I Can See Your Combat Power

20 Chapter Seventeen: Preparing to Go Home
Translator: 549690339
At the entrance of the First Cultivation Ground, there was a billboard drawing a massive crowd of trainees, all wearing faces of surprise. Excitement, anticipation, and yearning were noticeable among the crowd. Apart from a few cultivation enthusiasts led by Tang Peng who lost interest after a quick scan, all the clans’ disciples were huddled around the billboard, engaged in animated discussions.

The billboard read: According to the revised holiday schedule of the First Cultivation Ground, the originally scheduled holiday every third of March has been changed to every third of each month. Applications can be filed with the training hall’s responsible instructor. Leave days cannot be accumulated and are forfeited if not taken each month. – Battle Hall Management, Sect Head Tang Sen.

“Oh, my goodness, that’s great, I miss my mom a bit.” Tang Ya, holding her younger sister Tang Zhen by the hand, was joyously looking at the announcement.

For the two young ladies who had just entered the Martial Hall and could go home to visit their family, this public notice was heartwarming.

Unike the newcomers who had just entered the Martial Hall, the senior trainee’s gathering was not as simple as it seemed.

Most public notices were signed by the management, the sect head, and the person in charge. Surprisingly, this announcement which concerned the holiday adjustment of the First Cultivation Ground did not bear the imprint of Chief Instructor Tang Bin, which puzzled many.

The trainees huddled around the bulletin failed to notice that Tang Bin had quietly arrived behind them.

Seeing the mere piece of public notice evoked so much joy among the trainees, he shouted furiously: “Done reading? Assemble immediately.”

The trainees scattered in all directions like frightened birds.

………

South Ninth District, Building No. 5, 7th Floor

“Brother! We can go home.” Little boy Tang Xing’s face gleamed with excitement.

“Not yet, it’s still two months away.” Tang Luo, engrossed in reading a martial arts secret scroll, put the book aside and rubbed his tired eyes upon hearing the little boy’s words.

“Brother, it’s true, the holiday for the First Cultivation Ground has changed, we can go home for three days every month.” The little boy sat next to Tang Luo’s desk, his face beaming with happiness. “I miss Little Nuannuan.”

“Eh, would Uncle Bin agree?” Tang Luo hesitated. Given that he was a martial arts instructor in Cultivation Ground No.7, he wasn’t aware of the new notice at the First Cultivation Ground, but the content of the notice did raise some doubts.

The cultivation sites of Martial Hall were all enclosed, allowing the trainees to concentrate on their training. The First Cultivation Ground, as the model of the Martial Hall, had even more stringent standards.

Even the legitimate offspring of the familial clans, with the mansion just a wall’s distance away from Martial Hall, could only have a holiday once every three months and family visits were not allowed.

This was done to foster a stronger sense of collective honor in a closed environment. This notice seemed to be a perk for the clan’s disciples in the First Cultivation Ground. Could Tang Bin’s strict persona agree to this?

“Brother, I don’t understand what you’re talking about,” The little boy shook his head, confused. What does the holiday in the training ground have to do with Uncle Bin? But things are so complicated, I don’t want to think about it. I’d rather think about the delicious food and various snacks at home.

Martial Hall food is definitely no match for home-cooked meals. Just thinking about eating home cooked food, Little Tang Xing could almost feel his saliva excreting rapidly.

Seeing Little Tang Xing’s jubilant face, it was evident that he was homesick.

“Alright, you can leave, ask Uncle Fu to take you home.” Tang Luo won’t be participating as he had a lot on his plate.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Apart from his work as a martial arts instructor, Tang Bin had somehow dug up a bunch of secret scrolls of Combined Attack Techniques for him to read, asking him to study them to try to gain some insight. Maybe he could figure out a few more Combined Attack Techniques for the Tang Clan. These secret scrolls, which cost millions of gold on the outside, were piled a box in the corner of his study room.

Other than these two tasks, Tang Luo also needed to find time to condense the second Star Core. This little brat was a distraction, so it was perfect to send him home!

As for taking time off, as a martial arts instructor at the Martial Hall, he could take time off whenever he wanted, there was no need to check any notice.

Oh dear, big brother was indeed a non-conformist, how disappointing!

“Aren’t you going home with me?” The little boy’s face suddenly pouted, confronting Tang Luo.

You are already a big boy, can you please not be so clingy?

Tang Luo picked up one of the secret scrolls on the table and gestured it towards the little boy and reassured him, “Brother has a lot to do here, can’t spare his time to go back.”

Tang Luo actually refused to go home?

The little boy felt he needed to stick up for himself. With his chest puffed out and standing tall, he exuded an air of dominance: “I don’t care! You must go back with me.”

Tang Luo put down the secret scroll and looked at the little boy who seemed to be quite insistent.

“Smack!” The boy’s displeasure can be resolved with a smack on the head, if that doesn’t work, give him another!

The little boy held his head with both hands, looking aggrieved, his air of dominance was long gone.

“You haven’t even reached the Mortal Realm, and you’re already thinking about eating. Go cultivate right now.” Tang Luo withdrew his hand and without considering the little boy’s pitiable look, he shoved him into the cultivation room.

Daring to defy your teacher, you’re getting more preposterous.

With a look of resentment, the little boy reluctantly walked into the cultivation room. Sitting down on the cushion, he felt extremely wronged. His tears and cultivation methods flowed together, enhancing the effect.

“Thud, thud, thud.” Just as everything was quieting down, rhythmic knocking was heard from outside the door.

“Hmm?” Tang Luo was taken aback. Fang Han had finished his training in the afternoon, who could it be now?

Could it be the little boy’s playmates looking for him?

He can handle his friends.

“Tang Xing, go open the door.” I am indeed a clever big brother. Tang Luo was very content with himself.

“I won’t!” The sobbing boy firmly refused as he sat on the cushion. A brother who doesn’t want to go home with me is not a good brother. I won’t do anything he wants!

Looks like I’ll have to go myself. Feeling Tang Xing’s resentment, Tang Luo had no choice but to get up to open the door himself. Even so, he did not forget to remind his brother on his way, “Wipe your nose. If your playmate is here to see you, don’t embarrass yourself.” As he finished, he tossed a handkerchief towards the little boy which landed in his lap.

“Click,” the door opened.

“Uncle Fu? What brings you here?” Tang Luo was surprised to see Chang Fu was the one who knocked on the door.action

“Young Master.” Chang Fu bowed.

“Oh dear, Uncle Fu, why are you bowing, come on in.” Tang Luo didn’t dare to receive such a formal gesture and invited Chang Fu into the room.

“Young Master, I was wondering if the second young master is around.” Chang Fu asked with a warm smile, appearing extra affectionate.

Tang Luo called toward the cultivation room, “Tang Xing, Tang Xing, hurry up, Uncle Fu is here, he may have brought you something delicious.”

Upon hearing Uncle Fu’s name, the young boy quickly stood up, grabbed a handkerchief to hastily wipe his face, and ran for the door.

“Uncle Fu!” The young boy was very fond of Chang Fu. Without caring about the snot hanging from his nose, he stood next to his brother and started calling out.

“Is there something you need, Uncle Fu.” Tang Luo asked.

Chang Fu took out a wooden box from his bosom and raised it in front of Tang Luo, saying guiltily, “My sincere apologies, Master. Here is Fang Han’s jade pendant. I confidently claimed I can get it in three to five days, but unexpectedly it took me a whole month.”

Tang Luo accepted the wooden box, understanding why Chang Fu had come. He then said apologetically, “Uncle Fu, the jade pendant must have been bought and sold repeatedly. It’s quite impressive to have found it at all. I’m sorry for the trouble I’ve caused.”

He knew without asking, judging by the influence of the Tang Clan in Xiling, that it took as long as a month to find the jade pendant indicates that it must have changed hands more than once. It seemed he had oversimplified things and caused extra trouble for an already busy housekeeper.

“Young Master, you’re overstating it. There’s really no trouble at all. Also, the lady asked me to tell you that you can take a break from the First Cultivation Ground and bring the second young master home at the end of the month. Both the mistress and the young lady miss you dearly.”

Hearing Chang Fu’s words, the little boy sniffled and pulled his runny nose back in, a look of excitement growing on his face as he kept glancing at Tang Luo. He looked triumphantly as if he had found an ally.

Meanwhile, Tang Luo’s hand, still holding the wooden box, froze in place. Pretending not to see Tang Xing’s expression, he responded, “Um… Alright, we will return home at the end of the month. We miss our mother and little sister too.”

Wow, mom is the best, the little boy admired his mother immensely at that moment.

“We’re going home together, we’re going home together!” The little boy looked up with excitement, echoing the sentiment.

Chang Fu bowed to say goodbye, “I will carry out your message, Young Master. Is there anything else you’d like me to do?”

“No, safe journey, Uncle Fu.” Tang Luo put the jade pendant into his bosom and returned the gesture to Chang Fu.

Little Tang Xing also properly bowed to the housekeeper, watching him leave.

As soon as Chang Fu left, Tang Xing followed Tang Luo in circles, chattering, “Oh, we can go home, we can go home.”

It’s handy being short, Tang Luo thought, so he couldn’t see the vein popping on Tang Luo’s forehead.

“Snap!”

“Stop wandering around, go and cultivate.” Tang Luo, with an irritated expression, slapped the unaware teenager on the back of his head.

“Oh.” The little boy, holding his head, scampered back to the cultivation room.

………

The next day, inside the cultivation room

As usual, Fang Han was cultivating, feeling the spiritual energy gradually seeping into his organs. With the spin of the star core, he felt that the breakthrough to the Mortal Realm seemed within reach.

Ever since he had the star core, it seemed like the cultivation time was particularly short. Fang Han reluctantly put the star core back in its original place,

“If only this divine object was mine.” Fang Han had thought this more than once, but the thought vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Such a divine object, he had never seen, let alone the Tang Family probably only has one, how could it be given to others. Putting himself in their shoes, Fang Han figured the Tang Family would never hand over the star core, even if Tang Luo monitored his every cultivation session.

After all, they were a prominent family in Xiling, their depth and resources were unimaginable. Fang Han sighed, stood up, ready to leave as usual.

“Don’t be in a hurry to leave, I need to leave the Battle Hall for three days.” Tang Luo, sitting cross-legged, said nonchalantly.

Upon hearing Tang Luo’s voice, Fang Han knelt down again, but when he heard what Tang Luo had said, he was greatly shocked. Did this mean he would not be able to use the star core to cultivate for these three days?

Without looking at Fang Han’s expression, Tang Luo took out a name plate from his bosom and handed it to him, continuing, “For these three days, I will leave the star core in the cultivation room. This is the name plate of the room. You can come here to cultivate every day.”

Fang Han took the name plate, unable to believe what he was hearing. Did Tang Luo mean he could use the star core to cultivate on his own? No! This must be a test to see if he had any coveting thoughts for this divine object.

“No, Young Master. I will cultivate on my own for these three days.” Fang Han felt as if he had seen through everything and quickly responded.

Why is he reacting so much?

“If I tell you to take it, you take it.” Tang Luo was taken aback by Fang Han’s refusal and stuffed the name plate into his hand.

Where is there any test? He just did not want to give up this daily spiritual energy income of two points. The feeling of growing stronger day by day was wonderful.

Before condensing the second star core, Fang Han was his only source of spiritual energy besides himself.

Besides, the distribution of the spiritual energy of the star core was controlled by it. Even if Fang Han had any ulterior motives, the star core could become a bottomless pit in an instant, which was a great deterrent.

So Tang Luo was quite at ease. He just hoped that Fang Han would not do anything stupid.

Trust has to be established step by step. Tang Luo didn’t mind taking the first step.