Chapter 80 (1/2)

Translator: Sparrow Translations  Editor: Sparrow Translations

Spring was still very cold but even so, as Lu Shu put in his best efforts into every swing, his clothes were entirely drenched in no time.

He took off his shirt and continued with his strokes shirtless. From the sides, Li Xianyi suddenly asked, “Hey kid, what kind of person do you think will become someone who is strong?”

While Lu Shu was feeling the changes in his muscles as he carried on with the swings, he answered, “Someone who is strong enough to ignore all the rules in the world should be someone who is strong.”

Li Xianyi shook his head, “What you’re referring to is the end-point and not the process. What I’m asking is, how do you become someone who is strong?”

Before Lu Shu could answer his question, Li Xianyi took the initiative to say, “In one slash, one should be able to demonstrate confidence as high as the sky and this kind of confidence should be his ingrained in his heart and in his instinct. Such confidence comes with training.”

So, this was the reasoning which Li Xianyi was trying to tell Lu Shu.

With such a swift training method available, why did he have to train his sword skills just like an ordinary person? Was it through the countless swings that would let Lu Shu understand his own strength, understand what could be cut and to understand life and death?

A fast training method seemed too good to be true but it did lack the necessary process. If one was unsure of how much his strength was exactly, he would definitely be lacking that self-confidence.

Li Xianyi suddenly asked again, “If one day you would possess a huge amount of strength, would you be willing to accept a greater responsibility?”

“A greater responsibility?” Lu Shu was shocked and immediately shook his head, “My responsibility is to carry on living and to take good care of Lu Xiaoyu. If there are other responsibilities given to me by others, I won’t accept it.”

Deep down, he was afraid that Li Xianyi would want him to do something in the future and decided to reject him now.

Lu Shu stopped his swings as he looked over at Li Xianyi while Li Xianyi calmly asked, “But by then, you would not only be able to take good care of your little sister but also have the power to help others.”

“But what has that got to do with me? Perhaps if Uncle Li and the rest were in danger, I would go and rescue them. But for the others, I did not rely on them while growing up and I believe that one should rely on their own efforts in whatever they do in order to get by better,” as Lu Shu shook his head.

He was no longer a child and since he had lived a poor and bitter life, Lu Shu had already developed his own views on the world, on life and even on values; and all of these views would not simply change from just a few words.

That’s right. He was an orphan since young and even his parents did not fulfill their duty. So how could he let someone else lecture him about their idealistic views; this was something he could not accept.

Lu Shu handed his sword over, meaning that if he did not comply with the requests and conditions, Li Xianyi could also stop teaching him swordsmanship altogether.

Thus, he had rather not learn this swordsmanship and continue to fumble about with that mysterious celestial map of his. Perhaps it could be more tiring and perhaps he would have a slow progress. But no matter what, he wasn’t willing to accept some baffling responsibility.

This was his own principles. Since he could not satisfy those requests, he wouldn’t desire those swordplay techniques as well.

Li Xianyi did not accept the sword back, only to reply gently, “You don’t have to go to such extremes.”

This stubborn youth had struggled throughout his life in order to survive and he would reject anyone even if they were to offer him help in goodwill. Li Xianyi respected his stubbornness but it turned out to be the biggest obstacle in his future plans for Lu Shu.

The Golden Foundation had a big heart and not everyone could inherit it. If Li Xianyi could not find someone to inherit this sole director role of his before leaving this world, perhaps it would stay vacant forever.

Lu Shu shook his head, “I do not consider myself as unfortunate and neither do I have any issues with my psychology. The tough times I’ve been through can’t be compared to a lot of others who had it worse. But, just trying to survive in this world is already taking all I have.”

“So I’m sorry but I have no plans to possess such noble dreams.”