Getting Stronger By Fighting

Without a doubt, Lin Hao was on the verge of losing his mind. Those in the academy aware of the situation started looking around to see if they could escape somehow.

Damn, is this Student Wang Zhan really that ruthless? Doesn't he fear that Mentor Lin Han might be so overwhelmed that he'd consider suicide by jumping off a building? No, no, that's not right; jumping off a building probably wouldn't kill him. But becoming a recluse, now that really is a possibility!

The problem is, if Lin Han becomes a recluse, they'll become recluses too!

However, some people were simply taking pleasure in others' misfortune. Being a recluse? That doesn't exist for them.

"HAHAHA! This is fun, too much fun! Mentor Lin Han is always so irritating, like a pestering mosquito. Yet, as soon as Student Wang Zhan makes a move, his methods are extraordinary, hitting right where it hurts. Interesting, very interesting..."

Others, however, hurriedly tried to comfort him, hoping to avoid becoming collateral damage.

"Mentor Lin Han, are you okay? A Level 3 Martial King... that's all it is, very simple! Once you break through the Martial King threshold, you might inadvertently reach the Level 5 Martial King Realm and be on par with your brother..."

The rest quickly slapped their foreheads. You motherfucker, if you can't speak, let us do it!

Forget it. There's no point talking to someone having a mental breakdown. Just let it be...

Little did they know, Lin Han's eyes had already lost focus. There was only one thought in his mind, and he paid no attention to others' opinions. He muttered to himself, "Level 3 Martial King... Level 3 Martial King... If you don't work hard when you're young, you'll only regret it when you're old. If you don't work hard when you're young, you'll only regret it when you're old..."

Lin Han was conflicted; saying more would only bring tears. He wanted to cry but had no tears left. The others glanced at each other, completely speechless and somewhat dismayed.

Forget it, he's beyond saving. Just drag him off and bury him...

As for Wang Zhan, the instigator of all this, he had quietly planted a seed. After waiting for it to take root and sprout in the spring, he directly left the "crime scene."

Yes, this was his way of achieving great things while keeping a low profile, then walking away once the deed was done. Though, it was somewhat... punchable.

This time, when Wang Zhan returned, perhaps because he landed at Jing State West Airport, he didn't face the usual hounding from reporters and felt quite at ease. So, even when Su Tao—who clearly owed him 10.1 billion and had no way to repay it—showed up, Wang Zhan didn't get angry. Even when Yu Lan told Wang Zhan that Su Tao had just used the highest market price to buy a few minor media outlets and tabloids, Wang Zhan didn't care and just chuckled.

"Alright, alright. The guy is pathetic enough as it is. He owes me 10 billion, and who knows when he'll pay it back. And you still won't let him spend a little money? Just add it to the 10 billion bill. No big deal. When you're deep in debt, what's a little more? It's a bad debt anyway. Keeping him around to clean the company's toilets wouldn't be a bad idea..."

Damn it... Wang Zhan! Su Tao inwardly exclaimed. What a cunning kid! He went out for a while and came back a completely different person. Didn't he only like money before? Now he's actually interested in other people's... bodies? What kind of twisted interest is this?

The mere thought made Su Tao shiver.

A 10 billion debt for cleaning toilets... How long will I have to scrub...? Cleaning toilets isn't the issue. The problem is that even if I cleaned toilets for a lifetime, I might never see a day of freedom. That's terrifying! They say freedom is precious, and love is dearer still. But if it's for freedom, love must be cast aside.

Su Tao really wanted to say something to Wang Zhan, fearing he would regret it forever if he missed this chance.

"Isn't it just money? I'll give it to you! Don't think I... I... I can't come up with it! Damn it..."

Mom, your son misses you so much... Can you lend me, say, ten or twenty billion...?

Fortunately, Wang Zhan wasn't a complete devil. At least for now, he still wanted to be the good son in his mother's eyes.

He got into the car Yu Lan had arranged, and a neat convoy immediately departed from Jing State West Airport. They sped away, leaving a trail of dust, which sparked a hint of envy in the eyes of the soldiers watching them go.

"Sigh, they have it good! Whether there's a war or not, as long as they have money, they can do anything."

"We shouldn't even think about it. Let's just focus on our duty! If anything goes wrong, forget dreaming; it'd be hard to even be a ghost..."

Nobody knew that since Jing State suffered that catastrophe, the original G7 Route 33 had been completely obliterated, leveled to the ground without a single brick or tile remaining. Because of this, the Federation had hurriedly built two new airports: one in the east and one in the west. The eastern one served as the common airport, while the western one was a place frequented by important figures, including many young masters from powerful and wealthy families.

Just after Wang Zhan left, a few groups of curious young people at the airport watched his convoy disappear into the distance. Leading them were three young masters dressed in casual attire, followed by six or seven security personnel in formal suits. But what truly caught the eye were the six flamboyantly dressed women. Although their general bearing and refinement were clearly a notch below the women accompanying Wang Zhan, they were all dressed in revealing outfits that accentuated their ample figures. They frequently rubbed against the young masters, unconcerned by onlookers' gazes, instead laughing and clearly enjoying themselves.

"Who is that person?" a young man with the surname Xu suddenly asked, wondering when such a figure had appeared in Jing State.

Another young man, also with the surname Xu, replied with a smile, "Don't you know why your own younger brother was dragged off by your old man to be locked up in that godforsaken place?"

Yet another person chimed in, adding fuel to the fire, "To suddenly emerge in Jing State like this, surrounded by so many beautiful women—who else could it be but that young hero of the Federation?"

The first young man, Xu, looked at the two instigators, a cold glint flashing silently in his eyes. But they didn't notice. Only the two exquisitely-figured women clinging to this young man knew; they felt a chill creep over them. But in an instant, Xu concealed all his emotions, his voice calm as he said, "So, it's him!"

Unbeknownst to the others, his hands had already, one on each side, scaled the magnificent, perilous peaks. A ripple seemed to pass through them, and the corners of his mouth curved up slightly as he spoke, "Well then, do you ladies think your charms are so much worse than those 'characters' around that lad?"

The two women's hearts tightened, but they quickly composed themselves and replied in a fawning, eager-to-please tone, "Oh, Young Master, you're terrible! How could those common powders and cheap rouges compare to us, your most beloved sisters?"

The young man Xu burst into hearty laughter. The other two also laughed, as if what had just happened was merely an interlude. Xu waved his hand, and they walked straight past the stiffly standing soldiers on duty.

"Let's go! Tonight, we drink until we drop!"

Others were also watching, but their gazes were silent and somber, as if they had long grown accustomed to such scenes.

「In the car.」

Yang Cui looked at Wang Zhan, seeming to want to say something but hesitating, a hint of worry in her eyes.

"Son..."

Wang Zhan took her hand, his voice tinged with apology. "Mom, I haven't found Sis yet. But don't worry, I'll find her soon. How have you been lately?"

Yao Yao, driving in the front, glanced in the rearview mirror. Watching the unbreakable bond of kinship between Yang Cui and Wang Zhan, she felt a pang of envy. Her parents had also moved to Jing State. But compared to Wang Zhan's mother, Yang Cui, who was calm and composed, her parents had clearly become much more reserved. It was as if they were only now truly recognizing the changes surrounding Yao Yao, her current status, and her power. And all of this signified a growing distance.

"...By the way, Yao Yao, how long are you back for this time? We haven't spent much time together recently." Wang Zhan looked at Yao Yao—who was, in name and in fact, his official girlfriend—and asked with a grin.

Yao Yao tilted her head slightly, thought for a moment, then replied earnestly, "Well, I have to leave again soon after this visit. We probably won't have very long together..."

Yang Cui's face was filled with affection and approval, but she didn't interrupt. Let the young people handle their own affairs!

Wang Zhan, however, was taken aback. "Huh? So soon? How long is 'not very long' exactly? I was thinking of taking you to see a movie and explore Jing State!"

Little did he know... Yao Yao, still with a serious expression, said, "'Not very long' means not very long! Probably... at most... only about two or three months!"

"..."

Wang Zhan looked resigned for a moment, but then his smile grew even brighter. The matters on the Star War Battlefield will probably take a few months anyway, he thought to himself. So, I'm not in a rush after all.

Only Yao Yao was left giggling, clearly enjoying life.

Yang Cui finally spoke at just the right moment. "It's wonderful that you two can spend more time together, but you must take safety precautions..."

Instantly, Yao Yao's face flushed bright red, and Wang Zhan quickly explained, "Mom, I'm still just a kid!"

"Yes, a 'kid' who's, what, all of two or three months old now?"

Just as mother and son were bantering in the car.

BOOM!

A violent roar suddenly erupted from the right side of their car. Wang Zhan's and Yao Yao's expressions turned stern. Yang Cui, startled, looked flustered.

"What happened over there?" She immediately wanted to look outside and see what had happened.

But Wang Zhan took her hand, a faint smile on his lips, and said reassuringly, betraying nothing, "It's just a small car accident. Nothing serious. Don't worry about it..."

However, the instant that roar sounded, Wang Zhan already knew what had happened, and so did Yao Yao. If Yang Cui had leaned over to look, she would have immediately realized.

Right then, just a few meters from their car window, a black sedan and a white sedan were locked in a standoff. The white sedan was positioned as if to charge in Wang Zhan's direction, but the black sedan, appearing from nowhere, was resolutely blocking its path. That crash was the sound of the white sedan colliding with the black one. Now, more than half of the white sedan's body was already caved in.

The assailants probably had no idea why, on a seemingly clear road, a "sacrificial lamb" would suddenly appear out of nowhere, stubbornly blocking their path.

"Damn... it..."