Lin Haixia finally left.
But unlike the previous feelings of regret and loneliness, he was now filled with an excitement that made him want to jump. He nearly ran out of the Divine General's residence.
He wanted to report this incredible news to the commander at the border as quickly as possible. If they knew that their child possessed a rare talent for swordsmanship, one that appeared only once in a thousand years, they would surely be overjoyed and relieved!
Lin Haixia understood that sword strike, but he didn’t fully grasp it. He recognized the sword technique, the most famous sword art in the Li family's collection, the "Sea Without End: Tidal Sword Technique!" However, compared to the perfect versions he had seen before, this one was not inferior at all. In fact, it had a special feeling to it.
He searched his mind and could only think of two words:
Perfectly round.
Even more flawless than perfection!
Lin Haixia knew that beyond perfect techniques, there was a deeper realm called "Ultimate Perfection." But even those who had immersed themselves in a technique for decades found it hard to reach that level. Besides hard work, it also required extraordinary talent.
Yet, this astonishing sword strike was displayed by Li Hao, a six-year-old child. Even those brilliant prodigies who could master a technique at six were rare.
Moreover, Lin Haixia had never seen Li Hao practice swordsmanship.
But he had no doubt that Li Hao had been secretly training. However, regardless of wealth or poverty, everyone had only twelve hours in a day. Time was equal for everyone, and when he saw Li Hao, most of his time was spent playing chess, having fun, wandering around, daydreaming, and eating.
He had never seen Li Hao practice swordsmanship, not even once. Even if he was secretly working hard, how much time could he possibly squeeze out?
He asked Li Hao why he was secretly practicing swordsmanship and why he was hiding this amazing talent.
But Li Hao just smiled and shook his head, saying nothing.
Lin Haixia thought of many things, including the royal and noble feuds he had heard about. He had some guesses in his heart. Looking at Li Hao's quiet and smiling face, Lin Haixia felt a lump in his throat. He understood that if that man from the border returned, this child would never be so defenseless.
He clearly had the potential to shine brightly, yet he had to remain low-key and hidden. If it weren’t for the fact that this child saw his sincerity, he probably wouldn’t have let him see this hidden side of himself. Lin Haixia felt deeply moved and comforted.
This sword strike not only showed Lin Haixia Li Hao's talent for swordsmanship but also, combined with Li Hao's usual way of speaking, made him truly understand how clever this child was!
Lin Haixia left in a hurry, not even greeting Bian Ruxue as he passed through the front yard.
With Lin Haixia's departure, the courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.
However, now that Li Hao was six years old, he needed to get up early every day to go to Changchun Courtyard to pay respects to his elder. This was a matter of etiquette.
The purpose of etiquette was to cultivate a sense of respect for teachers and gratitude from a young age.
Bian Ruxue, as Li Hao's betrothed, was already considered half a member of the Li family and naturally had to accompany him to pay respects.
During the visit, they would inevitably encounter children from other courtyards, but there were only four or five of them, all around Li Hao's age.
For example, the second son and daughter of Fifth Lady, the orphaned son of Sixth Lady, and one son and one daughter of Eighth Lady.
The other children were either like Li Qianfeng and Li Wushuang, exceptionally talented and taken away by famous teachers, or they were older and had joined the army to pursue fame.
The son and daughter of the elder lady were already in their twenties, serving as brigadier generals in the army, and would occasionally return if there were no battles.
But as members of the Li family, they had long ingrained military discipline into their bones, and they set a strict example. Therefore, the elder lady found it hard to see her children throughout the year.
After paying respects, Li Hao and Bian Ruxue were invited by the elder lady, He Jianlan, to stay and enjoy the nutritious breakfast she had cooked. Sitting at the table, Li Hao chatted with the dignified elder lady for a while before the two small figures swayed back to their own courtyard.
Li Hao sat there in a daze, thinking about chess.
Bian Ruxue practiced swordsmanship in the courtyard.
The high-quality sword technique that Lin Haixia taught her was enough for her to practice for several years.
Originally, he thought this harmonious and peaceful time would continue to flow slowly.
Until a few days later, a piece of news suddenly returned to the Divine General's residence.
Lin Haixia had returned.
A sturdy soldier, clad in heavy armor and with a fierce gaze, brought Lin Haixia back.
But he only brought back one hand.
When Li Hao heard the news from Uncle Zhao, he was stunned.
The chess piece in his hand fell to the ground, but usually so focused on chess, he didn’t even look at it.
He didn’t even bother to put on his boots, running out barefoot and rushing to Changchun Courtyard.
The maid at the door wanted to report, but Li Hao had already dashed inside.
Then, he saw a soldier kneeling on one knee in the main hall of Changchun Courtyard, the place where he usually paid his respects.
Li Hao's heart trembled as he passed the soldier and saw a piece of red cloth on the ground, with a hand lying on it.
The severed arm looked torn, bloody, and mangled.
The blue sleeve wrapped around it was from Lin Haixia's clothes when he left.
This hand had just patted that little girl's head a few days ago.
In his ear, the soldier was reporting to He Jianlan:
"Lieutenant Lin was ambushed by demons while passing through the national road of Qizhou on his way to Yanbei."
"The battlefield in Yanbei is tense, and recently demons have infiltrated various cities in Yanbei, trying to disperse our military forces. Other states have also seen frequent demon appearances..."
"Wait a moment."
He Jianlan interrupted the soldier.
She was slightly stunned, looking at the barefoot Li Hao rushing into the hall.
Then she thought of something, and a hint of sigh appeared in her eyes as she instructed the maid beside her, Xue Jian: "Take the arm away first."
"Yes."
Xue Jian nodded gently, then glanced at the little boy who had rushed in. She was quite familiar with him and knew that the owner of this arm was half a teacher to Li Hao.
However, in the world of military families, she had seen many separations and deaths, so aside from a sigh, she felt nothing else.
When Xue Jian walked over, Li Hao stepped forward and blocked her.
Ignoring her surprised expression, Li Hao turned and fixed his gaze on the soldier:
"Which demon killed Uncle Lin?"
The soldier looked up and saw a small boy, about the same height as himself kneeling on one knee, staring at him with a face full of anger. His gaze was so cold and furious that it seemed not to belong to a child.
From the jade pendant hanging at the soldier's waist, he recognized this was the Li family's prodigy, but he didn’t know which branch he belonged to.
He immediately replied honestly: "It was a thousand-year-old great demon of the fourth realm, leading several demons to surround and devour Lieutenant Lin. By the time the city guards from Qizhou arrived, only this arm was left."
Devoured! Li Hao's mind roared, and his eyes turned red. Blood seemed to rush backwards through his veins, and his brain felt like it was swelling.
He could easily imagine what that scene must have been like, how cruel it was!
Since coming to this world, Li Hao had been in the Divine General's residence. Although he had heard a lot about demons from the surrounding environment, he had never truly seen one. Even though he knew the battlefield was brutal, this was the first time he felt this impact so directly.
"Does that demon have a name?"
Li Hao asked in a low voice.
The soldier replied: "Yes, that demon has long stayed outside Qizhou City and calls itself 'Tiger Robe Immortal'."
Li Hao silently etched this name into his heart, and a wave of indescribable killing intent surged within him. But he controlled his emotions and didn’t ask further. He simply turned and picked up the red cloth from the ground, wrapping the arm carefully.
Then, Li Hao looked up at the elder lady seated: "Elder lady, I will take Uncle Lin's hand back. I apologize for the rudeness today; please don’t hold it against me."
After saying that, he turned and left barefoot, holding the arm.
He Jianlan's eyes flickered slightly. From Li Hao, she vaguely sensed something she rarely saw; this child was more mature and clever than she had imagined.
"Xue Jian, bring Cheng Zhi's boots to Hao'er." He Jianlan instructed.
Xue Jian nodded and went to find the boots in the side room. Just as she was about to chase after him, she saw that the little figure had already walked far away, disappearing from sight.
Back in the Shanhe Courtyard, Li Hao found a place to bury the arm. Then he got a wooden plaque and carved the words "Lin Haixia" on it, sticking it into the ground.
He instructed Uncle Zhao to circle the area and forbid anyone from stepping in.
When Uncle Zhao learned that the buried item was Lin Haixia's remaining arm, he quickly advised: "Young master, this is the courtyard where the family heads live; we can’t bury bones here. We have a cemetery for martyrs; let’s send Lieutenant Lin there."
"Let’s prepare a proper grave for Uncle Lin in the martyr's cemetery."
Li Hao shook his head slightly and scanned the courtyard: "This large Shanhe Courtyard can accommodate Uncle Lin's hand."
"Young master..."
Uncle Zhao wanted to say more but was stopped by Li Hao, leaving him with no choice but to give up.
"Remember to provide for Uncle Lin's family and treat them well," Li Hao told Uncle Zhao.
Uncle Zhao replied: "As a military man, news should have reached Yanbei by now. They will take good care of his family."
"That place is that place, and this place is this place." Li Hao glanced at Uncle Zhao: "You should understand what I mean."
Uncle Zhao was taken aback and nodded slightly: "I understand."
The news of Lin Haixia's death was like a small stone thrown into a lake, creating only small ripples within the Divine General's residence.
Other courtyards continued as usual, but in the Shanhe Courtyard, Li Hao became even more obsessed with chess, even ignoring Bian Ruxue's sword practice.
He didn’t tell the little girl about Uncle Lin’s matter, to spare her feelings.
Time flew by.
One day, Li Hao woke up suddenly from a dream where he was playing chess with Uncle Lin. Suddenly, a fierce tiger charged in from outside the chessboard, knocking over the board and biting down on Lin Haixia’s neck.
He sat up in bed, panting heavily.
The little girl beside him was awakened by the noise, rubbing her sleepy eyes and asking, "Brother Hao, what’s wrong?"
Li Hao came back to his senses and shook his head: "It’s nothing."
Once the little girl fell asleep again, Li Hao covered her with the blanket that had slipped aside, then sat up and moved to the windowsill.
Moonlight poured down, and suddenly, words appeared before Li Hao:
[You have comprehended the heart of chess.]
(End of chapter)