I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1344 - Chapter 1344 Chapter 636 A Reluctant Heart

Chapter 1344: Chapter 636: A Reluctant Heart Chapter 1344: Chapter 636: A Reluctant Heart “Well, since Mother has said so, I have my answer.”

Tang Luo stroked his chin and said, “If this kid really came all the way to Longzhou just because he’s thinking about Nuan Nuan, how could I, as his elder brother, treat him unfairly?”

Standing to the side, Tang Xing was somewhat bewildered and couldn’t help but ask, “Big Brother, do you understand the way of the sword?”

“Not at all.”

Spreading his hands, Tang Luo said carefreely, “But I have a great many divine techniques that can complement swordsmanship. When the time comes, I’ll pick a few sets to give to him. If he’s perceptive enough to master them, then in a few years, who’s to say he won’t have a chance to contend for the Xu Clan’s supremacy through the lands?”

“Ah, that can’t happen!”

Tang Xing resisted vehemently, “This kid’s swordsmanship is already very strong. If you teach him divine techniques on top of that, won’t I be unable to defeat him?”

“Look at that petty ambition of yours; to keep winning, you need to keep improving yourself. Hoping that others always remain weak or stop getting stronger is not the proper way,” Tang Luo rebuked with a chuckle, “Besides, if others can cultivate divine techniques, can’t you? If you can’t maintain your advantage and get defeated, wouldn’t you deserve it?”

There’s no definitive first in literature, no second in martial arts. Even if they’re two children of the same talent, same legacy, and practice together, it’s still possible to distinguish the stronger and the victor, let alone others.

But strength and weakness are never set in stone; they rise in a wave-like trajectory, climbing steeply upward through mutual competition. This is the importance of a rival.

At least after hearing that Tang Luo intended to impart secret techniques to Xu Chengyuan, Tang Xing seemed to be hit by some ancient artifact, slamming his chest and proclaiming, “Big Brother, you’re right, I will also continue to grow stronger, and I absolutely won’t let that kid surpass me!”

“What’s this?”

Tang Luo was baffled by this sudden spurt of competitiveness, “Do you have a grudge against this kid?”

“No!”

Tang Xing raised his fist and waved it fiercely, “It’s about preventing problems before they arise. If my little sister ends up marrying into the Yuanzhou, that kid will remember my fists before he thinks of bullying her!”

“You’re counting your chickens before they hatch!”

Xu Shuhui looked at her youngest son’s nonsensical talk and knocked him on the head with her knuckle, scolding, “What nonsense are you spouting? If outsiders hear this, where will Nuan Nuan’s reputation stand?”

Although his head didn’t really hurt, Tang Xing still pretended to be in pain and covered his forehead, but remained defiant, “What reputation? Just look at how Little Sister is fawning over that Senior Brother Chengyuan, what reputation could be left?”

Tang Luo watched his mother and brother playfully bicker, yet he couldn’t help feeling vaguely worried in his heart.

He didn’t understand Xu Chengyuan, and therefore had no opinion of him, but he did understand warriors.

A strong desire to win is an advantage from a warrior’s perspective, but from the angle of a husband’s family, it’s not necessarily the case.

If the two of them do end up together, his little sister might have to endure quite a bit of hardship.

By conventional standards, Tang Xing would be considered pure-hearted, and Tang Sen was practically a myth.

Expecting a husband’s family to meet such standards would leave nothing but a psychological gap.

…

Inside the guest room of the Sect Head’s mansion,

Xu Chengyuan, who had fainted due to the depletion of his Spiritual Power, was regaining consciousness but did not wish to awaken.

He hoped the battle was just a dream, that whether arriving in Longzhou or sparring with Tang Xing, all of it should have been just a dream.

But the soreness in his body cruelly mocked him, insisting that it was not a dream, but a reality that had truly occurred.

He was defeated, and what was more desperate, even if he fought again ten times or a hundred, he could not win.

His pride, the Divine Light Sword Dance, was insignificant in front of that endlessly rebirthing Vajra. He was merely a scion of a noble family, yet his pride from originating in a sacred land was torn to shreds and his dream of supreme ascendance through the lands was trampled.

A swordsman who couldn’t even defeat the chosen of a noble family, what right did he have to vie for the title representing the most outstanding youth of the Xu Clan?

“`

Perhaps he should have accepted his fate long ago and abandoned those unrealistic fantasies.

He was just an ordinary individual without the blessing of his ancestors, lacking an awakened bloodline.

But why did his heart ache so, when he merely wished to give in? Why did his very body resist?

O heavens, if I, Xu Chengyuan, am destined for greatness, why not grant me an awakened bloodline, even the lowest tier of a human-grade bloodline would suffice to tilt the scales of resources in my favor.

Had I been able to master the Yi Sword Technique, I would not have met defeat!

Xu Chengyuan, overwhelmed with unwillingness, clenched his fists unconsciously, his veins bulging.

“Chengyuan brother, you’re awake!”

When Tang Nuannuan saw Xu Chengyuan’s body move, she mistook it for a sign of awakening and cheerfully said, “Nuannuan has brought you Spirit Liquid, drink it quickly!”

As she spoke, she brought the Spirit Liquid close to Xu Chengyuan, but was startled by his suddenly opened eyes and stood frozen in place.

Cold and detached, it was a gaze Tang Nuannuan had never seen in Xu Chengyuan before, one that made her stiffen in place as tears of grievance filled her eyes.

“Chengyuan brother, I…”

“Leave.”

Upon uttering those two cold words, Xu Chengyuan closed his eyes.

“That… that…”

The aggrieved Tang Nuannuan struggled to hold back her tears and said in a tender voice, “Nuannuan will leave the Spirit Liquid here, brother must remember to drink it, alright?”

With that said, the young girl ran out of the guest room, covering her mouth as she left, taking care not to forget to close the door behind her.

In the room that became dark once more, Xu Chengyuan opened his eyes again, filled with pain and struggle.

For over a decade, the perfect image he tried so hard to maintain in front of his fellow disciples had completely crumbled today.

He had thought he could face victory and defeat with a transcendental mindset, but when he actually lost to a martial artist from a noble family, all he could feel was endless humiliation.

Even though his opponent was a scion that Zen would break the rules to bless, and a close relative of the Heavenly Phoenix Sword Saint line, Xu Chengyuan still couldn’t get over this hurdle in his heart.

As a consequence, he was no longer able to maintain a composed demeanor towards his junior sister Nuannuan.

He was well aware that Tang Nuannuan had feelings for him, and he relished being the focus of such admiring gazes. In her eyes, he was a flawless being.

But today, that unblemished existence had failed, and he could not accept the shattered image of himself in Nuannuan’s eyes, nor could he allow himself to appear so disheveled before an admirer.

A Wolf King should be imposing and commanding, even if he falls into a disadvantage in battle, what he needs is a moment to lick his wounds in silence, not sympathy.

Amidst profound pain, Xu Chengyuan thought of the duel at noon with Tang Xing.

If he could have created a Sword Domain, entered the Sword Pond for Visualizing the spirits of legendary swords, the outcome of today would have been vastly different.

If he could acquire the method of cultivating the Chaos Sword Body, then even by using only Divine Light Sword Dance, he would have been able to breach the Demon-Subduing Vajra.

He did not wish to lose again; he had to become stronger. Thus, he must accomplish the task assigned by the leader!

Lying in bed, Xu Chengyuan fiercely resolved in his heart, grabbed the porcelain bowl filled with Spirit Liquid, and poured it over his face.

…

Banquet Hall

It was rare for Tang Luo to return to Jiejiang City, and Xu Shuhui naturally wanted to keep her eldest son home for a meal.

“Go call your sister, and check on Chengyuan’s injuries while you’re at it, invite him to join us for the meal.”

“`

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