Follow the path of Dao from infancy

“I’m unreasonable? In what way have I been unreasonable? Is it reasonable for you to insult my son?!”

Zhou Zheng’s father angrily said, “Although I am a martial artist, I still understand basic principles. I know my son is a person, a dignified and upright person—not a rat that spoils a pot of porridge!”

“Nor is he a decadent, dirty, and despicable worm!”

“He simply hasn’t succeeded in martial arts, not that he isn’t fit to be a person!!”

Zhou Zheng’s burly father’s voice was extremely angry, deafeningly saying, “Although my son doesn’t have high talent, his character is pure and good. Even if he’s only at the Power Passage Realm, he is my pride. What right do you have to insult him like this?”

Everyone below was silent.

No one mocked Zhou Zheng for needing his father’s protection; instead, they showed a hint of envy in their eyes.

Sun Hongdian angrily said, “I can’t reason with you. If this is how it’s going to be, then your son should just drop out!”

“If I come across a teacher like you, then so be it!” Zhou Zheng’s father also shouted angrily, as he started to pull his son away.

Zhou Zheng’s eyes were already red-rimmed. He bit his lip, holding back his tears so that they wouldn’t fall in front of so many people, and choked out in a low voice:

“Dad, I want to stay here. I want to learn properly. I also mastered swordsmanship yesterday!”

“If you want to learn, Dad will find you another master, there are plenty of famous teachers in the world!” Zhou Zheng’s father snorted angrily.

Sun Hongdian trembled with rage, saying, “If you walk out now, you’ll never be able to come back.”

“I never planned to come back anyway!”

Zhou Zheng’s father was furious, pulling his son to leave, but then they ran into Li Hao at the door.

Suddenly, everyone’s gaze also fell on Li Hao.

All the students stood up abruptly, bowing in unison as they said, “Greetings to Teacher Li!”

This uniform voice not only startled Sun Hongdian and Zhou Zheng’s father but also took Li Hao by surprise.

“Teacher Li?”

Sun Hongdian was stunned, looking at Li Hao in confusion.

Upon seeing Li Hao, the originally sour eyes of Zhou Zheng instantly lit up, and he quickly said to his father beside him:

“Dad, he is Li Hao, Teacher Li. Yesterday, in just one lesson, he made all of us perfect our high-grade swordsmanship from Spirit-level to flawless!”

“??”

Zhou Zheng’s father and Sun Hongdian both wore baffled expressions.

What was this child talking about?

Li Hao was also dumbfounded and slightly dazed.

What in the world, they all learned it in one lesson yesterday?

Weren’t there only a dozen people who could do it after class?

Wait a second, then why did I even come here today?

“Li Hao…” Zhou Zheng’s father looked at Li Hao in shock, then suddenly bent forward, dropping to one knee: “Zhou Liang, at your service, Mister Li Hao.”

This action left everyone stunned once again.

Li Hao quickly helped him up, saying, “General Zhou Liang?”

“Young Master, I once served under your father,” Zhou Liang said respectfully.

Li Hao suddenly understood, then smiled and said, “There’s no need for such formality when you see me.”

Mr. Sun beside them looked uncomfortable, frowning deeply.

“Dad, I want to stay here, I want to attend another class with Teacher Li,” Zhou Zheng said quickly to his father.

Zhou Liang, having not expected to find the recently famed Li Hao teaching here, thought for a while and then agreed after seeing his son’s earnestness.

After Zhou Liang gave his son a few words of advice and left, Sun Hongdian scoffed, “Zhou Zheng, you disrupted the class today. Tan Palace Academy isn’t a place where you can just come and go as you please.”

Zhou Zheng’s face changed slightly.

Li Hao smiled and said, “Mr. Sun, it was all a misunderstanding.”

Seeing Li Hao intercede, Mr. Sun’s expression softened and with a forced smile he said, “Li, you don’t know, this Zhou Liang is simply overbearing…”

Li Hao shook his head to cut him off, smiling and saying, “Mr. Sun, I understand you want to use harsh words to motivate the students. But perhaps they’re too harsh and might quash the spirit of a young soul, don’t you think?”

Mr. Sun was taken aback, his expression changed, and he said no more.

Li Hao didn’t say much more to him either, having no interest in associating with such a person. Once the class transfer was done, and Mr. Sun had left, Li Hao glanced around at everyone:

“Just now Zhou Zheng said that all of you have reached the perfect level?”

The atmosphere in the hall seemed to liven up quite a bit. Excitement flashed across the faces of everyone, their eyes gleaming. Ma Jing jumped in and said:

“Teacher Li, what Zhou Zheng said is correct. The swordsmanship you demonstrated yesterday is truly an entrance to the path. We caught that hint of the essence of the art, and that’s why we improved so quickly in just one day!”

Even if it was flattery, it had actually hit the mark.

Li Hao, resigned, said, “I was planning to use three lessons to teach you all. It seems I’ve come in vain today, as there’s nothing left to teach.”

The crowd burst into laughter, as having gained such a huge lesson in one class, they already felt extremely grateful and excited.

Someone said teasingly, “Teacher Li, have you forgotten something?”

“Hmm?”

“You said yesterday that once we all mastered it to perfection, you would grant us three wishes!”

Someone looked at Li Hao with excited anticipation.

Li Hao, speechless, had made that incentive off the cuff, never expecting they would all be so skilled. They truly deserved to be those who had entered White Hall; their talents were indeed not bad.

“Then go ahead and say it, but it must be within what I can reasonably do,” Li Hao said.

Upon hearing his words, everyone started chattering excitedly among themselves.

Some wished to visit Listening Rain Tower, others wanted a renowned sword, and some expressed their desire to learn another swordsmanship technique, and so on.

Among these more conventional wishes, there were also some raucous voices in the crowd: some said they wanted to be sworn brothers with Li Hao, and others wanted a tour of the pleasure district.

Li Hao chuckled, gestured for silence, and waited until the crowd quieted down before saying, “You all decide together and pick one.”

Upon hearing Li Hao’s words, the crowd reacted with both surprise and delight, not expecting Li Hao to take the offer seriously.