Chapter 289: Stronger Than Me?

Several months later.

"Arthur, we're back!"

A dust‑covered carriage halted in front of the shabby Wooden House.

The carriage curtain was drawn back, and a brown‑haired youth in light leather armor, lithe and agile, leapt out cleanly, his face alight with the joy of returning home, calling loudly toward the courtyard.

He is Kai, Ekete's son, who grew up alongside Arthur, as close as brothers.

However, Arthur, who would normally dash out excitedly at the sound of his voice, was nowhere to be seen at that moment.

In the courtyard, only Merlin sat quietly on a low stool, apparently sorting some sun‑dried herbs.

A hint of doubt flashed across Kai's face; he hurried to Merlin's side and asked respectfully:

"Merlin Grandpa, where has Arthur gone? Why haven't we seen him?"

Merlin didn't lift his head; he simply pointed casually toward the dense woods beside the house and said, "I found him a teacher; they are cultivating in the forest."

Having answered Kai's question, Merlin finally paused his activity, looked up at Kai, his gaze landing on the clearly newly forged longsword at his waist, and then asked:

"Kai, your sword looks like it's been forged?"

Mention of his new sword instantly brightened Kai; pride spread across his face.

With a "shwosh" sound, he drew the longsword from its Sword Sheath.

The blade shimmered with crisp silver light, etched with arcane Rune, faintly pulsing with energy; the hilt was set with a high‑quality magical gem, making the whole sword both splendid and practical.

"Hmm!" Kai nodded vigorously, his eyes full of satisfaction and excitement:

"Merlin Grandpa, look! This sword is amazing! It's not only extremely sharp and sturdy, it also passively boosts my constitution and speed! More importantly,"

"it can better channel my Magic, letting me unleash stronger spells and sharper martial techniques! It's practically tailor‑made for me!"

"Then that's good," Merlin gave a slight nod, his tone even, showing little surprise.

His thoughts seemed to drift elsewhere, recalling the secret letter King Yuse had sent not long ago via a Magic messenger.

The letter mentioned that when Arthur grew a few more years, his mind and body more mature, he too should receive a weapon…

Seeing that Merlin had no intention to continue the conversation, Kai carefully sheathed the prized sword.

He kept his long‑absent younger brother in mind, turned, and rushed eagerly toward the forest Merlin had indicated.

After only a few steps, he nearly collided head‑on with Ekete, who was just returning from outside.

"Hey! Kai! You reckless kid! You almost hit me!" Ekete steadied himself, frowning as he prepared to scold a couple of words.

"Sorry, father! I'm going to find Arthur!" Kai shouted without turning his head, his speed unchanged, and vanished like a flash, leaving Ekete shaking his head helplessly in place.

"This kid is still so rash; when will he become steadier?" Ekete sighed, tidied his wind‑ruffled robes that Kai had stirred, and stepped into the courtyard.

He sat on another stool beside Merlin, a gentle smile on his face, and asked, "Merlin Master, I think I just heard you tell Kai that you found a teacher for Arthur?"

"Why not wait for me to return and teach him personally? Do you think my martial skill is insufficient? Or... does that teacher have something special, perhaps stronger than me?"

Ekete was still quite confident in his own martial skill and teaching ability.

Very few warriors or tribal heroes could defeat him; even if a Grand Mage got close, he would cut them down!

In the early Arthur legends, he was a knight second only to Lan Si Luo Te and Gao Wen!

Merlin still did not look at him, focusing on grinding the herbs with a stone mortar, as if stating something utterly ordinary, his tone flat.

"Ten of you together might barely block a single breath he casually exhales."

Ekete: "........"

He knew Merlin; the unfathomable Grand Mage never spoke needless exaggerations.

A strange chill rose up his spine.

He swallowed hard, then asked in disbelief:

"Could it be... even you... can't defeat him?"

Merlin's motions continued unabated, the stone pestle and mortar rubbing together to produce a steady rustle.

He paused a moment, then sighed and said:

"Ten of me together might make him... lift a hand slightly."

He hesitated, then added the final line,

"And then, I would probably vanish completely before sensing any pain."

Ekete: "........"

This time, he was utterly speechless, only tugging at his mouth subconsciously, his face filled with unprecedented shock and bewilderment.

In the courtyard, only the rustle of the stone pestle grinding herbs remained, along with Sir Ekete's inner rumble, unsettled for a long time after his perception was upended.

"He's a god, right?"

From Ekete's perspective, he truly couldn't imagine anyone capable of such strength!

Then it could only be blamed on divinity!

Merlin shook his head, "I don't know."

"Perhaps."

"Under his guidance, perhaps in five years, maybe even less, Arthur will surpass you."

Ekete: "..........."

This was his third silence.

He could no longer voice any opinion.

Only hope.

His son, Kai, might also benefit from this.

His gaze turned to the side, into the forest there:

"Kai, seize the opportunity!"

In the forest, the sword wind had just ceased.

"Arthur, Arthur!"

The familiar call came from outside the woods; Arthur instantly restrained his stance, a look of delighted surprise breaking across his face as he gazed toward the source of the voice.

"Big brother Kai! You're back?!"

Kai strode swiftly through the undergrowth, arriving before him, his face bearing a travel-worn yet excited smile: "Hmm, just got home!"

He couldn't wait, and with a "swish" drew his splendid long sword again, swaying it showily in the dappled light of the woods: "Look quick! My new treasure sword, how is it?"

Arthur drew nearer, examining closely the icy, sharp blade, the mysterious runes, and the gleaming gemstones, and sincerely praised: "What a fine sword! It looks incredibly impressive, big brother Kai!"

Upon hearing that, Kai slightly raised his chin, his face full of pride and satisfaction.

He firmly patted Arthur's shoulder, declaring heroically: "Of course! When you come of age, big brother I will also take you to that dwarf craftsman and surely forge you a sword no less splendid!"

"Good!" Arthur nodded vigorously, his eyes full of anticipation for the future.

Afterwards, Kai glanced around; seeing no one else besides the two brothers, he couldn't help but ask curiously: "By the way, Merlin Grandpa said he found you a teacher—where is he? I didn't see him."

Arthur pointed toward the deeper part of the woods and said: "The teacher went to fish by the small river over there; he said he'd return later."

"Oh." Kai nodded, his thoughts quickly returning to his new sword.

He excitedly told Arthur: "Arthur, step back—I'll let you see the true power of this treasure sword!"

"All right." Arthur replied obediently, stepping back a few paces to make space.

Kai took a deep breath, assumed his stance, infused his sword with inner magical power, the runes lighting up one after another; then he gave a low shout and swung forward fiercely!

Swish—!

A condensed silver Sword Aura shot out with a howl, precisely cutting down a bowl-thick tree about ten steps away! The trunk crashed to the ground, the cut surface smooth as a mirror.

Kai flourishly sheathed his sword, a confident smile on his face as he looked at Arthur: "How about that? Impressive, right?"

"I only used a tenth of my strength! If I went all out, all the trees here would fall!"

Arthur looked at the fallen tree, nodding appreciatively, his tone sincere:

"Mm! Really impressive, big brother Kai!"

Kai was in high spirits, feeling he should also test his brother's cultivation progress over the past few months.

He extended his treasure sword toward Arthur, encouraging: "Come, Arthur, give it a try! With my sword, let big brother see what skills you've learned from your new teacher these days!"

"Don't hold back—go all out!"

Arthur took the treasure sword, nodded, and replied honestly:

"Oh, okay."

He gripped the sword hilt with both hands, his eyes instantly becoming focused.

Although he lacked Kai's flamboyant opening stance, his aura suddenly became deep and solemn.

Immediately thereafter, he united waist and stance, mobilizing the inner power that had been guided out—far purer and deeper than that of his peers—and seemingly plainly swung forward!

Hum—!

A half-moon-shaped sword blast, far broader and more substantial than Kai's Sword Aura, even faintly carrying the sound of wind and thunder, swept out like an invisible giant sickle!

Boom—boom—boom——!!!

A vast stretch of trees ahead—at least twenty or thirty, thicker than the previous one—were all cut off at the same height!

Wood chips flew like an avalanche, the dull cracking sounds unceasing; the once-dense forest was instantly cleared into a huge fan-shaped clearing! Sunlight poured down unobstructed, illuminating the swirling dust and wood chips!

Kai stood rooted, his smile frozen, his mouth unconsciously slightly open, his eyes wide as bells, fixed on the patch of forest that had instantly become empty.

Arthur gradually eased his stance, returning the treasure sword to the seemingly petrified Kai, somewhat embarrassed as he scratched his head and asked softly:

"Big brother Kai…… is this…… okay?"

"How much of your strength was that?"

Kai: "……"

"You might as well just cut me down too!"