Alex had no intention of stepping into the quarrel between Elder Shi and Li Xiaoyao.
After all, from both sides' perspectives, neither was entirely wrong.
From Elder Shi's point of view, the princess of Nanzhao had married a scoundrel. Their impression of him was already poor, and now that they had finally found him, he couldn't even say where his wife had gone. Such a consort was, in their eyes, unworthy of the princess.
From Li Xiaoyao's perspective, however, he had done everything he could. He had traveled thousands of miles to bring Zhao Linger back to Nanzhao, believing he had fulfilled his duty. After she disappeared, he had searched desperately, even venturing alone into a demon's lair.
Yet these strangers from Nanzhao, whom he had just met, mocked him and hurled sarcasm at every turn. How could he possibly endure it?
This was, in the end, a national affair of Nanzhao and also a family matter. Lin Tiannan and the others beside him chose not to interfere.
The bickering soon escalated. As tempers flared, words gave way to action.
"Tang Yu, since the Prince Consort claims to be a man of the martial world, why don't you test his skills…" Elder Shi said coldly, turning to his adopted son.
Tang Yu, trained under Elder Shi's strict guidance for years and considered his heir, stepped forward. His face was set with anger."Yes, godfather!" he replied, glaring at Li Xiaoyao.
"I want to see what you Nanzhao people are really capable of." Li Xiaoyao's pride wouldn't allow him to back down. Seeing that Tang Yu was about his own age, he too drew his sword.
As the foremost martial stronghold, the Lin Family Fort had its own dueling grounds. Soon, Tang Yu and Li Xiaoyao stood facing each other in a spacious courtyard.
Li Xiaoyao struck first, his blade flashing with refined precision.
"Master, his swordsmanship is very different from ours. It feels more fluid… almost like a flowing gesture," Liu Jinyuan observed quietly.
"Indeed," Alex nodded. "Though he wields a sword, his style is nothing like the usual martial techniques. His approach reminds me of the Dugu Nine Swords, but it carries an even sharper essence."
"Our swordsmanship relies on internal energy, channeling qi into the blade," Liu Jinyuan added. "But his technique seems to go deeper, as if it's guided directly by thought."
Lin Tiannan, standing nearby, studied them with interest. Hearing Alex and Liu Jinyuan's keen observations, he looked at them in surprise. For ones so young, their insight was extraordinary—far beyond what most martial artists could perceive.
The duel itself was evenly matched. Both Tang Yu and Li Xiaoyao were outstanding talents of their generation. Nanzhao's techniques were formidable, but Li Xiaoyao's mastery of the Divine Sword was no less impressive.
Elder Shi, watching intently, felt his initial disdain waver. He had assumed Li Xiaoyao to be a reckless scoundrel, yet here he stood, rivaling Tang Yu, his carefully trained protégé. Perhaps he had underestimated him.
"Flying Star!" Tang Yu shouted, teeth gritted as he unleashed his ultimate move.
A glowing sigil spun into existence, crashing toward Li Xiaoyao with immense force. The impact sent him staggering back, his sword arm numb. His eyes widened—he had never expected Tang Yu to command such a unique technique.
"Flying Star!" Tang Yu repeated the move, confident in its strength.
But this time, Li Xiaoyao's eyes sharpened. He watched every movement, then mirrored it perfectly.
Two identical patterns flared across the courtyard, slamming into one another in mid-air with a thunderous clash.
"It's appeared..." Alex muttered to himself as he watched the scene unfold.
He remembered this moment from the original tale: Tang Yu's ultimate move, Flying Star. Li Xiaoyao, after only seeing it once or twice, was able to mimic it with surprising accuracy.
Such talent was terrifying, nearly on par with his own ability to replicate techniques. Seeing it with his own eyes made the impact even greater.
"What!? How is this possible?!"
Though clumsy, Li Xiaoyao had successfully executed the Flying Star. Tang Yu and Elder Shi were stunned. Could his talent really be this extraordinary?
"Genius! Another genius!" Lin Tiannan was equally shaken as he witnessed it.
Looking at Li Xiaoyao, Tang Yu, Liu Jinyuan, and Alex—all still so young, yet each brimming with remarkable potential—he couldn't help but feel the tide of time. It was like the River itself: the new waves pushing the old forward.
...
On the outskirts of Suzhou City, a luxurious sedan chair swayed steadily, carried by several strong men whose balanced steps revealed their martial mastery.
Inside sat a middle-aged man with a calm, almost ethereal air, blending seamlessly with nature.
As the chair neared Suzhou, a group of men appeared, dropped to their knees, and shouted in unison: "Greetings, Master!"
"Rise," the man in the sedan chair replied softly, nodding with quiet authority.
At his word, they stood aside respectfully, hands clasped and heads bowed.
"Are we in Suzhou already? The scenery of the Central Plains truly differs from that of the Nanzhao Kingdom..."
Instead of asking about the mission, the Moon Worshipping Master lifted his gaze, taking in the thriving bustle of Suzhou, and murmured in a low, almost wistful tone.
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