Chapter 228: Chapter 119: Moon Eclipse Arrow’s Second Limit Break! Chen Xuan and Wang Kaishan Shocked! Cao Yan in Mortal Danger

He knew full well that Master Chen had done far more than just "taught" him.

Back when he performed the Refinement on the Bengyue Bow, what he had absorbed and fused with was the culmination of Master Chen Xuan’s entire life’s work—decades of arduous training, all his archery experience, cultivation insights, and even his Divine Soul Seal!

An inheritance of this magnitude far surpassed any ordinary, hands-on instruction. It was so profound and complete that it had saved him from countless detours on his path.

He took a step forward and spoke with sincere reassurance, "Master, please don’t say something so distant."

"On the ’Moon Eclipse Arrow’ Arrow Manual you gave me, every single line was packed with your detailed annotations—"

"The essential principles and key techniques within it... every sentence held profound truths. It was all the culmination of your life’s blood."

"These past days, I’ve studied the Arrow Manual day and night, pondering every word and phrase. With every new understanding, it felt as if you were right by my side, personally guiding and instructing me. I’ve gained so much and benefited immensely."

"How is that any different from you teaching me by hand?"

"Any achievement I have today is all thanks to the Arrow Manual you left me and your subtle, pervasive guidance!"

"You are the master who passed on your art to me. That will never change!"

Hearing this, Chen Xuan was stunned for a moment. Then, as if suddenly enlightened, his gloomy expression visibly brightened. The melancholy in his eyes was swiftly replaced by relief and emotion, and even his breathing became easier.

Thinking it over, he realized it was true—

’Those annotations on the Arrow Manual contained all the insights from my entire life of practicing the Moon Eclipse Arrow. Without them to guide him, no matter how talented Chu Fan was, he could never have reached this Realm without a master’s direct guidance.’

’And this boy... not only is his talent unparalleled, but his temperament is also remarkably calm and humble.’

’He’s achieved something so astonishing, yet he shows no trace of pride. Instead, he credits it all to his master and the Arrow Manual...’

’To be so loyal and grateful... that’s truly rare!’

"Haha! Good! Good kid! Well said!"

The gloom in Chen Xuan’s heart instantly vanished, and he couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

He clapped Chu Fan heavily on the shoulder, the force so great that it made Chu Fan sway slightly. The excitement in his eyes was impossible to hide, all traces of his former melancholy gone.

Beside them, Wang Kaishan watched this heartfelt scene between master and disciple. Recalling Chu Fan’s world-shocking archery, his heart soured and bubbled with envy, so much so that he was practically grinding his teeth to dust.

He stared at Chu Fan, and the more he looked, the more familiar the young man seemed. He felt like he had seen him somewhere before but couldn’t quite recall where.

After a moment of silence, he couldn’t resist taking a step forward. He frowned, studying Chu Fan carefully, and asked in a puzzled tone, "Young friend Chu Fan, I feel like I’ve seen you before. Have... have we met somewhere?"

"Besides, this should be the first time I’ve ever seen you. How did you recognize me at first glance? It’s very strange."

Hearing this, Chu Fan looked up at Wang Kaishan, his expression calm and unruffled. He said frankly, "Master Wang, there’s something you may not know... About a year and a half ago, I did indeed go to the entrance of the Mountain Opening Boxing Hall."

"At that time, my heart yearned for the Martial Dao, and all I wanted was to find a master and learn."

"Unfortunately... my family was poor back then. I was penniless and couldn’t scrape together the tuition fee. In the end, several disciples from your esteemed hall... yelled at me and drove me away."

"I suppose Master Wang might have been in the hall at the time and saw me from a distance, but simply paid me no mind."

"Wh... what?!"

Chu Fan’s words were like a bolt from the blue, exploding in Wang Kaishan’s ears!

He froze on the spot, his face filled with utter shock, his lips trembling slightly...

A sealed memory suddenly surged forth like a tidal wave!

Wang Kaishan abruptly remembered. There was indeed such a day. A young man in clothes washed so often they had faded to white had been lingering outside the boxing hall, craning his neck to peer inside, looking like he wanted to enter but was too timid to take the step.

Later, the disciples guarding the gate had waved their hands in disgust and driven him away...

That day, he had happened to walk past in the courtyard and glanced at the boy from afar. He had dismissed him as just some poor kid who didn’t know his own limits, dreaming of learning the martial arts but unable to afford the fee. He hadn’t given it a second thought!

That boy... was actually the Chu Fan standing before him?!

"It... it was you... It was actually you!!!"

Wang Kaishan felt his entire body go numb, as if struck by five bolts of lightning. He stood rooted to the spot, almost as if he’d been hit by an Immobilization Spell.

His face first flushed a deep purple, then instantly turned deathly pale. The finger he pointed at Chu Fan trembled violently, and his chest heaved; he almost couldn’t catch his breath.

’What had he missed?’

’His Mountain Opening Boxing Hall had personally turned such a peerless genius away at the gates?!’

’He had even allowed his disciples to drive him off?!’

’If only he had paid a little more attention back then, or reined in his disciples’ attitudes, or even just given that boy a single chance—’

’This astoundingly brilliant young man might have been his, Wang Kaishan’s, Direct Disciple right now!’

’How could Cao Feng and Chen Xuan be the ones gloating here?!’

Wang Kaishan’s vision went black, and the world seemed to spin. He was so filled with regret that his guts twisted into knots, and he had the sudden urge to find a block of tofu and smash his head against it and die!

Chen Xuan took all of this in, stunned at first, before quickly putting the pieces together.

Seeing his old friend’s look of utter, soul-crushing regret, he felt a sliver of pity, but couldn’t suppress a secret feeling of glee.

Suppressing a laugh, he stepped forward and patted Wang Kaishan’s shoulder, clearing his throat as he offered some "comfort," "Ahem... Kaishan! Life is unpredictable, and fate is a fickle thing. Don’t take it too hard. The most important thing is to take care of your health..."

But the undisguised schadenfreude in his tone was so obvious that even Zhao Tianxing and Yu Xiao, standing nearby, could probably hear it.

Wang Kaishan violently shook off Chen Xuan’s hand and shot him a vicious glare. "Stop crying your crocodile tears!"

But what else could he say?