First Brother

"How was that possible? Five against one, and they still lost? Their Soul Power was all higher than yours." Ning Rongrong could not believe it.

"Rong Rong, do you admit defeat now?" Wang Chuan walked up to Ning Rongrong and lightly pressed two fingers against her forehead.

"How could I possibly steal Grandpa Sword and Grandpa Bone's affection for you? As for calling you Rong Rong, you can tell your father. That way, I won't call you that anymore. And as for frightening you that day, I truly feel guilty. It was only because I really couldn't control my own strength freely at the time. So, I hope you can forgive me, Rong Rong." Wang Chuan spoke softly to Ning Rongrong. As he finished, he gently wiped away the tears that had fallen from her fright.

"But consider this your punishment." Wang Chuan extended a finger and lightly flicked Ning Rongrong's forehead, like a dragonfly touching the water.

"Ow, that hurts!" Ning Rongrong cried out. However, as the little overlord of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, her vigilance rivaled that of a cheetah. She instantly caught the scent of danger and bolted away like a startled rabbit.

Wang Chuan could not be bothered to chase her. He only hoped she would remember what he had said. Though she was troublesome, she had at least added a little fun to my dull life. Wang Chuan could not help sighing.

"Ah, well, looks like dinner's ruined." As he spoke, Wang Chuan removed the void within Wen Jingran and the others.

Wen Jingran immediately said, "I apologize to you on behalf of myself and them. We had no choice but to attack you earlier because of the boss. But you really are strong. I'm completely convinced. Wait here—we'll go get you some food."

Wen Jingran took the others and ran off in a flash before Wang Chuan could even refuse. Wang Chuan then went inside to wait.

Less than fifteen minutes later, Wen Jingran returned with steaming hot food. "Their parents told them to go back first, so I came to bring this over."

"Come, eat with me. But Wen Jingran, among everyone I've met, you really are strong. And your martial spirit's defense is ridiculously powerful." The two chatted as they ate.

"That's true. It's because of that that Lord Bone Douluo reluctantly accepted me as a registered disciple. But Taotie is naturally good at recovery and defense. Its attack power is rather average, and mine is only a shield, after all. So it isn't that great."

"But I really didn't mean to refrain from Drawing the Sword. It's just that its attack power is too strong, and I was afraid of hurting you. Still, no fight, no friendship. Can we be friends?" Wang Chuan suggested.

"Why not? I can't beat you anyway. From today on, I'll recognize you as my big brother."

"Aren't you afraid Rong Rong will punish you later? You're calling me big brother just like that?" Wang Chuan asked curiously.

"Hehe, recognizing her as the boss and recognizing you as my big brother don't conflict. It's no big deal," Wen Jingran said with a grin.

After the two went their separate ways, Wang Chuan hurried back to his dormitory. The moment he shut the door behind him, the tension holding him together collapsed. He walked straight to the window, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the wood grain along the sill as the fierce battle replayed in his mind like a lantern carousel—the sparks that flew when blades collided, the shifting paths of his opponent's moves with each twist of the wrist, and the numbness in his palm when he had hastily overwhelmed the other with brute force alone.

"Still too rough." He muttered under his breath, raising a hand to press against his brow. That victory had not been solid. Rather than winning through technique, he had relied on sheer ferocity and the advantage of his weapon to force his way through. He remembered how his swings had always been just slightly off in their fine angle control, nearly allowing his opponent to seize the openings several times. What unsettled him even more was that when faced with those tricky variations, he could think of no clever way to evade them beyond meeting force with force. He was like a reckless fool who only knew how to charge forward, relying entirely on attack power to suppress others.

Outside, the wind swept fallen leaves past the window lattice. Wang Chuan took a deep breath and summoned Nothingness. The blade gleamed with a cold light in the dimness, reflecting the gravity in his eyes. It seems merely training my strength won't be enough from now on. I'll have to slowly polish my footwork and evasion techniques, as well as learn how to wield the blade with more life.

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong grew angrier and angrier as she thought about it in her room. This was simply the greatest humiliation. Five against one, and they still could not win. On top of that, she had even been flicked on the forehead. No longer hesitating, she rose and headed for Ning Fengzhi's room.