Chapter 358

Li Hao rose, packed simply, and then, with Candle Fire God and Xi Yan, headed toward the Li Clan's Divine General Mansion.

This time, he came to retrieve his enfeoffment edict, his official seal, and other such items.

Having heard from the old master that the couple was unwilling to hand them over, since that was the case, he had no choice but to come and take them himself.

Standing once again before this magnificent and imposing Divine General Mansion, Li Hao raised his head slightly and gazed at the large, gold-plated characters. Memories of the past flashed by rapidly, but in the end, they all slowly sank to the bottom of his heart.

Upon learning of Li Hao's arrival, the Divine General Mansion was instantly stirred into a commotion; He Jianlan and the others personally came to the entrance to welcome him.

Li Hao stated his reason, and the faint, nervous anticipation that had risen in the hearts of He Jianlan and the others quickly shattered and dimmed.

He Jianlan invited Li Hao into the Changchun Courtyard, treating him like an honored guest. With her snow-white, slender hands, she personally brewed tea for Li Hao, then immediately ordered someone to notify Li Tiangang at the Shanhe Courtyard, telling him to bring Li Hao's things over.

Upon learning that Li Hao had come, the other ladies in the mansion also rushed over. They knew that today, with this young man visiting and then leaving, it might be a long time before they saw him again, perhaps even many years...

The once tranquil Changchun Courtyard instantly became bustling.

The news was sent to the Shanhe Courtyard, where Li Tiangang, having knelt in the ancestral hall for an entire night, had just returned.

Last night, he had intended to visit the ancestors of past generations and then go to inspect the military situation across Qingzhou, but after stepping into the ancestral hall, he had not walked out again.

Faced with the inquiries of the ancestors, he dared not conceal anything and reported all matters truthfully.

He did not defend himself, merely narrating objectively, knowing that in this matter, he was indeed at fault. As he spoke, his face was filled with grief and regret.

After hearing this, the many heroic spirits of the Li Clan's ancestors were shocked, then furious, and finally, filled with sorrow.

They found it hard to believe that such a monstrous talent of the Li Clan had actually been forced out of the Li Clan by his own biological parents.

In the pitch-black night, roars of anger were blocked outside the door of the ancestral hall.

The sounds of bitter reproach and indignant cursing were all masked by the night.

Only Li Qingzheng, sitting outside the ancestral hall, heard them. But he leaned against the peach tree that had just blossomed outside the ancestral hall square, where a few peach petals fell, with several jars of wine brought back from Yunxia Tower beside him.

He poured for himself and drank alone.

He heard clearly the angry curses of the many ancestors within the ancestral hall behind him, but he felt no relief; his heart remained as still as a dead lake.

He merely gazed at the bright moon and the lights of the various courtyards of the Divine General Mansion illuminated beneath it; the warm, festive lights formed a sharp contrast with the darkness.

There were ten thousand lights, yet the most precious one was missing.

Wine was poured into his mouth, yet it slowly seeped out from the corners of his eyes.

At this moment, Li Tiangang, having just dragged his weary body back to the Shanhe Courtyard, saw his wife still sitting in the hall, looking as if she had not slept all night, her expression haggard, and his heart pained once more.

But before he could sit down, he received news from the Changchun Courtyard.

Upon learning that Li Hao had come, joy instantly surged in his heart, but upon learning that the other party had come to take the official seal and the edict, the joy that had just climbed in his heart was extinguished like cold water, and waves of grief tore through him.

He headed directly to the Changchun Courtyard.

And when Ji Qingqing heard the news, her numb, hollow eyes regained focus as if startled, and her already dry eye sockets unexpectedly welled up with moist tears.

She rose quickly and soared into the air, chasing toward the Changchun Courtyard.

In the Changchun Courtyard, Li Yuanzhao, Li Wushuang, and the others heard the news and quickly rushed over. Looking at the young man surrounded by his elders, the scene seemed the same as usual, only more fervent than before.

Li Hao chatted and laughed with He Jianlan and the others, who asked about Li Hao's future plans.

Li Hao only smiled and said that he planned to go everywhere to see and walk around, to see the mountains and rivers, and to see the scenery of various places.

Since he had come into this world, naturally he had to go everywhere to see if this world could satisfy him.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Li Xiaoran, sitting on the eaves of another house outside the hall, felt a slight bitterness at the corner of his mouth.

If that young man were still a member of the Li Clan, hearing these words would only make him feel nostalgic—nostalgic for when he was the same, young and spirited, hiding his name, wandering the mountains and rivers, and defeating the major martial arts sects.

But he had a time to return; wandering the mountains and rivers, there was always a hometown.

As for that young man, wherever he set foot, that place was home.

The soft whispers in the hall were soon broken by two whistling sounds; Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing arrived one after another, landing in the courtyard.

The bitter smile at the corner of Li Xiaoran's mouth on the eaves faded.

The soft whispers in the hall also quietly fell silent. Everyone's gaze fell upon Li Tiangang. He Jianlan's gaze lowered slightly, and seeing that Li Tiangang's hands were empty, her expression changed slightly, and she said:

"Tiangang, where are Hao'er's things?"

Li Tiangang seemed not to hear her words and walked straight into the hall; in his eyes, there seemed to be only the young man sitting there.

The grief in his chest was like a raging fire, a carving knife, burning and stinging his heart. He gritted his teeth, took a deep breath, and said, "What exactly do you want before you will forgive me and your mother?"

Li Hao frowned slightly and said, "I have said, we have no connection whatsoever. Do not presume to be my parents again. Please have some self-respect."

"Your mother also had no choice. Don't tell me you want me to give you my life now?!"

Li Tiangang said, gritting his teeth.

Li Hao's brow furrowed even deeper, and his eyes grew a few degrees colder: "I said, the past is in the past. From now on, mountains are mountains, seas are seas, you are you, and I am I. Is what I said not clear enough?"

"Do you know how much we have suffered these days? Your mother washes her face with tears every day, regretting day and night. We are also in pain!"

Li Tiangang's eye sockets were red, and beneath his thick brows, anger surged within his sorrowful gaze.

"..."

Li Hao looked at him quietly and realized once again that this man was the same as always, never having changed. Even with regret, even with sorrow, he still had never taken his words to heart.

But fortunately, he was now completely unmoved by this.

Since he could not listen, there was no need to say more. He picked up his teacup and lowered his head to take a sip.

He Jianlan saw the atmosphere stiffen again, her emotions becoming somewhat agitated, and she rose, saying, "Tiangang, why are you saying these things here? No matter how much you suffer, can you be in more pain than Hao'er? He almost died several times!"

Li Tiangang's expression changed, his eyes sorrowful, "But what can we do?"

He Jianlan gritted her teeth and said, "Wasn't what Hao'er said clear enough? He has no relationship with you anymore. He came here to take the glory that belongs to him. That is the merit he established in Liangzhou. Did you bring it?!"

Hearing this stern speech from this eldest sister-in-law, Li Tiangang's heart trembled, and the grief in his eyes deepened by another degree.

He raised his head to look at He Jianlan, then looked at Li Hao, who was lowering his head to drink tea and no longer speaking, and said, gritting his teeth:

"Since you have severed your bloodline and let go of the past, why have you come here?"

Li Hao put down his teacup, his expression as calm as water, and said, "Just because I have let go, that is why I came."

When these words were spoken, He Jianlan and the others felt a pain in their hearts, knowing that this young man had truly let go.

But this also made them seem even more distant from this young man.

Li Tiangang's expression was ugly, and he said, "Do you want me to beg you? Then I will beg you in front of everyone now. Will you please come back?" He Jianlan's expression changed, and she said angrily, "Is this your attitude when begging someone?"

Li Hao shook his head slightly to signal He Jianlan not to be angry. He turned his head to look at Li Tiangang earnestly and said:

"Do not pester me anymore. Aren't you someone who follows the law? I have no relationship with the Li Clan. What is the meaning of you privately withholding my official seal and edict?"

Li Tiangang's expression was ugly; his mood was extremely complex. He could analyze the matters on the battlefield point by point, but these family affairs left him in a tangled mess.

In his heart, he only knew that if he handed those things to Li Hao, it would be completely over.

"Child..."

Ji Qingqing stepped forward, her face full of tears, also wanting to plead.

But when Li Hao saw her tear-streaked face, his brow furrowed, and he rose, saying, "Forget it. Since you won't give them, that's fine. Then I don't want them."

Having said this, he turned to look at He Jianlan and the others, glanced around, and then bowed in salute:

"Junior Hao Tian bids farewell to all the seniors. Thank you for your care in the past. If fate allows, we shall meet again."

After speaking, he bowed deeply to He Jianlan once more, then immediately bypassed Li Tiangang and his wife in the hall and walked toward the outside.

"Stop right there!"

Li Tiangang said hurriedly.

"Hao'er!"

Ji Qingqing chased after him in grief, but was blocked by a force; it was Li Hao's Dao Domain.

Li Hao's footsteps did not stop until he saw a hunched figure at the entrance, at which point his footsteps paused.

The faint, cold expression that had remained on his face instantly softened, and he said in a low voice:

"Uncle Zhao, why didn't you come last night? I was still waiting to toast you."

Steward Zhao at the entrance heard this, lowered his head to wipe away tears, and forced a smile: "Young Master, this old servant had many things to do and did not attend the banquet. I hope you will forgive me."

Li Hao also guessed the reason and did not take offense, merely smiling slightly: "I am no longer the Young Master of the Shanhe Courtyard. From now on, just call me 'kid'."

Steward Zhao shook his head slowly and said, "You will always be my Young Master."

Li Hao's lips moved slightly. Looking at the genuine emotion in his eyes, he did not correct him again. He raised his hand in a beckoning gesture and took out a Demon King's heart from his spatial storage: "Use this demon heart as medicine; it has the effect of extending life and reshaping the body. Take it."

"Young Master, this cannot be done. This old servant's lowly life has no use for such a treasure..." Steward Zhao hurriedly declined.

Li Hao handed it to him directly and said, "It doesn't count as a treasure. I even find it fishy when cooking. I have plenty here. If you run out, I'll just go and kill a few more."

Steward Zhao was instantly choked with emotion. This child still hadn't changed, always viewing what everyone else chased after as duckweed, while viewing those ordinary, small matters as deeply affectionate.

"Child..."

Li Hao patted Uncle Zhao on the shoulder. Thinking of Li Fu, who had died in Liangzhou, he could not help but sigh in his heart and said no more.

Walking out the door, he saw Li Xiaoran on the opposite eaves. He nodded to the other party and smiled slightly.

He also bid farewell to this old master with whom he had fought side-by-side at the Mo River.

Li Xiaoran merely nodded slightly, his thoughts internalized, his thoughts unreadable on his face.

Just as Li Hao reached the steps, Li Yuanzhao, Li Jianming, and the others in the courtyard hurriedly greeted him, but before they could speak, suddenly, streaks of golden light whistled over from afar.

It could be seen that those golden lights were none other than the many ancestors of the Li Clan, rushing over from the direction of the ancestral hall.

The leading streak of golden light was imposing in stature and tall, with a soul several times larger than the other heroic spirits; it was none other than the Li Clan's ancestor, Li Tianyuan.

Seeing the arrival of these many ancestors, everyone in the courtyard was stunned, then hurriedly knelt and kowtowed.

The servants and maids of the various courtyards surrounding the inside and outside of the courtyard, hearing the shouts of these young masters and young ladies, were also stunned and hurriedly knelt and bowed their heads.

"Ancestors?"

He Jianlan and the others in the hall heard the news and rushed out. Upon seeing that Li Tianyuan had actually appeared here, they were all shocked and hurriedly knelt to worship.

Ji Qingqing and Li Tiangang in the room also saw them, their expressions changing instantly, and they both quickly knelt down.

In an instant, only one figure remained standing in the entire scene: Li Hao.

Faced with these dozens of heroic spirits of the Li Clan's ancestors filling the sky, Li Hao was somewhat surprised.

"Child."

Li Tianyuan saw Li Hao, his gaze gentle, and said in a low voice:

"I have already heard about your affairs. It is your parents who have failed you. Although we have lectured them, we ultimately cannot replace them to make amends to you. But could you, for the sake of the others in our Li Clan, remain in the Li Clan?"

Li Hao's expression was calm, his face like a clear breeze, and he said, "I have not forgotten the elders of the Li Clan who treated me well. The mountains and rivers are vast; we can meet and gather wherever we are. There is no need to be constrained by whether or not I am in the Li Clan. I hope everyone understands."

Hearing these words, Li Tianyuan and the many other ancestral heroic spirits had their expressions change. Some looked sorrowful, others sighed secretly, knowing that the child had severed his bloodline and could not be persuaded back with a few words.

They had come here merely to make one last effort.

"Your father made a mistake. Although he has achieved merit in building outside, he is arrogant and arbitrary in his management, lacking impartiality. From today on, he is stripped of his position as the True Dragon."

Li Tianyuan said in a low voice.

Once these words were spoken, the courtyard was silent. Everyone was shocked, not expecting that Li Tiangang's position as the True Dragon would actually be stripped by the ancestor himself.

In the past, only by committing a grave error or sin would an ancestor personally act in anger to dismiss a True Dragon. Li Tiangang had fought in Yanbei and defended Liangzhou to the death, which could be considered successive achievements, yet he was stripped of his True Dragon position.

But everyone understood that, as the ancestor said, while he had achieved merit outside, compared to these merits, forcing Li Hao out of the Divine General Mansion was truly a stain on his life that could not be erased.

In the hall, Ji Qingqing was slightly stunned, looking at her husband beside her.

Li Tiangang, however, had a sorrowful expression and was not shocked, as if he had known long ago.

Before the steps of the hall, Li Hao's expression was calm, without any change.

Just as he said, he had let go, which was why he had come.

Therefore, whatever choice the Li Clan made was, to him, of no consequence.

"Although you do not have the bloodline of my Li Clan, as long as you are willing, I can announce an exception and let you become the True Dragon of my Li Clan. My Li Clan will exhaust all resources to assist your cultivation to go a step further and impact the Hearing Dao Realm!"

Li Tianyuan looked at Li Hao and said earnestly.

The other Li Clan ancestors had long known the ancestor's choice and looked with anticipation at the young man standing alone.

In the hall, He Jianlan, Gao Qingqing, Li Xuanli, and the others were all shocked. They were somewhat surprised by the ancestor dismissing Li Tiangang's True Dragon position, but they could still understand it. However, making an exception to let Li Hao, who no longer had the Li Clan bloodline, serve as the Li Clan's True Dragon was absolutely an unprecedented case in history! For a moment, they all looked at Li Hao with anticipation and hope in their eyes.

(End of chapter)