After finishing the call with Qin Xiaozhi, Jiang Wuming retracted his killing intent, stabilized his emotions, and then dialed Xia Xueqin's number.
“Aunt Xia, could you please inform the Dean that I wish to join the Donghai Martial Arts Academy delegation for the martial arts exchange event with Kyoto Martial Arts Academy in the Land of Ninjas!”
As soon as the call connected, Jiang Wuming stated his request directly.
“Wuming, why the sudden change of heart? Did something happen?”
Xia Xueqin was initially stunned by Jiang Wuming’s words, then realized something must have occurred.
After all, Ren Xiaoyao had explicitly stated during dinner that for safety reasons, Jiang Wuming should not participate in this martial arts exchange activity, and Jiang Wuming had raised no objections at the time.
“The Sato family massacred one of the Zhanlong Hall’s training bases and killed everyone,” Jiang Wuming explained.
At this moment, he was no longer speaking with the low tone and fierce killing intent he had displayed when talking to Tian Ying or Qin Xiaozhi. Instead, he was exceptionally calm.
“Wuming, where are you? I’ll come to you, and we can talk face-to-face!”
Upon hearing Jiang Wuming’s words again, Xia Xueqin’s heart stirred. She immediately guessed Jiang Wuming’s intentions for going to the Land of Ninjas and considered the potential problems this might cause, deciding to discuss it with him in person.
“Aunt Xia, I’m at the statue in the martial arts arena.”
As Jiang Wuming spoke, he looked up at the statue of his father, Jiang Zhan.
“Wuming, wait for me there, I’m coming to find you!”
Xia Xueqin said, then hung up the phone. After briefly instructing Xia Dong, she left Sword Valley and rapidly headed towards the martial arts arena.
“Wuming!”
A moment later, Xia Xueqin arrived at the martial arts arena and saw Jiang Wuming standing beneath Jiang Zhan’s statue, his figure appearing somewhat lonely. A pang of heartache struck her.
“Aunt Xia.”
Jiang Wuming, who had been lost in thought, snapped back to attention at Xia Xueqin’s call and walked towards her.
“Wuming, are you going to the Land of Ninjas to seek revenge against the Sato family?”
Xia Xueqin stopped and directly asked the crucial question.
“Yes.”
Jiang Wuming nodded. He did not, and could not, hide it from Xia Xueqin.
“Wuming, have you carefully considered this decision?”
Although Xia Xueqin had guessed Jiang Wuming’s purpose for going to the Land of Ninjas, hearing him say it himself made her heart tighten. She then asked.
“Yes, Aunt Xia,” Jiang Wuming nodded.
“Wuming, you should be well aware that Kyoto Martial Arts Academy specifically mentioned in the martial arts exchange invitation that they hope you can participate. This is a case of ‘the drunkard’s purpose is not to drink’! You yourself realized this earlier – going to the Land of Ninjas will be very dangerous!”
Xia Xueqin said with a serious expression, “Furthermore, you are entering the Land of Ninjas under the guise of participating in a martial arts exchange as a guest lecturer of Donghai Martial Arts Academy. If your actions go awry and your identity is exposed, it will create immense public pressure and be very detrimental to the Dragon Country’s martial arts department!”
“Aunt Xia, I am aware of all of that,”
Jiang Wuming nodded calmly and then continued, “When you speak to the Dean, you don’t need to conceal my identity or my purpose. Also, tell the Dean that if my actions fail, I will do my utmost to distance myself from the Dragon Country’s martial arts department!
Moreover, if the Dean finds himself in a difficult position, then I will not join the Donghai Martial Arts Academy delegation.”
“How about this, Wuming, you and I go see the Dean together now.”
Hearing this, Xia Xueqin knew that Jiang Wuming was determined to seek revenge against the Sato family, and even if he couldn’t enter the Land of Ninjas under the pretext of a martial arts exchange, he would find other ways.
“Aunt Xia, if I were to personally approach the Dean with this matter, he would likely be put in a difficult position, and out of respect for my father, he might be unable to refuse me directly. This is also why I asked you to seek permission from the Dean on my behalf,”
Jiang Wuming gently shook his head, refusing to go together, and explained his reasoning.
“Alas… alright.”
Xia Xueqin sighed softly. She knew Jiang Wuming was speaking the truth – Ren Xiaoyao would be forthright with her, revealing his true thoughts and attitude. However, in front of Jiang Wuming, he might make an emotional decision due to his respect for Jiang Zhan.
Understanding this, Xia Xueqin also felt a mix of emotions due to Jiang Wuming’s heartfelt intentions.
Afterward, Xia Xueqin left the martial arts arena to seek permission from Ren Xiaoyao, while Jiang Wuming remained standing beneath Jiang Zhan’s statue, awaiting news from Xia Xueqin.
Ten minutes later, Xia Xueqin returned to Xiaoyao Peak and reported Jiang Wuming’s request to join the Donghai Martial Arts Academy delegation for the martial arts exchange event to Ren Xiaoyao, explaining the reasons, including Jiang Wuming’s true identity and purpose!
“Xue… Xueqin, you’re saying Wuming is the Hall Master of Zhanlong Hall?!”
Even though Ren Xiaoyao was a Four-Star War God with an exceptionally strong heart, he was astonished by Xia Xueqin’s words.
“Yes, Dean!”
Xia Xueqin confirmed this.
“Only twenty years old, with a martial arts realm of a One-Star War God, he has reached the top of the Two-Star War God rankings. He has surpassed his predecessors and is even more outstanding than Jiang Zhan was back then!”
Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in shock, then, his thoughts returning to the matter at hand, he pondered for a moment and said, “Xueqin, this matter has too great of an impact. I need to seek instructions from the Martial Department Headquarters. For now, you go back first. I’ll inform you as soon as I have a result, and then you notify Wuming.”
“Alright, Dean.”
Xia Xueqin acknowledged his command and then left Xiaoyao Peak.
After Xia Xueqin’s departure, Ren Xiaoyao immediately dialed the number of Qi Wufu, the Marshal of the Martial Department.
“Old Qi, I have big news for you. Wuming is that Zhanlong Hall Hall Master…”
As soon as the call connected, Ren Xiaoyao shared the information with excitement.
However—
Before he could finish speaking, Qi Wufu interrupted him, “You know too?”
“Old… Old Qi…”
Ren Xiaoyao’s expression changed, his excitement instantly turning into shock, then annoyance. “What you mean is, you already knew, and you’ve been keeping it from me?!”
“When he returned to Guishan County, Qin Yuanzheng reported this information to me. Considering the significant impact this would have on Wuming, I ordered Qin Yuanzheng to keep this information confidential and did not tell you either,” Qi Wufu explained.
“Alright.”
Ren Xiaoyao also understood the tremendous sensation Jiang Wuming’s identity as the Hall Master of Zhanlong Hall would cause within the Dragon Country and even the global martial arts community. He no longer blamed Qi Wufu for withholding information from him and said,
“I called you not only to tell you this information you already know, but also to report something else…”
“Did Wuming tell you this himself?”
After listening to Ren Xiaoyao’s report, Qi Wufu remained silent for a dozen seconds before asking if Jiang Wuming had personally told him about his intention to go to the Land of Ninjas for revenge.
“No, he told Xueqin about it, and then Xueqin came to me for instructions,” Ren Xiaoyao replied truthfully.
“Agree to him joining the Donghai Martial Arts Academy delegation to participate in the martial arts exchange activity with Kyoto Martial Arts Academy.”
Qi Wufu made his decision.
“Are… are you sure?!”
Ren Xiaoyao was somewhat shocked. He had never expected Qi Wufu to agree so readily.
In his opinion, Qi Wufu’s decision seemed rather hasty!
“Positive!”
Qi Wufu’s tone was firm.
“Should we change the plan? Should I lead the team myself, or should the Martial Department send someone to secretly protect Wuming?”
Ren Xiaoyao proposed.
If he or another Four-Star War God-level expert from the Martial Department went, they could not only protect Jiang Wuming but also help clean up any mess and resolve many issues.
“No need.”
Qi Wufu flatly rejected Ren Xiaoyao’s suggestion.
“Why?”
Ren Xiaoyao was puzzled and reminded him, “Old Qi, the little devils are clearly using this opportunity to target Wuming. Who knows what crazy actions they might take?
Besides the Sato family in the Land of Ninjas, there are countless top powers globally who want to kill Wuming; you can’t count them all with two hands! If no one secretly protects Wuming, he is in grave danger!”
“From the day Wuming was born, many people in this world wanted him dead, yet he has lived until now and become the strongest among the younger generation in the global martial arts world!
True powerhouses are not flowers grown in a greenhouse, nor do they shrink from difficulties. Instead, they forge ahead through adversity and hardship, clearing obstacles!
I believe Wuming will not die easily. Instead, he will march onto the battlefield that will decide the future fate of humanity!!”
“Good!”
Hearing Qi Wufu’s thunderous words, Ren Xiaoyao was deeply moved and vaguely understood Qi Wufu’s intention.
A minute later, Ren Xiaoyao ended the call with Qi Wufu and then called Xia Xueqin to inform her of the decisions made by the Martial Department and Donghai Martial Arts Academy.
Two minutes later, Jiang Wuming learned of the outcome.
After ending the call with Xia Xueqin, Jiang Wuming looked up again at the lifelike statue of Jiang Zhan.
“Dad, when I was little, I was always curious why I didn’t have a name and asked my adoptive parents. Each time, they looked sad, hesitant to speak, and finally coaxed me, saying I could choose my own name when I grew up.
Later, when I grew up and learned about Mom’s situation, I thought a lot.
If I’m not mistaken, Mom was ambushed on the day I was born and didn’t have time to give me a name before she was killed.
After Mom’s accident, in your rage, you massacred the Zhao family, shaking the Dragon Country and the world!
Your actions violated the laws of the Dragon Country, the regulations of the Dragon Country’s Martial Department, and the rules of the War God Hall.
At that time, many people must have wanted to use this incident to bring you down!
You didn’t die, but you were confined to Loulan Ancient City for life, and you eventually died on the battlefield.
During this period, you never gave me a name, nor did you meet me again, all to protect me—you knew that once my identity was exposed, your enemies would try every means to kill me, and being in Loulan Ancient City, you couldn’t protect me.
For twenty years, I had no name, and was even someone else’s child!”
As he looked, Jiang Wuming couldn’t help but murmur, “Now, my identity is known to the world, and your enemies are sharpening their knives, wanting to kill me—Dad, what should I do?”
There was no response.
Under the night sky, Jiang Wuming gazed at Jiang Zhan’s statue, with ‘Jiang Zhan’ looking down at him from above.
This father and son, in two different times and spaces, were gazing at each other.
“Back then, whether it was Mother’s humiliation at the War God Hall’s hunting squad base or her eventual death at the hands of the Zhao family, you had two choices.
To swallow your pride and survive cowardly; or to pick up your battle saber and fight to the death!
Back then, you chose the latter.
Today, your son chooses to live in the face of death!!”
…
ps: A long chapter.