It Wasn't You

The sun was shining brightly.

The orderly drill ground suddenly resembled a field that had been plowed several times, with the guards like seedlings lying haphazardly inside.

"Zhenyue, are you alright?"

Zhong Ling rushed down from the reviewing stand in a panic.

After helping Zhong Zhenyue up and looking him over, they found that he was only experiencing some fluctuations in his Qi and Blood and qi and showed no signs of injury, and then they breathed a sigh of relief.

The guards were all unharmed and stood up without saying a word.

Zhong Zhenyue smiled wryly and said irritably:

"Now you know how formidable Brother Li is, right? The top ten on the Hidden Dragon Ranking cannot be judged by ordinary standards."

"It's the eleventh..."

Zhong Ling was actually Qi Ingestion, but she looked at the boy who was putting his shirt back on not far away, her eyes filled with horror.

She was at the Divine Observation Realm, Zhong Zhenyue was also at the Divine Observation Realm. Yet, even with the combined strength of the two of them and a hundred personal guards, they were still defeated by a young man of the same realm.

He and Zhong Zhenyue are on the same list, but their strengths are on completely different levels.

What's wrong with you today?

"I don't know anyone who can rival you, so I'd like to see for myself..."

It was rare for Zhong Ling to yield to her younger brother.

She walked up to Li Mo and said earnestly:

"I was wrong just now. I was narrow-minded and underestimated you. I will never call you 'Wife-Prospering Fighting Soul' again."

"We became friends after a fight, so there's no need for such a grand ceremony."

After a single Heavenly Mandate Divine Eye, Li Mo was speechless.

[Name: Zhong Ling]

[Age: 25]

[Root Bone: None.]

[Realm: Four Apertures of Divine Observation.]

[Destiny: Blue (Inherently flawed, destined for a life of hardship)]

[Evaluation: The adopted daughter of the Prince of Southern Pacification, she grew up with Zhong Zhenyue from childhood, sharing a deep and loyal bond. She studied military formations for him from a young age and has become a master in this field.]

[Recent Encounter: Followed Zhong Zhenyue to Greenwood City, intending to help him challenge 'Li Mo'.]

"..."

Okay.

These two siblings don't look alike at all; they're not even related by blood.

Zhong Ling chased after her brother from Southern Pass to Greenwood City, not because she missed him, but because she missed him!

Looking at Zhong Zhenyue's utterly straight-man face, Little Li suddenly felt a little sorry for Zhong Ling.

"I will study military formations more diligently when I get back, and I hope to be able to help Zhenyue challenge you again next time."

"No problem, in fact, I'm the one who benefited."

Li Mo agreed.

If it weren't for Zhong Ling, he wouldn't have been able to master the transformation of Yazi today, and his extremely slow progress in the <Extreme Weapon Slaughter Body> has also made a slight improvement.

We also received feedback from investors.

He'd love to have more challenges like this.

Qu Sheng through the drill ground gate, his gaze towards Li Mo filled with even greater admiration:

"It seems I was overthinking it. If Brother Li could penetrate deep into the Demon Race realm and escape unscathed, how could our small Greenwood Camp not be able to thrive?"

The expressions of the soldiers and Zhong Ling changed slightly.

I initially thought the Hidden Dragon Ranking was an exaggeration. What does it mean to "penetrate deep into the Southern Border"? Actually, Greenwood City can be considered to have penetrated deep into the Southern Border.

Unexpectedly, this young man had returned from the territory of the Demon Race.

They have the ability, the courage, and the determination.

"You flatter me. I only used a clever trick; it's nothing compared to Commander Qu's defense of the border."

"Taking shortcuts?"

"I possess Image-Mimicking Martial Arts the forms of demons; when mastered to a high level, it can make one resemble the Demon Race."

This is no secret.

Li Mo felt that Commander Qu must have already learned something from the military reports. After all, what right did a Divine Observation Realm have to stir up trouble in the territory of the Demon Race if he were a human?

"Even Calamity Beast can transform?"

"I just felt like I was facing a ferocious beast; it turns out it was Brother Li's Image-Mimicking Martial Arts."

"Can Image-Mimicking Martial Arts reach such a high level?"

"Otherwise, they'd be considered geniuses."

The guards couldn't help but start gossiping about it.

If someone had told them such horrifying things before, who would have believed it?

"It can transform into Calamity Beast..." Zhong Ling's eyes brightened slightly.

Zhong Zhenyue glanced at her and said:

"Brother Li, although I have been training for a while, I have only fought against powerful Calamity Beast a few times. I've only been good at theoretical knowledge. I wonder if you could simulate the Calamity Beast's appearance to give me and my soldiers some experience?"

Li Mo nodded. "No problem."

"As for the reward..." Zhong Zhenyue hesitated for a moment, glancing at Qu Sheng.

No payment required.

His straightforwardness surprised everyone, including Qu Sheng.

The more experience a soldier has in facing Calamity Beast, the less blood they will shed. And Li Mo's unheard-of martial arts are probably unique in the world.

The amount of compensation depends entirely on how much Li Mo wants.

"You didn't ask for any payment when you searched for me, and to be honest, I have some assets; I'm not short of gold and silver."

"How can these be the same..." Zhong Zhenyue didn't react.

Li Mo smiled and said, "Exchanging favors is the same thing."

The investment in Greenwood Camp involves a real 80,000 people.

Moreover, he only spent some time as a sparring partner.

Even without this investment feedback, he would have agreed anyway.

Qu Sheng was stunned for a moment, then suddenly burst into hearty laughter:

"Brother Li, you truly are the most interesting young man I've ever met. Since you're off today, why don't you come to my tent for a simple meal?"

"No need then, I need to go back to the restaurant."

"Oh?"

As dusk fell.

Today is a day off for the soldiers at Greenwood Camp. Some of them, who have been cooped up in the camp for many days, have decided to go out and have some fun, while many others who have married and started families in the area are going home to their wives and children.

Even the guards who drove Zhong Zhenyue's carriage were given a day off today, while their wives and children waited for them in front of the camp.

"My father always said that one should settle down before establishing a career, but when will I be able to...?"

Zhong Zhenyue's eyes revealed envy.

"..."

When Li Mo saw Zhong Ling beside him, he thought that this guy was taking his good fortune for granted.

Zhong Zhenyue turned around, somewhat moved, and said:

"Luckily, Brother Li is like me. You said you wanted to go back to the restaurant, did you want to have a drink with me?"

"You're quite aggressive, Lao Zhong."

"Ah?"

Zhong Zhenyue followed Li Mo's gaze and his expression froze.

Beneath the tree, a Green Phoenix Goddess stood with her back against the tree, holding Big-Headed Doll in her hand. Her clothes fluttered in the wind. She raised her hand to gather a strand of hair at her temple, and thus she saw the carriage.

"Li Mo."

How did you get here?

Li Mo really hadn't expected the Ice Block to run this way.

You haven't cooked yet today.

"The chefs at the restaurant are actually quite good..."

"You didn't do it."

"..."

Li Mo remained silent for a moment, then nodded seriously.

So, Ice Block probably practiced martial arts all day and didn't eat lunch?

Damn it, this is a huge loss – a missed investment return opportunity!

"Brother Li, is your cooking really that delicious?"

Zhong Zhenyue's face was serious.

See, even the most stoic men have such different priorities.

"Just try it and you'll know. Let's have some together tonight."

Li Mo pulled Ying Bing into the car, the movements very natural. Ying Bing sat down beside him. As they passed the sugar figurine stall from yesterday, her eyes flickered for a moment before she looked away.

Zhong Ling pursed her lips and looked at the two of them, then glanced at Zhong Zhenyue's hand.

"Hmm? Sister Ling, do you want to arm wrestle with me?"