“`
“Indeed, many came to propose to the ninth, but Father rejected them all.”
Li Xingbei laughed and said, “Now with the talents of the tenth surpassing even more, even if the imperial family comes to propose, Father would have to weigh his options.”
As they gathered around Li Hao and conversed, Li Hao sat amidst the gathering, quietly listening, until he noticed several figures approaching from a distance. Among them was one that particularly irritated him, prompting him to avert his gaze and soon close his eyes, accelerating past the moment.
The sounds of laughter and clinking cups by his ears quickly vanished, and the scene changed, washing over him in waves of weakness.
Perplexed, Li Hao found himself lying on a bed.
He reached out to feel his surroundings but found his arm weak and powerless.
Sensing his awakening, a dozing figure beside him startled awake and leapt up, rushing to the bedside:
“Tenth brother, how do you feel? Any better?”
Li Hao looked at the face of the person beside him and, recalling the bone-measuring session from before, recognized him as Li Ziye, the sixth of the Li Family.
The father of Li Yuanzhao.
However, the current Li Ziye appeared to be just over ten years old, still very youthful.
But the concern and anxiety in his eyes were palpable and genuine.
Perhaps because of Li Yuanzhao, Li Hao felt a spontaneous fondness for him and asked in confusion, “Sixth brother?”
“You’re finally awake. Earlier at the banquet, a demon disguised as a noble almost assassinated you.”
Li Ziye seemed to exhale in relief, then immediately raised his voice to call out loudly toward the exterior of the room.
An attack by a demon… A chill ran through Li Hao. He was only five, yet the demon could not restrain itself from attacking him, and it had even infiltrated the Divine General Mansion.
He wondered if it was a flaw of the Mo River or if the demon possessed some special infiltration technique.
“Fortunately, fourth uncle acted promptly and killed the demon,” Li Ziye informed Li Hao.
On hearing this, Li Hao inwardly heaved a sigh of relief. It seemed that his fourth uncle had been keeping an eye on him and had managed to intervene in time.
“The eldest and the others were injured too and are recuperating,” Li Ziye added.
Li Hao inquired, “Aside from me, everyone else is okay?”
“They’re alright, just minor injuries. You and ninth brother were the main targets of the demon.”
“Ninth brother was standing farther away, so his injuries aren’t serious,” explained Li Ziye.
“That’s good,” Li Hao said, relieved.
As news of his awakening spread, many people rushed over.
“Little Ten, are you alright?” Chen Hefang hurried over, her face full of tension and concern.
Li Hao also saw his other “brothers”, but Li Tianzong wasn’t among them. He asked, “Where’s Father?”
“Father went to the outskirts of the city to slay demons, seeking justice for you,” Li Fengping, the second brother, explained. His forehead was bandaged, seemingly injured.
Li Hao fell silent for a moment.
He knew he had to start cultivating diligently.
Li Hao’s gaze swept over each of their faces before closing his eyes, accelerating through the time of recovery.
When he opened his eyes again, Li Hao found himself in a side room with a drawing board before him, and his body had fully recovered. The feeling of weakness had disappeared.
The crowd that had been around him was gone, and the sudden emptiness made him pause momentarily, but he quickly adjusted and picked up a brush to start painting.
While painting, Li Hao pondered expanding his skills and quickly earning more Artistic Skill Points.
“`
While he was halfway through painting, the door opened, and Li Hao saw Li Hongzhuang pushing the door and squeezing in.
Li Hongzhuang was now three years old and had already started her Foundation Establishment.
Li Hao asked, “Have you finished your Foundation Establishment for today?”
“Mm.”
Li Hongzhuang nodded her head. Although she was only three years old, she was extremely well-behaved and sensible. She also displayed a clever and quick-witted side as she said,
“Big brother, why do you paint every day?”
“Because I like it.”
“Then do you like Hong Zhuang?”
“I like you too.”
“Then you should spend more time with Hong Zhuang.”
Li Hongzhuang came over, tugging at Li Hao’s clothes, and said with pleading eyes.
Li Hao was speechless. This little rascal had even learned to trap people with words.
“Alright, alright, brother will spend time with you,” Li Hao said, becoming more comfortable and proficient with his current identity.
“Hmph, big brother only does his own things, never spending time to play with Hong Zhuang.”
Li Hongzhuang pouted.
Li Hao immediately suggested a game of hide and seek to play with her.
Li Hongzhuang’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. She agreed immediately and ran out the door.
Li Hao, having sent her away, continued his painting.
When he grew tired of painting, he suddenly thought of going to the kitchen to accumulate some experience in the Cooking Arts, as Skill Points were quite easy to obtain in the early stages.
By the way, finding some dry wood in the kitchen could also help him master the Carving Arts.
As soon as Li Hao thought of it, he stepped out the door, only to see Li Hongzhuang standing at the door, pouting with a displeased face. Li Hao asked in surprise, “Why are you here?”
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Li Hongzhuang puffed up with anger.
Li Hao was speechless and coughed lightly, “I did look for you. I just went around and didn’t find you. I thought you might be hiding here, so I came back.”
“Big brother is a liar.”
Li Hongzhuang continued indignantly, “I was hiding in the flower bed in the courtyard by the doorway just now.”
“…”
Li Hao was speechless. This little trickster was really not easy to fool.
“Come on, big brother will take you to make something to eat,” Li Hao promptly changed the subject and led her towards the kitchen.
The very young Li Hongzhuang, after all just a three-year-old child, was quickly intrigued by Li Hao’s suggestion, puzzledly asking, “Make what?”
“You’ll know once we get there.”
Li Hao smiled and, taking Li Hongzhuang with him, arrived in the kitchen. The house servants there quickly scrambled to bow in greeting upon seeing Li Hao.
Li Hao, however, acted very maturely, telling them to clear the stove and then fetching the ingredients to let Li Hongzhuang also participate in cooking.
Children, especially little girls, seemed to have an innate love for playing house. Very soon, Li Hongzhuang put aside the earlier trickery from Li Hao’s mind. Her small hands kneaded and washed the ingredients, her little face extremely serious, and she neatly arranged each washed item on plates, stacking them neatly.