"Fifteen Li Realm?!"
Li Wushuang's pupils shrank in shock, her mind buzzing and a bit dazed. She couldn't move at all, as if bound by an invisible force, unable even to turn over. It was a complete suppression in terms of cultivation level.
Furious, she shouted, "Let me go, you bastard!"
"Your brother called me the same thing back then."
Yesterday, Li Wushuang was holding back her anger, not knowing that Li Hao also had a bad temper. Seeing her still being disrespectful, he slapped her hard across the face several times. If it weren't for the force of his spiritual energy supporting her, those slaps would have cracked the ground.
Of course, for someone at the Spiritual Travel Realm like Li Wushuang, she could endure it, but it still hurt enough to make her bite her lip, her eyes turning red.
"Let me go!"
She struggled fiercely, her spirit trying to escape, wanting to shake off Li Hao, but he pressed her spirit back into her body with his own, completely subduing her.
"Still not convinced?"
"You bastard!"
Li Hao slapped her again.
Suddenly, he heard a series of sobs coming from beneath him. Li Hao paused, looking down to see the once proud and elegant Li Wushuang, now with red eyes and tears streaming down her face, having been beaten to tears.
The cold and aloof demeanor she had before was completely gone, like a fairy who had fallen from grace.
Seeing this, Li Hao stopped hitting her and asked casually, "Are you convinced now?"
Li Wushuang lay across the horse, biting her lip stubbornly and saying nothing, more tears falling from her eyes.
Li Hao wasn't swayed by her silence. He coldly laughed and said, "Cousin, if you still don't accept it, do you think I won't strip you of your clothes, seal your powers, and hang you from that tree branch?"
"!!"
Li Wushuang suddenly looked up, shocked at his words. How could anyone say something like that? I'm your cousin!
Beside them, Li Yuanzhao was taken aback for a moment, and then his eyes lit up slightly.
Li Hao had no real intention of doing anything crazy; he was just trying to intimidate her. He sneered, "I’ll count to three!"
"You wouldn't dare!" Li Wushuang's face turned pale, a mix of anger and fear.
"Two!"
"You..."
"One!"
"I... I give in!" Li Wushuang hurriedly said. She wasn't familiar with this cousin and couldn't figure out his character, so she felt a bit scared.
Li Hao had anticipated this, smirking coldly. No matter how talented she was, she was still just a sixteen-year-old girl. This tactic was easy and effective.
With a flick of his hand, he tossed her away, no longer using his spiritual force to bind her.
As Li Wushuang felt her body regain movement, she quickly flipped off the horse and wiped her tears away in midair. As soon as she landed, she turned to glare at Li Hao in frustration.
"Cousin, you'd better not try to complain about this."
Li Hao sat on his red blood horse, looking down at her casually. "And don't come to provoke me again. If you cause trouble next time, I will follow through on my threat."
Li Wushuang gritted her teeth. Even after becoming a disciple of the Thousand Machines Sect, she had never faced such humiliation. How could she endure such a loss?
What made it worse was that this cousin, who was two years younger than her, had actually reached the Fifteen Li Realm? How could that be possible?!
Wasn't her brother saying he was a waste in martial arts before he started cultivating at eight or nine years old?
From eight or nine to now, it had only been a few years!
Li Wushuang's mind was in chaos. What had happened today felt unbelievable, like a nightmare.
"Cousin, what Brother Hao said is right. It was Li Yun who provoked Brother Hao first. You were in the wrong, and you can't beat him anyway," Li Yuanzhao chimed in, noticing Li Wushuang's slightly hunched posture, as if she couldn't straighten up. He felt a bit sorry for her.
After all, before yesterday, he had high hopes for this cousin, having heard how she studied under a famous master since childhood, holding admiration for her.
Li Wushuang glared fiercely at the chubby boy and said, "Stop with the sarcastic comments!"
Li Yuanzhao was speechless. He was genuinely trying to help, how did it turn into sarcasm?
But seeing her clearly angry, he decided not to provoke her further.
"So you were hiding your strength all along. Did Second Uncle teach you himself?"
Li Wushuang glared at Li Hao, her face filled with shame and anger. Given their blood relationship, she had no other thoughts, just feeling humiliated for being beaten.
"What's it to you?"
Li Hao snorted coldly. "Today it's me, but if it were someone else, with your foolishness, you'd be dead by now!"
Li Wushuang gritted her teeth in anger. She had returned with the intention of seizing the position of the True Dragon.
Yesterday at the family banquet, she had secretly exchanged glances with her second aunt, as the most likely candidates among the third generation were her and Li Qianfeng.
She had already made up her mind to follow in the footsteps of an ancestor, never marrying and taking charge of the Li family.
But who would have thought that today she would be beaten so badly by Li Hao?
"Stop bothering me. I have no time for you."
Li Hao glanced at her and lightly tugged on the horse's reins, making the red blood horse trot past her.
"You!"
Li Wushuang trembled with anger, wanting to strike back, but she held back. She had many techniques and skills from the Thousand Machines Sect, but the gap between the Spiritual Travel Realm and the Fifteen Li Realm was just too big.
Just the power of his spiritual energy made her unable to move. No matter how many techniques she had, they were useless. Unless she also reached the Fifteen Li Realm, she wouldn't be able to compete with Li Hao on equal terms.
Watching the two figures on horseback fade away, Li Wushuang's anger burned fiercely, but suddenly, she remembered something.
He was only fourteen, but he had already reached the Fifteen Li Realm. This seemed to break her uncle's record!
Her pupils contracted slightly, and a thunderbolt seemed to strike her mind.
The invincible figure she had admired since childhood had actually been surpassed by someone?
Before she could process her shock, a sharp pain in her rear brought her back to reality. She instinctively covered it with her hand, only to find a bit of blood seeping through her skirt.
Biting her lip, she felt an inexplicable sense of grievance, and her eyes turned red again.
After they had gone far, Li Yuanzhao asked Li Hao worriedly, "Did you go too hard on her?"
Though his eyes were small, he caught a glimpse of Li Wushuang's slightly flushed face as they rode past.
"It's just a minor injury. A bit of medicine for a couple of days, and she'll be fine," Li Hao replied casually. "Hitting her hard is for her own good. Didn't you see how she acted at the family banquet last night? Being famous at a young age isn't necessarily a good thing. Surrounded by flattery, even a pig would get inflated and not see its own flaws."
"She learned some skills from the Thousand Machines Sect, but she's been pampered for too long. While she's still young, she can still change. If she keeps this attitude, she'll suffer greatly outside in the future!"
Li Yuanzhao was taken aback; he hadn't thought that deeply about it. But after considering it, he agreed with Li Hao.
He couldn't help but admire Li Hao a bit more.
"Brother Hao, I noticed you speak and act like you're from my parents' generation," Li Yuanzhao said.
Li Hao glanced at him. Having lived two lives, his inner age was indeed similar to that of his fifth uncle, so his earlier actions had a bit of a mentor's tone.
From the beginning, he never saw these third-generation members as his peers. It wasn't arrogance; it was just a matter of mindset.
While Li Hao and Li Yuanzhao were heading to the school at the Tang Palace, the Divine General's Mansion suddenly became lively.
Li Wushuang had just quietly returned home, changed into a new outfit, and dug out some medicinal powder for treating injuries that she had used when practicing martial arts at six or seven years old. She applied it to herself and wrapped it in soft cloth.
Throughout this process, her resentment towards Li Hao deepened, but thinking of his cultivation level made her feelings complicated. She was starting to realize that she might be in the wrong.
Once she finished applying the medicine and put on her new clothes, she heard a commotion outside and was surprised. Could it be that Li Hao's cultivation had been discovered by her mother and others?
But she hadn't had a chance to mention it to anyone yet.
When she stepped out of the side courtyard and asked a servant, she learned it wasn't Li Hao but rather the return of the Punishing Martial Marquis, who guarded Yanbei.
The news of the Punishing Martial Marquis's return had stirred the entire Qingzhou!
In Qingzhou, the Li family was undoubtedly the most powerful family. Their historical achievements were known throughout the city, with statues of them everywhere and four martial temples built in their honor.
While the feelings of the townspeople towards the Divine General's Mansion might not be as deep, in Qingzhou, the respect for the Li family was ingrained in the hearts of the people. Everyone knew how hard the Li family had worked and how great they were.
The nine sons had fought and lost six, and it wasn't just a simple story.
Now, the Punishing Martial Marquis had fought in Yanbei for fourteen years, slaying countless monsters. His achievements alone filled three thick books!
When the victorious troops returned to the official road thirty miles outside Qingzhou, news was quickly sent back to the city and the Li family.
Upon hearing the news, the townspeople were excited and many spontaneously went to welcome him.
Some vendors at the morning market closed their stalls or handed their businesses to family members who could manage, taking food and drinks to greet the famous monster-slaying general.
On the thirty-mile official road, more and more townspeople arrived.
Some even misheard the news and went to the wrong city gate.
At the East Gate, there were crowds of people, stopping along the sides of the official road, looking out.
Soon, as the battle flag fluttered in the wind, appearing at the end of the road lined with cypress trees, countless waiting townspeople erupted in cheers, loudly calling out the famous name:
"Punishing Martial Marquis has returned!!"
"Long live the Divine General's Mansion!!"
"Punishing Martial Marquis has returned!!"
"Long live the Divine General's Mansion!!!"
The shouts rose and fell like waves, showcasing the Li family's prestige, leaving some passing heroes and merchants from outside the city in awe.
After some discussion, they learned the reason behind the excitement: during these fourteen years of peace and prosperity, someone had fought bravely in Yanbei, slaying countless monsters.
The returning troops were not many, just the elite guards from the law camp that the Punishing Martial Marquis had led into battle.
Once a fierce force of five hundred, now only a little over a hundred remained.
Some had missing arms, others had their heads wrapped in bandages; they were a wounded army.
Yet, the battle flag still flew high, exuding an unmatched aura!
Seeing the wounded soldiers, some townspeople's eyes turned red, stepping forward to offer eggs and cured meats to the returning warriors.
The Li family cared for their people like their own children, and their reputation in Qingzhou was excellent, so the townspeople were not afraid.
This scene left outsiders dumbfounded.
Although they had seen victorious armies return, they only dared to watch from a distance, intimidated by the bloodthirsty atmosphere.
But the Li family shared a harmonious relationship with the townspeople.
At the same time, not long after arriving at the Tang Palace, Li Hao received news. Shen Yunqing rushed over, breathless, to find him.
"Why are you here? Your father, the Punishing Martial Marquis, has returned!"
Shen Yunqing's voice was filled with excitement; in Qingzhou, it was hard not to be influenced by the Li family.
Li Hao was taken aback.
His parents... had returned?
Fragments of memories flooded his mind, but it had been too long—fourteen years was enough time for him to grow from a baby into a young man.
It felt like many things were almost forgotten.
After a moment of shock, he quickly regained his composure, thanked Shen Yunqing, and then flew off into the air.
Seeing Li Hao's speed, Shen Yunqing widened her eyes, then sighed, "The true dragon of the Li family this generation is even more outrageous than the last..."
Li Hao dashed out of the Tang Palace and down the mountain.
Kicking open the stable, he jumped onto the back of the red blood horse he had ridden in the morning and galloped away.
On the streets of the city, the sound of hooves was crisp as the young man urged his horse forward, causing pedestrians to quickly step aside.
When they recognized the red blood horse, some startled onlookers showed relieved expressions.
Finally, when Li Hao reached the official road outside the city at the fastest speed, he saw at the end of the road, a figure sitting majestically on a dragon-lion, slowly approaching.
He quickly pulled the reins, the horse neighed loudly, and its hooves lightly touched the ground.
One dragon, one horse; one father, one son.
In that moment, their gazes locked onto each other.
(End of Chapter)