C5 The Reunion

Under the moonlight, beside the laurel tree, Luo Tongtian and Luo Youyou walked side by side. A gentle night breeze carried the delicate scent of a young woman to his nose, and strands of her hair brushed lightly against his face, stirring his heart with a soft, tingling sensation.

"We haven't taken a relaxing walk like this in ages. Do you remember the last time we did?" Luo Youyou's voice, filled with a dreamy allure, floated through the air as her purple dress swayed gently.

Hearing this, Luo Tongtian paused for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile. Luo Youyou playfully rolled her eyes at him and lightly tapped his head with her slender finger. "You're just as stubborn as you were when we were kids, always wanting to handle everything on your own."

"Do you remember when you were eleven?" she continued. "Those bullies tried to pick on me, and you stood up to them, taking on seven at once. I managed to escape, but you ended up with seventeen broken bones and were bedridden for three months."

A hint of sweetness flickered in Luo Youyou's eyes as she recalled the memory. "And when you were thirteen, I got into a spat with the mayor's wife because of her arrogance. You stepped in and smoothed things over, saving the day."

"Yet afterward, you got slapped a hundred times by the guards at the mayor's mansion. It was kind of funny seeing you with a face like a balloon, but my heart ached for you..." Luo Youyou recalled the situation back then and couldn't help but chuckle at Luo Tongtian.

"Well, I was young and naive back then..." Luo Tongtian said, scratching his head a bit sheepishly.

"No, I actually think you were quite thoughtful at that time. You cared about others, always keeping them in mind, protecting them from any harm. You were like a shelter in a storm."

"But as you grew older and faced setbacks in your pursuits, that strong confidence faded away, and an invisible wall grew between us, which pained me deeply." As Luo Youyou spoke, her expression darkened, and Luo Tongtian looked down, his eyes filled with confusion.

"Yet earlier in the hall, I saw that long-lost confidence in your eyes again, along with that familiar stubbornness, and it truly made me happy," Luo Youyou said, pressing her rosy lips together.

"All these years, I've endured humiliation due to my failures, but you've stood by me through it all, and that really moves me. I can only give my all to repay the kindness you've shown me and my adopted father."

"I won't let myself fall again. I'm determined to work hard and push forward, improving my skills as quickly as possible to once again be your shelter from the storm!"

Hearing this, Tongtian felt a surge of warmth in his heart and couldn't help but grab her delicate hand, exclaiming excitedly, "Alright, I'll be waiting for you!"

Seeing that she had successfully sparked Tongtian's enthusiasm for training, Youyou couldn't help but smile with the pure joy of a young girl. She then shifted the conversation, presenting him with another challenge.

"But if you want to protect me, you'll need to surpass me in your training. Do you have the confidence?"

"Don't worry, I can do it. I've been lost for so many years, but I refuse to stay down in humiliation. I want to grow stronger, to rise up," Tongtian declared, taking a deep breath without hesitation.

Seeing his confidence, Youyou smiled gently, reaching out her soft, fair hand to lightly brush a leaf off his shoulder. While showing her boundless tenderness, she casually remarked, "Yidao has connections, and many loyal followers among the guards. You need to be careful when carrying out tasks."

"Don't worry, I'll be fine," Tongtian replied, touched by her concern.

After mastering the art of channeling energy, the massive symbol formed by tens of thousands of veins in his body had become incredibly powerful, boosting his combat strength beyond that of a third-level warrior, even rivaling a fourth-level one. This was the source of his confidence.

After the two parted ways, Luo Tongtian returned to his room and began to sit cross-legged in meditation. Having just opened up countless veins, his energy was significantly depleted, necessitating some quiet recovery. The Thunder Fist, which had just produced a sound like thunder, also required further exploration of its potential.

During this process, Luo Tongtian noticed a flickering light at the center of the Vein Seal, which made his mind exceptionally clear and his energy incredibly strong. Previously uncertain in his practice, he now found himself able to multitask, nurturing his veins while also practicing the Thunder Fist. This progress greatly enhanced his training efficiency.

By the end of the night, his physical condition had reached its peak, and his understanding of the Thunder Fist had deepened. As the first warm rays of sunlight touched him, Luo Tongtian slowly stood up.

In the courtyard of the General's Mansion, a squad of robust guards in blue uniforms stood in a line, quietly waiting. Whenever they thought about the fact that the leader taking them on today's mission was that weak young master, who hadn't even been promoted to a blue-uniformed guard, their faces were full of mockery and disdain.

"Hmph, that guy is only a second-level warrior, while the weakest among us is a third-level. What gives him the right to command us?"

"Exactly, in the previous battle, he didn't even know how he managed to escape, and he might even be a spy for the enemy. Now he's supposed to lead us on a reconnaissance mission? It's utterly ridiculous."

Among the group of guards, Du Qing, who had previously bested Luo Tongtian, was present, muttering with a look of disdain on his face.

"Shh, Mr. Qin Yu is coming. He's joining us on this mission too."

"Mr. Qin Yu has always been close with Mr. Du Yidao, and they both look down on that Luo Tongtian. This mission should be interesting with them involved."

As the group whispered among themselves, a tall, imposing man strode over. His bright red attire was as striking as flames, marking him as a second-level guard from the General's Mansion.

"Greetings, Mr. Qin Yu!"

All thirty guards in blue saluted, bowing to Qin Yu.

"Has young Mr. Luo arrived yet?" Qin Yu asked indifferently, ignoring their gestures.

"Sir, Luo Tongtian hasn't shown up yet. It's well past the agreed time. Maybe that incompetent guy is too scared to come," Du Qing, newly promoted to a blue guard and dissatisfied with being led by someone he had defeated, said with a flattering smile to Qin Yu.

His words drew laughter from the crowd, and even Qin Yu couldn't help but smirk slightly. But just then, a cold voice cut through the laughter, sounding particularly jarring: "Do I need your advice on how to lead?"

Luo Tongtian walked calmly into the guards' quarters. He glanced at Du Qing, who was secretly badmouthing him and feeling smug about it, a hint of sharpness flashing in his eyes.