SWNOVELXO Chapter 8: Unexpected Offer
Chapter 6:
While all this unfolded, the battle between Lin Fan and Xiao Ming raged on. The spectators' eyes remained locked on the fight, still filled with disbelief at Lin Fan's overwhelming strength despite his young age.
"This young man seems to have the upper hand against Mister Xiao Ming. Could his strength actually rival the Nine Prodigies of the Empire?" one spectator whispered, his voice tinged with doubt, as though he couldn't believe his own words.
"No way. He's strong, but not that strong. The Nine Prodigies are already in the Nascent Soul Realm. How could he possibly compare to them?" another replied, shaking his head and dismissing the idea outright.
Suddenly, a figure shot through the air, crashing into the ground with a thunderous boom. The earth, already scarred with cracks and craters, trembled from the impact. A cold sweat trickled down one spectator's back as he imagined what would have happened if that body had hit him instead—at the very least, several bones would've been shattered.
The figure on the ground was none other than Xiao Ming. Bruised and bloodied, he struggled to push himself up. Though his injuries were severe, none appeared life-threatening.
"Hah... You were a decent warm-up, old man. But now... it's time for the real fight." Lin Fan spoke calmly as he cracked his knuckles. Only a few faint bruises marred his body, barely noticeable. His sharp gaze shifted toward Yu Kuan, who returned the look with an icy glare.
"W-what?! Warm-up?!" Xiao Ming's voice trembled with disbelief and rage. "How dare you belittle me like that, you brat?! I'm not done yet!"
"Xiao Ming! Stand down." Yu Kuan's voice cut through the air like a blade, leaving no room for argument. "You're no match for this boy—and neither is Xiao Zan. I'll handle him myself."
He turned to his son, Yu Ming, and gave him a slight nod before slowly rising from his seat.
Yu Ming clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging into his palms until blood began to seep out. Reluctance was written all over his face, but in the end, he bowed his head and stepped back under the watchful eyes of the crowd.
"Father... thank you," Yu Ming whispered softly to Yu Kuan before turning his gaze toward Lin Fan. With a smug grin, he shouted, "Your end is near, arrogant fool! My father will crush you effortlessly. Don't even think about running. And after he's done, I'll make sure your corpse is fed to the dogs. Not a single piece of you will remain intact. Prepare yourself!"
"Oh? And who's saying that?" Lin Fan smirked mockingly. "Didn't you just claim you'd handle me yourself a moment ago? Why is it your father who's stepping in now? Don't tell me... you're admitting your weakness, genius?"
"You—!!" Yu Ming's fists trembled with fury, but he couldn't retort. His inferiority to Lin Fan was glaringly obvious, and any excuse he offered would only make him look more pathetic.
"Don't waste your breath, my son." Yu Kuan's voice was calm and steady, yet carried an undeniable authority. "In the end, history only remembers the victors. Many so-called geniuses have risen in the past—only to fall because of arrogance and recklessness. The ones who survive are those with both strength and wisdom. Keep that in mind and don't act rashly."
Without sparing his son another glance, Yu Kuan began walking toward Lin Fan, his pace deliberate and unhurried.
'Yu Kuan... his strength may not stand out much, but his intelligence and cunning make him a terrifying opponent,' Lin Fan thought, his eyes meeting Yu Kuan's unflinching gaze.
'He's said to be one of the sharpest minds in the empire. What's even more dangerous is that a man like him has no regard for honor, dignity, or morals. His only priority is survival.'
Lin Fan analyzed the situation carefully, recalling how, in the original story, Yu Kuan had shamelessly begged the protagonist for mercy and even offered to become his follower. If not for the protagonist's deep grudge, he might have accepted someone as resourceful as Yu Kuan.
'To make him my ally, all I need to do... is defeat him.' Lin Fan's lips curved into an odd smile as Yu Kuan finally came to a stop in front of him.
'This fight is going to be... interesting.'
But just as Lin Fan braced himself for battle, something unexpected happened. Yu Kuan showed no intention of attacking. Instead, he spoke with a calm smile:
"Young man, I've never heard of anyone like you before. I can only assume you're not affiliated with any major clan. What do you think about joining my Yu Clan? I assure you, the terms will be favorable—I'll do everything in my power to meet your expectations."
His words sent shockwaves through the crowd. Nobody had expected Yu Kuan to extend such an offer to Lin Fan, especially after the latter had disrupted his son's wedding. But the most surprised of all was Lin Fan himself.
'It seems that my deviation from the original storyline has altered the course of events. But wait... maybe this is actually for the best. I'm not bound to follow the path of traditional protagonists who make enemies out of every major clan from the start. I'll make the most of this opportunity.'
Lin Fan's shock quickly gave way to cunning as his mind began working out the possibilities.
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