Chapter 84: Old Wounds Reopened

After Li Xuanli arrived, he first bowed slightly to Lady He Jianlan in greeting.

Then he greeted each of his other sisters-in-law in turn, nodded to his younger brothers and sisters, sat down, and smiled: “Shuang’er, how are you progressing at the Thousand Mechanisms Sect? I heard you made the Qian List—impressive.”

Hearing her father’s praise, Li Wushuang’s expression remained calm, but Li Yun beside her lit up with pride, while Li Zhining gazed at her elder sister with sparkling eyes, as if already viewing her as her role model.

“It’s just the bottom of the list. If I could be like Uncle Nine—enter the Qian List and immediately claim the top spot—that would be truly remarkable.”

She meant no boasting; she was simply stating the truth.

Upon hearing his daughter mention the ninth son, Li Xuanli’s gaze shifted slightly, and his smile faded.

That brilliant, meteor-like figure, as Emperor Yu had said fourteen years ago, was the fallen light—a wound in the Li family. Though they had nine brothers, no sisters, they were deeply bound, fiercely united.

Only after each married and visits grew rare did they gradually drift apart.

Once, they had trained, eaten, laughed, and played together in the great courtyard, and even dodged their father’s punishments as one.

Time flies.

The summer croaks of frogs that once echoed in that courtyard memory were long gone…

Seeing the atmosphere grow quiet, Li Wushuang realized she had touched a family wound. Her expression flickered, and she fell silent.

Li Xuanli, shaken from his melancholy, noticed his daughter’s silence and realized his mood had affected her. He forced a light smile and said casually:

“You want to compare yourself to Uncle Nine? You’re still too young. He reached the Heavenly Sage realm at seventeen, pushed forward against all odds, challenged the world’s prodigies on the Phoenix Immortal Platform outside Qingzhou City, and left no one bold enough to answer him!”

Talking of those youthful days, Li Xuanli’s face softened with nostalgia, recalling the time when they were bold and free.

Back then, they still had heaven above them—father, elder brother—so they could roam the martial world without restraint.

They drank wine, rode horses, and traveled through all nineteen provinces.

But when the sky above them collapsed—when their father’s soul returned to the River of Death, unable to find peace, unable to return to the Li ancestral shrine, unable to reincarnate—

They lost their carefree spirit, stopped wandering, and began to cultivate desperately.

At the same time, they shouldered the Li family’s burdens: guarding the borderlands, charging across battlefields, slaying demons and monsters!

Hearing Li Xuanli’s words, the ladies of each courtyard recalled those days—many of them had just married into the Li household then, the most innocent, carefree time, the happiest moments with their husbands.

Li Wushuang’s eyes shimmered with longing. Her father’s few words painted in her mind a towering, invincible silhouette—that was her Uncle Nine, the one she had heard of since childhood, the one she was proudest of.

To challenge the world—how many in this world could ever achieve such arrogance?

Li Hao sighed inwardly. Such a prodigy—what a pity he died so young.

“The food’s getting cold. Let’s eat.”

In the end, He Jianlan, the most rational, pulled herself back and smiled.

Everyone chuckled, exchanged greetings, and picked up their chopsticks.

“Mm, these dishes are good.”

During the meal, they shifted to other topics, avoiding the painful memories—some unspoken agreement had formed.

Li Xuanli savored a few dishes, then praised: “Shuang’er, you rarely come home—try this one. The Bamboo-Scented Ink Dragon Liver is excellent. It tastes exactly as it did over a decade ago. I haven’t had it in years.”

“Oh?”

Li Wushuang, usually cold and composed, now showed a hint of childish curiosity. She picked up her chopsticks, took a bite, and savored it carefully.

“Mm, it’s truly good,” Li Wushuang smiled, showing her teeth.

Li Xuanli looked at his eldest sister-in-law and smiled: “Big Sister, you’ve thought of Shuang’er. The Bamboo-Scented Ink Dragon Liver from Cuihu Courtyard is the pride of Qingzhou. I’d almost forgotten its taste.”

He Jianlan smiled, glancing at Li Hao, who was quietly eating, and said: “I didn’t prepare this. It was Hao’er and Yuanzhao who bought it. They said Shuang’er has been away so long, she must’ve missed Qingzhou’s delicacies, so they went out of their way to get it.”

Li Xuanli paused, then turned to Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao: “You bought this?”

Li Hao met his gaze. He held deep respect for this uncle who had fought on battlefields, and nodded.

Li Yuanzhao chuckled beside him: “Fifth Uncle, Hao-ge knows food best. Every dish you just enjoyed? He told me to buy them. There are even more coming soon.”

“Oh?”

Li Xuanli was surprised. He naturally remembered Li Hao—seventh brother’s and Qingqing’s only son. He had attended the baby’s hundred-day banquet.

Later, he heard the boy was a cultivation waste, but somehow had cleared his meridians—perhaps Second Master found a way to unblock him. Either way, he could cultivate again.

Too bad he’d missed Foundation Establishment and Blood Melting. His talent was inevitably inferior, and his late start wasted precious time.

Thinking of this, he felt a pang of regret, and his gaze toward Li Hao softened:

“Hao’er, you’ve thought well. I heard your father is returning soon—the Yanbei war is over, the report submitted to court. You’ll see him soon.”

He turned to his daughter: “Shuang’er, thank Xiao Hao. This gesture means as much as any gift.”

Li Hao’s heart stirred. This fifth uncle had arrived last, yet now spoke with hidden meaning—he must have already probed this area with his spiritual sense.

He instantly warmed to him. This uncle clearly understood things.

Out of respect, Li Hao let go of his earlier grievance. He pretended not to notice, avoiding even glancing at Li Wushuang—she’d only feel awkward if he did.

On the other side, Li Wushuang’s face had darkened upon hearing her aunt’s words. Now, hearing her father’s, she found the Dragon Liver suddenly hard to swallow. She glanced at Li Hao—he was picking up food, seemingly unaware she was meant to thank him.

To her, his attitude was indifference—arrogant.

Her face turned cold. She placed the half-eaten Dragon Liver back on the plate, switched to another dish, and said:

“Father, I already thanked him. And I don’t like this liver—it’s too greasy.”

Li Xuanli froze, his expression darkening. He put down his chopsticks and stared at her:

“Shuang’er, since childhood I’ve taught you to be honest, upright. You’ve just returned—what grudge do you hold against Hao’er? Because he gave you an elixir?”

He no longer hid that he had noticed everything.

As he grew angry, everyone else paused their chopsticks. Gao Qingqing knew her husband’s temper and found it strange—Shuang’er had never been like this.

But the situation was tense. If she now demanded her daughter apologize, with everyone watching, it would crush the girl’s dignity.

He Jianlan, sensing the awkwardness, spoke gently: “Xuanli, Shuang’er just returned. Don’t be angry. Shuang’er, do you have some grievance against Hao’er?”

Li Wushuang hadn’t expected her father to rebuke her in public. A sudden surge of grievance rose in her chest—she’d been away so long, and now, after barely seeing him, he scolded her over a stranger.

She bit her lip, glaring at Li Hao: “Ask him. While I was away, he bullied my younger brother. Father, you’ve been recovering at Chanxiu Mountain—you don’t know about this.”

“Hm?” Li Xuanli blinked. Li Hao bullied his child? Li Yun’s face changed, suddenly tense.

When Li Wushuang first returned, the three siblings naturally had much to say. When she casually asked, “Has anyone bullied you these years?”

He’d mentioned how Li Hao had beaten him as a child. He felt too ashamed to tell his mother, but telling his elder sister felt like finding a protector.

He’d wanted to settle it himself, but every time he saw Li Hao, his heart trembled.

Li Wushuang, hearing this, remembered Li Hao’s name—and resolved to teach him a lesson.

So that’s the reason… Li Hao felt speechless. He glanced at Li Yun, flushed and nervous. The brat still held a grudge. Clearly, he hadn’t been beaten hard enough—how dare he remember?

“When did this happen?” Gao Qingqing’s face changed. She asked urgently.

Li Yun had never been stared at by so many elders. His face flushed, and he lowered his head slightly: “Several years ago.”

“Exactly when?”

“Five or six years ago…”

Everyone realized it was a misunderstanding. Five or six years ago?

At that time, Li Hao and Li Yun were only eight or nine—mere childish squabbles, hardly bullying.

Besides, Li Hao was still a cultivation waste then, his meridians unopened, not even on the path.

Meanwhile, Li Yun had already trained in the training ground for years.

Huh? Right! How could he have been bullied? Everyone’s eyes turned suspicious—glancing between Li Hao and Li Yun.

Gao Qingqing sighed in relief. It wasn’t the kind of bullying she feared. Probably just a childish fight—worse than a sparring match? Unlikely.

“You child, how long ago was that? Why still hold a grudge? And you told your sister?” Gao Qingqing scolded. Her son was good in every way—except he lacked his father’s broad-mindedness.

The other ladies chuckled. Liu Yuerong smiled: “Yun’er, when Hao-ge was five or six years ago, he hadn’t even started cultivating. Who bullied whom?”

The remark sounded teasing, but Li Hao immediately sensed a test.

Though perhaps he was overthinking.

Li Yun’s face burned even redder. He felt ashamed—but he truly hadn’t beaten Li Hao. The other boy’s strength had been far greater.

“I was careless.”

“He ambushed me. And he was strong,” Li Yun said, face flushed.

Hearing this, everyone laughed. They recalled Li Hao had once trained in body refinement—of course his strength was greater.

Seeing Li Yun’s red face, they understood: the boy was embarrassed that a cultivator had been beaten by a non-cultivator—and now he’d revealed it to his sister.

He’d hoped to vent his shame, but instead exposed his humiliation.

“Hmph, you just keep thinking about Hao-ge’s fiancée.”

Li Yuanzhao, hearing Li Yun’s words, snorted.

Instantly, he felt his mother’s gaze. Her eyes silently said: Shut up.

Li Xuanli understood—it was a misunderstanding. He glared at Li Yun: “Useless brat. Do you really think it’s worth telling your sister about something so trivial? A seven-foot man—if you’re not convinced, challenge Hao’er to a sparring match in the training ground. Whining here isn’t strength!”

His harsh reprimand made Li Yun even more ashamed.

Gao Qingqing, hearing him berate their son, shot him a glare and changed the subject:

“By the way, Hao’er, when will your fiancée return? She’s apprenticed to the Sword Saint. When she comes back, let her spar with Shuang’er.”

(End of Chapter)