Chapter 13: Awaking to Reality (1/2)

Chapter 13: Awaking to Reality

When Su Chen appeared in front of Wang Doushan’s door, asking him to accompany him for a drink, Wang Doushan’s jaw almost fell to the ground.

“You aren’t locked in your room doing some experiment? You want to have a drink? What’s wrong!?” Wang Doushan was in disbelief.

“Are you coming or not?” Su Chen asked crankily.

“Of course I’m coming! How could I leave you alone?” Wang Doushan replied, pounding his chest.

Wine was not allowed inside the Hidden Dragon Institute, but right outside was a bustling street with wine bars left and right. It was specifically set up to cater to the needs of the students.

Many of the Institute’s students would come here in their free time to spend their excess energy and money.

Su Chen and Wang Doushan carelessly chose a bar and found a table to sit at.

Su Chen asked for a large jug of knife-burning liquor. He filled the bowl to the brim and downed it in a gulp. His eyes reddened.

“Brother, even if you’re unhappy there’s no need to drink like this. Tell me, why are you in such a foul mood?” Wang Doushan asked, patting Su Chen’s shoulder.

Su Chen placed the bowl down and replied, “When I was 12, I encountered an old man. That old man took my vision. It wasn’t until four years later that I regained it……”

Save for some sensitive secrets, Su Chen told Wang Doushan his entire life story.

He spoke about how he was constantly engaged in a battle of wits and bravery with his own clan, how he vied for power in the Scarlet Mountain Range, how he dealt with the Lin Clan, and how he charged through the Three Mountains Region competition……

He spoke a lot, in great detail, and very slowly.

Wang Doushan listened attentively.

The understanding between friends often originated from such circumstances, where all of the resentment, sorrow, frustration, disappointment – feelings from the bottom of one’s heart – would spill out under the influence of a few bowls of wine. The opposite could also be true – when a person opened their heart to you, that implied they already viewed you as a good friend.

Although Wang Doushan was fat, he was in no way stupid. Su Chen was very cognizant of this fact.

Wang Doushan listened very attentively, occasionally inserting a few well-timed sentences.

“I defeated my Second Uncle, my Fourth Aunt, Lin Yemao, countless contenders during the Three Mountain Region exam, and I even created the Erupting Firebird, an Origin Skill comparable to a Bloodline Origin Skill. I thought I was extraordinary. I wasn’t afraid of anyone. Even if they were more powerful than me, I believed it to be only temporary. I believed I would defeat them regardless of whether they were from a Bloodline Nobility Clan or some other background.”

Su Chen spoke very seriously, his tone lowered and his gaze deep.

He was extremely self-confident in the past. His meek, modest exterior covered up a heart that showed disdain for the entire world.

He was confident he could resolve any difficulty facing him, confident he could surpass any opponent.

Until today.

Wang Doushan began to understand.

He said, “So you ran into an opponent you believe you have no way of surpassing?”

“It’s probably more accurate to say he caused me to realize my own ignorance, foolishness, and arrogance,” Su Chen bitterly laughed, shaking his head. “He helped me realize the only reason I could win was not because I was strong, but because my opponents were weak.”

“Cough, cough.” Wang Doushan coughed, slightly perturbed.