Zhang Xingshan and Luo Xi arrived early at the Martial Arts Hall and looked with strange expressions at a man with a face full of hostility and a thug-like attitude swaggering into the hall.
Beside him was Senior Brother Yang Yao.
Senior Brother had a peculiar expression, as if he wanted to laugh but didn't dare to, struggling to hold it in.
As they got closer, they could faintly hear the conversation between the bald man and Senior Brother.
"You come here without tidying up yourself. Are you expecting Master to tidy you up?"
"What do you know? Where's our brother?"
"I'm here."
"You?"
The bald man pulled down his sunglasses, giving him a disdainful look that said everything,
"I meant Qiu."
Qiu? Jing Qiu?
Yang Yao looked astonished, *When did Jing Qiu get to know this ruffian?*
"This girl is from the Old Luo family, right? Hahaha, she looks so charming! Send my regards to Old Luo!"
Zhang Chongba nonchalantly raised his hand and greeted Luo Xi.
Recently, he had forcefully requisitioned resources from the Security Bureau to search for traces of Li Buyi. The local Security Bureau Chief, Luo Qingyan, had been very cooperative, leaving a good impression on him.
After speaking, he looked around, scanning every corner of the training ground, and couldn't find Ji Jingqiu, so he asked in bewilderment,
"Where's our brother? He hasn't been pulled away for special training by my second uncle, has he?"
Moments later, Zhang Chongba realized he had arrived too early.
Ji Jingqiu actually only arrived at the Martial Arts Hall around nine o'clock every morning.
This made Zhang Chongba lament.
*Lazy! Our brother is so lazy!*
*Second uncle is lazy too!*
*When I was young, my second uncle used to drag me out of bed before dawn, throw me into ice water, saying to wake up, and then start specialized training.*
*How can you rely on your talent and be so lazy?*
*I must talk to him seriously later!*
Then Zhang Chongba was taken away by the unfriendly Master Yang, who had come to investigate.
Luo Xi, with her beautiful eyebrows furrowed, whispered to Yang Yao, "Senior Brother, who was that just now?"
She actually just wanted to know who the Old Luo mentioned by the other person was, her father?
Yang Yao scratched his chin, "Master's nephew, you should call him Senior Brother when you meet him in the future... hmm, just call him Bage."
Luo Xi was a bit bewildered.
Call him Bage?
But if he knows her father, wouldn't that mess up the generations?
Yang Yao watched the figure being led away by Master, feeling nostalgic joy of a reunion with an old friend, as well as a melancholy of painful memories.
The boost was because Bage's martial arts realm was now on par with Master.
With this heaven-sent support, there was more confidence to deal with the Supreme True Buddha Sect!
As for the melancholy of painful memories...
Tsk, back then when he was learning martial arts, Master didn't have time, so this guy was left in charge of teaching him, which could be summed up in four words:
"No human decency."
...
"Second uncle, your nephew greets you." Zhang Chongba nodded and bowed.
Yang Yan frowned and said, "Why are you here?"
"I'm currently working at the Religious Administration." Zhang Chongba straightened up, "I'm on official duty this time!"
"Oh?" Yang Yan was moved, carefully scrutinizing him, "Is everyone at the Administration as unruly as you?"
Zhang Chongba chuckled.
"The Administration... there doesn't seem to be any deities worth your attention at East Three Bright Star, does there?" Yang Yan pondered, "Could it be that you're here for the Supreme True Buddha Sect?"
"Yes, the person from the Supreme True Buddha Sect this time is Blood Arhat Li Buyi," Zhang Chongba said seriously, "He has mastered a secret skill and has the record of assassinating the Fifth Realm. If you encounter him, Second Uncle, you must be careful!"
Yang Yan's pupils shrank, "The Fifth Realm Heart Image, how could it be assassinated?!"
A Heart Image expert's spiritual cultivation must have reached Pan Ding, calm even if the sky falls, untouched by water or fire, and they've ignited a spiritual fire, condensing their lifebound character...
Such strength should not have the possibility of being assassinated!
Zhang Chongba responded crisply, "Not clear, prior to this his combat power was only middle-upper within the Fourth Realm. We speculate he either mastered some Superior secret skill or borrowed the power of the Evil Buddha."
"The power of the Evil Buddha..." Yang Yan didn't speak, looking up, "You want me to help you surround Li Buyi together? Sure, I'll agree."
Hearing his second uncle agree so readily, Zhang Chongba felt a bit embarrassed:
"Actually, it's like this..."
Upon hearing Zhang Chongba's intention, Yang Yan's face darkened, his lion-like face suddenly fierce, even though Zhang Chongba was already in the same realm as his second uncle, if not higher, he still retracted his neck without much backbone.
He was known for being mischievous at home, with his family elders happy to pamper him, except for this second uncle, who never indulged him at all.
Before the age of sixteen, Zhang Chongba would run at the sight of Yang Yan.
At sixteen, he began martial arts and wanted to run every time he saw Yang Yan, but he couldn't escape anymore.
By eighteen, having achieved a small success in martial arts, Zhang Chongba simply ran away from home.
It wasn't until he had led Yang Yao out that Zhang Chongba felt comfortable.
Yang Yan scolded, "Bastard! What realm is Jingqiu at? If you have him involved in this matter, he could easily die on the spot with the slightest carelessness!"
"Second Uncle, didn't I say? The issue now is that Qiu is already being targeted by Li Buyi," Zhang Chongba's expression was serious, "Li Buyi is cunning and cautious, and would flee with the slightest hint of wind and grass, taking no risks."
"Besides, Jingqiu already has a tracking mark placed on him. If you send him away now, Li Buyi will surely notice."
"Only by completely resolving him can we avoid future troubles!"
Yang Yan furrowed his brows tightly, fell silent for a long time before saying, "If absolutely necessary, send Jingqiu to the Dragon Tiger Dojo and use the dojo's resources..."
Zhang Chongba interrupted and said:
"They've found a Superior genius with Martial Wisdom this generation, who allegedly has the chance to vie for the Martial Arts Pride position of this era. They've been focusing resources on that person since last year, while Qiu lags too far in every aspect, meaning even if he goes, he wouldn't get any resources."
Hearing this news, Yang Yan showed surprise: "What kind of genius is this?"
Zhang Chongba's one sentence dispelled the rest of Yang Yan's thoughts:
"That person comprehended the essence of the dojo's core inheritance, the 'Dragon Tiger Cloud Map,' in just three days."
Yang Yan was stunned.
The 'Dragon Tiger Cloud Map' was an upper-level visualization map ranked among the federal top tier.
What he practiced was the 'Starving Tiger Holding a Knife' map, which was one of the simplified versions of the 'Dragon Tiger Cloud Map.'
Superior visualization maps are extremely difficult to master; many retreat for lesser versions first and then attempt advancement.
Although Jingqiu was exceptionally talented in spiritual cultivation, far exceeding his younger self, having ignited the Heart Fire on first meditation, he had estimated it'd take him half a year just to master 'Starving Tiger Holding a Knife.'
To comprehend, moreover deeply grasp the essence of an upper-level visualization map within three days...
That's incredible.
No wonder they were so confident, asserting the possibility of that child vying for the Arrogant Sun position of this era.
Even sending Jingqiu there would not significantly shift dojo resources in his favor...
"Second Uncle, I understand what you're thinking, but why rely on them?"
Zhang Chongba smiled and said,
"I've checked, Qiu was granted entry into the Order Office's External Combat System due to his righteous deeds. After the event concludes, I can joint-advocate to secure the External Combat System's highest standard support for him, isn't that far freer than any dojo?"
Yang Yan fell into deep thought.
He actually preferred letting Ji Jingqiu establish good relations with the official powers.
Martial artists often breach restrictions—sometimes, even with good intentions, breaking the law is breaking the law.
In such cases, mediators from enforcement agencies are needed since laws are dead, but enforcers are living beings.
Often whether something's nature is serious hinges on what someone says.
How to make others speak for you depends on what you've done and accomplished.
Alternatively, be one of those whose words decide the matter.
Suddenly, Yang Yan asked, "Have you reached Pan Ding?"
Zhang Chongba touched his bald head, chuckling, "Good luck, good luck."
Looking at this child left by his elder sister, Yang Yan's brows also softened, nodding:
"I have a few pieces of Purifying Divine Incense here, since you've come, I'll give them to you."
...
When Ji Jingqiu arrived at the Martial Arts Hall, he found everyone gathered in Master Yang's room.
Bage was also there, including the visualization map hanging on the wall.
Ji Jingqiu immediately understood, the time to officially become a junior brother had come.
Only...
Wasn't Master Yang advising him to hold back on his spiritual cultivation speed?
Just then, Master Yang's voice entered his ear.
"Later, you'll be formally introduced to the Spirit Ocean by Chongba..."