Chapter 67
"Shouyi, you don't have to hold back, because this time I won't hold back either."
"OK."
Almost at the moment, Bian Shouyi finished speaking, Zhao Lu's figure suddenly rushed toward him.
In terms of cultivation, Zhao Lu had reached the sixth level of the Qi Gathering Stage after several enhancements of the Blood Pill Technique.
However, this level of cultivation was not as good as that of Bian Shouyi, who had reached the eighth level of the Qi Gathering Stage.
But the gap between the two had changed from a huge difference in the past to a point where they were now within reach.
Zhao Lu held the sword with both hands and chopped it down toward Bian Shouyi with great force.
Bian Shouyi was very familiar with this move because Zhao Lu also used the Bian family's swordsmanship, the Zhengyi Swordsmanship.
Therefore, Bian Shouyi chose to respond with the same sword technique.
Bang!
The two black iron swords collided, immediately kicking up a large amount of dust.
Afterward, the two of them seemed to have no concept of dodging, and every move they made was a powerful head-on collision.
The aftermath of the battle spread, causing many tables around them to collapse.
But they seemed not to see it, both immersed in the purest swordsmanship duel.
After fighting about ten exchanges, Zhao Lu's breathing gradually became disordered.
He seemed to realize that he would lose if he continued like this and immediately prepared to take out the trump card he had practiced for a long time.
Zhao Lu sheathed his sword and lowered his body.
He displayed the most basic sword stance in the Zhengyi sword technique.
"Shouyi, since I entered No. 3 High School, I have been thinking about how I can beat you at least once."
"Then I figured it out. If I were to use the complete Zhengyi sword technique, I would never be able to surpass you, even if I practiced for a hundred years."
"But if I rashly learn other sword techniques, I won't achieve much with my talent."
"In that case, I might as well not practice the full Zhengyi sword techniques and just focus on the simplest one among them."
"Because only in this way can I catch up with you in this sword, or even surpass you."
"And for this day... I have been waiting for three whole years!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the black iron sword in Zhao Lu's hand was unsheathed.
Bang!
The sword that had been sharpened for three years suddenly burst forth with astonishing power.
The terrifying force even made the concrete ground under Zhao Lu's feet unable to bear it, and a large number of cracks appeared.
When Bian Shouyi saw this scene, his pupils shrank suddenly.
This was the second time he felt pressure in swordsmanship from someone his age since he met Su Chen in the mock exam.
At that moment, the sword that Zhao Lu had spent three years honing even made Bian Shouyi feel a sense of dread.
If the essence of Zhengyi swordsmanship is extremely powerful, Zhao Lu further strengthened this feature on that basis.
Because this strike of his left no room for retreat!
It was as if he only needed this strike and didn't need to consider anything else.
Looking at Zhao Lu's amazing aura, like a beast out of a cage, Bian Shouyi did not choose to retreat but faced him head-on.
Boom!
After a loud noise, half of Zhao Lu's sword was embedded in Bian Shouyi's shoulder.
Zhao Lu looked at Bian Shouyi, whose shoulder was stained red, put away his sword, and said in a complicated tone, "Why didn't you hide?"
Bian Shouyi calmly replied, "Why do you want me to hide?"
Zhao Lu was silent.
He knew that with Bian Shouyi's understanding of the Zhengyi sword technique, even if he practiced this sword to perfection, Bian Shouyi didn't need to take the sword head-on, because his sword was not fast.
But Bian Shouyi chose to confront the sword head-on, which resulted in him losing by half a move.
"I lost."
Almost simultaneously, the two spoke in unison.
They looked at each other, both stunned.
Zhao Lu looked at him and said helplessly, "Shouyi, if I lose, I lose. You don't have to consider my feelings."
"In the end, I still couldn't beat you."
But Bian Shouyi seriously replied, "No, it was indeed me who lost because you held back."
Zhao Lu was stunned for a moment, then said nonchalantly, "If I don't hold back, your hand will be gone."
"I'm already dead; there's no need to drag you down with me."
"Okay, Shouyi, I'm very happy that you came to see me today. I have no regrets, and it's time to atone for the mistakes I made before."
Having said that, Zhao Lu was ready to walk out of the billiard hall and go outside to find the Jiangnan City law enforcement team to surrender.
"Wait a moment."
Zhao Lu turned his head in confusion and saw Bian Shouyi dragging his injured body out of the game room and placing the plastic bag on a relatively intact billiard table next to him.
As the plastic bag was opened, a packaged birthday cake and a small yellow note appeared in front of Zhao Lu.
Looking at these two things, Zhao Lu stood there in a daze.
Bian Shouyi walked up to him, patted his shoulder, and said calmly, "Although it's a little late, happy birthday."
After saying that, Bian Shouyi held his shoulder and walked out of the hall alone, leaving Zhao Lu behind.
When Bian Shouyi came outside, he saw several members of the Jiangnan City law enforcement team in uniform.
The leader among them was Lu Xiaoye's father.
Looking at them, Bian Shouyi thought for a moment and said, "Give him some time. Don't worry, he won't run away."
Everyone in the law enforcement team considered it for a moment, and finally, it was Lu Xiaoye's father who made the decision.
"Three minutes. I'll only give him three minutes."
"Good."
Bian Shou nodded and walked straight to the car that his father had sent to follow him secretly.
In the billiard hall, Zhao Lu looked at the cake on the table and immediately picked up the note next to it.
[Son, I put the cake in the refrigerator. If you come back, remember to eat it. You don't have to wait for Mom, because the cake will not taste good after it expires. Be good.]
Zhao Lu looked at the crooked handwriting on the note as if he could see his mother writing it clumsily, her anxious expression worried about him.
Tick-tock, tick-tock…
At this moment, Zhao Lu felt as if something was stuck in his throat. He had a lot to say but couldn't.
Then he opened the box of the cake and, without using anything, just grabbed pieces of it with his hands and stuffed them into his mouth.
It seemed that as long as this was done, the thing stuck in his throat could be pushed down.
Regret, endless regret.
Zhao Lu not only regretted hiding out of fear and thus missing the last moments with his mother.
He also regretted going astray and falling into depravity.
Even if his life was destined to be that of a supporting role, in the eyes of some people, he had always been the undisputed protagonist.
And it was only at this moment that he understood.
It turns out that the real sadness is never the moment of parting.
Instead, it was seeing the cake in the refrigerator, the note left on the table, and... the text message that had never been replied to.
Zhao Lu cried silently while eating the small cake like crazy.
It was as if he wanted to swallow the cake and the box together.
But the cake... would always be eaten up.
An unknown amount of time passed before Zhao Lu looked at the empty cake box. Regardless of the cream on his hands, he grabbed his hair tightly and knelt on the ground.
He said in a hoarse voice, "Mom, I was wrong. I was wrong."
"I won't make you angry again... I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
Being a little willful will only hurt those who care about you.
Because others won't care if you are wronged.
When you look at others standing in the light with envy, the light in some people's eyes... is only you.
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(End of this chapter.)