Chapter Twenty-Four: Heartbreak and Regret, Zheng Tianlang
Chapter Twenty-Four: Thoughts That Break the Heart
Zheng Tianlang of the Zheng Tian family
“Brother Li Hao, are you hurt?”
Lu Yao had just seen Li Hao rush into Du Qingfeng’s domain of fire, and her heart was filled with worry that Li Hao might be burned. Although Li Hao seemed fine now, she still fretted that he might have been harmed.
“Don’t worry, Sister Yao’er, I’m all right.”
As Li Hao spoke, he hopped a few times to prove he was truly unharmed.
“We can endure, we can give way, but we must not be cowardly. When you are bullied, and your patience is exhausted, you must retaliate with all your might.”
This was addressed to the young man who had just been bullied by Du Qingfeng and his companions. As Li Hao voiced these words, a fleeting clarity glimmered in the youth’s eyes, unnoticed by those around.
“That’s right, this young lord speaks true!”
Many youths in the crowd voiced their agreement, echoing Li Hao’s words.
“Little brother, today is the day for registration and selection at the Gathering of the Worthies in Lishui City. Are you here for the event? My name is Lu Zheng Tian. If you don’t mind, shall we become friends?”
“Xue Mei, greets elder brother.”
“Lu Yao greets elder brother.”
Lu Zheng Tian was Lu Xue Mei’s elder brother, born of a different mother. He had inherited his father’s teaching, possessed a handsome and distinguished appearance, and his character was free-spirited and unrestrained—a man of temperament. Ten years older than Lu Xue Mei, he had doted on her when she was young. His love for martial arts began early, and when Lu Xue Mei was five, he departed the Palace of Justice to cultivate in the Palace of Battle. Until now, he had been among the crowd, too densely packed for Lu Xue Mei to spot him. With her back turned to him after many years apart, neither recognized the other.
When Lu Zheng Tian heard someone calling him, he turned and finally noticed his sister.
“Mei’er, you’re here too. Which uncle’s daughter is this?”
He pointed to Lu Yao and questioned Lu Xue Mei.
“This is the little princess from Fifth Uncle’s house, her name is Lu Yao.”
Lu Xue Mei explained to him.
“So it’s Sister Yao’er. Hmm, she’s truly beautiful; in the future, she’ll be as lovely as our Mei’er.”
As he spoke, Lu Zheng Tian affectionately patted Lu Yao’s head.
“Thank you for your praise, Brother Zheng Tian.”
Lu Yao felt this brother was indeed wonderful and replied politely, her heart filled with joy.
“Mmm, such a good little sister!”
Lu Zheng Tian’s face shone with a bright, sunny smile, teasing both his sisters in a manner quite unbecoming of a senior.
“Who are you?”
Li Hao was thoroughly confused by their exchange, unable to make sense of the situation.
“I’ll introduce everyone.”
Lu Xue Mei began the introductions.
“This is my elder brother from another mother; his mother is my second aunt. He was very kind to me when I was young, but we haven’t seen each other for almost twenty years. When I was five, he left for the Palace of Battle to train in martial arts. He is a true fanatic for the martial path. Once he left, he never returned, except for Second Aunt who visits him often.”
Lu Xue Mei explained, mainly for Li Hao.
“This younger brother is Li Hao, grandson of Grandfather’s sworn brother. He suffered severe injuries and came to Grandfather for healing. He’s studied medicine under Grandfather since childhood and his comprehension of medical arts is unfathomable. His talent is monstrous—there seems nothing he cannot learn or accomplish. To put it simply, his three months of study equal my ten years of hard work.”
Lu Xue Mei gave Lu Zheng Tian a detailed introduction to Li Hao.
“Oh! Such a formidable existence? To be so esteemed by our Princess Mei’er, I am all the more eager to get to know this little brother.”
Lu Zheng Tian eyed Li Hao as if he were the freshest marvel under heaven, his curiosity growing.
“There’s no need for astonishment, Brother Zheng Tian. I’m not as exceptional as Sister Mei makes me out to be; she’s flattering me.”
Li Hao, far from being puffed up by the praise, responded humbly.
“Since you call my sister ‘elder sister’ and address me as ‘big brother,’ from today on, you are my brother, Li Hao.”
Lu Zheng Tian declared with sincerity.
“Li Hao greets Brother Zheng Tian.”
Li Hao bowed with clasped fists.
“No need for such formalities, brother. I care little for the trappings of ritual.”
Lu Zheng Tian laughed heartily and helped Li Hao up.
“A maiden’s dreams are heartbreak; in the world, only Zheng Tian is worthy.”
Kui Hu blurted this out, and only then did Li Hao realize he had overlooked the three of them. Lu Zheng Tian now noticed Kui Hu, and those nearby turned to see who had spoken.
“What are you rambling about?”
Lu Zheng Tian spoke to Kui Hu with measured calm, as if ready to kick him, but recalling their recent display of righteousness, he suppressed his annoyance.
“No need for impatience, Brother Zheng Tian. Forgive my oversight—let me introduce them. This is Kui Hu, eighteen years old, cultivation at the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm. This is Li Zhan, eighteen, also at the peak of Foundation Establishment. This is Qin Zhen, sixteen, at the minor peak of Foundation Establishment. They are my friends; we met through adversity.”
Li Hao pointed to each of the three and introduced them.
Though all sons of distinguished families from the Palace of Battle, with tens of thousands of youths, they had never met. Although Lu Zheng Tian trained in the Palace of Battle, he was not yet an official disciple and thus received no rewards. Even as the grandson of the domain’s master, the famed Hundred Herbs Divine Physician, without passing the assessment he could not enter, demonstrating the fairness and impartiality of the Palace of Battle.
Lu Zheng Tian could only train in the private secret realm of the Palace’s master. The highest authority was the youngest son of Hundred Herbs Divine Physician, Lu Batian—Lu Zheng Tian’s youngest uncle. Kui Hu and his friends trained at home. In great clans, each family possessed its own private cultivation realm, created by powerful beings at the Heaven-and-Earth level, containing all manner of wonders.
“Oh! I’ve heard that in our generation, talent abounds. Each great clan in the Palace of Battle has outstanding scions. I’d love to see them. I hear many, relying on their family background, act arrogantly—tell me about them. I’ll pay them a visit when I have time.”
Hearing this, Kui Hu and his friends felt deeply ashamed, unwilling to speak. Were they not among those Lu Zheng Tian described?
“Well…”
Kui Hu began, intending to confess: truthfully, we were not upstanding before, but now, following Young Lord Li Hao, we’ve mended our ways.
He had barely uttered the words when Li Hao interrupted. Not wishing to embarrass the trio, Li Hao continued:
“Brother Zheng Tian, let me handle these unruly fellows. It would be beneath your status to discipline them personally.”
Ha ha ha
“Good. If you encounter them again, treat them as you did today—show no mercy.”
Li Hao nodded mildly.
Lu Zheng Tian was not meddling in others’ affairs; he hoped the hard-won legacy of his ancestors would not be squandered by his generation. The elders had labored to build this domain, and he wished to contribute.
Li Hao acted not for show. Born and raised here, this was his other home. A family must rid itself of rotten apples. From the time he could barely understand, he had been well educated by Hundred Herbs Divine Physician and others. Though youthful pride remained, his intentions were pure.
If every soul in the world could live as they did—without conflict or scheming, with hearts full of compassion—what a world it would be.
“Since you are Li Hao’s friends, henceforth you are mine as well. If you need anything, come to me without hesitation.”
Lu Zheng Tian declared to Kui Hu and his companions, not looking down on them due to their age.
“We three thank Young Lord Zheng Tian for his kindness. Should you ever need our service, we would go through fire and water, sacrificing ourselves without regret.”
At this moment, Kui Hu and his friends were completely won over by Lu Zheng Tian’s generous spirit and bold, righteous way of conduct. In this ruthless, survival-of-the-fittest world, they valued Li Hao’s talent, hoping to one day shelter in his shade. None had expected the charismatic, handsome youth to possess such charm. Those around Li Hao were not only of noble status but approachable—figures ordinarily out of reach.
Unbeknownst to themselves, they had already been conquered by Li Hao. It was strange—usually others followed them, yet today they chose to follow another, and so swiftly. Even more astonishing, the one they followed was much younger than themselves.
“What did you mean by those words just now?”
Lu Zheng Tian still brooded over Kui Hu’s earlier remark, determined to get to the bottom of it.
Kui Hu hesitated, then mustered his courage: “Please don’t blame me, Young Lord Zheng Tian; besides, it wasn’t my own idea. I heard it from many at the Palace of the Sacred Book. I thought it was well-said, so I inadvertently spoke it aloud.”
“Get to the point. I won’t blame you.”
Encouraged by Lu Zheng Tian’s promise, Kui Hu recited the words in full:
“A maiden’s dreams are heartbreak; in the world, only Zheng Tian is worthy. A smile that outshines all beauty, in the world, only Lu Xue Mei.”
Lu Xue Mei had never heard such praise before, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. At this moment, the saying was proved true: “A smile that outshines all beauty, in the world, only Lu Xue Mei.”
“Whoever came up with this nonsense, when I find him, I’ll deal with him myself.”
After Kui Hu spoke, Lu Zheng Tian acted as if he disliked being praised, though secretly he was delighted—merely putting on a show in public to give himself an excuse.
“Don’t be angry, Brother Zheng Tian. I think that senior spoke well. It praises you as elegant and handsome and says our Sister Mei is so beautiful even the fleeting bloom of the epiphyllum pales in comparison.”
Li Hao said, his sunny smile radiant.
“This little brother knows how to appreciate. You, Lu Zheng Tian, are just too dense. Receiving praise, you don’t thank them and even repay kindness with resentment. If it were me, I’d thank anyone who praised me. Tsk tsk, unlike some people.”
Suddenly, a voice dripping with sarcasm echoed from the crowd, giving Lu Zheng Tian no face at all. The crowd buzzed, curious who dared mock him so openly.
As the words fell, a refined scholar with jade-like features, fanning himself, strode toward Li Hao and the others.
“So it’s you, Lin Huashu—the leading talent among the five prodigies of the younger generation in the Palace of the Sacred Book. Forgive me for not welcoming you sooner.”
Lu Zheng Tian greeted the young man with a teasing tone.
The handsome youth, whose words had seemed arrogant, laughed lightly, utterly unconcerned.
“To have the future Thunder Prince, destined to become one of the Five War Gods, greet me personally—I dare not accept such honor.”
Lu Zheng Tian, Lu Xue Mei, Lin Huashu, the youngest Li Hao who always wore a sunny smile, and the innocent Lu Yao—five gathered together. Though few knew Li Hao’s background, it mattered little. Anyone who could stand as an equal with Young Lord Zheng Tian and the two princesses was certainly no ordinary figure. Most striking was Li Hao, dressed in white, standing out among them. His recent display had already won the hearts of the young maidens.
Gathered as they were, they unsettled the hearts of all around. The young men were dream lovers of every maiden; the girls were the objects of every young man’s longing. Today, they met by chance—how could anyone remain calm?
Thus, a small incident caused by Li Hao had stirred up such a commotion that this place was even more crowded than the registration site.