On the afternoon of the day the global martial arts world and underground forces were shaken by the news that Jiang Wuming was the殿主 (Diànzhǔ - Master) of the Battle Dragon Hall, the Sato family released a statement on the Divine Net forum.
"On the day the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主 bloodbathed the headquarters of the Triad Society, Sato Ichiro, the head of the Sato family, along with Tengūji Takehiro, the president of the Ninja Martial Arts Society of Ninja Country, and Akita Shingen, the dean of the Kyoto Martial Arts Academy of Ninja Country, went to the Ninja Hotel to investigate the matter with Jiang Wuming.
At that time, the Sato family suspected that Jiang Wuming might be the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主 and wanted to verify this, but they were stopped by the Dragon Country's Martial Department!
Even Marshal Qi Wufu of the Dragon Country's Martial Department, in a video call, explicitly stated that Jiang Wuming was not involved in the bloodbath of the Triad Society and threatened Mr. Tengūji Takehiro, Patriarch Sato Ichiro, and Dean Akita Shingen!
Now, the truth has surfaced: Jiang Wuming is the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主!
Jiang Wuming's actions that day severely violated Ninja Country's laws and the regulations of the Ninja Martial Arts Society. The Sato family strongly demands that the Dragon Country's Martial Department hand over Jiang Wuming to be dealt with by Ninja Country, and to give the Sato family an explanation!"
—The Sato Family.
Upon the release of the Sato family's statement, the world immediately recalled that bloody night, causing an uproar on the Divine Net forum!
Just half an hour after the Sato family released this announcement, the Ninja Martial Arts Society sent a letter to the Dragon Country's Martial Department, demanding an explanation for Jiang Wuming being the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主 and having murdered innocents in Ninja Country, and requesting that the Dragon Country's Martial Department hand over Jiang Wuming to Ninja Country for processing!
If the Dragon Country's Martial Department did not provide a satisfactory response to the Ninja Martial Arts Society, the Ninja Martial Arts Society would request the Hall of War Gods to arbitrate and handle the matter!
"How will the Dragon Country's Martial Department respond to the Ninja Martial Arts Society?"
"Will the Dragon Country's Martial Department hand over Jiang Wuming?"
For a time, the eyes of the global martial arts world turned to the Dragon Country, awaiting the Dragon Country's Martial Department's response.
...
Yan Jing, Martial Department Headquarters.
Due to the Sato family's announcement on the Divine Net forum and the letter from the Ninja Martial Arts Society, the Dragon Country's Elder Council demanded that the Martial Department immediately handle the matter. Including Qi Wufu, seven core members of the Martial Department convened an emergency meeting in the conference room.
"Everyone, the purpose of this meeting is clear. I want to hear everyone's views on this matter."
The meeting was presided over by Qi Wufu himself. He spoke first, allowing the other six to express their opinions.
"This matter is extremely serious. We must deal with it immediately, otherwise, it will have a negative impact on the image of the Martial Department and even the entire Dragon Country internationally, creating immense public opinion pressure!"
As soon as Qi Wufu finished speaking, someone said, "As of now, the Hall of War Gods has not commented on this matter, but it can be confirmed that the Hall of War Gods is monitoring the development of the situation and will intervene..."
"Don't talk about the impact of this matter. Focus on the solution."
Qi Wufu interrupted the Martial Department Elder.
"I personally suggest handing over Jiang Wuming to de-escalate the situation!"
The Martial Department Elder stated his position firmly.
Neither Qi Wufu nor the other five elders were surprised by this.
After all, they all knew that the Martial Department Elder's sister was once the daughter-in-law of the Zhao family and had died at the hands of Jiang Zhan.
Back then, after Jiang Zhan bloodbathed the Zhao family, he had not yet become a Martial Department Elder, but he still vocally demanded the severe punishment of Jiang Zhan.
Now that Jiang Wuming had caused a huge disaster, and he had become a Martial Department Elder with high authority, he naturally would not protect Jiang Wuming.
"I suggest protecting Jiang Wuming."
The second elder spoke, his attitude completely opposite to the previous elder, and he stated his reasons: "First, he is Jiang Zhan's son. The Martial Department and even the Dragon Country owe Jiang Zhan. Jiang Zhan is dead, and we cannot stand by and watch his son die.
Second, Jiang Wuming, at only twenty years old, has reached the top of the Two-Star Battle God rankings, which is an unprecedented legend. Given time, when he fully matures, he will surely reach the pinnacle of martial arts, surpassing Jiang Zhan of that year, and become the protector of the Dragon Country and even humanity!"
"I agree to protect Jiang Wuming, but with one condition – Jiang Wuming joins the Martial Department and guarantees to serve the Martial Department and the Dragon Country for life!"
The third elder spoke.
Afterward, the remaining three elders also spoke. Their opinions were the same as the third elder: protecting Jiang Wuming was fine, but Jiang Wuming needed to serve the Martial Department and the Dragon Country.
"You say it so easily! Jiang Wuming killed several people in Ninja Country, violating Ninja Country's laws and the regulations of the Ninja Martial Arts Society. How can you protect him?!"
The elder who spoke first was not surprised by the decision of the others to protect Jiang Wuming, but he still raised his objection.
"Bang... Bang..."
This time, before Qi Wufu and the other five elders could speak, there was a knock on the conference room door.
This made the other six elders, except for Qi Wufu, somewhat surprised.
Because, unless it was a particularly important matter, Martial Department members were not allowed to disturb this meeting!
"Come in!"
While the six elders were surprised, Qi Wufu spoke.
Outside the conference room, Zhu Jian, the Director of the Martial Department's Enforcement Division, heard Qi Wufu's voice and directly pushed open the door.
"Marshal, Esteemed Elders, I apologize for the interruption."
After entering the conference room, Zhu Jian first saluted and apologized to Qi Wufu and the others, then said, "I have some very important news to report!"
"What news?"
An elder couldn't help but ask first.
Zhu Jian first looked at the elder, then turned his gaze to Qi Wufu: "Marshal, Esteemed Elders, Jiang Wuming has released a statement on the Divine Net forum, saying that he is not the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主!"
"???"
Hearing Zhu Jian's report, the six elders were stunned.
In their opinion, the reason Qi Wufu convened this meeting was based on the premise that Jiang Wuming was the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主.
As a result, Jiang Wuming himself denied it...
"Everyone, it seems we don't need to have this meeting. Also, our intelligence work has problems. In the future, we must prevent such issues from happening in our work!"
A hint of surprise flashed in Qi Wufu's eyes, and he said expressionlessly.
"Yes, Marshal!"
Zhu Jian took the order and took responsibility.
The other six elders exchanged glances, vaguely feeling that Qi Wufu convened this meeting not really to discuss solutions, but for another purpose.
In fact, this was true.
According to Qi Wufu's plan, he intended to deny that Jiang Wuming was the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主 on behalf of the Martial Department.
In this way, all problems would be solved.
He convened this meeting to see the attitudes of the other six elders regarding protecting Jiang Wuming.
He just didn't expect that Jiang Wuming would personally deny his identity!
A few minutes later, Zhu Jian arrived at Qi Wufu's private residence, a traditional building where he lived and worked, and asked somewhat confusedly, "Master, what is Jiang Wuming playing at?"
"His public denial of his identity, while seemingly solving his own problems, is actually to avoid implicating the Martial Department." Qi Wufu sighed softly.
"What do you mean?"
Zhu Jian did not understand.
"For the Martial Department, the trouble comes from the condemnation of the Sato family and the Martial Society of Ninja Country; for Jiang Wuming, the trouble comes from his father's enemies!"
Qi Wufu said wisely, "Whether he is the Battle Dragon Hall's殿主 is not important. What is important is his martial arts strength!
Whether Jiang Wuming denies it himself or we help him deny it, Jiang Zhan's enemies will personally verify his strength.
Once his strength is verified, he will face a world-shattering killing intent!
This is because no force wants their enemy to be the most astonishing martial arts genius in the history of the global martial arts world, nor do they want this martial arts genius to fully mature!"
"Master, what should we do next? Should we let him join the Martial Department or provide him with protection?"
Zhu Jian suddenly realized and then asked for instructions.
"Stand by and observe."
Qi Wufu said four words.
"Why?" Zhu Jian was confused.
"When the time is right, without invitation, he will join the Martial Department. Conversely, even if I personally invite him, he will refuse!"
Qi Wufu said in a deep voice, "As for protection, you just need to keep an eye on Battle Gods of Four-Star and above, and prevent Battle Gods of Four-Star and above from infiltrating the Dragon Country!"
"But... but with his current strength, if he encounters a Three-Star Battle God, he will surely die!" Zhu Jian was even more confused.
"His life is destined to be arduous and bumpy. He must grow through the baptism of blood and fire. This is his path, and it is his destiny!"
Qi Wufu dispelled the haze in his heart and said wisely.
...