Chapter 9: You Underestimate Me Too Much

Chapter 9: Chapter 9: You Underestimate Me Too Much

"Yeah." Lu Yuan nodded. There was no need to hide anything from his future brother-in-law.

"As for those two methods, the first is going head-to-head with our bare fists. The second is me using a weapon!" Lin Siheng spoke rapidly. "I realized the main reason I lost to you is that my arms and legs aren’t long enough. I’m at a huge disadvantage against someone with your reach. But if I use a long staff, it’ll be a completely different story. You’ll definitely lose."

"Fair enough. Go get yourself a staff," Lu Yuan agreed with a nod.

The little guy was pretty smart to notice the physical gap between them. But could a long staff really guarantee a win?

"I’m ready!" Lin Siheng quickly reappeared with a two-meter-long staff in hand, brimming with confidence.

[Your former brother-in-law didn’t lose his spirit yesterday. Driven by his long-standing habits, he has shown up today with a little branch to teach you a lesson or two.

[He arrogantly declares that he won’t use True Essence and will only tap into one percent of his physical strength.

[He claims beating you will be as easy as beating a dog.]

[Mission Issued: Desperate Counterattack. Although your Cultivation is gone, you are by no means worthless:

[Survive for ten breaths: Reward 50 EXP.

[Endure for twenty breaths: Reward 100 EXP.

[Remain undefeated for thirty breaths: Reward 300 EXP.]

He complained inwardly, "Why is there no option to defeat him? Can I really not beat him?" The system was as blind as ever.

"Lu Yuan, you can use a saber," Lin Siheng reminded him.

"No need," Lu Yuan shook his head.

Using a weapon against a little kid? Did he have no shame? Besides, wielding a saber without being able to unleash Saber Qi wouldn’t give him any advantage against a long staff anyway. It was better to fight bare-handed.

"You’re underestimating me, Lu Yuan." Lin Siheng frowned, clearly displeased.

"Heh, bring it on." Lu Yuan beckoned him over.

"Argh!" Lin Siheng immediately charged, staff in hand. He sprinted with the weapon poised, his small body seemingly fusing into one with the staff.

WHOOSH!

Lin Siheng suddenly leaped into the air. In an instant, the long staff became a blur of motion, crashing down like a tidal wave with overwhelming and ferocious momentum.

Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow and quickly stepped back to dodge.

"Ahhh! Take this, this, and this!" Lin Siheng pursued him with a frantic barrage of attacks.

In his hands, the weapon moved as if it were wielded by the reincarnated Monkey King. The strikes flowed endlessly, leaving behind overlapping afterimages and whipping up a wind as sharp as knives.

SWISH! SWISH!

Lu Yuan continued to evade. A single strike carried hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds of force. There was no way he wanted to tank that with his physical body.

"Hehe, still feeling arrogant, Lu Yuan?" Lin Siheng laughed triumphantly, his strikes growing faster and more ruthless. "Now you know how strong I am, right?"

"Yeah, you’re pretty strong," Lu Yuan replied with a calm expression, dodging as if taking a leisurely stroll in the park.

Three breaths!

Five breaths!

Ten breaths...

WHOOSH!

Lin Siheng finally stopped, panting heavily from exhaustion.

"Fight back, Lu Yuan. You just keep dodging! What’s the point if I can’t even hit you?" Flailing at empty air was incredibly draining.

"I’m afraid you’ll lose the moment I strike back," Lu Yuan said with a smile.

"Impossible!" Lin Siheng flew into a rage. "Damn it! You’re still looking down on me? Make your move! If you dodge again, I’ll... I’ll go tell my sister!"

"Alright, but let me repeat: no crying," Lu Yuan chuckled.

"Who’s crying? I never cry, okay?" Lin Siheng stomped his foot in indignation.

"Come on, then." Lu Yuan waved him over.

"Argh! Take this!" Lin Siheng lunged forward with his staff.

SWISH!

Lu Yuan suddenly flashed to the side, then dashed toward Lin Siheng from his flank.

THUMP!

Lin Siheng was instantly sent flying by a swift kick from Lu Yuan.

A swinging long staff was undeniably powerful, but it was still wielded by a human. And since a human was wielding it, there would always be moments of breathless pauses and openings. Furthermore, Lu Yuan was already at the Ninth Grade of the Martial Dao. He had experienced the Prodigy Moment and upgraded two of his Martial Arts.

WHOOSH!

Lin Siheng hit the ground, his face full of disbelief. "Impossible! I just didn’t perform well just now. Again!"

"Hurry up," Lu Yuan urged. He wasn’t sure if pausing in the middle of the fight would affect the system’s rating and his rewards. He wanted the three hundred EXP, not a measly fifty.

"Ahhhh!" Lin Siheng charged.

THWACK! Lu Yuan delivered another kick.

"Ahhhh!" Lin Siheng charged again.

THWACK! Another kick.

"Ahhhh!" Lin Siheng charged yet again...

[Congratulations! You fought with all your might and finally remained undefeated for thirty breaths. Mission completed. Reward: 300 EXP credited to your account.]

Lu Yuan glanced at the panel and immediately shouted, "Stop!"

HUFF... PUFF... HUFF...

Lin Siheng halted, gasping for air. He was small, meaning his body didn’t store much energy. Such a frenzied onslaught was more than he could handle.

"Why? Why? It’s not supposed to be like this! It shouldn’t be like this!"

"Because you underestimated me and completely failed to realize the gap between us," Lu Yuan said calmly, looking down at him.

He was fifteen years old and a Ninth Grade Martial Artist. His opponent was a five-year-old who hadn’t even entered the ranks. Yet, this kid actually believed he couldn’t beat him.

"I see..." Lin Siheng’s expression shifted as a bit of realization seemed to dawn on him. But he quickly raised his head again. "You’re only a little stronger than me right now! Soon, I’ll surpass you and beat you!"

"Mm, good luck with that," Lu Yuan nodded. With the system in hand, he wasn’t worried in the slightest.

Deeply provoked, Lin Siheng gnashed his teeth. "I’m telling the truth! I’m serious!"

"Nobody said you weren’t serious." Lu Yuan chuckled.

"Again!" Lin Siheng stomped his foot and threw away his long staff. "Lu Yuan, since you’re stronger than me, shouldn’t you go easy on me and act as a proper sparring partner?"

"Let’s take a break first," Lu Yuan said. After practicing all morning, he was getting hungry.

"Okay!" Lin Siheng quickly nodded. He was also exhausted, and his little stomach was rumbling. "Lu Yuan, do you have anything to eat?"

"Come on, follow me to the kitchen." Lu Yuan turned around.

"Mhm." Lin Siheng quickly followed.

Suddenly, Lin Siheng blinked in surprise. "Huh? Lu Yuan, who is that? Why is there suddenly another kid in your house?"

"I bought her at the slave market yesterday to help Auntie out with the chores. Later on, she can also serve as a maid for your second sister," Lu Yuan explained.

"Oh," Lin Siheng nodded, losing interest. She was just a little servant.

"Y-Young Master," Yaoyao called out timidly, looking up at Lu Yuan. She had been turning the soil in the garden to plant vegetables, eager to put her racial talents to use.

"Mm. Come out and eat something before you get back to work." Lu Yuan waved her over. This little one had a huge appetite and digested food rapidly.

"Yaoyao is working! Yaoyao isn’t hungry!" Yaoyao hastily refused. She couldn’t eat too much, otherwise she might get thrown out.

Lu Yuan went into the kitchen and grabbed three boiled sweet potatoes from the steamer. He gave one to Lin Siheng, kept one for himself, and brought the last one to Yaoyao.

"Take it and eat."

"Yes, yes, Young Master." Yaoyao hurriedly took the sweet potato in both hands and began eating, completely ignoring the dirt on her hands.

"Lu Yuan, your family’s sweet potatoes are delicious," Lin Siheng said cheerfully.

Lu Yuan rolled his eyes. They were fine for an occasional snack, but let’s see how he’d feel eating them every day. The Lu Family was relatively well-off, but supporting two Martial Artists left them stretched thin. Thus, they needed cheap food to supplement their energy.

"If you like them so much, eat some more. We have plenty."

"Mhm." Lin Siheng nodded happily.