MTLNOVEL Chapter 809: One Hundred and Three: Giving Up
Chapter 809: Chapter One Hundred and Three: Giving Up
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When propriety is defied, destruction swiftly follows; without virtue fitting one’s station, calamity is certain to arise.
If Xiang Loulan had known that his trial would be announced before a large audience, perhaps he would not have spread such an enormous lie in the illusion; but all such assumptions are merely the helpless sobs of regret. After securing the top position in the second stage, the Xiang Family of Chaochang gained not respect but isolation instead.
The likes and dislikes of the youth always seem so direct. Xiang Loulan, once thought to be decent, became known as a second-rate martial artist heavy with the air of a merchant. It was as if the gatherings of young noblemen lacked something if they didn’t trample on the Xiang Family of Chaochang a bit, where was the elegance of Longzhou’s eighth prestigious clan?
Instead, it was the party from Longxi who truly became the new nobility. The news of Nongzhao Xian’s and Tang Luo’s newfound friendship spread far and wide, and many noble families followed suit, coming to the Longxi residence to offer their congratulations.
Not daring to disturb Tang Luo rashly, the young noblemen turned their attention to Xiao Ziyu, Li Xuanba, and even Cui Haoran. All were young scions of their respective families of similar age and naturally felt a sense of camaraderie. After disbanding in the bamboo forest, the other members of the Longxi team were invited to gatherings elsewhere.
Meanwhile, Tang Luo remained alone in his room, bent over his desk, writing something, sometimes pausing pensively with furrowed brows, sometimes crumpling up the half-written sheets of paper and tossing them into a basket. Ever since the disbandment in the bamboo forest, he had been in this reflective state.
As for the several golden, embroidered invitations laying on the table, they failed to capture his attention at all, for he was wholly focused on devising a solution for the baptism by secret technique.
Although he reassured old Xu Yin that waiting passively would suffice, such a passive approach was hardly different from waiting to die. Tang Luo didn’t believe that a mere adolescent could overcome Yankong’s Zen thoughts through his own martial knowledge or tenacity of will, especially since the gap between a fifteen-year-old noble talent and a supreme Buddha’s Son from Zhongzhou’s Buddha’s Country was simply too vast.
The trouble with the baptism was the penetration of the Zen thoughts deep into the Sea of Consciousness, compounded by the blessing of Buddha’s intent. Even with Tang Luo’s martial arts accomplishments, he found it exceedingly difficult.
Planning had been revised dozens of times, and any design that might harm the young boy’s Sea of Consciousness had to be discarded in search of another approach, causing the research to progress even more slowly.
After the bamboo basket was filled with crumpled paper balls, a firm knocking “knock, knock, knock” resonated at the door.
“Captain, it’s time to gather.”
Tang Luo, who was writing at his desk, looked up at the urgent knock and saw that it was already morning outside. He called back loudly, “I’m coming.”
Turning the papers full of plans on the table and the paper balls in the bamboo basket into shreds, Tang Luo stood up, opened the door, and stepped out, greeted by Xiao Ziyu and the others, who reeked of alcohol at the doorway.
“Although martial artists united in spirit and intent can go without sleep for days, today is the third stage of the assessment, and you still need to conserve your energy.”
Glancing at Cui Haoran, whose alcohol scent was the strongest, Tang Luo sighed, reached out to pat his shoulder, and said, “I know you’re heartbroken, but in the martial arts contest, no one can win forever. Those who claim never to concede are always defeated terribly; those who boast of never retreating always die against an insurmountable barrier.”
“Indulgence is not the solution. With your talent, you have a promising future. It’s just one defeat; do not give up.”
After all, these were noblemen who had grown up without much adversity. This might be the first time Cui Haoran faced such a massive failure. Many a proud warrior stumbled over this hurdle, never to regain their martial path. Tang Luo was genuinely concerned for Cui Haoran, but his words of comfort clearly did not unlock his teammate’s heart.
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The young man’s eyes were bloodshot, whether from the lingering effects of alcohol or sheer exhaustion, he looked at Tang Luo with a wretched expression and asked, “Do I still have a future?”
The Longzhou Youth Martial Arts Tournament wasn’t an event where every scion of a prestigious family could achieve success. At the peak of the pyramid, there were always just a few, and only by stepping out would one realize just how many monsters there were in Longzhou alone.
What he once considered an extraordinary talent became a complete joke after arriving at Martial Saint Mountain. Even his proudest Spirit Art achievements were dwarfed by many who could crush him.
The reason he gambled everything on the divine seal was because he saw so many others with extraordinary talent. He didn’t want to fall far behind, and to fully obtain the Four Imperial Spirit Seals, he spared no effort, even spending his vital essence and ambushing the Spirit Handlers guarding the sanctum. The essence he spent was the very foundation of his martial path, while the Four Imperial Spirit Seals that could supposedly skyrocket his abilities turned out to be just an illusory dream.
In such agonizing circumstances, among his team, one made it to the top fifty, while two other monsters ranked in the top ten.
Under this pressure, Cui Haoran collapsed. Already unable to catch up, his foundation now shaken, what was the point of continuing with the martial path? Better to drink, to live merrily.
After all, a lifetime of effort wouldn’t suffice to catch up. If he stopped trying, how carefree he would be!
Cui Haoran said with a bitter smile, “Captain, don’t worry about me anymore, I have no hope left. Just leave me be, okay?”
Li Xuanba was silent, so was Xiao Ziyu. They had already sensed something was off with Cui Haoran at yesterday’s banquet. Initially, they thought their teammate was just in a bad mood after failing the second challenge, but now, they realized that Cui Haoran was actually entertaining the thought of giving up on the martial path.
Listening to Cui Haoran’s humble plea, Tang Luo wanted to slap him awake and scold him, but in the end, he just extended a hand, gripped both of Cui Haoran’s shoulders, and said earnestly while looking him in the eye, “It’s okay to be strong-willed, but don’t be foolhardy; you can lose, but never resign to fate. Life is long, the world is vast, and apart from giving up, nothing can truly defeat you!”
Cui Haoran was momentarily lost. He really did consider giving up because he felt he couldn’t even catch up to Li Xuanba, but after hearing Tang Luo’s words, he thought that perhaps he should try, in case a miracle happens in the future.
There are countless moments in life when one feels like giving up. If you show weakness, submit at those times, you’ve essentially given up.
But if someone is there to encourage you, pat you on the back, give you a hug, and tell you to try again, to not hurry in giving up.
Perhaps that will lead to a different story. Giving up is always an option, but only by persevering can you see a different landscape.
After comforting Cui Haoran, the Longxi team climbed in silence to the summit of Xumi Mountain, from where a phoenix-pulled chariot flew them back to Bifang Mountain.
The final trial site of the Longzhou Youth Martial Arts Tournament was actually within the Divine Fire Hall of Bifang Mountain.
The vast hall had been divided into numerous small rooms, each with a designated rank. Inside were the Four Treasures of the Study – brush, ink, paper, and inkstone – along with a thick tome of secret techniques and several thick sheets of white paper.
The hundred Arbitrators seen in the previous matches stood in the passageways beside the rooms as if overseeing, while at the top of the hall sat figures akin to chief examiners. In addition to Master Wei, with his white hair and eyebrows, and the refined Master Chen, there was an elderly man with a benevolent face and the air of Dao Bone seated at the center.