Chapter 158 - One Hundred and Fifty-Six:

Chapter 158: Chapter One Hundred and Fifty-Six: "Don’t You Like My Sister?... Annihilate the family?

From early on, Su Ming’an had noticed that Lv Shu was a loner with seemingly no one to rely on; he originally thought that was just Lv Shu’s personality, but it turned out that Lv Shu also had no family by his side.

"The Ancient Martial Alliance is a large organization formed by the Ancient Martial Families, similar to the United Group," Mizushima Haru said. "However, the difference is that while the United Group operates openly for the benefit of the majority, the Ancient Martial Alliance operates in the shadows, selecting heirs from the peak of the Ancient Martial Families to cultivate."

Su Ming’an came to understand.

After all, the United Group is an organization in the public eye, belonging to the alliance of ordinary humans.

And the Ancient Martial Families... they are those extraordinary people on Zhai Xing, who band together.

The key is, they have things to teach.

Unlike the United Group, which can only grant Points, the Ancient Martial Families have traditions, methods that can directly enhance Combat Power.

"I’m not born into an Ancient Martial Family," Su Ming’an said.

"We know," answered Mizushima Haru. "But my sister is, and among all the heirs in conflict, my sister has the greatest advantage."

Su Ming’an was gradually grasping her intention: "You want me to help your sister, to become a Sword Bearer?"

"The elders’ wish is for my sister and me to get close to you," Mizushima Haru said with a slight blush on her face.

Su Ming’an felt it was somewhat laughable.

...They’ve tried overt and covert methods without success, so now they’re resorting to using beauty as a ploy?

That explained why Mizushima Haru would demean herself in such a manner.

Mizushima Haru had deliberately worn a rather revealing dress today. When she cried earlier, she purposely displayed her delicate shoulders and collarbones, looking pitiable. Even now, the blush spreading across her face looked like the glow of dawn, tinting her fair and delicate face with a mesmerizing charm.

...But he was in no mood to indulge in a night of passion amid such a tense game.

He barely had time to sleep, let alone sleep with someone.

The alliance probably wanted to send these two sisters to at least tie him to their warship.

Even if he wasn’t from an Ancient Martial Family, having such a title, out of consideration for his pillow mate, they would likely show him some mercy.

"Go back and tell your elders," Su Ming’an said. "I have no intention of joining any force."

"But, but..." Mizushima Haru grew anxious: "Don’t you also admire Edward? Look at his Equipment, how good it is. If you join us, we can also outfit you completely; whatever you want, you’ll have. Doesn’t this add more power to your Perfect Pass?"

"First," Su Ming’an held up a finger. "I don’t admire Edward. In my eyes, he is even more pitiable than most people."

"Second," he continued, his tone as flat as could be. "Regarding Equipment, I have my own thoughts; I don’t need help from these major powers to provide assistance."

"Third,"

he gestured three with his fingers and then looked at her with somewhat pitiful eyes: "...Never tie yourself to any force, to any person, because you simply don’t know what your ’future’ will be like."

Mizushima Haru looked up at him slightly.

"See, I don’t like you, and you don’t like me. But just for the sake of your sister, for the sake of your force, you’re willing to forsake all dignity, to kneel and bow in front of millions on live broadcast—you are the hero who has earned Points, the idealist working for the sake of your force, but from now on, you’ll be pointed at and talked about, people will poke at your backbone," said Su Ming’an, his tone growing more solemn. "Moreover, you are prepared to offer yourself, to fawn over someone you despise, to go through what you least want, and then become someone you yourself dislike."

Mizushima Haru looked at him, her gaze wavering.

"Mizushima, you must understand, the most ambiguous words sometimes have the strongest influence," Su Ming’an said. "For instance, love... for instance, righteousness. By going to such lengths, do you think you are sacrificing for your Noble Family?"

He spread his hands, a slow, ironic smile appearing on his face:

"—No, in the eyes of most people, you’re just a chess piece influenced by their emotions, with your own narrow-minded will. What’s even sadder is that you have to endure the pointing fingers of the public. They’ll think you’re lowly, unclean, casually selling your body—people are always good at seeing heroes they don’t understand as clowns, and they take pleasure in that. And you, you’re moving toward that."’

"...You like my sister, don’t you?" Mizushima Haru suddenly blurted out, "Why won’t you help her?"

"..." Su Ming’an stopped speaking mid-sentence.

He let go of the intention to comfort, his expression becoming gradually impassive.

"Talking to you is really tiring," he said.

"I didn’t understand a single word you said," Mizushima Haru said somewhat desperately, scratching her head: "I just wanted you to help my sister. She has agreed that as long as you join her, she can be with you, and you like my sister, too. She doesn’t seem to dislike you either, so why won’t you agree?"

She really was close to breaking.

Upon knowing that her sister agreed to the conditions set by the noble families, her emotions had been incredibly terrible.

"Why do you think I like Mizushima Kawa Sora?" Su Ming’an asked.

"Isn’t it obvious?" Mizushima Haru glared at him, anger in her eyes. Even though she was still kneeling on the ground and her blood was nearly dry, she insisted on her stance without willing to back down:

"—In the Third World arena, you always gave way to my sister, you elevated her and made her name well-known. In the Fourth World, you were so polite to her. She’s so wonderful, any man would like her! Now that we’ve come to you proactively, you’re still acting like this—are you into guys or something?"

As Mizushima Haru spoke these words, she was overwhelmed with rage because her beloved sister, whom she held dear, was being ignored to such an extent. She couldn’t hold back her fury.

But after she had said this, she began to regret.

...Perhaps knowing that this talk was going nowhere, she became unrestrained with her words, which, by the end, had turned into something like an accusation.

She lowered her head, a bit afraid to look directly at the eyes of the person in front of her.

"...So this is how you see it," she heard Su Ming’an say, his voice extremely calm:

"Because you’re influenced by simple and extreme emotions, is this all that’s left in your mind to weigh?"

Mizushima Haru immediately looked up; she understood that comment, Su Ming’an was scolding her.

"Listen carefully, Mizushima," Su Ming’an said, as his sword tip slightly shifted: "So-called emotions are never as simple as that. It’s not that if a woman is placed in front of me, letting me sleep with her, I’ve gained something—that kind of valuation is no different from that of a beast. Emotions are a very precious thing; never turn yourself into a commodity or a tool to please someone."

Mizushima Haru watched him, then quickly wiped the tears from her face.

"What you’re saying sounds nice," she said, "But if we don’t use this method, what can we use to move you?"

"That’s why I’m just stating the facts—you can’t possibly move me. Please inform your elders that I have no intention of joining any faction." Su Ming’an said: "As for what I just said to you, you can listen or not listen; they’re just my personal views, and I’m not compelling you to do anything. And, finally, regarding your sister, Mizushima Kawa Sora, I respect her greatly, and I hope she can continue on her path, that’s all."

Mizushima Haru detected an ulterior message.

...It seemed this conversation was coming to an end?

Su Ming’an appeared to not want to continue talking with her.

She suddenly panicked—if this conversation ended just like this, knowing his identity as she did, would she be...

The next moment, she felt the cold sword tip quickly shifting away from her.

"Clang—!"

A bright light emitted from her body, a vague angel pattern appearing on her, followed by a semi-circular defensive barrier springing up and swiftly deflecting the sword blade.

She dared to come here; she must have had a prop that allowed her to escape.

A trail of wind tracks appeared around her in an instant, emerging from her body and rapidly extending along the carpet toward the window. She supported herself with a top-grade defensive barrier and slid out of the window on the wind track, seemingly attempting to escape.

"Bang! Bang!"

Familiar sounds erupted.

A familiar force materialized, pressing down on Mizushima Haru’s body from above.

After two consecutive bone-cracking sounds, Mizushima Haru was pressed down onto the carpet once again, but this time, her breath was fading little by little. As if her knees had been smashed, she collapsed onto the floor, letting out a hoarse cry of pain.

The door swung open.

The young girl with her hand raised slowly entered the room, her demeanor graceful.

"Having sensed energy fluctuations within the room, I took the liberty to enter," Hui Shuhang said, bowing slightly with a gentle voice. "If I have intruded, I am very sorry."

Su Ming’an looked at her—in fact, he wasn’t sure whether Hui Shuhang had heard the contents of their conversation since Mizushima Haru had just apologized so vehemently that probably everyone in the hallway could have heard it.

Fortunately, judging by Hui Shuhang’s demeanor, she seemed not to have changed, still showing him great respect.

Hui Shuhang lifted her gaze to Mizushima Haru, lying on the floor with bare shoulders and looking quite exposed, a rare annoyance flickering in her eyes.

"To dare seduce His Highness," Hui Shuhang’s tone turned cold in an instant, but as if thinking of something, her actions hesitated. Instead, she turned her head towards Su Ming’an.

"Your Highness," Hui Shuhang looked at him with a deeply somber tone. "Have you taken a liking to her? If you have, I will apologize to you."

Su Ming’an didn’t answer, but went straight to Mizushima Haru.

"If you truly have taken a liking to her, I’m sorry, I will find the most skilled healer for her," Hui Shuhang immediately loosened her grip, full of apology. "Before the coming-of-age ceremony begins, I can also help you prepare the most magnificent wedding..."

"Swish!"

Her words abruptly stopped.

Su Ming’an retrieved his sword; he hadn’t used the Sword of Yarman since it would be difficult to explain its sudden appearance.

He used a decorative sword hanging on the wall instead; it looked thin and fragile, adorned with gemstones, more ornamental than practical.

Yet it was with this very sword that he pierced through Mizushima Haru’s throat.

She knelt on the ground, her head knocking against the floor, still in a pinned state. Blood seeped into the crimson carpet, spreading outwards.

He didn’t look at her expression, nor did he give her another chance to speak, and pierced her throat with his blade.

Because he felt he had nothing more to say.

Su Ming’an glanced at the system message. By killing Mizushima Haru, who possessed Red Level skills, his core skill had leveled up once more and had now reached Eighth Level.

His Sword and Combat Mastery skills in the Bright State each increased by a level, while in the Shadow State, a new elemental resistance appeared.

Previously, the Shadow State already had resistances to abnormalities, toxins, immobilization, and spatial confinement, and now it seemed to be developing in the direction of elemental resistances.

As he had expected, if he leveled up further, resistances to the Ice Series, Thunder Series, and Wind Series would likely appear.

He glanced at his Combat Power, which had soared to 1300.

More importantly, this was the combat power of a single individual.

If both Bright and Shadow attacked together, their effects could be compounded.

He was confident that now, even if he were to face Edward again, he could win. At most, during a melee battle, there would be a risk of exhaustion.

But players no longer posed a threat in front of him.

He tossed the decorative sword aside and then turned around.

His hand was suddenly grasped.

Hui Shuhang held his hand, and then, with a handkerchief, she carefully wiped the fresh blood from between his fingers. The handkerchief glided over his fingertips, then wrapped around his palm, the movements exceedingly gentle.

He looked down at her delicate face; those burgundy pupils were still the same as before, showing no emotional turbulence within.

"These matters should have been left to me," Hui Shuhang spoke softly. "I remember you disliked blood since you were young, so why dirty your hands?"

"You just mentioned holding a wedding," Su Ming’an said. "I recall Feya is my fiancée."

Hui Shuhang slowly lifted her head, looking at him.

Her eyes were incredibly beautiful, like a swirling fine wine.

"Your wishes are more important than anyone else’s," Hui Shuhang said. "If that is your wish, I will arrange it for you. Everyone must step back for your sake, Miss Feya included."

"Why do you think I’m so important?"

"—Because you are the ’Future.’"

Su Ming’an heard Hui Shuhang say such words once again.

But he no longer tried to simply guess what she meant by that.

The conversation with Hui Shuhang ended there; she would not disclose anything beyond that point.

Su Ming’an pulled his hand back and walked towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Hui Shuhang followed him.

As Su Ming’an stepped out the door, several people, as if they had been ready, ascended the stairs from downstairs, paid their respects, then entered the room to handle the body of Mizushima Haru.

"I’m going to check the laboratory," Su Ming’an said while touching the vermilion badge on his wrist.

He heard a delayed report of favorability from the person behind him.