At ten minutes to nine, Huang Xiong, the host, along with the father and son duo of Taishan and Taige, and all the core members of the Hong Syndicate, arrived at the training ground.
"Boss Huang!"
"Master Huang!"
"Master Tai!"
Upon the arrival of Huang Xiong and his entourage, the bosses of the underground world from various regions and martial artists from all over stood up and greeted them with different appellations.
Huang Xiong and Taishan cupped their hands in response.
Immediately, everyone present, as if by unspoken agreement, turned their gaze towards Taige.
Today, Taige was dressed in a black martial arts uniform and black cloth shoes. His vital energy was abundant, exuding a powerful aura.
He paid no mind to the stares and walked with Huang Xiong towards the center of the training ground.
Meanwhile, Taishan and the core members of the Hong Syndicate took their respective seats.
Soon, Huang Xiong and Taishan took their positions in the center of the training ground.
Without any haste, Huang Xiong, like everyone else, turned his gaze towards the entrance of the training ground, awaiting the arrival of Jiang Wuming and Chu Wansong.
Approximately two minutes later, a villa-specific sightseeing car stopped at the entrance of the training ground. A young man with a buzz cut and a black robe leaped from the car and, accompanied by Huang Xiong's eldest son, Huang Qiyong, entered the training ground.
"That... is Lin Xiao!"
"Heavens, I never expected the Martial Department's Southern Region War Zone to send Lin Xiao to oversee this battle!"
As the young man in the black robe stepped into the training ground, a stir erupted. Almost all the martial artists recognized him.
Lin Xiao.
Son of the commander of the Martial Department's Southern Region Legion, and currently the head of the Nan Prefecture office of the Southern Guang Branch of the Martial Department!
Nan Prefecture is the capital of Nan Guang and the southern gateway of Long Country.
Lin Xiao, in his early thirties, held such a crucial position not only due to his prominent background but also his own strength and capability.
He was a Grandmaster of Martial Arts, ranking fifth on the Long Country Grandmasters of Martial Arts list!
"Hmm?"
Not only the martial artists present, but Huang Xiong and Taige were also surprised to see Lin Xiao.
Although Huang Xiong had learned that the Martial Department's Nan Prefecture Branch would send someone to supervise this battle, he had expected them to send just anyone.
"Director Lin! You actually came in person!"
Huang Xiong flashed and, within a breath, arrived in front of Lin Xiao, cupping his hands in greeting.
"Today's battle is a grand event for Long Country's martial arts community. Since it's being held in Nan Guang, I naturally had to come," Lin Xiao said indifferently.
"Brother Lin!"
Just then, Taige also approached Lin Xiao and greeted him proactively. The Tai family was the foremost martial arts family in Nan Gang and had always been a key focus of the Martial Department's Southern Region Legion. Taige and Lin Xiao had known each other since childhood and were good friends.
"Mm."
Lin Xiao nodded in response, then asked Huang Xiong, "Where is Jiang Zhan's son? Why hasn't he arrived yet?"
"Director Lin, he is already on his way to the training ground," Huang Xiong replied.
"Hmph, Jiang Wuming is young, but he puts on quite a show. The Eastern Region Legion and the East Sea Martial Arts Academy show him consideration out of respect for his father, Jiang Zhan. Yet, he has no self-awareness!" Lin Xiao snorted coldly, expressing his dissatisfaction with Jiang Wuming's later arrival than his own.
Just then, a sightseeing car arrived outside the training ground. Jiang Wuming, along with Chu Wansong, his son Chu Feng, and Huangfu Weixia, alighted from the car.
All four were martial artists with hearing far superior to ordinary people. They clearly heard Lin Xiao's words.
Among them, Chu Wansong, Chu Feng, and Huangfu Weixia were somewhat surprised, wondering who had spoken so brazenly. Jiang Wuming, however, frowned slightly.
"Jiang Zhan's son is here!"
Immediately, before the four of them could even step into the training ground, someone with sharp eyes spotted them.
Swish, swish, swish...
In an instant, all eyes, including those of Lin Xiao, Huang Xiong, and Taige, turned towards the entrance of the training ground and landed on Jiang Wuming.
Lin Xiao, with his hands behind his back, held his head high and scrutinized Jiang Wuming from head to toe with a condescending air.
Facing the gazes, Jiang Wuming paid them no mind and entered the training ground behind Chu Wansong.
"Wansong, this is Director Lin Xiao from the Martial Department's Nan Prefecture office. He will represent the Martial Department in supervising today's match!"
As Chu Wansong led Jiang Wuming closer, Huang Xiong took the initiative to introduce them.
"Director Lin, greetings."
Chu Wansong had heard of and knew Lin Xiao. He proactively greeted Lin Xiao.
Lin Xiao ignored him, not even giving Chu Wansong a direct glance. Instead, he stared at Jiang Wuming with a frown.
Jiang Wuming sensed Lin Xiao's ill will and deduced that the preceding remarks came from Lin Xiao. He narrowed his eyes slightly and did not greet Lin Xiao.
This caused Lin Xiao's frown to deepen, and his dissatisfaction with Jiang Wuming rose sharply.
"Director Lin, Wansong, shall we move to the center of the training ground to talk?"
Huang Xiong observed all this, but thinking that Jiang Wuming was about to become a corpse, he said nothing and instead suggested to Lin Xiao and Chu Wansong.
"Alright."
Lin Xiao responded indifferently, then withdrew his gaze, his expression growing even colder.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Baiyun Villa today to witness the battle between the Twin Flower Red Routers of the Qing and Hong syndicates!"
Subsequently, Huang Xiong took the lead to the center of the training ground and slowly began to speak, his voice echoing above the training ground.
"As everyone knows, Qing and Hong were originally one family. However, the two syndicates have been separated for too long. The unification of Qing and Hong is the common wish of both syndicates. The only question is, after the unification of Qing and Hong, who will be in charge. After consultation between myself and Wansong, to avoid any internal strife, the Twin Flower Red Routers of the two syndicates will fight. The one who wins the match will be in charge of Qing and Hong from now on. Everyone here is a witness!"
"Good!"
As Huang Xiong's words fell, a boss of the underground world from the North spoke in agreement. He had business dealings with the Hong Syndicate and maintained a good personal relationship with Huang Xiong. As soon as the Northern boss spoke, many voices of agreement echoed throughout the venue.
"The Martial Department's Eastern Region War Zone has dispatched Director Lin Xiao to supervise today's match. Now, I invite Director Lin Xiao to speak!"
Huang Xiong smiled with satisfaction and then made an inviting gesture to Lin Xiao.
"Jiang Wuming, your father, Jiang Zhan, was a generation's God of War and a hero of the Martial Department and even Long Country. As the descendant of a hero, you have not inherited your father's excellent qualities. It's one thing not to serve Long Country, but you stir up trouble every day. The East Sea Martial Arts Academy and the Eastern Region Legion show you consideration out of respect for your father's reputation, but you cannot take advantage of your father's past contributions to Long Country and keep causing trouble—do you know that you are tarnishing your father's name?!"
The next moment, under everyone's gaze, Lin Xiao did not deliver a public speech. Instead, he once again turned his attention to Jiang Wuming and, like an elder scolding a junior, unleashed a barrage of reprimands.
"Who do you think you are? Do I need your instruction to do things?"
Jiang Wuming narrowed his eyes slightly and replied coldly.
"You..."
Lin Xiao's expression changed drastically upon hearing this. He had not expected Jiang Wuming to dare to confront him publicly!
"Brother Lin, there's no need to say all this to someone who is about to die."
Just then, Taige interjected to smooth things over for Lin Xiao, looking at Jiang Wuming as if he were already dead.
"Jiang Wuming, today's battle is not only the battle between the Twin Flower Red Routers of Qing and Hong, but also a battle to the death between you and me!"
ps: Chapter Three.