A Duel with Tang San

Since his interactions with the system were unknown to outsiders, Tang San could not help worrying again when he saw Xiao Tianyang in that state. Tianyang must still be feeling awful, right?

With that thought, Tang Seng suddenly made a decision. But before he could say it, Xiao Tianyang abruptly sat up, startling him.

"Little San'er, I've decided!" Xiao Tianyang looked solemnly toward the rising sun.

"Little... San'er?" Tang San's face twitched awkwardly at the form of address.

During one of their earlier chats, Tang San had mentioned what his father called him. He had not expected it to sound strangely different coming from Xiao Tianyang.

But considering Xiao Tianyang's situation, Tang San did not object. Instead, he stood and asked at Xiao Tianyang's side, "Decided what?"

Xiao Tianyang's expression was serious. "I'm going to become stronger. I hate the feeling of being weak!"

Tang San looked at Xiao Tianyang in surprise. At that moment, for some reason, he felt that Xiao Tianyang had an incredibly strong heart, like an admirable older brother.

"We can do it together!" Tang San suddenly smiled.

"Then let's walk side by side, Little San'er. I won't let you surpass me in the future!"

After leaving those words behind, Xiao Tianyang turned and walked away. Under the sunlight, from Tang San's perspective, that feeling from earlier became even clearer.

Over the next ten days, Xiao Tianyang stuck with Tang San. They met at this hilltop early every morning and did not head home until noon. Occasionally, Xiao Tianyang would even mooch a meal at Tang San's house.

While Tang San cultivated the Purple Demon Eye, Xiao Tianyang could cultivate the Nine Yang Divine Skill. Neither interfered with the other, so neither was delayed.

As for the rest of the time, Xiao Tianyang brought out his specialty—training methods from the civilization of another world, backed by scientific theory!

That was right. Xiao Tianyang introduced exercises such as squats, push-ups, and sit-ups. With Tang San's craftsmanship, they could even make some relatively simple fitness equipment, leaving Tang San utterly amazed.

At first, Xiao Tianyang had some reservations about proposing these things. After all, changing so much in such a short time while also coming up with such novel ideas would inevitably arouse suspicion.

But after probing a little, Xiao Tianyang felt that he had been overthinking it.

Tang San had secrets of his own. Some of his actions and habits were also rather unusual by this world's standards. That was precisely why the adults in the village thought him mature beyond his years, and why he had no friends among his peers.

Now that he had finally found someone he could talk to, someone who shared the same dream, how could he not cherish it?

So what if there were a few more secrets?

Didn't he have secrets too?

Thus, after the initial probing, Xiao Tianyang no longer had any concerns and completely let himself go.

Standing atop the hilltop, Xiao Tianyang stretched out a hand as though grasping the sun. Glancing at Tang San, who was carrying a pair of �-kilogram dumbbells, he said, "Little San'er, we've trained for so long. How about we have a match?"

Tang San, who had just finished a squat, looked utterly confused. "Why?"

Xiao Tianyang said with a serious expression, "Because whether it's running, arm wrestling, squat jumps, or anything else, you're no match for me. Other than fighting, do you have any other choice?"

The corner of Tang San's mouth twitched. "Brother Tianyang, talking like that will leave you with no friends."

"Isn't having you enough?" Xiao Tianyang grinned.

Tang San froze for a moment, then quickly shook his head. "You're using that move again. No."

If this had happened at the beginning, Tang San might have been touched by those words. But not anymore.

During an earlier contest, he had known he could not win. Yet because of Xiao Tianyang's words, he had stubbornly gone through with it. And what happened?

He was utterly defeated!

It could even be said that he had been ground into the dirt!

He did not know why. Clearly, cultivating the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record should have given him an advantage, yet when it came to physical constitution alone, even Tang San had to admit that Xiao Tianyang was simply a monster!

They both ate plain, simple meals every day, and even when they occasionally had meat, their portions were about the same. So how had their heights ended up ten centimeters apart in just ten days?

Where was the logic in that?

It was also for this reason that Xiao Tianyang had "forced" Tang San to call him brother.

Therefore, the conclusion was: a match = getting hurt = wounded pride = feeling awful.

So no match. Absolutely no match!

Seeing that Tang San was not taking the bait, Xiao Tianyang changed tactics. "Then how about this? You can use any means you want against me, while I can only rely on my hands and feet. Is that acceptable?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Tang San fell into hesitation. When they trained here before, he had never hidden his methods for practicing hidden weapons from Xiao Tianyang. He had even asked Xiao Tianyang two days ago whether he wanted to learn, only to be refused.

In Xiao Tianyang's words: "You can't even beat me, so why learn all that flashy nonsense?"

So what Xiao Tianyang meant was that Tang San was not restricted from using other methods to win.

Honestly, it was somewhat unfair. But the string of losses over these ten days made Tang San want to win one back.

It was precisely because of that thought that Tang San finally nodded seriously. "Brother Tianyang, you said it yourself."

"That's right, I said it!" Xiao Tianyang lifted his chin.

"Fine, I agree. But it has to be tomorrow," Tang San said after a pause.

Xiao Tianyang agreed without a second thought. "No problem."

Then he leaned closer and lowered his voice. "You brat, are you planning to prepare more hidden weapons?"

"No. I'm preparing some medicinal ointment for you. You'll need it after the fight," Tang San answered with complete honesty.

Xiao Tianyang raised an eyebrow speechlessly, thinking, Where did this kid get all that confidence? Doesn't he know the Nine Yang Divine Skill specifically counters flashy tricks?

The morning passed quietly, and it was not until noon that they each returned home.

That evening, Tang Hao set down his work and glanced back, only to find Tang San crouched by the doorway preparing medicinal herbs. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, "Little San, are you injured?"

"No, Dad."

After saying that, Tang San looked at the things in his hands and said, "These are for Brother Tianyang. We agreed to have a fight tomorrow. I'm worried he might get hurt, so I prepared some in advance."

Confusion first appeared in Tang Hao's eyes, but then he suddenly recalled that brat Xiao Tianyang stealing a hammer and forging iron...

He lowered his head to look at Tang San again and thought, I'm afraid this stuff will end up being used on you, Little San.

"Dad, what's wrong?" Tang San asked cautiously.

"Nothing. Just be careful," Tang Hao said flatly.

It was only a fight between children. It should be fine... probably.

Naturally, Tang San had not hidden from Tang Hao what Xiao Tianyang had been doing lately. The two of them would occasionally take some iron blanks from here as well.

As for concern, that was unnecessary. Tang Hao could barely be bothered to manage his own son, much less anyone else's.