Chapter 190: Chapter 14 Repaying the Li Family’s First Act of Kindness (7K Double Chapter)
Seeing Li Hao laughing and talking so familiarly with the Great Demon King, both Li Hongzhuang and Li He had very complex feelings.
They could tell that the Great Demon King was very fond of Li Hao, treating him like a close friend. Such a relationship couldn’t have been brought about by the reputation of the Li Family, and perhaps not even by Li Hao’s own talents, which might not have such a great attraction.
After all, this was a Great Demon King from the Four Stands Realm.
Even if Li Hao had a monstrous talent, his future limit would mostly be at the Four Stands Realm, at most he might be able to reach the toes of that real person from the Gan Tao Palace.
As for transcending the Four Stands Realm, that was extremely, extremely difficult. In the Four Stands Realm, each step was as difficult as ascending to the heavens!
Above the clouds, Feng Boping nodded slightly to Song Qiumo and then vanished, not coming down for idle chat or polite greetings.
He was used to being free and did not like to be involved in these mundane matters. He had little to say even to other Four Stands Realm figures, and only a few could have a conversation that clicked.
Had it not been for Li Hao being here, he would have been a carefree breeze wandering between heaven and earth.
When the wind rises, the heart does not stir; when the heart stirs, the wind does not calm.
“How long are you planning to stay here?”
After meeting with Song Qiumo, Li Hao brought her to the camp.
Song Qiumo surveyed her surroundings, seeing the city that was now reduced to mere dirt mounds, and her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then she spotted the sword-wielding girl Ren Qianqian and the small white fox that was nervously watching her, and she smiled faintly.
“How long do you want me to stay?” she asked Li Hao in a seemingly casual manner.
Without a second thought, Li Hao responded, “Of course, the longer the better.”
Song Qiumo pursed her lips and smiled, “I thought I would find you living in poverty and destitution, so I came to bestow a little favor, expecting you to be overwhelmed with gratitude. In the future, once you reach the Four Stands Realm, you would repay this favor. But it seems my visit is just gilding the lily.”
“The miles of dust beyond this frontier pass might just lack your beauty.”
Li Hao smiled.
Song Qiumo clearly did not expect the young man to say such a thing; her pretty face blushed slightly, and she gave Li Hao a gentle glare before saying:
“I will stay here for no more than half a year.”
Li Hao nodded slightly, knowing she had commitments to honor, and half a year was already quite generous.
“During this half-year, you can eat whatever you like,” Li Hao said with a laugh.
“I want small crispy cakes.”
“No problem.”
There were no flour or other ingredients in the camp, so Li Hao found paper and pen and wrote down all the ingredients he needed, with a significant number of “private goods” interspersed, including many foods he liked, as well as items like writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone.
He also added a chess set so he could play during his leisure time.
But now, without a worthy opponent to play chess with, there was basically no chance to improve his skills.
However, Li Hao didn’t mind, it was best to be prepared and wait for someone destined to come.
Li Hao obtained the Geomantic Chart of Liangzhou from Li Hongzhuang and gave it to Song Qiumo, asking her to buy supplies from the nearest city.
But even the nearest city was a thousand li away from this frontier pass.
Previously, with Elder Feng by his side, they had to be wary of a Four Stands Realm Demon King appearing at any moment, and they couldn’t afford to leave. Now, with Song Qiumo’s help in running errands, the camp’s supplies could finally be replenished.
Li Hao used his power to gather wood and stones, building a fence around the dirt mounds to create a small courtyard.
Within the courtyard, more buildings and pavilions were erected, made out of wood.
Having a Fifteen Li Realm expert as a foreman was indeed finding the perfect job.
Watching Li Hao slowly give this dilapidated camp a new look, Li Hongzhuang almost felt an illusion that this young man would rebuild the city that had been destroyed!
However, that feeling was somewhat unreal—after all, the Great Demon King had said she would only stay for half a year.
After half a year, she would be gone, and then only that Four Stands Realm senior above the clouds would remain, and who knew how long he would stay with Li Hao.
Such top-tier experts seldom get deeply involved with one person.
Soon, Song Qiumo returned from her shopping trip, bringing back a wealth of supplies and provisions.
Li Hao had Ren Qianqian and the little white fox help out, carrying everything into the small fenced courtyard.
Although the little white fox couldn’t transform into a human shape, it still held items like mats and blankets in its two tiny paws, standing upright on its hind legs, stumbling towards the courtyard with its load.
After half a day’s bustle, the place had already taken on a new look.
Yet the newly built courtyard still had a fresh scent of new wood and lacked the warmth of human presence.
But that’s just how a courtyard is; it only comes alive when people live in it.
Li Hao started a fire in the courtyard, chose some fat and tasty parts from the bodies of Demons, cut them up, and roasted them over the charcoal.
He asked Ren Qianqian to help watch over the fire, while he kneaded dough on the side to make pancakes for Song Qiumo.
If one didn’t see the river of blood and mountains of Demon corpses outside the fenced courtyard, the scene inside was quite comforting.
But Li Hongzhuang felt somewhat empty as if there was no longer any need for her.
With two Four Stands Realm experts sitting tight, this news would likely spread quickly. Except for some foolish small Demons, the bigger ones would largely dare not approach anymore.
She no longer needed to be on guard every moment, ready for battle.
Her body, tensed up for over a decade, slowly relaxed at this moment.
So she, too, sat in front of the fire, basking in the delightful aroma of roasting meat, watching the busy young man kneading dough next to her and suddenly feeling as if it were all a dream.
Who would have imagined that one day she would have such leisurely moments at this perilous pass.
Before long, the dough was ready, and with the power infused by Li Hao, the dough rose more quickly.
Li Hao set up a pan to cook pancakes and started another with oil to make crispy cakes for Song Qiumo.
He added some finely chopped cilantro and other spices to the mix, enhancing the fragrance.