"That kid was definitely dragged in to take the fall."
Zheng Tong thought it was the most reasonable explanation.
He simply couldn't believe that Lu Feng had the ability to manipulate the beast-fighting matches.
At the Jinzhou City Military Base, Xie An, Minister of the Military Merit Statistics Department, suddenly received an urgent communication.
The caller was the soldier assigned to secretly protect Lu Feng.
"Sir! We've got a problem! People from the Blood Cherry Beast Fighting Arena have taken Lu Feng!"
"What? He went back to the arena?"
Xie An's voice turned stern. Before the other man could explain, he had already guessed the reason.
That kid had probably used his beast-controlling ability to win money again.
"Yes! He caused three matches in a row to end in draws and won a huge sum. Then the arena staff caught on..."
The soldier gave him a detailed report of what had happened.
"That greedy little bastard!" Xie An couldn't help cursing.
"Stay where you are. I'll contact the arena and get him released."
After hanging up, Xie An immediately called Zhou Mingren, the Arena Master of the Blood Cherry Beast Fighting Arena.
Zhou Mingren was not only the Arena Master but also the Minister of the Exotic Beast Management Department in the Military Region. He was a soldier as well.
However, he and Xie An, who was in charge of recording Military Merit, rarely interacted.
In the arena's back office, two Warriors held Lu Feng firmly against a sofa, leaving him unable to break free.
"Let me go! What gives you the right to take me?"
He was a little panicked. He hadn't expected to be caught on the spot after causing just three draws.
Zhou Mingren stood in front of him, narrowing his eyes as he examined him closely.
He found it hard to believe that this young man was the one who had manipulated the matches that night and stirred up such a commotion.
Just as he was about to question Lu Feng about how he had controlled the outcomes, his Communicator suddenly rang.
Seeing that the call was from Xie An of the Military Region's Military Merit Statistics Department, Zhou Mingren frowned. Then he stepped aside and answered. "Minister Xie!"
Before he could ask anything, Xie An got straight to the point. "Minister Zhou, did you take a young man into custody tonight?"
"How did you know?" Zhou Mingren asked in surprise.
"Don't give him a hard time..."
"What? Is he a relative of yours?"
"Of course not. I, Xie, would never abuse my position to show favoritism. This young man is very important to the Jinzhou Military Region. You must make sure he stays safe."
Zhou Mingren's brow furrowed even more. "Is there... something special about him?"
"I can't say more for now. Please do me this favor and let the boy go."
Hearing that, Zhou Mingren let out a quiet sigh. "All right."
He didn't press the matter.
Military affairs sometimes involved classified information. Though they both worked within the Military Region, Zhou Mingren was mainly responsible for managing Exotic Beasts, so it wasn't appropriate for him to ask too many questions.
After leaving the arena, Lu Feng still felt a little dazed. He couldn't understand why they had released him so easily.
He shook his head and decided not to dwell on it. After causing such a commotion tonight, he'd better leave as soon as possible.
He had barely walked away from the arena when a familiar figure stepped into his path.
"Lu Feng! I never expected to run into you here."
Zheng Tong gave him a sidelong look, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "How much did they pay you to take the fall? You'd really stoop to earning money like that?"
As far as Zheng Tong was concerned, there was only one explanation for Lu Feng's presence here.
The arena had brought him in as a scapegoat to appease the crowd, putting on a little show in exchange for some pocket money.
Lu Feng looked at the enemy who had stolen his place at Martial University. A fierce hatred surged into his eyes, and he wanted nothing more than to tear Zheng Tong apart right there.
But he knew that he was still no match for the Zheng Family. The time for revenge hadn't come yet.
He said nothing and turned to leave.
"Hey! I'm talking to you. Are you deaf?" Zheng Tong strode forward and stretched out an arm to block Lu Feng. "And how did you get Principal Zhao sent to prison?"
Lu Feng couldn't be bothered to answer. He pushed Zheng Tong's arm aside and kept walking.
"Bastard! How dare you treat me like that?" Zheng Tong glared at his back, instantly burning with rage.
But this was the arena's territory. Even as the Vice City Lord's grandson, he didn't dare cause trouble here.
"Follow him,"
he ordered the two bodyguards behind him in a low voice. "Once he's out of the estate, grab him."
Lu Feng left the arena estate and stood by the neon-lit street, where he managed to flag down a taxi.
Just as he was about to open the door, two black-clad Warriors rushed over and seized him from either side.
"What are you doing?"
He immediately recognized them as Zheng Tong's bodyguards.
"Quit wasting time. Come with us," one of them said coldly.
Seeing trouble, the taxi driver hurriedly hit the gas and drove off.
Ordinary people didn't dare get involved in conflicts between Warriors.
The Military Region Warrior hiding nearby to protect Lu Feng was about to intervene when a man in his thirties rushed forward ahead of him.
"Who are you?"
Lu Feng turned around and saw that the newcomer was none other than his homeroom teacher, He Qing.
After Lu Feng's Communicator had been switched off, He Qing had been worried sick, afraid something might have happened to him.
So he contacted Lu Feng's parents and told Lu Dahai and Li Qinglan that a million had suddenly appeared in their account.
The couple immediately guessed that their son had probably gone to the arena again.
The huge sum he'd earned the last time had also come from winning at the arena.
That was how his daughter, Lu Mingxue, had gotten the money for her surgery.
After learning the truth, He Qing immediately rushed to the arena, planning to bring Lu Feng home.
He hadn't expected to arrive at the entrance just in time to see him being held captive.
"The Zheng Family is handling this. Mind your own business," one of the black-clad Warriors said coldly.
"The Zheng Family?" At those words, He Qing's gaze turned icy.
As one of Jinzhou City's ruling families, they repeatedly bullied ordinary people's children.
A family like that was truly despicable.
Without another word, He Qing clenched his fist and struck one of them.
The black-clad Warrior hurriedly raised an arm to block. A dull thud rang out as powerful True Qi surged through the air, sending the bodyguard staggering backward before he stumbled and fell.
Seeing this, the other bodyguard immediately released Lu Feng and turned to attack He Qing.
Unfortunately, both Zheng Family Warriors were only at the Early Third Realm, and neither was a match for He Qing, who was in the Mid Third Realm.
After just a few exchanges, both men were sprawled on the ground, their faces bruised and swollen.
"Let's go."
After dealing with the bodyguards, He Qing immediately led Lu Feng away.
The two went to a restaurant in North City, ordered some late-night food, and chatted as they ate.
"Teacher, thank you," Lu Feng said sincerely.
"You've got some nerve, running off to a place like the arena. How did you win a million? And why did the Zheng Family want to take you?" He Qing fired off question after question.
Lu Feng didn't answer a single one. "Teacher, please don't ask. That million was a gift from me. As for the Zheng Family, I'll get my revenge on them sooner or later."
"Don't be ridiculous. How could I accept that much money from you? I've already transferred the million to your parents. Remember, stay away from the Zheng Family from now on." He Qing spoke sternly.
He knew all too well that Lu Feng couldn't stand up to a powerful family like that.
Back when he had gone to the Education Bureau to complain about Principal Zhao Chang and the Zheng Family over Lu Feng's place at Martial University, his complaint had disappeared without a trace. No one had paid it the slightest bit of attention.
"Forget it. Let's not talk about the Zheng Family," Lu Feng said, changing the subject. "Teacher, I happen to have some questions about the Martial Realm I'd like to ask you."
"Go ahead."
"What's the difference between the Second Realm and the Third Realm of Martial Arts?"
He couldn't understand it. He was already at the Iron Bone Realm Seventh Level, and at full power he could unleash forty thousand kilograms of force.
Yet he hadn't been able to fight back at all against a Three Realm Martial Artist.
There was also something that had been bothering Lu Feng for a long time.
The Mark on his chest could absorb energy from Exotic Beasts.
But why could it only absorb energy from those at the Third Tier or above?
Exotic Beasts below the Third Tier couldn't provide him with any energy.
Before you continue