Chapter 219: Chapter 216: Good Uncle
Li Yuanhao felt like he was cursed today. Absolutely nothing was going his way.
Mo Qi’s very existence was making him question his life.
’Having a strong defense is one thing, but why can you always anticipate my moves during a fight? It’s like you know exactly what I’m going to do next.’
’And your counters... aren’t they a little *too* perfect against me?’
’It’s like they were tailor-made!’
’From beginning to end, I couldn’t even execute a single complete move before you beat me into this sorry state.’
’How am I even supposed to fight this?’
For the first time in his life, Li Yuanhao began to doubt himself.
’Could it be that all my accolades, my reputation as a monstrous genius, aren’t from my own abilities, but just because I’m the King of Kaosan’s son?’
As his thoughts ran wild, the Communication Talisman connected.
"Yuanhao, I told you to get back here. How come I still don’t see you?" the King of Kaosan’s voice transmitted from the Communication Talisman.
Li Yuanhao didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, "Father, do you know a man named Qin Daye?"
There was a moment of silence on the King of Kaosan’s end before he said, "Why do you ask?"
Li Yuanhao’s heart dropped. ’I’m screwed. It seems Father doesn’t just know him, he holds him in very high regard!’
He knew the King of Kaosan’s temper all too well.
The King of Kaosan would never react this way if it were just some ordinary person.
So, not daring to hide anything, he recounted everything that had happened.
"You what? You fought him in the Fighting Cultivation Room?" The King of Kaosan’s tone was aghast. Even through the Communication Talisman, Li Yuanhao could picture his father’s shocked expression.
"You mean you didn’t get beaten to death?" After a long pause, the King of Kaosan suddenly blurted out.
Li Yuanhao was speechless.
’Hey! I’m your own flesh and blood!’
’Why do you sound so surprised that I wasn’t killed?’
’Shouldn’t you be relieved, and maybe a little angry on my behalf? Shouldn’t you be planning to get justice for me?’
"Father, who on earth is this Qin Daye? I feel like he... I feel like he..."
"Feel that he’s so much stronger than you, it makes you question your whole life?" the King of Kaosan finished for him.
"Yes, that’s exactly it!" Li Yuanhao nodded emphatically. Then he asked, puzzled, "Father, how did you know?"
The King of Kaosan gave a wry smile. "You’re not the only one who feels that way. I do, too."
"You do, too?" Li Yuanhao was stunned. For a moment, his mind couldn’t quite wrap around it.
’In his mind, no matter how strong Mo Qi was, he shouldn’t be in the same league as the King of Kaosan.’
"Yuanhao, did you know that I fought him, matching move for move? I used my full strength, and we were locked in combat for over a thousand exchanges before I barely won by half a move. There were several times I was nearly defeated. So you tell me, is it any wonder you lost to him?"
’What? Mo Qi fought my father?!’
’And he could hold his own for a thousand exchanges!’
Li Yuanhao was dumbfounded. If the King of Kaosan hadn’t said it himself, he would never have believed it, not in a million years.
’Who would have thought that Mo Qi, a complete newcomer, would have combat awareness on par with the King of Kaosan?’
’If I’d known that, why the hell would I have picked a fight?’
’Wasn’t that just asking for a beating?’
"Yuanhao, go kneel before your Uncle Qin and admit you were wrong. Don’t you dare come back until you have his forgiveness," the King of Kaosan added.
Li Yuanhao’s expression became a picture. He still remembered what Mo Qi had said earlier: "Young man, believe it or not, you’ll be on your knees calling me ’dear Uncle’ in a little while."
’Dammit, it actually came true!’
"Um... Father, he’s younger than I am. Isn’t that... a little inappropriate?" Li Yuanhao asked, not ready to give up. He just couldn’t bring himself to call Mo Qi "Uncle."
"Oh? Then what would you prefer to call him?" the King of Kaosan asked.
"’Bro’?" Li Yuanhao asked tentatively. Calling him "Bro" was his absolute limit.
"I call him a brother. You call him ’Bro’? What, you want to be on the same level as your old man? You planning on calling me ’Bro’ from now on, too?" The King of Kaosan’s voice suddenly shot up.
"I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare." Li Yuanhao wiped away a cold sweat. He knew that when the King of Kaosan started talking like that, his anger was about to boil over.
’Can’t mess with him!’
"Father, I’ll go apologize to Uncle right now, but... can we skip the kneeling part? A man’s knees are precious, after all." Li Yuanhao felt he could still salvage the situation a little.
However, the King of Kaosan’s next words made him abandon all resistance.
"You won’t kneel? Fine by me. When you get back, I’ll personally crack open your kneecaps and see just how much gold is inside."
"No, no, don’t! Father, I’ll go kneel and apologize right now! I’ll be sure to get Uncle’s forgiveness!" Li Yuanhao didn’t dare to haggle any further. He knew the King of Kaosan would do exactly as he said.
After putting away the Communication Talisman, Li Yuanhao sighed and composed himself.
Then he raised his head, looked at Mo Qi, and put on an awkward yet polite smile.
"So? How’d it go?" Mo Qi asked with a smile.
Although Li Yuanhao and the King of Kaosan had been communicating via Divine Sense, so he couldn’t hear the contents, Li Yuanhao’s rapidly changing expressions said it all.
To Li Yuanhao, Mo Qi’s smile looked like pure, unadulterated mockery.
’Even though he was furious, circumstances forced his hand. Who could argue with someone who was both stronger and better connected?’
And so, Li Yuanhao, a man renowned throughout the Imperial City for his pride, lowered his head and knelt before Mo Qi.
"Honored Uncle, please accept this nephew’s respects. I have offended you greatly. Please, Uncle, do not hold it against me."
Mo Qi chuckled. "See? You had to hit a wall before you learned your lesson. Come on now, call me ’dear Uncle,’ and Uncle will give you a treat."
Li Yuanhao took a deep breath. ’This is the ultimate humiliation!’
’’Dear Uncle,’ my ass!’
’Are you trying to humor me like a child?!’
’It’s so humiliating! I won’t say it! I absolutely refuse!’
The next second...
"Dear Uncle."
Despite his inner ranting and resistance, his body was brutally honest and blurted it out without hesitation.
"There’s a good boy." Mo Qi helped Li Yuanhao up, patting his shoulder like a senior. "Since you’ve called me Uncle, I can’t be cheap."
As he spoke, he took out a red Medicinal Pill, stuffed it into Li Yuanhao’s hand, and said, "Good nephew, tomorrow at high noon, find a quiet place and take this. Remember, not a moment earlier or later."
Without waiting for Li Yuanhao’s reply, he opened the door and shoved him out.
Before Li Yuanhao could even react, he found himself standing in front of the crowd.
The crowd of onlookers hadn’t left, still waiting for the show to continue.
They had expected to see Li Yuanhao emerge victoriously and toss Mo Qi out of the Cultivation Room.
But to their utter shock, the first one out was Li Yuanhao. His head was swollen beyond recognition, his face was covered in cuts, and his eyes were squeezed into narrow slits.
’Is this the Young Prince of the Kaosan, Li Yuanhao?!’
For a moment, the crowd couldn’t process what they were seeing.
’Oh my god, the Young Prince got beaten up by a newcomer!’
’And he got beaten badly!’
Although Mo Qi had opened and closed the door in one fluid motion, those with sharp eyes in the crowd still managed to see that he was completely unscathed!
’It seems like Li Yuanhao’s era is over!’
Everyone had a feeling that the winds of change were about to sweep through the Imperial Academy!
Facing the crowd’s astonished stares, Li Yuanhao couldn’t stand the shame.
"What are you looking at? You want a beating?" Li Yuanhao roared.
The crowd scattered instantly, but the exchange of messages via Divine Sense among them didn’t stop for a second.
