Chapter 117: Childhood Shadows

“How many times have I told you? You need to stop boasting!” Qin Wanru was already irritable, worried about the uncertain future of the Chu clan. Now, hearing Zu An's words only added fuel to the fire. If it weren't for the crowd, she probably would have completely lost her temper. “I don't have time for your nonsense right now. We'll settle this later when we get back!”

Rage value from Qin Wanru: 999!

With that, she pulled Chu Huanzhao away. Chu Zhongtian also looked displeased. However, he said nothing, following them to give his daughter some final instructions.

Zu An wore a dejected expression. He thought, “What's wrong with this world? When I lie, everyone believes me obediently, but when I tell the truth, no one does?”

Life is truly as lonely as snow!

“And Father-in-law, you're not pulling your weight. Qin Wanru is so temperamental all the time. You should really put in more effort at night to help her vent her frustration. Otherwise, I'm always the one who suffers.”

At that moment, Chu Chuyan's cool voice sounded in his ear: “I know you're not content with your current situation. You want to achieve something to prove yourself and earn your parents' respect, but you really don't have to go about it this way. Many things require you to act within your capabilities; otherwise, it could backfire.”

Although her words were tactful, her meaning was quite clear. She evidently also thought he was boasting.

“Oh.” Zu An couldn't be bothered to explain. Anyway, no one would believe him even if he did.

“How did you know that person was called Wu Di just now?” Chu Chuyan couldn't help but ask.

“I guessed.” Zu An shrugged.

“You guessed?” Chu Chuyan furrowed her delicate brows, clearly unsatisfied with the answer.

“Yeah, I thought the name Di Wu sounded a bit odd. And then I remembered that the Wu clan was backing the Yuan clan. A thought popped into my head: what if his name was Wu Di? So I tried calling him that, and it turned out I was right.” Zu An certainly couldn't tell her about the keyboard rage value system. He could only make up an excuse to fool her.

To his surprise, Chu Chuyan nodded: “I see. I never expected you to accidentally provide such great help.”

Zu An was beyond words at this point. Every time he told the truth, no one believed him. But they easily believed any random excuse he made up.

“Cough, cough.” Suddenly, Chu Chuyan started coughing, covering her mouth with a handkerchief.

Zu An, with his sharp eyes, noticed a patch of crimson on her handkerchief. He was startled, “Are you injured?”

Chu Chuyan raised a hand to stop him from speaking further: “It's nothing, just a minor injury. Don't make a fuss.”

Seeing her face even paler than usual, Zu An knew it was far from a minor injury. He couldn't help but exclaim angrily, “How dare the Yuan and Wu clans bully my wife? I'll make them pay for this!”

Chu Chuyan: “...”

She was at a loss for words. So, she simply turned her attention to the stage, to watch her sister's match.

Chu Huanzhao's opponent was Yuan Wenji, Yuan Wendong's cousin. Although his cultivation wasn't as high as his brother's, he still possessed mid-grade three strength. Theoretically, Chu Huanzhao's chances of victory were slim. However, Chu Huanzhao had the Wailing Whip, and with her father's recent personal guidance, she might still have a chance.

Compared to the Chu clan's tension, Yuan Wendong on the opposite side looked relaxed. He had originally thought his side would have an advantage in the first eight matches, so they had planned to lose this one. After all, to ensure the final match took place as scheduled, they couldn't decide the overall winner too early.

But unexpectedly, something went wrong with Wu Di. He actually lost to Chu Chuyan. Hmph, for a dignified sixth-grade expert to lose to a fifth-grade one was simply pathetic! How could he still call himself Wu Di (Matchless)?

Since Wu Di lost, the Yuan clan was now trailing 3-4. So they absolutely had to win this match to tie the score and proceed to the final match.

He glanced at Zu An on the opposite side. He sneered inwardly, “You've been keeping a low profile for so long, you must be planning to make a splash today. Too bad you're up against me. Soon, everyone will see that a good-for-nothing remains a good-for-nothing. You'll eventually regret repeatedly provoking me.”

At this moment, the people in the training ground looked at the two figures on the stage, and couldn't help but discuss among themselves:

“I never expected the Second Miss of the Chu clan to be so beautiful too.”

“Of course. With such a beautiful elder sister, how could the younger sister not be pretty?”

“I heard that the Second Miss Chu is ranked ninth among the academy's top ten beauties!”

“In my opinion, she's still too young; she'll definitely be even more beautiful in a few years when she fully matures.”

“I think her current age is quite good. It would be even better if she were a little younger.”

“You pervert, stay away from us.”

Listening to the faint murmurs around him, Yuan Wenji on stage sneered inwardly. Only he knew the true demon hidden beneath that beautiful girl's appearance.

He couldn't help but recall memories of being bullied by her as a child: She stole his pocket money, beat him up, and once even pulled down his pants with her gang of followers. The demonic smile she wore as she stood hands on hips, looking down on him, had caused him to wake up from nightmares countless times in the middle of the night...

In the past, he dared not seek revenge because she was the Duke's daughter. But now, with the Wu clan's backing, he no longer had those past reservations. Especially today, on the arena stage, he could openly retaliate.

“Second Miss Chu, we meet again.” Yuan Wenji smiled triumphantly. For years, he had deliberately avoided her. He had always harbored a desire for revenge, and had persistently trained hard. However, due to his limited aptitude, his achievements were destined to be modest. Yet, it should be more than enough to deal with this person.

“Who are you?” Chu Huanzhao was momentarily stunned.

Yuan Wenji's breath caught. He couldn't help but feel enraged. This woman actually didn't remember him! He had been bullied so terribly by her as a child, and she didn't remember him!

He had intended to reveal everything, but reason made him reconsider. After all, he planned to use this opportunity for revenge later, and it wouldn't do to give others cause for criticism.

In fact, even if he had spoken up, it wouldn't have mattered. Chu Huanzhao had bullied so many people as a child; how could she possibly remember him...?

Chu Huanzhao was about to ask again, but her father's voice, reminding her to focus and calm down, reached her ears. So, she gripped the Wailing Whip tightly in her hand. Just as the official announced the start of the match, she flicked her wrist, and the Wailing Whip created a sonic boom as it lashed out towards her opponent.

Chu Chuyan nodded subtly as she watched. Although her sister's cultivation wasn't high, she had spent these past years with the Wailing Whip, bullying... bullying men and women everywhere. Thus, her whip skills were quite impressive.

Yuan Wenji, however, was well-prepared. He dodged with a roll, then charged straight at his opponent. Against a long weapon like a whip, close-quarters combat was naturally the best strategy.

Chu Huanzhao had already received her father's warning. She retreated step by step, always maintaining her distance from him.

Yuan Wenji moved and dodged, but eventually, one whip strike couldn't be avoided, and he was accidentally hit on the arm.

“Ow!”

Yuan Wenji leaped up, writhing in pain. The pain was unbearable. He felt as if someone was scraping his bones with an awl.

The Chu clan members rejoiced. They all knew the power of the Wailing Whip. If he took a few more hits, there probably wouldn't be any need to continue the match; the enemy would just pass out from the pain.

Heeding her father's reminder, Chu Huanzhao continued her assault without pause, sending whip flourishes one after another toward her opponent.

“Do you really think I came unprepared?” Yuan Wenji suddenly took a shield from his back. At first, it didn't look particularly large, but somehow he manipulated it, and in a flash, it transformed into a body-sized shield, blocking his front.

Chu Zhongtian sat upright abruptly, muttering to himself, “No wonder the quality of weapons made by the Yuan clan has greatly improved recently. It seems they've indeed found a formidable runemaster.”

This shield, he mused, must also be a runemaster's masterpiece, capable of freely contracting and expanding.

At this point, Chu Huanzhao on the stage immediately found herself in a crisis. No matter how skillful she was with her long whip, her opponent was using a strategy of constancy against change, directly shielding himself with the barrier. He then advanced towards her step by step, leaving her completely helpless.

Qin Wanru nervously gripped her husband's hand: “It seems our opponent was well-prepared.”

Chu Zhongtian nodded with a solemn expression: “Indeed. I suspected it before, but now it's confirmed that there's a mole within the Chu clan who leaked our match order. That's why our opponents could target us at every turn, even devising a counter for Xiao Zhao's Wailing Whip.”

“Who could it be?!” Qin Wanru looked towards their own camp. At this moment, suspicion gnawed at her, and everyone looked like a potential culprit.

“Let's investigate it slowly when we get back,” Chu Zhongtian closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “We're doomed today, but perhaps it's for the best. It will serve as a thorough wake-up call for us.”

“But the cost of this is far too great,” Qin Wanru knew the impact losing the weapon market would have on the Chu clan. “Shouldn't we let Xiao Zhao hold on a little longer? Perhaps there's still a chance for a turnaround.”

Chu Zhongtian's face showed hesitation. Ultimately, he nodded. After all, he didn't want the Chu clan to lose the weapon market they had monopolized for hundreds of years.

On the arena stage at that moment, Yuan Wenji had closed the distance sufficiently. Suddenly, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. He rolled forward directly along the ground, then quickly closed in within three feet of his opponent.

Chu Huanzhao was greatly alarmed. She hastily threw a punch, but her cultivation was already inferior to his. Furthermore, one of her hands was occupied holding the whip, rendering it unusable. How could she be his match?

Her left hand was quickly pinned by her opponent, and then a burst of primal energy erupted!

Chu Huanzhao shrieked, her left hand directly dislocated.

Chu Zhongtian was greatly shocked. He immediately stood up, “We concede this match!”

Just as he spoke, Yuan Wenji had already unleashed a punch with full power, carrying years of accumulated resentment, and heavily struck Chu Huanzhao's lower abdomen.

Chu Huanzhao spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and flew backward.

Chu Zhongtian's figure flickered, and he caught his daughter. He hastily attended to her injuries as an emergency, having no time to care about anything else.

A crowd gathered around her. Zu An couldn't squeeze through, so he turned back and coldly stared at Yuan Wenji: “We already conceded. Why did you strike with such heavy force?”

Yuan Wenji was already feeling somewhat guilty. Intimidated by Zu An's aura, he stammered, unable to speak for a moment.

At that moment, Yuan Wendong, from the other side, spoke up: “It's understandable that a common person like you wouldn't know about fights between cultivators. The outcome of battles between cultivators often hangs by a thread. Moreover, we just witnessed Miss Chu's extraordinary feat of defeating a sixth-grade expert despite being of a lower rank. Perhaps Second Miss also had some hidden skills she hadn't used. It's quite normal for my cousin, out of concern, to have lost his sense of proportion for a moment when he attacked. Who knew Second Miss Chu would be so useless? Ah, she's too far behind her sister.”

At this point, Yuan Wenji also recovered his composure: “That's right. I was just too eager to win, and I was so engrossed in the fight that I didn't hear Duke Mingyue concede.”

“Didn't hear?” Chu Zhongtian, furious, laughed instead. By this time, he had confirmed that his second daughter's life was not in danger. He looked up at the figure on the stage: “Are you questioning whether a sound made by an eighth-grade cultivator like me can be heard by you?”

An inexplicable aura spread out. Yuan Wenji swallowed hard, trembling all over, and unconsciously took a step back.

“Eighth-grade is very impressive, indeed,” At that moment, Wu Wei had unknowingly appeared before him. “Matters concerning the younger generation should be handled by them. What do you mean by bullying a junior?”

Also, an announcement: this book is expected to be released next Monday. Feeling a bit nervous...