Chapter 17

Bian Ruxue won.

With one sword, she knocked away Li Dongbai's sword, and at the same time, she thrust her sword straight at the half-inch in front of the other party's throat.

The youth was so shocked that his body stiffened. When he came back to his senses, he quickly retreated several steps before looking at this half-grown girl with fear.

This scene exceeded everyone's expectations. Everyone looked at Bian Ruxue in disbelief. Li Dongbai had been practicing here for eight years, yet he was no match for this little girl who had been practicing for one year. Was this the gap in talent? Bian Ruxue withdrew her sword, a bright smile appearing on her little face. She won.

Immediately, she looked up at the youth before her and said earnestly: "I want you to apologize to Brother Hao."

Apologize? Apologize to that waste? Li Dongbai came back to his senses, his face instantly flushed with shame. He gritted his teeth and said: "I admit I lost to you, but I can't apologize!"

"You..." Bian Ruxue frowned her little eyebrows, somewhat not knowing what to do.

She thought for a moment and said: "If you don't apologize, I'll compete with you again."

"Childish!"

Li Dongbai was annoyed, turned around, and ran off the arena. Feeling the gazes cast by others, he didn't say anything and ran straight out of the martial arts arena.

The old man in the army didn't stop the youth's departure. Having suffered setbacks, some things needed to be understood by oneself.

On the contrary, this little girl made him somewhat amazed. The exquisiteness of that sword was already very close to the perfection level.

This was a Supreme Grade sword technique, and the difficulty of practicing it was quite high.

The Ninth-Grade Battle Body only granted cultivation speed, not technique practice speed, which showed that Bian Ruxue's sword talent, like her cultivation aptitude, was at a level rarely seen in the world! "Was it just a small defeat yesterday that stimulated her potential?" The old man in the army couldn't help but secretly chuckle in his heart.

In the arena, the illegitimate disciples looked at the little girl's figure with quite complex eyes.

They not only saw Li Dongbai's proud defeat in this battle but also saw the gap between them as illegitimate disciples and these children in the big courtyards.

"Xue'er, you are truly amazing."

Several small figures ran to Bian Ruxue, who had walked off the arena. They were the brother and sister from the Fifth Courtyard, as well as Li Yuanzhao from the Sixth Courtyard.

They were the same age as Bian Ruxue, with only a gap of a few months. The youngest was Li Yun's sister, Li Zhining, who was only six years old this year and had only come to the martial arts arena not long ago.

And their sister, Li Wushuang, had long left the mansion to practice with a famous teacher.

It was Brother Hao who was amazing... Bian Ruxue thought to herself.

Three children surrounded Bian Ruxue, chattering about the excitement just now. The one who spoke the most happily was Li Yun, Li Wushuang's younger brother.

"Xue'er, do you want to eat milk pastry?"

Li Yun suddenly took out a small wooden lunch box with exquisite decoration, opened it gently, and a rich milky fragrance wafted out. Inside were soft, glutinous pastries as white as jade: "Here, for you."

Bian Ruxue sniffed with her nose, smelling how fragrant it was. Her eyes were bright and sparkling, and she said happily: "Is it all for me?"

"If you like it, take it all." Li Yun grinned and said.

"Thank you."

Bian Ruxue didn't forget to thank him and took it all.

At this time, it was also time for the day's practice to end. She waved her little hand, carried the small lunch box, hugged the sword in her other hand, and left.

Li Yun looked at her departing back and giggled foolishly.

Beside him, his sister Li Zhining raised her little face and asked suspiciously: "Brother, wasn't this prepared for you by Mother? I haven't tasted it yet."

"If you want to eat, just ask Mother to make it for you again later. Xue'er hasn't eaten it yet." Li Yun said with a foolish smile, not caring.

Li Zhining snorted softly, pouted her little face in jealousy, turned around, and left.

"Ningning, I'll let you eat mine." Beside her, Li Yuanzhao's short and fat little figure chased over, saying with a grin.

"I don't care for it!" The little girl patted it away angrily.

……

……

In the pavilion, Li Hao's chess game was only half finished when he heard that Bian Ruxue had returned.

He glanced at her casually, saw the smile that couldn't be hidden on the little girl's face, and already had the answer in his heart, continuing to stare at the chessboard to place his piece:

"What's so happy? Tell me so I can be happy too."

"I won."

Bian Ruxue ran to the pavilion, said excitedly, her eyes staring at Li Hao, waiting for praise as if asking for credit.

Li Hao smiled and placed another piece: "As expected of Xue'er, amazing."

Getting this praise, the smile on the little girl's face bloomed even more, saying: "Brother Hao, you play first. I'll give you something delicious to eat in a while."

"Oh?"

Li Hao noticed the wooden box in her hand, didn't ask much, continued to fight on the chessboard with Li Fu, and soon finished the game.

Li Fu's chess skill was considered an ordinary amateur level, not even ranked, which led Li Hao to play against him, only being able to gain one or two points of experience each time, so he couldn't help but often complain in his heart that the assassin had struck too early...

"What good thing is it?"

Li Hao turned around carelessly and looked at the wooden box beside him.

Bian Ruxue put the sword on the chair for a moment, carried the food box to the table, opened the lid, and a milky fragrance wafted out: "It's milk pastry someone gave me. It looks delicious. Brother Hao, you try it."

"Who gave it?" Li Hao didn't take it immediately but asked with vigilance in his heart. Bian Ruxue was stunned, thought for a moment, shook her head, and said: "I forgot to ask his name, but Brother Hao, you should know him. It's the one we often bump into when we go to pay morning respects to the eldest aunt."

"Those few children?" Li Hao was surprised.

Li Fu rolled his eyes at him. Aren't you also a child?

However, he had long been used to Li Hao's old-fashioned way of speaking.

"Yes." Bian Ruxue nodded.

Li Hao felt somewhat relieved. "You little girl, you've been practicing in the martial arts arena with them for a year anyway, how can you not even remember their names."

Bian Ruxue looked at him somewhat aggrievedly: "They didn't tell me."

"They must have said it. Even if they didn't, the attendants beside them would have mentioned it. It's you who didn't pay attention." Li Hao said indignantly.

"Then I'll ask again next time." Bian Ruxue said with a depressed little face.

Li Hao said: "You should be more sociable, otherwise you will be bullied in the future."

"I won't." Bian Ruxue immediately raised her head, her little face showing a bit of pride: "The teacher said my talent is very good, and I will be very amazing in the future. By then, I will protect Brother Hao and never let anyone bully you again."

"Just protect yourself well. I haven't been bullied." Li Hao said. He played chess and took walks in the courtyard every day; it couldn't be more comfortable, belonging to early retirement.

"You kid, Xue'er has good intentions, what kind of attitude is that." Li Fu couldn't stand it and scolded.

Li Hao looked at him helplessly. This guy wasn't very old, only in his forties, so why was he like an old pedant?

Too lazy to argue, Li Hao said to him: "Uncle Fu, you try it first, test for poison. Although those few children aren't bad people, I'm afraid of being used by others."

Li Fu nodded slightly and looked at Li Hao again. This kid always made people feel very contradictory; sometimes he was very careful, sometimes he was a bit ungrateful.

Picking up the milky pastry and eating it, Li Fu closed his eyes.

A moment later, Li Hao waited impatiently and asked: "How is it? It should be fine, say something, Uncle Fu."

"The taste is not bad." Li Fu opened his eyes and said.

Li Hao rolled his eyes at him and immediately said to Bian Ruxue: "Eat quickly, don't let it get cold."

Saying this, he also picked up a piece and tasted it. The taste was indeed not bad. He said: "It's a bit like the craftsmanship of the Fifth Aunt. Is the guy who gave it to you Li Yun, or his sister Li Zhining?"

"It's the brother." Bian Ruxue could still distinguish between brother and sister.

"Next time, let that kid bring more. How much is enough for anyone to eat with this little bit?" Li Hao swept it away like a whirlwind, but left the other half for Bian Ruxue.

"Yes." Bian Ruxue nodded and kept it in her heart.

Li Fu shook his head secretly on the side. This kid, at such a young age, why did he have such a shameless energy? It was really somewhat different from the solemn and dignified style of the Li Clan.

……

……

A few days later, the Divine General Mansion suddenly welcomed a distinguished guest.

The mansion was slightly stirred. The ladies of the courtyards received the news and hurried to visit. They learned that this distinguished guest was actually that person from the Sword Hut.

If they could climb up some relationship and let their children apprentice under his name, they would definitely achieve great things in the future.

Among them, especially those concubines were the most active. The cultivation resources of their children couldn't compare with the legitimate ones, so many top-level things needed to be fought for by themselves.

He Jianlan was receiving guests in Changchun Courtyard. Feeling the figures of the ladies passing by outside the courtyard frequently, she also knew the thoughts of these people. She didn't blame anything, but upon hearing the words of the legendary Sword Saint before her, a trace of surprise appeared on her face.

After some conversation, He Jianlan nodded slightly and got up to accompany him out.

Not long after, Shanhe Courtyard welcomed a long-lost liveliness, and a large group of figures ran over.

Li Hao, who was playing chess in the pavilion, heard the disturbance and was somewhat surprised. Immediately, he saw the eldest aunt leading the way, and beside her was an old man with snow-white hair hanging long.

The old man's eyebrows were sharp, his cheekbones quite prominent, looking like a very tough and lean feeling.

Beside this strange old man was another old man, the old man in the army from the martial arts arena. Li Hao had seen him several times, so he could be considered familiar.

"What's the situation?" Li Hao didn't understand.

Li Fu, sitting opposite him, saw the white-haired old man, but his pupils shrank, and he was so scared that he hurriedly stood up.

While feeling shocked, he suddenly thought of something and immediately became secretly excited.

Li Hao rarely saw Uncle Fu so excited, so he immediately understood that the strange old man was a big shot. However, there were not many people who could be treated like this by the Li Clan.

Looking at the unfinished chess game, Li Hao felt somewhat helpless, so he could only temporarily put it aside and turn to wait quietly.

"Li Fu."

He Jianlan saw Li Fu, immediately waved at him gently, and then called to Li Hao: "Hao'er, come over quickly."

Li Hao had no choice but to get up and walk over.

"Where is Xue'er?" He Jianlan asked again.

Li Hao pointed to another part of the courtyard: "She is practicing sword over there."

"Xuejian, go call Xue'er over." He Jianlan ordered the maid beside her.

(End of chapter)