High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

Chapter 434: Chapter 434: Ren Bai

Xu Wuyi came to a stop and bowed formally. "Xu Wuyi, reporting for duty."

Qiao Tongyu gave a slight nod. "Have a seat."

Xu Wuyi sat down in a seat near the door.

Ren Bai looked at him, his gaze calm. "Xu Wuyi. I’ve heard of you. How is your teacher?"

"Teacher Han is still on the front lines. His injuries have healed," Xu Wuyi said with a slight nod.

"That’s good to hear." After saying this, Ren Bai fell silent.

Qiao Tongyu picked up the conversation. "Xu Wuyi, we’ve all reviewed your file. Twenty-one years old, an Innate Martial Artist. Your Heart Image Attributes are Mountain and Fire, and you specialize in long-range precision strikes. The Black Stone vein mission in the West Seventh District... you completed it beautifully."

He paused for a moment before continuing, "As for the current situation, you should be aware of it. The Celestial Wolf Civilization has launched suicide attacks. Although Dongjiang Province isn’t a target, we must prepare for the worst. The command center has initiated a Level One alert. All Martial Artists will be assigned tasks according to their squads."

Xu Wuyi listened intently.

"Your abilities are unique. We plan to assign you to a quick reaction team." Qiao Tongyu called up a light screen, displaying a simplified deployment map.

"Your main responsibility will be the mobile defense of the Linjiang City District and its surrounding areas. If any abnormal Energy readings or suspicious individuals are detected, you are to arrive on the scene and handle the situation immediately."

"Understood," Xu Wuyi said.

"Additionally," Qiao Tongyu glanced at Ren Bai, "Grandmaster Ren suggested that if you have time, you might want to visit the command center’s intelligence analysis room. They have real-time battle reports and video footage from the front lines. It would be helpful for understanding the enemy."

Only then did Ren Bai speak up. "The combat style of the Werewolf Race’s commando units is different from that of ordinary Werewolves."

Xu Wuyi’s heart stirred. He said solemnly, "Thank you, Grandmaster Ren."

The meeting continued for another half hour, focusing mainly on defensive deployments and personnel allocation. Xu Wuyi spent most of the time listening, only giving brief answers when asked a direct question.

After the meeting, the others left one by one. Just as Xu Wuyi was about to leave, Ren Bai called out to him.

"Xu Wuyi."

Xu Wuyi stopped in his tracks. "Grandmaster Ren."

Ren Bai walked up to him, looking at the young man who was half a head shorter than him. "Elder Lin of the Lin Family passed away recently."

Xu Wuyi was taken aback.

"Regarding what happened back then, you may still hold a grudge," Ren Bai said. "But whatever you plan to do, don’t choose now as the time. Of course, this is just my suggestion. You don’t have to listen."

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment before replying, "I understand. You’re right, Grandmaster Ren. I... don’t plan on doing anything."

Ren Bai gave him a meaningful look, then actually broke into a slight smile. He said no more, simply turning and leaving the conference room.

Xu Wuyi stood rooted to the spot, watching Ren Bai’s back disappear down the end of the corridor.

’This Grandmaster... he wasn’t what I expected.’

He didn’t have a high-and-mighty air or an overbearing attitude. Just a few simple words, yet they conveyed a sense of quiet strength.

Xu Wuyi certainly understood Grandmaster Ren’s meaning. With a great war imminent and the Lin Family’s Elder Grandmaster having just recently passed away, it was by no means a suitable time to settle a personal grudge.

The fact that Grandmaster Ren had brought the topic up was already a statement of his own position.

And Xu Wuyi’s final statement that he would "do nothing" was, in fact, his truest intention.

He had no intention of actively seeking revenge on the Lin Family, but he also had no intention of offering them any forgiveness.

However, it was precisely this cold shoulder that would put the Lin Family in an increasingly difficult position as his own power grew and his status in the Federation rose.

In the future, he might not even have to do anything himself; the Lin Family would naturally crumble under the pressure coming from all sides.

And Xu Wuyi himself would remain uninvolved in any of it. It was a rather clever choice, one that also demonstrated extreme confidence in his own future.

Xu Wuyi took a deep breath and also walked out of the conference room.

In the corridor, Qiao Tongyu was giving instructions to a military officer. Spotting Xu Wuyi, he waved him over.

"Xu Wuyi, come over here a moment."

Xu Wuyi walked over.

Qiao Tongyu told the officer, "Proceed as planned," then turned to Xu Wuyi. "That girl, Zhiyao, is always mentioning you to me. Says her senior brother takes good care of her and has taught her a lot."

Xu Wuyi shook his head. "Junior Sister Qiao is the one with exceptional talent. Her future accomplishments will surely surpass my own."

"You’re too kind. That little girl still has a long way to go," Qiao Tongyu said with a smile. "Are you going to watch the Youth Martial Arts Tournament in a couple of days?"

"If the command center doesn’t have a mission for me, I plan to."

"You should go," Qiao Tongyu said. "That girl Zhiyao is dead set on taking the championship. Go and cheer her on. Over here at the command center, we’ll notify you immediately if anything comes up."

After all, Dongjiang Province hadn’t been directly attacked yet. Everyone was just on standby; there was no need to be constantly on edge. In fact, that would do more harm than good.

"Thank you, Grandmaster Qiao."

Qiao Tongyu waved his hand. "You and Zhiyao are junior and senior. You can just call me Uncle. Besides, you’re a member of the Dongjiang Battle Group and a part of Dongjiang Province. These are extraordinary times. We can only protect this land by working together with one heart."

Xu Wuyi thought for a moment, then nodded solemnly. "Alright, Uncle Qiao."

Qiao Tongyu smiled. "Go on, then. Get familiar with the command center. We’ll notify you when the quick reaction team is formally assembled."

Xu Wuyi bowed and took his leave.

By the time he walked out of the building, the sky had already darkened.

The streets were brightly lit, but there were far fewer pedestrians than usual. Military vehicle patrols were more frequent, and in the distance, one could see the pale blue glow of an active Energy Shield Generator.

Linjiang, the most prosperous city in Dongjiang Province, had also entered a state of wartime tension.

...

The Celestial Wolf Civilization’s suicide attack, which had struck seventeen cities, sent massive shockwaves through the Federation mainland.

Bloody news reports and a steadily climbing death toll made a populace long accustomed to peace feel the cruelty and proximity of war for the first time.

However, in the aftermath of the attack, the anticipated fiercer follow-up offensive did not immediately arrive.

On the Star Realm Battlefield, the Celestial Wolf Civilization seemed to have fallen into a strange silence. Back on the Federation mainland, the first few, most tense days passed under high alert.

On May sixth, the Federation Youth Martial Arts Tournament kicked off on the Star Martial Battle Network as scheduled.

Xu Wuyi, still on standby at the Linjiang command center, confirmed there were no urgent missions and connected to the Battle Network’s spectator channel through his personal terminal.

Light flowed through the virtual spectator stands. Inside the arena, young Martial Artists were fighting for honor and their future.

Qiao Zhiyao’s improvement was plain to see.

Her Life Energy Level was stable at 34, and her True Intention was quite refined. Her combat style was more composed and experienced than last year, with less sharp aggression and more control.