Chapter 31: Perfection

"Little Haozi's craftsmanship is getting better and better. I've been fishing for half my life and have long been tired of fish meat, but the fish made by Little Haozi is something I can eat."

Master Feng Bo Ping laughed loudly, flicked his sleeves, and was the first to sit on the large stone by the pot. With a wave of his palm, cups and jade chopsticks appeared in his palm like a flower.

Although he and Li Muxiu were birds of a feather, there were some differences between them. Master Feng Bo Ping was quite fastidious and loved beautiful jade; even the bowls and chopsticks he used for eating and drinking were luxurious, not inferior in the slightest to the imperial family in the court.

He smiled and handed Li Hao a pair of clean bowls and chopsticks, but ignored Li Muxiu, instead quietly waiting for the pot to open.

Li Hao estimated that the time was about right, so he lifted the lid and placed it upside down on a tree leaf to the side. The fragrant smell immediately rushed out. He didn't care about the etiquette of respecting the old and loving the young, and directly reached out with his chopsticks to pick up meat.

"Good fellow, wait for me."

Li Muxiu hurriedly rushed over, grabbed a tree branch, rubbed it into chopsticks, and inserted them into the pot to stir.

Although Master Feng Bo Ping was fastidious, he didn't say anything about Li Muxiu's action. Li Hao felt that this was probably the feeling of a lifelong best friend.

The three of them gorged themselves. Although there was a significant age gap, neither of them put on the airs of an elder in front of Li Hao. Sometimes you call me a little thing, and I call you an old man—showing complete casualness.

"I didn't expect you to make fish meat into such patterns." Li Muxiu finished a mouthful of spicy soup and exclaimed in admiration.

Li Hao smiled. That was true; for the past half year, the painting and cooking he had taught himself were both steadily improving, reaching the Second Stage.

The Fishing Dao was also the same.

Perhaps there really was a saying about a "newbie protection period." His fish-catching rate was extremely high in the first month, but now it was rare to catch fish. Sometimes he even had to wait until midnight and could only helplessly find a shallow water area to catch a Tongli Realm fish demon to avoid returning empty-handed.

Just as they were talking, suddenly, Li Hao's eyes drifted toward the fish float, only to see it lightly tapping the water.

There was movement! He quickly put down his bowl and chopsticks, his figure crouching and rushing to the fishing rod. Just at this moment, the fish float suddenly sank to the bottom of the water.

Li Hao quickly pulled the hook and line. The other end immediately tightened, and a huge force came, and a huge movement also appeared at the bottom of the water.

"This kid..."

The two old men saw it, and a trace of envy appeared in their eyes. To think this kid opened the business first again.

Soon, the movement at the bottom of the water became bigger and bigger, and a demon beast surfaced from the water, but it wasn't a fish demon, but a shrimp demon covered in shells!

It was four or five meters long, covered in sharp thorns, and its shrimp pincers were ferocious, enough to snap mountain rocks.

At this moment, this shrimp demon was using its pincers to clamp the fishing line, its protruding eyeballs staring at Li Hao on the shore. Seeing that it was a little child, it screamed in monster language in anger, but was also extremely terrified. Where did this wild child come from, to have such strength?

It struggled more and more violently, but the fishing line was found by Li Muxiu for Li Hao, water and fire-proof, capable of bearing one million jin of strength. How could this ordinary Zhou Tian Realm shrimp demon destroy it?

Soon, under the dragging, the shrimp demon's body slowly approached the shore. Its eyeballs revealed a struggle, considering whether to self-mutilate its body to escape the hook and save its life.

Just at this moment, Li Hao's body on the shore swayed, as if he couldn't hold the fishing rod steadily.

"Hmm?"

Seeing this, the shrimp demon hesitated again.

After a tug-of-war, the shrimp demon felt that this child was only slightly better than itself. If it weren't for being hooked and injured, it might not necessarily be an opponent.

Its eyeballs rolled, trying to drag Li Hao into the water, but Li Hao stabilized his body dangerously every time.

Finally, after a tug-of-war, the shrimp demon was dragged in pain, and it couldn't help but let out its ferocity, screaming and rushing onto the fishing platform, wanting to snap and crush this ignorant evil child.

But as it went ashore, the child who had been swaying just now suddenly stabilized his body, and a bright smile of relief appeared on his face.

Not good!

The shrimp demon just realized something was wrong when, suddenly, a huge force came from the fishing hook, dragging its body, which had lost its balance in the air, and it actually flew toward the other side.

With a "whoosh", a silver light seemed to flash by. What was that thing, so bright?

The next moment, the shrimp demon knew nothing, and the world returned to darkness.

A huge shrimp head rolled down. Li Hao casually inserted his sword into the ground next to him, then dragged its body and threw it not far from the stove, saying to the two old men: "It's a pity it didn't take the bait earlier, otherwise I would have added some shrimp paste for you at noon."

Seeing Li Hao solve this Zhou Tian Realm shrimp demon so easily, the two old men both smiled. Previously, they had hidden their aura, so the shrimp demon hadn't sensed them, which gave it courage.

Li Hao re-cast the bait and continued to pick up his bowl and chopsticks to eat and drink.

"This Zhou Tian Realm Ninth Level monster was killed by you so easily. You must have cultivated the Dragon River Divine Pulse of your Li family to Small Success, right?" Master Feng Bo Ping said with a smile.

Li Hao did not deny it.

Small Success? It was already perfected.

The daily fishing ended. As the sun set behind the western mountains, Li Hao said goodbye to Second Grandfather and the Saint of Thieves. He heard the Saint of Thieves say that he was going on a long trip and would be away for half a month. Obviously, treasures would be stolen from somewhere again.

Li Muxiu was long used to it, said goodbye with a smile, and brought Li Hao back to the Divine General Mansion.

Now that Li Hao had an interest in fishing, Li Muxiu didn't take him to continue the "traditional rules" of fishing anymore and went straight back to the Listening Rain Tower.

Outside the tower, Li Fu was waiting there as usual, but this time beside him was a young maid, who was Xuejian from the Changchun Courtyard.

Seeing one old and one young return, Xuejian couldn't help but size up Li Hao.

She had long heard that this Second Grandfather had a strange temperament. Many ladies and wives of various courtyards wanted to send their children to him to be taught a thing or two, but he ignored everyone. She didn't expect that he would be so close to Li Hao, such a martial arts waste body.

Thinking this way, Xuejian's gentle face didn't reveal anything. She smiled, stepped forward, and explained her purpose.

It turned out that the eldest lady, He Jianlan, thought that Li Hao had learned body-refining techniques for quite some time and wanted Li Hao to enter the martial arts arena to cultivate together with the children of the family.

Li Fu naturally had long learned the news from Xuejian. When she was speaking, an eager smile appeared on his face, and he wished he could nod and agree for Li Hao.

But Li Hao and Li Muxiu looked at each other after hearing it, and both laughed.

Li Muxiu knew that Li Hao was of low status and his words carried little weight, and he would be pestered if he refused, so he waved his hand and said: "The little fellow stays by my side; my teaching is enough. Going to the martial arts arena is a waste of time."

The old man muttered in his heart: If you let this kid go to the martial arts arena, isn't that bullying people? The family children in the martial arts arena are at most in the Zhou Tian Realm. Those with higher talent go to apprentice in famous mountains or join the army.

Letting such a little monster who can kill a Zhou Tian Realm Ninth Level demon at will go to the martial arts arena—what's the difference between that and beating the old and young, and kicking women and children? Hearing the old man's refusal, Li Fu and Xuejian were both anxious.

But Xuejian seemed to have anticipated this rhetoric long ago and immediately explained gently and eloquently, saying that he only needed to go to the martial arts arena to practice for a while in the morning, mainly to let Li Hao spar with his peers and hone his combat experience, etc.

Li Fu nodded repeatedly on the side, yes, yes.

Although he could get the best guidance by Second Uncle's side, he was also worried that the old man would lead Li Hao astray. After all, Second Uncle was strong, but he seemed a bit... not attending to his proper duties.

He had never seen Li Hao talk about cultivation with Second Uncle; instead, they talked about which fish to catch and how to pull the hook, talking with great interest...

Moreover, even for a famous teacher like the Sword Saint, his disciples had to spar with people in the same realm, otherwise, the teaching of "talking on paper" would ultimately lead to slow comprehension.

Li Muxiu rolled his eyes slightly when he heard Xuejian's rhetoric. Could fighting with those little fellows in the family compare to the wits and courage with fish demons while fishing? One had to know that fishing for Zhou Tian Realm demons was not just a test of strength. These fish demons already possessed wisdom and knew danger, preferring to tear their bodies apart to escape the hook. Waiting for demons in the Ji Hun Realm was even harder to fish.

Simply put, fishing was a comprehensive technical job—wits, concealment, disguise, feigning weakness, power confrontation, etc.

Precisely because of this, the old man had been addicted for half his life and was still intoxicated to this day.

With a flat refusal, the old man feigned anger and said he would beat anyone who mentioned it again. Only then did Xuejian and Li Fu helplessly accept it.

Li Hao put the fishing gear into the Listening Rain Tower and returned to the courtyard with Li Fu. On the way, he learned that a letter had been sent back from Yanbei. Both of them had bright eyes and hurried toward the Changchun Courtyard.

A family letter was in the hands of He Jianlan. She sat upright in the main hall, her demeanor noble and dignified.

"Tiangang's military pay is insufficient. Tomorrow I must go to the court..." He Jianlan's eyes revealed contemplation.

Just at this moment, Li Hao and Li Fu rushed in. Li Fu still had reason and knew the rules, but Li Hao had already trespassed. He wanted to pull him back but didn't, so he could only rush in recklessly.

Seeing He Jianlan's gaze, the man's face looked slightly embarrassed, and he hurriedly bowed to apologize.

"Did they send it?" Li Hao asked hurriedly.

He Jianlan's gaze turned to Li Hao. Smelling the faint fishy smell, she knew that Li Hao had just returned from fishing with Second Uncle.

Seeing Li Hao's expectant gaze, He Jianlan didn't mind the child's recklessness and nodded slightly.

"Then... what did they say?" Li Hao looked forward to it.

He Jianlan paused slightly, and a trace of pity appeared in the depths of her eyes, but it disappeared quickly. She said warmly: "It's the battle report and military situation from Yanbei. Your father said they just killed a group of monsters, and there's also the issue of food and grass."

She didn't elaborate; after all, it was military business.

"Then did they encounter any danger? Did they mention me?" Li Hao asked.

He Jianlan's fingers holding the letter tightened slightly. She nodded and smiled: "Your parents instructed me to let you eat more, and also told you not to work too hard. In addition, they asked me what you've been eating lately, if you've caught a cold, if you've been listening to your elders..."

Li Hao listened silently to the eldest lady's words and said: "Can you let me see the letter? I know how to read."

He Jianlan folded the letter and shook her head slightly: "No, there is military business inside. You are still young."

"Okay."

Li Hao could only agree and immediately said: "Then please trouble the eldest lady to write back for me. Just say I've been eating and drinking well. My cooking is great; I can make delicious food myself. And I'm cultivating body refining, so my body is strong and I won't catch a cold. I go fishing with Second Grandfather all day, and it's not hard work. Second Grandfather treats me very well and even praised my cooking. When they come back, I'll let them taste it."

"Also, also, tell them to take care of themselves. Don't worry about me. I'm very safe in the Divine General Mansion. With Second Grandfather and the eldest lady supporting me, no one bullies me."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 32 =====