At the family meeting in Buena Village, the atmosphere was solemn and heavy, like the prelude to a storm.
Paul, Zenith, Rudeus, and Lilia sat down neatly in order.
Meanwhile, the two being stared at like criminals by the family-Luo Ge and Roxy-sat together with their heads lowered, looking just like sinners awaiting judgment.
Roxy had already begun trembling. At best, this was a farce; at worst, it was an actual case of child trafficking.
"Tell us, what exactly happened?" Paul asked sternly, his expression grim.
"Yes, Roxy, why would you do this? No matter how much you like Luo Ge... you shouldn't do something like kidnapping a child."
The misunderstood Roxy offered a quiet defense. "I didn't kidnap him. I'm a victim too."
Zenith frowned. "Then... you were eloping?"
Roxy instantly flushed scarlet and hurriedly waved her hands. "No, it's not what you think! Something like that... he's still a child. How could that possibly happen!"
At that moment, Luo Ge stepped forward. "Dad, Mom, this was my own decision. It has nothing to do with Miss Roxy. My teacher and I are actually truly in love."
"We already have a child..."
"..."
Everyone fell silent.
"???"
Roxy.
Just as the atmosphere became unbearably awkward over that not particularly funny joke, Rudeus suddenly raised his hand and said in an innocent voice, "Actually, I overheard them last night! Luo Ge was using something he had on Miss Roxy to blackmail her."
At once, everyone's questioning gazes fell squarely on Luo Ge.
Luo Ge narrowed his eyes, directing a dangerous look at Rudeus. "So... you were the one who sold me out? I was wondering why the old geezer acted so quickly."
Rudeus grinned sleazily. "Right back at you! That's right! The one who sold you out was me!"
"Hm?"
Luo Ge fought back the urge to send him flying with a punch, took a deep breath, then turned to Paul and Zenith and bowed.
"I'm truly sorry."
"I made you worry about me, but I want to go to the Sword Sanctum to train in the Sword God Style. Please give me your permission."
"So that's how it is..."
Paul accepted this the quickest. He rubbed his chin and sank into thought.
Zenith, however, frowned, her face full of worry.
No matter how outstanding Luo Ge was, he was still only a five-year-old child. She simply couldn't rest easy.
But Luo Ge remained firm. He said earnestly, "I've already grown up. Please don't worry about me. Please trust me."
Paul and Zenith exchanged a glance. Paul spoke first. "You want to go to the Sword Sanctum. Hmm... I have no objection."
Zenith grew anxious. "Darling! That's not what we agreed on!"
But Paul showed his authority as head of the family, waving a hand to interrupt her before looking back at Luo Ge. "But you're still too young."
"You should at least be seven before joining a dojo to study. Besides, rather than the distant Sword Sanctum, I could actually write you a letter of recommendation for a Water God Style dojo."
He held up three fingers. "There are three specific reasons."
"First, the Water God Style dojo is a little closer. Its headquarters are in Ars, Asura's royal capital. That would make coming home and keeping in touch easier."
"Second, I have connections at the Water God Style dojo. It's more reliable, and it would be easier to get things done."
"Third, compared with either the Sword God Style or the North God Style, I think only the Water God Style suits you better. Your talent and swordsmanship are both more compatible with the Water God Style."
Even after saying all that, Paul still left the final decision to Luo Ge. "So, what do you think?"
Luo Ge hesitated only briefly before shaking his head. "Sorry, I still want to join the Sword Sanctum and study the Sword God Style."
"That's fine. Since it's your decision, I respect it." Paul nodded.
"Then... you're agreeing to let me go to the Sword Sanctum with Miss Roxy?"
"No."
Paul refused sternly. "It's not time yet. You need to grow a little older first."
"What if I insist on going?"
Luo Ge suddenly stood up.
Although he was only five and not particularly tall, he unleashed a presence that even Paul couldn't ignore.
For that brief instant, Paul nearly relented.
But in the end, he still shook his head and told Luo Ge, "If you want to go now, you'll have to show me you're strong enough to beat your old man!"
"In that case... I'm prepared to defeat you, Dad." Luo Ge walked toward Paul.
"Then when do you intend to challenge me?"
"Now!"
Paul laughed. "You certainly have courage. You don't actually think you can beat me, do you? I'm proficient in the Sword God Style, Water God Style, and North God Style, and my overall strength reached Saint Rank long ago. I admit I lost to you once before, but I was just careless and didn't dodge."
"You lost."
"I was just careless and didn't dodge."
"You lost."
"I..."
Paul was left speechless by his retorts.
He realized he truly couldn't outargue his second son. Both Rudeus and Luo Ge were terribly sharp-tongued.
They simply left him, their father, at his wits' end.
He took a deep breath, then said, "Enough nonsense. All that talk is useless. Prove it with real strength!"
Afterward.
Under everyone's watchful eyes.
Luo Ge and Paul went into the courtyard.
They stood over ten meters apart, each assuming a stance and facing the other from a distance. Leaves rustled down from the trees in the courtyard, and the atmosphere was solemn and tense.
"Think this through... I won't hold back this time."
"Paul, when did you get so fussy? You're so damn long-winded, old geezer."
Once the trash talk was over.
"Begin!"
At Rudeus's starting call as referee, the atmosphere instantly became charged.
Yet neither struck first. Instead, they paced back and forth where they stood, searching for openings in each other.
Luo Ge's lips curled upward as he said scornfully, "So... Father has become a coward too. The Sword God Style is clearly your specialty, yet I've scared you so badly you don't dare attack."
"What did you say?"
Paul's expression darkened. Being mocked by his own son was no different from taking an ultimate right to the face.
The first to lose his composure, he opened directly with a powerful Sword God Style move.
It was none other than his prized special technique, the Silent Blade.
Swish!
A flash, gone in an instant.
So fast!
Luo Ge's lips curled upward. Though even his breathing had quickened, he remained calm inside.
Almost instinctively, Luo Ge, who had kept his eyes slightly narrowed, had already begun a defensive counterattack.
A Water God Style move.
Unlike the Sword God Style's pursuit of ultimate instantaneous bursts, the Water God Style sought stability, emphasizing striking second to seize control and turning defense into offense.
That was why Luo Ge had provoked Paul into attacking first.
No matter how heaven-defying Luo Ge's talent was, he was still only five this year. There was no way he could compete with an adult like Paul in explosive power.
To defeat a stronger opponent while being weaker himself, Luo Ge chose the Water God Style's steady approach.
Just a moment earlier...
As Paul attacked with the Silent Blade, Luo Ge turned sideways and pivoted, executing the basic secret art, "Flow," in slow motion.
Clang!
Something that shocked everyone present happened-Luo Ge's Flow precisely deflected Paul's attack and even delivered a flawless defensive counterattack.
The wooden sword flew from Paul's hand.
"Huh?"
Paul was stunned.
If he hadn't used a North God Style technique to recover at the crucial moment, he would already have lost.
In just one exchange, Paul had not only failed to gain the upper hand, but had nearly lost instead.
The sight left everyone watching dumbfounded as well.
"I nearly... lost again."
This left Paul feeling somewhat embarrassed. He truly hadn't expected Luo Ge to have not only taught himself the Sword God Style, but also reached such an unbelievable level in the Water God Style.
At least...
He was at least at the same Advanced Swordsman level as Paul.
Just when had it happened? When had his son undergone such a change?
In the instant Paul hesitated, swish-Luo Ge finally moved.
When he saw Luo Ge's opening motion, Paul's pupils abruptly contracted. "Nani? Is that?!!"