Chapter 80: Just Surviving is Hard Enough (Part 3)
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Spring was still very cold but even so, as Lu Shu put in his best efforts into every swing, his clothes were entirely drenched in no time.
He took off his s.h.i.+rt and continued with his strokes s.h.i.+rtless. From the sides, Li Xianyi suddenly asked, “Hey kid, what kind of person do you think will become someone who is strong?”
While Lu Shu was feeling the changes in his muscles as he carried on with the swings, he answered, “Someone who is strong enough to ignore all the rules in the world should be someone who is strong.”
Li Xianyi shook his head, “What you’re referring to is the end-point and not the process. What I’m asking is, how do you become someone who is strong?”
Before Lu Shu could answer his question, Li Xianyi took the initiative to say, “In one slash, one should be able to demonstrate confidence as high as the sky and this kind of confidence should be his ingrained in his heart and in his instinct. Such confidence comes with training.”
So, this was the reasoning which Li Xianyi was trying to tell Lu Shu.
With such a swift training method available, why did he have to train his sword skills just like an ordinary person? Was it through the countless swings that would let Lu Shu understand his own strength, understand what could be cut and to understand life and death?
A fast training method seemed too good to be true but it did lack the necessary process. If one was unsure of how much his strength was exactly, he would definitely be lacking that self-confidence.
Li Xianyi suddenly asked again, “If one day you would possess a huge amount of strength, would you be willing to accept a greater responsibility?”
“A greater responsibility?” Lu Shu was shocked and immediately shook his head, “My responsibility is to carry on living and to take good care of Lu Xiaoyu. If there are other responsibilities given to me by others, I won’t accept it.”
Deep down, he was afraid that Li Xianyi would want him to do something in the future and decided to reject him now.
Lu Shu stopped his swings as he looked over at Li Xianyi while Li Xianyi calmly asked, “But by then, you would not only be able to take good care of your little sister but also have the power to help others.”
“But what has that got to do with me? Perhaps if Uncle Li and the rest were in danger, I would go and rescue them. But for the others, I did not rely on them while growing up and I believe that one should rely on their own efforts in whatever they do in order to get by better,” as Lu Shu shook his head.
He was no longer a child and since he had lived a poor and bitter life, Lu Shu had already developed his own views on the world, on life and even on values; and all of these views would not simply change from just a few words.
That’s right. He was an orphan since young and even his parents did not fulfill their duty. So how could he let someone else lecture him about their idealistic views; this was something he could not accept.
Lu Shu handed his sword over, meaning that if he did not comply with the requests and conditions, Li Xianyi could also stop teaching him swordsmans.h.i.+p altogether.
Thus, he had rather not learn this swordsmans.h.i.+p and continue to fumble about with that mysterious celestial map of his. Perhaps it could be more tiring and perhaps he would have a slow progress. But no matter what, he wasn’t willing to accept some baffling responsibility.
This was his own principles. Since he could not satisfy those requests, he wouldn’t desire those swordplay techniques as well.
Li Xianyi did not accept the sword back, only to reply gently, “You don’t have to go to such extremes.”
This stubborn youth had struggled throughout his life in order to survive and he would reject anyone even if they were to offer him help in goodwill. Li Xianyi respected his stubbornness but it turned out to be the biggest obstacle in his future plans for Lu Shu.
The Golden Foundation had a big heart and not everyone could inherit it. If Li Xianyi could not find someone to inherit this sole director role of his before leaving this world, perhaps it would stay vacant forever.
Lu Shu shook his head, “I do not consider myself as unfortunate and neither do I have any issues with my psychology. The tough times I’ve been through can’t be compared to a lot of others who had it worse. But, just trying to survive in this world is already taking all I have.”
“So I’m sorry but I have no plans to possess such n.o.ble dreams.”
It was also at this moment that Li Xianyi realized that this young man might never be of use to the Golden Foundation. This young man seemed to be stubbornly going against the world and no matter what situation he would be in, he would much rather live life his own way than a way someone else offered him.
Li Xianyi understood that Lu Shu would never join the Golden Foundation as his beliefs were too different.
He sighed, “From today onwards, I will not be your teacher nor take you as my disciple but I can still continue teaching you.”
Under Lu Shu’s doubtful eyes, Li Xianyi added another statement, “I will not hold back on my knowledge but I have a condition. Don’t worry, I will not let you bear some weird responsibility but I just have a personal request.”
This time, it wasn’t for the Golden Foundation or his own ideals, it was for this stubborn Lu Shu.
Li Xianyi was also curious how far this youngster could go by himself.
Lu Shu considered for a whole 5 mins before finally replying, “Okay.”
……
After finis.h.i.+ng the swings, Lu Shu returned home to cook for Lu Xiaoyu. As the both of them ate their meals, Lu Shu did not tell Lu Xiaoyu about the disagreement he had with Li Xianyi, but Li Xianyi’s willingness to impart all his knowledge and skills still really surprised Lu Shu.
A personal request in exchange for a suitable swordplay, Lu Shu thought this was worthwhile.
The breakfast was a herbal egg for each of them with a bowl of rice, and also a pancake each.
The recipe for pancakes was simple. Flour and eggs with water added were beaten till mushy, before adding some green onions and pouring into a frying pan layered with oil to be flipped and fried.
Lu Xiaoyu had always liked the shredded cake which had many layers to it but Lu Shu never could master that. The stall auntie outside had bought her shredded cakes directly from the supermarket and so he never had anyone to learn from.
There were times Lu Xiaoyu really craved for them and he had to buy some frozen ones from the supermarket to be stored in the fridge.
As Lu Shu had just left to sell stinky tofu, the light bulbs in the living room starting flickering and making noises. This was the light bulb being used to its last moments.
Lu Xiaoyu stared at the light bulbs for a while before going next door for Li Xianyi, “The light bulb in my living room is faulty, can you help me change it?”
Li Xianyi was elated and immediately agreed as he grabbed a ladder and followed Lu Xiaoyu to change the light bulb.
He had a sudden thought- since Lu Shu could not join the Golden Foundation, maybe Lu Xiaoyu would be willing to? Although Lu Xiaoyu said she did not want to learn about swordsmans.h.i.+p, that was under a different circ.u.mstance and children forget their grudges very quickly. The fact that she came looking for me when there was trouble was already an improvement.
Perhaps after spending some time together, Lu Xiaoyu would be willing to learn the art of swords?
Li Xianyi turned off the switch to the lights and climbed the ladder, and while he was replacing the light bulbs, he casually asked, “Why didn’t you ask Lu Shu to change the light bulbs?”
Lu Xiaoyu replied as she was clearing up the plates, “What if he gets electrocuted?”
Li Xianyi, “???”
“From Li Xianyi’s distress, +388!”