Together 2

44. Punishment

"Today's training session will be a one is to one format. Whoever can win me will be rewarded to go out on the weekends." Wang Yibo said as he pulled out a wooden sword. All the swordsmen however smiled. "It's not easy going against each of us. So, there's no way we're going to lose." Sun Jian said arrogantly. "I hope so." Wang Yibo said as he pulled out his wooden sword. Xiao Zhan was determined to defeat Wang Yibo as he clenched his wooden sword. 'I've been practicing only for half a year. This is my chance to prove my maturity.'

***

The battles started, and Wang Yibo effortlessly defeated every single trainee with ease, while all the trainees fell to the ground in pain as they kept groaning in pain. "Next!" Wang Yibo motioned for the next swordsman to fight him, not even breaking a sweat. Sun Jian gulped slightly and charged at Wang Yibo. However, Wang Yibo swiftly moved to a side and slammed his wooden sword on Sun Jian's back hard, making Sun Jian fall face first on the ground and his nose bleed.

"What a pity! You've just begun, yet you already fell down. Isn't because you don't practice properly? Did you think it's over just because you managed to join the guild and you can become lazy? Do you want to fight again?" Wang Yibo said in a deep, mocking tone, making Sun Jian look down as he wiped his bleeding nose. "I lost." He admitted.

"Next." Wang Yibo said. "It's me sir! Tang San!" Xiao Zhan said excitedly as he raised his wooden sword and charged at Wang Yibo. Wang Yibo blocked the attack quickly, making the two wooden swords clack against each other. "Your parry speed is slow!" Wang Yibo mocked. However, Xiao Zhan paid no mind and focused on pushing Wang Yibo away.

The two of them back away and Wang Yibo swung his sword again. This time, Xiao Zhan wasn't able to stop the attack and fell down. "Get up! What are you doing while practicing?!" Wang Yibo shouted. "My apologies." Xiao Zhan apologized as he got back on his feet.

"My god. Are they really roommates?" One person whispered. "I heard Tang's been blacklisted." Another whispered. Even Gao Tai Yu seemed a little nervous with the fight. "Even a seven-year-old can kick better than you." Wang Yibo mocked Xiao Zhan who was still on the ground. "Look directly at the opponent and strike directly!"

Xiao Zhan growled slightly before he got up and sparred again. 'Focus on the opponent as Sir Yibo said. Take the opportunity to attack. No matter what, I will never loose! How determined was I when I chose this path?!' Somehow, in Xiao Zhan's rage, he channeled his energy into his sword, making it glow with a green light. 'I'll show him... how good I am at this!'

Xiao Zhan swung his sword again against Wang Yibo's. Wang Yibo tried to back away, however, he wasn't able to save his sword, making it break, much to his astonishment as he saw Xiao Zhan's sword shine. "Look at Tang San's sword. Isn't it glowing?" One of the swordsmen said. "No way. A mana sword?!" Another muttered.

"Tang San... wins!" Gao Tai Yu shouted, and Xiao Zhan suddenly stumbled before falling to a side. Wang Yibo's eyes widened, and he tried to rush towards him, but Cao Yuchen ran forward and caught Xiao Zhan before he could. "Tang San!" Cao Yuchen called him, feeling worried while Xiao Zhan kept breathing in deeply as he leaned against Cao Yuchen for a while, catching his breath.

"Are you okay?" Cao Yuchen asked as he steadied Xiao Zhan. "Ya. Thank you Yuchen." Xiao Zhan said while taking in deep breaths. Wang Yibo looked at the two of them for a moment before he retracted his outstretched hand again.

"Does our swordsman guild have a swordmaster now?!" The swordsmen muttered in excitement. "The mana sword is real!" "Hah!" Sun Jian scoffed. "It just lights up a bit. What's special about a mana sword?" He said mockingly. "That is a mana sword!" Wang Yibo confirmed. "Tang San has to master the use of the sword to make that energy appear."

"Even so!" Sun Jian retorted. "Even if it is a mana sword, isn't he useless if he staggers like that for just using it like that?" "Are you saying I lost because of that useless skill?" Wang Yibo retorted. "That's not what I'm saying. Swordsmanship is secondary. You need to have sharp moves to win." Sun Jian replied, not willing to back off.

"If I remember correctly," Wang Yibo said deeply as he walked over to Sun Jian, "you took only three hits in the previous confrontation and already lost. Meanwhile, Tang San, in addition to attacking at the end of the game was able to withstand six hits." "Isn't he noble?! He's been taught how to use a sword since he was a kid! So why can't he win?!" Sun Jian retorted angrily.

Wang Yibo gave him a disgusted look. "You look like an idiot. Among the swordsman guilds that will be participating in the upcoming conference, only noble families participated. Are you saying they lost because they were aristocrats then?" He asked angrily as he towered over Sun Jian menacingly, making Sun Jian clamp his mouth shut, unable to respond.

Wang Yibo backed away again before he continued speaking. "The strength Tang San has is all because of his own efforts. You will know while training together. Don't use your background to comfort your own shortcomings." The next moment, Wang Yibo turned around. "The training is dismissed. If anyone is injured, go to the infirmary." Xiao Zhan blushed as he looked at Wang Yibo's back, feeling utterly confused.

***

"Ah!" Xiao Zhan hissed as he looked down at his arm which he covered in bandages. "This will take a long time to heal." He sighed as he remembered the training and Wang Yibo's words. 'He's the one who opposed me to being a swordsman. So why is he defending me? He always makes me misunderstand.' Xiao Zhan held his forehead, his face turning pink.

Suddenly, he heard a knock on the door. "Can I come in?" Wang Yibo asked. "Ah. Come in." Xiao Zhan replied, and Wang Yibo entered the room. "Since you came back, you take a shower first. I'm a little tired so-" But before Xiao Zhan could complete his words, Wang Yibo slammed his hand on the table beside Xiao Zhan, stunning the omega as he looked at him.

"Take off your shirt." Wang Yibo said, not even blinking or blushing once.