Disappointment

Su Yun planted both hands and suddenly launched herself into the air.

The third strike was the finisher, delivered from above!

Like a falling meteor, she raised her right leg high, bringing all her weight and the lingering force of her spin down in a fierce stomp!

The strike held the power of a thousand jun, as if it could punch straight through the earth.

"Boom!"

Dust billowed and shock waves rolled. Su Yun landed steadily, one knee slightly bent, leaving a sizable crater in the ground before her.

Tang San stared at the scene, dumbfounded.

"Gulp..."

He swallowed, then stiffly turned his head toward Su Yun as if he were a robot. What kind of humanoid ferocious beast was she?!

Even as Tang San reeled in shock, a hint of bitterness crept into his heart.

Though he'd underestimated her in that fight and hadn't used all his strength, a loss was still a loss. Tang San said despondently,

"Yun, you won."

As the words left his mouth, Su Yun walked over and held out a hand with a smile.

"It was only luck. I know Little San Gege went easy on me and didn't use all his strength."

At that, the disappointment in Tang San's heart vanished in an instant.

Yun was so kind. She'd won, but she hadn't gotten cocky or taunted him. She'd even comforted him.

Besides, Yun wasn't an enemy. What did it matter if he lost?

Thinking it over, Tang San smiled, took Su Yun's hand, and pulled himself to his feet.

[Friendship Points +12 from Tang San.]

Not only had she beaten Tang San, she'd gained another batch of Friendship Points. Su Yun felt as refreshed as if she'd just eaten an ice-cold watermelon on the hottest day of summer.

The two returned to the boulder and sat down to recover. Though Su Yun had held back, Tang San had still taken several hits. He hadn't felt too bad at the time, but after resting for a while, he could feel aches starting to rise in several places.

Still, not wanting Su Yun to worry—and not wanting to seem too fragile—Tang San pretended nothing was wrong and asked,

"Yun, was that Konoha Strong Gale you used just now something you came up with yourself?"

"Yep."

Su Yun raised her eyebrows proudly.

"You watch me practice every day, don't you?

What do you think? Impressive, right?"

She was committed to her genius persona. Anyway, as her [Superman Physique] developed, she'd gain superhuman intelligence in the future. She had no fear of being found out.

"Mm."

Tang San nodded lightly and carefully recalled the fight. Suddenly, he realized that a lot of things hadn't added up. He'd underestimated her, sure, but Su Yun had won far too easily. After a moment's hesitation, he asked,

"Xiao Yun, were you holding back just now? You didn't use your full strength?"

"Uh..."

Unusually, Su Yun didn't answer right away. Her face turned uncertain, and only after a moment did she reply, a little sheepishly,

"I...

I actually did use my full strength."

Tang San froze. Naturally, he saw right through such a clumsy lie—and was moved all over again.

Xiao Yun really had gone to so much trouble to protect my confidence.

[Friendship Points +11 from Tang San.]

[Friendship Points +13 from Tang San.]

Su Yun received another 24 Friendship Points.

No!

At that very moment, Tang San's heart surged with a fierce fighting spirit!

I'll show Xiao Yun that I'm not just strong in spirit—my strength is real, too!

I'll show her how strong I am! I can protect her!

With that thought, Tang San gazed intently at Su Yun.

"Yun, let's fight again next month.

And this time, we'll both use our full strength."

"Our full strength?"

Su Yun was taken aback by that. Her expression turned strange. If she went all out with her [Superman Physique], she was afraid one Shave would kick Tang San to death.

"Right. Our full strength."

Tang San nodded firmly.

Seeing the resolve in Tang San's eyes, Su Yun didn't ask why. She simply agreed.

"Sure."

Tang San breathed a sigh of relief.

He secretly swore that a month from now, he'd show Xiao Yun his true strength!

Tang San's eagerness to prove himself was, in truth, his inferiority complex acting up.

Whether it was looks, talent, or Martial Soul, he felt completely outclassed. Su Yun was just too outstanding, and today's fight had dealt another blow to his confidence.

He was desperate to prove himself, to spread his feathers like a peacock and show off how exceptional he was.

If he could, Tang San would've shown Su Yun all the Tang Sect's techniques right then and there. But he was afraid of hurting her, and he was also a little afraid that if he lost again, he wouldn't have any excuses left.

Setting the match a month away gave him time, first, to prepare some Hidden Weapons. Nothing sharp, of course—just things like pebbles or blunt weapons.

Second, he wanted to make some healing medicine so he could treat Su Yun if she got hurt.

To keep Su Yun from looking down on him, Tang San was ready to reveal his edge!

After setting a date, they rested a little longer, then headed back to the village together.

After seeing Su Yun off, Tang San returned home.

At last, he couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.

"Ts..."

Then Tang Hao suddenly came out of the inner room.

Tang San froze. He clearly hadn't expected Tang Hao to be awake. He immediately stood up.

"Dad, are you hungry?

There should still be some porridge in the pot. I'll get you a bowl."

Tang Hao didn't answer. Looking at Tang San, bruised in several places and in a sorry state, he frowned without thinking.

"Did someone beat you up?"

Tang San's expression turned awkward. He didn't know how to answer.

After all, being beaten by a girl his own age wasn't exactly something to be proud of.

Seeing Tang San's face, Tang Hao's eyes flashed coldly.

"I asked you a question..."

Seeing Tang Hao get angry, Tang San nodded, no matter how unwilling he was.

"Mm. Xiao Yun and I had a real fight today."

"You lost?"

Tang Hao's voice had gone flat, but the pressure it put on Tang San was even greater than before.

"Mm."

After answering, Tang San lowered his head even further. But soon he raised it again, hurriedly trying to explain.

"But I didn't use my full strength. If—"

Tang Hao cut him off before he could finish.

"Heh..."

With a cold laugh, Tang Hao turned and went back into the inner room, making no effort to hide his disappointment in Tang San.

What a good-for-nothing!

As my son, not only did he awaken Blue Silver Grass, he couldn't even beat a little girl his own age.

Ah Yin, what in the world did you give your life to save?

That was right.

In Tang Hao's eyes, Ah Yin had died entirely because of Tang San.

If she hadn't just given birth and lost so much vitality, leaving her with little strength to fight, then once she entered the forest, the Blue Silver Emperor Domain and its Spring Wind Blows and Grows Again property would've given them every chance to escape.

But because of that burden, Tang San, she chose to sacrifice herself!

That was why he'd ignored Tang San all these years. And now he was even more certain he'd been right.

He was six years old. No matter how useless his Martial Soul was, after obtaining a Spirit Ring, he'd be a One-Ring Soul Master and capable of supporting himself.