I Can See Your Combat Power

Strictly speaking, Tang Luo’s coming-of-age ceremony should have taken place in the early autumn of his thirteenth year. However, since the entire Tang Clan believed he would successfully enter the Martial Saint Mountain, no one brought it up.

Then, he unfortunately lost all his cultivation. Subsequently came the opening of the Astral Pavilion by the Astral Child. It was not until he demonstrated his supreme cultivation at the clan meeting earlier this year that he once again returned to the center of the Tang Clan’s attention.

Although he had long known that his coming-of-age ceremony would be grand, the guest list still made Tang Luo somewhat dazed. Thirteen Elders of the Tang Clan, seven of which were present, along with the Clan Leader Tang Zhi, Clan Keeper Tang Zu, Mount Guardian Tang Kuan, Law Keeper Tang Lan, Head of the Wind Media Department Tang Feng, Head Instructor Tang Bin, Martial Ancestors Tang Zhen and Tang Qian, and his grandfather Tang Hao.

Almost all of the key power holders in the current generation of the Tang Clan were present. Their participation in such a ceremony on this exceedingly busy day indicated that the entire Tang Clan acknowledged Tang Luo’s contribution. Otherwise, why would a fifteen-year-old boy be worth the effort of so many important figures all coming together?

Since his mother was not present, only his father Tang Sen was there from the main family, along with his younger brother Tang Xing. Being a man of few words, Tang Sen entrusted Tang Hongtao, the esteemed teacher, with the duty of playing host to their guests.

The coming-of-age ceremony consists of three parts and is only deemed complete once all are meticulously executed.

The first stage: Abandoning Juvenile Will, symbolizing the severance of dependency on the clan and becoming an independent adult. This signifies the death of the youthful self.

This stage takes place on the eve of the ceremony, with father Tang Sen cutting Tang Luo’s hair and burying the trimmings. He then puts on a dark crown, formal attire, ties the belt, steps into plain shoes, and sits in the eastern part of the ceremony hall to welcome the guests when the time comes.

The second stage is where Tang Luo, wearing the ceremonial robe, is bestowed with his adult crown in the ceremony hall, led by their host.

The ceremonial robe is a long cloak with golden threads, which is draped over his body without a belt, indicating the solemnity of the occasion.

Tang Hongtao leads Tang Luo to the center of the ceremony hall, accepts the libation (usually liquor – in this case, Tang Luo’s favorite beverage, bamboo leaf green) from the steward (the person holding the tray for the person being crowned and the guest of honor – Chang Fu), and announces to the audience: “On this auspicious day of the month, the ceremonial dress is first adorned. Abandon your juvenile will, let your virtues grow. May you enjoy a long life and abundant blessings.”

The guest of honor raises his glass and responds: “Respect to the ceremonial dress!”

“Drink!” Holding the glass with both hands, Tang Luo looks at the clear liquor in front of him, a strange feeling suddenly rising in his heart. Although he has lived for over forty years across two lifetimes, this is his first time attending such a ceremonious coming-of-age ceremony.

Drinking this glass means he is officially recognized as an adult by the elders of the clan, that he has abandoned his juvenile will to embrace virtuous ways. It signifies that he must begin to live like an adult, no longer relying on his close relatives. It also means that he must start cultivating his own sphere of influence and take his place as an adult.

Taking the clear liquor in his hand in a single gulp, Tang Luo returns the empty glass to the steward’s tray and lifts the second glass.

Tang Hongtao also lifts the second glass of wine and announces to the guests: “On this auspicious day, you put on your suit, respectfully maintaining your prestige, exhibiting your virtues wisely. May you enjoy eternal life and everlastingly receive unending blessings.”

The guest of honor raises his glass again: “Prestige and Virtue!”

The Tang Clan was established on martial arts, with prestige and virtue given utmost importance. What does prestige and virtue mean? Simply put, it means being strong enough that others must respect you, with prestige coming first and virtue following.

You must respect me, otherwise, I’ll beat you up. If after being beaten you still don’t respect me, then I’ll kill you.

Thus, prestige and virtue!

“Drink!” Tang Luo finishes the second glass in one gulp, places it back on the steward’s tray, and lifts the last glass.

Teacher Tang Hongtao solemnly lifts the final glass to the heavens and loudly declares: “With the righteousness of this year and the auspiciousness of this month, we all honor your dress. The presence of your kinsmen signifies your virtues. The Way of Martial Arts is vast and wide, receive the blessings of heaven.”

The Three Realms of Martial Arts are: knowing oneself, knowing the world, and knowing all living things.

Some people start with knowing the world and end with knowing all living things, only to regretfully realize at the end of their lives that they have never truly known themselves. Therefore, on their deathbed, they comprehend that the world they thought they knew was not the true world, and those living beings were not as lowly as they had imagined.

It cannot be denied that this is a regrettable situation. The so-called virtues are the principles truly accepted in the heart. Only by combining knowledge and action can one ride the winds and break the waves on the vast path of martial arts, and invite the favour of the heavens!

The last cup, toasting oneself!

“Drink the victory.” Tang Luo poured the drink into his mouth, the sharp taste shooting straight up to his crown.

The second phase of the crowning ceremony officially ends.

His father, Tang Sen, wearing black robes, held the crown and went to Tang Luo’s side, then solemnly handed it over to his master, Tang Hongtao.

Turning around with a complex look in his eyes, Tang Sen sighed, “After today, you are a grown man.”

After the coming-of-age ceremony, it means he can build his own house. This sensible eldest son will definitely establish his place in the world. Tang Sen is not worried about this. What he suddenly feels regretful about is that Tang Luo, since he was small, had never given him any trouble. At the age of four, he was determined to follow the martial arts path—eleven years of tireless hard work and diligent practice.

Like a monk who practices austerity, he refused to participate in any family gatherings, let alone enjoying pleasures or games. Other children all have some time to enjoy their parents’ affection and company, but in the first few years after his birth, the child cried incessantly at the slightest touch, not to mention any physical affection or fondling.

Even when his mother, Xu Shuhui, wanted to breastfeed him, he resisted fiercely. The milk had to be squeezed into a cup and fed with a small spoon.

In the blink of an eye, fifteen years passed, Tang Luo was standing at his crowning ceremony. Tang Sen realized that he seemed to have never held this son of his in his arms, and he was filled with regret and disappointment.

After today, Tang Luo will be an adult. Because of his inability to articulate, even the duty of hosting the guests was delegated to his master, Tang Hongtao. Suddenly, a strong urge arose in this incredibly powerful martial artist.

He wanted to embrace his son. As soon as this thought came up, he dismissed it immediately. This was the crowning ceremony, a solemn occasion. If he were to embrace his son here, it would embarrass his eldest son, who had a lofty character.

But if he did not hold him now, there wouldn’t be another opportunity in the future. Tang Sen was torn. The arms that could lift mountains had never felt as heavy as they did now. He wanted to lift them but put them down again, at a loss of what to do.

Seeing his father’s torn look and not knowing where to place his arms, Tang Luo instantly understood. Laughing, he said, “Hey, Father.”

Under Tang Sen’s bewildered gaze, Tang Luo opened his arms, “Come, let’s hug!”

The wide sleeve opened. The two hugged each other tightly. It was then that Tang Sen realized just how tall Tang Luo had grown – just a little shorter than his own nearly two meters of height.

He slapped his back, where iron-hard muscles were taut. What a formidable warrior’s physique.

“My child has truly grown.” Tang Sen sighed. He felt proud, yet disappointed. When Tang Luo was born, Tang Sen was working the hardest.

He was giving it his all to provide a good life and rich resources for Xu Shuhui and Tang Luo. If he wasn’t finishing a task, he was accepting one. He would leave the house before dawn, and only return when his child went to sleep. Sometimes he would realize his child had grown a lot when he hadn’t seen him for several months. Every time he saw Tang Luo, it was like seeing a brand new son.

After his family became wealthy, he was in a key position. Despite declining unnecessary tasks, he still only managed to rush home for meals. But most of the time, he was unable to get home on time and missed the growth of his second son, Tang Xing.

Finally, his daughter, Tang Nuannuan, was born. Now he could hold his own daughter. In order to make up for the regret of not spending enough time with his eldest son, he even arranged for his daughter’s bed directly in his room, pouring all his love for his children onto his youngest daughter. So, Tang Nuannuan was particularly fond of him, but perhaps his two sons could never feel his love.

Tang Sen felt somewhat guilty. He hugged Tang Luo tightly. Being a man of few words, he hoped to express his remorse through this action.