Chapter 400: Terrifying Talent

In a flash, Ning Ruyu's footsteps shifted with incredible speed, leaving a blurred afterimage as he vanished from his spot.

Chen Ling's punch landed on empty air, his eyes showing a hint of surprise. Even his light-blue glowing pupils had difficulty tracking Ning Ruyu's movements.

The next moment, a whistling palm strike came from behind his head!

Chen Ling instinctively lunged forward. A sharp gust of air grazed his hair, and he stumbled, rolling half a circle on the ground before steadying himself and looking back.

“What quick reflexes,” Ning Ruyu said, his robes fluttering. He looked at Chen Ling with immense surprise. “Such terrifying combat instinct… Junior Brother, are you truly a disciple of the God of Drama?”

Chen Ling was slightly taken aback.

Well… strictly speaking, he wasn't a disciple of the God of Drama.

When he was in the Aurora Realm, three divine path stars had simultaneously offered an olive branch to Chen Ling, and the first to appear was the God of War's path. His eventual journey onto the God of Drama's path was also an accident.

Han Meng had said that the God of War's path required killing to awaken, and for those with weaker talent, killing hundreds or thousands might not even be effective. Yet Chen Ling had only killed one person, and it had attracted the attention of the God of War's path…

Perhaps Chen Ling had no talent in drama, but in the God of War's path, his talent was absolutely top-tier in the world!

Chen Ling excelled at combat, but for the God of Drama's path, combat was not a core ability. With the God of War's path's top-tier combat talent pitted against a God of Drama disciple of the same level, it was essentially an overwhelming advantage.

“Perhaps,” Chen Ling smiled.

Ning Ruyu stared at Chen Ling, then smiled as well, “I knew it, our Junior Brother's talent must be unparalleled in the world… Come! Let's fight again!”

Two figures, one red and one white, quickly clashed!

Perhaps suppressed too much in the previous lessons, Chen Ling was now like a wild beast unleashed. The 'dance of slaughter' ingrained in his mind was displayed to its fullest. Coupled with the experience gained from countless near-death escapes in the Aurora Realm, he grew stronger with each move!

Ning Ruyu, meanwhile, consistently maintained his strength at Chen Ling's level, his white robes swaying nimbly on the stage. He didn't make many moves, but each time he would point out Chen Ling's weaknesses in combat, forcing him to immediately correct and defend.

Ning Ruyu was like a perfect sparring partner, his movements unhurried, allowing Chen Ling to fully unleash his combat talent.

What was originally a grueling few hours of "lessons" for Chen Ling flew by during the combat. By the time he came to his senses, the sun had already set in the west.

The dim yellow sunlight cast over the stage, as if coating it with a layer of pale gold.

Ning Ruyu, his white robes spotless, stood at the edge of the stage, gazing at Chen Ling, whose eyes burned like torches, and offered a slight smile.

“That concludes today's lesson, Junior Brother, you truly are talented.”

Chen Ling took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled, as if releasing all the stagnant energy accumulated over the past few days.

Then he bowed earnestly to Ning Ruyu:

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

“No need to thank me, it's what a Senior Brother should do,” Ning Ruyu paused. “However, when you have time, you should find a suitable weapon. Fighting bare-handed makes you vulnerable against enemies.”

A weapon…

Only then did Chen Ling realize that he hadn't really used weapons until now… except for firearms, the kind that shoot bullets.

With the cooperation of the Tribunal, using a pistol as a long-range attack method was indeed effective, but once in close quarters, the disadvantage became obvious.

“I understand,” Chen Ling nodded slightly.

The setting sun stretched their shadows long. As Ning Ruyu gently raised his hand, the surrounding scenery folded in on itself again, finally shrinking into a small disc case…

“Let's go,” Ning Ruyu put away the disc and smiled at Chen Ling, “It's time for dinner… Remember to grab a big bowl today.”

Dinner time.

Luan Mei, Wen Renyou, and Mojiao watched the radiant Ning Ruyu, lost in thought.

“Senior Brother, may I have another bowl?” Chen Ling, having quietly finished a bowl of rice beside them, then asked Wen Renyou.

“…Yes, you may.”

“Thank you.”

Chen Ling got up to get more rice from the kitchen.

While Chen Ling was away, Mojiao opened his mouth and quietly asked, “Senior Brother… how was it today?”

“Very good, excellent,” Ning Ruyu smiled. “As expected of someone Master personally chose, Junior Brother's talent is truly astonishing…”

“Are you serious?”

“Why wouldn't I be?”

Mojiao and the others exchanged glances, their postures seemingly growing a little stiffer.

When Chen Ling returned with his rice, they stopped discussing the topic. Ning Ruyu noticed the last empty seat and asked with some concern:

“Master, Fifth Junior hasn't come for dinner for three days straight…”

“Hmm? What's wrong?”

Ning Ruyu hesitated for a moment before saying, “This punishment… isn't it a bit too harsh? If it's too much, I'm willing to take the punishment for Fifth Junior.”

“Punishment? Who punished him?” The young man raised an eyebrow.

Ning Ruyu was taken aback. “Didn't you punish him? Otherwise, with Fifth Junior's personality, why wouldn't he be eager for dinner…?”

“You're overthinking it. He's just been busy lately,” the young man waved his hand dismissively, and, while doing so, casually took a piece of braised pork from in front of him.

“Busy with what?”

“Children's business, don't ask so many questions.”

Ning Ruyu: …

After finishing two large bowls of rice, Chen Ling bid farewell to his Senior Brothers and left to rest.

Ning Ruyu was also about to leave, but just as he sat up, Mojiao grabbed him and pulled him back into his seat…

“What's wrong?”

Mojiao waited until Chen Ling had walked away before letting out a sigh of relief. He exchanged glances with Luan Mei and Wen Renyou, then spoke earnestly to their Master:

“Master… we need to have a serious talk about Junior Brother's situation.”

The vast expanse of stars twinkled silently. Chen Ling pushed open the door and returned to his room.

He seemed to remember something, glanced back towards the door, then, as if nothing had happened, he washed up and got into bed… After a few yawns, he closed his eyes.

Time passed minute by minute. Chen Ling even began to snore softly. Inside and outside the house, there was dead silence.

Two more hours passed. Outside the dimly lit courtyard, a figure finally furtively peered out…

Under the dim starlight, only a small, round head was visible against the light. It flipped lightly over the wall, landing silently in the courtyard.

Behind him, he carried a giant bouquet over three meters long, like an oversized sunflower umbrella, swaying left and right with his steps. Compared to this enormous bouquet, his tiny figure wasn't even as tall as its stems and leaves.

With his small, beady eyes wide, he tiptoed to the door. Just as he was about to set down the bouquet in his hands, a voice suddenly came from inside the house:

“I've been waiting for you.”

“Eek!!” The figure was startled, like a frightened rabbit, and darted out with a whoosh!

At the same time, the house door opened, and a figure in red immediately pursued!