Chapter 1442 (2/2)

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The two-day break finished and the matches resumed.

After the match, Huang Li stood in front of the bathroom mirror and carefully wiped the blood off of his face. His lips were crusted with it around the spot where he had been forced to chew on his bottom lip in order to remain conscious. Even now, his hands were slightly trembling as he held the damp cloth. But as he looked at his reflection and carefully controlled his face to appear neutral, he couldn’t keep the fingers of his left hand from tightening on the porcelain of the sink.

He had done it. While Huang Shou had been completely aloof, Huang Li had been able to win another match and push them into the top 32 duos due to his own strength. Regardless of whether they could continue to the next round, this result was proof-

Knock.

Huang Li stiffened. Then he flexed his hands and rinsed the bloody rag under the cool water from the faucet. Pink water was flushed down the drain. “I’m inside, Grandfather. Is there something you need?”

“May I come in?”

Huang Li pressed his lips together. Then he lifted the rag to his collarbone and did his best to wipe away the remaining blood. The System meant that his wounds healed relatively quickly, but the dried blood stubbornly lingered, a sign of how close Huang Li had come to failure earlier today. After each of these brushes with failure, Huang Li felt his image reinvigorating and reinventing itself to be more aptly poised to seize victory next time, but he was rapidly approaching the limit of his strength and potential.

This could not continue forever.

His shirt was dark so the bloodstains were mostly hidden. But it still felt dangerous to allow Huang Shou to come into the bathroom and see his weakness.

Huang Li dabbed again with the rag. The water was cool on his skin. He released a long breath.“...yes, you may.”

The hinges were well oiled; the door swung open without a sound. Huang Shou stood there with his hands behind his back. Huang Li didn’t turn around but spared a glance for his grandfather in the mirror. Then he returned to his task. He dabbed for a few more seconds and then twisted the rag in order to squeeze out all of the moisture within it.

Still, the bathroom was silent. Huang Li closed his eyes and centered himself before opening them again and speaking. “Is there something you need?”

Huang Shou ignored the question. His brow was creased, but it was not the rather familiar emotions of rage or disdain that deepened the lines on his adoptive grandfather’s face. An entirely foreign emotion had taken up residence there. It felt like Huang Li had walked up to a familiar restaurant, only to realize that the storefront had changed and it was now a clothing store.

Huang Li forced himself to release another breath and it was heavy and warm as the casual breath of a dragon. If his grandfather wouldn’t answer, then he wouldn’t press the issue. He did his best to mask the sliver of weakness remaining in his body and resumed the act of wiping away his dried blood. From his collarbone, Huang Li proceeded to his torn and calloused knuckles.

Today he had been forced to condense the image of his dragon in his right hand to finish the fight. Huang Li had been inspired by the few sporadic occasions that he had seen Randidly Ghosthound manifest his image; in those instances, his entire body seemed to be replaced by his image. And the result was a power that was so pure that it seemed to seep into the surrounding air.

Yet the process of Huang Li attempting the same thing had not gone well. Probably most of the damage done to his hand was done by himself, for improperly utilizing his image. It was a humbling lesson. To review that lesson before the figurehead of the conservative faction…

Well, it did not feel like Huang Li deserved-

“When’s your birthday?” Huang Shou eventually asked.

Huang Li was surprised but didn’t let it show. He lowered his rag and looked at his grandfather in the mirror. “February 1st.”

Huang Shou simply nodded. The strange standoff continued. The air between the two of them was heavy.

So Huang Li grimaced and spoke again. “Why do you ask, grandfather?”

Huang Shou closed his eyes for a second. Then he turned away before speaking. His shoulders were still as he spoke, impossible upright and steady. “Regardless of ideological differences, did you think an old man like me wouldn’t be moved by the honor you have earned for our Shou Family? I will personally make sure you can understand what this means to me.”

Huang Li was so shocked that he turned around and looked at the back of his adoptive grandfather. He was a short and stout man, with heavy arms that seemed like they belonged to a hard laborer. His style of dress was always loose and casual. Yet still, those heavy arms seemed so light compared to those shoulders. Internally, Huang Li had to admit to himself that aside from wanting the Glorious Leaders to step down, he didn’t know much about this man in front of him.

“Also, please be quick,” Huang Shou walked away from the bathroom. “The interview will start soon.”