Chapter 29: "Master, Your Dog is Back"
Black Flash.
Commonly known as a critical hit.
It is a trump card physical technique from jujutsu kaisen. When the gap between a physical strike and the impact of cursed energy is infinitesimally small, it creates a powerful spatial distortion, with a power output to the 2.5th power of a normal hit.
There is a world of difference in the understanding of the core of cursed energy between a Jujutsu Sorcerer who has landed a Black Flash and one who hasn't.
In his previous life, Lin Xuan was capable of landing Black Flashes.
Thanks to learning physical techniques from Toji Fushiguro and mastering his physical strength to the extreme, Lin Xuan might not compare to the "Legendary Athlete" Yuji Itadori, but he held at least the second-place record for consecutive Black Flashes.
After coming to the Douluo Continent, Lin Xuan naturally did not forget this powerful offensive method.
Although Soul Power and cursed energy are not the same, they share commonalities in certain aspects.
One of those is the method of energy output.
As long as this point is the same, landing a Black Flash is only a matter of time.
As for why no Soul Master on the Douluo Continent had been able to land a Black Flash for tens of thousands of years, Lin Xuan was not surprised at all.
With this bunch of blockheaded Soul Masters on the Douluo Continent who only know how to spam Martial Soul Abilities, even developing a joke of a self-created Spirit Ability is rare, let alone a Black Flash that relies on luck.
"Pfft—!"
Xu Sanshi sprayed a mouthful of blood and flew backward like a tattered sack, crashing heavily onto the edge of the Soul Dueling Platform over a dozen meters away. His Tortoise Shell Shield slipped from his hand and rolled away, making a series of ear-piercing scraping sounds.
The entire arena fell into a dead silence.
After a brief silence, the entire Soul Dueling Arena erupted like a volcanic explosion!
"Holy crap! Xu Sanshi lost?! He lost to a first-year freshman?!"
"Is that an ordinary freshman?! Does your family's freshman Soul Elder come equipped with two thousand-year and one ten-thousand-year Soul Ring?!"
"What was that punch just now?! Black lightning! Is it a self-created Spirit Ability?!"
"Damn it... am I still dreaming?"
"..."
The sounds of discussion and clamor rose wave after wave like a tsunami, as if they were about to blow the roof off.
Xuan Zi's originally cloudy eyes became extremely clear at this moment, staring intently at Lin Xuan in the arena as if he were looking at some rare treasure.
"Incredible... incredible. Good kid, to actually be able to control the margin between the Soul Power impact and the physical strike to such perfection! It even distorted space!"
"No, it's not control. No matter how much of a genius he is, a Soul Elder couldn't possibly master this timing on his own. So, was it a coincidence..."
Xuan Zi shook his head slightly and took a large gulp of wine.
"Whether it was self-mastery or a coincidence, one thing is for sure: this kid definitely knows about the existence of this move!"
On the stage, Lin Xuan suddenly couldn't help but shiver, feeling a chill down his spine.
"What's going on? Is someone trying to harm me?"
"Cough, cough..."
At the edge of the Soul Dueling Platform, Xu Sanshi lay on the ground coughing up blood foam, staring blankly at the ceiling of the Soul Dueling Arena with an expression of questioning his life choices.
Is this... a freshman?
...Lin Xuan walked up to Xu Sanshi. He said nothing, only calmly extending his right hand.
Xu Sanshi stared at that hand for two seconds, his face flickering with complex emotions like bitterness, unwillingness, and resignation.
Finally, he took a deep breath and grabbed the hand, using the other's strength to stagger to his feet.
"I lost. The bet... I will fulfill it."
Only then did the referee teacher wake up from his daze, quickly stepping onto the stage and announcing loudly,
"The winner—Lin Xuan!"
As the words fell, the atmosphere inside the Soul Dueling Arena completely exploded!
The sound waves almost became physical, battering everyone's eardrums.
In the audience, Tang Ya jumped up and cheered excitedly. Bei Bei shook his head with a slight smile, though the shock in his eyes was hard to hide.
Han Ruoruo had a smile on her lips and clapped gently, her eyes flashing with brilliance.
However, in the next second, she seemed to hear some sound. A flash of surprise crossed her face before she regained her composure, but the look she gave Lin Xuan's back held a bit more depth... Inside the Soul Dueling Arena corridor.
Tang Ya, Bei Bei, Ning Tian, Wu Feng, and the others gathered together, watching Lin Xuan walk slowly from the arena corridor.
"Lin Xuan! That was so cool!"
Tang Ya was the first to rush up, excitedly patting his shoulder.
"What was with that punch?! It was too overbearing! Even Xu Sanshi's tortoise shell was deformed by your hit!"
Ning Tian also stepped forward with a smile, nodding elegantly. "Congratulations, Student Lin Xuan. Today's battle was truly eye-opening."
Lin Xuan smiled at everyone, his tone modest.
"It was just luck. Senior Xu didn't use his full strength, and my Martial Soul is a bit special, so I took advantage of that."
"That wasn't taking advantage..."
Bei Bei shook his head with a bitter smile. Just as he was about to continue, a familiar shout came from behind them.
"Lin Xuan!"
Xu Sanshi walked over slowly, leaning against the wall, his face still pale.
Tang Ya immediately stepped forward like a cat protecting its kitten, blocking the front of Lin Xuan, her eyebrows raised.
"Xu Sanshi! You've already lost, what else do you want? Can't handle a loss?"
Xu Sanshi gave her an annoyed look.
"Am I, Xu Sanshi, that kind of person? If I lose, I admit it, and the bet will be paid! I have something to say to Junior Lin Xuan."
Lin Xuan shook his head at Tang Ya, indicating it was fine, then looked at Xu Sanshi.
"Senior Xu, please speak."
Seeing this, Ning Tian smiled gracefully.
"Then we'll wait outside first."
With that, she, Bei Bei, Tang Ya, Han Ruoruo, and the others headed out of the corridor first.
The corridor soon fell quiet, leaving only Lin Xuan and Xu Sanshi.
Xu Sanshi looked around to confirm no one else was there, then took a deep breath, bowed solemnly to Lin Xuan.
"Just now on the stage, and earlier... I'm sorry."
"I let my emotions get the better of me and took it out on you. I lost fair and square, and I should apologize for my offense."
Lin Xuan watched him quietly, a flash of a smile crossing his calm eyes.
This was the upbringing of a successor to a great Sect.
They could be proud, impulsive, or even momentarily wasteful, but they were never muddled when it came to major principles and interpersonal networks.
Not offending geniuses with huge potential, and even trying to turn enemies into friends or establish good relations, was practically the reason why all major powers could pass down their legacy continuously.
And what Lin Xuan appreciated was precisely this clarity.
Being able to quickly calm down after an impulse and being willing to lower oneself to make amends was harder than never making a mistake.
"Senior Xu, you're being too formal," Lin Xuan said with a gentle smile. "I accept your apology. From now on, we are even."
Xu Sanshi was slightly stunned, seemingly not expecting the other party to be so straightforward, and without the arrogance of a victor.
The remaining awkwardness and unwillingness in his heart suddenly dissipated by more than half.
"Junior Lin Xuan," Xu Sanshi's expression became more serious.
"I, Xu Sanshi, have a hot temper and sometimes act without thinking, but I can definitely distinguish right from wrong. Today's matter was my offense first. In the future, if you need any help in the Outer Academy, as long as it doesn't violate my principles, just ask."
"Senior Xu is too kind."
Lin Xuan nodded, his tone gentle.
"However, there's something I've been thinking about and feel it's better to say. Senior Xu, it seems there was no need for us to have a conflict today, don't you think?"
"Uh..." Xu Sanshi was momentarily at a loss for words.
He knew very well in his heart that the reason he got beaten up and bet a Rank 7 spirit tool was all because of that one sentence from Jiang Nannan and his own impulsive self.
It could be said that without Jiang Nannan's sentence, none of that would have happened.
But even knowing that, what could he do? Could he actually blame Jiang Nannan?
Looking at Xu Sanshi, who was scratching his head and grinning foolishly, Lin Xuan laughed speechlessly.
Wow, it's really been a long time since I've seen such a pure simp... Lin Xuan thought for a moment and continued.
"Senior Xu, there's a saying in this world that perhaps you should hear."
"The one who is favored is always fearless, while the one who cannot be obtained is always in a state of unrest."
Xu Sanshi was stunned. Lin Xuan's tone was calm as he continued.
"Sometimes when you're too deep in, you forget your original heart. Is what you're chasing really that person herself, or that feeling of not being able to have her? Or, do you just feel that you'should' like her?"
A look of realization appeared on Xu Sanshi's face, his lips moving slightly as if he had grasped some key point.
Seeing this, Lin Xuan felt relieved, thinking there was still hope... However, in the next second, Xu Sanshi's eyes suddenly lit up, as if he had solved an ancient puzzle, and he asked excitedly in a low voice,
"Junior, do you mean I'm usually too eager toward her, so she doesn't care? If I'm appropriately cold and keep some distance, it'll actually catch her attention? Then there's still a chance for us?"
Lin Xuan: "..."
A chance? There's a chance in the circus for you. Tell the clown to step down and go perform yourself... He quietly looked at Xu Sanshi's face, which was practically written with "hurry up and praise my high comprehension," and for a moment, he was speechless.
An eerie silence fell over the corridor.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Xu Sanshi thought he was organizing more profound words and quickly leaned in half a step closer, his tone even more eager.
"Then Junior, how should I naturally go find her later? What's the best first thing to say? Should I pretend to bump into her, or find a time when she needs help? For example, if she wants to eat roasted fish again, should I..."
"Senior Xu."
Lin Xuan finally spoke, interrupting his non-stop chatter.
"I think you should perhaps change your way of thinking."
"What way of thinking?" Xu Sanshi's face was full of anticipation.
"Next time you see her, you can walk straight up to her and say this to her"
"Master, your dog is back."
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