An advanced Martial General as your bodyguard?

"This is the investment agreement, and this is the counter-guarantee agreement. If there's anything unclear about the terms above, feel free to ask me. I'll explain everything clearly to you."

Lin Baitian, with a beaming smile, placed the two contracts in front of Su Zhan.

"You seem to be in a good mood today."

Su Zhan, curious as to why Lin Baitian was so happy, said as he picked up the contracts and began to read them.

"Strictly speaking, it's because of you."

Lin Jinyu spoke softly, her voice pleasant and melodious.

"For the prestigious Lin family to invest in a mere student, it shouldn't be that big of a deal, right?" Su Zhan said.

"For an ordinary student, it indeed wouldn't be."

Lin Jinyu replied, "Other companies and groups might just see you as a talented student. But my brother knows your situation – going from Beginner Quasi-Martial Artist to Advanced Quasi-Martial Artist in ten days... When our father heard about it yesterday, he became very interested in you and greatly praised my brother's decisive action."

"My father rarely praises people. If my brother can get his praise, he'd be smiling in his sleep... See, he's still smiling now."

Lin Jinyu's father, Lin Fanlong, the head of the family and a cloud-level figure at the Martial Marshal level.

His praise was indeed rare.

No wonder Lin Baitian was so pleased and in such a good mood.

"That's only part of it," Lin Baitian admitted with a smile, not denying it. "The key is that this matter puts us one step ahead of the Meng family. We settled it before they could react, which greatly satisfied our guest elders and uncles... Otherwise, why would Father be so happy?"

"The Meng family?" Su Zhan looked up. "Are they the Meng family that's on par with your Lin family, one of the four great families?"

"Yes."

Lin Jinyu nodded. "Besides the signing today, there are two more things I need to tell you. The first is about the Meng family."

"The Meng family is our Lin family's sworn enemy, the kind you can't coexist with," Lin Baitian interjected directly, saying seriously, "Our two families have been in open and secret conflict for hundreds of years. In recent years, especially after the new family head, Meng Qianqiu, took over, it has intensified!"

"This person is petty, insidious, and vindictive. Even the position of Meng family head was obtained improperly."

"If you had joined another family, he might not have targeted you. But by joining our Lin family, you've become his mortal enemy. He will definitely find ways to deal with you!"

"Therefore, you need to be especially careful during this period."

Lin Baitian's words made Su Zhan's mouth twitch.

Are you kidding me?

I'm just a high school student. Why are you dragging me into your great family's disputes?

Someone like Meng Qianqiu, who can be the Meng family head, must be at the Martial Marshal level. If someone like that targets me, how am I supposed to survive?

"Is it too late for me to back out now?"

"I just wanted to accept an investment; I don't want to become a victim of your great family's struggles."

Su Zhan put down the contract in his hand and spread his palms.

This isn't a contract; it's a hot potato!

"It's too late."

Lin Jinyu stated plainly, "The moment the news of the Lin family recruiting you spread, he already had his eye on you... You only have two paths left: either choose to join the Meng family, or be eliminated by him."

"Even if you say you want to stay neutral, we might believe that, but Meng Qianqiu... probably won't."

"Of course, you could join the Meng family, but if you do, then we'll be enemies."

Well, that's just great.

If I don't join the Meng family, I'll be targeted by them. If I join the Meng family, I'll be targeted by the Lin family.

Either way, I'm destined to offend a great family!

"Since you're telling me this, you must already have a plan, right?" Su Zhan clasped his hands over his chest. "Let's hear it."

If they can be so upfront with me, the Lin family must have a contingency.

"You're a genius invested in by our Lin family. Your life and death concern the reputation of our Lin family, so we won't let the Meng family easily eliminate you."

Lin Baitian smiled and raised his hand.

Snap.

He snapped his fingers.

"Elder Feng, come out."

Su Zhan's vision blurred, and then a swift shadow darted out from somewhere. When he looked again, it had already appeared behind Lin Baitian and Lin Jinyu.

"!!!"

"So fast! I didn't even see him move!"

Su Zhan was shocked.

You can't even see his silhouette; how strong does this person have to be?

"Young Master, Miss."

A hoarse, aged voice came from beneath a withered face.

This was an elder.

He wore a black and white robe, had white hair and a white beard, and his eyelids were heavy, as if he hadn't woken up. Not a trace of Blood Essence or aura emanated from him.

Just looking at him, the elder in the robe seemed no different from the old men in the park, perhaps even weaker... but if one paid attention to his eyes, they could detect the astonishing sharpness hidden beneath his cloudy pupils!

Bloodthirsty Rampage: "Such strong Blood Essence!"

Basic Qi and Blood Method: "This person is far superior to anyone we've encountered before!"

Nine Fire Saber: "Incredible, I feel strained just trying to probe him!"

Jade Body: "This guy is ridiculously strong!"

The elder's appearance made the Cultivation Methods feel like thorns in their sides, each one showing pallor and weakness.

"Elder Feng, allow me to formally introduce you. This is Su Zhan, the most important person for our investment this time."

Lin Jinyu stood up and said, then turned to Su Zhan, "Su Zhan, this is Elder Feng. He is one of the Lin family's powerhouses, and he will be protecting you from now on until you enter university."

"I also need to emphasize that Elder Feng's realm is Advanced Martial General!"

Holy crap?

Su Zhan's eyes widened in surprise.

Martial General... and an Advanced one?!

That means he's only one step away from the Martial Marshal level, right?

The Lin family was actually sending an Advanced Martial General to protect him?!

This level of investment... it truly wasn't ordinary... With the protection of an Advanced Martial General, he really didn't have to worry too much about other things.

Su Zhan felt much more at ease.

Wait.

Su Zhan seemed to have thought of something.

"An Advanced Martial General to protect me?"

"Doesn't that mean the Meng family will send an Advanced Martial General to assassinate me?"

Su Zhan quickly asked.

"Within Sky City, no matter how fierce the battles between the great families are, Martial Marshals will not intervene. However, there are no restrictions below the Martial Marshal level," Lin Baitian said. "Other families might not go to such lengths, but since Meng Qianqiu has his sights set on you, and given his style of operation, it's highly likely he'll send an Advanced Martial General to deal with you!"

"The Lin family considered this very point, which is why they specifically sent Elder Feng to protect you."

Good heavens.

This time, things had really gotten serious.

They were sending an Advanced Martial General to deal with a mere Advanced Quasi-Martial Artist like him?

One could imagine how dangerous his current situation was!

It would be fine if Elder Feng was diligent, but what if he slacked off for a moment... wouldn't he be toast?