Chapter 32: Chen Chen's Broken Dao Heart
"Oho, there's a Guardian too?"
Chen Yu released the hand gripping Chen Chen's hair and sneered.
"He brought people to provoke me, lost the bet, and now wants to renege on the debt. Does your Association only protect trash and ignore logic?"
As his voice fell, Wei Tianyi's hand gripping the wooden sword exerted slight force, a cold light flashing across the blade.
He stood between Chen Yu and Shi Meng, speaking in a deep voice, "Kid Shi, this is my swordsman dojo. Chen Chen came to challenge first, and refused to admit defeat later. Although Chen Yu struck heavily, reason is on his side. Furthermore, you rashly attacked a member of my dojo; you need to give an explanation."
Shi Meng stared at the seemingly ordinary wooden sword in Wei Tianyi's hand, his eyes growing graver.
His punch just now used seventy percent of his strength, yet it was steadily blocked by this wooden sword.
The might of the Sword Saint still remained.
He knew the Association didn't want to tear up relations with Wei Tianyi, and Chen Chen was in the wrong first.
Fighting hard was definitely not a good strategy.
But if he let Chen Chen fulfill the bet, he would likely be charged with failing his guardian duties by the Association.
He sighed helplessly. Force wouldn't work; he could only hold his nose and admit it.
"I acknowledge the logic, but Chen Yu's attack was too cruel, and he broke Chen Chen's Dao Heart. We can't just let this go." Shi Meng softened his tone, lifting the limp Chen Chen from the ground with his giant hand.
"Chen Chen, you were confused regarding the bet. Your strength was insufficient; a loss is a loss..."
Before he could finish, Chen Chen suddenly acted like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, struggling and screaming, "Let me go! Who lost? I was deliberately showing weakness to the enemy!"
He stiffened his neck. Even though water was still dripping from his pant legs, he maintained a self-righteous appearance.
"I saw through Chen Yu long ago; he only knows brute force. I deliberately exposed a flaw to test his foundation! Otherwise, him? Is he worthy of me acting seriously?"
"Also, he wanted me to kowtow and call him Daddy, and he slandered the matriarch of my Chen family. This bet hid filth from the start; it doesn't count at all!"
"Doesn't count?" Chen Yu took a step forward, his eyes teasing. "
You've got thick skin. Weren't you acting like you had me ate just now? Now you don't admit it? Either fulfill the bet, or..."
He weighed "Ace" in his hand, the dark red on the blade not yet faded. "I'll let you be split in half just like this dojo's wall."
Seeing this, Shi Meng knew Chen Yu was dead set on demanding an explanation.
He immediately said in a low voice, "The bet is too humiliating. Chen Chen represents the face of the Eastern Alliance in the future; he absolutely cannot lose this face."
'??!'
"No, is your Association's eyesight that bad?" Chen Yu glanced suspiciously at Chen Chen, whose pants were wet.
"How about this? I'll recommend myself. You see my strength isn't weak either, right? I even beat the piss out of Chen Chen. Let me be the face. I only want half the resources of this trash. How about it? I'm definitely stronger than him." Chen Yu puffed out his chest.
"Hiss..." Shi Meng froze abruptly. His gaze darted back and forth between Chen Yu and Chen Chen, his brows locked tight as if weighing the options.
Seeing Shi Meng actually considering it, Chen Chen completely broke down, screaming regardless of his image, "Shi Meng, are you crazy! Your duty is to protect me! I am an SS-Rank genius! He is just F-Rank trash! What right does he have to compare with me?"
He shouted until his face was red and his neck thick, as if speaking loud enough could cover up his wretched situation. But in the current scene, it only seemed ridiculous.
Shi Meng coughed to alleviate the awkwardness and spoke, "How about this. The bet Chen Chen lost will be paid by the Association in the form of Awakener resources. Additionally, we will give Chen Yu another gift as compensation. Let this matter end here, agreed?"
Wei Tianyi turned to look at Chen Yu. Seeing his eyebrow raised as if considering, he added, "Chen Yu, this old man thinks..."
Before he finished, Chen Yu nodded to show he understood the situation.
He glanced at Chen Chen, who was shrinking behind Shi Meng but still secretly glaring at him, then met the look Wei Tianyi gave him.
He knew clearly that if he really forced Chen Chen to death, the Association might not let it go.
"Compensation is fine, but it can't be small."
Chen Yu said lightly. "Also, the repair fees for the dojo." He pointed to the sword mark he cleaved. "You guys fix it. And..."
He looked at Chen Chen, extending two fingers. "I want double."
Shi Meng nodded without hesitation.
"Good! Double compensation.I will have someone calculate the dojo's losses and pay immediately."
Saying so, he took out a card from his chest pocket and handed it to Wei Tianyi.
"This contains the deposit for the advance payment. The subsequent funds will arrive within three days. I'll be taking Chen Chen now."
Chen Chen followed Shi Meng out, still muttering, his voice getting smaller and smaller.
"Double is double. It's just some worthless resources; does the Association lack this? Chen Yu can only grasp onto these small matters. When it comes to fighting with talent and future, he isn't even fit to carry my shoes! The gap between Awakeners starts to widen from the Trainer Stage! Today I just couldn't be bothered to lower myself to his level. Wait until I break through to the Traine Stage; I'll definitely let him know who the real favored son of heaven is!"
He spoke more and more smoothly, as if he wasn't fleeing in defeat but a powerhouse temporarily avoiding the sharp edge.
His steps even became lighter, completely forgetting his limp-legged appearance from being scared just moments ago.
"..."
Chen Yu's Observation Haki was on the whole time; he heard all of Chen Chen's muttering. It was just laughable.
Inside the dojo, the crowd of onlookers finally dared to voice their discussions. The looks they gave Chen Yu contained only awe.
Wei Tianyi walked up first, his gaze full of praise as he stroked his beard and laughed. "Chen Yu, good kid! That fight just now really gave this old man face!"
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the still-rusty "Ace" in Chen Yu's hand, a flash of amazement in his eyes.
"To be able to slash out that kind of sword energy with a rusty blade! Is this the Haki you mentioned before?"
Chen Yu nodded. "It's a pity my strength is insufficient; I can't use it much."
Ling Wenhe, standing aside, could hold back no longer. He leaned forward two steps, staring dead at "Ace," his face full of disbelief.
"I originally thought this looked like an ordinary rusty iron sword. I didn't expect it to be this strong. Indeed, swords choose their masters."
Ling Yue also blinked curiously, chiming in, "Yeah, I thought you were blind before, but I didn't expect you to be so amazing!"
"Heheh, I'll take that as a compliment." Chen Yu forced a smile.
As they chatted, the matter came to a temporary close.
But what puzzled Chen Yu was... "Do you guys have business?"
At this moment, Chen Yu's small room was packed with people. He scanned the room. Elder Wei, Ling Wenhe and his daughter, and Zhou Mingxuan were all there.
"Elder Wei, your secluded cultivation is over? Uncle Ling, Miss Ling, aren't you going back to the Capital?"
As for Zhou Mingxuan, no one cared.
"Kid, this old man has a request."
"Chen Yu, I have a presumptuous request."
"Brother, there were people outside just now, so I'm kneeling to you here."
(To be Continued)