Chapter 113: Shang Yue: Why do you all want me to suffer?

You brat, what monster are you exactly? Why can't I touch you?

Shang Yingnian stopped, indicating he wouldn't fight anymore.

Chen Chuyang had just steadied his footing when Shang Yingnian immediately found an opportunity to strike, striking at close range.

"Hahaha, brat, you still can't touch me this time—take my Overlord Fist."

"Old Yin Bi, pulling a sneak attack—truly unjust."

Chen Chuyang was speechless; seeing the brute Shang Yingnian, who turned out to be a schemer, paralyzing himself at the crucial moment and then seizing the chance to strike—this move, I must admit, is truly useful. He closed in on Chen Chuyang, fist aimed at his abdomen, this punch gathering all his anger these days.

"Overlord Fist."

"Chen Chuyang, brat, let me launch you!"

"Fireworks, bloom."

Chen Chuyang smirked contemptuously, wind rose beneath his feet, merging with his surroundings; his body gradually turned into an illusion. The punch struck empty air, producing rippling sonic booms, but hit no one.

Shang Yingnian's smile froze; he looked ahead and saw that brat Chen Chuyang already standing far away, waving and smiling at him.

"You..."

"That punch was dodged; at such close range, that brat actually managed to evade it."

What remained was an illusion, not his person; Shang Yingnian stared for a long while before realizing the brat was hiding his strength, toying with him all along. He flew into a rage, yet could do nothing; he had discovered that the brat's power far exceeded mere true qi, likely surpassing him, though he couldn't ascertain the exact realm.

"No more fighting, you brat are a freak; I truly don't know how Chen Yuan could have sired a son like you."

"Envious, his son pales in comparison to this brat."

"If it weren't for his sensible eldest daughter giving him face, he might truly be outshone in every way."

"I originally thought this brat was the Chen Clan's most worthless, but I never expected he was the one hiding his strength the deepest; his power is the strongest among the Chen Clan's younger generation, bar none."

"Within Longshe Cheng, among the younger generation, none can match him."

"You brat, just how do you cultivate?"

Shang Yingnian sat down, unable to fight further, and gave up.

Chen Chuyang wouldn't be fooled again; this Lord Tai Shan is exceedingly scheming—who knows if he might suddenly strike.

"One must be careful."

"Alright, brat, you needn't worry; even if I wanted to beat you, I might not be your match."

Saying that, he gave Chen Chuyang a white-eyed glance; at this moment he could be absolutely certain the brat was very strong—he himself might not be a match.

"That's fine; his worries are gone. Chen Chuyang can protect his precious daughter well—at least, if that brat Hongxue marries him, she'll be safe, so he can relax."

"Before, he had worried about this; although the Chen Clan is good, Chen Chuyang lacks cultivation, making it easy..."

Chen Chuyang sat down half-believing, half-doubting, the first time he sat with Shang Yingnian.

"The distance was neither far nor near—about half a meter."

"Their voices gradually faded as they spoke."

Shang Yue received his father's eye signal, taking Hongxue down the mountain early; some words must not be heard by the daughter.

Hongxue didn't want to leave; Shang Yue forcibly pulled her away.

"The disparity in strength left Hongxue helpless; she obediently followed her brother down the mountain."

"Second sister, you needn't watch; they'll be fine."

Shang Yue felt a bit disappointed inside; his father hadn't managed to give Chen Chuyang a sound thrashing—doesn't that mean his wish would come to nothing?

He still wanted to see Chen Chuyang kneeling and begging for mercy; his expectation was in vain.

On the contrary, it was his father who was harshly humiliated.

"Second sister, did you always know Chen Chuyang was this strong?"

Hongxue blinked, blinking at her brother repeatedly, refusing to answer the question.

Shang Yue felt helpless; this sister always does this—whenever Chen Chuyang is mentioned, she says nothing.

"I don't even know whose family she belongs to."

"Alright, stop blinking—aren't you tired?"

Hongxue giggled: "Shang Yue, actually you can come to Longshe Shan more often; I'll get Brother Chuyang to help you raise your cultivation."

"No, no, I don't need it." Shang Yue immediately refused; the torment from last time is still vivid.

"If he truly stayed at Longshe Shan, he'd surely be tormented terribly."

"That brat Chen Chuyang is exceedingly scheming, just like his father; outwardly he laughs with you, but behind the scenes he can gather intel on you, torment you mercilessly, leaving you unable to voice your suffering—worst of all, no one believes you're being treated this way; that's the most terrifying part."

"Second sister, I appreciate your kindness."

Shang Yue refused repeatedly; he simply didn't want to stay at Longshe Shan.

"He still prefers to cultivate peacefully in the Shang Clan; it's much the same."

"Shang Yue, it's different: Longshe Shan's spiritual energy is abundant, suitable for cultivation; Brother Chuyang will tailor a cultivation plan for you based on your condition—if you follow it, forming a Golden Core is also possible."

"Although Brother Chuyang's pills and some concoctions have huge side effects, their effects are also powerful; for cultivation, paying some price isn't that what should be done?"

"Mere side effects are nothing to us cultivators; junior brother, you wouldn't be unable to endure hardship, would you?"

Shang Yue gave his second sister a white-eyed glance; those words, that tone—so familiar.

"Elder sister Shang Hongchen said exactly that to him."

"His father too."

"Eh, his mother as well."

"The elders in the clan, seeing him, are the same."

"Each one hopes he will suffer; they can't bear to see him live a happy life."

"Second sister, I think things are fine now—why must I endure hardship?"

"No suffering, yet you insist on eating bitterness?"

Sorry, I'm not that kind of person.

Shang Yue still knows the principle of first sweet then sweet.

First bitter, not necessarily sweet later.

But if it's sweet first, later it will definitely be sweet; even if it turns bitter later, it won't be that bitter.

「Eh? 」

Shang Hongxue blinked, a little stunned, as if it were indeed so.

Why must we endure hardship?

We weren't born just to suffer.

「So, second sister, there's no need to torment ourselves, nor to put too much pressure on ourselves; we're still young, we just need to cultivate step by step—why must we endure hardship? 」

「I don't understand. 」

「Father is like that, mother is like that, elder sister is like that, and even you are like that—do you really need to see me suffer to be happy? 」

Shang Hongxue quickly waved her hands: «No, I didn't mean that; you've misunderstood me. »

«I'm saying you're a man, grown up, and you should contribute to this family; but your strength is too weak, this world is cruel, survival of the fittest—only strength prevents bullying; second sister just wants you to become stronger so your future will be better. »

She doesn't necessarily want her younger brother to suffer.

She just wants her younger brother to prepare, become strong, and not fear future dangers.

Longshe Cheng is dangerous; even the Shang Clan is not safe there.

Shang Hongxue knows this well; therefore, she urgently wants to increase her younger brother's strength.

In the future, he can also stand on his own; at the very least, when facing danger, his younger brother will have the ability to protect himself.