267

Chapter 267: A Friend from Afar

Li Tiangang also looked complexly at the boy's back, his fingers slightly clenched, feeling both tense and expectant, along with confusion and sorrow. He had once quarreled with this boy, who had abandoned the Li family name and left the grand Divine General Mansion.

Who could have imagined that today, the ancestors would personally invite him back?

He couldn't help but ask himself, did he really make such a grave mistake? He had established his Dao Heart with the law of all things, but now, his Dao Heart felt shaken.

Li Hao also did not expect the Li family's ancestors to go to such lengths for him. He felt both surprised and regretful.

The regret was not out of remorse but from having to hurt their feelings.

The moon waxes and wanes, and perfection is rare in this world.

Since severing his bloodline in the abyss, there was no turning back. Many things missed or done wrong would always be regrets. Even if a broken mirror is mended, it will still show cracks, only reflecting fragmented images.

"I appreciate the goodwill of the elders," Li Hao bowed slightly and said, "Breaking the rules for me is not worth it. The thousand-year honor accumulated by generations of elders who fought on the battlefield and slew demons cannot be broken because of me. Family traditions have rules, without which a generation may shine, but countless others will be in ruin."

"I no longer possess Li family blood. If I become the True Dragon, it will be difficult to convince the public. Moreover, my mind is made up; I cannot bear the burden of the Divine General Mansion."

Having said this, he clasped his hands and bowed in thanks.

Upon hearing Li Hao's words, the color drained from the faces of He Jianlan and the others, and the hope in their eyes dimmed, like extinguished fireflies.

Li Tiangang, who was kneeling, also froze, his face twitching and trembling.

In the past, he had asked the boy to be disciplined and follow rules, but the other had always been lazy and carefree.

Now, the boy was using family rules as an excuse to sever ties with the Li family.

He was cutting off everything in the way he had been asked to live by.

"You…"

Li Tianyuan paused, evidently not expecting such a straightforward rejection from Li Hao.

After a brief silence, he said, "Even if you don't want to be the True Dragon, that's fine. The Li family owes you, and we old guys want to make it up to you. The True Dragon can be blessed by us, forging a soul for him. Even if you don't become the True Dragon, let us forge a soul for you!"

Li Hao immediately thought of the scene in Dragon City's Mohe River, where he inherited the True Dragon and donned this ancestor's armor to fight.

But that was Li Tianzong's memory.

He wondered if the old man would feel comforted before his demise.

Li Hao sighed inwardly and said to the Li family ancestor in front of him:

"Elder's kindness is too much for me to bear. Forging a soul consumes too much of your strength. You need not do this. The Li family doesn't owe me anything; we are already even."

In Dragon City's Mohe River, the Li family ancestors had forged a soul for him, helping him break through the 360-time bottleneck. But Li Hao believed that with more soul-forging techniques, he could have broken through on his own, without depleting the spirits' strength.

After all, these spirits were heroes who had fought on the battlefield, and asking them to sacrifice more time for him made Li Hao feel unworthy.

Hearing Li Hao's words, Li Tianyuan fell silent again.

He wanted to gather the strength of the spirits to repay Li Hao for aiding Qingzhou and also hoped that Li Hao would remember them and help in the future if needed.

But the boy seemed unmoved by these gestures.

For a warrior, these were invaluable, greatly enhancing one's strength. But the boy regarded them as nothing.

"Child…"

Li Tianyuan frowned, looking at Li Hao, wanting to say more.

"Elder," Li Hao interrupted with a smile, "though we can't be blood relatives, if you want to be friends, I welcome it."

"Isn't it delightful to have friends come from afar?"

"I understand your goodwill, please don't try to keep me."

After saying this, he slightly bowed his head in respect, then looked at Li Yuanzhao in the courtyard, smiling slightly, "Feel free to visit me anytime."

"Okay!"

Li Yuanzhao, his eyes sad, nodded forcefully, full of reluctance.

Li Tianyuan and the other Li family ancestors remained silent, knowing the boy had made up his mind and couldn't be swayed.

Li Tianyuan's face turned slightly somber, and he said to Li Xuanli, "The position of the True Dragon shall be temporarily handled by you."

After speaking, he nodded slightly to Li Hao and then turned and flew away.

The other ancestors followed, their expressions varying but mostly somber. They nodded to Li Hao in thanks before returning to the ancestral hall.

Li Hao walked out of the courtyard, followed by Li Yuanzhao and others. Li Wushuang hesitated, wanting to stop him, but knowing that even the ancestors couldn't keep him, he felt helpless.

Li Mingjian and Li Zhining looked complex. No one in the Li family had ever received such attention, not even their fathers or grandfathers.

But now, in their generation, there was an incredibly dazzling figure.

Yet, this person seemed like a dragon soaring into the sky, no longer living among them.

Who could say that the Li family mansion was a shallow place?

It was just that the boy's world was too vast.

Or perhaps the bond had been severed…

"Oh, by the way, where is the noblewoman who poisoned me?" Li Hao suddenly asked.

Hearing this, everyone was stunned. Li Xuanli, now tasked with handling the True Dragon duties, hesitated briefly. Under his wife Gao Qingqing's nudge, he quickly responded, "She is in her courtyard. Do you wish to see her? I can take you there. Whatever punishment you decide is fitting for your current status."

He realized he had to consider more things now, thinking quickly. If Li Hao killed Liu Yueyong, it would be a scandal, but with Li Hao's rank, it wouldn't be against the law.

After all, even the Liu family would have to weigh their options carefully before retaliating against someone like Li Hao. They might even bring gifts to apologize.

As a large family, the clan's rise and fall was more important than one family's honor or disgrace.

With these thoughts, Li Xuanli followed Li Hao.

"Then please lead the way."

Li Hao nodded slightly.

Others followed, knowing the boy wanted revenge for Liu Yueyong's poisoning, which led to his fallout with the Li family.

The mansion had suppressed this scandal, but everyone inside knew it.

Was he here to take revenge?

Li Tiangang's face darkened, thinking of his brother, who had shielded him from the sword. His brother had cared for him and entrusted his family to him before dying. Yet now…

He felt sorrow but had no reason to stop it. Though he hated Liu Yueyong, his brother's love couldn't be forgotten, which was why he had protected her.

Ji Qingqing quickly rose, chasing after, her face full of sorrow, unable to believe the boy was truly leaving.

…

Outside the Shuihua Courtyard.

Li Xuanli opened the courtyard gate for Li Hao, looking at his former nephew with a sigh, "She is inside. Since the investigation, she has been imprisoned here."

"Is this imprisonment?"

Li Hao looked inside. Besides the absence of usual servants, the fallen leaves were everywhere, giving it a desolate look.

But it was still a luxurious courtyard, far from being a prison.

Li Xuanli's face changed slightly, "We will wait here for you."

He was hinting to Li Hao that he could do as he pleased.

Li Hao said nothing, walking along the path, soon seeing a beautiful woman reclining in the pavilion.

She was less glamorous now, with fewer hairpins, only wearing a simple round pearl hairpin.

Hearing movement, Liu Yueyong turned and, seeing Li Hao, was momentarily stunned but not surprised. She looked at him carefully before saying, "In less than two years, you've changed so much?"

"You've changed a lot too."

Li Hao smiled, lacking the hatred and anger one would expect.

He entered the pavilion, seeing the fruit plate, with fruit slightly wilted.

"Are you here for revenge?"

Liu Yueyong looked at him, coldly smiling without fear, "Kill me then. Living here is no different from being dead. My only hope is to see my son surpass you."

"But even if I don't see it, I believe it will happen."

She laughed coldly, eyes sharp.

Li Hao smiled, his grin widening.

"You really dare to dream."

"Hmph, you're a prodigy, but so what? I've seen many like you. Your ninth uncle was also impressive, expected to lead the Li family to new heights. But what happened?"

"Brilliant but dead before twenty. That's how the talented end!"

Liu Yueyong sneered, "You're strong now, but who knows what might happen?"

Li Hao nodded, "True, so before anything happens, I plan to make sure your son has an accident too."

Liu Yueyong froze, her face changing, "What do you mean?"

Li Hao calmly said, "You think I'm here to kill you? I'm not. I actually want to thank you."

Liu Yueyong was confused.

"That divine blood is valuable to ordinary people, but insignificant to me."

Li Hao said, "You once said, 'A loving parent thinks deeply for their child.' You were a good mother. I'm here to tell you, I will make sure you see your son crippled. That's my payback."

"You, you dare!"

Liu Yueyong stood, furious, "You think you're above the law? My son is with the Buddha, you won't succeed."

"Will he stay under the Buddha's protection forever?"

Li Hao laughed.

Liu Yueyong trembled, knowing being targeted by a top expert like Li Hao was terrifying.

"I was wrong, I was wrong, kill me, let me atone!"

Liu Yueyong suddenly knelt, begging.

Li Hao neither stopped her nor spoke. He once liked this second mother for her care, only to find it was all a facade.

He learned caution through her repeated tests.

"Death can't atone. Your son wanted to kill me; he will pay."

Li Hao stood, "You're living too comfortably. As a prisoner, you should be in a cell. Wait there, I'll bring your son to you like a beaten dog."

Liu Yueyong was stunned, pale, trying to grab his leg but stopped by an invisible force.

She pleaded, "I was wrong, for old times' sake, my son is innocent, he doesn't know anything. For his father's sake…"

"You wanted to take my power; I'll take your son's. That's fair."

Li Hao said softly, "I won't kill him, unless he asks for it. That's another matter."

He left without looking back.

Outside, the wails turned to curses, then sobs.

Liu Yueyong thought of writing to warn her son to stay with the Buddha until reaching the Taiping Dao Realm to be safe.

…

Outside the courtyard, Li Hao exited, the cries inside muffled by the closing door.

Everyone was curious about what was said.

Li Hao told Li Xuanli that criminals should be in cells.

Li Xuanli understood, feeling relieved that Li Hao didn't kill Liu Yueyong.

Following Li Hao, he said, "You cannot leave!"

Li Tiangang stood firmly at the gate, resolute.

Li Hao frowned, said nothing, and used his domain to suppress him, walking past and leaving the mansion.

Ji Qingqing called, "Hao'er!"

Li Hao didn't look back, walking away under everyone's gaze, down the street until he vanished.

He Jianlan and others looked pale and complex, witnessing his departure for the second time.

This time, it was a final goodbye.

"Birds fly in the sky, resting on trees only when tired. He's not a bird; he's a phoenix."

Li Xiaoran whispered, hoping Li Tiangang would stop futile efforts, also expressing his own feelings, and then left.

Li Tiangang and Ji Qingqing trembled, knowing if he were a bird, they were a cage. They couldn't keep him anymore.

…

Wuliang Mountain, Brahma Heaven Pure Land.

Dressed in white robes, Li Qianfeng knelt before the Buddha Lord.

"Master, how long until my mother can come? Our Li family…"

Li Qianfeng pleaded, looking up.

The Buddha Lord, on the golden lotus platform, sighed, knowing the youth hadn't truly understood.

"The calamity in Qingzhou has been quelled. Don't worry. Your mother's news will come when Bodhisattva Puji returns."

The Buddha Lord said softly.

Li Qianfeng was stunned, "Qingzhou has been pacified?"

Wuliang Mountain was close to Qingzhou's Li family, a day's journey for a four-standing realm expert.

Unlike Youzhou, relatively close but actually tens of thousands of miles away.

The Buddha Lord said, "Rest assured."

"Thank you, Master!" Li Qianfeng gratefully bowed.

The Buddha Lord dismissed him to practice, then asked Lin Wujing, "Has that thief confessed the stolen sacred artifact's whereabouts?"