Another Sparring Match (Part Two)

Tang San took a step forward, the leaves of the Blue Silver Grass swaying gently on his fingertips, making a soft rustling sound.

He looked directly at Lin Chen, his tone calm. "Since this is a friendly spar, there should be a prize. If I win, you can all mind your own business regarding Ma Hongjun's pursuit of Jiang Zhu, and we'll call it quits. If I lose, I'll apologize to Tai Long, and Ma Hongjun will apologize to Jiang Zhu."

He believed the terms were fair; with one win and one loss, everyone had their own choices and no one was at a disadvantage.

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Chen suddenly laughed.

It wasn't a sneer, but rather a laugh that seemed somewhat amusing. He shook his head slightly, as if he had heard some naive suggestion.

Xiao Wu, standing nearby, chuckled and tilted her head, arms crossed, her clear voice ringing out, "Tang San, you're really good at calculating. Using a girl's wishes as a wager, what kind of skill is that? So, if you win, you can force Jiang Zhu to accept this unreasonable entanglement? That's such an easy way to gain an advantage."

She spoke bluntly, like a fine needle piercing a drumhead. Tang San's lips twitched slightly, but he did not refute her.

Jiang Zhu stood behind Tai Long, her fingers tightly gripping the hem of her clothes, her head bowed low, and her shoulders trembling slightly.

She was naturally soft-hearted, and being caught in the middle made her feel like she was just a pretext. She was afraid that Ma Hongjun would pester her again, and she was also afraid that the two sides would get angry because of her. She was flustered and confused, and her eyes reddened.

Lin Chen ignored Tang San's unpleasant expression and turned to look at Jiang Zhu.

His gaze fell on the slightly trembling figure, his tone softening unconsciously, even his speech slowing down. "Miss Jiang Zhu, let me ask you. Don't you like Ma Hongjun bothering you?"

Jiang Zhu was taken aback, as if she hadn't expected him to ask her that question. She looked up and met Lin Chen's calm eyes, which held no scrutiny or calculation, but simply waited earnestly for her answer.

Jiang Zhu bit her lip, nodded slightly, and said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Um... I... I don't like it. And I'm a little... scared."

"Did you hear that?"

Lin Chen turned back, his gaze returning to Tang San's face. The smile on his lips had completely vanished, and his tone was calm, yet each word was firm and resolute:

"First, Miss Jiang Zhu's wishes are not a wager, nor are they a bargaining chip that anyone can use to negotiate. Therefore, regardless of the outcome of today's competition, Ma Hongjun must apologize to Jiang Zhu. From now on, he is not allowed to bother her again."

He paused, his voice not rising an inch, yet sending a chill down one's spine. "If I find out you're still clinging to girls and bullying them, I have ways to make you 'experience' properly. You can try."

These words were spoken lightly, without a trace of harshness, like a spring breeze brushing across the water, but to Ma Hongjun, they felt like a bucket of ice water being poured over his head.

He subconsciously shrank his neck, took half a step back behind Tang San, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. The words "Let's give it a try" were on the tip of his tongue, but he ultimately didn't dare to say them.

He had no doubt that this thirteen-year-old Four-Ring Soul Ancestor was truly capable of such a thing.

Jiang Zhu's nose tingled, and a tear slid down her cheek. She quickly lowered her head, her fingers clenching even tighter, but her heart felt warm, as if she were carrying a small sun inside.

Lin Chen's words were like a pebble thrown into a lake, causing ripples to spread outwards. She bit her lip, even holding her breath, to prevent a second tear from falling.

"Second," Lin Chen raised his second finger, his gaze returning to Tang San, his voice as steady as ever, "I defeated you, Tang San. Apologize to Tai Long in public. From now on, whether in training or in private, you are not allowed to cause trouble for Tai Long under any pretext, and you are not allowed to provoke anyone from the Strength Clan. It's that simple."

After he finished speaking, the garden was silent for a few seconds.

Sunlight filtered through the branches of the jacaranda, casting dappled shadows on the bluestone ground. A breeze blew through the flowers, bringing with it a fine rain of petals. Tiny purple-blue petals quietly fell on the open space between the two, forming an invisible dividing line.

Xiao Wu stood beside Lin Chen, her lips curled into a wide smile, looking smug. She glanced sideways at Tang San, her eyes clearly saying, "Look at my brother Lin Chen," her chin slightly raised like a victorious peacock.

Tai Nuo stood behind, stroking his chin and laughing heartily. He patted Tai Long's shoulder heavily with his large, fan-like hand, so forcefully that Tai Long stumbled. "Good lad! Look at your brother! With that kind of magnanimity, I admire you!"

Tai Long grimaced from the slap, but his chest was held high, his face full of pride, as if he had already won. He knew that Lin Chen was definitely different; he would never use a girl as a wager like Tang San.

Tang San's face was as black as the bottom of a scalded pot.

He stared intently at Lin Chen, his jaw clenched tightly. He had thought his terms were fair and could even help the fat man get a chance, but Lin Chen's words had put him in a very difficult position.

If he agrees, it's tantamount to admitting he's in the wrong and he'll be branded as someone who used a girl as a gamble; if he doesn't agree, he'll lose face in front of so many people. Besides, Lin Chen has already put it this way, and if he doesn't accept, it will make him seem guilty and lacking in the responsibility of standing up for his brother.

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled. His ten fingers tightened and loosened in his sleeves, and the leaves of the Blue Silver Grass moved without wind, circling and rising again at his feet, like the fluctuating emotions of its master.

After a while.

"Okay." Tang San squeezed out the word through gritted teeth, his voice lower than before, as if it were being forced down his throat.

He raised his head, the warmth in his eyes long gone, replaced by a coldness hardened by experience. "I promise you, I'll do as you say."

He took a step forward, the Blue Silver Grass spreading silently along the ground, its leaves gleaming a cold, eerie green in the sunlight. "I'd like to see just how capable you, Lin Chen, really are, daring to speak so arrogantly."

In the open space in the garden, everyone automatically stepped back, leaving a square area of about ten feet.

Tang San stood on the east side, the leaves of the Blue Silver Grass swaying gently at his fingertips, his expression serene.

Be careful.

He spoke in a deep voice, and the Soul Ring beneath his feet slowly lit up.

Two yellow and one purple, a level 37 Control System Soul Elder, with Blue Silver halos flowing around him, and the aura of tenacious vines faintly visible.

Lin Chen stood still, hands behind his back. Only when Tang San lit up his Soul Ring did he slowly raise his hands, and the Soul Ring under his feet lit up one by one.

Purple, black, black, black.

Four Soul Ring hovered silently at his ankles, and the pressure of a level 43 Control System Soul Ancestor spread out slowly like an invisible wave.

Tang San's pupils suddenly contracted.

He always knew Lin Chen was strong, but he never imagined he was this strong.