ETR | Chapter 78

Xiao Xueman was stunned; he really didn't have a rebuttal for this question at the moment.

Since their reunion, Qin Lou had been treading carefully. Because he had lost and regained, he agreed with whatever Xiao Xueman said and never voiced any objections. This was the first time since their reunion that he didn't go along with Xiao Xueman's wishes.

This was actually his true nature.

If Qin Lou wasn’t strong-willed, he wouldn’t have come this far. But most of this assertiveness was used externally, forming a protective shell around him.

When facing Xiao Xueman, because he cherished him, he would subconsciously restrain himself, showing his most gentle and compliant side.

Now, it seemed he had steeled his heart.

He couldn’t bear to take a step back at this moment.

Because of his heightened emotions, Qin Lou didn’t feel any regret for what he had just said.

He clearly sensed earlier that Xiao Xueman had feelings for him.

Even if it hadn’t reached the point of rekindling love, it was progressing, and that was his hope.

Once he grasped it, he wouldn’t let go.

"Xueman," not receiving a response, he smiled slightly, "Tell me, you don't actually dislike it, do you?"

Xiao Xueman: "No."

But as he said this, he instinctively took a step back.

However, Qin Lou quickly stepped forward and grabbed his hand, preventing him from retreating further.

"I know what you're thinking," he said, "Xueman, I won't hurt you, and I'm not afraid of getting hurt. I'm not asking for an answer right now; there's no need to extinguish all possibilities."

Xiao Xueman didn't speak. He exerted some force and pulled his hand out of Qin Lou's grip.

"Don't push your luck," he quickly regained his composure, shedding his discomfort, and his tone turned firm, "Qin Lou!"

But when he looked up at Qin Lou, all he saw was determination in his eyes.

"Just consider me pushing my luck," he said, "I have nothing else to ask for now, just you. I can listen to you on everything else, but not this."

Xiao Xueman didn't plan to continue the conversation. He felt that Qin Lou was in a state where nothing could get through to him, so he turned and left.

This time, Qin Lou didn't stop him. The Blue Sea Competition wasn't over, so Xiao Xueman wouldn't leave.

He still had time.

After speaking his mind, Qin Lou felt fearless. He couldn't accept taking a step back, so he stubbornly held onto Xiao Xueman.

During this time, even Shen Guan, who had a good relationship with Xiao Xueman, and Luo Yan, a fellow judge in the five-person competition, couldn’t maintain their usual demeanor and found it a bit strange.

Weren’t they supposed to be separated?

Yet here he was, visiting more frequently than anyone else.

Previously, there was a group of contestants following Xiao Xueman around, but after Qin Lou started coming frequently, they clearly didn’t dare get too close and behaved more properly.

Xiao Xueman felt that sometimes knowing someone too well wasn’t a good thing.

After learning the truth, he indeed couldn’t hate Qin Lou anymore. Once he excluded the emotion of hate, his perspective on Qin Lou’s actions changed.

As long as Qin Lou didn’t go too far, he couldn’t muster any anger, mostly feeling helpless.

Sometimes, when he really got tough, Qin Lou would soften at the right moment, coaxing him in a low voice.

Xiao Xueman felt like punching a cotton ball, leaving him helpless. He even tried hitting him a few times, but it didn’t have much effect.

“I just like you,” Qin Lou made it clear, now unreserved in expressing it. “If you want me to stop, just kill me.”

Xiao Xueman: “…”

He lifted his leg and kicked him away a bit.

However, aside from Qin Lou being clingy, the competition was proceeding smoothly, and Xiao Xueman had his own matters to attend to.

After some time, it was time for Xiao Wan and Yun Rong’s two-person match, and Xiao Xueman happened to have some time to spare.

The competition had reached the later stages, and this was the ten-to-five point match in the two-person competition.

But Xiao Wan and Yun Rong faced strong opponents this time, and even Xiao Wan said they only had a forty percent chance of winning.

Thus, this match became important, and as a parent, Xiao Xueman naturally had to watch since he had the time.

Yun Heng was also there, sitting below the arena.

Although the match hadn’t started yet, his usually calm face looked a bit tense.

However, when he saw Xiao Xueman enter, followed closely by Qin Lou, he relaxed a bit.

Xiao Wan’s opponent was from Wangtian Immortal Gate, the same Lu Ming who had exchanged words with him during the individual preliminaries.

However, Lu Ming’s partner didn’t participate in the individual competition because his two-person team partner was a wood-type support, playing a crucial role in the team.

In two-person matches, the number of participants is small, so they can’t have a complete team configuration like in five-person matches.

So, there are generally two types of teams: one like Xiao Wan and Yun Rong, where both are main attackers, and another like Lu Ming’s, with one attacker and one support.

This match was actually simple if you think about it.

If Xiao Wan and Yun Rong could quickly take down the wood-type opponent, they could win. But if the match dragged on, Lu Ming would have the upper hand.

Although Xiao Wan was also wood-type, his use of wood-type was more violent, like his father.

While he could restore spiritual power, he wasn’t as specialized as the opponent’s wood-type, and it was hard to support both himself and Yun Rong.

Dual-type cultivation is difficult, and Xiao Wan is still young, so it’s a fact that he has shortcomings.

In terms of overall strength, both sides are indeed evenly matched.

When Xiao Xueman and Qin Lou sat beside him, Yun Heng couldn’t help but ask, “Which side does the Dijun support?”

His words seemed a bit provocative, as if he was watching a show.

Perhaps he didn’t expect these two to sit together one day.

Qin Lou chuckled and answered frankly, “No matter which side I support, it won’t affect the outcome. If Lu Ming loses, the pavilion master of his pavilion will naturally increase his training, and I won’t overstep my authority.

If Xiao Wan loses, knowing his personality, he’ll take it as a lesson and work hard to improve.

The kids have grown up, and it’s not up to me to judge. There’s no need for me to meddle so much, don’t you think?”

“Oh,” Yun Heng nodded, “I see the Dijun doesn’t really care about either side?”

“Alright, stop stirring things up,” Xiao Xueman finally interrupted. “Yun Heng, you usually don’t talk this much. Now that we’re meeting, you’re just provoking. Why not focus on your son? Yun Rong is looking at you.”

For some reason, Yun Heng and Qin Lou didn’t get along after a misunderstanding when they first met, and it remained that way.

In the arena, Yun Rong was indeed looking over, appearing a bit nervous, while Xiao Wan seemed fine, also looking in Xiao Xueman’s direction.

Xiao Xueman looked at his son, and their eyes met. He mouthed a "good luck" to him.

He saw Xiao Wan smile.

Just then, the arena bell rang, and both sides prepared to enter the stage.

"You just spoke up for me, thank you." Qin Lou sneaked closer, smiling, "Xueman, does this mean..."

"Shut up," Xiao Xueman said, "I wasn't speaking up for you; I just felt you were distracting me from watching my son."

Qin Lou was silent for a moment, then secretly added in his heart, our son.

Xiao Wan indeed had his bloodline.

Now, the match had already begun. Xiao Wan and Yun Rong were clearly aiming for a quick victory, planning to take down the opponent's wood-type first.

But the opponent was clearly experienced, and Yun Rong’s pre-match nervousness wasn’t unfounded.

He was metal-type, and Lu Ming was lightning-type. Lightning is considered a variant of metal, and Lu Ming’s talent and strength were superior to Yun Rong’s, seemingly suppressing him.

From the start, he targeted Yun Rong.

Yun Rong and Xiao Wan wanted to take down the opponent’s wood-type, and Lu Ming had the same idea.

While protecting his wood-type, he aimed to take down the weaker Yun Rong first. No matter how strong Xiao Wan was, he couldn’t hold on alone.

Yun Rong anticipated this before the match.

Targeted by Lu Ming, he relied on his small and agile cat form to move, occasionally swiping a claw. He managed to dodge most attacks, but once he failed, he was paralyzed by lightning, slowing his dodging speed.

Xiao Wan stepped in to block an attack, then turned and blasted Lu Ming away with a fireball.

In the arena, everything was fair game, and the parents below had been through it themselves, but they couldn’t help feeling tense.

Even Qin Lou wisely refrained from distracting Xiao Xueman.

Yun Rong was having a hard time, and so was Lu Ming.

His hair was mostly singed by Xiao Wan, and his wood-type partner was equally battered, panting heavily behind Lu Ming.

Both sides paused briefly, then immediately clashed again.

Honestly, this was probably the most intense Xiao Xueman had seen his son fight, showing him Xiao Wan’s current level.

Although Xiao Wan was young and his spiritual power wasn’t high yet, he had been honed through the Tianyin and many previous matches, making him one of the top young talents.

Even compared to the preliminaries, his progress was evident.

Because Xiao Wan was always obedient in front of Xiao Xueman, even appearing harmless, seeing him from another perspective, he realized his son could be quite fierce.

He showed no expression, his eyes sharp, and when protecting Yun Rong, his small frame seemed reliable.

Moreover, Xiao Xueman had previously wondered why his son, despite clearly having Qin Lou’s bloodline, didn’t resemble him at all in appearance.

In the Blue Sea Competition, both Xiao Xueman and Xiao Wan were well-known.

Anyone who saw them would immediately think they were father and son, their resemblance uncanny.

As for whether Qin Lou was the other father, that was up for debate. After all, the two were separated, and people didn’t dare voice their thoughts.

Now, Xiao Xueman realized that Xiao Wan did resemble Qin Lou in some ways.

His gaze, certain instinctive reactions during a fight, were similar.

Qin Lou thought so too, so he leaned over again, quietly saying to Xiao Xueman, “Xiao Wan is like me when I was young.”

“I don’t think so,” Xiao Xueman glanced at him, “He’s not as troublesome as you, more obedient.”

Qin Lou: “…”

Was he really that disobedient?

In the arena, the match had clearly reached a fever pitch.

Yun Rong, targeted by Lu Ming from the start, struggled to keep up despite Xiao Wan’s help and his own evasive maneuvers.

Eventually, he couldn’t dodge a powerful lightning strike, sending his small cat form flying out of the arena.

Now, their team was left with only Xiao Wan.

Not only Xiao Xueman and the other parents but also the audience let out disappointed sighs.

It seemed everyone thought the outcome was decided.

After Yun Rong was thrown out, his expression changed, as if he thought the same.

Xiao Wan couldn’t hold on alone.