Chapter 71

The Demon's Selection (71)

While they were exchanging greetings, a shout came from the entrance.

"Hey, you! I told you to be careful, didn't I? Look at this! It almost got a hole in it!"

Following the voice, they turned their heads to see Nengsuomai scolding a tiger.

"Huh? I'm doing this because it's me, you know. If it were someone else, you'd be nothing but skin by now. Got it?"

Nengsuomai then turned and caught a bear that was about to sneak away, pulling it back and making it sit down. He continued his lecture for quite some time.

Looking at the predators' eyes, which were swaying back and forth, it seemed this wasn't the first time this had happened.

Nengsuomai's serious demeanor left Shimuxin speechless.

"Do you think animals can understand human words?"

To his surprise, he got an unexpected answer.

"They seem to understand."

Shimuxin was taken aback by Chaoe Liang's words.

"You mean you can communicate with animals?"

"Maybe it's because we've grown close over time."

While others didn't seem to care much, Shimuxin had a different thought.

The Wanshui Mountain Lodge, which had established an absolute stronghold in the southern wilderness through communication with fierce beasts.

Nengsuomai was doing something that no one else could.

"Today, I'm only doing this because the Chief is back! Now, off with you!"

Smack! Thud!

Nengsuomai's cane struck the heads of the beasts. They fled into the mountains, tails between their legs, as Nengsuomai strutted around.

"Damn, if you had listened, wouldn't it have been better? No one would have been tired."

Nengsuomai seemed to exude an air of being the king of the mountain.

Shimuxin couldn't hide his amazement as he watched him.

That evening.

Sitting around a bonfire, Shimuxin and Nengsuomai caught up on their conversation.

Nengsuomai did most of the talking, while Shimuxin listened with a friendly smile. However, he occasionally turned his head to check on Dan Aoxian.

About twenty paces away, in a spacious clearing.

Dan Aoxian was practicing the Golden Willow Technique under Chaoe Liang's guidance.

His movements were both soft and precise, and the flow of his techniques was extremely natural.

It was hard to believe he had only been practicing for half a year.

Shimuxin's eyes sparkled with admiration.

Following Shimuxin's gaze, Nengsuomai smiled.

"Pretty impressive, right?"

Shimuxin nodded.

"If someone had told me this story, I wouldn't have believed it. It's an incredible rate of progress."

"He practiced so intensely that even I got tired."

"I see."

Just then.

"Ah! That technique shouldn't be used like that..."

Fan Jiwei sighed regretfully, and Han Xuehua, standing opposite, also sighed and shook her head.

"Wait and see (彼忙我靜待)... Let them fight (知拍任君鬪)..."

"What are you talking about?"

Han Xuehua glared at Fan Jiwei with disdain and sighed again.

"That's what it means."

The core principle was that when the opponent rushes, you wait, and you must know how to strike regardless of who you're fighting. However, Fan Jiwei wasn't the type to understand even if explained.

It was better to give up than to waste breath.

Watching the two, Nengsuomai lowered his voice.

"They also interfered with each other intensely."

"Hmm."

"It's not something to laugh off. The three of you argue about Dan Aoxian's training methods almost every day. A few days ago, you really went at it, didn't you?"

Nengsuomai pointed to a part of the valley.

"See those two pavilions? They're newly built. You destroyed the old ones."

"Hmm. Isn't that part of the fun here? Honestly, you seem to be enjoying it quite a bit, don't you?"

"Enjoying it? I just don't have the strength to resist."

Meanwhile, Dan Aoxian finished his practice, looking disappointed and glancing at Chaoe Liang.

Chaoe Liang, noticing this, shook his head firmly.

Dan Aoxian, looking disappointed, retreated and started the Dao Yin exercises.

Stretching, tapping, extending, and pulling.

These exercises loosened the joints, muscles, and tendons while stimulating the acupuncture points to aid the circulation of qi and blood throughout the body.

Chaoe Liang approached Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua.

"It's time for some practical sparring."

Chaoe Liang's words puzzled Fan Jiwei.

"I spar with him every day, don't I?"

Chaoe Liang frowned.

"Real sparring! In your spars, Dan Aoxian doesn't feel any threat!"

"What, only from me?"

Han Xuehua, receiving Fan Jiwei's gaze, turned her head slightly.

"What is the most important thing in a life-or-death battle?"

Chaoe Liang's question was answered by Han Xuehua and Fan Jiwei.

"Distance and breathing."

"What are you talking about? It's about momentum!"

Chaoe Liang shook his head.

"No."

"..."

"..."

To the puzzled two, Chaoe Liang said.

"Courage."

"Courage?"

"Yes. Or, to put it another way, boldness or daring."

Chaoe Liang continued.

"No matter how skilled you are, if you lack courage, you can't fully utilize your abilities."

Fear of death or injury.

If you lack courage, you'll be seized by fear at the slightest threat, and fear dulls your senses.

The information you get through your senses becomes limited, and ultimately, you have fewer means to deal with real threats.

"Fear is ultimately something that arises from your own mind. There's only one way to overcome it."

Continuously facing threatening opponents.

"By sparring with difficult opponents, you can maintain your composure and fully utilize your skills even when facing strong enemies in the future."

That's why there's nothing better than real sparring.

"To do that, we need a very tough opponent."

Chaoe Liang inadvertently thought of someone.

"Wouldn't he do?"

Following Chaoe Liang's gaze, Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua soon agreed.

There was no one as fierce as him.

Unaware of this, Nengsuomai was excitedly chatting.

A little later.

When Nengsuomai was called by Chaoe Liang and learned that he was chosen as Dan Aoxian's sparring partner, he was taken aback. Aside from the skill gap, what if Dan Aoxian got hurt? How would he deal with the consequences?

On the other hand, Dan Aoxian couldn't hide his excitement.

"Really, can we spar?"

"However, there's a condition."

Chaoe Liang's gaze turned to Nengsuomai.

"You can't use any internal energy."

"Huh?"

"Really?"

Both Dan Aoxian and Nengsuomai were surprised.

Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua were also taken aback.

"Isn't that too much? Wouldn't that give Dan Aoxian too much of an advantage?"

Chaoe Liang gave a meaningful smile.

"Is it really?"

Chaoe Liang then said to Nengsuomai.

"In return, you can do anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes. You can use any means or methods to win."

Nengsuomai smiled, knowing that Chaoe Liang was the only one who understood his true nature.

Chaoe Liang was openly encouraging him to use all means to fight.

Nengsuomai wasn't so clueless as to miss the meaning.

Thus, the sparring between Dan Aoxian and Nengsuomai was set.

"Watch closely. Your overprotection is ruining Dan Aoxian."

Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua snickered at Chaoe Liang's words, but their faces soon turned serious.

"What a dirty trick!"

Fan Jiwei shouted, glaring at Nengsuomai.

The moment Dan Aoxian closed the distance, Nengsuomai, as if waiting for it, threw sand in his eyes.

Startled by the sand in his eyes, Dan Aoxian stumbled back, and Nengsuomai seized the opportunity to attack.

Dan Aoxian tried to counter with the Golden Willow Technique, but Nengsuomai had already placed a branch against his neck.

Fan Jiwei's murderous aura and Han Xuehua's fierce gaze made Nengsuomai look wronged.

"I was just following orders..."

Chaoe Liang, seeing Nengsuomai's pained expression, spoke calmly.

"If this were a real fight, Dan Aoxian would be dead."

"..."

"..."

While Fan Jiwei and Han Xuehua were speechless, Chaoe Liang said to Dan Aoxian and Nengsuomai.

"Continue."

This time, Dan Aoxian also held the Jemigon.

After maintaining a certain distance and adjusting his breathing for a moment