Sovereign of Stars-Chapter 17 – Can you come back?

In the martial arts arena, Su Xin stood there with his head lowered, appearing 'obedient'.
"Su Xin, my dear cousin, no, I should call you Mr. Sword One... very good, you're really something."
"You hid it so well, how did I not see it before?"
Su Yuning circled around Su Xin, looking fierce.
Su Xin gave a wry smile.
He knew that once he showcased his strength at the family competition, especially his swordsmanship, his identity as Sword One would inevitably be exposed.
Su Yuning had personally sought advice from 'Sword One', and the level of swordsmanship Su Xin displayed at the competition was at least above the thirteenth level of the True Martial Pavilion. There was no doubt that Su Xin was Sword One.
"Sister Ning, wasn't I just trying to hide my identity before?" Su Xin couldn't help but say.
"Shut up, who told you to speak?" Su Yuning snapped, making Su Xin immediately close his mouth.
Then, Su Yuning began to scold Su Xin.
Su Xin just listened obediently without retorting, while many of the Su family members nearby secretly chuckled.
After a while, Su Yuning finished her scolding, then approached Su Xin and patted his forehead. "Although you acted all mysterious in front of me, which wasn't very nice, you did well by killing Zhao Ling at the competition, giving our Su family a big relief."
Su Xin grinned.
"Alright, don't get too cocky. You killed Zhao Ling, but the trouble that follows isn't small. His father, Zhao Tianlei, definitely won't let this go." Su Yuning added.
"I know, Father has already warned me, and I'll be careful." Su Xin replied.
"That's good. With the Patriarch around, Zhao Tianlei won't be able to stir up much trouble." Su Yuning nodded slightly, but then immediately leaned in closer. "Cousin, I took to heart what you told me in front of the True Martial Pavilion. My swordsmanship has improved quite a bit recently. How about we spar again?"
If facing the master 'Sword One', Su Yuning would naturally be very respectful and awed, needing to muster great courage to ask for guidance. But now, facing her cousin Su Xin, who had been close to her since childhood, she was much more casual.
"Sure."
Su Xin nodded, picked up a random branch from the ground, and smiled. "Sister Ning, go ahead."
"You're really arrogant, aren't you?"
Seeing Su Xin only pick up a branch, Su Yuning couldn't help but grit her teeth, but she knew her cousin indeed had the strength to back it up.
Soon, the two began to spar.
Clang!
With just one exchange, the sword in Su Yuning's hand was knocked away by the branch.
"Defeated already?"
Su Yuning looked shocked, but then, at Su Xin's signal, she picked up her sword and attacked again.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Each exchange was just a single move, and each time, Su Yuning's sword was sent flying.
This time, Su Xin was clearly not like before at the True Martial Pavilion, where he waited for Su Yuning to use all her techniques before defeating her. Previously, he wanted to see Su Yuning's true strength to better guide her, but now that he knew her capabilities well, there was no need for such trouble.
After several exchanges, they stopped.
"Sister Ning, your swordsmanship has indeed improved, becoming more steady and less flashy, but your basic skills are still lacking. You can't even hold your sword steadily..." Su Xin pointed out some flaws in Su Yuning's swordsmanship.
Su Yuning nodded silently.
She also realized that even though Su Xin was using a branch and exerting similar force, each time they clashed, her sword was knocked away by his branch.
As Su Xin guided Su Yuning, the Su family members watching in the arena were all astonished.
"With just a branch, he knocked Sister Ning's sword away repeatedly?"
"Amazing, Sister Ning's swordsmanship is already quite impressive, but in front of Brother Su Xin, it's like a child's play."
"Brother Su Xin is so strong."
Su Yuning had passed the ninth level of the True Martial Pavilion, and her swordsmanship was already top-tier among the younger generation of the Su family.
Yet, in front of Su Xin, she seemed like a toddler just learning to walk, the gap was too vast.
"Brother Su Xin."
A young female member of the Su family approached nervously and asked, "I also use a sword, could you give me some pointers?"
"Of course." Su Xin smiled, looking around. "Anyone else who wants to spar with me, feel free to come forward."
"Great." The Su family members were instantly thrilled.
"Cousin."
A voice filled with guilt sounded.
"Xiao Ming?" Su Xin looked at the newcomer.
"Cousin, I'm sorry for what happened before." Su Ming said earnestly.
When Su Xin first returned to the Su family, it was Su Ming who blocked his way and scolded him.
In subsequent meetings, he never gave Su Xin a good face.
"Haha, we're brothers, no need for that." Su Xin laughed, patting Su Ming's shoulder. "Besides, what happened three years ago was indeed my fault."
"Alright, enough talk. Xiao Ming, do you want to join in?" Su Xin asked.
"Of course." Su Ming nodded repeatedly.
After that, Su Xin sparred with the young members of the Su family in the martial arts arena.
Though it was called sparring, it was actually more like guidance.
And this kind of guidance made Su Xin very happy.
Because he could clearly sense the respect, admiration, and even worship these Su family members had for him as their elder brother.
Over three years ago, as the Su family's top genius, many Su family members often came to ask him to 'spar', and he was happy to guide them.
Because it was heartwarming, it felt like home.
Until an hour later, when Su Xin was tired from giving guidance, the Su family members finally let him leave.
"Second Uncle."
Su Xin approached his second uncle, Su Baihu, and bowed.
"Su Xin?"
Su Baihu looked at his nephew with a smile. "What's up?"
"Second Uncle, you usually oversee the Su family, and any news from Tianshui City reaches you first. I'd like you to keep an eye on Zhao Tianlei for me. Let me know as soon as he leaves Tianshui City." Su Xin requested.
"Alright." Su Baihu didn't know what Su Xin planned to do, but he agreed.
Su Xin bowed again and then turned to leave.
In the following days.
Although Su Xin spent most of his time on his own cultivation, he still took some time to spar with the Su family members in the martial arts arena.
And Su Xin's status among the Su family members had almost returned to what it was three years ago, especially since his strength truly commanded their respect.
So, upon learning that Su Xin often gave guidance in the martial arts arena, many members gathered there every day, waiting for his arrival.
Even some Su family members who had reached the Sea Transformation Realm were interested.
"Whoosh!"
A sword shadow, seemingly hazy, moved at a speed completely invisible to the naked eye, directly striking a long spear. Then, following the momentum, it slid along the spear and hit the wrist of the person holding it.
Swish!
The gray-clad middle-aged man holding the spear felt a burning pain in his wrist, causing him to drop the spear and stagger back several steps.
"Beautiful!"
"Amazing!"
The many Su family members watching were all wide-eyed with admiration.
"Uncle Hang, thank you for letting me win." Su Xin smiled at the gray-clad middle-aged Su Bohang in front of him, still holding a branch.
"The young master's swordsmanship is truly admirable." Su Bohang chuckled.
Nearby, a young man with a sword, previously considered the only one capable of challenging Zhao Ling, Su Qinghong, watched with eyes full of heat and shock.
"Su Bohang, a top expert who had long reached the peak of the Sea Transformation Realm, although they didn't compete in cultivation, purely in skill, his spear technique was excellent. Yet, Su Xin defeated him with just a branch in one move?" Su Qinghong's heart was in turmoil.
He knew Su Xin's swordsmanship was incredibly high, terrifyingly so.
But he hadn't expected it to be this high.
A peak Sea Transformation expert, using all his spear skills, was defeated by a single move with a branch.
What kind of concept was this?
Suppressing his inner shock, Su Qinghong seized the opportunity to spar with Su Xin.
For the past few days, Su Xin had been sparring with the Su family members in the martial arts arena, and after each session, he would provide his insights, essentially giving guidance.
Su Xin's guidance was extremely valuable.
In just a few days, many members had made significant improvements in their skills under Su Xin's guidance, and Su Qinghong had already been guided 'three times'. Each time, after careful study, he found his swordsmanship had improved.
He didn't want to miss such an opportunity.
After more than half an hour, the martial arts arena was still crowded with Su family members.
At this moment...
"Su Xin!"
Su Baihu appeared around the martial arts arena.
Seeing Su Baihu arrive, Su Xin's heart stirred, and he paused the 'sparring' to approach Su Baihu.
"Just received news from Tianshui City, the Great Elder lost in his struggle with Zhao Tianlei. Now Zhao Tianlei has completely taken over our Su family's business in Tianshui City, and after arranging everything, he's already set out."
"When he left Tianshui City, he even prepared a coffin to place Zhao Ling's body. The coffin was carried by a carriage, and he and his men were all dressed in burial garments. According to the route, he'll return to the family in three days."
"Three days, huh?" Su Xin's eyes narrowed. "Thank you, Second Uncle."
"Don't worry too much, the Su family is still under the control of our people, and with the Patriarch here, Zhao Tianlei can't touch you." Su Baihu said.
"Mm." Su Xin nodded slightly.
But as he turned to leave, an unprecedented killing intent flashed in Su Xin's eyes.
"Wearing burial garments, preparing a coffin..."
"Zhao Tianlei, do you plan to return to the Su family and mourn Zhao Ling in front of everyone?"
"But can you... even make it back!!"