The next day at noon, a modified Coaster van arrived at the Longhu Mountain scenic area.
After the car stopped, Long Qisheng, wearing a ghost-faced mask, was the first to get out. He scanned his surroundings to ensure there were no issues, then nodded to Long Shengzhe in the car.
"Long Qisheng will accompany me up the mountain. You all wait in the car," Long Shengzhe said to his secretary and driver.
For this trip to Longhu Mountain, Long Shengzhe had only brought his secretary and driver. Long Qisheng had met them there. Besides them, Long Shengzhe hadn't brought anyone else. This wasn't because he didn't want to; he couldn't. He had wanted Qi Wufu and Qin Yuanzheng to accompany him, but Qi Wufu had refused. He also hadn't informed the relevant departments or local officials of his itinerary, keeping everything confidential.
"Yes, Grand Elder!" the secretary and driver immediately replied.
Without further ado, Long Shengzhe got out of the car and left the parking lot, accompanied by Long Qisheng.
"Would you like me to carry you up the mountain?" Long Qisheng asked as they reached the path leading to the Daoist sect.
The so-called path was a rugged mountain trail, with stone steps in the first half and a mountain path in the latter half.
"No need. I haven't climbed a mountain in a while, so I'll take this opportunity," Long Shengzhe declined, shaking his head.
Hearing this, Long Qisheng said no more. He slowed his pace, quietly following behind Long Shengzhe with a grim expression. At this time yesterday, he had climbed the mountain alone only to be stopped by Daoist Tianlong, who had slapped him down the cliff—a humiliation he would never forget. Today, as he climbed towards the Daoist sect again, the arrogance and dominance of yesterday were replaced by humiliation and fear.
Two hours later, Long Shengzhe and Long Qisheng stopped at a fork in the mountain path. To the right of the path stood a dilapidated Daoist temple, and to the left, a few wooden houses. This was the location of the Daoist sect, a desolate place with barely a handful of members. However, as Long Qisheng’s gaze swept over the Daoist temple, his expression became extremely solemn.
"Are they in the temple, or the wooden houses?" Long Shengzhe asked. Although he did not cultivate, he had a deep understanding of martial arts and knew that Long Qisheng could sense the presence of Jiang Wuming and others.
"Daoist Tianlong is in the temple, and Jiang Wuming and the Li family girl are in the furthest wooden house," Long Qisheng replied.
"Wait for me here. I'll go alone," Long Shengzhe decided after some thought.
Long Qisheng hesitated, worried that it might be unsafe for Long Shengzhe to go alone. However, he then realized that if Daoist Tianlong intended to do something, he couldn't stop him, so he swallowed his unspoken words. Long Shengzhe said no more and walked towards the right, intending to see Daoist Tianlong at the temple first.
Inside the temple, Daoist Tianlong, clad in worn Daoist robes, sat cross-legged on a mat, motionless like a statue.
"Daoist Tianlong," Long Shengzhe greeted the meditating Daoist Tianlong as he arrived alone at the temple entrance three minutes later.
"My disciple guessed you would come, and he doesn't mind meeting and talking with you, which is why I didn't stop you on the mountain path yesterday," Daoist Tianlong opened his eyes. He did not welcome Long Shengzhe or even rise, remaining seated cross-legged, looking at Long Shengzhe expressionlessly. "Go find him yourself."
"Alright," Long Shengzhe replied without betraying his emotions, then turned and left. However, after turning, his eyebrows shot up—Daoist Tianlong's demeanor showed he held Long Shengzhe in no regard whatsoever. But soon, Long Shengzhe's expression returned to normal as he headed towards the wooden house where Jiang Wuming was located.
Inside the wooden house, Jiang Wuming sat cross-legged, cultivating as if in deep meditation. Since learning about the challenge from the martial arts geniuses from beyond the domain, Jiang Wuming had spent all his time cultivating in the mysterious space, except for the time he took Li Lianyi to the mountaintop to witness Daoist Tianlong sending Long Qisheng down the cliff.
"Junior brother, wake up, Long Shengzhe is here!" Zhu Yong entered the room and said to Jiang Wuming. Zhu Yong had been standing outside the wooden house since Long Shengzhe and Long Qisheng arrived at the fork, monitoring Long Shengzhe's every move. Only after seeing Long Shengzhe turn and walk towards the wooden house did he turn back and enter the room.
With a swish, Jiang Wuming opened his eyes, awakened from his cultivation, and stood up.
"Junior brother, Master said I shouldn't get involved in your conversation with Long Shengzhe. I'll go back to my room now," Zhu Yong said again as Jiang Wuming woke up.
"Okay, second senior brother," Jiang Wuming nodded. Zhu Yong said no more, left the room, walked out of the courtyard, and headed towards his own wooden house.
At the same time, Li Lianyi emerged from another wooden house that served as a study. "Should I step out?" she asked.
"No need," Jiang Wuming smiled and shook his head. Li Lianyi, knowing about his conflict with Long Shengzhe, had specifically followed him back "home" to accompany him. This kindness and thoughtfulness deeply touched him and tightly bound their destinies together, making it unnecessary to avoid Long Shengzhe.
"Alright," Li Lianyi smiled slightly and then stood beside Jiang Wuming, waiting for Long Shengzhe's arrival.
A moment later, Long Shengzhe arrived at the entrance of the small courtyard and said, "Wuming, I am Long Shengzhe, and I'd like to have a chat with you."
"The door isn't locked, come in," Jiang Wuming's voice came from inside the wooden house. Hearing this, Long Shengzhe deliberately waited a few seconds at the courtyard entrance. Seeing that Jiang Wuming and Li Lianyi did not come out to greet him, he frowned, then walked into the courtyard and directly to the front of the wooden house.
The next moment, Long Shengzhe clearly saw Jiang Wuming sitting at a wooden table inside the wooden house, with Li Lianyi standing behind him. A pot of tea and two cups were placed on the wooden table, prepared by Li Lianyi for Jiang Wuming and Long Shengzhe.
"The air here is so fresh and the environment so elegant, it's truly wonderful," Long Shengzhe's frown had long since eased. With a smile, he walked directly into the wooden house.
"I didn't expect the Grand Elder to come to this barren wilderness, and to praise it so highly. Perhaps you should consider retiring here?" Jiang Wuming asked with a slight smile.
Huh? Long Shengzhe's smile froze instantly. Although he had analyzed before coming that given Jiang Wuming's personality, this meeting and conversation wouldn't go smoothly, he hadn't expected Jiang Wuming to start with a jab.
"Grand Elder, you must be tired from your journey. Please have a seat and have some tea," Li Lianyi said, stepping in to smooth things over, simultaneously picking up the teapot to pour tea for Jiang Wuming and Long Shengzhe.
"Lianyi, you haven't seen me in years and you don't even call me Grandpa anymore. Have we become estranged?" Long Shengzhe asked, sitting opposite Jiang Wuming. He took the tea from Li Lianyi and teased her with a smile, but his gaze was sharp as he looked at her. The change in address signified a change in attitude. Long Shengzhe wanted to know if this was Li Lianyi's personal stance or the attitude of the entire Li family.
"As the ancients say, a wife follows her husband. Lianyi is already betrothed to Wuming, so she can only call him as Wuming does," Li Lianyi replied calmly, hearing the unspoken meaning but maintaining a composed demeanor.
"Heh heh, then I'll be looking forward to your wedding banquet," Long Shengzhe responded with a chuckle. At this moment, he exuded no trace of the Grand Elder's authority, appearing instead like a benevolent elder, completely different from the person Jiang Wuming had seen in the red-walled compound that day. Having said that, Long Shengzhe picked up his teacup, took a sip, and observed Jiang Wuming, waiting for him to speak. As the Grand Elder, he was naturally skilled in negotiation—in negotiations, one must not lose composure or reveal their hand too early. Jiang Wuming was well aware of this. Instead of speaking first as Long Shengzhe expected, he also picked up his teacup, appearing unhurried. For a moment, the wooden house fell silent, the atmosphere becoming awkward and strange.
"Wuming, you should know about the challenge issued by the martial arts geniuses from beyond the domain, shouldn't you?" Long Shengzhe finally broke the silence in the wooden house, putting down his teacup.
"Yes," Jiang Wuming nodded.
"What do you think about this challenge?" Long Shengzhe asked again.
"How I think about it isn't important. What's important is how the Grand Elder thinks about it?" Jiang Wuming's words were loaded with meaning.
"This will be the most significant challenge between Long Guo and the outer world, and indeed the entire globe. It will determine whether the war will end, and it is destined to be recorded in the annals of the outer world's wars, forever remembered by future generations," Long Shengzhe said slowly, stating the importance of the challenge while implying that if Jiang Wuming could represent Long Guo and Earth, defeat the outer world's martial arts geniuses, and end the war, he would become a hero for all humanity, recorded in history and admired by posterity.
"Oh." Jiang Wuming responded dismissively.
"—" Long Shengzhe. The conversation, which started with laughter, ended with a mere "Oh." Jiang Wuming's attitude left him feeling rather awkward.
"Wuming, I am here today representing Long Guo and its people to request your participation in this battle!" After a brief silence, Long Shengzhe got straight to the point.
"I am not worthy," Jiang Wuming uttered three words, which served as a double entendre, both as an answer and a sarcastic remark about Qin Xiaozhi not being worthy of promotion.
"Wuming, you are too modest. You are the most qualified and most hopeful genius in Long Guo and on this planet to defeat the outer world's martial arts geniuses!" Long Shengzhe paused deliberately here. Seeing that Jiang Wuming had not yet expressed his stance, he decided to reveal his trump card: "Focus on your preparation and fight with all your might. I will handle the rest, and I guarantee you will be satisfied."
"Satisfied in what way?" Jiang Wuming asked pointedly.
"I will organize a council of elders to clarify the necessity, reasonableness, and special circumstances of your and Qin Xiaozhi's promotions, dispelling the doubts of certain individuals. Furthermore, I have also heard about Qin Linhai's situation. The circumstances at the time were special, and for the sake of the overall combat situation, he made that decision. Although it was irregular, it was reasonable, and he should not be held responsible," Long Shengzhe elaborated.
"Only after you have done all that you have said, will I fight," Jiang Wuming stated his condition.
"Wuming, with the enemy at our gates and the challenge known to all of Long Guo and the world, all our energy should be focused on this matter," Long Shengzhe's eye muscles twitched slightly.
"You can go back on your word even on matters you’ve agreed to and supported. How can I trust your verbal promise?" Jiang Wuming retorted sharply. "Moreover, I understand your calculation perfectly. If I fight and defeat the outer world's martial arts geniuses, ending the war, and become the hero of Long Guo and the world as you say, then you will do all you just mentioned, and no one will say anything. If I cannot defeat them, and you don't do what you said, no one will say anything either. Regardless of the outcome, you'll save face, won't you?"
"—" Long Shengzhe fell silent again.
"I am not a hero, nor do I aspire to be one. I will only fight for my loved ones, and I only wish to protect my homeland with fairness and justice!" Jiang Wuming declared, stating his bottom line.
"Fairness and justice have always existed. It's just that everyone's identity and position are different, and their understanding of fairness and justice is also different," Long Shengzhe said with a serious expression. He then stared at Jiang Wuming for a full five seconds before giving his reply, "I agree!"
"As long as you do everything you've said and make me feel that fairness and justice prevail, I will fight with all my might and use my life to protect this land!" Jiang Wuming made his promise.
"Good!" Long Shengzhe nodded. Twenty years later, a descendant of the Jiang family made an agreement with Long Shengzhe again!