Hikaru Uchiha noticed the fleeting smile on Zuo Ruotong's face and immediately understood: the man would likely continue walking the path laid out in the original story.
Respect others' fates. Let go of the hero complex.
His earlier guidance had simply been a gesture of goodwill, nothing more. Whether Zuo followed his advice or not—it was up to him.
At that moment, Old Master Lu slowly made his way over.
His body trembled, his face pale as a sheet—it was obvious he was in terrible condition.
Understandable, given that what should've been a joyous birthday banquet had nearly ended in bloodshed. A brush with such catastrophe would shake anyone.
And yet, despite his frail state, Old Master Lu steadied himself and bowed deeply toward Hikaru.
His voice quivered with emotion, but his gratitude was unmistakable:
"Immortal, we owe you our lives. Had you not intervened, this old man would've died with unbearable shame on his shoulders."
He wasn't exaggerating.
Had the invited sects of Huaguo suffered tragedy here today, the consequences would've rippled through the entire world of the Gifted.
Even if the Lu Clan survived, their reputation and strength would've been crippled beyond recovery.
Thus, in Old Master Lu's heart, Hikaru wasn't just a savior—he was a benefactor worthy of lifelong reverence.
He would do anything Hikaru asked.
Hikaru could hear the sincerity in his voice. He originally intended to brush it off.
But then he changed his mind.
He gave a casual smile and said,
"Old Master Lu, if you really want to thank me—would you grant me one request?"
Old Master Lu didn't hesitate.
"Immortal, say the word! Even ten or a hundred favors—so long as the Lu Clan can do it, we will!"
Hikaru chuckled and shook his head.
"No need for that. Just one small thing."
He swept his gaze across Lu Jin and Zhang Zhiwei, then continued:
"Someone mentioned earlier about having the younger generation spar during the banquet. Why not hold that match tomorrow instead?"
For a moment, silence.
Everyone had expected Hikaru to ask for something grand or complicated.
After all, he had literally saved everyone's lives.
But instead—he wanted to… watch a sparring match?
Yet realization quickly set in—and so did excitement.
The Immortal himself wanted to watch them fight.
If he took a liking to someone, that person's future could change forever.
Skip decades of struggle. Skip the bottlenecks.
This was an opportunity of a lifetime.
Lu Jin's Impending Doom
Standing nearby, Lu Jin suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
He instinctively rubbed the back of his head.
'Why do I have a bad feeling about this…?'
Old Master Lu, meanwhile, was still confused by Hikaru's unusual request.
But it wasn't difficult or harmful—in fact, it might even bring the Lu Clan more prestige.
So he nodded immediately:
"Of course! As the Immortal wishes. Tomorrow, I shall organize a youth competition worthy of your eyes."
With that, he turned and left to begin preparations for the grand event.
The Next Day
By nightfall, the entire Lu Clan estate was a hive of activity.
Multiple dueling platforms were erected, audience seats and rest areas carefully prepared, ensuring every guest had a comfortable viewing experience.
Come dawn, the training grounds were already packed.
News of the Immortal's attendance had spread.
Wandering shinobi, rogue cultivators, and lone warriors rushed in overnight hoping to be noticed and taken under Hikaru's wing.
If there had been more time, even more would've shown up.
The Lu Clan had no choice but to work overtime managing the flood.
As waves of guests poured in, excitement buzzed through the air.
People chatted in hushed whispers, eyes gleaming, breath bated.
In the center of it all, Hikaru sat calmly on a high viewing platform.
His expression remained flat—he didn't really care about the matches.
No, the real reason he arranged all this—
Was to witness Lu Jin getting smacked in the face by Zhang Zhiwei.
An iconic moment, one he refused to miss.
The corner of Hikaru's mouth curved slightly.
From inside his robes, he pulled out the latest recording device from Konoha, ready to capture the glorious moment.
The Audience Knows
Standing beside him, Chinatsu and Kaguya Hime had to stifle their laughter.
They knew exactly what Hikaru was up to.
They'd seen this same look countless times before.
In Konoha, stories of the Uchiha Clan's antics had long become the stuff of legend.
Even Tobirama Senju, once their harshest critic, now called them the "Clown Clan."
The girls still remembered the day when a whole line of "victims" of the Uchiha Clan's antics formed outside Hikaru's estate.
They didn't complain. Didn't argue.
They just stood there.
Staring.
Quiet. Innocent. Broken.
Only after Hikaru generously compensated them with bloodline-enhancing pills did they finally leave.
They never found out that their most embarrassing moments had already been silently recorded…
…And later played in a public loop on the big screen outside the Hokage Tower.
That day, those victims learned what true despair was.
The Sparring Begins
While the crowd's attention was scattered across the various platforms, Lu Jin finally stepped onto the field.
His first opponent: Liu Deshui—someone from another sect who apparently had some lingering feud with the Trinity Gate.
Liu Deshui wasn't weak.
But in the end, Lu Jin was still stronger.
Though he took a few hits, he emerged victorious.
Just as things were calming, Lü Ci was eager to challenge Lu Jin next.
But his older brother Lü Ren stopped him.
He looked around, then said:
"Look at all these arenas. Why must you go picking a fight with Lu Jin? You two are evenly matched—it'll be too hard to hold back."
Lü Ci calmed down after hearing that.
After a moment's thought, he agreed and backed off.