The moonlight cast a frosty glow as the night wind blew.
Father's icy gaze instantly cooled Li Pingfu's excitement. The word "murder" dragged his memories back to a year ago—to the corpse of an old man on their famine escape route, the sticky sensation of his blade piercing flesh for the "finishing blow," his vision stained crimson.
That nightmare still haunted his midnight dreams.
"No, no!" Li Pingfu shuddered violently. "I just wanted to teach Granny Wang a lesson..."
Li Rongzhou pressed like an interrogator, "Do you even know what you did wrong?"
This only ignited Li Pingfu's defiance. Resentment, anger, and grievance surged like a volcano, overpowering paternal authority.
"I did nothing wrong!" he muttered defiantly. "We're all from Peach Blossom Village. Why should Granny Wang bully our family? If you're too cowardly to stand up to others, I'll avenge my brother!"
Li Rongzhou sighed inwardly at his eldest son's self-righteousness.
Even his second son understood their family's precarious position, yet the eldest remained oblivious.
"You know Granny Wang is tyrannical, but have you considered why she dares to act this way? She has five grown sons and three generations of ties to the village chief."
In villages, power belonged to those with more men. Even as a "Tendon Realm" martial artist, Li Rongzhou avoided unnecessary conflicts.
His voice turned grave. "Do you know how deep that cesspool is? If Granny Wang drowned, do you think her family wouldn't investigate and retaliate? Extreme measures were acceptable during the famine, but here, murder demands blood debt!"
"I never meant to kill her," Li Pingfu softened but remained stubborn. "If blood debt is required, I'll take responsibility alone."
"Brave words! You'd break your parents' hearts just to play the hero?"
Li Rongzhou laughed mirthlessly. "But your 'sole responsibility' would only invite extermination of our entire family!
"Your mother just had one peaceful year. Your youngest brother is barely one. If you die, where could they flee?"
Li Pingfu reeled from this perspective. "Father... then where's justice?"
"Justice? Who advocates justice for the dead?"
Li Rongzhou spoke earnestly, "Those with power or strength make their own justice. Noble clans, imperial relatives, immortal cultivators—they transcend mortal laws. Sometimes, laws merely legitimize their exploitation.
"Granny Wang is insignificant, but her sons make her formidable. If you must strike, target vulnerabilities—and ensure you can bear the consequences."
He concluded coldly, "My son Li Rongzhou may not raise a heroic legend, but I won't tolerate a disgraceful murderer."
If these painstaking lessons failed, perhaps martial arts should be abandoned to avoid future disasters.
Fortunately, Li Pingfu was bold, not foolish. Contemplating his father's words, his expression grew thoughtful.
"Father... if I reach the Innate Realm, could I protect our family?"
"The Innate Realm isn't so easily achieved." Pleased by his son's understanding, Li Rongzhou smiled.
"I'll train harder than ever!" Determination burned in Li Pingfu's eyes.
Once, martial arts were mere interest. Now, they became purpose.
As father and son bonded further, Li Pingfu suddenly yelped, "Wait—Granny Wang's still in the cesspool! What if she drowned?!"
"Hah! My foolish boy!"
Li Rongzhou clapped his shoulder, grinning. "That loud 'splash' proved it's shallow. She won't drown."
Lady Qin turned away from her husband at the bedside. "I endured Granny Wang's harassment because we're newcomers. I even smiled through it! But that witch targeted Ping'an—a child! You failed to defend us, yet scolded Pingfu for retaliating!"
A mother's gentleness vanishes when her children are threatened. Logically, she knew her husband's approach was correct—emotionally, she couldn't accept it.
Despite prolonged coaxing, Li Rongzhou couldn't placate his usually gentle wife. Finally, he whispered, "Remember when I went out after dinner? Granny Wang's youngest owes gambling debts. I... helped the collectors find him."
Did anyone think a father wouldn't defend his family? Li Rongzhou had merely been strategic. Villagers would blame Granny Wang's misfortune on her son's vice—never suspecting his anonymous tip.
En route home, he'd also "coincidentally" met her third son, delivering internal injuries without visible marks.
A son's pain for his mother's sins!
Lady Qin's tears transformed into delight. Gambling rings had brutal methods for debtors—ordinary farmers avoided them. Imagining Granny Wang's impending turmoil, she beamed.
Her gaze turned adoring. "Husband, you're amazing!"
Their subsequent affection made a certain "sleeping" Druid's teeth ache.
After kissing her cheek, Li Rongzhou grew serious. "Pingfu's martial talent surpasses mine. I can only teach basics—he needs a real master."
The four foundational martial realms (Skin, Flesh, Tendon, Bone) preceded true mastery at the Blood Qi Realm, where core techniques emerged. His Crane Style couldn't be taught without his former dojo's permission—discovery would ruin future opportunities.
Lady Qin added, "Ping'an loves studying. I'll enroll him in the village school."
The aspirational parents exchanged worried looks. While "scholars thrive in poverty, warriors in wealth," both paths demanded resources. Their fallen family status exacerbated the strain.
"Education and martial arts are our only paths," Lady Qin declared. "We'll sacrifice everything. Tomorrow, I'll work at the town's textile mill."
"That work ruins eyesight, and Can'er needs you." Li Rongzhou refused instantly. Forcing cheer, he said, "Don't worry. Brother Tiger and I will hunt big game this autumn! We survived famine—these challenges won't stop us."
Hunting brought quick money but extreme danger—wild boars or leopards could shatter bones. Yet for his children's future, Li Rongzhou shouldered the burden fearlessly.
As candlelight faded, silence embraced the world.
Li Pingcan flicked his finger, withering the mushroom spores on Li Rongzhou's body.
His LV2 Spore Sense functioned as short-range surveillance, revealing his father's nightly excursion.
"So everyone avenged Second Brother in their own way!"
Starlight shimmered in Li Pingcan's eyes. This unspoken solidarity—this quiet guardianship—warmed him deeply.
With Father's meticulous planning, Granny Wang no longer threatened them.
Eldest Brother would master martial arts; Second Brother, scholarship. Together, they'd elevate their family.
Yet now, financial crisis loomed.
"Seems I need to fast-track my crow pua project!"
Li Pingcan grew anxious.
If he could locate the crow's gold hoard, their burdens would lighten—and Father needn't risk hunting.