Let Go

Lu Hao had no idea that Bai Qiuyao had considered pulling him out of the fights when he was injured. To him, these were only minor wounds. If he had chosen the path of a martial artist, then he was bound to get hurt sooner or later.

As the saying went, sweat more in training, bleed less in battle.

If he couldn't handle a few injuries like these, what was the point of becoming a martial artist? He might as well go home and grow sweet potatoes.

"These aren't serious injuries, let alone hidden ones. Since I chose the path of a martial artist, I'm prepared to get hurt. So don't be afraid of me getting injured. If I don't get hurt now, I'll face even harsher situations later."

Lu Hao understood what his mother was thinking, but he didn't want to keep hiding behind her. Could he really hide there for the rest of his life? If he backed down now, it would be too late to regret it three years from now.

Would he really have to watch his parents die right before his eyes three years from now?

"..."

Bai Qiuyao froze. She knew she was doing the wrong thing, but what mother could bring herself to stand by and watch her child get hurt?

Still, she understood that what she was doing now was indeed harming Lu Hao.

"...All right. From now on, come here by yourself. I'll prepare the resources you need, and I'll have Viper step in only when you're on the verge of death. He won't interfere in any other situation. The rest is up to you."

Bai Qiuyao was a mother, but she was also a martial artist. She knew a martial artist's path was forged through sweat and blood. Since she had begun to stand in Lu Hao's way, she needed to step aside and let go, allowing him to grow on his own. That was what was best for him. Otherwise, she would only end up driving her child to ruin under the guise of doing what was best for him.

"Okay. Don't worry, Mom. I'll be careful."

When Lu Hao saw that Bai Qiuyao had entrusted his protection to Viper, he breathed a sigh of relief. If he wanted to grow, he would have to get hurt and fight.

His mother couldn't bear to see him injured, so she would surely step in to help him. But for Lu Hao, that wouldn't be help at all. It would be poison disguised as help.

Luckily, his mother had brought it up herself. Otherwise, things might have ended badly when the time came.

They didn't continue discussing the matter. Bai Qiuyao watched the fights on the platform and began offering Lu Hao pointers, explaining each move and when and how to use it.

That night, after returning home, Lu Hao continued practicing his saber technique, incorporating what he had learned in actual combat and adding his own insights. His skill improved rapidly.

Before bed, he tempered the bones in his lower body with his Vital Blood, using it all up.

The next day, Lu Hao went to the Duel Arena by himself. Once there, he casually handed over an ordinary Vital Blood Pill as the entrance fee and went inside.

He found Viper, who had already been briefed by his mother.

"Your mother told me about it. From now on, my only job is to make sure you stay alive. Whether you get hurt is none of my concern. So, kid, what kind of opponent do you want today?"

Viper looked at Lu Hao with an amused smile. Bai Qiuyao had paid him ten million to protect Lu Hao until he started university, with the sole condition that he keep him alive.

As far as he was concerned, it was a sure thing. After all, Lu Hao's father was a Grandmaster. Helping out this time might even widen his network.

"Uh...What should I call you?"

Lu Hao was about to say something when he suddenly realized he still didn't know the man's name. He only knew his nickname was Viper. He couldn't very well call him that.

"Heh, I forgot to introduce myself. My surname is Wang. Just call me Uncle Wang. Don't let this little place fool you—I was a student at Martial University when I was young. I just got injured later and came back to start a business."

"My Duel Arena is also a semi-official enterprise. It gives young talents a place to hone their skills and helps keep martial artists from causing trouble out in society. So the government has chosen not to crack down on it, but not to endorse it either."

"Your mother asked me to protect you until you start university. I don't care what you do during that time. I'm only responsible for keeping you alive; everything else is up to you. So you're not losing anything by calling me Uncle."

"Then, Uncle Wang, set me up with three fights. Just pick opponents in the upper ranks of the first grade."

"Good lad. You've got guts, taking on three first-grade upper-rank opponents right off the bat. I like your spirit. Go ahead and fight. You're bound to get hurt, but I'll make sure you don't die."

After Uncle Wang agreed, Lu Hao watched the fights in the arena while waiting for his turn.

By dusk, Lu Hao was heading home with one arm hanging limp at his side, reviewing the day's three fights in his mind as he walked.

There wasn't much to say about the first two. He'd seen a couple of dirty tricks, but that was about it.

The injury to his arm had been caused by the last first-grade upper-rank opponent he faced that day. That martial artist had tempered the bones in his upper body and wielded a long spear.

They had fought for dozens of exchanges. Lu Hao had taken a spear through the arm before managing to defeat him. If his opponent hadn't surrendered so quickly, Lu Hao might even have killed him.

His opponent's greatest strength was using that spear to defend himself. Even after Lu Hao leaped into the air, he couldn't get around the spear to strike the man directly. With no other choice, he had traded injury for injury.

After the match, Lu Hao took a Healing Pill, which helped his arm recover a little, and then went home.

As soon as he arrived, his mother saw his limp arm. She fought back tears and carefully examined it. Once she was sure it wasn't too serious, she went to make him dinner.

Sitting on the sofa, Lu Hao clearly heard the sound of chopping mixed with quiet sobs. It made him feel awful, but there was nothing he could do. If he wanted to get stronger, he would have to go through this sooner or later.

And if he wanted to win in the end—or at least protect his parents—he had to keep working harder and harder.

At the dinner table, his mother didn't bring up his arm again. She knew she couldn't stop her son, and doing so would only hinder his progress. Instead, Bai Qiuyao told him about many things that had happened at the bureau.

She told him about the various crimes committed by martial artists. She wanted him to get used to hearing about them in advance, since, given his situation, he would probably be coming to the bureau for assignments soon.

She wasn't worried about Lu Hao's safety, since Viper was protecting him. What worried Bai Qiuyao was how he would cope with facing these brutal martial artists. Some of their methods were so horrific that even she, after more than ten years as a bureau chief, couldn't bear to look at the details.

Their actions were practically inhuman, beyond what an ordinary person could even imagine. She could only hope that Lu Hao wouldn't be affected by such dregs of society.

After dinner, Lu Hao didn't practice his saber technique because of his injured arm. Instead, he practiced his legwork. The last martial artist he had fought that day had nearly mastered his legwork. His varied ways of using it had given Lu Hao plenty of ideas.

Sure enough, actual combat was the fastest way to improve.