Chapter 34: Chapter 31 Perfection
“The young lad’s cooking skills are getting better and better,” said the old man with a hearty laugh, “I’ve been fishing my whole life and have long since grown tired of fish. But the fish dishes that the kid makes are something I could still eat.”
Feng Boping laughed heartily, flicked his sleeves, and took the lead to sit on the large rock next to the pot; with a wave of his hand, a cup and jade chopsticks appeared in his palm like picking flowers.
Although he and Li Muxiu shared similar tastes, there were certain differences between them. Feng Boping was somewhat finicky about cleanliness and had a fondness for beautiful jade, using luxurious bowls and chopsticks even for eating, which did not pale in comparison to the royal clan within the court.
He handed Li Hao a clean pair of bowl and chopsticks with a smile yet did not bother Li Muxiu, instead quietly awaiting the boiling pot.
Li Hao estimated the time was about right, then flipped the lid over, setting it aside on some leaves. The rich aroma burst forth immediately. Ignoring the usual courtesies of elders first and children last, he reached straight in with his chopsticks to grab some meat.
“You guys wait for me,” exclaimed Li Muxiu as he hurried over, hastily fashioned a pair of chopsticks from a twig, and began stirring in the pot.
Although Feng Boping was particular about cleanliness, he didn’t say anything about Li Muxiu’s actions. Li Hao felt this was probably the feeling of lifelong camaraderie.
The three of them ate with great relish. Despite the significant age difference, neither of the two older men pulled rank on Li Hao. Sometimes you would call me ‘kid’, and I would call you ‘old man’, showing carefree personalities.
“I didn’t expect you to bring out new tricks in cooking fish.” Li Muxiu, after drinking a mouthful of spicy soup, clicked his tongue in appreciation.
Li Hao smiled. Indeed, in the past six months, his self-taught drawing and cooking had both steadily improved, reaching the second level.
So had his Fishing Tao.
Maybe there really was something to the newbie protection phase theory. In the first month, his fishing success rate was extremely high, but now it seemed rare to catch anything. Sometimes he would even stay up until midnight, forced to find a shallow spot and catch a Power Passage Realm demon fish to avoid returning empty-handed.
As they talked, suddenly, Li Hao’s gaze darted toward the fish bladder, which was gently touching the water surface.
There was movement!
He swiftly put down his bowl and chopsticks and crouched, rushing over to the fishing rod. Right at that moment, the fish bladder suddenly plunged underwater.
Li Hao quickly set the hook and pulled on the line, which immediately tightened on the other end, transmitting a tremendous force. A massive commotion came from beneath the water as well.
“This kid…”
The two elders, seeing this, both revealed a hint of envy—they couldn’t believe this youngster had gotten a bite first.
Soon, the commotion under the water grew stronger, and a demon beast emerged from the surface. It was not a fish demon, but a shrimp demon with a hardened shell!
It was four or five meters long, covered in spikes, with fearsome pincers capable of crushing rocks.
At that moment, the shrimp demon was grabbing the fishing line with its pincers, its bulging eyes glaring at Li Hao on the shore. Seeing that it was just a little kid, it screeched in fury, yet it was also filled with dread. Where did this wild child come from, possessing such strength?
Its struggles became more violent, but the fishing line was given to Li Hao by Li Muxiu, impervious to water and fire, and able to withstand a million catties of force, something a common Zhou Tian Realm shrimp demon could not break.
Soon, under the dragging, the shrimp demon’s body slowly neared the shore. Its eyeballs showed a struggle, contemplating whether to mutilate itself to escape the hook and flee for its life.
Just then, Li Hao on the shore staggered as if he couldn’t steady the fishing rod.
“Hmm?”
The shrimp demon hesitated upon seeing this.
After a tug-of-war, the shrimp demon felt that this child was only slightly more powerful than itself, and had it not been for the injury caused by the fish hook, it might not have been defeated.
It’s eyeballs rotating, the shrimp demon tried to pull Li Hao into the water, but each time, Li Hao managed to stead himself in the nick of time, narrowly securing his position.
Eventually, after a fierce struggle, the shrimp demon, pained by the pulling, couldn’t help but let out its vicious nature. It shrieked and surged towards the fishing platform, intent on crushing this ignorant, annoying brat.
But as it came ashore, the previously wobbling child suddenly steadied himself, his face revealing a relieved and beaming smile.
This isn’t good!
The moment the shrimp demon realized something was amiss, a massive force suddenly transmitted from the fish hook, pulling its unbalanced body in mid-air directly towards him.
With a woosh, something like a silver light streaked by—what was that, so bright?
The next moment, the shrimp demon knew nothing more as the world went dark.
A massive shrimp head rolled away as Li Hao casually stuck his sword into the ground beside him. He then dragged the body over near the cooking area, not far from the two elders, saying, “It’s a pity it didn’t bite earlier. Otherwise, I could have added some shrimp paste to your meal at noon.”
Seeing how effortlessly Li Hao dealt with the Zhou Tian Realm shrimp demon, both elders smiled. They had hidden their breaths earlier, which is why the shrimp demon hadn’t detected them, emboldening it.
Li Hao cast the bait again and continued to eat and drink.
“This Zhou Tian Realm level nine demon was so easily slain by you, you must have also reached a small level of achievement with the Li Family’s Dragon River Divine Meridian,” Feng Boping said with a laugh.
Li Hao did not deny it.
A small level of achievement? He had already reached perfection.
The regular fishing session came to an end as the sun dipped low in the western sky. Li Hao said goodbye to the two gentlemen and the Thief Saint, who mentioned he had to take a long trip and would be away for half a month.
Clearly, some treasure was about to be stolen somewhere.
Li Muxiu had long been accustomed to departures, and with a smile, he said goodbye and led Li Hao back to the Divine General Mansion.
Now that Li Hao had taken an interest in fishing, Li Muxiu did not continue to introduce him to the “traditional rules” of fishing and went straight back to the Listening Rain Tower.
Outside the tower, Li Fu, as usual, was waiting there, but this time, beside him stood a young maid, precisely Xuejian from the Eternal Spring Court.
Seeing the elder and younger returning, Xuejian couldn’t help but size up Li Hao.
She had long heard that this Second Master was eccentric; many ladies and mistresses from the various courts wished to send their children to him for guidance, but he paid attention to no one. Unexpectedly, he would be so close to Li Hao, a child with no talent for martial arts.
As such thoughts went through her mind, Xuejian’s gentle face betrayed no hint of them; she smiled, showing her teeth, and stepped forward to explain her purpose.
It turned out that Lady He Jianlan was thinking of Li Hao, who had already been studying Body Refinement Realm techniques for quite some time, and wanted him to enter the martial training grounds to practice with other youths from the family.
Of course, Li Fu had long learned of this news from Xuejian’s mouth, and as she spoke, eagerness spread across his face, almost as if he wished to nod in agreement on Li Hao’s behalf.
But after hearing this, Li Hao and Li Muxiu looked at each other and both laughed.
Li Muxiu knew Li Hao’s words carried little weight and refusal might lead to persistent entanglements, so he waved his hand and said, “The little guy is fine following me. I can teach him well enough, going to the martial training grounds would be a waste of time.”
The old master grumbled internally, sending the boy to the martial training grounds, wasn’t that just bullying?
The disciples in the martial training grounds were at best in the Zhou Tian Realm, and those with higher talents would study under famous mountains or join the military.
Letting Li Hao, a boy who could easily kill ninth-layer demons of the Zhou Tian Realm, go to the martial training grounds would be like beating up children and kicking women. What’s the difference?
Hearing the old master’s refusal, both Li Fu and Xuejian became anxious.
But Xuejian, as if having anticipated this response, immediately spoke sincerely and gently, explaining that it would only take a short practice in the mornings at the martial training grounds to hone real combat experience and practice skills with peers.
Li Fu nodded repeatedly at her side, agreeing fervently.
While following his uncle would afford the best guidance, he was also concerned that the old master might be leading Li Hao astray; after all, though the uncle was powerful, he appeared to be rather… unfocused.
He had never heard Li Hao discuss matters of cultivation with his uncle. Instead, they would become excitedly engrossed in conversations about which fish to catch, how to set the hook, and so on…
Furthermore, even disciples of a Sword Saint like Li’s uncle had to spar with peers of the same realm. Otherwise, the teachings that remained mere theory would ultimately be understood more slowly.
When Li Muxiu heard what Xuejian was suggesting, he nearly rolled his eyes. Would sparring with those kids from the family be more challenging than outwitting demon fish while fishing?
It should be noted, fishing for Zhou Tian Realm demons was not just brute labor. These demon fish had gained intelligence and knew danger; they would rather tear their bodies than escape the hook. And dealing with Soul Succession Realm demons was even harder to manage.
Put simply, fishing is a comprehensive skill involving intelligence, stealth, deception, showing weakness, and engaging in a battle of strength—all of it.
For these reasons, the old master had been addicted to it for half his life and was still as enthralled as ever.
With an outright refusal and feigned anger, threatening to beat someone up if it was mentioned again, Xuejian and Li Fu could only accept it reluctantly.
Once Li Hao had put away the fishing gear in the Listening Rain Tower, he went back to the courtyard with Li Fu, learning along the way that Northern Yan had sent a letter. Their eyes lit up at the news, and they hurried to the Eternal Spring Court.
A family letter was in Lady He Jianlan’s hands; she sat upright in the hall, her demeanor noble and dignified.
“Tiangang is running short of military funds; I need to attend court tomorrow…” A pensive look crossed He Jianlan’s eyes.
Just then, Li Hao and Li Fu rushed in hurriedly. Li Fu still had the sense to remember propriety, but Li Hao had already barged in. Li Fu tried to stop him but failed and ended up following him in a fluster.
When they faced He Jianlan’s gaze, the man’s face showed a hint of embarrassment, and he quickly bowed to apologize.
“Is it from them?” Li Hao hurriedly asked.
He Jianlan’s gaze shifted to Li Hao, and upon sensing the faint smell of the water on him, she knew he had just returned from fishing with his uncle.
Seeing Li Hao’s expectant look, He Jianlan did not mind the boy’s rashness and nodded slightly.
“What… what does it say?” Li Hao asked, his eyes full of anticipation.
He Jianlan paused slightly, a fleeting look of tenderness in her eyes, but it quickly vanished as she spoke softly,
“It’s a military report from Northern Yan. Your father says they’ve just slain a group of demons, and there are issues with grain and provisions.”
She did not give details, as it involved military affairs.
“Did they encounter any dangers, did they mention me?” asked Li Hao.
He Jianlan’s fingers tightened slightly around the letter as she nodded and said with a smile,
“Your parents asked me to feed you well and not to overexert yourself. They also inquired about what you’ve recently eaten, whether you’ve caught a cold, or whether you have been obedient to your elders…”
After listening quietly to the lady’s words, Li Hao said, “Could I see the letter, please? I can read.”
He Jianlan closed the letter and shook her head slightly, “No, it contains military matters, and you’re still too young.”
“Alright then,” replied Li Hao, and then he said, “Please write back on my behalf, let them know I’ve been eating well. My cooking is pretty great; I can make tasty food by myself. Also, tell them I’m diligently cultivating my body, which is strong, so I won’t catch a cold. I go fishing with the second uncle every day without hardship. The uncle treats me very well, and he even praised my cooking. When they return, I’ll let them have a taste.”
“And also, tell them to take good care of themselves and not worry about me. I’m safe here in the Divine General Mansion, with both the uncle and you backing me up, nobody bullies me.”