9 Li Fang. (1/2)

Li Yang left his father's study, his hands resting behind his head as he moved through the tree-like hallway with a leisurely gait. His mind was drifting slightly, curious about the body cultivation technique he had just been given. It came from the Heavenly Queen so it was guaranteed to be something extremely great, but that also meant that it was likely exceedingly difficult to cultivate it.

But since his father had given it to him that meant that Li Tian felt that Li Yang would be capable of cultivating it. It could be considered a sign of trust and faith, something his father rarely showed others. Li Yang's crimson pupils landed on a young black-eyed and blue-haired boy that was making his way through the hallway with a serious expression, his own lips curving into his usual cheeky smile.

”Oh, Lil Yongi, you're actually able to walk again? I thought you'd be out for several days after you were beaten like that, almost expected you to just lay around and cry until your pillow was soaked and your nanny comforted you by stroking you gently down below.”

The young boy, Li Jueyong, stiffened when Li Yang sauntered over and called out to him, his pupils trembling slightly. He sucked in a long breath to stop the trembling of his pupils and loosen up his body, his movements still somewhat stiff as he turned his head to look at Li Yang. He was clearly rather annoyed at the way he was spoken to, but Li Yang didn't care and kept on prodding him.

”Hey, didn't you wonder if I could keep acting so cockily and carefreely after getting beaten down in front of everyone? Didn't you say you were going invoke the rite of passage to have someone challenge me? What happened to that, eh? Did that plan get sidetracked after you got your ass handed to you? And I must say, that was a magnificent loss, the way your head got stomped into the stage was magnificent. It's a good thing you were knocked unconscious, otherwise, I'm afraid you might have ended up vomiting blood when you heard how loudly I laughed.”

Li Jueyong's fingers stiffened and twitched in a manner that made it look like he wanted nothing more than to dig them into Li Yang's throat to silence him. But he didn't move in the end, sucking in breaths so deeply that he looked like he was hyperventilating. Li Yang saw that Li Jueyong had no intention to fall for his provocation so he shrugged his shoulders and stepped past him, his hands still resting behind his head. But just as he moved past him, Li Jueyong spoke up.

”I'm not going to thank you, not in a million years.”

No matter what his reasonings were, Li Yang had gotten revenge for him by publicly beating the one that had defeated him. But he refused to thank Li Yang for it, he still couldn't stand Li Yang's attitude and mannerism, it was unbecoming of his strength and status. Li Yang's steps halted for a split second, his head turning slightly as he cast a glance at Li Jueyong.

”What makes you think I want your thanks or gratitude? Come back with them when you're stronger than me, then they might actually be worth something.”

Li Yang continued walking as he spoke, not even bothering to remove his hands from his head as he chuckled at Li Jueyong. His words didn't save any of Li Jueyong's face, causing his fingers to twitch violently once more. But he once again didn't take any actions, nor did he say anything else as he watched Li Yang's back disappear down the hallway.

Li Yang reached the end of the hallway and arrived in the circular building that had several smaller hallways leading away from it. He headed over to the centre of the room, making his way around the various small spatial arrays until he reached the one he was looking for. He activated the spatial array and left the area, taking three more spatial arrays to reach the building he was aiming for.

The building, basically a two-story wooden cabin, was situated next to a lake that was lined with weeping willows that were constantly blooming with icy-blue plum flowers. Li Yang's cheeky grin gave way to a softer smile as he looked at the building, plucking one of the blooming flowers before he made his way into the house.

”Mother, are you awake?”

Li Yang's voice echoed throughout the living room he arrived in, a soft response coming from one of the rooms beyond the short hallway to the right of the living room. Li Yang swiftly moved through the living room and hallway, pushing open a wooden door and entering a room that had a window so large it practically took up the entire wall, allowing those within the room to gaze upon the lake.

The room was furnished in a very simple manner, containing a bed, a nightstand, two bookshelves standing right next to the bed, and a single chair. Lying in the bed was a mature and graceful woman, her icy-blue hair hanging loosely down past her shoulders and onto the bed, her green eyes slightly sunken in. She looked to only be in her thirties, but her body was rather thin and frail, her skin was a bit pale and there were a few wrinkles starting to appear by her eyes.

The woman smiled gently at Li Yang, who dragged the chair over to the side of the bed and sat down. He took the flower he had plucked and fastened it to the woman's hair by placing the stem on her ear, stretching out his hand and presenting his open palm once he finished.

”Arm.”