Chapter 62: Chapter 54: In This Persuasion
Wesley watched Long Yi and Ai Lin, feeling a wave of emotion. These two had developed a subtle understanding between them. Wesley, however, felt increasingly alienated despite being one of the first to interact with Long Yi. In a world dominated by martial strength, what could he, devoid of any martial power, possibly have in common with them?
"Brother, how do you feel now?"
Long Yi asked Wesley.
Wesley shook his head and bitterly laughed, "After observing, I am more determined to drop out."
"What? You want to drop out?"
Ai Lin cried out, immediately attracting the attention of almost everyone in the Air Force Division, including the instructor.
"Yes, I plan to... No, I’ve decided to drop out," Wesley said, having completely made up his mind.
"Why! Is someone bullying you?" Ai Lin asked perplexedly.
It’s you! All of you, you freaks!
A silent scream echoed in Wesley’s heart.
"No, I just feel that staying here won’t contribute anything. It’s better to go back and take over the family business. After all, our family bloodline suggests that I’m a cunning businessman by nature. I might as well go back and make more money to pay taxes and give back to the nation."
Wesley said.
"This fellow must be jealous seeing both of us advancing ahead of him. He’s venting his frustration by dropping out,"
Long Yi said with a laugh.
"Brother Long!"
Hearing Long Yi say this, the always gentle Ai Lin glared at him. Although what Long Yi said was likely true, his blunt words were still hurtful.
Wesley forced a bitter laugh, knowing Long Yi was not wrong. Although he’d always felt himself inadequate, the dual advancement of Long Yi and Ai Lin served as the major contributing factor.
Yes, he was envious and jealous, but he was also helpless as he had no way to catch up. He tried, but his efforts didn’t yield any visible rewards. So he despaired, felt lost, and eventually, as Long Yi suggested, decided on: out of sight, out of mind.
"I originally planned to dissuade him, but looking at his pitiful state, I realized this fellow is naturally not cut out for this. Dragons give birth to dragons, phoenixes, to phoenixes, and a rat’s child can only burrow holes. He’s not suitable for a cool and impressive profession like Dragon Rider. I reckon he has always been busy with the business and never properly trained. We don’t need to persuade him, just let him drop out peacefully."
Long Yi’s words stung. Although Wesley felt disheartened, he was not devoid of feelings. Who could stand being insulted like this?
"Bastard! Who says I didn’t train? Besides managing that damned toothbrush business, all my remaining time is spent training! I’m not a genius like you who can easily increase their Fighting Aura! I’m just an ordinary person!"
Wesley, filled with rage, retaliated. You can call him talentless, you can call him dim-witted, but you can’t call him lazy! His efforts were no less than Long Yi’s or Ai Lin’s!
"Is that so? Then ordinary Wesley, where are the fruits of your effort?"
Long Yi counter-questioned.
"Can’t I be slow? Can’t I be dull? What’s wrong if my efforts bore no fruit, if all my time and energy were wasted?"
Wesley yelled.
"That just shows that you haven’t worked hard enough."
Long Yi calmly retorted.
"The hell I haven’t worked hard enough? Since childhood, I’ve wanted to become a Dragon Rider. Being physically weak, I’d run like a mad dog pulling logs, often falling and injuring myself. At the Dragon Rider Academy, in order to catch up with you guys, while you slept, I’d sneak off to the training ground for extra training, often fainting from exhaustion..."
"So, are you saying that only you work hard?"
Long Yi asked again, his gaze shifting to everyone in the Air Force Division. Wesley was taken aback and when he too looked around, he found some who resonated with his sentiments!
We aren’t geniuses, but we’re trying our best!
Sigh.
Wesley let out a soft sigh, a realization dawned on him.
"Brother Long, thank you. You almost convinced me."
The honest Long Yi scratched his head, "That’s why I hate smart people. If you were a simpleton, my words would’ve been enough to make you stay."
Wesley raised his head, tears welling up in his eyes, "I’m sorry, Brother Long. You can consider me a coward. I can’t go on anymore."
As he turned to leave, Long Yi grabbed his arm, "Wait, brother. I still want to try something."
With that, Long Yi raised Wesley’s arm and shouted out loud,
"Sir, I am Wesley, a first-year student, and I challenge you!"
What?
What’s happening?
Wesley’s tears evaporated in shock.
"Bro, bro, brother Long, what are you doing? I didn’t challenge."
A joke, challenge the instructor? That was someone even Long Yi couldn’t defeat back in his days! How many lives would Wesley have to give?
But the instructor bluntly retorted, "Challenge is not approved!"
A joke, the school did have a system. Challenging the instructor had to be proposed by the challenger himself.
Long Yi can’t help but sigh, then slowly said,
"Seems like I really have to play the bad guy."
With these words, Long Yi gave Wesley a shove, who stumbled forward a few steps, nearly falling. He then heard Long Yi’s voice echo,
"Sir, Long Yi challenges Wesley!"
Wesley cried out in shock, "Sir, Long Yi is a second-year student! This is bullying!"
The instructor coldly replied, "Challenge approved!"
Before Wesley could reply, Long Yi was already in front of him.
"Clench your teeth, brother. You know, I never hold back."
Boom!
All Wesley saw was darkness as he was suddenly flying through the air, a burst of pain emanating from his chest.
"Brother Long, you really hit..."
Boom!
Another punch, Wesley was kicked into the air before he could even land.
"Since I couldn’t persuade you, I could only vent my frustrations by beating you up. Of course, if I accidentally kill you, I’ll compensate your family somehow. Worst comes to worst, I’ll forgo the money from the toothbrush business."
What?
My life is just worth an old toothbrush?
Ai Lin covers her face with both hands, barely able to watch anymore. This isn’t a fight, it’s one-sided violence. Long Yi hasn’t summoned any Dragon Fighting Aura, but just his pure brute force has sent Wesley sprawling everywhere, tumbling around. At first, Wesley was shrieking; however, towards the end, even the shrieking stopped.
He’s not dead, is he?
Ai Lin feels a bit uneasy, she believes that Long Yi would not go too far, but it’s gone this far already, what if something serious happens... She doesn’t dare to think about it.
However, at this moment, Wesley, who was still passively getting beaten up, suddenly sprouts an unknown surge of energy. He rolls backward abruptly, burst three layers of Dragon Fighting Aura, face covered with blood, points at Long Yi’s nose and yells in rage, "Bastard! Long Yi, you idiot! I am gonna fight you to the end!"
As he rushes up like a rabid dog, Long Yi just bursts into laughter, "Ha! Fight me? Kid, ever fought a person before? Were you not always running away? Failed escape means getting beat! You’re such a coward! Ha ha ha!"
Facing the charging Wesley, Long Yi doesn’t even dodge, he just directly punches him back.
"Don’t underestimate me! I am not a coward!"
Wesley gives it his all, deploying almost all the fighting techniques he knows. However, not only does he not touch Long Yi, he ends up getting beat even more.
I can’t lose!
Even I don’t want to lose!
What can I do?
Ai Lin can’t stand it anymore and rushes forth to end this fight but the instructor steps in front of her, "Wait a little longer."
Ai Lin stops, she could see Wesley’s determination, but determination does not equate to strength, the result of the fight was already predetermined. So what is the instructor waiting for?
At this moment, Wesley’s Observation Dragon releases a mournful cry.
Wesley, who is still getting beat up, suddenly has a lightbulb moment in his mind.
Damn it!
I also have a talent!
Talent activated, Observation Technique! Second level!
Enhance vision and hearing with Dragon Power, to more accurately judge the opponent’s moves.
My talent has actually evolved!
Wesley is overjoyed!
Almost at the same time, Long Yi’s movements seem to slow down in Wesley’s eyes!
Bang!
Even though he was still hit, Long Yi paused for a moment, because where he hit was not where he intended.
It worked! It turns out my talent can be used in combat as well!
Wesley had never considered this before, he had only ever used the Observation Technique for information gathering and negotiating with his opponents. However, he had forgotten that any talent inherently held combat significance!
And now, the second level of Observation Technique gave Wesley more ample judgment time in combat than others!
I can see!
I can dodge!
I can beat Long Yi!
With newfound confidence from seemingly nowhere, Wesley feels like a door has truly been opened right in front of his eyes! He has been so concentrated on catching up to Long Yi that he had forgotten to develop his own potential.
And now, after being relentlessly beaten up, he gets it.
Wesley starts to fight back! Despite being messy and looking terrible, he really is fighting back amidst Long Yi’s storm-like attacks!
The change in Wesley’s strength is huge compared to his previous self. But compared to Long Yi’s strength, this change does not bring obvious effects.
Then, under everyone’s eyes, Long Yi starts to go easy.
The instructor instantly feels that Long Yi seems to be going easy.
Then Ai Lin also clearly feels that Long Yi is going easy.
Then the fat and skinny pair of brothers also notice that Long Yi is actually going easy.
Then, even the entire first-year Air Force Division can see that Long Yi is definitely going easy.
"Hahaha! Long Yi, what happened! Weren’t you awesome? Can’t you fight? What can you do if you can’t hit me! Haha! I tell you, I’m not dropping out! I will catch up to you! You are beyond no match for me!"
A sudden surge in strength gives Wesley unprecedented confidence, tons of evil fire turns into resentment, which he spews directly at Long Yi.
Ai Lin covers her face, unable to bear to watch Wesley’s foolish look. The pair of fat and skinny brothers outright start laughing, around here probably only Wesley himself doesn’t know that Long Yi is going easy.
Even the instructor couldn’t help but smile, this Wesley is something. In the academy now, even among the second years, they probably wouldn’t dare to talk to Long Yi like this, right?
Suddenly, Long Yi stands still and throws a punch.
He’s full of openings!
Wesley can see at a glance that he has at least three different opportunities to strike Long Yi! And according to Long Yi’s habits, he has absolutely no way to dodge!
Bang!
With one punch, Wesley is knocked straight onto the ground, then, he truly realizes it.
"Brother Long! I was wrong! I shouldn’t have been carried away with my success!"
Bang!
"Um, Brother Long, I was really wrong, I was just a bit too excited ..."
Bang!
Another punch, Wesley is knocked out on the spot.
"Alright, drag him away, and arrange his withdrawal formalities, after all, I had my fun too."
Long Yi opens his mouth to speak.
"No!" Wesley, who had been ’unconscious’, suddenly jumps up, "I’m not dropping out! Brother Long! I still want to hang out with you!"
But on the side, the instructor had already called up a few students to take Wesley away from the training ground, each of them holding an arm.
Of course, Wesley is not going to drop out, he feels like his life is just getting started!
