Chapter 94: Terrifying Talent

By the time Su Hui had settled the dispute with a smile on his face, though his heart was actually filled with exhaustion, and returned to the courtyard of the Disciples’ Pavilion, he found that Lin Yuchu was no longer where he had been.

He frowned at once. Looking at the empty courtyard, Su Hui’s expression turned thoughtful, and he murmured, “Where would he have gone?”

Although Su Hui and Lin Yuchu were not familiar with each other, and today was the first time he had met him, he could still tell that Lin Yuchu had a calm, measured temperament and was not the sort of person who acted recklessly or capriciously.

So he did not think Lin Yuchu would lack even the patience to wait for him a little while when he left.

So what was going on now?

Looking at the empty courtyard, Su Hui could not help beginning to speculate.

Just as he stood there with his brows knitted in thought, Senior Brother Jin, his expression grave, walked in from outside the courtyard with Lin Yuchu, whose face was calm and composed, as if nothing had happened at all, no different from usual.

Sensing movement behind him, Su Hui turned around and raised his head to look back.

He saw Senior Brother Jin and Lin Yuchu walking over from ahead.

The moment he saw the two of them together, Su Hui froze for a second, then immediately realized what had happened.

Today was the day Little Martial Uncle tested swords!

Because Su Hui had been called away by the Peak Master early that morning and had been busy all day, then had gone to receive the newly arrived Lin Yuchu the moment he finally had free time, only to be dragged off by disciples of Lonely Sword Peak to mediate a fight before he could even catch his breath…

In short, Su Hui had been far too busy today!

Damn it!

The moment he saw Senior Brother Jin and Lin Yuchu coming over together, Su Hui understood what had happened, and his heart immediately cried out that this was bad.

He knew Little Martial Uncle’s temperament. He looked gentle and calm, but in truth he was the strictest and most unsparing of all. Junior Brother Jin had brought the new Junior Brother Lin over to test swords for Little Martial Uncle…

Su Hui simply did not dare imagine that scene!

So when he saw Senior Brother Jin and Lin Yuchu return, Su Hui’s first reaction was to turn toward Senior Brother Jin with a frown. His expression was disapproving, and his tone carried a trace of severity as he said, “You were far too reckless!”

At those words, Senior Brother Jin raised his head and glanced at him.

Then he immediately felt somewhat guilty.

His eyes shifted away, not daring to meet Su Hui’s gaze.

At the sight of his reaction, Su Hui’s heart instantly gave a thump, and he inwardly cried that this was bad.

It seemed the worst outcome had already happened!

His gaze immediately turned unfriendly, and he glared darkly at Senior Brother Jin, who stood before him with a guilty face, not daring to speak. He did not have time to lecture him.

In any case, there was no rush. There was a phrase in this world called settling accounts after the autumn harvest!

Compared with scolding the guilty Senior Brother Jin in front of the newly arrived little junior brother and leaving him with no dignity, Su Hui felt it was better to save him a little face and come back later to settle the account with him in full.

The more important thing was to comfort the wronged new little junior brother first.

Su Hui, who had his own scale in his heart and could clearly distinguish what was urgent and important, immediately turned his gaze toward Lin Yuchu beside them, thinking over how he ought to comfort him.

He had to pull him out from under Little Martial Uncle’s harsh, cold, inhuman, venom-tongued blows, clear away his negative emotions, and rebuild his confidence!

In the end, when Su Hui turned his head and looked toward Lin Yuchu beside them, he froze on the spot.

The youth before him was not like what he had imagined: deeply struck, fallen into gloom and negativity, doubting himself, or even, more terribly, abandoning himself to despair.

The youth before him seemed…

Completely unaffected?

Su Hui was stunned. The expression on his face also turned a little strange. He looked at the youth before him, whose expression was as indifferent as usual, calm and unruffled, as if nothing had happened at all. He could not help thinking to himself, Could it be that he truly has not been affected in the slightest?

He carefully stared at the expression on Lin Yuchu’s face for a long while and confirmed that he really was unaffected, not merely forcing a smile.

His heart immediately sighed, and he thought to himself, As expected of the young genius who took first place in this year’s Sword Path Grand Competition. Such a powerful state of mind is not something ordinary people can match.

Yes, exactly!

Looking at Lin Yuchu, whose expression was calm as usual, as if nothing had happened, whose bearing and demeanor were both excellent and did not look as if he had suffered any blow or heavy injury at all, Su Hui simply assumed that he had very quickly pulled himself together after a heavy blow, turned grief and indignation into motivation, and transformed negative emotions into fuel for progress!

Su Hui admired his powerful mental fortitude more and more. He felt that a young genius who could defeat all powerful enemies and seize victory was extraordinary indeed, someone no ordinary person could rival.

Thinking this, Su Hui could not help feeling ashamed, and a trace of embarrassment rose in his heart.

Even Su Hui would feel miserable for quite a while every time Yu Yaoguang struck him down with that venomous tongue and mercilessly picked out his shortcomings and mistakes. Though ordinary people generally could not tell he was in a bad mood. After all, Su Hui was the chief eldest disciple of Lonely Sword Peak. Did he not care about face?

If anyone was truly forcing a smile, it was him.

In the end, my state of mind is not even as strong as the new little junior brother’s.

Thinking this, Su Hui was filled with shame and decided that in the future, he would properly learn from his little junior brother!

Even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, his expression would not change!

While Su Hui was looking at Lin Yuchu with a complicated gaze, the expression on his face shifting even more dramatically, and thinking all this in his heart…

“…” Lin Yuchu.

The way Senior Brother Su is looking at me feels really strange!

Could it be…

Could Senior Brother Jin really have been right!?

Thinking this, Lin Yuchu’s gaze toward Senior Brother Jin immediately turned strange.

Time went back a little.

On Yu Yaoguang’s sword field.

Because Lin Yuchu’s Sword Path talent was so powerful it was almost terrifying, and because his learning ability could practically be called photographic memory, Yu Yaoguang was extremely satisfied.

So he directly called Lin Yuchu by name. “From now on, come test swords for me.”

When Lin Yuchu heard this, he did not think much of it.

If testing swords was only like today, then it was not some difficult matter.

So the matter of testing swords for Little Martial Uncle, which made every disciple of Lonely Sword Peak turn pale at the mere mention of it and could be called hell-level terrifying, or perhaps an epic disaster, became, in Lin Yuchu’s mouth, not some difficult matter.

Fortunately, Senior Brother Jin, who stood at the side and was likewise a victim who had suffered torment, did not know what he was thinking at this moment. If he had known, he would probably have coughed up a mouthful of blood, then, under his fury, been unable to control his itching hands and beaten Lin Yuchu up.

Senior Brother Jin had no mind to spare for anything else right now. After hearing what Yu Yaoguang had just said, his expression had changed drastically. His originally ruddy face had instantly gone pale, and his mind was filled with panic and terrible emotions.

This was bad!

Things had become troublesome.

Senior Brother Jin looked ahead at Lin Yuchu, who seemed to have realized nothing, completely unaware of the impropriety and trouble in this matter, and who had innocently and simply agreed to Yu Yaoguang’s words offhand.

When he heard Lin Yuchu say, “Sure.”

The expression on his face instantly became extremely ugly.

At this moment, Senior Brother Jin finally knew he had made a grave mistake.

An irreparable, unforgivable great sin.

I was too arrogant.

Senior Brother Jin thought. He stood there, his face pale, seeming almost transparent under the bright, dazzling sunlight.

His expression was so ugly it was as if someone had punched him hard.

The crime named arrogance and ignorance cast a huge shadow over his heart at this moment.

…

On the way back after taking leave of Yu Yaoguang.

From beginning to end, Senior Brother Jin remained silent for a very long time.

This was completely different from when they had come.

On the way there just now, Lin Yuchu had already learned what a talkative and enthusiastic person this senior brother beside him was.

Therefore, seeing him so uncharacteristically quiet and silent now, even Lin Yuchu, whose emotional intelligence was low, knew there was a problem.

But after thinking it over, he still did not know where the problem lay.

I didn’t do anything bad or out of line, Lin Yuchu thought, recalling what he had done from earlier until now. He did not find that he had done anything that might anger or offend Senior Brother Jin.

So he was even more unable to understand why Senior Brother Jin was angry.

Senior Brother Jin was silent, and Lin Yuchu did not think it was good to say too much, so he could only remain silent as well.

Thus neither of them spoke, and they walked the whole way like that.

Finally, when they were almost at the Disciples’ Pavilion, Senior Brother Jin seemed to come back to himself. He raised his head and glanced at the silent youth beside him, the expression on his face as if he had made up his mind.

He opened his mouth toward Lin Yuchu, then said, “Actually…”

Hearing this, Lin Yuchu turned his head.

He glanced at him.

Meeting his gaze, Senior Brother Jin immediately felt his head swell, and even his scalp tingled. How strange! Senior Brother Jin inwardly spat at himself. He was clearly only a young little junior brother who had just entered the sect, yet his gaze was so stern and sharp, as if… as if Senior Brother Jin’s whole person had been seen through by him.

What a frightening person!

What a terrifying talent.

Senior Brother Jin treated all the ways Lin Yuchu differed from ordinary people as the youth’s terrifying, extraordinary talent.

His face clearly held no expression, yet for some unknown reason, it made people feel a heavy pressure like Mount Tai.

Although Senior Brother Jin felt enormous pressure coming from Lin Yuchu, he still braced himself and said what he had originally planned to say.

“Actually, Junior Brother, there is something you do not know,” Senior Brother Jin said to Lin Yuchu.

Hearing this, Lin Yuchu looked at him and followed his words as he said, “Then Senior Brother, please tell Junior Brother about it.”

Senior Brother Jin looked at him, then seemed to make some major decision.

His face showed determination, and his tone was heavy as he said, “I am only telling you this, Junior Brother. You must not spread it.”

“You have to keep it secret. You cannot tell anyone!” Senior Brother Jin stared tightly at him and said.

Hearing this, Lin Yuchu’s face immediately turned solemn, and he promised, “Senior Brother, don’t worry. When something needs to be kept secret, my mouth has always been very tight. I absolutely won’t go around talking nonsense.”

After hearing this, Senior Brother Jin’s heart was immediately comforted.

A relieved expression appeared on his face as well. He looked at Lin Yuchu before him and praised, “Good!”

At the same time, his heart also let out a breath of relief. He silently said in his heart, Since Little Junior Brother has already said this, Su Hui, you do not need to worry either. So you can… go in peace!

Having obtained Lin Yuchu’s promise, Senior Brother Jin immediately began spouting nonsense with absolutely no psychological burden, fabricating rumors and slandering Su Hui without the slightest pressure in his heart.

“Actually, Little Junior Brother, there is something you do not know.” Senior Brother Jin’s face was full of profound seriousness, and his tone was also heavy as he said, “Eldest Senior Brother Su has always admired Little Martial Uncle very much!”

“Huh?”

Hearing this sort of private gossip so suddenly, Lin Yuchu’s expression immediately went a little blank, as if he had not quite recovered, and also as if he were a little dazed. He seemed very puzzled as to why Senior Brother Jin had brought up this topic.

There’s no need to tell me this kind of thing, right?

Isn’t it strange to say this sort of thing to a junior brother who has only just entered the sect today, someone you aren’t familiar with at all and could basically call a stranger?

What is he planning?

…

…

At this moment, Lin Yuchu looked strangely at Senior Brother Jin, who stood before him with a deep expression, earnestly talking nonsense, and thought this with complicated feelings.

Senior Brother Jin, however, was completely unaware of his complex expression and state of mind.

To be honest, Senior Brother Jin’s own emotions were quite complicated right now. After all, this was the first time in his life that he had ever deceived someone so falsely and blackened someone’s name behind their back. He was a little panicked.

Though he was doing it out of good intentions!

“So, although everyone else on Lonely Sword Peak has always been terrified of testing swords for Little Martial Uncle,” Senior Brother Jin said, lifting his eyes and looking at Lin Yuchu before him with a meaningful tone, “after all, you understand. Little Martial Uncle, as a person…”

“Of those who test swords for him, which one hasn’t been scolded by him without mercy until they cried?” Senior Brother Jin said with a face full of sighs, letting out a breath.

Then Lin Yuchu, who stood before him, was immediately full of amazement upon hearing this. His tone held quite a bit of disbelief as he said, “They were actually scolded until they cried?”

Was it really that exaggerated?

Of course, Lin Yuchu could not possibly say that out loud, but the expression on his face undoubtedly said exactly that.

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

Looking at the expression on his face, he immediately felt as if he wanted to cough up blood!

He had forgotten that the person before him was a one-of-a-kind Sword Path genius who had passed in one try, and in one try made Little Martial Uncle extremely satisfied, with nothing to criticize!

He had not been scolded by Little Martial Uncle even once. He simply did not understand how terrifying Little Martial Uncle was!

Damn it!

Senior Brother Jin could not help wanting to curse. His mood became even worse.

His gaze toward Lin Yuchu before him also grew more complicated, and the expression on his face turned obscure and uncertain.

After a long while.

“Forget it…”

Senior Brother Jin’s tone was rather dispirited and dejected. He waved his hand at Lin Yuchu before him and said, “Let’s not talk about that. Let’s talk about the main point.”

Then he raised his head and looked at Lin Yuchu before him with a solemn face, saying in an unprecedentedly heavy tone, “Although everyone else on Lonely Sword Peak fears Little Martial Uncle, avoids him like a tiger, and does not dare test swords for him…”

“Su Hui, who has always admired Little Martial Uncle, may not say it aloud, but in his heart, he is very willing, and one might even say delighted, to be able to test swords for Little Martial Uncle and be chosen by him,” Senior Brother Jin said. He stared at Lin Yuchu before him and continued, enunciating every word, “So now that Little Martial Uncle has named you to test swords for him, do you know what that means?”

“…” Lin Yuchu.

Hearing this, he did not speak.

He only looked at Senior Brother Jin before him.

Seeing the expression on his face, Senior Brother Jin immediately revealed a gratified look. He said, “It seems you understand.”

Yu Yaoguang only needed one person to test swords.

In the past, that person had been Su Hui. Among all the other disciples on Lonely Sword Peak, none could satisfy Yu Yaoguang. Only Su Hui was competent for the role of sword tester.

But now, Lin Yuchu had come.

On his first day at Lonely Sword Peak, he had snatched away Su Hui’s identity as the sword tester.

Perhaps to Yu Yaoguang, this was not some important, complicated matter that required weighing options.

Yu Yaoguang’s thinking was very simple. Whoever could do it would go. Whoever was competent for the work would come. In the past, no one in all of Lonely Sword Peak had been more suitable than Su Hui, so Su Hui had come.

And now Lin Yuchu had appeared. He was more suitable than Su Hui, or to put it bluntly, his Sword Path talent was stronger than Su Hui’s. He was better able to satisfy Yu Yaoguang, better able to achieve what Yu Yaoguang wanted, so Yu Yaoguang had chosen him without the slightest hesitation.

But to Su Hui, he had been abandoned.

He was inferior to the newly arrived little junior brother.

What would that make Su Hui think?

And what would it make all the disciples of Lonely Sword Peak think?

That was why Senior Brother Jin said he had been wrong. He had committed a fatal mistake.

A great sin.

Senior Brother Jin had naturally assumed that Lin Yuchu, this newly arrived youth, had his age and cultivation level plainly sitting there. Of course he could not compare to Su Hui.

It was such an obvious matter.

Senior Brother Jin had not even once considered the possibility that Lin Yuchu could pose a threat to Su Hui.

That was why, when Su Hui was not there, Senior Brother Jin had dragged Lin Yuchu over to fill the position.

The result—

Was that Yu Yaoguang had chosen Lin Yuchu and abandoned Su Hui.

What an arrogant person I am.

How foolish beyond measure.

I committed a fatal mistake and created a great sin.

Senior Brother Jin could not change anything. He could only do his utmost to make up for it.

That was why he had said all this to Lin Yuchu.

…

Facing the gaze of the youth before him, Senior Brother Jin said to him with an open expression, “I am telling you this not because I hope you will do anything.”

After speaking, he paused, then continued, “Little Martial Uncle’s decision cannot be changed by anyone.”

“But…”

Senior Brother Jin looked at Lin Yuchu before him and continued, “I hope you can understand. Understand Su Hui’s feelings.”

Hearing this, Lin Yuchu looked at him.

After a long while, he said, “I understand.”

He looked at Senior Brother Jin before him and said, “This is something I failed to consider.”

Lin Yuchu also said frankly, “I was thoughtless.”

Then, after a pause, he raised his eyes again, looked at Senior Brother Jin before him, and said heavily, word by word, “I understand what you mean, Senior Brother Jin.”

Hearing this, a smile immediately appeared on Senior Brother Jin’s face. He looked at him with a complicated expression and said, “Sorry.”

The one who was thoughtless was me…

…

Outside the Disciples’ Pavilion.

Looking at Su Hui’s very strange attitude before him, Lin Yuchu could not help remembering what Senior Brother Jin had said to him on the way back just now.

The expression on his face grew even stranger.

He thought, Could everything Senior Brother Jin said be true?

Ew. This is giving off such a suspiciously intimate vibe.

It felt as if he had accidentally stumbled upon some secret affair!

And the strange, complicated emotion on Lin Yuchu’s face at this moment fell into Su Hui’s eyes and became evidence that he was forcing a smile!

Alas!

Seeing this, Su Hui could not help sighing in his heart. What a sinful Junior Brother Jin!

He fiercely added another mark against Senior Brother Jin and decided that later, he would properly deal with him and see whether he would still act so rashly and brainlessly in the future!

As for Senior Brother Jin, who had been written into the little account book and was only waiting to have the score settled later, “…”

For a split second just now, I felt killing intent!

Who was it?

But right now, Su Hui felt that the proper business was more important.

He had to properly comfort this poor, tormented little junior brother. So after thinking for a moment, he said to Lin Yuchu before him, “Little Martial Uncle only has a cold face and a warm heart. His requirements are merely strict.”

“You do not need to take his words too much to heart,” Su Hui said.

Then he paused and added, “After spending more time with Little Martial Uncle, you will discover that Little Martial Uncle is actually a person with a very good temperament. He is very kind and gentle.”

“…” Lin Yuchu.

Hearing this, the expression on his face turned strange.

Even the way Lin Yuchu looked at Su Hui became off. He thought, As if I’d believe your nonsense.

Although Lin Yuchu did not know what the real Yu Yaoguang was like, based on what he had just seen, he knew that Yu Yaoguang was definitely not some cold-faced but warm-hearted, good-tempered, kind and gentle person like Su Hui had said!

It was completely the opposite!

Lin Yuchu thought, Yu Yaoguang is clearly someone whose face is cold and whose heart is even colder.

Cold-hearted and cold in feeling.

As expected, Su Hui had a one-sided crush on Little Martial Uncle, right!

Senior Brother Jin had actually been telling the truth.

Lin Yuchu looked at Su Hui before him, who was doing his utmost to say good things about Yu Yaoguang, and thought, Just how thick does a fan filter have to be for someone to say all that?

Although that was what he thought in his heart, on the way back, Senior Brother Jin had already admonished Lin Yuchu at length.

So he had long been prepared. He said to Su Hui with great understanding, “I understand, Eldest Senior Brother.”

Hearing this, the expression on Su Hui’s face grew even more gratified.

His gaze toward Lin Yuchu was gentle, and he thought to himself that Junior Brother Lin was even stronger than he had imagined, and also even gentler.

“That is very good,” Su Hui said to Lin Yuchu. Then he looked at the sky, turned back to Lin Yuchu, and continued, “It is getting late now. You should rest and settle in first.”

“I have already collected the things and supplies the sect prepared for new disciples on your behalf,” Su Hui said.

Hearing this, Lin Yuchu said, “Many thanks, Eldest Senior Brother.”

Then Su Hui explained to Lin Yuchu some matters he needed to pay attention to and gave him careful instructions.

After that was done, he turned and left together with Senior Brother Jin, who had been waiting at the side.

“Done?”

Seeing Su Hui walk toward him, Senior Brother Jin, who had been standing to the side waiting since earlier and had been so bored he was a little dazed and distracted, immediately came back to himself. He looked at Su Hui before him and spoke.

When Su Hui heard him, he glanced at him.

A look of disapproval immediately flashed across his refined, handsome face. His eyes secretly held a hint of accusation.

Seeing this, Senior Brother Jin’s expression instantly turned awkward.

He reached up and rubbed his nose, turning his head to look left and right, with the appearance of someone trying his hardest to evade the matter.

“…” Lin Yuchu, who stood beside them and witnessed the whole thing.

He thought, It looks like Senior Brother Jin really is afraid of Senior Brother Su!

Then.

Senior Brother Jin, who was working hard to evade disaster, caught sight of Lin Yuchu standing beside them, and his eyes instantly lit up.

Looking at his suddenly bright gaze, Lin Yuchu immediately had a bad premonition.

And as expected—

Senior Brother Jin looked at Lin Yuchu as if he had seen a savior. With his expression instantly lighting up, he hurriedly shifted the topic and said, “Little Junior Brother, I thought it over for you just now. That map of Lonely Sword Peak you asked me for earlier is in my room. I’ll bring it to you tomorrow!”

“…” Lin Yuchu.

When did I ever ask you for a map of Lonely Sword Peak?

Hearing this, Lin Yuchu immediately glared at him. What an excellent diversion!

However, considering how pitiful Senior Brother Jin was, Lin Yuchu did not expose him. He even very considerately followed Senior Brother Jin’s words and said, “Then thank you, Senior Brother.”

Having escaped disaster as he wished, Senior Brother Jin immediately gave Lin Yuchu a grateful smile for not exposing him and said, “Then I’ll bring it to you tomorrow. Little Junior Brother, you should rest well today. We won’t disturb you any longer.”

Su Hui, standing before him, raised his brows slightly. Seeing Senior Brother Jin give him a fawning smile, he only smiled as well and said nothing more.

How could he not know that Senior Brother Jin’s move just now had been an attempt to muddle through? But seeing as Senior Brother Jin had worked so hard to survive, Su Hui mercifully spared him.

After all, they were in front of their junior brother. He would still leave him a little face.

And Senior Brother Jin had clearly known this, which was why he had done it.

Otherwise, he would not have dragged Lin Yuchu into the water.

Seeing Su Hui take on an attitude of not arguing with him and letting the matter pass, Senior Brother Jin, who had escaped disaster, immediately let out a breath of relief.

Wonderful!

He had successfully worked hard to survive again today!

“Let’s go.”

Su Hui came to Senior Brother Jin’s side and said to him.

His expression looked full of amusement. “Don’t let Junior Brother watch us make a joke of ourselves.”

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin immediately said in a stubborn tone, “What joke? Who would dare laugh!”

He really dared say it!

Su Hui looked at him and only smiled without speaking.

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

Under Su Hui’s meaningful smile, Senior Brother Jin… slowly blushed.

“Ahem, ahem…” Senior Brother Jin hurriedly coughed twice and said, “Didn’t you say we were leaving? Then hurry up and go!”

When Su Hui heard this, he glanced at him but did not say anything more.

Walking beside him, the two of them left together.

Lin Yuchu, standing behind them, watched their departing figures with a thoughtful expression.

Then, as if he had suddenly realized something, he lifted his eyes, fixed his gaze on Su Hui and Senior Brother Jin as they walked away, and called out, “Senior Brother Jin, I still don’t know what your name is!”

Hearing this.

“…”

Senior Brother Jin immediately staggered. His body and mind both lost balance as he pitched forward and almost fell.

“Pfft.”

Su Hui, walking beside him, immediately could not help laughing.

“…”

Hearing the laugh from his mouth, Senior Brother Jin’s expression became even more embarrassed and annoyed.

He turned around and snapped irritably at Lin Yuchu behind him, “Why are you asking about something so unimportant and not worth mentioning?”

“In any case, you only need to call me Senior Brother!” Senior Brother Jin’s expression looked rather flustered and exasperated.

Seeing him like this, Lin Yuchu became even more certain of the guess in his heart.

His heart held ill intentions, but the expression on his face became even more upright.

Lin Yuchu was already good-looking to begin with. Young and full of vigor, his face was delicate and beautiful, and the space between his brows and eyes was brimming with spirit.

He was at the most beautiful and moving age.

Even when he was up to no good, others could not feel any dislike for him. They only felt the vigor and youthfulness of a young person, pleasing to the heart.

“But I want to know what Senior Brother is called!” Lin Yuchu said righteously. “Senior Brother knows what I’m called, but I don’t know what you’re called. How unfair is that?”

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

Is that how fairness works?

Senior Brother Jin was so embarrassed that it turned into anger, and he immediately snapped, “This world was unfair to begin with!”

“That’s why we have to work hard!” Lin Yuchu said even more righteously. “So isn’t this me working hard to ask what you’re called?”

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

This theory…

He had to admit defeat.

He really admitted defeat, wholeheartedly and completely. Even walls would not be convinced, but he was convinced by you!

Senior Brother Jin rolled his eyes irritably at Lin Yuchu, who was full of justice and righteously talking nonsense, then gritted his teeth and said, “…Jin Zhi.”

“…What?”

Hearing this, Lin Yuchu froze for a moment, as if he had not heard clearly, and even more as if he suspected there was something wrong with his ears. Then he spoke.

“Jin Zhi!”

Senior Brother Jin said loudly, “Are you deaf?”

“…” Lin Yuchu.

Hearing this, his eyes immediately widened.

His pair of bright, pitch-black eyes were round and sparkling, like some adorable, furry little animal, as he looked at him in shock.

“Jin Zhi…”

Lin Yuchu said, the corner of his mouth twitching. “No wonder.”

No wonder Senior Brother Jin had refused to say his own name no matter what!

Sure enough!

If it were him, he also would not want to tell other people his name. No!

Lin Yuchu thought that if it were him, he would definitely have gone to change his name at the first possible moment!

As for Senior Brother Jin, after saying his own name, it was as if he had unloaded some burden. Without any more misgivings, he snapped irritably at Lin Yuchu ahead of him, “If you dare laugh, believe it or not, I’ll kill you!”

“…I don’t dare laugh. I don’t dare, I don’t dare,” Lin Yuchu hurriedly said.

Only after hearing him say this did Senior Brother Jin relax the brows he had furrowed from just now. He looked at Lin Yuchu ahead, who was waving his hands again and again while saying he did not dare, curled his lip, and said, “At least you know what’s good for you.”

“But!”

Lin Yuchu suddenly raised his eyes again, looked at Senior Brother Jin ahead of him with a face full of curiosity, and asked, “Senior Brother Jin, do you have a younger sister named Jade Leaf?”

“…” Senior Brother Jin Zhi.

Hearing this, he immediately flew into a rage.

As expected, I should just kill you after all!

“Let’s go.”

Su Hui, who had been standing at the side and watching the show for a long time, held back his laughter and spoke.

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin immediately turned his head and glanced at him, saying irritably, “Don’t think I didn’t know you were secretly laughing off to the side just now.”

“You were hoping for this, weren’t you!” Senior Brother Jin gave a cold snort. “Su Hui, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?”

“Don’t wrong me.”

Hearing this, Su Hui immediately said with a serious expression, looking as if he were crying injustice. “I did not do anything.”

After hearing this.

Senior Brother Jin immediately rolled his eyes and thought, You didn’t do anything. You only pushed the boat along with the current and added fuel to the flames!

“Forget it.”

Senior Brother Jin rolled his eyes and said, “In any case, that kid would find out sooner or later. It isn’t any secret.”

Even if he did not know now, after staying on Lonely Sword Peak for a while, he would naturally know what Senior Brother Jin was called.

“Let’s go,” Senior Brother Jin said.

Su Hui walked alongside him. “Speaking of which, since you are so dissatisfied with this name, why not change it?”

“If you insist on changing your name, it is not impossible, is it?” Su Hui said.

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin casually replied, “It’s not that I’m dissatisfied with it. It’s just that usually when I give my name, other people can’t help laughing when they hear it, or they tease me or something. It’s very annoying.”

“After a long time, I stopped wanting to give my name. Too troublesome,” Senior Brother Jin said. After pausing, he continued, “Changing my name is impossible. After all, this name was left to me by my mother.”

Hearing this, Su Hui, who knew his family situation, immediately fell silent.

After a long while.

Su Hui said, “Actually, I think this name sounds quite nice too.”

Hearing this.

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

He turned his head and stared at him, his face full of shock as he asked, “Are you serious?”

“…” Su Hui.

The expression on his face was even more shocked than Senior Brother Jin’s.

Is this how you treat someone who is comforting you?

No wonder you have no friends!

…

At this moment, it was just dusk.

At the distant edge of the sky, the afterglow of the setting sun dyed the heavens a wash of gold.

The weather was clear, the breeze gentle, the sun bright.

The wind blowing slowly toward them was refreshing and soft.

Su Hui and Senior Brother Jin walked together on Lonely Sword Peak’s mountain path. Neither of them spoke.

They enjoyed the afterglow of the setting sun and this rare quiet.

After a long while.

“What happened at Little Martial Uncle’s place?” Su Hui asked in a mild tone.

Hearing this.

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

He was silent for a while.

Then he said, “Why do you ask that?”

“Because your attitude is strange.” Su Hui turned his head and looked at him. “You have never been as quiet and silent as you were today.”

“You make it sound like I’m usually very talkative!” Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin immediately said irritably.

When Su Hui heard this, he laughed and asked in return, “Are you not?”

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

Was he?

“Tell me. What exactly happened?”

Su Hui looked at him and asked.

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin looked at him for a long time, then slowly recounted everything that had happened during the sword test earlier.

After hearing it.

“Is that so?”

Su Hui said, “So those things happened.”

“No wonder.” Su Hui smiled. He raised his head and looked at Senior Brother Jin before him. “You said something to that child, didn’t you?”

“…” Senior Brother Jin.

Hearing this, he immediately fell silent without making a sound.

“The way that child looked at me was strange. I was wondering about it.” Su Hui said with a smile, “If you said something to him, then it isn’t strange.”

With Su Hui’s understanding of Senior Brother Jin’s unreliable, reckless personality, the sort that dared say anything, he could easily imagine what Senior Brother Jin might have said to Lin Yuchu.

No wonder Lin Yuchu had reacted that way.

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin looked at Su Hui before him. Seeing the smile covering his face, as if he did not care at all…

His gaze locked tightly onto Su Hui’s face, trying to see what was in his heart from his expression. Did he truly care so little, or was he only pretending?

But…

He could not tell.

He could not tell what Su Hui was truly thinking. He could not see Su Hui’s emotions.

Since long ago, Su Hui had already learned to perfectly hide his emotions and turn himself into a qualified—no, an outstanding chief eldest disciple of a peak.

He could always handle any person or matter perfectly and resolve any dispute properly.

When had it begun? He had not seen Su Hui lose his temper, become angry, or become furious for a very long time. Those emotions seemed to have distanced themselves from Su Hui as a person.

Senior Brother Jin no longer knew when exactly it had started, when he had become unable to see through Su Hui.

It seemed that by the time he realized it…

Su Hui had already become what he was now.

“What do you think?”

After a long while.

Unable to tell what Su Hui was thinking from his face, Senior Brother Jin could not help asking.

Hearing this.

Su Hui raised his eyes, looked at him, and asked in return, “What do I think about what?”

“Lin Yuchu replaced you and took your place as Little Martial Uncle’s sword tester.” Senior Brother Jin looked at him and said word by word, “Don’t you have any thoughts about it at all?”

Hearing this.

Su Hui fixed his gaze on him and said, “What thoughts should I have?”

“If there is anything I think of it, then I think this is a good thing,” Su Hui said.

“A good thing?”

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin immediately gave a cold laugh. He fixed his gaze on Su Hui before him, his face icy, and his tone mocking as he said, “You think this is a good thing?”

“Is it not?”

Compared with his violent emotional fluctuations, Su Hui seemed far more peaceful and indifferent.

With reason and composure, he said to Senior Brother Jin, “You and I both know that no one in all of Lonely Sword Peak can satisfy Little Martial Uncle. Even I was only a helpless, last-resort choice.”

“I cannot satisfy Little Martial Uncle. I cannot achieve the result he wants,” Su Hui said. “To put it simply, I am not capable.”

“But Little Junior Brother can. He is the one who can do it, the one who can satisfy Little Martial Uncle, or rather, the one Little Martial Uncle has been searching for all along,” Su Hui said. “Since that is the case, what do I have to say?”

“If I must say something, then I am very glad there is a person like Little Junior Brother. At the very least, Little Martial Uncle’s research has a greater chance of success,” Su Hui said.

And Senior Brother Jin, standing before him…

The more he listened to Su Hui’s words, the uglier his expression became.

“Is that truly what you think?”

Senior Brother Jin raised his head. His gaze was cold and sharp, pressing aggressively, like frozen icicles beneath the ice. Cold and severe, they stabbed straight and mercilessly toward Su Hui before him, wanting to pierce through his mask, his disguise, wanting to stab straight into the depths of his heart and see whether this person would feel pain.

To see whether his heart was still soft and warm, whether it could still be wounded, whether it could still bleed.

“Is that truly what you think?”

He fixed his gaze on Su Hui before him and asked again.

“Of course,” Su Hui said.

He looked at Senior Brother Jin before him, as if he had not noticed anything unusual about him, and said with a smile, “When have I ever lied to you?”

“Enough!”

Senior Brother Jin cut him off. His face was ashen as he fixed his gaze on him. He was clearly the one growing angry, yet the expression on his face and the tone of his voice made it seem as if he were the one who had been hurt. “Are you really not worried?”

“You don’t care? You aren’t afraid?” Senior Brother Jin questioned him. “Little Junior Brother’s Sword Path talent is rare and terrifying. Even now, when he is only at this stage, he can already do this much. He made Little Martial Uncle abandon you and choose him. Given time…”

“Do you truly not care in the slightest?” Senior Brother Jin fixed his gaze on him and said.

He felt as if he were a fool.

Su Hui’s reaction, the way he cared so little and even said this was a good thing, made Senior Brother Jin feel as if he, who had been unable to stop brooding over it, who cared so much that he had even gone so far as to say all that to Lin Yuchu, was like a fool.

Did I do something unnecessary?

Was I meddling for nothing?

Sticking my nose where it didn’t belong…

These thoughts kept surging through Senior Brother Jin’s mind, squeezing his brain until it throbbed with waves of pain.

It made his mood even worse.

And Su Hui, standing before him, looked at him.

Seeing his emotions and reaction so intense, the relaxed, smiling expression Su Hui had originally worn also disappeared.

He looked at Senior Brother Jin before him for a long time.

Then he slowly spoke. “I understand what you mean.”

Hearing this, Senior Brother Jin abruptly raised his head and fixed his gaze on him.

“I know what you want to say, but…” Su Hui looked at him and said, “Do you know why every generation of Lonely Sword Peak has a Little Martial Uncle?”

“Why?”

Senior Brother Jin’s voice was low and carried a trace of hoarseness.

“Because Little Martial Uncle is the strongest person,” Su Hui said. “In other words, the strongest person cannot become the Peak Master.”

“Do you understand what I mean?”

Su Hui raised his head and looked at Senior Brother Jin before him. “After I surpassed Master and became the chief eldest disciple of Lonely Sword Peak, I was destined never to become Lonely Sword Peak’s strongest sword cultivator.”

“That person can be anyone else, but it absolutely cannot be me,” Su Hui said.

“…”

After a long while.

“Why?”

Senior Brother Jin said hoarsely. “Why can’t it be you?”

“Because the Peak Master of Lonely Sword Peak must live in the mundane world,” Su Hui said. “And Lonely Sword Peak likewise needs a strongest sword cultivator.”

“Lonely Sword Peak is the strongest sword peak of the Kunlun Sword Sect, and the Kunlun Sword Sect is the number one Sword Path sect under heaven. Therefore, Lonely Sword Peak’s sword cultivator must be the strongest of the age.”

“And a sword cultivator who can seize the title of strongest in the Sword Path is destined to stand in a different world from ours.”

“That world is one I cannot set foot in.”

Su Hui spoke.

Hearing this.

There was a long silence.

After a long while.

Senior Brother Jin raised his head, looked at Su Hui before him, and asked, “Then what about you?”

“Are you really content with that?”

Hearing this, Su Hui smiled.

“This is my choice,” he said. “There is nothing about being content or discontent.”

“Long ago, I already knew that I could not stand at that height, could not reach that world,” Su Hui said. “I recognized that very early on.”

“So I chose the path most possible for me, and also the best choice,” he said.

After a long moment.

Su Hui sighed and said, “This world really is so unfair.”

“Talent really is such a cruel, frightening thing.”

“Truly…”

“So unfair,” Su Hui said with a smile.

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