He saw an incredibly familiar movement from Luo Ge-the very opening stance he had just used himself.
The exact same technique and movements.
The Sword God Style's secret technique, Silent Blade.
It clearly looked like a clumsy first attempt at imitation, yet the movements were fluid and perfect, as though honed through countless repetitions.
Whoosh!
Paul instinctively copied what Luo Ge had just done-using the Water God Style's secret technique, Flow, to deliver a beautiful counterattack.
However-
They were on completely different levels.
Both had used Silent Blade, but Luo Ge's was faster, more accurate, and stronger than Paul's.
Both its speed and power had reached a state of flawless perfection.
A hair's breadth of difference led to a thousand-mile gap.
In just an instant, Silent Blade sent Paul flying, and he crashed heavily to the ground.
Since Luo Ge had controlled his strength just right this time, Paul did not immediately pass out.
Seeing Paul still trying to pick up the sword on the ground and put up another struggle, Luo Ge quickly closed in, and with a sharp smack-
Knocked the sword out of his hand.
Then he pointed his own sword at Paul's throat.
At this point, the outcome was decided.
Beaten until he had almost no room to fight back, Paul looked utterly dazed.
Luo Ge had kept his eyes slightly narrowed throughout, smiling without warmth. "You've lost, Father!"
"Yes, I lost."
Coming to his senses, Paul lay on the grass as though all the air had gone out of him, his expression full of conflicting feelings.
I lost... I actually lost to my own five-year-old son.
Is this the true gap between an ordinary person and a genius? This is beyond ridiculous.
A gentle breeze blew.
Leaves danced through the air in the yard.
Everything was almost utterly silent, until someone finally broke the silence.
The maid Lilia covered her mouth in surprise. "Oh my, how incredible... The master actually lost to Young Master Luo Ge!"
"If even Mr. Paul couldn't beat him, then my loss... doesn't seem quite so unacceptable anymore." Having found someone in the same boat, Roxy felt much better.
It was not that she was bad; this disciple was simply too heaven-defying.
Although Rudeus said nothing, the shock on his face had long since betrayed his feelings.
He marveled inwardly. As a fellow reincarnator, he had thought he was the special one, but good grief.
His little brother was straight-up cheating.
After seeing firsthand how his brother's swordsmanship talent allowed him to utterly thrash even Paul, he suddenly felt that the magical talent he had been so proud of had lost its appeal.
"Luo Ge... My darling son is amazing!!!"
Seeing her husband knocked flat by their son, Zenith immediately made a comical face and danced with delight on the spot.
No one there was happier than Zenith.
People's joys and sorrows often did not overlap. Though they were husband and wife, Paul's feelings were very complicated.
Well, how should he put it?
Although this was not the first time Luo Ge had knocked Paul flat on the spot.
This time was clearly different from the last.
Last time, Paul had been careless and failed to dodge. This time, they had faced each other head-on with their true abilities.
In this genuine contest.
Paul had lost.
Moreover, he had lost to the Sword God Style technique he took the greatest pride in.
With his fatherly dreams shattered by a single strike from his own five-year-old son, Paul had begun questioning his life on the spot and withdrawn into himself a little.
Fortunately... Paul was no child, and before long, he pulled himself together again.
Paul slowly walked up to Luo Ge, looking at his son, who was only five years old, with eyes full of pride.
"That was incredible!"
"Dad, you flatter me. You're amazing too."
"Mm."
An embarrassed Paul scratched his cheek.
Then he quickly changed the subject and asked curiously.
"Oh, right."
"That... that Sword God Style secret technique you beat me with, Silent Blade-when exactly did you learn it? I don't remember teaching you that."
It was his trump card. He had planned to spring it on Luo Ge and catch him off guard.
Yet his genius son had not only blocked it with the Water God Style's secret technique, Flow, but turned the tables on him with the very same move.
Paul was utterly baffled.
However, Luo Ge merely glanced at him and grinned. "You taught me, Dad. Did you forget?"
"Huh? When?"
Paul froze completely.
Could it be?
The next second, an incredible possibility occurred to him, and disbelief instantly filled his face.
As though he could not believe it was real.
At the same time, everyone nearby thought of that possibility too, but none of them volunteered it aloud.
Simply because that answer was too absurd.
His eyes slightly narrowed, Luo Ge admitted it himself. "Yep, just now."
"When you used it, Father, you gave me a live demonstration, so I tried copying it."
"I didn't expect... how should I put it... It felt really easy to use. The principle is as simple as one plus one equals two. Anyone should be able to do it, right?"
"One plus one equals two?"
"Really easy!!!"
Paul was numb, rooted to the spot in a complete daze.
Anyone?
Like hell!
He had always known that his second son's talent for swordsmanship was exceptional, far beyond that of his peers, but he had never imagined it was this extraordinary.
Even as a self-proclaimed genius, he had needed years of diligent practice to master Silent Blade, and it was his trump card.
Yet his son had perfectly reproduced it after seeing it once-just once-and thrown it at him like a normal attack.
Whether in power or speed... he had reached the point of surpassing his teacher.
To Paul, that Silent Blade could only be described as flawless.
Heh, I lost.
Although he was reluctant to accept it, Paul ultimately faced that fact calmly.
There was no helping it. This child was simply too outstanding.
How should he put it?
There was frustration...
But more than anything, he felt gratified.
At this moment, it was unexpectedly a relief.
A smile returned to Paul's face, and he reached out to pat Luo Ge's shoulder. "Congratulations, Luo Ge... You've successfully completed your training. From today onward, you can also call yourself an Advanced Swordsman."
"Really?"
"Why can't I be a Sword Saint?"
Luo Ge was puzzled.
"Uh, well!"
"The thing is... Sword Saints aren't judged on strength alone. Generally speaking, only someone who has mastered the Sword of Light can be called a Sword Saint."
"It's an unwritten rule of the Sword God Style."
"What a stupid rule. Bullshit..."
Luo Ge was rather disdainful.
Seeing this, Paul suddenly looked a little ashamed. "I'm sorry... Very few people have mastered the Sword God Style's secret technique, the Sword of Light. I don't know it myself yet, so I can't teach you."
"I'm not blaming you, Dad. You don't need to apologize."
Luo Ge said to Paul.
It seemed that if he wanted to become a Sword Saint, he needed to find an opportunity to learn the Sword of Light as soon as possible.
Just as Luo Ge was lost in thought.
Paul suddenly came over and patted his shoulder. "Hey, what are you thinking about? You're spacing out."
"Uh, nothing."
Luo Ge shook his head.
Paul did not think much of it, and a smile immediately appeared on his face.
"Ah, whatever the case, that was a wonderfully satisfying duel today."
"Anyway, now even your father is no match for you."
"As your father, I haven't taught you much swordsmanship, yet you've come this far."
"You're almost too outstanding. No wonder you wanted to leave home. Was it because I already had nothing left to teach you?"
Luo Ge waved a hand, interrupting Paul's self-deprecation.
He stepped in front of his father. "No, Dad, you're amazing too. Although you lack ambition, don't work hard enough, and are also a huge pervert..."
"I still learned a lot from you, Father."
"Without you, I couldn't have reached where I am today. I'm very grateful for your guidance, Father."
"Luo Ge... You have quite a unique way of complimenting people." Paul's mouth twitched.
That was deliberate, wasn't it?
Only when he saw Luo Ge's mischievous expression did Paul realize he was being made fun of.
It was very disrespectful.
Yet Paul did not dislike the feeling at all.
That evening.
A lavish spread of food covered the dining table.
"Let's eat."
Everyone spoke in unison, then began enjoying dinner. Laughter and cheerful conversation filled the entire meal.
After dinner, no one left their seat. Instead, they all looked toward Luo Ge in perfect unspoken agreement.
Paul spoke first.
"You're only five, but somehow, without us noticing, you've already grown up into a fine young man."
"Yes, Young Master Luo Ge truly is the most outstanding genius I've ever seen."
"Lilia is right. Anyway... Zenith, you saw it today too. My son is amazing... He hasn't needed us to worry about him for a long time now."
Zenith remained silent, her eyes secretly reddening beside them.
Even Rudeus was quite reluctant to part with Luo Ge. Envious, he wanted to join him on his travels, so he challenged Paul to a fight too.
In the yard, the two took their stances.
Rudeus went in.
Unsurprisingly... Paul promptly gave him a harsh lesson.
Beaten black and blue by Paul, he blurted out pleas for mercy and swore he would never dare do it again.
Paul vented all the grievances he had suffered at Luo Ge's hands on Rudeus.
Through Rudeus, Paul finally regained a tiny bit of confidence as a father.
Having done all this, Paul had barely recovered a little of his standing in the family.
In front of everyone, he suddenly approached Luo Ge. "Anyway, I'll allow you to make your own choices in life. Keep doing your best from now on."
"Hey, hey, hey!"
"Why are you getting all mushy? Wait! Does that mean... Dad, you... you're agreeing?" Luo Ge was stunned.
"At this point, what reason do I have to stop you?" Paul's expression said he was asking the obvious.
Under everyone's gaze, father and son looked deeply into each other's eyes. At that moment, Luo Ge saw affirmation in Paul's eyes.
Today, he had earned Paul's genuine acknowledgment!
In short, this family meeting ended in Luo Ge's victory.
The family had finally cleared up their misunderstanding.