Formal Recruitment

Yang Wu finally understood why he had joined the Wang Family during the simulation.

It was all because of this "One-Armed Spear Demon"!

This "One-Armed Spear Demon," Liu Dehui, had been seriously injured in an accident in the Wilderness Area when he was still a Warrior Level martial artist, losing his left arm.

Without a powerful family backing him, there was no way he could obtain a treasure like Life Water with only Warrior Level strength.

When martial artists became disabled, they generally took on logistical roles within their organization, such as becoming instructors or teachers at a dojo...

But Senior Liu had continued to accompany martial artist teams into the Wilderness Area to hunt monsters. When he couldn't join a high-level team, he joined a lower-level one...

As Liu Dehui continued to risk his life time and again, his spear techniques reached the specialized level, and his physical fitness advanced to War General Level. He had also earned the title of "One-Armed Spear Demon"!

Yang Wu's weapon of choice was also a spear. When he practiced his spear techniques, he often watched videos recorded by the very martial artist sitting before him, Liu Dehui, an Intermediate War General Level expert.

It was no wonder that his simulated self had made that choice. After joining the Wang Family, he would receive guidance from an expert like this.

"Haha." Wang Zijin smiled at Yang Wu's words. "A-Wu, I heard that your weapon of choice is a spear. How about it? If you join the Wang Family, I'll ask Uncle Liu to take you on as his apprentice and teach you his spear techniques."

Liu Dehui sat quietly to one side.

Wang Zijin had discussed this with him before they came. Over the years, Wang Zijin's father had helped him a great deal, and Liu Dehui really had no way to refuse.

Besides, Yang Wu was only twenty-four and had already become a full-fledged martial artist. Liu Dehui could bring himself to accept a disciple like that.

"Brother Wang, I've only just passed the Quasi-Warrior Assessment. I haven't taken the practical combat exam yet..." Yang Wu said calmly.

Wang Zijin shrugged and smiled. "With your abilities, A-Wu, passing the practical exam will be a piece of cake. Uncle Liu is right here in front of you. You won't get many chances like this!"

Back when Yang Wu had only been at the Advanced Trainee level, he had beaten five thugs of the same level in a fight. So Wang Zijin was confident that Yang Wu would pass the practical combat exam.

Seeing that he couldn't steer the conversation elsewhere, Yang Wu simply said, "Brother Wang, I appreciate the offer, but I have other plans. I'm afraid I can't join the Wang Family."

Before the Simulator had appeared, becoming Liu Dehui's apprentice would have been a decent choice.

But after just one simulation, Yang Wu's physical fitness had already reached Advanced Warrior Level. He figured that in just a few months, his strength would surpass that of the "One-Armed Spear Demon" sitting before him.

At this point, becoming his apprentice would not be a good choice.

Seeing Yang Wu turn down Wang Zijin, Xu Feiyue, who had been silent until now, suddenly shouted, "Yang Wu, Brother Wang is showing you such respect. Don't be so ungrateful!"

Xu Feiyue was Wang Zijin's personal bodyguard, with Intermediate Warrior Level strength. He had already resented the special treatment Wang Zijin gave Yang Wu. Now, seeing Wang Zijin go so far as to bring out the "One-Armed Spear Demon" to recruit him, Xu Feiyue felt even more jealous.

He had never received this kind of treatment since joining the Wang Family, yet Yang Wu had turned it down.

Angry, Xu Feiyue blurted out what he thought.

The moment Xu Feiyue spoke, Wang Zijin's face darkened.

Before Yang Wu could say anything, Wang Zijin suppressed his anger and said, "Feiyue, you're drunk. Go outside and sober up!"

"Brother Wang, I..."

After entering the private room, Xu Feiyue had been sitting there the whole time. When would he have had a chance to drink?

"Get out!" Wang Zijin's tone grew sharper.

Wang Zijin was already furious.

Yang Wu was his honored guest, a newly minted martial artist with extensive connections and great talent. He had put a tremendous amount of effort into winning Yang Wu over because he wanted to bring him onto his side.

He had failed this time, but he could always try again. Xu Feiyue's outburst, however, had offended Yang Wu.

Still, Xu Feiyue was the strongest martial artist under him. Wang Zijin couldn't just lash out at him, so he could only make him leave for now.

Seeing this, Xu Feiyue had no choice but to glare viciously at Yang Wu before walking out of the private room.

Being scolded by Wang Zijin in front of everyone had embarrassed him, but instead of blaming Wang Zijin, he turned his hatred toward Yang Wu.

"Brother Wang, this..." Yang Wu looked at Wang Zijin with an awkward expression.

"Uncle Liu, A-Wu, one of my men was out of line. Please excuse him." After Xu Feiyue left the private room, Wang Zijin apologized with a smile, then continued, "Let's forget about him. Eat up, and we can talk while we eat!"

Liu Dehui gave a slight nod from his seat. He wasn't bothered by the incident. He had come only out of respect for Wang Zijin's father, and as a renowned martial artist, he wouldn't take a minor matter like Xu Feiyue to heart.

Yang Wu cared even less about Xu Feiyue. Even now, Yang Wu was already much stronger than him.

With the Time Simulator's help, Yang Wu was confident he could soon catch up even to the "One-Armed Spear Demon" sitting before him.

There was no need for him to join the Wang Family after all.

Still, he would remember the favors Wang Zijin had done him over the past three years and return them when he got the chance.

Halfway through the meal, Wang Zijin spoke again, asking earnestly, "A-Wu, the benefits our Wang Family offers martial artists rank among the very best of the twelve great families in Huaxia Country. In addition to a detached villa, we also provide two million Huaxia Currency in startup funds!"

"The Two Great Dojos offer only one million in startup funds. Few other families offer as much as two million. If you join our Wang Family, I can authorize an increase from two million to five million.

"Moreover, our Wang Family is one of the nine core families of the HR Alliance, and the only one of the nine based in Huaxia Country. If you join us, you'll be able to draw on the HR Alliance's resources anywhere in the world!"

The Wang Family's standard offer to recruit martial artists capped the startup funds at two million. Wang Zijin would have to pay the extra three million out of his own pocket. Of course, to him, spending three million in cash to recruit a promising martial artist was well worth it.

Five million Huaxia Currency in cash was a considerable sum for someone who had just become a martial artist. And given the Wang Family's standing in Huaxia Country, Wang Zijin couldn't imagine why Yang Wu would refuse.

"Brother Wang, the offer is certainly generous. But I've already decided that once I become a martial artist, I'll join the Extreme Martial Arts Hall and go to the Wilderness Area to temper myself. I'm afraid I'll have to turn down your kind offer."

Yang Wu knew very well how powerful the Wang Family was.

In the original story, one of the Wang Family's direct descendants had tried to pursue the female lead, Xu Xin, while another had even attacked Luo Feng's family in Jingdu Base City. Yet even after that, the Wang Family had barely suffered any consequences.

Even so, Yang Wu still refused Wang Zijin. Now that he had a cheat of his own, joining the Wang Family would only tie him down. He certainly wasn't going to make trouble for himself.

Hearing Yang Wu reject him again, a flicker of disappointment crossed Wang Zijin's face, but he quickly smiled again. "All right. Everyone has their own ambitions. If you don't want to join the Wang Family, I won't force you. But if you ever change your mind, the doors of the Wang Family will always be open to you!"

"Sure!" Yang Wu said with a smile, raising his glass.

Suddenly—

Crack!

The glass in Yang Wu's hand shattered in his grip.

It broke into several pieces, and wine spilled across the floor.

Liu Dehui, who had been sitting beside him with a calm expression, abruptly narrowed his eyes.

Xu Feiyue, waiting outside the private room, was startled too. He hurriedly pushed the door open and came in. "Brother Wang, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Go out and have someone clean this up." Wang Zijin pointed to the shards on the floor and gave Xu Feiyue his instructions.

"Yes!" Xu Feiyue glared at Yang Wu once more, then left the private room again.

Before long, a server had cleared away the broken glass.

"Brother Wang, I'm really sorry about that," Yang Wu apologized again.

He had just gained tremendous strength from the Time Simulator and hadn't fully gotten it under control yet.

"It's just a glass. Don't worry about it," Wang Zijin said, waving a hand.