Li Zhengguo arrived at his elder brother's house and saw Li Weiyan sparring with his mother. Ouyang Meihua was clearly at a disadvantage.
"You brat, your old mom is getting old. If I were young, I'd beat you black and blue."
"Mom, you're just bragging. Grandpa said he went easy on you back then to encourage you."
"You scoundrel, stop dodging and fight me seriously."
"Seriously, then seriously."
Li Zhengguo stood by, arms crossed, watching. It wasn't that Ouyang Meihua was old, but that Yan Yan used his speed and strength so skillfully, just like he taught.
Wait!
"Yan Yan, stop."
Hearing his uncle's voice, Li Weiyan ceased his attack. Ouyang Meihua, still unsatisfied, kicked her elder son again.
"Mom, you're being dishonorable."
Ouyang Meihua raised her foot to kick again. "Do I need to be honorable with you? I'm your mother, I'll hit you if I want."
"Alright, stop arguing."
Li Zhengguo interrupted their bickering. "Yan Yan, tell me honestly, did you teach Hao Hao and Xiao Bo the Ouyang family's martial arts?"
Upon hearing this, Li Weiyan immediately moved away from his mother. "Uncle, since you've guessed it, why didn't you ask without Mom here? But how did you guess?"
Ouyang Meihua was so angry she felt a pain in her stomach. "You brat, Ouyang family martial arts cannot be practiced without Ouyang blood. Are you trying to kill Hao Hao and Xiao Bo?"
Li Zhengguo waved his hand. "Sister-in-law, don't worry, Hao Hao and Xiao Bo are fine."
If they weren't fine, would he have time to question his nephew?
"Yan Yan, I saw how you used your strength, it was very similar to how I taught Hao Hao and Xiao Bo. Given Hao Hao's personality, he wouldn't have defied me without some condition."
Li Weiyan scratched his head sheepishly. "I pressured Brother Hao. I always felt the Ouyang family's boxing was too soft, not fierce enough."
Li Zhengguo nodded. "I watched your boxing just now. You have both strength and flexibility, but it's not yet smooth. Keep practicing."
"Oh, and Hao Hao and Xiao Bo want to join the army. Are you going?"
Before Li Weiyan could savor his uncle's praise, he heard even more exciting news. "Yes, yes, I'll go."
Li Zhengguo pointed at him. "Listen to me first."
Once his nephew calmed down, he reminded him, "I'm just taking you to try. You're only fourteen or fifteen. Whether you're accepted depends on your own efforts."
"Also, don't tell anyone. Otherwise, a whole row of village kids would want to join the army."
Li Weiyan nodded repeatedly. "I understand, thank you, Uncle."
"You're welcome."
Li Zhengguo waved at his nephew and then said to Ouyang Meihua, "The children are growing up, and their ambitions grow with their martial prowess. If we can get him in, it will not only stabilize his mind but also provide him with a better and higher platform for development."
"I understand."
Ouyang Meihua nodded. "I've had enough of him for a long time, and I can't control him anymore. It's good to send him off to be managed by others."
"Then help him pack his luggage. He'll leave with me shortly."
Li Zhengguo gave the instruction and hurried back to his own home.
On the second floor, he called his two sons, who were packing, and asked, "Did your mother know about this long ago?"
Li Weihao and his brother looked confused, not understanding what their father was talking about.
Li Zhengguo pointed at them. "Your aunt said that one cannot practice the Ouyang family's martial arts without Ouyang blood."
So that's how it was revealed?
Li Weihao shook his head. "Mom didn't know."
Li Zhengguo worried. "Then is it alright for you to practice it?"
"It's fine. We feel we're progressing even faster than Yan Yan described. We didn't dare tell him, afraid of crushing his confidence."
"Grandpa Ouyang said he's the most talented in the Ouyang family in generations."
Li Zhengguo was surprised. "You haven't felt any blockage or swelling?"
"No, it's very smooth. It's as if it was tailor-made for us."
Li Zhengguo was still uneasy. "When we see your mother, let her examine you."
"You boys are too daring, hiding something this big from us. When did you start practicing?"
"First grade of elementary school."
First grade?
That's eight years ago. If there was a problem, it would have appeared long ago.
Never mind, it's best to have his wife check them just to be safe.
"Hurry up and pack your clothes. Only bring clothes you've worn in the last month."
"Okay."
Li Zhengguo, with his two sons and eldest nephew, left Kūshān town in a hurry.
Mother Li, along with her granddaughter and younger grandson, arrived at the courtyard house.
"Dear in-law, Tiantian will definitely be fine. She asked me to tell you not to worry, justice will come."
Grandpa Xiao sighed. "I know, but this year seems to be a year of bad luck. Everything is happening this year."
Mother Li also sighed. "Who could have known? I get restless thinking by myself when I'm alone with the two little ones at home, so I came to keep you company. We can encourage each other."
Li Weili wiped away her tears and pulled her younger brother's hand. "My brother and I will cheer with you too. Mom will be back soon."
Mother Li bent down and hugged her granddaughter and grandson. "Yes, we'll all keep going and wait for your mother to return."
...
Upon arriving in the capital, Tian Jing was locked up alone.
She didn't resist or speak, just waited to see how Sun Liyang would handle this.
Li Zhengguo, who had followed closely, couldn't find his wife. He took the three young men to see the commander.
After Tian Jing was released, she learned what the father and sons had done.
She was angry with her husband. "Hao Hao and Yan Yan are only 15, and Xiao Bo is only 14. You're placing the responsibility on their shoulders."
Li Weihao and Li Weibo held their mother's hands on either side.
"Mom, we've grown up. It's time for us to share your and Dad's burdens."
"The commander took us to the special skills team. There are both old and young people in the special skills team."
"There's no seniority based on age, but ranking is by combat power and ability level. The oldest is over forty, and the youngest is just a few years old."
"We fell in love with it there in just half a day."
"We don't need to hide anything, we can spar with others freely, and we can learn systematically. We love it."
"Yan Yan likes it even more. He said it's like the martial world, with many opponents, and he can challenge them anytime."
Tian Jing was surprised. "Yan Yan is here too? Where?"
Li Weihao smiled. "He's staying at the special skills team. He said he doesn't want to disturb our reunion, but in reality, he's just staying at the arena."
How could Tian Jing not tell that her elder son was trying to comfort her and ease her guilt?
She looked at her two sons, who were now slightly taller than her.
"In the blink of an eye, my sons have grown up. Mom is proud of you. Do whatever you want."
"Mom was wrong before. We are not ordinary people, and it's hard to live a peaceful life."
"There's no need to hide anymore. Cultivate your special abilities diligently. When we return, I'll have Ran Ran start training too."
Li Zhengguo took the opportunity to tell his wife about the two sons practicing the Ouyang family's martial arts.
Tian Jing quickly used both hands to probe her sons' bodies to check their abilities.
There were no blockages in their meridians, and all of them had been opened.
"You? You've mastered the Ouyang family's martial arts?"
What do you mean "mastered"?
Li Weihao smiled. "You can guess even more outrageously. We didn't dare tell Yan Yan, for fear of crushing his confidence."
"You've reached the highest level?"
"Yes!"
The brothers nodded in unison. "Last year, we reached the ninth level. Yan Yan is only at the sixth level."
Li Zhengguo told his wife about Yan Yan's use of strength to blend with the Ouyang family's boxing.
"I suspect the Ouyang family's martial arts are divided into Yin and Yang. Ouyang Meihua's family is Yin, and paired with Yang-attributed power-based special abilities, it's very easy to practice."
"This is also Hao Hao and Xiao Bo's luck. Otherwise, practicing alone, they would definitely not be as good as Yan Yan."
Li Weihao and Li Weibo lowered their heads. "Dad, Mom, we were wrong. We shouldn't have been arrogant, and we shouldn't have laughed at Yan Yan behind his back."
Li Zhengguo patted his two sons on the shoulder. "Before, Dad carried one of you on each shoulder. Now, Dad can only pat your shoulders."
"This is a place to bear family and responsibility. You must hold firm, not waver."
The brothers raised their heads and nodded seriously.
"Yes."
"Yes."