Future

Chapter 9: Future

"Oh my god..."

The remaining slovenly man saw how ferocious Baili Qingfeng was. Bro Long, whom he had regarded as invincible throughout Nancheng, and Master Jiang, who had been even stronger than Bro Long, had been injured and killed in the blink of an eye. He cried out in terror, turned, and ran, utterly devoid of courage to fight this fiendish god, Baili Qingfeng, again.

"Dead."

Baili Qingfeng paid no attention to that man.

He looked at his right hand, then at his left.

Breaking Jiang Ziheng's arm head-on with his right hand, then immediately striking with a chop of his left—both had been instinctive reactions in a life-or-death struggle.

At the time, he had not thought that much about it.

Which was why...

"He really died."

Baili Qingfeng looked at Jiang Ziheng.

Not only Jiang Ziheng—the Sturdy Man had stopped breathing as well.

He had killed two people.

In his previous life, that would have been unimaginable.

Yet now, it had clearly become reality right before his eyes.

The terrifying lethality of a martial artist was displayed in full at that moment.

"So I've already... become this strong!?"

Baili Qingfeng muttered to himself.

Silence.

He remained silent for roughly ten seconds.

Then he raised his head again.

"It's good to be strong. Once I'm strong, no one will be able to crush me like an ant whenever they please. Once I'm strong, I can live the life I want and spend this lifetime the way I like."

Baili Qingfeng gathered his thoughts and walked out of the alley.

In this world, there was a special circumstance known as Martial Artist Vendetta.

War-level martial artists even had licenses to kill.

So long as they did not cause social unrest, the deaths of one or two people were perfectly normal.

If the people did not report it, the authorities would not pursue it.

Especially people like Jiang Ziheng, an underworld tycoon with enemies all over the world. If he died, no official power would care in the slightest.

Thus, Baili Qingfeng calmly took the No. 2 bus back and checked into a hotel.

As for the injury to his right hand...

One night's sleep would heal it.

If it did not, then he would sleep another night.

The night passed in peace and quiet.

The next day, the two of them went to the bus station and took a coach back to Wuhe City, encountering no obstruction along the way.

Jiang Ziheng had been the Jiang Family's strongest expert, a pillar holding up the roof, while the Sturdy Man had likewise been one of the Jiang Family's foremost experts. The two had been beaten to death on the spot in a direct confrontation. Faced with such a ferocious enemy, it was not Baili Qingfeng who ought to worry, but the remaining members of the Jiang Family.

After nearly two hours on the road, the two returned safely to Wuhe City.

Not long after entering the city, the vehicle stopped. Waves of shouting came from outside, and he could vaguely make out cries such as, "Ceding land and paying indemnities—where is the kingdom's dignity?" "Oppose the Aurora Empire's hegemonic acts!" and "We, the people of Xia, do not fear bloodshed or sacrifice!"

"Another protest. Sigh, how many times has this been this month? War won't break out. Xia and Aurora are both major nations with populations exceeding a hundred million and territories spanning over a million square kilometers. They won't go to war so easily."

Several people in the seats ahead began chatting.

"That royal bunch is too spineless. They don't dare fight back even when others bully them at their doorstep. All they do is shout protests. Now the Aurora People have pushed the border dozens of kilometers inward. I say, if Aurora dares attack us, we should hit back without hesitation. So what if our national strength is a little weaker? At worst, Jade and Stone Burn Together."

"Exactly. If Aurora wants to fight us, Xia will tear a chunk of flesh off them too. Besides, they have so many international rivals. Once they sink into the mire of war with Xia, those countries definitely won't stand idly by."

"Dignity isn't negotiated into existence. It's hammered out with fists."

"Fighting is impossible. They'll never fight in this lifetime. That royal bunch only knows how to drown themselves in wine and dreams and enjoy life. Why would they care whether ordinary people live or die? Now the Aurora People are privileged citizens in Xia, running wild and acting like tyrants, while officials don't dare govern them at all. If this continues, Xia will become Aurora's vassal state sooner or later."

Discussion rose from the front, and more than half the passengers were bitterly resentful toward the Xia Royal Family.

Over the years, the royal family's various actions, its bureaucracy, and its continual concessions regarding the Aurora Empire had left people utterly disappointed in them.

After the vehicle entered the bus station, Baili Qingfeng and Baili Die got off. They took a public bus to the Old City District and entered their home.

Besides his father, Baili Hong, there was also a sturdy middle-aged man in the house.

Baili Tianxing.

Second Grandfather's second son, Baili Huang's younger brother, Baili Ruoxue and Baili Die's uncle, and also...

A figure who upheld the Baili Family's standing.

"Qingfeng is here."

Baili Tianxing looked at Baili Qingfeng with a smile in his eyes. "Your Second Grandfather told me about you long ago. He said our Baili Lineage had produced a True Dragon, that you developed force in two days—truly remarkable. I was tangled up in some trouble recently, so I couldn't rush back. From now on, if there's anything you don't understand about martial arts, just ask me..."

As he spoke, he looked Baili Qingfeng up and down, and his eyes immediately lit up. "What a strong young lad. How is your Rushing Thunder Thirty-Six Forms coming along? Can you finish it within ten minutes?"

"Yes."

Baili Qingfeng replied.

"Good."

Baili Tianxing slapped his thigh excitedly. "What a fine lad! You've truly stepped through the gates of martial arts now! Train hard, keep training hard. With your talent, you may be able to cultivate Qi and Blood within two or three years. If you then refine your qi and nourish your spirit, that would be extraordinary. Our Baili Lineage would finally have someone to carry on the legacy. By then..."

Before Baili Tianxing could continue, Baili Hong hurriedly changed the subject. "Die, how did things go in Sumen City? Did you settle the copyright?"

"We did!"

At the mention of this, Baili Die could not help beaming with excitement. "My little brother's lyrics and melodies were so good! Dad, you have no idea—later, he wrote another song. Once he sang it, everyone was stunned by his talent. Even the famous singer An Yixun begged him to write songs for him. The earlier song was sold at a beginner's price, one thousand. The next time he writes one, it won't be as simple as selling it for one or two thousand. Five or six thousand is possible."

"Five or six thousand?"

Baili Hong was immediately moved when he heard that.

Five or six thousand...

That was nearly equivalent to more than half a year of his income.

"Good, good, good! One song earns five or six thousand—wouldn't ten songs make fifty or sixty thousand? Then we can use it to buy two houses, and our future lives will be settled."

Baili Hong looked extremely pleased. Looking at Baili Qingfeng, he encouraged, "Write songs well. Put your heart into writing songs. Don't waste your talent, understand?"

"Mm, I will."

Baili Qingfeng nodded.

Baili Tianxing hurriedly interjected from the side, "Qingfeng is very talented in martial arts too."

"How can martial arts compare to writing songs? One of Qingfeng's songs can sell for five or six thousand. Even if he writes only twenty a year, that's one hundred ten or one hundred twenty thousand. Can martial arts earn one hundred ten or one hundred twenty thousand a year?"

"Well..."

Baili Tianxing could not answer and looked rather embarrassed.

"Qingfeng, how about simply transferring to Blue Sea Conservatory of Music? It's close by anyway. Go study at the conservatory, then pursue the path of a full-time composer in the future."

Baili Hong said eagerly.

"Xia'er University is quite good. It's only a dozen or so kilometers from home, and it's also one of Xia's best universities. Many people can't get in even if they want to. Besides, transferring schools isn't easy."

Baili Qingfeng said.

"That's true."

Baili Hong nodded.

He was an ordinary man without power or influence. If he wanted Baili Qingfeng to transfer schools, he would have to beg people from his mother's side of the family. But those people had always looked down on their family, and he did not want to press a warm face against a cold backside.

"Qingfeng, don't slack off in martial arts either..."

Baili Tianxing said from the side, sounding somewhat lacking in confidence. "If you can become War-level, your prospects definitely won't be worse than writing songs..."

"I heard Ruoxue mention that War-level rank. It's very difficult to achieve, and martial artists of that level will be conscripted to the battlefield during wartime. Xia looks like it's going to war with Aurora. I don't want Qingfeng going to the battlefield then."

"Father, don't worry. I'll write songs. And Uncle Tianxing, don't worry either. I'll train in martial arts too."

Baili Qingfeng said.

Having received Baili Qingfeng's definite answer, Baili Tianxing relaxed and took his leave.

After Baili Tianxing left, Baili Hong pondered matters. Considering Baili Qingfeng's performance over the past year, he did not insist further. Besides, school would be starting soon, and Baili Qingfeng probably would not have that much time to train in martial arts anyway. He merely said, "You're an adult now. You need to learn to consider your own future. Buying a house, renovating it, finding a girlfriend, paying the betrothal gifts, getting married, having children—everything costs money. If you practice martial arts and fail, you waste time, energy, and money. If you succeed, you'll have to go to the battlefield, and wouldn't that make the family worry even more? Think it over carefully."