Bright Moon District.
In the training hall of Zhou Ze's villa, a graceful figure danced, her movements sharp yet beautiful.
After completing a set of blade techniques, Janet stopped and used the Mysterious Step to approach Zhou Ze, smiling mischievously.
"Teacher Zhou, how did I do?"
A month or two ago, Janet had started wearing less and less, showing as much skin as she could. Paired with her fair complexion, she was impossible to look away from.
"Not bad. You've reached the fifth level of the Ninefold Thunderblade, and your movement and blade techniques are both steady at the Artistic Conception Level. That's very good for someone your age."
Zhou Ze's expression was calm.
"But your Guidance Technique, blade work, and movement don't work well together. Well, they never have."
Janet pouted and wheedled, "Oh, Teacher Zhou, I know, but I just don't know what to do about it. That's why I came to ask you."
"Heh." Zhou Ze smiled with a hint of meaning. "Lately, your mind hasn't been on your training. You should also spend some time honing yourself against monsters."
"Strength is what matters! Don't let all sorts of irrelevant things distract you."
Janet's eyes grew misty. She wasn't a little girl who couldn't take a few words of criticism. She had simply heard the other meaning behind Zhou Ze's words.
"Zhou Ze, I like you!"
Janet was a Westerner, after all, and she finally worked up the courage to speak. She didn't call him "Teacher Zhou"; she addressed him by name.
"Ever since those first few days when we met, I've been in love with you."
"Though at first I approached you and Luo Feng because my family gave me a mission..."
Janet let out what she had been thinking, and immediately felt much more at ease.
"I don't believe you haven't noticed how I feel!"
"That's why I refused to become your disciple!"
The relationship between a master and disciple was entirely different from one between a teacher and student.
"I know..." Zhou Ze replied calmly.
"Then how do you feel about me?" Janet's beautiful eyes were full of hope and candor.
"Not much. I prefer being a scumbag: I don't take the initiative, I don't turn anyone down, and I don't take responsibility." Zhou Ze spoke indifferently. "If you want to make things official with me, I'm afraid you'll be disappointed."
Janet froze, momentarily at a loss for words.
"So that's why you used to go after all those random women, but never married?" Janet raised an eyebrow.
"Janet, what do you think matters most in this world, in this era? Or, put another way, what are you striving for?"
Janet looked a little confused, but also somewhat doubtful. "Strength?"
"Exactly!" Zhou Ze murmured. "My heart is both vast and small..."
His gaze was like his heart: as still as a mirror, without the slightest ripple.
"Small enough to hold only martial arts, small enough to be occupied entirely by improving my strength! I've never pursued romance, and it can't take up even the slightest space in my heart..."
"So..."
"Do you understand?"
Zhou Ze fixed Janet with eyes that were utterly composed.
"There's an old saying in China: 'Those who follow different paths cannot make plans together!'"
With that, Zhou Ze left Janet behind and slowly walked out of the training hall.
Inside a large virtual meeting room, silver flooring and walls surrounded a massive round table. At that moment, Hong and the Limit Martial Arts Hall's five Inspectors were all seated in six black chairs.
"It's been a year. Luo Feng's death is confirmed," Hong said impassively.
After finishing this, Hong went to the audiovisual room and called Zhou Ze. When the call connected, Hong looked at him and said, "I've announced the news of Luo Feng's death..."
Zhou Ze smiled faintly. "It's fine. It's been a year, after all."
"Do you want me to deal with Luo Feng's old enemies...?"
Zhou Ze shook his head. "No need. This is a good chance for Luo Feng to settle one of his old grievances when he comes back."
Hong fell silent for a moment. "You still have hope?"
"It's not that I have hope. I know that place, and I know Luo Feng," Zhou Ze said calmly.
"All right. I'll leave Yaorao to you," Hong said after a moment's thought.
Zhou Ze was speechless. "That's your problem. Why do you keep dumping it on me? Careful, or I'll steal your precious daughter away."
Hong stared at Zhou Ze without saying a word.
On September 30, 2058, the Limit Martial Arts Hall's official website announced some news.
Invincible War God Luo Feng had died!
Luo Feng's family learned the news that same day.
Although they had received the considerable wealth Luo Feng had left behind, what use was money, no matter how much they had? They weren't martial artists, and there was only so much they could spend.
The day she learned the news, Xu Xin rushed to Zhou Ze's home. She knew the information released by the Limit Martial Arts Hall was unlikely to be wrong, but she still wanted to know what had happened.
Luo Feng's parents and younger brother also went to Zhou Ze's home to ask for more details. Of course, they weren't willing to accept the news.
At the villa atop Huayao Peak in Jiangnan Landscape District, Jiangnan Base City.
"Hahaha! Hahahaha! What a wonderful day! I'm so happy, so happy!" Standing inside the villa, Li Yao clenched both fists, overcome with excitement.
He took a deep breath and turned to his wife, Vina. "The Limit Martial Arts Hall has announced Luo Feng's death. It's a shame I didn't kill him with my own hands!"
Vina wore a strange, almost feverish smile. "Yes, it's finally confirmed. Now we can finally begin our plan."
"It's a shame we didn't kill Luo Feng ourselves, but we can take our regret out on his family..."
Li Yao calmed down. "Right. But his family still has ties to the Limit Martial Arts Hall. Killing them would cause us trouble, and it'd be hard to cover up. After all, Luo Feng was our enemy, and we're the only ones capable of taking revenge!"
"Besides, we don't know where his teacher stands. If we go too far, he might step in!"
Vina calmed down too, her eyes as cold and calculating as a snake's. "That's true. So we have to stay calm."
"We can begin our revenge, but we can't do it too often. Luo Feng's family should think they're just unlucky, without realizing this is only the appetizer."
"After some more time passes, and Luo Feng's teacher gradually gets over him, we can slowly step things up!"
Li Yao laughed. "Exactly. Remember, stay calm. Don't let Luo Feng's family die, and don't let them completely break down, either. We should enjoy the process of tormenting them."
"We have all the time in the world to play with them..."
Li Yao and his wife spent the entire day and night discussing how to take revenge in just the right way.
"By the way, as an Invincible War God, Luo Feng might have left something behind."
Unlike in the original story, where Li Yao had immediately begun his reckless revenge after Luo Feng's death, Vina was now more levelheaded and patient because of Zhou Ze.
Li Yao pondered, his eyes flashing sharply. "Fog Island. The Heart of Grass and Wood on Fog Island. Maybe he traded it to the Limit Martial Arts Hall for some treasures."
Vina said coldly, "Mm, we need to be thorough. We have to avoid any risk, no matter how small. Send someone over to investigate the details first."
Li Yao frowned and looked at Vina. "Use your family's loyalists if possible. And it'd be best not to contact them with any technology. Have them speak in person."
Before you continue