I Can See Your Combat Power

Chapter 23

23 Chapter Twenty: Returning Home
Translator: 549690339
Three days passed, and the holiday of the two brothers ended.

Amid the reluctance of their mother and younger sister, the two once again boarded the gilded war chariot and set off for the martial hall on the other side of the street.

“This is so stupid,” Tang Luo grimaced inside the carriage. In addition to some seasonal clothes, there were six five-tiered boxes full of delicate food.

Each layer of the food box is lavish with fire crystal stones to preserve the food’s temperature.

But dear mother, do you know even if it’s kept warm, the food will go bad and moldy in two or three days? How long will it take to eat all six boxes of food?

The members of the prominent families really are out of touch, but Tang Luo feels like he’s been scorned looking at the servants who wanted to say something but didn’t dare to as they loaded the food boxes onto the war chariot.

The lad Tang Xing had little common sense; seeing so many food boxes, he picked one, lift the lid layer by layer, and kept picking up some food from time to time to eat.

But the little boy had a high sense of camaraderie and kept urging Tang Luo, “Brother, aren’t you going to eat some?”

“You eat. Eat more,” Tang Luo always responded because however much you eat, you couldn’t finish it.

The carriage was filled with the sound of youthful chewing.

It’s close from the Tang Mansion to the Martial Hall, but the four-horse gilded war chariot easily attracted attention. The monstrous beasts walking side by side took up more than half of the road, leaving only narrow gaps for pedestrians on the left and right. The front of the road was so dominated by the war chariot that no one dared to appear, and its path was unimpeded.

The four majestic beasts, drawing the chariot, made a grand entrance, but in a short while, they arrived at the door of the Battle Hall, and that was it, they were at the Martial Hall.

The little boy in the carriage was so engrossed with the aromatic food boxes that he planned to carry them all off by himself.

“Are you planning to put all the food boxes on your arm and bring them in?” Tang Luo stopped the action of the little boy because it’s just too silly. Are we a human hanger?

“Leave them on the chariot, and let the servants at the Martial Hall take care of them later. Exit first.”

The little boy reluctantly responded “Okay” and followed behind Tang Luo.

Tang Luo opened the carriage door and, as expected, despite the short distance of one street, there were many onlookers around the chariot. They were pointing at the four-horse gilded war chariot on the road, their eyes oozing with undisguised envy.

Even the guards at the Martial Hall kept glancing at the chariot. The housekeeper Chang Fu had been waiting for a long time and rushed up as soon as the door opened.

Tang Luo saw the approaching housekeeper and politely asked, “Uncle Fu, why are you here?”

“Young master, second young master, you must be tired. Please get off the carriage,” Chang Fu greeted and stretched out his hand to help Tang Luo.

“No need, no need, I’ll do it.” Tang Luo, not wanting to make a fuss, jumped straight off the chariot and told Chang Fu, “Uncle Fu, we brought some goodies from home for you.”

Tang Luo turned his head and told Tang Xing, who was about to jump down, “Go in and get a food box.”

The obedient little boy responded and quickly crawled back into the carriage.

“Young master, you’re being too kind, how can I..” Chang Fu was about to refuse, but he saw the gift mentioned by Tang Luo; a huge five-tiered food box brought out by the little boy.

He couldn’t help laughing to himself, knowing well about the mollycoddling of the lady towards the two young masters. The food in the boxes was also prepared by Xu Shuhui. Six big boxes in total.

But how could two young men possibly eat so much food in a short time? Nearly half of it would have to be thrown out, not expecting Tang Luo would give him a box as soon as he alighted the chariot.

Tang Luo is not an ordinary person, Chang Fu thought to himself and accepted it happily.

“You can go about your business, Uncle Fu. We can go back by ourselves.” Tang Luo handed the huge food box to Chang Fu while speaking. He was in charge of the Martial Hall’s food and accommodation and was very busy. It wouldn’t be right for him to be held up by the two brothers.

After Chang Fu respectfully took the food box and said goodbye to Tang Luo, he left, as the dining hall was indeed a bit chaotic that day, and he didn’t want to impose anymore.

As the two brothers walked straight into the Martial Hall, Tang Luo instructed the little boy, “You go straight to the cultivation ground later, understand? Hurry up and focus on foundation building. You didn’t practice much when you were at home during these three days.”

The little boy nodded his head, indicating that he understood. From a distance, a figure was rapidly approaching the two brothers.

It was Fang Han, sprinting towards them, he stopped in front of Tang Luo and bowed respectfully, “Young master, you’re back.”

Tang Luo was surprised, as Fang Han actually came to receive him? It was not his style. Is there something he wants to ask him?

“You go to the Cultivation Ground first, brother has something to talk about with Fang Han.” Tang Luo shooed away the little boy, and asked Fang Han, “Any problems?”

“I thought the young master would return to the Martial Hall today and wanted to receive you earlier, but I was still late.” Fang Han answered, his respectful attitude startling.

“Really? Nothing at all?” Tang Luo couldn’t believe it, even if Fang Han looked respectful, his inner pride was probably heavier than most clan children. He would usually only be respectful in public. But today’s fawning attitude was really hard to recognize.

“None, I just came to greet the young master,” Fang Han respectfully answered again.

“Then come to my room after training tonight.” Tang Luo patted Fang Han’s shoulder, signaling him to not be so formal.

Being greeted definitely feels good, so Tang Luo decided to give him a food box as a token of his appreciation.

Cultivation Ground No.7

“Instructor Bo Shan.” Tang Luo smiled, holding a huge food box and greeted him.

“Instructor Tang, what’s this?” Instructor Bo Shan was taken aback, not understanding what Tang Luo wanted to do. Was he planning to bring the food box to the cultivation ground and eat while teaching?

Do all geniuses tend to take unconventional paths? Bo Shan can’t seem to comprehend.

“Oh, didn’t you just get back today? Here’s a small gift for you, Instructor Bo Shan,” Tang Luo said as he pushed a large food box towards him, smiling with sincerity.

“…” Bo Shan was momentarily stunned. A gift? Over the years of serving the Tang Clan, he had received trust and numerous rewards, but a gift was a first.

“It’s not something of great value, just some food. Please accept it, Instructor Bo Shan.” Tang Luo tried to persuade Bo Shan, who had fallen silent for a while.

Receiving a gift from a Tang Clan member for the first time, Bo Shan didn’t know how to respond and expressed his gratitude in a raspy voice.

Upon hearing his acceptance, Tang Luo quickly said, “Please do keep it well, Instructor Bo Shan. I’ll be leaving now. See you tomorrow.” and shoved the food box into Bo Shan’s hands.

Bo Shan took the box, nodded goodbye to Tang Luo, and turned back to instruct the trainees. Yet he was still gripping the handle of the food box, hesitant to put it on the ground.

Just as Tang Luo was about to take his leave after bidding farewell, he saw a trainee streaking his way across the training grounds, his face peppered with blood.

It seemed to be that trainee who had sought his advice for the first time, what was his name, Du something? Tang Luo watched as the trainee dashed towards Bo Shan like the wind.

“Instructor! Instructor! Something bad happened to Pang Yan!” Du Ze called while running. In his heart, only Bo Shan could save Pang Yan now.

All eyes in the training ground were on him, but they were all discipline enough to continue their training without drawing closer.

Bo Shan was rather annoyed by the clamor, but given that a trainee was involved, he could only suppress his anger and scolded, “Stop panicking! Didn’t you and Pang Yan go on a break? What happened?”

Du Ze’s courage was shattered by Bo Shan’s rebuke. He suddenly remembered that what they did was a big taboo for training grounds, and was at a loss for how to answer, only repeatedly pleaded, “Please save him, Instructor.”

Glimpsing at Du Ze’s cowering and shivering state, Bo Shan had a guess and growled, “Where is he?”

“At… Lun… Lunjiang Martial Arts Hall,” Du Ze muttered, looking down and gritting his teeth.

“I’ll deal with you guys when I get back! Always up to no good!” Bo Shan glared at Du Ze, and softly placed the food box onto a stone platform beside him. He walked over to Tang Luo in a few strides and said, “Instructor Tang, please keep an eye on these trainees. I’ll be back soon.”

“Sure, you can go ahead, Instructor Bo Shan.” Tang Luo nodded, truth be told, he still didn’t understand what was going on.

He gave Tang Luo a nod, then leapt out into the distance and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

As soon as Bo Shan left, Du Ze collapsed to the ground in a heap, murmuring, “We’re done for…we’re totally done for…”

Tang Luo grew even more curious. What had scared the guy this much? Had he done something terribly wrong?

He crouched down next to Du Ze and extended a handkerchief, asking curiously, “Calm down, tell me, what happened?”

But Du Ze’s eyes seemed out of focus, as if he hadn’t her Tang Luo’s request, and continued muttering incoherently.

It seemed that speaking softly did not work; the boy seemed like he had lost his soul.

“Du Ze!” Tang Luo shouted harshly, the sound echoing like a blast next to the boy’s ear.

Startled, Du Ze jumped, his pupils shrinking instantly as he turned to see the handkerchief in front of him and Tang Luo’s face.

It was Instructor Tang. Du Ze accepted the handkerchief in a daze.

“Wipe the blood off your face and explain everything to me,” Tang Luo commanded as he handed the handkerchief to Du Ze and sat down.action

“Thank you, Instructor Tang.” Du Ze held the handkerchief and hastily wiped his face, smearing the blood all over it.

“Go on,” Tang Luo sat cross-legged, propping his chin with his hand.

“I…” Du Ze didn’t know how to start. After all, what they did was a blatant violation of the martial hall rules. And considering Tang Luo’s instructor status, expecting a student who has made a mistake to confess may be asking too much.

An awkward silence.

“Can’t say it? Then I’ll ask, and you answer,” Tang Luo offered as he saw Du Ze finding it too hard to start.

Du Ze nodded woodenly, his face expressing utter despair.

“You and Pang Yan applied for a break together, but why did you guys go to the Lunjiang Martial Arts Hall? Are you planning to defect from the martial hall?” Tang Luo asked expressionlessly, as though he had already concluded a betrayal.

Upon hearing Tang Luo’s question, Du Ze almost wet his pants in fear.

In fact, he was prepared for a confession. Ask whatever, and he would answer. However, when an accusation about betraying the Tang Clan was suddenly made, he couldn’t admit to such a crime. He defended hastily, “Instructor… Instructor Tang, we’re wronged! We would never dare to betray the Tang Clan!”

At this moment, Du Ze was almost in tears of grievance. They just wanted to earn some extra change, how had they ended up being accused of betraying the Tang Clan?

“Then why did you guys go to the martial arts hall? Is the training here not enough, so you decided to practice more?” Tang Luo questioned coldly, as if he had already assumed that they intended to betray the Tang Clan.

If this is reported by the young master of the main Tang Clan line, Pang Yan and he would be toast. The least that could happen would be the abolishment of their martial prowess, reducing them to manual laborers.

At this moment, Du Ze felt like the world’s unluckiest person, having encountered a young master with such wild imaginations. All he could do was repetitively clarify, “Instructor Tang, it’s not like that, not at all.”

If this misunderstanding deepens, it will be beyond redemption.

He must clear up this misunderstanding. Du Ze made up his mind, his will to survive forcing him to spill everything, his speed and smooth delivery surprising Tang Luo.