Chapter 95: Idle Teaching [Fifth Chapter]

Gao Qingqing heard this and immediately frowned, grabbing the soft flesh at his waist and snarling:

“Li Xuanli, what do you mean by that? Are you saying I can’t bear children?”

Li Xuanli was stunned, realizing his slip, and dared not use any force to resist, begging frantically:

“Lady, I’m sorry, it was just a slip of the tongue, purely a slip of the tongue.”

“I think you just blurted out what’s really in your heart!”

“Lady, how can you say that? I adore my own children—I can’t love them enough. To me, all three are the finest, unmatched by anyone!”

“Hmph!”

……

In Shuihua Courtyard.

Liu Yuerong learned the news from the steward and instantly turned pale, nearly stumbling.

How could this happen? He’s only fourteen—how could he be granted the title of Marquis? Even saving the entire city wouldn’t justify skipping straight from Scholar to Marquis!

A First-Class Scholar title is already impressive—why a Marquis?!

Consider that He Jianlan’s children, who’ve served in the army for years, are only Marquises, while Li Hao is merely fourteen this year!

Liu Yuerong gritted her teeth, seething inwardly at the foolish emperor.

But outwardly, she dared not show any doubt or resentment—she could only vent silently within.

Only two months remain—even if she had another half-year, or even a full year.

Where could her son Qianfeng possibly find a feat great enough to earn a Marquis title?

Merit requires not just strength, but also fortune.

Go to the border? Too dangerous!

After a long while, Liu Yuerong steadied her composure, reminding herself that merit was merely an additive, not decisive.

The Wuliang Mountain sect had already sent word to her, assuring her not to worry—they had recalled Qianfeng and would help him seize the True Dragon position.

Now, Liu Yuerong could only place her hope in the boundless abilities of the Wuliang Buddha Master.

……

……

Time flew by.

Since the announcement of the Li family’s True Dragon selection, the outside world had erupted in turmoil.

Li Qianfeng received a summons from his sect; the proud youth had planned to return home first to observe the situation, but now he had no choice but to return to his sect immediately.

Soon after his return, he learned that his cousin Li Hao had been granted the Third-Class Marquis title!

This shattered his pride completely, leaving his face dark with fury.

His own feat of slaying a great demon had earned him a reward—but only a First-Class Scholar title.

Normally, this would have been extraordinary, leaping two ranks from Third-Class to First-Class Scholar.

But compared to Li Hao, he was three full ranks behind—an entire Marquis tier!

Setting aside his status as a cousin, he would now have to bow and address Li Hao as “Marquis Lord,” bending his waist in obeisance! What an humiliation!

Under these blows, Li Qianfeng had originally intended to refuse his master’s help and rely on himself.

But now, he could only accept it silently.

He bore too many people’s hopes.

When Li Qianfeng returned to Wuliang Mountain, numerous factions and gifts arrived at the Qiankun Heart Hall.

Similarly, even more gifts were sent to Shanhe Courtyard.

Many factions had learned the Li family’s True Dragon would be chosen between these two young masters and had already begun courting them in advance.

When the Li family’s third generation was still young and their brilliance not yet sharp, the target for competing for True Dragon status was unclear; to build ties with the next generation’s True Dragon, one had to flatter everyone equally, spreading favors thinly—but that was too costly to sustain.

Now the target was clear, investment could be concentrated—the more invested, the greater the chance of forging a connection.

Years ago, when Li Qianfeng first became a disciple of Wuliang Mountain, many had already begun sending gifts and making preparations over a decade ago.

Now, with Li Hao’s sudden emergence, shifting allegiance was too late—they could only press forward on this single path.

……

Amidst the swirling winds and gathering currents, one of the central figures in this vortex, Li Hao, calmly rode his horse to the Tanc Palace Academy.

First, he visited the Cold Pond to see Song Qiumo, the Water Qilin, and painted her two new portraits, bringing along some little crispy cakes.

Song Qiumo glanced at them and declared she disliked such dry, bland food.

Li Hao smiled and urged her to try.

Fine, I’ll try.

Song Qiumo didn’t refuse Li Hao’s kindness; after tasting, she immediately asked where he’d bought them. Li Hao laughed and truthfully told her he’d made them himself.

Upon hearing this, Song Qiumo stared at Li Hao with hungry eyes.

Li Hao didn’t wait for her to ask—he promised that next time he came, he’d bring even more.

Hearing this, Song Qiumo smiled contentedly, then waved her slender hand, summoning a seven-leaf purple herb from the Cold Pond.

The herb glowed with a deep purple luster, exuding a radiant beauty.

She handed it to Li Hao and said: “This is a thousand-year Xuanyou herb. When used in alchemy, it resists freezing cold and greatly aids cultivation of ice-based arts—even if you don’t cultivate such arts, it will strengthen your defense against aquatic demons.”

Li Hao glanced at it and shook his head: “Keep it for yourself—I don’t need it.”

“Why?”

Song Qiumo froze, then said: “I know your Li family has abundant resources, but this thousand-year Xuanyou herb should still be rare even for you.”

Indeed, Li Hao knew this was true—but his situation was unique.

Though precious, the herb was useless to him—he couldn’t absorb it.

Compared to the boosts from his panel, he didn’t need this herb’s effect; simply recording any technique into Zhi Zhen would surpass it.

After all, the body has limits—no matter how many pills you take, you can’t exceed them.

He could give it to others, but the herb was precious, and it would benefit Song Qiumo too—she likely planned to wait until its age increased further before using it herself.

“Keep it for yourself—I lack nothing,” Li Hao said with a smile.

Song Qiumo was stunned, speechless.

To fulfill her vow and guard the Tanc Palace Academy, she’d endured many disciples trying to flatter her, all with ulterior motives. Seeing Li Hao come to the Cold Pond to paint, she’d assumed he was doing the same—but now, when she offered a treasure, he refused.

Beyond this herb, she had little else to give.

Others came seeking connections.

But Li Hao didn’t seem to need any.

He was the Young Master of the Divine General’s Mansion, a prodigy of unnatural talent—why would he go through such lengths to flatter a four-stage demon race cultivator like her?

“You really won’t take it?” Song Qiumo hesitated.

Li Hao sighed: “If you have so much of this, and insist on giving it to me, I’ll take it home to feed the pigs.”

“You wish.”

Song Qiumo rolled her eyes. “Feed pigs? What pig deserves this?” Li Hao, meanwhile, thought: Maybe giving it to Li Yuan would be fine…

In the Jia Courtyard of Tanc Palace Academy, Li Yuanzhao suddenly sneezed, looking around bewildered: Who’s cursing me? Could it be that brat Li Yun?

On the other side, Li Yun also sneezed, whirled around, and locked eyes with Li Yuanzhao instantly.

Before the Cold Pond, Song Qiumo retrieved the treasure herb and returned it to the pond to nurture it; though slightly damaged from being removed, it was a treasure herb with vibrant vitality and would soon re-root and recover.

“Next time, bring more of those snacks,” Song Qiumo winked at Li Hao.

Li Hao waved goodbye with a smile: “Feeding you fully is hard, but satisfying your cravings? That I can manage.”

He then took his leave.

Song Qiumo watched the boy’s retreating figure for a long while, a faint smile curling on her lips.

Then she turned and slipped silently into the water, returning to the Cold Pond.

Meanwhile, Li Hao walked into the Black-and-White Hall.

He had previously notified Lord Song Yufeng that he wished to teach today.

Since he was appointed as a provisional instructor, he ought to fulfill his duty—and he happened to have free time recently.

When Li Hao entered the Black-and-White Hall, he suddenly heard a furious shout: “Get out! Stand outside, by the door!”

“What nonsense essays are you writing every day? Are you here to cultivate or to study literature?!”

“If not for your father’s pleading, if not for his desperate begging, how could someone with your talent even enter the Black-and-White Hall?!”

“You’re lucky to be allowed to stay in the outer Jia Courtyard!”

Li Hao paused, startled, his expression odd.

This sounded… upside-down.

As if saying: Why are you studying? This is physical training! Physical training, got it? Go to the field! Was this too good to be true? But this was the Tanc Palace Academy—literary studies were certainly unacceptable.

Li Hao stepped inside.

The Black-and-White Hall consisted of two halls: the Black Hall and the White Hall.

The Black Hall housed disciples of the Soul Continuation Realm; the White Hall housed those of the Spirit Traveling Realm.

Song Yufeng had instructed Li Hao to teach in the White Hall; this was indeed the White Hall, close to the Black Hall, hence the common collective name.

Now, as he looked around, the White Hall was spacious, yet only fifty seats stood in neat rows—neither too many nor too few.

Inside, Li Hao recognized a familiar figure: Song Yueyao.

Sitting in the front row, dressed in the same White Hall uniform, she stood out vividly, like a striking scene.

Before the students, a young man in his twenties hung his head, face flushed and embarrassed, enduring a reprimand.

The man scolding him was an elderly scholar with white hair and beard—naturally, the instructor of Bai Hall.

Li Hao was momentarily speechless; this young man was at least a Spirit Traveler, a formidable force even outside the academy, capable of holding his own in the martial world.

Yet here, he was being reprimanded like a schoolboy.

“If I catch you bringing these trash books to class again, don’t come back—don’t let one rotten apple spoil the whole barrel!”

“Get out! Go stand outside!”

The old scholar bellowed, his temper furious.

The young man’s face flushed red; he clenched his teeth and walked out, but at the door, he bumped into Li Hao and froze, halting in place.

At that moment, the others also noticed Li Hao’s arrival.

“It’s him.”

Song Yueyao blinked in surprise, then remembered what her grandfather had told her; her eyes lit up—was he here to teach?

She didn’t believe Li Hao could teach anything at all; though he was a Fifteen-Li cultivator, higher in cultivation base than her, high cultivation didn’t mean one could teach, especially since Li Hao was only fourteen—in her eyes, he was just a younger brother.

“Huh, this guy looks familiar.”

Beside her, Song Yueyao’s close friend Lin Feifei frowned, feeling as though she’d seen him somewhere before.

Song Yueyao smiled wryly; she hadn’t yet told them that Li Hao was the man who had crossed the Death River that day, glimpsed in a flash.

It wasn’t their fault they didn’t recognize him—who paid attention to what these men looked like anyway?

They were just dirt and trees.

“Who’s this guy?”

“He doesn’t look old—new here?”

Other students whispered among themselves.

The young man who had collided with Li Hao blushed; he hadn’t expected to lose face in front of a new student, and he was also surprised—this newcomer was so young. Probably some noble’s son.

“What are you still standing there for? Get out and stand!”

A shout came from behind; the young man hurried out.

At that moment, the old man also saw Li Hao and immediately recognized him—he had been present when Li Hao was granted special admission to the Black-and-White Hall.

In recent days, Li Hao’s name had spread like wildfire across the city; no one in Qingzhou didn’t know—the fourteen-year-old marquis boy, astonishingly brilliant.

“Young Master Li has arrived—here to exchange, I assume? Please, come in.”

The old man’s name was Sun Hongdian; his angry expression vanished, replaced by a smile, and his manner toward Li Hao became extremely courteous.

This drastic shift in attitude left all the students below stunned, mouths agape.

When had they ever seen this old firecracker so deferential? Perhaps only when the Hall Master occasionally appeared? “Hello,” Li Hao replied with a smile, instinctively stepping forward to shake hands.

As he shook hands, his other hand covered the back of the old man’s hand and gave it a slight shake.

(End of Chapter)