Something's Fishy

"So that means you don't have a girlfriend," Zhang Ke laughed.

"I don't have one right now, but I'll have one sooner or later anyway. I'm not in a rush," Xu Qing curled his lip.

"Haha... that's true enough. To each their own; you're still young, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future," Chen Gu nodded with a smile.

Not all women liked muscular, burly men like them; there were also those who preferred someone like Xu Qing, and quite a few at that.

"Exactly, Uncle, are you guys married?" Xu Qing asked curiously.

"Un... Uncle?" The corner of Chen Gu's eye twitched. He wasn't even married yet, for goodness' sake.

"Hahaha, Old Chen, what's with that look? Xu Qing didn't call you wrong, did he?" Zhang Ke burst into laughter.

Chen Gu was still a bachelor, while he had been married for a long time, and his daughter was already in elementary school.

Seeing their reactions, Xu Qing knew whether they were married or not.

"I'm not married yet, but that doesn't mean you should call me Uncle. Calling me Big Brother would be more like it," Chen Gu said, his skin thick despite being in his thirties.

"I'm easy, but then you'd be a generation younger," Xu Qing's eyes darted around.

Chen Gu understood immediately and glared at Xu Qing, "Forget it, Uncle is fine. I don't want to be a generation lower for no reason."

Zhang Ke laughed from the side, "Look at you, getting played like a fiddle by a young lad."

"Like you'd be any different," Chen Gu rolled his eyes. He was just suffering the consequences of not being married, that was all.

"Uncle, you guys are heading out to kill monsters, right? Is it just the three of you?" Xu Qing asked.

Zhang Ke smiled, "Of course not just the three of us. There are three others, and they'll be here in a moment."

"We are the Fire Hammer Squad," Chen Gu said proudly.

"Fire Hammer Squad? Never heard of it. Are you guys very strong?" Xu Qing blinked, being very blunt.

Chen Gu choked, "What? You've never even heard of our Fire Hammer Squad? Kid, you definitely aren't a martial artist, are you?"

"Who says I'm not a martial artist? I am one, alright. I took the martial artist practical exam at the same time as Luo Feng," Xu Qing said.

As soon as these words were out, both Chen Gu and Zhang Ke were stunned.

"You're a martial artist too?" They found it hard to believe, as Xu Qing looked soft and weak; he didn't look like a martial artist at all.

Yet he claimed to have passed the martial artist practical exam, which was truly bizarre.

"Uncle, don't judge a book by its cover, alright? I'm very strong. Becoming a martial artist was simple. If I weren't so... so laid back, I'd already be a War General by now," Xu Qing said confidently.

That was close; he almost said he was too lazy.

"Haha... you kid really knows how to talk big," Chen Gu and Zhang Ke certainly didn't believe him.

They were both in their thirties and were still only high-level Warriors, with a long way to go before reaching the War General level, which showed just how hard it was to break through from Warrior to War General.

If Luo Feng had said that, they might have thought it possible, as he was a recognized genius.

But as for Xu Qing's words? Forget it.

"Hmph, I knew you wouldn't believe me. Fine, I won't hold it against you," Xu Qing hadn't expected them to believe him anyway, which was why he dared to say it.

In fact, Xu Qing was truly capable of it; after all, he hadn't even seriously cultivated a single time to this day.

He hadn't even flipped open the guidance manual Xu Xin had bought for him because he was a bit lazy and had simply forgotten about it.

Just then, three sturdy-looking martial artists walked over.

"Captain," Chen Gu and Zhang Ke called out with smiles.

Xu Qing looked at the newcomers, "What would you three like to drink?"

"Pu'er tea, please," the muscular man in the lead grinned, setting down his two large hammers.

The other two men looked very similar, carrying shields and curved blades, "Same here."

Xu Qing nodded and turned to walk away.

"Luo Feng, the captain is here, come over," Chen Gu shouted to Luo Feng at the bar.

Xu Qing returned to the bar and saw that Xu Xin seemed to be in a very good mood, "Sister Xin, what were you two talking about? You look so happy."

"Nothing much," Xu Xin replied dismissively.

"Tch, don't tell me then. I can guess anyway," Xu Qing curled his lip. Let's see how she hides it now; there was definitely something going on between her and Luo Feng.

Xu Xin smiled and pinched his cheek, "The customers are still waiting."

"I know, I know," Xu Qing said, carrying the Pu'er tea over.

"The Pu'er tea for the three of you, please enjoy," Xu Qing said as he set the tea down.

"Thank you," said the Fire Hammer Squad captain Gao Feng, along with the twin members Wei Tie and Wei Qing.

Xu Qing looked at Luo Feng, "Be careful when you go to kill monsters. If you really want to pursue Sister Xin, don't go and get yourself killed, or you'll regret it."

With that, Xu Qing turned and walked away.

The members of the Fire Hammer Squad looked at Luo Feng with playful expressions, "Not bad, Luo Feng. You've already hooked the sister, and the key is that she doesn't seem to object. This little brother-in-law is a keeper."

Luo Feng smiled. He hadn't expected Xu Qing to say something like that to him, but he was quite happy nonetheless.

It seemed that Xu Qing did not object to him pursuing Xu Xin.

Twenty-some minutes later, Luo Feng and his group set off.

"Luo Feng," Xu Xin called out, running over as she saw them about to leave.

"I start school in a few days, but during the semester, I'll be here working as a manager on weekends and during the day. You must come by then," Xu Xin said to him.

After she finished speaking, her face flushed slightly.

"Alright, I'll definitely come," Luo Feng replied with a smile, his grin radiant.

Once Xu Xin returned to the bar counter, Xu Qing stared at her, watching until she felt embarrassed. "Xiao Qing, what are you looking at?"

"I'm not looking at anything, I'm just watching a young girl whose heart is beginning to stir," Xu Qing teased her.

"You brat, you've grown bold, haven't you? Daring to tease your sister," Xu Xin reached out to tickle him.

Xu Qing squirmed like a worm, tossing and turning. "Sister Xin, I was wrong, stop tickling me."

Hearing his plea for mercy, Xu Xin finally let him go. "See if you dare to tease your sister again next time."

The siblings played around for a moment before sitting down.

"He only just became a martial artist recently; isn't it too dangerous for him to go hunt monsters now?" Xu Xin was still somewhat worried.

After a pause, she looked at Xu Qing. "Xiao Qing, how is the strength of their squad?"

"Average. They're all high-level warriors; I could beat them all with one hand," Xu Qing said bluntly.

"I see," Xu Xin frowned upon hearing Xu Qing's answer, knowing that he wouldn't boast.

After all, Xu Qing was a high-level warrior himself, and she had seen his strength before.

"What about Luo Feng? How is his strength?" Xu Xin asked again.

"He seems to be a high-level warrior too, no worse than the others," Xu Qing said.

Furthermore, he felt that Luo Feng's mental energy was quite strong, and it was very likely that he was a Spirit Controller, though he wasn't entirely certain.

Only by seeing Luo Feng unleash his telekinetic power would he be able to confirm his suspicion.