General Wang

He knew Lu Chengchuan was not an Esper, but what was this warm current that could ease pain?

"Inner Energy."

Lu Chengchuan spoke slowly. Seeing that Chang Hao was fine, he released his hand and let the Inner Energy return to his dantian.

As the warm current vanished, Chang Hao's body recovered, but the doubts in his heart did not lessen. Inner Energy... was this the legendary Inner Energy? Could someone really cultivate such a thing?

He found it hard to believe, but seeing was believing. The other man had easily defeated him, and that warm current from earlier had not been an illusion. Putting it all together, Chang Hao convinced himself.

The others had also heard Lu Chengchuan's words and learned that he had cultivated Inner Energy. Most of them did not know how significant cultivating Inner Energy was to martial artists. They had only seen Chang Hao defeated and understood that Lu Chengchuan was very strong.

Since he could defeat Chang Hao in a single move, Zhang Chengyan was certain that everything Zhou Yaning had said before was true. This man really was formidable.

"You should hurry and see a doctor. Don't let any internal injuries linger."

Afraid Chang Hao had suffered internal injuries from the blow, Zhang Chengyan quickly told him to see a doctor and get thoroughly examined. Chang Hao was one of his most capable subordinates, and he did not want anything to happen to him.

By then, quite a few people had gathered around. Lightning had been crackling loudly on their side, so it was impossible not to draw attention.

Seeing the two sparring, the onlookers watched with great interest. When the match ended, a middle-aged man in military uniform walked over to Zhang Chengyan.

"Director Zhang, what's going on here?"

"Old Wang, it was just a sparring match. Nothing serious, and it's already over." Seeing who had come, Zhang Chengyan pulled him aside to explain.

This was the Armed Forces Department, their territory. The Investigation Bureau was not some unreasonable institution either. Since the person in charge had come to ask, he had to give a reasonable explanation.

"A sparring match? Two Espers sparring? You people are doing this too?" Wang Xinghan did not understand what they were thinking.

While they spoke, Lu Chengchuan looked at the officer surnamed Wang. There was one star on the man's shoulder. He was a major general who commanded a corps of tens of thousands.

"When the mood strikes, people have a match. Did we disturb you?"

"Not really. But you've piqued my interest. How about letting this young man have a match with the soldiers under my command? Ever since they became Espers, those brats have been unable to sit still."

Wang Xinghan was intrigued. He also wanted to see what his Esper soldiers were capable of.

"That might not be appropriate. He isn't a member of our Investigation Bureau, so I have no way to persuade him." Zhang Chengyan had no choice but to tell him the truth.

He could agree on Lu Chengchuan's behalf, but he was afraid Lu Chengchuan would refuse. Then he would be the one left embarrassed.

"He's not one of yours, yet you brought him in here? Director Zhang, that violates the rules."

"Old Wang, don't give me that. I didn't take him into any classified building, so that argument won't work on me." Zhang Chengyan was not afraid of that. Since he dared say it, he was not worried about such a thing happening.

Besides, he was not worried that Wang Xinghan would report him. There was no need to make a fuss over such a trivial matter.

"Come on, go ask him. Maybe he'll be willing." Wang Xinghan still refused to give up. He would not rest until he got a clear answer.

"You've rented office space here for so long. You should at least pay some rent."

The way the two spoke was like old folks haggling at a market, without a trace of the bearing expected from people in high positions.

Zhang Chengyan was helpless in the face of Wang Xinghan's persistence. They belonged to different departments. Though he held considerable authority, it was not appropriate for him to interfere in military affairs. Especially since Wang Xinghan was an Army Commander, he could not simply issue him orders.

Helpless, he could only agree. "Fine, I'll go ask him. Is that enough for you?"

"Haha, thank you, Director Zhang. Thank you very much. I'll treat you to dinner later." Wang Xinghan laughed heartily and hurried back.

Zhang Chengyan made his way back slowly. Wang Xinghan was anxious at the sight, but there was nothing he could say.

Before long, the two reached Lu Chengchuan. Before Zhang Chengyan could speak, Wang Xinghan beat him to it. "Young man, do you want to have a match with the soldiers under my command?"

As a soldier, even as the commander of an entire army, Wang Xinghan still preferred speaking plainly most of the time, without beating around the bush.

If something worked, it worked. If it could not be done, it could not be done. He was not used to stretching one sentence into ten.

"Sorry, the sparring is over." Lu Chengchuan refused.

He did not care whether the man was a general. He wasn't some circus clown who would perform whenever someone asked. At the very least, they should name a price first. Only if it was suitable could they negotiate.

Wang Xinghan had not expected the other man to be so straightforward. Without even asking a question, he had refused outright.

"You brat, do you know who I am? Do you know where this is?"

"This is the Armed Forces Department. As for you, forgive my poor eyesight, but who might you be?"

Lu Chengchuan's words carried a faintly mocking edge. Wang Xinghan laughed, though he had been angered into it.

"Hey, you entered the training grounds without permission. It would be entirely within the rules for me to arrest you right now."

"Old Wang, don't scare him. This man fought his way out of a horde of monsters. You won't frighten him." Zhang Chengyan stepped in to mediate.

He had brought Lu Chengchuan here. If Lu Chengchuan really got arrested, how would Zhang Chengyan show his face afterward? Besides, would Lu Chengchuan obediently let himself be arrested?

This guy was unusually strong. That sparring match had not tested the limits of his abilities at all. People like him had power, and their mindsets changed as well. They really would dare to lash out in fury.

"Calm down here. I'll go talk to him."

Zhang Chengyan led him off to one side. When they stopped, he thought of a solution. "How about this? Don't you want martial arts manuals? Agree to his request, and I'll give you one more manual."

He had only managed to bring Lu Chengchuan here by offering martial arts manuals. Zhang Chengyan knew that he would not act without benefits.

Wasn't it just martial arts manuals? The Investigation Bureau had plenty in its collection. Forget one manual—even ten would not be a problem.

"That works. Then please speak to him for me, Director Zhang." Lu Chengchuan agreed on the spot.

Things were different if martial arts manuals were involved. Even a low-level manual was very useful to Lu Chengchuan. With the system helping him fuse them, he only needed to gather enough of them to obtain higher-level martial arts.

In the end, the price simply had not been settled earlier. As long as the price was right, Lu Chengchuan was easy to talk to.

Zhang Chengyan was left somewhat speechless by him, but he still went over to find Wang Xinghan.

"Old Wang, he agreed. Hurry up and call your men over."

"How did he agree? What benefit did you give him?" Wang Xinghan was a little annoyed. Why did his own words not work?

Zhang Chengyan did not want to explain and merely urged him again. "Don't worry about that. If you don't call them over, I'll go back right now and tell him there's no need to spar."

"Don't, don't, don't. I'll call them immediately."

Wang Xinghan had no choice but to drop it. Turning around, he shouted at an officer nearby, "Call over the Special Operations Battalion. All of them."

The officer saluted and immediately called for them to assemble.

They did not have to wait long. A group of soldiers came jogging over. At a glance, there were roughly six to seven hundred of them.