At this moment, he finally realized that he had made a mistake.
He was too obsessed with enhancing the child’s strength but ignored the child’s feelings.
“I, I must go find him…”
Li Tian Gang clenched his fists, his eyes slightly brimming with redness, “He will forgive me, after all, we are father and son, he won’t hold a grudge forever…”
“If he truly held a grudge, there might still be a chance to make amends, but I fear that child doesn’t even bear resentment towards you anymore.”
Li Muxiu’s eyes filled with sorrow as he said, “You have never taken his leaving home seriously, but did you know? He waited alone in that courtyard for fourteen years. What did he wait for? When he stepped out of the Li Family, how many dangers did he encounter, did he almost die? We know nothing of this.”
“But he attained such a cultivation level in just one year. Without the fear and pressure of life and death, how could he have transformed so rapidly?”
“Do you take life and death as child’s play?”
“Can’t you imagine how desperate and furious one must feel when facing life and death, when will you truly understand that you have already truly lost him!”
With a thunderous noise, Li Tian Gang’s mind was struck as if by lightning, standing there stupefied. Had he truly lost that child?
His pupils slightly contracted, his breathing almost halted as he cried out fiercely, “No, it’s not possible, he can’t truly leave, I will surely bring him back!”
As he spoke, he strode towards the outside.
But Li Muxiu stepped forward to block his path.
“How will you bring him back, by force?”
Li Muxiu stared at him intently, “I didn’t speak of these things before, while the elder brother’s spirit was still here. I didn’t want his last moment to be one of despair, but I know that child’s temperament and character; you have no chance left!”
“No, that’s not true!”
Li Tian Gang shouted at him, his eyes red, tears rolling down, “We are father and son!”
“Father and son? The bond between you father and son is shallow. Your first meeting after over a decade was shattered by that slap of yours!”
“Do you know why Hao Er waited for you to return before confronting that wicked woman? It’s because he thought at least you would be on his side. After all, you risked your life to cut down the Great Demon and gave him the Blood Melting Foundation Building. He held that act of kindness in his heart!”
“Despite the few letters you exchanged and the distance between you, it was that bit of warmth that sustained Hao Er to this day.”
“But that was gone with one slap from you!”
Li Muxiu said sorrowfully, “When I saw Hao Er returning the Demon King’s blood essence to the Divine General Mansion, I knew you two had no more emotional connection. Hao Er… can’t come back anymore…”
Li Tian Gang stood there dumbfounded, as if doused with cold water, his entire body chilling.
Outside of blood relations, was the only thing between them that act of slaying a Demon and offering blood?
He swayed, feeling unsteady on his feet.
He looked at Li Muxiu, eyes filled with sorrow and despair, “Uncle, what should I do? You wouldn’t want to see Hao Er truly leave either, what should I do to make him forgive me?”
Li Muxiu looked at him with a frantic look in his eyes. In the past, his heart would surge with anger, wanting to use this opportunity to mock him severely, but now, he just felt a desolation as if his heart had turned to ashes.
“The most hurtful thing in this world is not being unable to do something.”
“Rather, it’s clearly being able to do it, but stubbornly not willing to.”
“With your insight and wisdom, you clearly could have handled these things well, but your prejudices, your indifference towards Hao, led you to arrogantly choose the most convenient method by disciplining your own child with military training…”
“That is the most hurtful thing.”
“Uncle, say no more; I know I was wrong. Just tell me, how can I bring him back?” Li Tian Gang said in agony.
Li Muxiu’s face was solemn and silent.
He had said so much, and was it not because deep down he still harbored a sliver of faint hope—that by chastising Li Tian Gang, he might awaken him to realize the truth? If that were to happen, then there might be a slim chance to bring Li Hao back.
“Perhaps, just as your father said, only if you sincerely apologize to him will there be that slim possibility.”
Li Muxiu whispered softly.
He took a deep breath and, looking at the grief-stricken and remorseful Li Tian Gang, said, “But whether you can do it, that’s hard to say, and whether Hao Er can forgive you, I don’t know either. After all, you’ve hurt him too deeply…”
“I understand. I will find Hao Er, no matter what happens, even if he draws his sword against me again, I will let him strike, as long as he is willing to come back!”
Li Tian Gang declared fiercely.
Seeing such determination in him, Li Muxiu fell briefly into a heavy silence, his heart held only a frail hope, but it was overshadowed by regret.
If only this realization had come earlier, would there be such a day?
His elder brother might have been able to return home for one last glimpse…
His heart felt desolate, and he no longer had the desire to speak.
Li Tian Gang looked at him and then at his emotionless Fourth Uncle, Li Xiaoran, beside him. Filled with sorrow, he thought of his father’s final words—he could not let his father die with his eyes unshut!
“Dad, I will surely bring back Hao Er and let him visit you at our ancestral shrine!”
Li Tian Gang knelt on the ground, facing the spot where Li Tianzong had last vanished, and kowtowed three times with heavy thuds.
Then, wiping the tears from the corners of his eyes, he stood up and said to Li Muxiu and Li Xiaoran, “Uncle, Fourth Uncle, I leave the matter of the Mo River beyond our territory to you. This time, I’m afraid I will be neglecting my duties, but let me take this chance for Hao Er!”
As he spoke, seeing the two unresponsive, he felt a chill in his heart, knowing they were still immersed in their father’s death, and deeply disappointed in him as well.
But as he was about to step out, the previously silent Li Xiaoran suddenly spoke, “I will accompany you.”
Li Tian Gang’s body trembled, his eyes moistening again. Clenching his teeth, he turned around and bowed deeply, “Thank you, Fourth Uncle. It’s enough for Tian Gang to go alone. The child went to the Ji Family; the Ancient Holy Clan won’t be swayed by numbers. As Qingqing’s husband, perhaps the Ji Family will show some leniency on account of this thin connection.”
Li Xiaoran did not respond and merely stood up straight.
Li Muxiu, however, spoke up, “Old Fourth, let him go alone.”
Li Xiaoran’s body paused slightly as he looked towards him.
“He’s right. With the strength of the Ji Family, if they want to harm Hao Er, it would make no difference who goes…”
Li Muxiu’s gaze seemed to have aged considerably as he spoke in a low voice, “Let’s just hope they consider that Hao Er is also their nephew and don’t go as far as to kill him…”
On hearing this, Li Xiaoran looked at the knife in his hand and then lowered his head in silent contemplation.
Li Tian Gang, however, felt a tremor in his heart. His wife had told him that the rules of the Ji Family were extremely strict, forbidding marriage with other clans. His union with Qingqing was already a violation of a major taboo of the Ji Family. With the child now approaching the Ji Family, the prospects might be more perilous than auspicious.
He could not afford to say more and immediately said, “Uncle, Fourth Uncle, wait for me to bring back Hao Er!”
Having said that, he turned and dashed out swiftly, transforming into a streak of golden light and speeding towards the distant Great Wilderness Heaven beyond the border.
…
…