Chapter 461: Mr. Jiang, Long Time No See

Duanmu Hongjie raised his hand, looking at his palm, his fingers trembling slightly.

"I... I really became?"

His voice hoarse, filled with disbelief.

Jiang Feng stood to the side, glancing at him lightly, saying nothing.

Duanmu Hongjie took a deep breath, circulating the qi within his body.

A weak but genuine force emanated from him, though only at the level of a Third-grade Martial Artist, it was indeed the aura of a cultivator!

Over twenty years!

He finally sensed qi, finally stepped into the threshold of a martial artist!

"Success! I really succeeded!"

Duanmu Hongjie sprang to his feet, his legs went soft, and with a thud he knelt before Jiang Feng.

"Jiang Ge! Thank you! Thank you!"

His tears streamed down, his voice changed, crying like a child.

These years, although he appeared indifferent, willing to be a decadent playboy, in truth he had been suppressing his inner humiliation.

He knew many in the Duanmu family looked down on him, only out of respect for his aunt Duanmu Ya did they flatter him.

He had heard how those behind him gossiped, called him trash, laughed that the main line would break its inheritance; he just pretended not to know.

But he could not help it.

He lacked cultivation talent, no matter how hard he tried, it was useless.

He could only numb himself with a life of indulgence, to avoid thinking about those things.

Originally he thought he would spend his life like this, muddled, waiting to die...

Yet he never expected that this time, by a twist of fate, he not only escaped death but also became a martial artist!

Although only a Third-grade Martial Artist, to him, reforging his bones was already a tremendous miracle!

"Jiang Ge, my life, Duanmu Hongjie's, from now on belongs to you!"

Duanmu Hongjie knocked his head three times heavily, his forehead turned red.

Jiang Feng glanced at him, tone flat.

"Get up, stop kneeling."

Duanmu Hongjie refused to rise, kneeling on the ground wiping his tears as he spoke.

"Jiang Ge, you don't know how hard these years have been for me. Everyone calls me trash, even I think I'm trash. If not for you, I would have stayed like this forever..."

Jiang Feng said lightly.

"Originally you were because you invited me to eat, that's why you clashed with Duan Zhang, got slapped by him, helping you recover is what I should do."

He paused, then added.

"As for this Supreme Golden Pill, it was also produced by Duan Zhang."

Duanmu Hongjie shook his head, voice choking.

"Jiang Ge, it shouldn't be said like that."

He took a deep breath, calmed himself a bit, then continued.

"I'm very clear, if you hadn't acted, with Duan Zhang's status, even if he beat me to death he wouldn't give any compensation, let alone a Supreme Golden Pill, a holy object!"

Although he had been trash all these years, he wasn't completely ignorant.

"Who is Duan Zhang?"

"The personal disciple of the National Teacher, a big shot from Kyoto, someone who doesn't even fear the Jiangnan King."

"Such a person, killing me, a powerless playboy, would not even blink."

"Not to mention compensation, he wouldn't even utter an apology."

"But Jiang Feng is different."

"Jiang Feng not only made him repay the grudge on the spot, but also forced Duan Zhang to produce the Supreme Golden Pill, personally helped me refine it, turning me from trash into a martial artist."

"This favor is greater than heaven!"

"Jiang Ge, you may think it's nothing, but I know clearly in my heart."

Duanmu Hongjie lifted his head, eyes red, speaking earnestly.

"Just the value of this Supreme Golden Pill alone is far beyond what my aunt, as Jiangnan Branch Master of Yitian Pavilion, could earn in ten years!"

"He speaks the truth."

"Although Yitian Pavilion is powerful, the Jiangnan Branch is merely a division, its annual revenue limited."

"A treasure of the level of Supreme Golden Pill is something even Martial Ancestor experts fight over, priceless and unmarketable, cannot be measured by silver."

"All this is thanks to Jiang Feng!"

"Without Jiang Feng, how could Duan Zhang possibly hand over the Supreme Golden Pill willingly?"

Jiang Feng waved his hand, not wanting to hear more thanks.

"Enough, stop talking. Let the people outside come in."

Duanmu Hongjie wiped his tears, hurriedly stood up.

He knew Jiang Feng disliked nagging, didn't dare say more, turned and walked to the secret room door, pulled it open.

As the door opened, the light from the courtyard surged in.

Duanmu Ya stood outside, anxiously pacing back and forth, seeing the door open, she froze abruptly.

"Hongjie!"

Her voice trembled.

Duanmu Hongjie grinned, tears streaming down again as he laughed.

"Aunt, I've become."

He stirred the qi within his body, and a Third-grade Martial Artist's aura emanated from him.

Although it was weak, it was unmistakably clear.

The courtyard fell silent in an instant.

Everyone stood frozen.

Duanmu Ya widened her eyes, stared fixedly at her nephew, her lips trembling, unable to speak for a long while.

"Third-grade Martial Artist!"

Although it was weak, for a waste who had been unable to sense qi for over twenty years, this was nothing short of a heaven-and-earth transformation!

"Good! Good! Good!"

Duanmu Ya uttered "good" three times, and tears instantly welled up.

She rushed over, enfolded Duanmu Hongjie in a hug, and cried so hard she couldn't speak.

The elders nearby were also excited, gathering around.

"Hongjie has truly become a martial artist!"

"Third-grade! Although not high, his foundation has been rebuilt; he can continue cultivating!"

"Excellent! The main line now has an heir!"

People murmured among themselves, their looks toward Jiang Feng growing more reverent.

Duanmu Ya held Duanmu Hongjie while crying for a while, then released her grip, turned, and walked to Jiang Feng.

She took a deep breath and bowed deeply respectfully.

"Mr. Jiang, your great kindness and virtue, the Duanmu family will never forget."

Jiang Feng waved his hand, his tone calm.

"No need for excessive courtesy."

Duanmu Ya straightened up, wiped her tears, then suddenly turned her head to look at the Duanmu family members in the courtyard.

Her gaze swept over each person, her voice resonant.

"From now on, Duanmu Hongjie officially becomes the Young Family Head of the Duanmu family!"

As soon as she said that, the courtyard erupted in commotion again.

Several elders glanced at each other, none objected.

Although Duanmu Hongjie was previously a waste, he is now a martial artist, and with someone as strong as Jiang Feng backing him from behind, no one dares to utter a single word of opposition to his becoming Young Family Head.

Duanmu Hongjie himself was stunned.

"Aunt, this..."

Duanmu Ya raised her hand to interrupt him.

"Don't say more; I've already decided this matter."

As she spoke, she turned her gaze to Jiang Feng, her voice more solemn.

"There is one more matter I wish to announce before everyone."

The courtyard quieted down, everyone looking at Duanmu Ya.

Duanmu Ya took a deep breath and spoke, word by word.

"From today onward, the Duanmu family will forever be loyal to Mr. Jiang!"

As soon as she said that, the whole courtyard burst into an uproar.

Several elders' faces changed dramatically, they glanced at each other, wanting to speak but holding back.

"Loyalty?"

"This is a major matter!"

Yet no one dared to stand up and oppose.

First, Duanmu Ya is the Family Head, her word is final.

Second, Jiang Feng's strength is evident—he dares to strike even the National Teacher's disciples, and he gives out Supreme Golden Pills as if they were nothing; aligning with such a person is a tremendous blessing for the Duanmu family.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng's expression remained calm, merely giving a slight nod.

"Hmm."

Just one word, as if the Duanmu family's loyalty to him were a trivial matter.

But Duanmu Ya felt relieved in her heart.

She knew Jiang Feng had accepted.

From now on, the Duanmu family has a backer.

She turned her head to look at Duanmu Hongjie and said.

"Hongjie, go rest first and solidify your cultivation. I have something to discuss privately with Mr. Jiang."

Duanmu Hongjie quickly nodded, bowed again to Jiang Feng, then followed several elders out of the courtyard.

The others also dispersed, and soon only Duanmu Ya and Jiang Feng remained in the courtyard.

Duanmu Ya walked up to Jiang Feng, lowered her voice, her tone tinged with excitement.

"By the way, Mr. Jiang, there's something I want to tell you."

Jiang Feng looked at her, saying nothing.

Duanmu Ya took a deep breath and spoke.

"Someone from the Yitian Pavilion Headquarters has come; she wishes to meet you."

"By the way, the visitor is an old friend of yours..."

As she said this, Duanmu Ya suddenly stepped back.

"Mr. Jiang, long time no see."

However, Miao Linfeng appeared in the courtyard at some unknown moment, suddenly.