novelraw Chapter 311: Acquaintance
Chapter 311: Acquaintance
Xu Wuyi retracted his spear.
Its tip drooped toward the ground, the dark golden flames vanishing completely, as if they had never been there.
"Thank you for the match," he repeated, his tone calm.
Ta Shan took a deep breath and flexed his numb wrist.
The pain simulated by the Battle Network was fading fast, but the oppressive pressure from that last strike lingered in his mind.
"I lost, fair and square," Ta Shan finally said. There was a hint of bitterness in his voice, but it was mostly overshadowed by acceptance. "No wonder Tana was so insistent... Junior Brother Xu, your strength is truly far beyond mine."
He looked at Tana. "Little sis, you have a good eye."
Only then did Tana laugh, lifting her chin smugly. "Of course! I told you so."
Xu Wuyi ignored her remark and simply asked, "So, about the competition spot..."
"As agreed, you will represent the Royal Family," Ta Shan said decisively. "I’ll go explain things to the one from Black Stone."
He finished, then looked back at Xu Wuyi and added seriously, "I’ll tell him exactly what happened in our match. If he still has a problem with it, he can come talk to you himself."
Xu Wuyi nodded. "Fine."
...
Their consciousnesses returned to reality.
The three of them removed their sensory helmets and logged out of the Battle Network.
The soft light and cool air of the Cultivation Room were a stark contrast to the scorching heat of the Battle Network.
Ta Shan stood up and stretched his neck, which let out a soft POP.
"I’m going to find him now," he told Tana and Xu Wuyi. "You two get some rest. I’ll have dinner sent over."
"Okay," Tana replied.
Ta Shan glanced at Xu Wuyi again, nodded, and turned to leave the villa.
The door closed, and his footsteps faded away.
Tana finally relaxed completely, plopping down onto the living room sofa with a long sigh. "Finally, that’s settled."
Xu Wuyi sat across from her. "Do you know anything about the Black Stone Academy student your cousin invited?"
"Not really," Tana said, shaking her head. "I just know he’s a fourth-year from Black Stone named Fu Yun, with a Life Energy Level of around thirty-six. My cousin says he has a lot of real combat experience and made it to the top thirty-two in last year’s youth tournament."
Xu Wuyi’s expression flickered, a strange look crossing his face.
’What a coincidence.’
"What’s wrong?" Tana noticed his expression.
"Nothing," Xu Wuyi said, shaking his head.
"You know him?" Tana’s eyes lit up. "That makes things even easier! Maybe you won’t have to fight at all. He might just withdraw on his own."
Xu Wuyi didn’t answer.
’He was indeed familiar with Fu Yun, but he had no idea how strong the man was. Their conversations had never touched on that subject.’
...
「Elsewhere.」
Ta Shan walked through the long corridors of the Royal Palace and arrived in front of another guest villa.
He stood outside the door and composed himself before raising a hand to knock.
The door opened quickly.
It was Fu Yun who opened it.
He was dressed in a Black Stone Academy training uniform, his posture ramrod straight, and a familiar, gentle smile on his face.
Seeing Ta Shan, he stepped aside. "Brother Ta Shan, come in and have a seat."
Ta Shan stepped into the living room.
Fu Yun poured him a cup of tea, and they both sat down on the sofa.
"So, how did it go?" Fu Yun got straight to the point. "Did you talk to that expert your sister invited?"
Ta Shan nodded, his expression complicated. "We talked... and we fought."
Fu Yun raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And the result?"
"I lost," Ta Shan said bluntly. "I was disarmed in under ten moves."
Fu Yun, who was lifting his teacup, froze.
He looked at Ta Shan, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.
’He knew how strong Ta Shan was.’
’The top genius of the Ximo Royal Family’s current generation. He was highly proficient in both the Sun Forging Body Technique and the Heaven-Burning Saber Technique, his Life Energy Level was 35.5, and his combat experience was nothing to scoff at.’
’For a Martial Artist under the age of twenty-four, that was top-tier strength.’
’Defeated in under ten moves?’
"Who was your opponent?" Fu Yun asked, setting down his teacup. His tone grew serious.
"A freshman from Star Martial University named Xu Wuyi," Ta Shan said. "He’s in the same year as my sister. He’s been enrolled for a year and is already a Martial Artist."
"Xu Wuyi?" Fu Yun repeated the name, and his expression changed instantly.
Ta Shan noticed the change in his expression. "Brother Fu, you know him?"
Fu Yun didn’t answer right away.
He leaned back against the sofa, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest. An "it all makes sense now" expression spread across his face.
After a few seconds, he finally spoke, his tone a mixture of amusement and exasperation. "Know him? Oh, I know him all too well."
He looked at Ta Shan. "Brother Ta Shan, the guy your sister invited... he’s no ordinary freshman."
"I know he’s not ordinary," Ta Shan said. "Anyone who can beat me in under ten moves couldn’t possibly be."
"No, what I mean is..." Fu Yun paused, gathering his thoughts. "The name Xu Wuyi has already become somewhat famous within Red Star."
"Red Star?" Ta Shan’s eyes narrowed.
As one of the heirs to the Ximo Royal Family, he had naturally heard of Red Star.
That loosely-knit organization, which only accepted the most elite geniuses, carried special weight among the Federation’s younger generation of Martial Artists.
"He’s a member of Red Star?" Ta Shan asked.
"More than just a member," Fu Yun said. "When he joined Red Star, he left his name on the Nine Stars Stele, taking the spot of an older member. And what’s more... the Illusion he defeated was the one left behind by Hong Nianyi."
Ta Shan’s pupils contracted sharply.
Hong Nianyi.
To all the young Martial Artists in the Federation, that name meant one thing: invincible in her generation.
Black Stone Academy’s "Sister Yi." In last year’s youth tournament, a single slash of her saber had overshadowed countless other geniuses.
Her Illusion, even one reflecting her state before she reached Level 35, was by no means something an ordinary person could face.
’Xu Wuyi defeated Hong Nianyi’s Illusion?’
"When did this happen?" Ta Shan’s voice was raspy.
"A few months ago," Fu Yun said. "He was only Level 32.5 back then, and Hong Nianyi’s Illusion was adjusted to the Same Ability Level. In three minutes... no, to be precise, in just over two minutes, he demolished the Illusion."
He looked at Ta Shan and smiled. "Now you see it’s no surprise you lost, right?"
Ta Shan fell silent.
’It was no surprise at all.’
’For someone who could defeat Hong Nianyi’s Illusion at the Same Ability Level to beat him in under ten moves was perfectly normal.’
"So..." Ta Shan took a deep breath. "Brother Fu, what are you saying?"
"I’m saying that if I had known it was Xu Wuyi, I never would have accepted this commission in the first place," Fu Yun said bluntly. "I can’t beat him, so there’s no point in fighting."
He stood and clapped Ta Shan on the shoulder. "Brother Ta Shan, if you would, please take me to see Junior Brother Xu. Some things are better said in person."
...
「Half an hour later.」
The four of them were gathered once again in the living room of Xu Wuyi’s villa.
Ta Shan, Fu Yun, Tana, and Xu Wuyi.
The atmosphere was a bit strange.
The moment Fu Yun walked in, he smiled and offered a cupped-fist salute to Xu Wuyi. "Junior Brother Xu, long time no see."
Xu Wuyi rose and returned the gesture. "Senior Brother Fu."