Under the moonlight, a thin night mist hung over the courtyard.
Paul suddenly leaned toward Luo Ge, his expression so serious it was almost solemn, and asked the question that had lingered in his heart for so long.
Like Rudeus, he wanted to know exactly how he had lost.
Paul could not figure it out, no matter how he tried. He had not seen Luo Ge's movements clearly at all.
By the time he reacted, a sudden wave of dizziness had struck his brain, and he had already collapsed to the ground.
Everything had happened too quickly. In that split second, even an Advanced Swordsman like him had had no time to react before falling without knowing what had hit him.
Paul's gaze settled on Luo Ge, full of confusion and curiosity.
Luo Ge repeated what he had said earlier.
He could see the flow of blood and mana, the extent of muscle contractions, and every movement of the bones, so before his opponent even struck, he could already see every subsequent move with perfect clarity.
Paul froze when he heard this.
Unlike Zenith and Lilia, he realized almost instantly what those words meant.
Seeing the flow of blood and even mana, then using that to deduce and predict movements-every ability pointed to the same fact.
His second son was a born swordsman.
With talent like this, there was probably no one in the entire world better suited to the path of the sword.
Even Paul, who had always considered himself a genius, felt genuinely astounded at that moment.
Suppressing the wild joy surging in his heart, he placed both hands on Luo Ge's shoulders and lowered his voice, his tone so solemn it was almost pleading. "Remember... you must never let a third person in this world hear what you just told me."
"Take all of it to your grave. Understand?"
"Yes, I understand."
Luo Ge immediately caught his meaning and nodded in agreement.
Then he looked up again and asked curiously, "Father, could you tell me about this world's system of swordsmanship? I'd like to learn about it."
Paul paused, then patted his chest with a smile. "No problem. Leave it to me."
The more he looked at this son of his, the more pleased he became. He cleared his throat and said seriously, "Listen closely. Swordsmen essentially belong to three major schools: the Water God Style, the Sword God Style, and the North God Style."
"The Sword God Style is the world's mainstream school. It believes in killing with a single strike and pursues the ultimate offense."
"The Water God Style is the exact opposite. Rather than initiating attacks, it focuses on absolute defense, emphasizing defense and counterattacks."
"As for the North God Style... ahem, that school probably wouldn't suit you."
The vaguer Paul was, the more curious Luo Ge became. "What exactly does the North God Style involve? Don't tell me it has no fixed moves and specializes in winning by any means necessary?"
"Huh? How did you know?" Paul looked surprised.
The corners of Luo Ge's lips curved faintly, his voice carrying a child's characteristic innocence. "You told me yourself, Father, of course."
"I told you?"
"When? Why don't I remember any of this?" Paul scratched his head. Even after racking his brains, he could not recall ever teaching him this knowledge.
Luo Ge looked at Paul with smiling eyes and said, "You practice your swordsmanship in the courtyard every day, Father. I secretly watch every day."
"I saw the sharpness of the Sword God Style in your moves, as well as the stillness of the Water God Style. And of course, traces of the North God Style showed up occasionally too."
"Although you don't use it much and don't seem to like it, I can still distinguish the character of the three schools."
Paul was utterly dumbfounded.
He had been wondering how this boy had knocked him down with a single sword strike earlier, and had even used Sword God Style moves.
So that was it...
He had been secretly watching him practice all along.
Of course, Paul had known about this. Whenever he noticed his son peeking at him from the second-floor window, he always put even more effort into displaying his swordsmanship.
But what he had never expected was...
This son's talent for swordsmanship was simply terrifying. Just by watching him practice every day...
He had taught himself without a master...
And reached a level ordinary people could hardly attain.
Was this what it meant to be a genius?
Perhaps "monster" would be a more fitting description.
He did not deliberately avoid Paul's gaze.
Luo Ge openly displayed his talent, never even considering pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger.
There was absolutely no need for that in front of family who loved him.
Rather than pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger and develop in hiding, he would rather have Paul take him seriously and train him.
And this approach had indeed changed Paul's original plans.
He had intended to wait until his second son turned five before formally teaching him swordsmanship, but seeing his son's extraordinary talent now, he had completely revised that plan.
Starting tonight, he would personally polish this uncut gem.
In the future, this child would surely become a swordsman renowned far and wide.
At the same time, however, a trace of worry arose in Paul's heart.
Would forcibly intervening amount to pulling up seedlings to help them grow?
As though he had seen through his father's thoughts, Luo Ge's lips lifted slightly, and he said with certainty, "Father, please trust me... it'll be fine."
"Please be strict with my training. I want to become a swordsman as strong as you."
With those eyes looking up at him, the last of Paul's hesitation dispersed like morning mist.
He patted Luo Ge's shoulder and smiled. "What a clever child. Although you beat me today, if I got serious, you'd still be nowhere near a match for me."
"That's precisely why I hope you won't hold back, Father. Train me as hard as you can, so I can catch up to you sooner."
Paul had originally worried that this child might grow arrogant over a single victory, but he could not see the slightest trace of impatience or complacency in Luo Ge.
Those perpetually narrowed eyes held a steadiness and tranquility far beyond his years.
There seemed to be only a will to grow stronger.
Paul nodded approvingly.
For the next while, he offered pointers while explaining this world's system of swordsmanship in detail.
First came the ranks of combat strength.
Luo Ge soon understood.
In this world, swordsmen were divided into seven ranks, from lowest to highest: Beginner Rank, Intermediate Rank, Advanced Rank, Saint Rank, King Rank, Emperor Rank, and God Rank.
Paul said smugly, "Don't underestimate your father. I was a genius back in the day too-a genius who trained in the Sword God Style, Water God Style, and North God Style all the way to Advanced Rank."
After listening, Luo Ge asked his first question. "Father, roughly what level is my swordsmanship at now?"
Paul looked thoughtful. After studying him carefully for a moment, he gave his assessment. "You're probably still at the threshold of a Beginner Rank Swordsman."
"Huh? That low?"
Luo Ge scratched his head.
"You haven't mastered touki yet, so naturally, you can only count as a beginner. If you could wield touki proficiently, that would be another matter."
"First of all, touki is an unavoidable hurdle for any swordsman seeking to reach Advanced Rank."
"Take our earlier match, for example. If I'd cloaked myself in touki then, there's no way you could have so easily..."
Paul abruptly stopped, his cheeks warming.
Being knocked unconscious by his own three-year-old son was simply too absurd. It could practically become the greatest stain on his life.
He composed himself and resumed his fatherly dignity, saying earnestly, "Touki is fundamental to becoming a swordsman. Although I admit your understanding of swordsmanship is indeed superior to others', touki is completely different from sword techniques. It can only be honed bit by bit through daily training."
"Even someone as gifted as your old man only truly mastered touki at eleven and joined the ranks of Advanced Swordsmen. So you mustn't aim beyond your reach. You need to keep your feet on the ground in everything you do."
No sooner had he finished than Luo Ge closed his eyes and stood still, replaying the paths of Paul's everyday sword swings over and over in the depths of his mind.
A moment later, he opened his eyes and took up his wooden sword without a word.
He began swinging at the empty air again and again beneath the moonlight.
Watching his son's complete concentration, Paul's throat shifted, but in the end, he said nothing more.
He merely reminded him to rest early and not push himself too hard, then turned and went back inside to make a few more alts with Zenith.
Early the next morning.
After a whole night, Paul was utterly exhausted, with two heavy dark circles under his eyes and an aching back and waist.
He pushed open the door, only to freeze beneath the veranda.
In the courtyard, he saw that seemingly frail figure.
Luo Ge had actually spent the entire night swinging his sword in the courtyard.
Seriously?
Wasn't he working way too hard?
Paul silently marveled at the sight.
Compared to his second son's diligence, he suddenly felt that his younger self had been as lazy as a parasite.
He was about to approach and check on him, but before he could draw near, Luo Ge's eyes suddenly widened in the courtyard.
He suddenly burst out laughing. "Dad... hahaha!"
"I get it! I finally get it!"
Paul frowned slightly, muttering inwardly.
Had this child exhausted himself so much that something had gone wrong with his mind?
What nonsense was he spouting so early in the morning?
"Take a break. You're only three. There's absolutely no need to push yourself this hard. You need at least some balance between work and rest!" Paul stepped forward and waved a hand, reaching out to forcibly take the wooden sword from him.
Who would have thought that Luo Ge would suddenly focus, aim his sword at the old tree in the courtyard, and gently raise its tip? Tilting his head, he gave Paul a mysterious smile. "Old man, open your eyes and watch closely."
"This next strike... is going to be cool."