The next morning, Zhang Junbao finally returned home, but this time he was in an entirely different frame of mind. Having passed the Quasi-Warrior Assessment and joined the Limits Dojo, his family would now be under the dojo's protection.
Zhang Lin stared at Zhang Junbao in disbelief and asked curiously, "Brother, have you really become a warrior?"
It was no wonder Zhang Lin was so shocked. To ordinary people, warriors were mighty figures who stood high above them, and anyone who could become a warrior and join the Limits Dojo before graduating from high school was undoubtedly a genius among geniuses.
"Although I passed the Quasi-Warrior Assessment, I won't officially be a warrior until I've taken the combat assessment at the beginning of next month.
"Even though I joined the Limits Dojo ahead of time, I still can't skip the combat assessment. After all, the dojo isn't a charity. No matter how talented someone is, if they can't fight, they're trash.
"But I already have warrior status now, so we can move into the Warrior Residential Area," Zhang Junbao said.
"Really? That's wonderful!" Zhang Lin nearly jumped for joy.
"That girl, Xiaolin. Junbao, you did well.
"Too bad this old man wasn't blessed with better luck. I got into a car accident before you became a warrior. Sigh!" A smile appeared on Zhang Anzhong's face as he lay in bed. His son had become a warrior, so what did losing a leg matter?
Medical technology was advanced in this era, and Zhang Anzhong's wound had been treated quickly, but a severed limb was difficult to regrow.
"Dad, don't worry. I'll make that guy Zhang Haobai pay. I was too careless this time. I never thought Zhang Haobai would be like a cornered dog jumping over a wall and go after my family. I definitely won't let him off easily!"
Zhang Junbao had already made up his mind. After Zhang Haobai's downfall, his father, Zhang Zelong, had also quickly been exposed for ordering someone to murder Zhang Junbao in prison. Both father and son had been thrown behind bars.
His uncle Zhang Zehu was a warrior and was away on a mission. He might not yet know what had happened to his family.
Zhang Zehu was a ruthless character. Zhang Junbao would never let anything happen to his family again, so the most urgent task was to protect them. Only then could he deal with Zhang Zehu as well without worrying.
That was right. Although Zhang Junbao had never met Zhang Zehu, he knew reconciliation with him was absolutely impossible. Any such potential threat to his family's safety had to be eliminated first.
"Dad, I'm sorry you'll have to put up with this for a while. I have a way to help you recover your leg."
"You child, always trying to cheer me up. All right, don't worry about my leg. Now that you're a warrior, facing monsters out there is dangerous. Don't let an old man like me distract you.
"Things are pretty good now, too. Your mother used to complain that I never had time for her. Well, now I can stick to her every day, and even if she gets sick of me, there's nothing she can do about it, hahaha..." Zhang Anzhong laughed. After a brush with death, he had come to see things more clearly.
Yang Fei looked at her husband, who had emerged from the gloom, and then at her son, who had become a warrior. The weight hanging over her heart finally settled, and the worry on her face gradually faded.
"Dad, that's the right attitude. Since things have come to this, we might as well make the best of them.
"Our family's entering a new phase now. I want to move into the villa in Mingyue Residential Area right away. Quite a few brothers from the dojo live there, so we can look out for one another."
In the Warrior Residential Area, Zhang Junbao's family would be protected, he said. This was also meant to let warriors strive out in the world without worrying, so it could not have suited him better.
"All right, we'll do as you say! My son's grown up, and from now on this family will rest on your shoulders. I've never lived in a villa in my life."
"I'll always protect this family!"
The next day, word spread that Zhang Junbao's family was moving.
"Mrs. Zhang, where are you moving to? Is it because something happened to Anzhong and your family lost its main pillar of support, so you can't get by anymore? If something's wrong, tell us. We neighbors can all help a little," a middle-aged neighbor asked as he came out.
"Uncle Liu, it's not because of my husband. My son Junbao joined the Limits Dojo, and we're moving to Mingyue Residential Area!" Yang Fei said with a smile. "We'll hold a banquet later, so make sure you come!"
"Junbao's made something of himself! He actually joined the Limits Dojo? Wasn't he only an intermediate trainee?"
"Hehe, your news is out of date. Didn't you hear Junbao shout away those debt collectors who came knocking a few days ago? You could hear his roar several buildings away. I knew then that Junbao had made something of himself!"
Before long, the news that Zhang Anzhong's son had joined the Limits Dojo had spread through the surrounding residential areas. This was a remarkable event. So many youths from ordinary families longed for the day they could bring their families to live in a Warrior Residential Area.
"Luo Feng, Wei Wen, I won't be going to school anymore. I need to focus on preparing for the combat assessment. If you need me, just come straight to Mingyue Residential Area." Zhang Junbao also found Luo Feng and Wei Wen and told them about it.
"Look at you! You were still putting on an act with us a few days ago. Who would've thought you were already a warrior? I've never seen a warrior this close before!" Wei Wen happily circled Zhang Junbao and examined him for a long time, trying to see what made a warrior different from an ordinary person.
"Junbao, you really kept us in the dark. I actually believed you only had the strength of an advanced trainee. Come to think of it, you handled the teacher and Zhang Haobai so easily. I should've realized. I need to work harder too, or you'll leave me too far behind."
Luo Feng had mixed feelings. He was happy for Zhang Junbao, but he also wondered when he would be able to bring his own parents and younger brother to live in Mingyue Residential Area.
"Luo Feng, don't worry. I believe you'll become a warrior soon too. When that happens, move over and be my neighbor," Zhang Junbao said with a smile.
"All right, I'll do my best!" Zhang Junbao's becoming a warrior had given Luo Feng quite a jolt, and he secretly increased the intensity of his training.
After giving Luo Feng a little push, Zhang Junbao returned to Mingyue Residential Area. As for whether that push would make Luo Feng awaken earlier, he did not know.
Zhang Junbao looked at the Limit Hall not far away, then at the little bridges and flowing water, the scenery and greenery in the residential area, and the ordinary residential area outside where he had lived before. The power to direct one's life was always in one's own hands.
"Mr. Zhang Junbao, your family's belongings have all been moved in, and the villa has passed inspection. Please sign here." A soldier in charge of management handed him a form and said, "Number 198, Mingyue Residential Area, belongs to you from now on. This villa has four floors in all, with a training room underground and an enormous open-air balcony on the fourth floor. Its total area is 860 square meters.
"If you include the basement, courtyard, balcony, and so on, the area exceeds 1,000 square meters."
Zhang Junbao and his family looked at one another and laughed.
His younger sister Zhang Lin looked around and murmured, "Is this the difference strength makes?"
Her eyes shone brightly.