The next morning, Qin Xiaozhi, Xing Tian, Dongfang Xiaoyao, and Huangfu Weixia did not practice as usual. Instead, the four of them went to Jiang Wuming's residence.
Among them, Huangfu Weixia was holding a laptop.
"Brother Zhi, what's going on?"
Jiang Wuming saw the four of them, and then looked at the laptop in Huangfu Weixia's hand. He vaguely guessed something but still took the initiative to ask.
"Captain, Weixia found extremely important information while browsing the Shenwang forum last night. We all looked at it just now. Weixia, show it to the Captain."
Qin Xiaozhi responded to Jiang Wuming with a solemn expression, then instructed Huangfu Weixia.
"Yes!"
Huangfu Weixia obeyed the order and stepped forward with a worried expression, handing the laptop to Jiang Wuming.
Jiang Wuming took the laptop and saw that it was open, displaying the homepage of the Shenwang forum.
In addition to the pinned video of the Zhanlong team, the Shenwang forum homepage had a pinned and highlighted post.
Breaking News: Long Country's Jiang Wuming Becomes Public Enemy of the Outer Realm!
This was the title of the post.
Seeing this post, Jiang Wuming confirmed his inner guess, but still clicked into the post with some curiosity.
"Yesterday, the outer realm enemies descended again, affecting multiple countries and regions. Warriors from various countries bravely fought and successfully killed the enemies.
According to statistics from the God of War Hall, some countries and regions suffered casualties, including participating warriors and civilians, and caused localized panic.
In addition, there is another piece of breaking news: almost all outer realm enemies who descended upon all countries and regions asked about the whereabouts of Long Country's Jiang Wuming. Moreover, several outer realm enemies who descended claimed that their purpose for descending to Earth was to kill Jiang Wuming, and they did not want to fight to the death when the battle was in a stalemate!
Why are the outer realm enemies looking for and trying to kill Jiang Wuming?
We do not know the answer.
Perhaps, even Jiang Wuming himself does not know the answer.
But we can be sure that, for some unknown reasons, Long Country's Jiang Wuming has become a public enemy of the outer realm enemies!
At the same time, we can predict that the outer realm enemies will continue to descend and will continue to kill Long Country's Jiang Wuming at all costs!"
...
Jiang Wuming quickly scanned the content of the post and finally saw that the poster was a very well-known intelligence agency globally.
"Captain, is there something you're hiding from us?"
Qin Xiaozhi had been observing Jiang Wuming and, seeing that he remained calm throughout, he vaguely guessed something but still asked.
"This news is true, I have indeed become a public enemy of the outer realm enemies," Jiang Wuming closed the laptop and said to the four of them.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Swish!
Instantly, the expressions of Qin Xiaozhi and the other three changed!
Because they all knew what this meant – Jiang Wuming would be in an extremely dangerous situation from now on!
"Why?"
Shocked, Qin Xiaozhi and the other three asked their doubts almost in unison.
Why had Jiang Wuming become a public enemy of the outer realm enemies?
"Actually, I learned about this news before the Zhanlong team was formed. To be precise, it was after the battle at Hanshan Temple."
Jiang Wuming answered evasively, making a startling statement:
"At that time, I reported this information to the Legion and the Military Department Headquarters. After the Zhanlong team was formed, I considered whether to tell you, but I ultimately decided not to for the time being.
Because I felt that this news would only affect your state of mind and bring you no benefit."
"As for why the outer realm enemies consider me a public enemy, it's because they learned about my battles at the Loulan Ancient Battlefield and Hanshan Temple, and they believe I trampled on their dignity and want to kill me to wash away the shame."
When Jiang Wuming said this, he still withheld some information—the outer realm enemies treating his hunt as a game!
The reason he withheld it was that he didn't want to dampen the morale of Qin Xiaozhi and the other three, nor did he want to put too much pressure on them.
He would bear the pressure himself!
However—
Even so, the expressions of Qin Xiaozhi and the other three became extremely solemn, their worry evident on their faces.
"Don't worry, this will not affect me or the Zhanlong team."
Seeing this, Jiang Wuming smiled slightly and said, "Even if they don't kill me, I will kill them—we'll be clashing on the battlefield anyway, won't we?"
"Captain, this is not just your battle. We will be with you!"
Qin Xiaozhi looked directly at Jiang Wuming and spoke again.
"That's right!"
"We will fight alongside you and the outer realm enemies to the very end!"
Xing Tian and Huangfu Weixia also spoke.
Only Dongfang Xiaoyao remained silent.
As the Shadow Phantom of the Zhanlong Hall, she was known as Jiang Wuming's shadow.
Sharing life and death.
This was the fate of a shadow.
A shadow needed no declaration!
"Yesterday, someone asked me if we would win the war, and I answered her. Now, I will tell you my answer—we will win!"
Jiang Wuming gazed at Qin Xiaozhi and the other three, speaking word by word, his voice filled with absolute confidence.
That confidence would not waver, even if the sky collapsed and the earth shattered!
...
Military Department Headquarters.
Zhujian came to Qi Wufu's office.
When Zhujian entered the room, Qi Wufu was standing by the window, gazing at the distant sky in a daze.
"Master."
Zhujian saluted Qi Wufu's back.
"You've come to see me because of the news on the Shenwang forum about Wuming, haven't you?" Qi Wufu turned around and looked at his disciple.
"Yes, Master."
Zhujian nodded and said, "Back then, when Wuming reported this information, you asked for the information to be kept confidential for the time being. At that time, you probably thought the information was incorrect. But now that this news has been confirmed, should we do something?"
"What do you think we should do?"
Qi Wufu returned to his seat and asked with a smile.
"I believe we should strengthen Wuming's protection."
Zhujian first answered Qi Wufu, then gave his reason:
"Setting aside Wuming's identity and the merits he has achieved, purely based on his martial arts talent, there is no one among the younger generation in Long Country or even globally who can compare to him.
It is precisely because of this that you regard him as the future of Long Country's martial arts world!
And now, the outer realm enemies want to stifle our greatest hope for the future in the cradle. We absolutely cannot let the enemy succeed!"
"No need."
Qi Wufu shook his head, resolutely rejecting Zhujian's proposal.
"Master, why?"
Zhujian looked surprised.
"First, the five guardian teams have already been established, and we have agreed that the Zhanlong team will not be equipped with protectors. We cannot go back on our word, or it will ruin our plan. Moreover, according to your reasoning, even if we were to arrange protection for Jiang Wuming, it would be far more than just one three-star God of War.
Second, although the outer realm enemies consider Wuming a public enemy, they cannot locate him precisely, otherwise, they wouldn't be descending randomly everywhere. And according to Wuming's deduction, in the short term, or before the outer realm enemies kill him, they will not send out experts at the four-star God of War level or above. Judging by Wuming's recent battles, I believe that even if he encounters a three-star God of War at the ninth or tenth stage, he can survive even if he is defeated."
Qi Wufu gave two reasons.
"Master, what if the outer realm enemies descend with several late-stage three-star God of War powerhouses at once? You know Wuming's personality. He is loyal and values friendship. In such a situation, do you think Wuming can survive without the resistance and cover of a protector?"
Zhujian was still uneasy and offered a compromise suggestion, "Master, how about this, we arrange for a strong individual to protect Wuming in secret."
"No need."
Qi Wufu said these two words again, and before Zhujian could ask why, he continued:
"When Heaven is about to confer a great office on any man, it first exercises his mind with suffering, and his sinews and bones with toil, and his body with hunger, and exposes him to extreme poverty, and confounds his undertakings. By these methods it stimulates his mind, and inures him to hardship, and supplies his deficiencies.
Wuming must grow through blood and battles, and experience trials of life and death, again and again, to become the ultimate protector of Long Country and the world's future!"
Towards the end, a figure appeared in Qi Wufu's mind, and he said to himself in his heart:
Old friend, this is also your thought, isn't it?
...