Though he did feel awkward and uncomfortable, and still refused to abandon respectful forms of address for others, this feeling of being a young noble heir was nonetheless beyond his ability to describe.
Especially the announcement of his name at the Sword Selection Meet just now.
When he told Qu Xin, "Once I reach Eighth Growth, I'll definitely make the Teal List too," hadn't that, too, been the work of those faint stirrings in his heart-these swordsmen fighting in the arena really were impressive, but were they really better than him?
In Sword Endowment, he surpassed every one of them.
Of course, he had never voiced that awareness. It had not even clearly surfaced in his heart, because a wall of rational reality stood before it-however great your Sword Endowment, it only counted once you turned it into actual ability. No one knew you, Pei Ye, yet. You had only just reached Sixth Growth, and your swordsmanship had only just entered the Spirit Realm. Only you believed in yourself.
So you had to keep it bottled up and work in silence, until, little by little, you made everyone believe.
But the old man had swept that process away with a wave of his hand.
-You had the greatest Sword Endowment in Shaolong, so you ought to take first place at Shaolong's Sword Selection Meet. It was only natural.
In that moment, his heart truly surged.
"I told you, you're the white crane beneath the new Governor-General's wing." Sui Zaihua poured wine and gazed out over the great city beneath their feet. "If it's yours, no one has the right to ask you to yield it out of modesty."
"...Lord Sui." Pei Ye finally could not help pouring out another feeling. "The truth is, I'm a little apprehensive."
"Mm."
"To suddenly