As soon as he entered the main hall, Li Hao heard the sound of poetry recitation coming from inside.
“White hair floats on green water, red palms stir the clear waves… Haha, interesting, interesting!”
“Did Little Ten write this after seeing the big goose in the courtyard pond? Quite vivid and detailed, haha, my son can write poetry at the age of four!”
“Mr. Kong said, my son is a once-in-a-century poetic talent. If he is properly nurtured, he might even secure a position as the second top graduate in the imperial examination!”
Li Tianzong, the “father,” was seen pacing the hall with a paper in hand, his face beaming with smiles.
Chen Hefang was seated to one side, her face wearing a gentle smile, and said, “Look how happy you are, it’s just a few poems. Since when have you started liking the pursuits of scholars and literati.”
“I like anything my son does.”
Li Tianzong laughed and said, “Generals who can lead troops are many, but how many can write poetry? I’ll take this poem to those fellows later, hey, those barbarians are only fit to listen to children’s poetry, and perhaps they won’t even understand the meaning of my son’s poetry!”
While speaking, he saw Li Hao walking in and immediately waved at him:
“Little Ten, come here.”
Li Hao was slightly startled, though he had predicted that the man would probably not despise things like painting and poetry, seeing as how he had indulged him earlier. Yet he didn’t expect him to be this pleased.
A few childishly written poems made this father’s face light up with joy.
Yet that boy, famed across the land at fourteen, was only met with a resounding slap.
“Hmm.”
Li Hao walked over.
Li Tianzong picked up Li Hao, found a chair to sit on, placed Li Hao on his lap, and said:
“Come on, tell Daddy, and this poem too, ‘It seems like the Jade Platform Mirror, flying high in the azure sky,’ tch tch, how did your little head come up with that?”
Copied… Li Hao thought to himself, but his face was only foolishly smiling.
Chen Hefang looked on helplessly and said to Li Tianzong:
“Don’t spoil him too much. Little Ten has extraordinary talent; it would be better for him to focus more on martial arts. In a few years, he will start his true cultivation.”
“There’s still time. When the real cultivation begins, let Little Ten cultivate seriously then.”
Li Tianzong waved his hand and said, “I believe, with Little Ten’s intelligence, he can be both a scholar and a warrior. If he becomes a Marshal in the future, he must master military strategy. Otherwise, having cultivation level without understanding strategy means being nothing but a mere soldier, fine for taking orders, but it would be disastrous to be a general!”
Chen Hefang shook her head in resignation, knowing his temperament, she didn’t try to persuade him further.
Li Hao’s thoughts churned, and he took the opportunity to say to his “father”:
“Dad, I want to have a look at Listening Rain Tower tomorrow, may I?”
“Do you know what Listening Rain Tower is?” Li Tianzong couldn’t help but laugh.
“The place where Cultivation Techniques are kept,” said Li Hao.
Li Tianzong turned to Chen Hefang and said, “Did you see? Little Ten hasn’t even started cultivating and he’s already curious about martial arts.”
Chen Hefang gave him a gently reproachful look but then she softly chuckled, comforted by Li Hao’s words.
Indeed, she was somewhat anxious. Li Hao’s intelligence was a good thing, but if he delved too deeply into those literary pursuits, it might distract him and lead to the neglect of martial arts.
“If you want to go, later I’ll have Zhao take you there,” she said.
Li Tianzong told Li Hao, “But you can’t be naughty inside, if you damage the Cultivation Techniques, I will still punish you.”
“I’ll just take a look,” Li Hao said with a smile.
Just then, the “brothers” who were training in the martial arts field all returned. Li Tianzong waited until everyone was back in the courtyard before signaling Zhao to serve the food, preparing for dinner.
Seeing this, Li Hao immediately closed his eyes, leaping past this dinner segment.
When he opened his eyes again, his hand was being led by another toward a pavilion.
Li Hao immediately recognized that the pavilion was Listening Rain Tower.
The one leading him was Zhao.
“Young master, Listening Rain Tower is just ahead. When you go inside, remember to greet your Fourth Uncle, and don’t make a mess with those Cultivation Techniques. I won’t accompany you inside,” Zhao earnestly instructed.
Li Hao nodded, then expressed surprise, “Fourth Uncle?”
“Hmm.”
Zhao just nodded, not inclined to explain, and led Li Hao to the front of Listening Rain Tower.
The scenario was much like the first time he came, when Li Hao had accompanied Li Fu here.
Zhao spoke with the guards at the entrance to clarify, and then presented the token given by Li Tianzong.
At this point, Li Tianzong was already the True Dragon of Divine General Mansion, in charge of all affairs within the mansion.
Knowing the situation, the guard allowed Li Hao to pass through.
Li Hao looked at the familiar steps and stairway in front of him, feeling an inexplicable sense of having been away for a long time. Read exclusive content at m_v-l’-NovelFull.net
He entered the tower and looked around carefully; everything was arranged exactly as he remembered.
“How did you come over here?”
A voice sounded, and Li Xiaoran’s figure floated down.
Li Xiaoran waved his hand, closing the doors of Listening Rain Tower, then waved again to cast a soundproof Barrier enclosing them both.
“How is it you?” asked Li Hao, surprised. “Where’s Second Uncle?”
“You should call him Second Uncle,” Li Xiaoran reminded. “Always remember your identity here. Now it’s not about rank or offense, get used to it and don’t let any slip show.”
Li Hao nodded, taking the words to heart.
“Your Second Uncle was carefree when he was younger, liked to drift around, and is not currently in Divine General Mansion. If he’s not in an inn befriending rascals, he’s out there indulging himself, or he’s off traveling. His whereabouts are unknown,” Li Xiaoran said. “Currently, I’m in charge here; he’s not in the mansion.”
Li Hao could tell that, although there was a soundproof Barrier, this Fourth Uncle was still communicating cautiously, not fully reverting to their original relationship in his words.
Thinking of what he had heard about Second Uncle while in Divine General Mansion, it seemed he was indeed quite carefree in his youth, different from the other elders.