Luring In

Perhaps the pity in Li Chenfeng's eyes had stirred Duan Lang's pride. The boy, who had barely managed to remain calm, snapped angrily, "What business is it of yours?!"

"I believe that as long as I work hard, I will achieve something in the future, render meritorious service to the World Society, earn the Chief's favor, become his disciple, rise to prominence, and live up to my father's name!" Duan Lang declared firmly.

Li Chenfeng looked at Duan Lang's resolute expression and nodded. "You are indeed hardworking. I just witnessed that myself. But given your current circumstances, it will not be easy for you to achieve anything in your cultivation.

"And even if you managed to cultivate yourself to the point where you were no weaker than Xiong Ba's disciples, so what? Do you really think that merely working hard will make selfish, arrogant Xiong Ba notice you and accept you as his disciple?

"You should have already known how Xiong Ba treats you, shouldn't you?

"The son of Duan Shuai, the Southern Qilin Sword Chief, can only be a lowly servant in the World Society. That way, everyone will know that the World Society is brimming with talent—even the son of Duan Shuai, the Southern Qilin Sword Chief, can only be a servant!

"This is your standing in Xiong Ba's eyes!"

By the end, Li Chenfeng's voice had once again taken on a mocking edge.

Duan Lang immediately growled, "Impossible! I will become the Chief's disciple! I will rise to prominence and restore the Duan Clan's glory!"

"With what you have now?" Li Chenfeng looked at the stubborn-faced youth before him and shook his head. "I know Xiong Ba's character best. Even if you succeed in cultivation someday, he will never give you a second glance.

"Not to mention, you do not even possess a decent martial arts manual. How are you supposed to stand out among the World Society's hundred thousand members?"

"Manual... a manual..." Hearing Li Chenfeng's words, Duan Lang looked somewhat lost. If the Duan Clan's inherited martial arts had been in his hands, he was confident that he would not be inferior to Nie Feng now!

Thinking of the Duan Clan's Sun-Eroding Sword Technique, a flash of realization struck Duan Lang. He seemed to have figured out the true identity of the man before him!

"It was you!" Duan Lang cried out despite himself.

"It was you! It was you! It was you!" Duan Lang's eyes gradually reddened, and his young face slowly twisted into something ferocious.

"It was you who stole the Duan Clan's sword technique and stole our hope of rising again!"

For an eleven-year-old to wear such an expression showed just how deeply Li Chenfeng's taking the Sun-Eroding Sword Technique from him back then had wounded him.

Li Chenfeng did not deny it and simply nodded. "That's right. I was the one who saved you in Lingyun Grotto back then!"

Hearing Li Chenfeng's words, Duan Lang's blazing fury abruptly stalled. Li Chenfeng had only mentioned the debt of saving his life, and no matter how unhappy Duan Lang was, he could not deny it.

"Hmph, sophistry!" Duan Lang said coldly. "You merely coveted the Duan Clan's Sun-Eroding Sword Technique!"

Seeing that Duan Lang's expression had eased slightly, Li Chenfeng laughed inwardly.

After all, he was only a boy of around ten. Though he was clever enough, he could not yet be as shameless as those old hands of the martial world. Faced with a genuine debt of salvation, he could not simply deny it outright.

"Duan Lang, let me ask you this. Do you remember what your father said when he handed the Sun-Eroding Sword Technique to you?" Li Chenfeng asked solemnly.

Duan Lang's young face wrinkled slightly as he looked at Li Chenfeng, unable to understand what he meant.

Li Chenfeng shook his head and said with an expression of mournful compassion, "Though the Sun-Eroding Sword Technique is an unmatched sword art in the martial world, its killing intent is too heavy. If one cannot control that killing intent while cultivating it, the sword technique will instead devour its practitioner.

"Furthermore, the Sun-Eroding Sword Technique requires the Duan Clan's inherited supreme art, the Fire Qilin Sword, to unleash its full power.

"Yet although the Fire Qilin Sword is called an unrivaled divine weapon, its true nature is that of a genuine demonic weapon!

"Even your father, with his extraordinary gifts, could not truly master it! If you lack absolute strength, the demonic weapon will consume your heart, make you lose your mind, and turn you into a demon who knows nothing but slaughter!

"This is why your father would rather die than hand the Fire Qilin Sword over to you!"

"This... this... Impossible! Impossible..."

Clearly, Li Chenfeng's words were difficult for Duan Lang to accept in such a short time. Yet deep down, he knew that every word was true!

His father had never allowed him near the Fire Qilin Sword, and even his father himself rarely used it.

Moreover, in his memories, his father would sometimes become someone utterly unfamiliar—even terrifying. At those times, the man before him was nothing like the father he had depended on for survival, but rather a bloodthirsty demon!

"How could this be..."

Li Chenfeng's words, coupled with the scenes surfacing in his mind, were more than Duan Lang's young heart could bear.

Seeing that Duan Lang was actually showing signs of collapse, Li Chenfeng was startled.

Did I go too far?

This will not do. If I truly crush this little fellow beyond recovery, wouldn't all my efforts this time have been wasted?

"Duan Lang! Have you forgotten the responsibility you bear?" Li Chenfeng shouted softly, his voice ringing directly in Duan Lang's mind through his ears like a great bell.

"Responsibility? The responsibility I bear?" Duan Lang raised his head blankly and looked at Li Chenfeng. Light gradually returned to his lifeless eyes.

"Yes, I still bear the responsibility of restoring the Duan Clan. I must restore the Duan Clan's glory from centuries ago!"

Muttering to himself, Duan Lang's eyes gradually began to gleam as he looked at Li Chenfeng.

Li Chenfeng slowly nodded. "Good. As expected of the Southern Qilin Sword Chief's son!"

"Duan Lang, Sword Worship Villa has always revered the sword above all else. When I first traveled the martial world, I heard of the Southern Qilin Sword Chief's great reputation and journeyed thousands of miles to Leshan to visit your father. I never expected to encounter the duel between the Southern Qilin Sword Chief and North-Drinking Mad Saber, only for both seniors to ultimately perish at the hands of the Fire Demon.

"After saving you, I saw that despite your young age, you possessed exceptional talent. Moreover, under those circumstances, your heart was filled with hatred. To prevent you from disregarding Senior Duan's warning and forcibly cultivating the Sun-Eroding Sword Technique, I used your debt of life-saving grace as an excuse to take the sword technique from you.

"I also made it clear then that once your cultivation had reached a certain level, you could come to Sword Worship Villa and reclaim the Duan Clan's sword technique.

"Given your talent and background, I had assumed that you would receive special training in the World Society. Yet I never expected that after coming here, you would become nothing more than a lowly servant.

"These past three years, you have suffered countless grievances. I truly have failed Senior Duan!"

Seeing the remorse on Li Chenfeng's face, the hatred in Duan Lang's eyes slowly faded. Tears gradually welled up instead. His small heart no longer held anger, only boundless grievance.

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