UMS 05

Chapter 5

 Everyone Lowered Their Heads

A few days later, the Lu Family estate was bustling with guests from early morning.

Red lanterns hung beneath every eave, while drums and gongs rang out incessantly in front of the main gate.

Every year, in preparation for the Annual Festival, the Lu Family held a two-day feast. On the final night, only the members of the Lu Family gathered to offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth and check the cultivation achievements of the younger members.

Lu Fan sat in a corner of the banquet hall, leisurely sipping his wine.

In previous years, he had returned to his room immediately after the test to avoid the ridicule.

But this year was different.

Simply clenching the fist hidden beneath his sleeve was enough to calm his heart.

“Little Cousin.”

An unpleasant voice came from behind him.

Lu Fan didn’t even turn his head.

Lu Ming and Lu Tiangang approached with several other young family members following behind them.

Lu Tiangang casually patted Lu Fan on the shoulder.

“Ready to make everyone laugh again tonight?”

Lu Fan kept his eyes on the dancers performing on the stage.

“Is that all you have to say?”

“Still pretending to be calm, are you?”

Lu Tiangang bent down and whispered beside his ear.

“Challenge me as soon as the test is over. I’ll make you kneel in front of everyone and beg for mercy.”

Only then did Lu Fan raise his eyes and look at him.

“I’ve been waiting.”

At the short reply, Lu Tiangang’s brow twitched.

“Let’s see how long that bravado lasts.”

Lu Ming and the others left with mocking laughter.

Lu Fan picked up his wine cup again.

He had never knelt and begged before, even in the past.

And now, he had even less reason to do so.

As the sun set, hundreds of lanterns lit throughout the banquet hall illuminated the night.

The dancing and music stopped, and Lu Haoran, the patriarch of the Lu Family, rose from the seat of honor.

Though he was over sixty years old, his broad shoulders and straight back were no different from those of a young martial artist.

When he raised his wine cup, the noisy banquet hall instantly fell silent.

“All members of the younger generation of the Lu Family, rise.”

Everyone stood up at once.

“Let us give thanks to Heaven and Earth, and pray that the Lu Family’s martial lineage will continue without end in the coming year.”

Lu Haoran tilted his cup and poured the wine onto the ground.

Every member of the Lu Family followed his example.

After the simple ritual ended, servants carried an Ink Stone into the center of the banquet hall.

Lu Feng, Lu Haoran’s eldest son and Lu Ming’s father, stepped forward with a list in his hand.

“From this moment onward, we will check this year’s cultivation achievements.”

One by one, the younger members were called forward to stand before the Ink Stone.

Cheers and sighs alternated depending on the results.

At the seat of honor, Lu Hao couldn’t take his eyes off his son sitting at the far end of the banquet hall.

Seeing this, Lu Haoran quietly asked,

“Are you nervous?”

“A little.”

“It is because of Fan, isn’t it? Did you give that child the Qi-Gathering Pill you received?”

Lu Hao smiled bitterly.

“As his father, that was the only thing I could do for him.”

Lu Feng, who had been listening beside them, put down his wine cup.

“Big Brother, you’re too soft-hearted.”

Lu Hao’s expression turned cold.

Lu Feng continued without concern.

“If he has remained at the same level for several years, there can only be one of two reasons. Either he hasn’t trained properly, or he simply has no affinity with martial arts from the beginning. A single medicinal pill won’t change that.”

“Do you know how hard Fan has trained?”

“If there are no results, no one will recognize the effort either.”

As the atmosphere between the two brothers grew tense, Lu Haoran raised a hand.

“Enough.”

Though his voice was low, both sons immediately fell silent.

“The Ink Stone will tell us the results. If it truly is difficult for that child to remain in the family, then living an ordinary life outside might also be the path that is best for him.”

Lu Hao said nothing more.

Just then, Lu Feng’s voice rang through the banquet hall.

“Lu Tiangang, forward.”

Lu Tiangang rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward confidently.

With a shout, he struck the Ink Stone.

Light spread across its surface.

――――――――――

【Ink Stone Assessment】

Realm: Body Tempering Realm, 5th Layer

Grade: Intermediate

――――――――――

Lu Tiangang’s expression stiffened for a moment.

He had apparently expected to reach the sixth layer, but soon straightened his shoulders and pretended not to care.

If he defeated two or three people in the following sparring matches, he could easily make up for it.

“Lu Ming, forward.”

This time, voices filled with anticipation came from all around the banquet hall.

Lu Ming stood before the Ink Stone, accustomed to the cheers that greeted him.

Bang!

Amid the light covering the Ink Stone, clear words appeared.

――――――――――

【Ink Stone Assessment】

Realm: Body Tempering Realm, 8th Layer

Grade: Advanced

――――――――――

His realm was the same as in the previous test.

However, the cracks around the spot where his fist had struck had spread much farther than they had a month ago.

It was proof that his strength had increased tremendously even though his realm had remained the same.

“As expected of Big Brother Lu Ming.”

“Attending the Martial Dao Academy has certainly paid off.”

Lu Feng couldn’t hide his smile as he listened to the praise pouring over his son.

Lu Haoran also nodded in satisfaction.

“If you continue advancing like this, you may be able to condense Astral Qi next year. When that happens, I will personally pass the Blazing Fire Golden Body on to you.”

“Thank you, Grandfather.”

Lu Ming bowed respectfully, but even as he did so, he glanced toward Lu Fan.

His eyes were filled with the composure of a victor.

A short while later, the name everyone had been waiting for was finally called.

“Lu Fan, forward.”

A strange ripple of laughter spread through the banquet hall.

Some openly mocked him, while others shook their heads sympathetically.

Their faces showed that they were convinced Lu Fan would be pushed out of the family once tonight was over.

Lu Fan rose from his seat.

The eyes of everyone present followed him with every step.

Mockery and pity no longer meant anything to him.

Standing before the Ink Stone, Lu Fan clenched his fist.

The words he had heard and endured for the past several years flashed through his mind.

There’s no hope for him.

He’s on the wrong path.

He’s an embarrassment to the family.

Lu Fan poured every one of those words into his fist and struck the Ink Stone.

Boom!

Brilliant light surged across the black surface.

The moment the words appeared, the entire banquet hall fell completely silent.

――――――――――

【Ink Stone Assessment】

Realm: Body Tempering Realm, 6th Layer

Grade: Intermediate

――――――――――

Not even a breath could be heard.

Lu Hao shot to his feet.

Just one month ago, his son had been at the third layer of the Body Tempering Realm.

Now, the result before them stated that he had reached the sixth layer.

Lu Feng was left speechless, while the smile disappeared from Lu Ming’s face.

“That’s impossible…”

Yet the words on the Ink Stone did not waver in the slightest.

Lu Fan withdrew his fist.

His heart was calmer than he had expected.

Years of frustration had taught him how to conceal his emotions.

Lu Feng was the first to recover.

“Big Brother.”

He looked at Lu Hao and asked urgently,

“What kind of medicinal pill did you give him?”

A smile appeared on Lu Hao’s lips—the first Lu Feng had ever seen there.

“The Qi-Gathering Pill. You know that.”

“It is impossible to advance three layers in a single month with a Qi-Gathering Pill.”

“That’s right. It would be impossible with a medicinal pill alone.”

Lu Hao looked at his son and spoke clearly.

“The rest, Fan accomplished himself.”

Lu Feng’s face hardened.

He had been belittling Lu Fan’s efforts just moments ago, but now he could no longer say anything.

Then Lu Tiangang suddenly shot to his feet.

“It’s a trick!”

Every gaze turned toward him.

“There is no way Lu Fan could be at the sixth layer of the Body Tempering Realm. He must have done something to the Ink Stone!”

The smile disappeared from Lu Hao’s face.

“Lu Tiangang.”

Astral Qi infused his voice.

Whoosh!

Wind burst outward, causing the wine cups on the table to tremble.

The imposing presence was like the roar of a tiger echoing through the mountains, and Lu Tiangang instinctively took a step backward.

“Do you know what you’re saying right now?”

Lu Tiangang bit his lip.

But he still couldn’t accept the fact that Lu Fan was a realm above him.

“I’ll verify it myself.”

Lu Haoran quietly stared at Lu Tiangang.

“There is no way to deceive the Ink Stone. Do you think Lu Fan accomplished something even the experts of the Martial Dao Academy cannot do?”

Lu Tiangang’s face flushed red.

“Even so, I can’t believe it.”

“Then use your challenge right for this year.”

Lu Haoran’s voice turned cold.

“Even if you defeat Lu Fan, you will receive no additional reward. But if you lose, you will go to Bingshan County and guard the forests there for one year. Do you still wish to challenge him?”

There was nothing to gain from victory, while defeat meant being sent to the outskirts.

But Lu Tiangang was already blinded by anger.

“I will. I challenge Lu Fan right now!”

Lu Tiangang’s father began to rise from his seat, but one glance from Lu Haoran made him stop without saying a word.

“Good. The two of you will begin this year’s sparring matches.”

Lu Tiangang threw off his outer garment and walked to the center of the banquet hall.

Lu Fan stepped forward as well.

The distance between them narrowed to roughly three steps.

“You haven’t forgotten what happened a month ago, have you?”

Lu Tiangang bared his teeth.

“Today, I’ll make you beg for your life in front of everyone. Whether you deceived the Ink Stone or not, my fists will prove your true strength.”

Lu Fan casually asked,

“Are you finished?”

Lu Tiangang’s face twisted.

He kicked off the ground and charged forward.

His first punch tore through the air, aimed directly at Lu Fan’s nose.

Lu Fan tilted his upper body slightly and avoided it.

As the missed punch grazed past his cheek, Lu Tiangang’s left hand immediately drove toward his side.

This time, Lu Fan extended his hand.

Thud.

Lu Tiangang’s fist was caught in his palm.

Lu Fan lightly shook his arm, and the force rushing toward him dispersed without a trace.

Then he pushed against Lu Tiangang’s wrist.

Lu Tiangang’s body was forced back three steps.

The banquet hall fell silent again.

Lu Hao smiled as though he had already seen the outcome.

They weren’t even remotely comparable in strength.

Lu Tiangang caught himself by placing a hand on the ground.

The expression of disbelief on his face quickly turned into humiliation.

“Don’t think you’ve won just because of that!”

He stamped his foot hard.

The strength throughout his body surged forward with his momentum and concentrated into his right arm.

Charging Formation Fist.

It was a military martial art created to break through enemy lines and shatter their formations.

It concentrated the speed and weight of the charge into a single point of the fist, exploding at the moment of impact.

Lu Tiangang’s fist shot toward Lu Fan’s chest.

This time, Lu Fan did not dodge.

The fist he had driven into rocks thousands of times on Western Mountain slowly moved forward.

“Mountain-Collapsing Fist.”

The two fists collided head-on.

Crack!

The sound of breaking bone rang out clearly.

Lu Tiangang’s right arm bent at an unnatural angle.

The force of the Mountain-Collapsing Fist did not stop at a single arm.

The impact drove into his torso as well, lifting Lu Tiangang’s entire body into the air.

“Ugh!”

His body flew several steps backward before crashing heavily onto the ground.

The wine cups on the tables shook, and the younger family members sitting nearby hurriedly retreated.

Even Lu Ming rose from his seat.

I’m at the eighth layer of the Body Tempering Realm.

Yet even he wasn’t confident that he could remain unharmed if he took that punch head-on.

“Excellent!”

Lu Haoran shouted loudly.

Rather than the result itself, he immediately understood how much time Lu Fan must have spent forging that fist.

That kind of power could never have been produced without enduring the agony of breaking one’s hands and arms.

Lu Tiangang staggered to his feet while clutching his broken arm.

Lu Fan slowly stood before him.

“Are you going to continue?”

Lu Tiangang couldn’t answer.

Just moments ago, he had looked down on Lu Fan.

Now, Lu Fan felt like an insurmountable wall.

He no longer even had the courage to raise his fist again.

Finally, Lu Tiangang’s eyes closed.

He collapsed to the ground.

Lu Fan raised his head.

He slowly swept his gaze across the banquet hall and asked,

“Is there anyone else who wants to challenge me?”

His voice wasn’t loud.

But whenever his gaze fell upon them, the young members of the Lu Family lowered their heads one after another.

Those who had laughed moments ago and those who had pitied him alike could no longer meet his eyes.

Lu Ming stepped forward with a stiff expression.

“I’ll fight you.”

But Lu Feng immediately stopped his son.

“Lu Ming, stand down.”

Lu Ming turned toward his father with a dissatisfied expression.

Lu Feng shook his head slightly.

Lu Ming was superior in both realm and age.

If he stepped forward now, even a victory would cost him his dignity.

Moreover, Lu Fan still hadn’t revealed his full strength.

Lu Haoran also raised a hand, ending the sparring.

“That is enough for today. Lu Ming, return to your seat. Lu Fan, you should rest as well.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

Lu Fan bowed.

He returned to his seat under the countless gazes fixed upon him.

After taking a bottle of wine and the remaining food, he left the banquet hall without hesitation.

In previous years, Lu Fan had always been the one to leave alone.

But today, no one could laugh while watching his back disappear.

Lu Haoran watched his grandson walk away before turning his head toward Lu Hao.

“Lu Hao.”

“Yes, Father.”

A satisfied smile spread across Lu Haoran’s lips.

“You have raised an excellent son.”