But in the next instant, pair after pair of eyes converged on Yang Chen almost simultaneously. Without a doubt, Yang Chen, who had forcefully defeated even a genius nurtured by a behemoth like the Redcoat Gang, had become the focal point of this Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
This level of attention far exceeded everyone's original expectations.
Normally, no matter how outstanding a young genius was, it would not drive love-struck young maidens to fight over him with reddened eyes. Such red-eyed scrambling was something that might not be seen even once in the coming-of-age ceremonies of the various clans over four or five years.
For that kind of genius, a word like "outstanding" was already insufficient to describe him.
But things were different now.
Yang Chen's appearance had thoroughly made those girls from other clans see red.
"Daughter, you saw Yang Chen's accomplishments too. His future is boundless. Although your father knows you're thin-skinned, you should still make an effort. What if Yang Chen happens to be especially fond of a girl with your temperament? Yang Chen is a hot commodity. Though you're a girl, if you can take the initiative, then it's best that you do."
"Daughter, if you can get Yang Chen in hand, even the clan chief will have to behave properly when he sees us. For a small clan like ours, don't even think about reaching for the geniuses of the great clans. But this kid Yang Chen is absolutely no worse than the geniuses raised by those great clans."
Quite a few elders who had brought their daughters to the Yang Lineage's Coming-of-Age Ceremony to choose a dragon-riding son-in-law began earnestly instructing their precious girls after seeing this outcome.
Before the Coming-of-Age Ceremony had even ended, Yang Chen had already become the object over whom countless people fought with jealousy.
Yang Heng's father stood amid the crowd, originally comforting the fallen Yang Heng. But when he saw Yang Chen actually defeat the arrogant and domineering Xu Hu, he sucked in a cold breath.
The man sighed. "Yang Heng, remember this well from now on: never provoke Yang Chen again. He is no longer someone you can afford to provoke. If you provoke Yang Chen again, then even if your father holds some status in the Yang Lineage, I definitely won't be able to protect you."
Yang Heng's face was full of venom. No one knew whether he had taken his father's words to heart; he merely gave a soft acknowledgment. Yet the chill in his eyes as he looked at Yang Chen did not lessen in the slightest.
Now, the one who regretted things most was probably Zhou Huaiyi, who had once betrayed Yang Chen.
Watching Yang Chen defeat Xu Hu with overwhelming force, become the Yang Lineage's most outstanding genius, and become the most dazzling presence at today's Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Zhou Huaiyi regretted it until his intestines turned green.
One had to know that a genius's standing within a Lineage was judged, nine times out of ten, at the stage of the Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
No matter how impressively Yang Heng and Yang Wu had been praised before, they had both fallen in defeat at the Coming-of-Age Ceremony. Could they still expect the Lineage to lavish care upon them?
He had thought that clinging to Yang Heng's high branch had been an incomparably wise choice.
But now, it seemed he had made a choice foolish beyond compare.
Yang Chen was bound to soar into the heavens today and become a genius the Yang Lineage would nurture with all its strength.
He did not know why his mind had short-circuited back then, making him choose to betray Yang Chen. What tangible benefit had he gained from betraying Yang Chen? Yang Heng had given him nothing. He had even treated him entirely as a servant, and his treatment was worse than when he had been with Yang Chen.
At the very least, when he was with Yang Chen, he could still receive something called "respect."
Even if— even if he had stayed by Yang Chen's side for two more months and shown his loyalty, today's meteoric rise would have been within reach. Yet it was during those two months that he chose betrayal.
What meaning was there in saying any of this now?
Everything was too late. Everything was too late.
As for Yang Caidie, she led a group of her sisters and hurriedly rushed out of the crowd to Yang Chen's side.
"Dear, are you all right? You aren't hurt anywhere, are you?" Yang Caidie asked with deep concern.
Yang Chen smiled. "Sister, do I look like I'm hurt?"
"That's good, that's good." Only then did Yang Caidie set her mind at ease.
Yang Chen had just been about to say something when he suddenly noticed someone watching him, so he turned around. Only then did he discover that the sisters Yang Caidie had brought were batting their eyes at him one after another. It left him not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and he could only pretend not to see.
He had once been betrayed by the woman closest to him. Though he had not said he would never marry or have children, he still could not bring himself to trust others so easily.
This was a hurdle he still found difficult to cross.
Yang Jinhe's attitude toward Yang Chen had also undergone a heaven-and-earth transformation. He said gently, "Yang Chen, well done."
Second Master Yang and Fourth Master Yang also burst into hearty laughter. "That's right, Yang Chen, well done."
"Clan Chief, Second Master, Fourth Master, you flatter me. Just now, Yang Chen merely got lucky." Yang Chen smiled.
"Lucky? You tore off Xu Hu's arm. When I saw that Third Master Bandit's expression, I could barely stop myself from laughing. Yang Chen, you did well!" Fourth Master Yang was forthright by nature, and he practically wanted to clap and cheer.
What a joke!
If not for Yang Chen, even if the Yang Lineage had lost face and suffered this loss today, they could only have swallowed it.
There was no helping it. Could they really clash head-on with the bandits?
Could they win?
Therefore, even if they lost face, there was nothing they could do. They could only blame themselves for lacking the ability to win back that dignity.
Yet just when they all believed they had lost all face today, Yang Chen's clash with Xu Hu had ended in a complete crushing victory. He had even torn off one of Xu Hu's arms. Such an outcome was beyond everyone's expectations.
Most importantly, Yang Chen had helped the Yang Lineage reclaim its dignity. That was the most crucial thing of all.
No matter how furious Third Master was, they did not dare take the initiative to attack the Yang Lineage over this matter, because they had no grounds to stand on. As long as they had no grounds, if they dared to make a move, the Twelve Great Clans would certainly stand with the Yang Lineage. At that point, the Redcoat Gang would be unable to save face either.
"Yang Chen, even this old man never expected your performance today. I never imagined that not only had you achieved outstanding attainments in the Alchemy Way, but your martial cultivation would also far exceed my imagination." At that moment, a hearty voice rang out. At some unknown time, Li Youyan had appeared within everyone's sight.
"Senior Li!" Yang Chen exclaimed.
Yang Jinhe said gently, "It seems Brother Li truly does know this brat Yang Chen."
"Hehe, perhaps it is fate. Speaking of which, Li had already considered cooperating with the Yang Lineage. But when the Redcoat Gang appeared today, Li did not dare speak up in your defense. I am truly ashamed. I hope Brother Yang can understand." Li Youyan drew a deep breath.
Yang Jinhe waved his hand. "Brother Li, you jest. I understand how you felt."
Though the two families were cooperating, they were not one family after all. If their enemy had been those formidable bandits, it was perfectly normal for Li Youyan not to dare step forward and help. After all, Li Youyan had to consider his own family as well. If the Bandit Gang paid the Li family a visit another day, how could Li Youyan possibly withstand it?
The Li family followed the route of a merchant association. Their strength still lagged a full tier behind the Yang Lineage's.
"Brother Yang's understanding of Li's feelings truly leaves Li with no way to repay him. How about this? Once the Coming-of-Age Ceremony ends, Li will seize this fine day and auspicious occasion to announce a full-scale partnership with the Yang Lineage." Li Youyan spoke gently.
Yang Jinhe was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Haha, good, Brother Li. Then it is settled. It seems our Yang Lineage must bring this Coming-of-Age Ceremony to a close quickly."
The more he looked at Yang Chen now, the more pleasing he found him.
It could be said that if not for Yang Chen, not only would the Yang Lineage have lost face today, but Li Youyan might even have refused to cooperate with them because of the Yang Lineage's defeat.
Wasn't the reason Li Youyan had not called off the partnership precisely because the Yang Lineage had not suffered a loss at the hands of the Redcoat Bandit Gang today?
"All right. Because of that unexpected incident just now, let the second sparring segment be suspended." Yang Jinhe could not be bothered to continue. After all, Yang Chen's victory for the crown today was already beyond all dispute.
Then Yang Jinhe said, "Bring up the weapons!"
Bang! Bang! A group of Yang family servants carried up racks of sabers, swords, and other weapons.
"Those Yang Lineage disciples coming of age today will no longer play at childish fist-and-foot games after adulthood. True war is bloodshed and slaughter. In battle, having a weapon that fits your hand is the key!"
The old servant declared loudly, "Next, choose a weapon that you feel suits your hand. Once you do, you will be considered fully grown!"
This was also the final segment of the Yang Lineage's Coming-of-Age Ceremony, and it was a segment everyone attached great importance to. Choosing a weapon represented the path a person would walk in martial cultivation from then on.
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