Chapter 278 - 168: Sensation (3)
Du Wushuang said.
"A single branch?"
Chu Lingguang was caught completely off guard.
He couldn’t help but ask, "If I may ask, Du, what do you need a branch from the Dragon Claw Tree for?"
"I want to show it to my mother. She said that the day I bring back a piece of the Dragon Claw Tree is the day our family will produce a dragon, and my name can be written back into the family registry."
Du Wushuang explained.
Chu Lingguang sensed something was amiss and asked cautiously, "Du, why would your name have been struck from the family registry?"
"I am a member of the Du Family now. Even my current name was bestowed upon me by my adoptive father. Naturally, my name cannot be in my old family’s registry."
Du Wushuang sighed.
’Does becoming Mr. Du’s adopted son mean you have to change your name and surname, just like Du Wushuang, and completely become a member of the Du Family?’ Chu Lingguang was stunned.
Du Wushuang had accepted this condition, which was why his name was struck from his family registry.
"So the Dragon Claw Tree is the token you need to return to your family?"
Chu Lingguang asked.
"You could say that, but I am still a member of the Du Family."
Du Wushuang said with a nod.
Chu Lingguang seemed to understand.
"You’re so outstanding. My adoptive father will want to make you a member of the Du Family, too."
Du Wushuang said with a smile.
"Huh?"
Chu Lingguang froze.
Guo Wei had said that coming to the Trial Ground this time was equivalent to becoming a Disciple of Mr. Du, but he had never mentioned becoming his adopted son.
’If it’s the same as what happened to Du Wushuang...’
’Then... would I be called Du Lingguang, or... would I have to change my name and surname completely?’
Chu Lingguang had never considered becoming Mr. Du’s adopted son.
’If entering the Trial Ground means I have to become Mr. Du’s adopted son, then...’
"I will repay the Favors I owe Mr. Du."
Chu Lingguang said.
This time, it was Du Wushuang’s turn to freeze.
Thinking about his conversation with Chu Lingguang, he was reminded of a discussion he’d had with his parents.
"There’s no problem with being Mr. Du’s adopted son, but if he makes you change your name and surname, you’re not an adopted son—he’s making you forget your ancestors and betray your clan!"
"As long as he can get ahead in life, what does changing his name matter? Our family can’t give him a future."
"If you really change your name and surname, don’t you dare call me your father again."
"My dear husband, let him use the Dragon Claw to atone for his sins!"
"Can he even atone for it!?"
Du Wushuang’s eyes reddened. He couldn’t help but say, "Your Spear Technique has already reached the third realm. My adoptive father could give you all his resources."
"Besides my Second Aunt, I also have my master back home."
Chu Lingguang said instinctively.
Du Wushuang wanted to say more but stopped himself. Chu Lingguang came from a Humble Family, with only his Second Aunt and master left, yet he was unwilling to abandon them to become part of the Du Family.
"Even if you change your name, you are still you."
Du Wushuang said.
"Then what do you need the Dragon Claw Tree for?"
Chu Lingguang retorted.
Du Wushuang was at a loss for words.
"Perhaps you’re right. The Dragon Claw Tree isn’t easy to bring out. If you help me, I will repay this favor!"
Du Wushuang said after a long silence.
"Alright."
Chu Lingguang was well aware of the difficulty. Otherwise, Du Wushuang would have had no reason to seek him out.
「The next morning.」
The four of them headed for the Trial Ground together.
The Trial Ground was located within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, but not even Zhuoyi knew its exact location inside the range.
Zhuoyi could only bring Chu Lingguang to a designated meeting point at the foot of the mountains.
When the time came, six figures clad in black armor, their bodies completely encased except for their mouths and eyes, charged out from the forest on tall warhorses.
The aura projected by the six of them was so powerful that even Zhuoyi’s heart pounded with fear.
Zhuoyi quickly handed over a document, pointed at Chu Lingguang, and said, "Sirs, this is Chu Lingguang, the one recommended by Mr. Du. He was the top ranker of South City, number one on this year’s Qiling Academy list, and not long ago, he defeated Samba, the number one young warrior of the Aika Tribe, winning some vindication for the people of our Great Yuan. Furthermore, he has just grasped the True Meaning of Spear Technique."
At first, the six men were silent, barely even glancing at Chu Lingguang.
But when Zhuoyi mentioned that Chu Lingguang had grasped the True Meaning of Spear Technique, all six of them shuddered. The tall warhorses beneath them neighed in unison, their front hooves rearing high into the air.
The leader dismounted swiftly.
He grabbed Chu Lingguang by the wrist.
Chu Lingguang felt a hot current surge into his body. He instinctively tried to resist but was met with a burning sensation.
"Relax, or this will be very painful for you."
The man’s voice was extremely deep.
Chu Lingguang knew he couldn’t block it.
He could only gradually give up his resistance and use Introspection to examine the man’s power.
He had expected the man’s power to course through his veins, but instead, it suddenly dispersed within his body. His very flesh and blood seemed to act like the surface of an ocean, absorbing the foreign energy.
The man’s expression grew puzzled, and he released Chu Lingguang’s wrist.
He said, "Show me your Spear Technique."
Chu Lingguang complied, executing a series of Thrusts with his Lotus Spear.
Slowly, a sound like the beating of a drum began to resonate in everyone’s hearts. The six men in black saw that with every Thrust from Chu Lingguang, a dozen afterimages of the spear took shape. In the direction his Long Spear pointed, a pine tree trembled violently.
"Sir, I wasn’t wrong, was I!"
Zhuoyi said with a grin.
"That’s enough!" the man in black said, his tone softening considerably.
Chu Lingguang withdrew his spear and looked at the man.
"Young and promising. Very good."
The man in black said with admiration.
Zhuoyi’s grin widened. It seemed that receiving praise from the man in black was an incredibly rare occurrence.
"You flatter me, Sir."
Chu Lingguang said, clasping his hands.
The man in black had crudely forced his power into his flesh and blood. Chu Lingguang felt a sense of unease, but the man’s status and strength far surpassed his own, so he couldn’t say anything.
"Get on the horse."
The man in black had Chu Lingguang share a horse with him.
Chu Lingguang bid farewell to Zhuoyi and the other two.