelmed by shock and joy.

If Li Hao could refine such artifacts, his potential was a gift from the heavens! Once Li Hao returned, this talent could far surpass the significance of his martial achievements.

While martial strength might reach its zenith at the Supreme Dao Realm, allowing one to guard a single province, the mass production of such battle flags could safeguard the entire Great Yu Divine Dynasty!

"Hao’er possesses such a remarkable ability. Combined with Fourth Brother’s presence, as long as nothing goes awry within the River of Death, he should be safe..."

Having obtained the information he needed, Li Muxiu felt a degree of relief, though he remained anxious without confirmation of Li Hao’s true body’s safety.

"Second Uncle, let’s head to Dragon City and the River of Death immediately," Li Tiangang suggested. "But you must conceal yourself to avoid exposing your presence on the battlefield. If the demons shift their focus to Qingzhou and attack the Divine General Mansion, it will spell disaster."

"Of course, I know this," Li Muxiu replied.

Li Tiangang glanced at Feng Boping and said, "There’s one more thing—you must sever all ties with him!"

"Hmm?"

Li Muxiu’s expression shifted. Feng Boping merely frowned slightly but said nothing, casting a quiet glance at Li Muxiu as if awaiting his decision.

If Li Muxiu chose to cut ties for the sake of the Divine General Mansion, Feng Boping would not blame him.

After all, when their identities had been revealed, he had already foreseen this moment.

His identity, compared to the prestige of the Divine General Mansion, was a mismatch.

"This is my personal matter. You have no right to interfere!" Li Muxiu said coldly, ignoring his old friend’s reaction as he addressed Li Tiangang.

Li Tiangang’s face hardened. "Second Uncle, you know the consequences if this is exposed. This is no personal matter—it concerns the entire Li Family! Do you want our ancestors to be shamed because of this?"

Li Muxiu’s expression turned grim, his face taut.

"I’ve known Brother Feng for sixty years. I understand his character..." Li Muxiu began.

But before he could finish, Li Tiangang interrupted. "I don’t care about his character! Even if he’s a good person, how can you explain this to the world? If you can convince me, can you convince everyone else?"

Li Muxiu’s face tightened further. He knew his argument was weak, a mere excuse to avoid addressing the issue.

"Old Li, if it really can’t be helped, we’ll part ways. We can still toast to the moon and sun, even from opposite ends of the world," Feng Boping said quietly.

His tone was calm, but his words carried a weight that struck Li Muxiu like a blade.

Li Muxiu’s body trembled. Turning to look at his old friend, his eyes filled with sorrow. Lowering his head, he shook it slowly and said:

"I’ve severed enough ties in my life. I don’t want to sever this one too!"

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