After ending his call with Tianying, Jiang Wuming left Sword Valley and headed to Xiaoyao Peak, located at the very top of Shenxianju.
Just as when Jiang Wuming had come to Xiaoyao Peak to find Ren Xiaoyao last time, the bamboo forest in front of the wooden house was shrouded in thick fog, making it look like a fairyland from afar.
When Jiang Wuming arrived at Xiaoyao Peak, Ren Xiaoyao was sitting on a bamboo chair in front of the wooden house, holding an ancient martial arts manual, with a cup of tea placed on the stone table before him.
"Wuming, you're here."
Ren Xiaoyao put down the book in his hand and smiled at Jiang Wuming.
"Dean, you expected me?" Jiang Wuming was a bit surprised.
"Mmm."
Ren Xiaoyao nodded, then gave a wry smile. "I also know that you've come to see me because of the controversial life-and-death battle you had with someone at Qinglong Mansion a few days ago."
"Yes and no."
Jiang Wuming gave an ambiguous reply.
"What do you mean?"
This time, it was Ren Xiaoyao's turn to be surprised.
"Dean, besides what you mentioned, I have another matter to discuss with you. However, these two matters are connected," Jiang Wuming said as he sat down on a bamboo stool opposite Ren Xiaoyao.
"Regarding your life-and-death battle with that person named Lei Bao, there's no need to discuss it.
Don't mind the gossip. You merely engaged in a life-and-death battle with someone due to your parents' grievances, and you haven't made any major mistakes.
Don't worry about the Military Department either; I've already spoken to Qin Yuanzheng."
Ren Xiaoyao's curiosity was piqued, but he didn't ask immediately. Instead, he first brought up the matter of Jiang Wuming's life-and-death battle with Lei Bao.
"I'm sorry, Dean. I've caused trouble for you and the academy," Jiang Wuming said, feeling a warmth in his heart and apologizing.
"I already told you not to mind it, why are you still apologizing?"
Ren Xiaoyao gave a wry smile, then asked curiously, "Tell me about the other matter you wanted to see me about."
"Dean, I want to resign," Jiang Wuming said with a complicated expression.
"Resign... resign?"
Hearing Jiang Wuming's words again, Ren Xiaoyao was stunned. "Why?!"
"I plan to compete as the Twin Flower Red Stick of the Qing Hong's Qing character faction against the Twin Flower Red Stick of the Hong character faction," Jiang Wuming explained the reason.
"Wuming, why would you do that?"
Ren Xiaoyao frowned.
If Jiang Wuming were merely competing, it wouldn't be a big issue. Even fighting under the Qing character faction's name, as he had before, would have a plausible explanation – Jiang Wuming wasn't part of the Qing character faction!
However, if Jiang Wuming, a teacher at Donghai Martial Arts Academy, were to become a Twin Flower Red Stick of the Qing character faction, there would be no way to explain it to the world!
"There are two reasons."
Jiang Wuming had anticipated Ren Xiaoyao's question before meeting him and answered without hesitation. "First, as you mentioned earlier, this matter involves my parents' grievances.
Chu Wansong of the Qing character faction is my father's friend and has provided me with help.
Additionally, the Chu family has a deep connection with the Jiang family.
And Huang Xiong of the Hong character faction, you should be well aware of his past conflict with my father."
Ren Xiaoyao frowned and remained silent, waiting for Jiang Wuming to continue.
"Second, Chu Wansong and the Qing character faction are in significant trouble, even a predicament, because of me!
The Hong character faction is using this trouble to force the Qing character faction to merge with them, or for both sides to send their Twin Flower Red Sticks to compete, with the winner controlling Qing Hong!
A drop of water given in kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring; this is my principle of conduct.
Chu Wansong got into trouble because of me. Fearing that I wouldn't be a match for the Hong character faction's Twin Flower Red Stick, he concealed this matter from me.
Now that I know about it, I naturally have to help him solve his problems!"
"Have you made up your mind?"
After hearing Jiang Wuming's reasons, Ren Xiaoyao stared at him for a full half-minute before asking.
"Yes, Dean," Jiang Wuming nodded firmly.
"Alright."
Ren Xiaoyao sighed, then asked with some concern, "Do you know the situation of the Hong character faction's Twin Flower Red Stick? Do you have confidence in defeating them? Is there any danger to your life?"
"I don't know, but I have absolute confidence in defeating them!" Jiang Wuming said with a confident expression.
That confidence surprised Ren Xiaoyao, but he didn't probe the source of Jiang Wuming's certainty. Instead, after some thought, he said, "Since you've made your decision, proceed with your plan. There's no need to resign; I'll find a way to help you with the explanation."
"Dean, I know you don't want me to resign, you want my identity as a teacher at Donghai Martial Arts Academy to be a shield for me, to make those who want to kill me hesitate. Thank you!"
Jiang Wuming stood up, spoke slowly, and then bowed to Ren Xiaoyao in gratitude.
"You child..."
Ren Xiaoyao quickly stood up and helped Jiang Wuming up.
"Dean, I still need to resign!
Because the matter at Qinglong Mansion has already put you and Commander Qin Yuanzheng in a difficult position. I can't cause you any more trouble this time!"
Jiang Wuming spoke again, his tone resolute. "As for my personal safety, you don't need to worry—since I didn't die on that bloody night twenty years ago, I won't die easily.
I still have this life to live, to seek justice for my parents!"
Hearing Jiang Wuming's words and feeling his determination, Ren Xiaoyao hesitated for a long time before finally sighing softly and saying, "Alright, I agree to your resignation. From now on, you will serve as a guest lecturer at Donghai Martial Arts Academy, just like before."
"Okay, Dean."
Jiang Wuming agreed to Ren Xiaoyao's suggestion.
A guest lecturer was not an official member of Donghai Martial Arts Academy or the Military Department.
This way, his participation as the Qing character faction's Twin Flower Red Stick would not cause controversy and would not put Ren Xiaoyao and Qin Yuanzheng in a difficult position!
...
Just as Jiang Wuming was leaving Xiaoyao Peak, Zhong Hu, the strategist of the Qing character faction, arrived at Villa No. 9, Tandan Palace, and met Chu Wansong in the study. "Big Brother!"
"Sit."
Chu Wansong gestured to the sofa opposite him, indicating for Zhong Hu to sit and speak.
"Big Brother, voices of all sorts are starting to appear within the gang, and morale is unstable. Even core members have various ideas.
We must find a way to resolve the current predicament, otherwise, if this continues, something big will happen," Zhong Hu said with a grave expression.
"I know."
Chu Wansong nodded.
Although the Qing character faction was an underground force, it could also be considered a business.
As the leader of the Qing character faction, Chu Wansong not only relied on his personal prestige to lead everyone but more importantly, he could bring benefits to everyone!
Now, with Qinglong Mansion and Qinglong Film and Television sealed, the Qing character faction's income had significantly decreased, and everyone's interests were affected, inevitably leading to complaints.
In Zhong Hu's words, this meant unstable morale.
Under such circumstances, the Qing character faction would have almost no chance of winning a war against the Hong character faction!
What's more, Huang Xiong had played a masterstroke, having Huang Xiaoxie directly question the core members of the Qing character faction—would winning the war resolve the current predicament?
No!
But Huang Xiong had a way to resolve the Qing character faction's difficulties!
In this situation, both Chu Wansong and Zhong Hu knew clearly that no one, including the core members of the Qing character faction, was willing to go to war!
"Big Brother, what are your plans?" Zhong Hu asked after a moment's hesitation.
"Originally, I planned to find a formidable martial arts master to be our Twin Flower Red Stick and compete in place of Wuming, but Huang Xiong firmly disagreed!"
Chu Wansong's brows furrowed as he said this, his tone becoming solemn. "More importantly, I've already found out that the Hong character faction's current Twin Flower Red Stick is Taige!"
"Taige... Taige?!"
Upon hearing the name, Zhong Hu's face instantly changed drastically!
Taige.
A mixed-blood of Dragon and Thai heritage.
His father was the strongest successor of a martial arts family from the Dragon Kingdom, and his mother was the daughter of a famous spirit-medium from South Thai.
He had perfectly inherited the strengths of both his parents. Not only did he possess powerful martial arts talent, but he also had spiritual power talent!
He was one of the few martial arts masters in the world with spiritual power talent and was hailed as the strongest martial arts master in the Dragon Kingdom! Da Feng Novel Network.
After the shock, Zhong Hu also fell silent.
Although he was the strategist of the Qing character faction and possessed extraordinary wisdom, he too didn't know how to handle this matter.
Because, whether it was going to war or competing, the Qing character faction had no chance of winning!
"Ding——"
Immediately, just as Chu Wansong and Zhong Hu felt powerless, the phone on the desk rang, breaking the silence of the study.
Chu Wansong picked up the phone, his pupils suddenly widening. The caller ID displayed Jiang Wuming's number!
"Wuming, what made you think of calling me?"
Chu Wansong answered the phone, pretending to be relaxed.
"Uncle Chu, I have resigned from Donghai Martial Arts Academy and will compete as the Qing character faction's Twin Flower Red Stick against the Hong character faction's Twin Flower Red Stick!"
Jiang Wuming got straight to the point.
*Swish!*
Hearing Jiang Wuming's words, Chu Wansong's expression immediately changed, and he blurted out, "No!"
"Why?" Jiang Wuming asked.
"The competition for Twin Flower Red Stick is a life-and-death battle, a fight to the death! The Hong character faction's Twin Flower Red Stick is Taige, he is the strongest martial arts master in the Dragon Kingdom!"
Chu Wansong paused here, then sighed. "Wuming, I'm not afraid of losing the competition, but you cannot be harmed because of me! Otherwise, even if I die, I will have no face to see your father in the afterlife!"
"Uncle Chu, don't worry, this battle is bound to be won—I have already broken through to the Nine-Star Martial Warrior realm, invincible below the God of War!"
Jiang Wuming's heart warmed, and he reassured Chu Wansong.