Li Lianyi's voice came through the radio, clear and crisp, into Jiang Wuming's ears.
Swish!
Jiang Wuming's expression instantly changed!
Due to the Heavenly Dragon Daoist's instructions, he had been concealing his identity as the Dragon Battle Hall Master since his return to the Dragon Country.
To date, he had only revealed it to a select few, such as Su Shiyun, Xia Xueqin, and Chu Wansong.
Li Lianyi was not among them!
In such a situation, Li Lianyi pointing out Jiang Wuming as the Dragon Battle Hall Master left Jiang Wuming utterly astonished!
"How do you know I am the Dragon Battle Hall Master?"
Amidst his shock, Jiang Wuming retorted, indirectly admitting his identity.
This was because he felt that since Li Lianyi was asking him this, she must have absolute certainty.
More importantly, he genuinely did not wish to deceive Li Lianyi!
"I deduced it."
Seeing that Jiang Wuming did not deny his identity as the Dragon Battle Hall Master, a smile reappeared on Li Lianyi's face.
"Uh..."
Jiang Wuming was momentarily stunned, his shock intensifying even further than before!
Earlier, when he heard Li Lianyi's words, he had guessed that the Li family held an extremely high status in the Dragon Country and might have learned his identity from core members of the Martial Department. Then, the Li family elders informed Li Lianyi. He had never considered that Li Lianyi had deduced it herself.
"Surprised?"
Li Lianyi seemed to be able to imagine Jiang Wuming's expression at that moment, her smile becoming even more radiant.
If the Li family were to witness this scene, they would undoubtedly be astounded to the point of dropping their jaws!
This was because Li Lianyi rarely smiled throughout the year.
Almost everyone's perception of Li Lianyi was that she was a medical genius solely focused on medical research, that nothing else in the world could pique her interest or cause her any emotional fluctuation.
"Somewhat surprised."
Jiang Wuming gave a wry smile, admitting it frankly. Then, a thought struck him as he recalled Li Lianyi having witnessed his life-or-death battle with Liu Xin of the Liu family. He said,
"If I'm not mistaken, you must have suspected my identity during my life-or-death battle with Liu Xin?"
"Even earlier than that."
Li Lianyi did not conceal anything from Jiang Wuming and stated truthfully, "When I first visited the Su family, I began to suspect this.
Because, according to normal logic, even if you had saved Qin Xiaozhi, the Qin family would not have stood up for the Su family or provided them with protection!
And your life-or-death battle with Liu Xin confirmed this speculation for me!"
"The world knows your medical skills are heaven-defying, but they don't know your wisdom is monstrous."
Jiang Wuming praised her sincerely. His fiancée's ability to become the designated heir of the Li family patriarch was definitely not solely due to her miraculous medical skills.
"Biding our time, just like you." Li Lianyi said.
"We're different."
Jiang Wuming corrected her with a wry smile, "I was forced into it; you have a higher plane of thought."
"So the Dragon Battle Hall Master is good at complimenting people."
Li Lianyi teased him, a rare occurrence, but deep down, a ripple of emotion stirred within her, precisely because of the words "forced into it" in Jiang Wuming's statement!
"Right, your cousin Li Xiaoman said you had something to discuss with me. What is it?"
Jiang Wuming remembered the purpose of his voice call and asked.
"If I'm not mistaken, your participation in the Donghai Martial Academy delegation to the Ninja Country is to seek revenge on the Sato family."
Li Lianyi heard him, her smile retracted, and her tone returned to its usual calm.
She did not mention the promise Jiang Wuming had made to her, nor did she inquire about the antidote Jiang Wuming had administered to Huangfu Weixia. Instead, she brought up the purpose of Jiang Wuming's trip to the Ninja Country.
"Mm."
Jiang Wuming admitted it frankly, no longer feeling surprised that Li Lianyi had guessed this.
As he had said earlier, Li Lianyi could indeed be described as having monstrous wisdom.
"You should know better than I do the strength of the Sato family. You also know clearly that if you seek revenge in the Ninja Country, you will face more than just the Sato family. Since you are doing this, you must have given it deep thought and formulated a detailed and meticulous plan," Li Lianyi said again.
"If I wasn't sure we had only met once, I would definitely think we had known each other for many years."
Jiang Wuming gave another wry smile, marveling at Li Lianyi's understanding of him, as if she were inside his head.
"Come back alive."
Facing Jiang Wuming's jest, Li Lianyi did not respond with her usual teasing. Her tone was no longer lighthearted but exceptionally grave.
"Wh-what?"
Jiang Wuming was slightly taken aback. He sensed an unusual emotion and was somewhat surprised.
"I'm waiting for you to fulfill our promise," Li Lianyi said softly.
This time, without waiting for Jiang Wuming to say anything further, she directly ended the voice call.
Promise?
Jiang Wuming's heart stirred as he thought of the two promises.
...
Kyoto, the ancestral land of the Sato family.
Akita Shingen, the dean of the Kyoto Martial Academy, was led by a Sato family member to a wooden house in the deepest part of the ancestral land.
As the two stopped before the wooden house, the Sato family member bowed deeply and respectfully said, "Master Akita Shingen, the family head is waiting for you inside."
"Mm."
Akita Shingen nodded, then pushed open the door and stepped into the wooden house. The Sato family member flickered and disappeared into the darkness.
Inside the wooden house, Sato Tianichi, dressed in a black kimono, sat cross-legged before a table, with one of the Ten Great Swords of the Ninja Country placed beside him.
"Akita-kun, please sit," Sato Tianichi gestured for Akita Shingen to sit upon his entry and poured him tea.
"Eiko is dead, and I'm in a terrible mood. Why are you looking for me at a time like this? And can't we discuss matters over the phone?" Akita Shingen asked with a displeased expression as he sat cross-legged opposite Sato Tianichi.
"It's precisely because Eiko is dead that I called you here," Sato Tianichi said.
"What do you mean?" Akita Shingen looked at Sato Tianichi with some confusion.
"Kill that brat surnamed Jiang and avenge Eiko and Sato Nin!" Sato Tianichi stated directly.
"Are you... insane?"
Akita Shingen's expression changed. "Although I desperately want to slice that bastard into a thousand pieces, you should be well aware that we cannot make a move against him.
On the very first day Xia Xueqin arrived in Kyoto, she conveyed the wishes of the Dragon Country's Martial Department, demanding that the Ninja Martial Society guarantee the safety of the Donghai Martial Academy delegation members!
If we kill that bastard, both we and the Ninja Martial Society will face the wrath of the Dragon Country's martial arts world!"
"I know all that, but there are many people who want to kill that brat. Who would know it was us?" Sato Tianichi countered.
"You mean assassination?"
Akita Shingen immediately understood Sato Tarou's intention and then frowned, contemplating. "With Xia Xueqin present, to kill that brat, a four-star War God would be required. There are only so many four-star War Gods in the world, and their every move is monitored. We cannot conceal it."
"What if Xia Xueqin isn't there?" Sato Tianichi sneered.
Akita Shingen looked puzzled.
"Originally, Xia Xueqin paid great attention to that brat, protecting him almost constantly, and we had no opportunity to assassinate that bastard. But now, we have an opportunity!"
Sato Tianichi stopped playing coy, his face dark. "That little bitch who killed Tarou is receiving treatment, and all members of the Donghai Martial Academy delegation will not be leaving Kyoto for the next two days.
And within the next two days, that brat surnamed Jiang will definitely go to the hospital to visit that little bitch!
At this time, you find an excuse to invite Xia Xueqin for a meeting, lure Xia Xueqin away, and I'll dispatch someone to assassinate that brat surnamed Jiang!"
Huh?
Upon hearing Sato Tianichi's words again, Akita Shingen's eyes suddenly lit up.
"That brat must be buried in the Ninja Country!!"
Sato Tianichi declared resolutely, his killing intent soaring!
...