Chapter 31

Returning to the Jiangnan Base City Northern Military Region just happened to be afternoon, and the arranged schedule also just happened to meet Luofeng here.

The reason I deliberately wanted to run into Luofeng was, besides keeping in touch emotionally, of course also to settle the mess that Xiao A Yun stirred up.

Xuxin, although not a martial arts genius, is indeed Luofeng's perfect match; she can be a capable wife along Luofeng's long martial arts path, managing household affairs, and during Luofeng's martial arts leisure she can also give him the most genuine warmth.

In terms of time measured in tens of thousands of years, it can only be said that for Luofeng, a wife like Xuxin might not be found even after searching the Universe for tens of thousands of years.

If those two were to break up, who knows how great the sin would be.

Over the past few years, the Xu family's work, both overt and covert, by A Yun domestically has affected its reputation and business to a considerable extent. Moreover, this incident not only affects the HR Alliance's domestic business, but also makes the Xu family uncomfortable when dealing with other allied families, after all, as you Xu family members say, the business suffering affects everyone.

At the very least, to keep the Luofeng-Xuxin pair together, we cannot let the Xu family fall into ruin because of Luofeng.

"A Feng! Over here!"

Chén Chén shouted while waving his hand.

Although Chén Chén normally wouldn't do such a passerby‑like act, but since his daughter stirred up trouble, he still has to steadily help Luofeng resolve it.

"Chen Ge, Jiāng Jiāng, you're back!"

Luofeng heard the voice and immediately walked over.

"I just heard about your situation; weren't you at 003? How did you suddenly come back."

"People need rest, after all; we're not like you. I've heard you've been crazy hunting here for almost two months, and everyone calls you Luo Fengzi."

That remark is certainly not just a simple compliment or mutual promotion. The matter of Xu Gang and Luofeng's story spread because of their connection; they complemented each other to achieve this effect, and if Chén Chén had immediately asked about Xu Gang's affairs it would have been inappropriate, but following the nickname made it natural.

"It doesn't have the fame of your two names."

Luofeng gave Chén Chén's shoulder a thump.

Then he introduced Chén Chén and Jiāng Jiāng to the few friends behind him.

"This is the captain of our Fire Hammer Squad, Shuangfengchui Gao Feng; the vice‑captain is Huoqiang Chen Gu; also there's Shuangyuānwāndāo Wei Tie and Wei Qing."

"Long admired, long admired."

Although it has been decided that Luofeng, Chén Chén and several others have obtained the quotas for the War God Training Camp, it is also an unwritten rule, so most martial artists still don't know about it.

Within the Fire Hammer Squad, only the squad leader Gao Feng knows that Luofeng has already obtained the preliminary qualification to enter the War God Training Camp.

Although Luofeng is destined not to become a pillar of the squad, spending a month or two to gain the friendship of someone who could at least be a War God is still an account that Gao Feng will reckon with.

"Hey A Feng, I also heard you were insulted by someone from a big clan—what exactly happened?"

Chén Chén took the opportunity to catch up and immediately steered the conversation toward Xu Gang's affair.

All Chén Chén needed was simple: guide Luofeng to say that his relationship with Xuxin is actually fine, that Xu Gang isn't being excessive, just hint that he doesn't care about Xu family matters, and preferably praise Xuxin's approachable personality.

Then, by letting A Yun add fuel to the fire and spread this information, the direction of public opinion could be changed.

But what Chén Chén didn't expect was that Jiāng Jiāng, for some reason, immediately took over the conversation.

"Yes, yes! I've heard all about it—Luofeng big brother, don't put up with it; if I were to say it, those people from whatever clan just have no vision."

"In our huge Jiangnan City, whose talent could match yours… and Chén Chén's—could that whatever clan possibly stand up to a War God who can be summoned and dismissed at will?"

The reason I picked up Chén Chén's cue so easily is simply that the two of us share a tacit understanding that astonishes ordinary people, which most people can't grasp.

First of all, Chén Chén suddenly bringing up the other's title is not just a casual mention; it's a signal he's sending himself, indicating that regarding Luofeng's affairs, Chén Chén is about to take action!

And after returning here, the only thing concerning Luofeng is the nickname… and also the story of Luofeng and that family.

At this moment, Jiāng Jiāng finally understood the meaning of what Chén Chén had originally said: "My Luofeng brothers are invincible under heaven."

With Chén Chén's and my own talent, if we tried to hide, it would not only involve risk, but also cause us to miss many resources for growth, slowing our development.

But if the limelight is too bright, we will encounter many, many problems, and that is where Luofeng's role comes into play.

If we follow Chén Chén's saying, everyone knows the world's highest peak is Mount Everest, but as for the second, I have no idea at all.

The meaning is simply this: we just need to make Luofeng this "first" to attract others' attention, and as long as I and Chén Chén pose as second and third, we can be as safe as possible.

And right now is the best opportunity; it's not about the reputation Luofeng has made nearby, after all, judging solely by battle record, Chén Chén is indeed a bit higher. Moreover, whenever Chén Chén shows off his skills, it's always ill-timed, running into many witnesses, and he can't hide.

But the conflict between Luofeng and the big domestic families—that's major news.

After all, no matter how many monsters Chén Chén slays, it still can't compare to the number of war gods; war gods may be formidable, but there are many of them, and the ability that I and Chén Chén have is, frankly, just petty skirmishes.

But a scenario where an ordinary martial artist opposes a tyrant family is not that common.

Jiāng Jiāng listened on the side, and indeed Chén Chén immediately brought up the matter of Luofeng and the Xu family; it seems my guess was completely correct.

So Jiāng Jiāng decisively took up the cue, praising, praising hard.

All I need to do is subtly reveal that Chén Chén has always regarded Luofeng as an "opponent," a "rival," even feeling inferior to him; then much of the attention and amazement directed at me and Chén Chén will shift to Luofeng.

Then people will say, "I thought Chén Chén was already invincible under heaven, but I didn't expect someone to be even fiercer than him."

Although I can't recall exactly when Chén Chén said this, it's obviously applicable now.

"Chén Chén told me, Luofeng big brother, within three years you must…"

Jiāng Jiāng kept talking, then unconsciously closed her mouth, then softly added: "In short, Luofeng big brother, just go ahead and show off… mmm mmm."

Mid-sentence, Chén Chén covered her mouth.

Although her mouth was covered, it was exactly what Jiāng Jiāng intended.

Chén Chén already understood his own maneuver.

Finally, leaving a suspense, the more it piques people's curiosity, the more they want to find out, and the story of today's Chén Chén and Luofeng will spread more easily.

Seeing Jiāng Jiāng with that "truly having me" expression, Chén Chén was furious, wondering what major illness this little miss had today to suddenly say so much.

Jiāng Jiāng, upon seeing Chén Chén, instantly realized, and immediately made an expression of having misspoken.

Chén Chén helplessly sighed, "Forget it," and was about to release Jiāng Jiāng to make amends, but didn't expect Jiāng Jiāng to utter another line.

"Thirty years east, thirty years west—the Xu family can rely on a bit of dirty money to flaunt their might before us low-level martial artists; Luofeng big brother, you can become a war god in three years, even surpass a war god, that's no problem!"

Chén Chén: nmd

Jiāng Jiāng: Don't worry, I understand, I understand.

————

Xu Family, the main residence of Jiangnan Base City.

The door of the solitary confinement room suddenly opened, and indeed the protagonist of the event currently rampant in the Jiangnan region, the Xu family's prodigal son Xu Gang.

"Brother, Grandfather wants you to go to the ancestral hall."

Xu Gang slowly rose from his seat.

"Xuxin, you also know my situation, I'm just……"

"Alright, alright, first get past Grandfather's test."

Xu Gang sighed, didn't say anything else, got up and headed to the ancestral hall.

The Xu Family has existed since before the Great Nirvana, a huge clan, and most of the HR Alliance are like that; however, compared to some oligarchic families outside China, the several major families within China have never been considered particularly strong, relying instead on the Xu family's accumulated heritage over generations.

The Xu Family Ancestral Hall preserves spirit tablets of over ten generations of the Xu family; even to this day, only a family of the Xu family's stature can preserve them so completely.

Xu Gang walked slowly into the ancestral hall, where Grandfather was kneeling on the futon, offering incense.

"Kneel down."

Xu Gang responded, lit a stick of incense, knelt down and paid his respects.

"A Gang, you've always been clever since childhood, but you're impatient and don't think much of ordinary people."

"Originally, the world should be like this: the strong forge history, the weak multiply as a species, and to us aristocratic families, ordinary people are no different from ants."

"But you've mistaken one thing: martial artists are the pinnacle of this world; so-called wealth and power are mere illusions before absolute martial strength—our family has endured this long, and that's all it amounts to."

"And existences like Hong and the Thunder God—just one of them would make a family the world's foremost; indeed, every War God would gradually become nobility of the upper world, and in another ten, twenty, thirty years, martial artists will increase, War Gods will increase, and the offspring of War Gods will also be martial artists."

Old Master Xu said while inserting the tribute incense into the offering table, then kowtowed three times in succession.

"What do you think—if Xuxin doesn't marry a martial artist, would marrying someone like you not make her a useless waste in the eyes of martial artists?"

"Nowadays, everyone in the major families hopes their direct line will produce a talented martial artist; only then can the family possibly survive the next twenty or thirty years."

"If our family lacks ability……"

"Kowtow."

Old Master Xu said.

Xu Gang offered the incense, then kowtowed hard five times in a row.

Old Master Xu nodded slightly in secret.

"But wanting to be our Xu family's son-in-law isn't that easy; Xuxin's own opinion comes first, and besides, he can't be someone incapable or unable to amount to anything—at the very least, he must treat Xuxin well."

"Looking at this, that guy named Luofeng is quite impressive in every way; find a chance to go with your sister and apologize to him—whether we become one family later is another matter, but for you to stay in the Xu family this time, you also owe him thanks."

Xu Gang felt a bit confused, but at times like this, naturally one first agrees to everything, then considers later.

"Alright, you may go."

Leaving the ancestral hall, he happened to run into Xuxin waiting nearby; Xu Gang felt embarrassed and, without a word, headed back to his room.

"It's fine, Brother, I don't blame you; when you have time, let's go together to talk things out with Luofeng."

Xu Gang turned his back on Xuxin, nodded, gave an affirmative hum, then hurried back to his room.

After tidying up his appearance, Xu Gang finally calmed down to check some online news.

In the solitary confinement room, internet access is unavailable; the worst news he'd heard before was that his family's business had been declining for days due to his own affairs.

But since Grandfather said so, the matter can be considered past.

"Luofeng personally said this to his close buddy and rival; actually Xu Gang's attitude back then wasn't bad—he just warned Luofeng to stay away from his sister, with pictures as proof, rumors end with the wise."

"That's still the same disdain for low‑level martial artists; those big families are all alike."

"And it's not your sister—if it were you, would you want to entrust your own sister to someone who risks life and death every day?"

"It's said the Xu siblings have always gotten along; it's not surprising that the sister was swept off her feet by a stranger."

"I also heard that Luofeng himself said it's understandable, but he'll prove his worth to the Xu family through his own effort."

"Holy shit, he's not a lunatic—I like his personality."

"Hahaha, so love is also a motivator."

Negative posts about him are still numerous, though they've dropped from the original hundred percent to eighty percent.

Most importantly, Luofeng's stance on pursuing love through effort became everyone's focus, and he himself was labeled 'sister‑protective' to fit the image of a brother‑in‑law, making him far less hateful than before.

Although most martial artists still have nothing good to say about him, it's not to the point of making them hate him to the point of itching teeth.

And all this is also thanks to his future brother‑in‑law—whether intentional or not, his getting through this crisis is indeed because of Luofeng.

Thinking this over, Xu Gang found Luofeng increasingly pleasing to the eye; he hadn't realized how outstanding Luofeng was in the Jiangnan area, and it looks very likely he could secure the Jiangnan Base City's 'War God quota'.

Had he known earlier, Xu Gang would never have gone looking for trouble with Luofeng.

"Sigh."

"One loss, one gain—although this lesson came at a high cost, it's over now."

After figuring all this out, Xu Gang no longer resisted going to apologize to Luofeng; he stood up, prepared to go find Xuxin, but upon reaching the door, remembering his forehead wound hadn't healed, he decided to wait a couple more days.

At the same moment, the little A Yun watching from the sky let out a long sigh of relief—mission accomplished.

Father's duty really isn't easy to say, especially those words about Mother Jiang Jiang; with many people present hearing them, bringing things full circle perfectly took considerable effort.

Turning his gaze toward a spot beneath the clouds, a private jet had just flown into Jiangnan.

"So next up is you—the offspring of the Bolena Si family's second daughter and the Li family's marriage alliance, the son of the HR Alliance China Region Executive President."

"No, how am I supposed to get the Xu family out of this plan? It's really a headache."