Chapter 9: You Win, I Admit Defeat—Is That Alright?

Yang Yitan looked at Yang Qingyuan before him and was momentarily caught in an awkward silence. The look in his eyes seemed to say, “Do I really look like a fool to you?”

“You see, I’m telling you the truth, but you don’t believe me. What else can I do? These days, it’s really hard to be an honest person...” Yang Qingyuan said with a helpless shrug.

“The move you used against those two Obsidian Overseers just now—it should be the Yin family’s Thunder Summoning Technique, right?”

“If you say so, then it’s so,” Yang Qingyuan answered nonchalantly.

His indifferent demeanor made even the good-natured Yang Yitan want to punch him a couple of times. However, recalling his grandfather Yang Yifang’s admonition, he forced down his anger and continued, “You didn’t activate the Heavenly Eye. How did you learn the Yin family’s Thunder Summoning Technique then?”

“Yang Young Master, why so many questions? Are you a walking encyclopedia? We agreed one question each, and you’ve already asked me several in a row,” Yang Qingyuan said impatiently, waving his hand at Yang Yitan.

“If you really have nothing better to do, go home and grab a block of frozen tofu to practice your Heavenly Eye on. Can you stop pestering me all the time?”

Yang Yitan took a deep breath, about to lose his temper, when a childish voice sounded behind them.

“Oh, it’s you, Yang Qingyuan!”

Both Yang Qingyuan and Yang Yitan turned around in unison to see Wang Quanzui looking at them with delight. Behind him stood Wang Quanbaye, smiling and nodding politely.

“Brother Yitan, you’re here too.”

“Greetings, Young Master Wang Quan and Miss Wang,” Yang Qingyuan greeted politely.

“No need for formalities, Brother Yang. We’re all members of the One Qi Dao Alliance, so there’s no need to be so stiff,” Wang Quanbaye replied with a warm smile, his demeanor unpretentious despite his status. He radiated a refreshing aura, as befitting the father of the protagonist—his looks and bearing both impeccable.

If he didn’t have to go out adventuring with his masked group in the future, with their talents, this One Qi Dao Alliance might have looked very different today.

“Yang Qingyuan, you really impressed everyone at the wedding banquet that day. Even my brother and Brother Yitan didn’t react in time. Well done! I heard from Uncle Fei that thanks to you knocking out Auntie Yang Yan’s husband, he was saved from serious danger.”

Yang Qingyuan had boldly confronted the Yang family’s son-in-law in front of so many people. Such courage alone earned the admiration of the Wang siblings.

“Miss Wang is too kind,” Yang Qingyuan smiled faintly, not offering further explanation.

---

“Baye, what are you and Sister Zui up to?”

“Oh, my little sister wanted to stroll around this Dao City, so I took her out.”

“Hmph, my brother just practices swordsmanship at home every day. It’s so boring,” Wang Quanzui crossed her arms, glaring at Wang Quanbaye.

“Well, I’m here with you now...” Wang Quanbaye replied with a wry smile.

“If I hadn’t been pestering you all the time, you’d still be at home practicing your sword,” she retorted.

Wang Quanbaye shook his head helplessly and cast an apologetic glance at Yang Qingyuan and Yang Yitan.

“Sorry about my little sister. Please forgive her.”

Yang Qingyuan shook his head and respectfully clasped his fists in return.

“Well then, I wish you both a pleasant time. I’ll take my leave now.”

“Hey, wait!”

Just as Yang Qingyuan was about to leave, Yang Yitan immediately called after him.

“What now?” Yang Qingyuan turned back, somewhat exasperated.

“Let’s find a place to spar.”

“Huh?” Yang Qingyuan was taken aback, looking at Yang Yitan in surprise.

“Why?”

“To practice and verify what we’ve learned,” Yang Yitan replied calmly.

Yang Yitan had his own reasons for proposing this. With his Heavenly Eye, he could easily see the flow of his opponent’s qi meridians. Though only eight years old, he had already learned many techniques from others by using this ability.

He was confident that after a single sparring session with Yang Qingyuan, he could discern his teacher’s lineage. Even if Yang Qingyuan didn’t say a word, Yang Yitan would complete the task his grandfather assigned him.

“Wow, looks like there’s a good show coming...”

Wang Quanzui’s eyes lit up, her expression mischievous.

---

Seeing this, Wang Quanbaye sighed and covered his forehead in resignation. He knew he probably wouldn’t be able to leave anytime soon.

But then again, watching the duel between Yang Yitan and the mysterious Yang Qingyuan might not be a bad thing.

He also turned his gaze to Yang Qingyuan.

Noticing Yang Qingyuan’s hesitation to accept the challenge, Yang Yitan prodded, “What’s wrong? Afraid to lose?”

A provocation? Such a childish tactic.

Yang Qingyuan found it amusing and, under the watchful eyes of the three, smiled slightly at Yang Yitan.

“All right, you win. I admit defeat. I can’t beat you. Is that good enough?”

“You...” Yang Yitan’s expression changed sharply, as if his punch had landed on cotton—no impact at all.

“Goodbye, Young Master Yang, and to the two young masters and miss of the Wang family.”

Without waiting for a reply, Yang Qingyuan vanished into the crowd.

Seeing Yang Yitan’s flustered state, Wang Quanzui couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

“Ha ha ha, I’ve known Brother Yitan for so long, and rarely have I seen him like this. Yang Qingyuan is quite interesting.”

Wang Quanbaye smiled too, stepping forward to gently pat Yang Yitan on the shoulder.

“Yitan, what’s going on?”

“Sigh, here’s the story...” Yang Yitan sighed deeply and then told Wang Quanbaye everything his grandfather had entrusted to him.

“I see, you want to use this opportunity to test his lineage,” Wang Quanbaye mused, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“Yes, but for some reason, he seems very wary of me,” Yang Yitan said, frustrated.

Recalling what Yang Qingyuan had said at the wedding banquet, Wang Quanbaye began to understand the situation somewhat.