Martial Arrogance Dragon Soul-Chapter 398 - 378 Can’t Give Up

Zhu Jirong furrowed his brow slightly, "Brother, what do you mean by this?"

"Sect Leader Zhu, my unworthy son was originally a disciple of Tai’a Academy. I sent him to Tai’a Academy so that he could achieve something there, but I never expected this boy to be so disobedient and actually run off to Wind-Fire Academy!"

Cang Yunlan said this with a look of helplessness, shaking his head, "Sect Leader Zhu, this is your daughter, right? We are both fathers, so you should understand a father’s painstaking efforts..."

"Father!" Cang Yuan stood behind Cang Yunlan, his brows furrowed. Although his face showed extreme fear and trepidation toward his father, there was clear discontent with his father’s words; yet, he dared not voice his anger.

"Shut your mouth!"

No sooner had Cang Yuan opened his mouth than Cang Yunlan berated him angrily, cutting off his words, "Look at yourself, how can you be so thoughtless? Raising you and sending you to Tai’a Academy, do you think this was easy for me?"

"Father, I know! I know you have the best intentions for me, and I understand that you want me to reach higher levels in Martial Arts. But I can do the same at Wind-Fire Academy! It doesn’t have to be at Tai’a Academy!" Cang Yuan said in a low voice.

"But have you considered? In another month, it will be the Tianyong Battle! It will be a fight to the death between the disciples of Wind-Fire Academy and Tai’a Academy. Have you ever thought, if you were to be defeated, whether your father could see you again in the future? And your mother, she has been in seclusion this whole time and does not know you’ve joined Wind-Fire Academy. If she finds out, do you think she’d be able to stop herself from crying every day?" Cang Yunlan said.

Thinking of his mother, a look of heartache also appeared on Cang Yuan’s face.

Indeed...

His visit to Wind-Fire Academy this time was due to the matter of Qin Qing.

Qin Qing had passed the assessment of Wind-Fire Tower and was qualified to become a disciple of Elder Jin Ying of Tai’a Academy. Yet, he was slandered for cheating in the Wind-Fire Tower. Subsequently, Qin Qing joined Wind-Fire Academy, and Cang Yuan, in a fit of anger, refused to become Elder Jin Ying’s disciple and joined Wind-Fire Academy as well.

In hindsight, it was somewhat an impulsive decision.

And now, thinking of his mother back home, Cang Yuan’s heart truly could not bear it.

If he were to meet his demise in the Tianyong Battle a month later, his mother would assuredly spend her days in tears...

Cang Yuan was a very filial son, not only toward his mother but also toward his father and the elders in his family.

But when his gaze fell on Qin Qing and Zhu Linglong, a sense of unwillingness stirred within Cang Yuan’s heart.

"But, father... we might not necessarily lose. We still have hope..." Cang Yuan said softly.

"Hope?" The corners of Cang Yunlan’s mouth twitched. He had wanted to say there was no hope at all, but he felt it was somewhat inappropriate to speak such words in this place, in front of these people, so he just sneered twice.

"No more talk, come back with me. When we return, I’ll reprimand you properly for withdrawing from Tai’a Academy on your own! As for the matters here, you need not worry about them anymore, unless! You no longer wish to take another step into the Cang Family!"

Cang Yunlan’s voice grew colder, as if there was no room for further discussion.

"Sect Leader Zhu, I hope you can understand!" Cang Yunlan bowed deeply to Zhu Jirong, "I, Cang Yunlan, have only this one son, and I do not wish to be a white-haired man sending off one with black hair..."

Zhu Jirong took a deep breath.

Seeing Cang Yunlan’s earnest words, he couldn’t help but be moved. As a father, didn’t he feel the same?

He had even repeatedly doubted whether his own decisions were correct.

Was it just because of his own unwillingness, to cleanse the humiliation in his heart, that he would have to sacrifice these young disciples of Wind-Fire Academy, including his own daughter?

Zhu Jirong’s gaze involuntarily fell on Zhu Linglong.

"Then... Sect Leader Zhu, we take our leave!"

Cang Yunlan, holding Cang Yuan’s ear, eventually left Wind-Fire Academy.

Cang Yuan’s departure signified that Wind-Fire Academy, already short on disciples, was now one capable warrior fewer.

Cang Yuan was able to reach the Seventh Level of the Wind-Fire Tower, which sufficiently demonstrated his talent, and he was also a Sword Cultivator who had been practicing at Tai’a Academy for several years. Although he hadn’t made it to the ranks of the Tai’a Ten Heroes, with a bit more time, ascending into their ranks was not an impossibility.

Now, Cang Yuan’s withdrawal was undoubtedly a heavy blow to Wind-Fire Academy.

Not far off, some disciples of Wind-Fire Academy were observing the situation here.

In fact, when Cang Yunlan came storming in angrily, a few disciples had already become aware of the situation.

Seeing Cang Yunlan take Cang Yuan away, the expressions of these disciples darkened even further.

"Give it up!"

Zhong Hongwen just happened to be passing by this place.

"Palace Master!"

Zhong Hongwen looked at Zhu Jirong, "For the next Tianyong battle, just let them give up. There’s no need to continue, to send them off to die for nothing? It’s unnecessary!"

Zhong Hongwen reeked of alcohol, his face pale, and his murky eyes were filled with streaks of red.

Zhu Jirong’s gaze flickered slightly.

Give up?

Perhaps, it was time to consider giving up?

"Father! We can’t give up!" Zhu Linglong bit her teeth and said, "Father, don’t you think the battle of Tianyong is just for you, to cleanse your shame! The Tianyong battle represents the entire Wind-Fire Academy; as disciples of Wind-Fire Academy, we need to prove ourselves, not just for you!"

"That’s right..." Qin Qing also nodded at this moment, "Master, remember what you told me when I came to Wind-Fire Academy with you, to take back what was lost through our own efforts, including honor! How can we give up at this time?"

"Elder Brother Zhong!" Zhu Linglong bit her teeth and looked at Zhong Hongwen, "If you are scared, then you can leave by yourself. You can withdraw from Wind-Fire Academy! But, you can’t, at this time, say these disheartening words, to destroy the spirit of Wind-Fire Academy!"

"I withdraw from Wind-Fire Academy?" Zhong Hongwen let out a sneer, his bloodshot eyes staring at Zhu Linglong, "When did I, Zhong Hongwen, say I would withdraw from Wind-Fire Academy?"

"If I withdraw from Wind-Fire Academy, who will avenge Yun Wei?"

"You want to avenge Senior Sister Yun Wei? So, you mean to tell me, you will be participating in the Tianyong battle in a month?" Zhu Linglong said somewhat surprisingly.

"Didn’t I always say, I’d never avoid participating in the Tianyong battle? I just didn’t want to see you lot go and die in vain!" Zhong Hongwen almost roared.

At this moment, Qin Qing suddenly realized.

Turns out, Zhong Hongwen had always hoped they wouldn’t participate in the Tianyong battle because he believed their strength was insufficient to confront Tai’a Academy in the Tianyong battle!

But he had never wavered in his own determination to join the Tianyong battle.

"Elder Brother Zhong, rest assured! In the battle of Tianyong, you won’t be fighting alone!" Qin Qing looked at Zhong Hongwen, enunciating each word, "As for Tai’a Academy, it’s not necessarily unbeatable!"