Death... and me

Luan decided to aim at the Myriad Lightning Thrust first. The reason was very simple, actually. The kid who used that attack was very close to him. Thanks to Luan’s eyes, and especially Roan’s numerous lessons, Luan was able to identify the breaking point of the Myriad Lightning Thrust.

However…

*Clang!*

The other kid was able to react fast enough, blocking Luan’s faster attack. Well, to be more specific, it was Luan’s mistake. He failed to judge the right time since it was the first time seeing this attack. In the end, he was able to stop the Myriad Lightning Thrust but wasn’t able to create an opening.

At the same time, the Tempest Blades arrived at Luan. Scared, Luan could only brandish his swords as fast as he could, blocking some of the blades.

*swish, swish, swish…*

Immediately, Luan’s body was covered in many deep cuts. However, just like Luan, the other kids weren’t trying to kill him either. Luan then fell to the ground while pain took over his mind.

*Aarrgh!*

Roan sighed when he saw that. “Well, I guess it’s already good that he had the courage to counterattack.”

Kentucky agreed with Roan. “That’s true. It’s quite unfortunate he was terrible at choosing the right time to strike. This is something he’ll have to train in to get used to.”

Roan nodded before he sent Luan a Divine Sense message. ‘Get up! Do you think they’ll wait for you to recover? If you don’t want to suffer more, get up and counterattack.’

Luan was taken aback and could only try to bear the pain. Fortunately, Roan had already done quite a few painful punishments on him, so Luan wasn’t completely foreign to it.

“Ahhhh!”

Luan then threw himself against the two Core Formation Realm kids, who obviously retaliated. In the end, Luan wasn’t able to use his eyes’ ability the way Roan wished before he fell to the ground again. This time, however, he didn’t have the strength to get up. He was already quite exhausted even before that battle started, so it didn’t help.

The two Core Formation Realm kids weren’t that much better, though. Luan succeeded in delivering a few hits. After all, it wasn’t like his eyes’ ability was completely useless. It’s just that they had the advantage of cultivation and numbers.

Roan wasn’t too dissatisfied. At the very least, Luan fought until he had no more energy whatsoever.

*Creeeeee!*

Suddenly, a Demon Bird’s cry echoed in the surroundings as Kentucky descended from the skies. Since the battle was over, there was no need to simply watch anymore.

The kids were scared out of their minds, seeing the enormous Demon Bird heading in their direction. Even though they were very young, they knew that this Demon Bird, and especially the man on its back, had to have something to do with Luan.

Of course, just as Roan predicted, those kids’ guardians also stepped out to protect their own. It’s just that Roan didn’t seem to care. “I’m not here to do anything against your kids. I’m only here to take my own. You should have no problem with that since you would have done the same if my kid won this battle, right?”

Three men and a woman, all in the Transition Realm, looked at Roan with cold expressions. However, it was true that it was all but some kids’ fight, so it would look bad if they were to escalate it any further. Not to mention that the ones who started the fight were their kids. “Of course. Then again, you little man isn’t bad. He was able to fight two Core Formation Realm opponents for a short time while he’s still in the Foundation Establishment Realm. I’m sure he’ll become a strong expert in the future.”

Roan nodded after hearing that. “Thanks.” After that, he quickly pulled Luan and jumped on Kentucky’s back before Kentucky took off. He wasn’t the type to talk much anyway. A few moments later, Kentucky disappeared in the distance.

On the island, the guys who came out looked at the two Core Formation Realm kids with dark expressions. “What kind of bullshit was that? You two had both the advantage in cultivation and numbers. But even with that, you ended up full of injuries against a kid younger and with lower cultivation than you. Just wait until we go back. I’m going to put you into a much stricter regime of training.”

The two kids couldn’t help but tear up after that. Naturally, kids preferred to play instead of training, so extra training was anything but welcome to them.

Back on Kentucky’s back, Roan used his scythe’s Light Element to heal Luan completely. Of course, Luan was still exhausted after a day of fighting demon beasts and that bout at the end. He had to spend some time to recover his Divine Energy. “S-Sorry…”

Roan nodded in response, telling Luan, “It wasn’t too bad for a first time fighting other cultivators. You obviously made many, many mistakes, but those can be fixed.”

Even though Roan said that, Luan still looked depressed. Roan knew why, though. “It seems like you got the 20 Demon Cores even though I had to come down so that you wouldn’t be robbed. Since I gave my word, I’ll keep it. Tell me, what kind of dessert do you want during dinner?”

Luan’s sad expression immediately disappeared as if it had never been there. “Pudding!”

Roan nodded after that. “Pudding it is. However, I’ll expect a lot more from you during the test tomorrow. Well, everyone in that place will be in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Judging by how easily you defeated the other kid at your level, you should do fine.”

Luan obviously didn’t rebuke as he replied, “I’ll do my best, dad!”

Roan narrowed his eyes once again. “I told you already, I’m not your father. I’m your master, that’s all.”

“S-Sorry, M-Master.”

Kentucky couldn’t help but intervene, “That’s weird, Roan. As far as I know, you would never care about how someone calls you as long as they’re not purposely trying to annoy you. Why come you care if Luan calls you father, dad, or whatever? Doesn’t that mean he looks up to you?”

Roan pondered over it for a bit and had to admit Kentucky’s words made sense for once. “That’s true.” Roan then looked back at Luan and said, “Just call me whatever you like, then.” He shouldn’t care about such minor things, so he decided he wouldn’t.. Little did he know how happy Luan felt because of that decision.