I Come to Teach You Cultivation-Chapter 289 - 14: Civilization Leaving Its Swaddling Clothes (2/3)

After three rounds of wine and five dishes tasted,

by the time the celebration ended, the bright moon was already hanging high in the sky.

Only after making sure Chen Yun had gone back to her room to rest did Li Yu cautiously push open the front door.

And then, under the moonlight, Li Yu saw Li Boyang in the yard, teasing and feeding several Huo Dou hounds.

As Li Yu's personal hunting dogs, these Huo Dou had long since become spiritual and robust after so many years of taming.

Not to mention ordinary wild beasts—even Spirit Monsters couldn't withstand a hunt from this pack.

"So, how about it? Didn't your old man raise them well!"

After a brief daze, Li Yu quickly took a seat opposite Li Boyang, a big grin spreading across his face.

"It's just a pity their diet is a bit troublesome—they like to swallow charcoal as well as eat meat."

"There's no coal around our village. Every time, I have to go all the way to Gaotun Village just to buy it for them…"

"They'll eat wood charcoal too, but I always felt they have a stronger taste for coal."

As Li Yu reached out and stroked the Huo Dou that eagerly came closer, his words caught Li Boyang off guard.

Soon after, Li Boyang silently withdrew the piece of wood charcoal in his own hand, casting his old man a helpless glance.

"You're such a killjoy. No wonder Mother can't stand you."

As father and son, the mood between Li Boyang and Li Yu was obviously different from earlier with others.

After all, though Li Yu worried about his son's wellbeing, he'd never doubted Li Boyang's capabilities.

"What do you know, kid? That's just how married couples have fun!"

"But let's talk about something else—when are you going to bring me a grandchild?"

"Your mother has nagged about this for years, you know. She's just too shy to bring it up with you directly."

Laughing and bantering with Li Boyang, Li Yu was nothing like Chen Yun, who'd grilled him about his recent affairs.

"If you like kids that much, why not have another one with my mother?"

Rolling his eyes decisively, Li Boyang shot back in retort.

"A grandson isn't the same as a son, is it?"

"Besides, having a son as worrisome as you is more than enough. Your mother and I have no intention of raising a second one."

Li Yu's words perfectly embodied the saying: "Kids are an accident; love between husband and wife is the real deal."

In fact, this was what set Li Yu and Chen Yun apart from most Mountain People couples of this era.

They truly came together out of love, not driven by any intense desire for offspring or legacy.

Especially after having Li Boyang as their son.

The effort they'd devoted to raising him far surpassed that of any other Mountain People.

It's no exaggeration to say—even if Li Boyang wasn't Innate Divine, his upbringing wouldn't have been all that different.

Compared to most who only cared about having babies or thought feeding them once a day was parenting, they really stood out a hundredfold.

"So, tell me, why did you really come back this time?"

Soon enough, Li Yu brought the conversation back on track, not even glancing at Li Boyang as he spoke.

Years as father and son meant Li Yu knew all too well his son's temperament.

This homecoming was definitely not just because he'd sorted out his own problems.

"Uh… Was I that obvious?"

Blinking lightly, Li Boyang asked with a hint of curiosity.

"It's not about being obvious, it's that you never even tried to hide it."

"It wasn't just me, Old Chief and that clever rascal Li Chengfeng both noticed too."

"Is this about the 'Sea Tide' in the south?"

At those words, Li Boyang was genuinely stunned.

He simply hadn't expected Li Yu to know about something happening hundreds of miles away.

"Don't look at me like that, your old man's not an idiot."

"Something that big happening to the south—how could I possibly not know?"

"Besides, you're underestimating the Yunmeng Marsh you created…"

With these words, Li Yu was essentially laying his cards on the table with Li Boyang.

He not only knew that Li Boyang was the Red-haired Ghost God, a Celestial Being, but also that the Yunmeng Marsh was Li Boyang's own achievement in saving the Hundred Lands Mountain Range.

"That Yunmeng Marsh connects every water vein in the Hundred Lands Mountain Range, letting the Mountain People trade goods and help each other."

"But for half a year now, the southerners have barely shown their faces around here."

"Your old man might not be powerful, but it's not like my eyes are covered…"

"So a while ago, I made a trip to Chunyu Mountain, and there I saw bodies that had floated down to our side on the current."

"Among those corpses, I recognized a lot of familiar faces."

Li Yu couldn't hide the sadness in his expression and let out a small sigh.

"From then on, I knew it wouldn't be long before you'd have to descend the mountain."

"Sure enough, only a few days after I got back, you showed up too, and even said you were going to stay long-term."

Li Boyang listened to everything Li Yu had said in silence.

It was only now he realized: when disaster strikes, those with sharp senses might notice it even before a Prophet does.

"You're right—the Sea Tide hit the south shore of Yunmeng Marsh."

"Just like the flood a few years back, except this time, it's seawater coming upstream, the Sea God causing chaos…"

Before Li Boyang could finish, Li Yu interjected:

"So this time, are we just going to do flood control and disaster relief like before?"

"'Non-crying' Baby, you might not know the state of our Mountain People lately, probably because you've been holed up at Feilai Peak these years."

"Years ago, Hemu Village started sending people down the canals to the outside world, opening up trade and exchange with other Fang Kingdoms."

"Besides grain, timber, and medicinal herbs, they occasionally turn a profit by peddling a bit of weaponry."

At this point, Li Yu suddenly locked eyes with Li Boyang, his voice resolute:

"Son, the Mountain People can't live under your protection forever—we have to learn to face the world ourselves."

Once again in silence, Li Boyang saw nothing but earnestness and gravity in his father's gaze.

"The south shore's situation really is worse than last time's flood…"

After hesitating a moment, Li Boyang ultimately chose to come clean.

"What I need now is for you to help me contact the other villages and select some strong, capable young people for a massive rescue and flood control operation."

"In this process, they might personally go into battle, maybe even confront unfamiliar Desolate Gods."

"But don't worry, I won't let them take part for nothing."

"All Mountain People and villages involved in this operation can claim a reward from me, no conditions attached."

"High-quality seeds, pills, weapons, skills, cultivation methods—even unique Divine Artifacts…"

"My only demand is that they listen and don't break ranks or act on their own."

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