Friend's Wife?

The old man seemed to age all at once. He sighed and said to the little girl beside him, who had somehow gotten along quite happily with the two girls, "Xiao Kui, I'm tired. Let's go back."

Then he smiled at Wang Yi and the others. "Young people, this peaceful life we have now did not come easily. Cherish it."

Wang Yi, Lin Youyu, and the others watched the old man they had encountered by chance leave. They all knew that he must have had many stories in his past.

After a moment of silence, Gao Yurong suddenly said, "You want to become a Martial Artist too, don't you? Go fight monsters with your life on the line?"

Lin Youyu froze and turned to look at Wang Yi.

Wang Yi nodded. "Yes."

Lin Youyu and Gao Yurong both wore complicated expressions, concern appearing on their faces.

"Isn't becoming a Martial Artist very dangerous?" Lin Youyu could not help asking. Anyone living in this era knew how terrifying the monsters in the Wilderness Area were. They were creatures that even human armies and modern weapons found difficult to deal with.

Although Martial Artists represented status, prestige, and glory, even ordinary people knew that all of it was earned by trading one's life for it.

"Some things have to be done by someone," Wang Yi said without elaborating.

Though he feared death, and most people did, he had blood and spirit too. He had grown up in this era as well, and there were many things he simply could not remain indifferent toward.

Since he had the ability, then of course he had to do it. But it was difficult to explain such things to Chen Yan and the others. In their eyes, Wang Yi, who spent every day with them, was merely a somewhat more capable peer. It was hard for them to imagine him fighting those terrifying, savage monsters in the Wilderness Area.

To them, that was a nightmare.

Gao Yurong patted Lin Youyu. "Don't worry. Stop worrying about him. He's only an Advanced Student right now. Who knows how long it'll take before he becomes a Martial Artist? Maybe he'll never become one in his whole life."

Wang Yi's mouth twitched. "Are you cursing me?"

Still, Gao Yurong's words put Lin Youyu much more at ease.

That was right. Wang Yi was only an Advanced Student now. There should still be a huge gap between him and becoming a Martial Artist.

They knew nothing at all about Martial Artists, and were somewhat foolish and naive in this regard.

"But doesn't Wang Yi seem to be applying to Jiangnan First Military School?" Lin Youyu began to worry again.

Just as Wang Yi was about to say something, his phone suddenly rang.

"Dad, Dad, your bastard son is calling again..."

Lin Youyu and Gao Yurong: "..."

Without changing expression, Wang Yi took out his phone. Smartphones in this era were far more advanced than those of the past. Some of the highest-end phones on the market were practically handheld computers, with powerful functions that could even project images for virtual touchscreens.

Of course, Wang Yi came from an ordinary poor family and could not afford one of those. His was a standard model.

"Luo Feng?" Wang Yi was a little surprised when he saw the caller's name.

He accepted the video call.

"What do you want?"

A rather lean, fresh-faced boy appeared on the other end. His eyes were clear and bright as he said with an easy laugh, "Is your school on break? We haven't met up in ages. Come over here and spar with me. I improved that move from last time, and this time I'll definitely blow your mind."

Wang Yi was an Advanced Martial Arts Student, and so was Luo Feng. They had known each other for years and often went to each other's places to hang out and spar.

For Luo Feng, Wang Yi was the only friend around him who was close to his age, similarly skilled, and easy to talk to.

"You just want a free sparring partner, don't you?" Wang Yi saw through his intentions at once and exposed him without mercy.

"Haha, you probably don't have anything to do anyway, so why not come over and we can... Hmm? Your friend?" Luo Feng finally noticed the slender figure beside Wang Yi. Because of the camera angle, though, he could only see Lin Youyu.

Luo Feng was surprised at first, then a look of realization appeared on his face. Smiling, he said, "No wonder you won't come when I call you. So you have someone now. Is this your girlfriend?"

Lin Youyu's face reddened slightly at Luo Feng's words.

Before Wang Yi could explain, Gao Yurong, who had heard the conversation, leaned over as well.

Seeing two more lovely, attractive faces, Luo Feng fell silent.

"Th-this... are they both your friends?" He paused, but ultimately did not say the words "girlfriends."

Wang Yi nodded. "Yeah. I'm accompanying my friends around Jiangnan Main Urban Area, so I don't have time to go over today."

"Oh, okay." Luo Feng said somewhat awkwardly, "Then go ahead and enjoy yourselves. See you next time."

Luo Feng ended the call.

Yangzhou City, in a low-rent apartment building.

After hanging up, Luo Feng sat at his desk and fell into deep contemplation about life.

All this time, he had thought that this Little Partner was just like him, a single dog.

Although Wang Yi had somehow noticed that he had a bit of a crush on Xu Xin and was always urging him to pursue her, frequently putting on the airs of a love expert and rattling off idea after idea as if he had been through it no fewer than a hundred times, Luo Feng had always suspected that he was just good at talking.

But now, having inadvertently seen Wang Yi surrounded by two girls, Luo Feng began to waver.

Could it be that his buddy had been hiding his talents all along and really knew what he was doing?

Then should he ask him for some advice in the future?

Jiujiang City, the district martial arts hall in Guangyuan Residential Area. This was where Wang Yi often came to train.

Inside a luxuriously furnished office, the young martial arts hall instructor, Yang Le, sat in a comfortable, extravagant chair upholstered in monster hide. He looked over the latest training candidate list displayed on his computer screen, while expensive tea sat on the desk.

The martial arts hall had limited resources, and in order to encourage Advanced Students to compete and train harder, it often used various rewards as incentives.

Naturally, all such arrangements were handled by Yang Le, who had only recently become the new instructor of this district martial arts hall. That was why many students deliberately tried to curry favor with him.

"Hmm, Jiang Hun can be added. And Shi Hao too. He's given me quite a lot, so add him as well..." Yang Le stroked his chin. Thinking of something, he revealed a lecherous smile. "And Yu Yan too. Since I helped her out, she probably won't reject me again..." Thinking of her fiery figure, Yang Le chuckled.

Suddenly, a highly ranked name appeared before his eyes.

"Wang Yi?"

He frowned.