Xiao Qiang was a very sensitive person.
Ever since he discovered that Qin Zheng was also a martial arts master, Xiao Qiang had heightened his cultivation.
Even though Wang Yue said that the Xiao Family meant no harm, Xiao Qiang could not easily trust her words.
In case the other party was deceiving him, he might have to fight a fierce battle today.
At this moment, he noticed two figures approaching from a distance.
One of them, a tall man, emanated an aura that was no less intense than Qin Zheng’s, clearly another martial arts master.
When did ninth grade masters become so commonplace?
In the half year he had spent in this world, Xiao Qiang hadn’t interacted with many people.
However, during his time in the mountains, he had occasionally encountered some martial artists.
From what he knew, the martial arts in this world were divided into nine grades below the innate level.
The so-called ninth-grade masters, like Qin Zheng and this tall man, could step into the innate realm with just one more step.
Theoretically, there were not many masters of such caliber, but Xiao Qiang had met two in one day, making him frown and question Xiao Wen’s intentions.
When the two figures approached, Xiao Qiang got a clear look at them.
They were a young man and woman; the woman looked to be in her twenties, with a good figure, fair skin, and a melon-shaped face.
However, her thin lips somewhat disrupted the harmony of her overall appearance.
The man accompanying her was tall, with messy hair, looking much like a lion.
“Wild Lion, what brings you here?” Before Xiao Qiang could say anything, Qin Zheng spoke up.
Clearly, he knew this man.
The man called ‘Wild Lion’ smirked, glanced at Qin Zheng without saying a word, then turned to Xiao Qiang.
He looked Xiao Qiang up and down with interest before saying, “Kid, you’re pretty powerful!
We should spar when you have time.”
His way of speaking didn’t seem to consider other people’s opinions at all.
Although his words meant a friendly exchange, coming from his mouth, they carried the implication of a fight to the death with Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang paid little attention to the man’s words.
Although this guy was strong, he was on par with Qin Zheng.
Overpowering him wouldn’t require much effort.
“Old Qin, where is Xiao Wen?”
The young woman who had been ignored until now finally spoke, addressing Qin Zheng quite rudely.
Xiao Qiang frowned, and Qin Zheng’s face looked a little grim.
At this moment, a car door opened in the distance, and Xiao Wen stepped out and walked briskly over: “Zhang Ru, why are you here?”
The girl named Zhang Ru smiled brightly as she saw Xiao Wen, and quickly stepped forward to greet him: “Xiao Wen, my father agreed!
He will help you if we get married.”
Xiao Qiang clearly saw Xiao Wen’s face turn pale.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Qin Zheng whispering beside him: “That girl is Zhang Ru, the only daughter of the Mingzhu Zhang Family.
The Zhang Family is one of the top families in Mingzhu, and as for our Xiao Family’s troubles, well…”
He didn’t finish his sentence, but Xiao Qiang had a rough idea of what he was saying.
It seemed this Zhang Ru might be wishful thinking.
As for the troubles of the Xiao Family, Xiao Qiang was becoming more interested; it seemed a lot had happened in the past half year.
“Zhang Ru, my family’s affairs are none of your concern.
As for marrying you, don’t even think about it.” Xiao Wen looked at Zhang Ru coldly.
He knew very well why she wanted to marry him, but he didn’t bother to confront her about it.
Regardless of the Xiao Family’s plight, he had no intention of fathering someone else’s child.
Zhang Ru’s previously smiling face froze, “Xiao Wen, don’t be ungrateful.
I begged my father for a long time before he agreed.
You…”
Xiao Wen looked at her coldly without replying, passing right by her to stand in front of Xiao Qiang.
He managed a sincere smile, “Should I call you older brother, is that alright?”
“Older brother?”
Zhang Ru and Wild Lion exclaimed in unison, their eyes fixed on Xiao Qiang, clearly puzzled why Xiao Wen would address the young man this way.
The matter of Xiao Qiang was considered a secret in the Xiao Family, known to few.
Many people only knew that Xiao Zhengxun had once acknowledged a long-lost illegitimate son in an attempt to save his own son, Xiao Wen.
Later, that illegitimate son disappeared.
Many guessed that after Xiao Wen’s recovery, the crisis over Xiao Family’s heir was resolved, and therefore Xiao Zhengxun had cast off that illegitimate son again.
But it seemed, that was not the case.
Xiao Qiang looked at Xiao Wen.
This young man was somewhat different from how he had imagined him.
And his calm, unmovable demeanor bore a striking resemblance to his father’s.
“You can call me whatever you want, but I want to know, why are you looking for me?” Just now, from Wang Yue, Xiao Qiang had learned that Xiao Wen had been looking for him all this time, which is why he asked this.
Xiao Wen gave a bitter smile.
He knew that this person would definitely be difficult, despite having little interaction with Xiao Qiang.
From what Wang Yue had told him, and from some of his own investigations, he knew Xiao Qiang was not one to be easily appeased.
His standoffish nature had nearly led to his own death at the hands of his father had he not been critically injured at the time.
Once he recovered, he chose to leave immediately.
Xiao Wen and Qin Zheng had discussed this before, suspecting that according to the hospital’s diagnosis, Xiao Qiang should have been completely lifeless.
Yet, against all odds, he survived, implying that Xiao Qiang must possess a secret that can bring him back from the brink of death.
“How can you talk like this?” Zhang Ru was not amused.
Despite Xiao Wen merely being her backup option, she had already claimed him as her trophy.
So, when Xiao Qiang ignored Xiao Wen, it made her feel disrespected.
Xiao Qiang gave her a glance.
He had a bad impression of this impolite woman, especially since she dared to speak to him in a commanding tone.
It was as if she had a death wish.
“Am I that close to you?” asked Xiao Qiang, coldly fixing his gaze on Zhang Ru.
“You — who do you think you are to glare at me?!” Zhang Ru snapped.
Before she could finish, a man known as the Wild Lion pulled her behind him.
Wild Lion blocked Zhang Ru with his massive body.
He looked at Xiao Qiang and said in a deep voice, “Sir, isn’t it beneath you to lay a hand on a woman?”
He knew Zhang Ru all too well.
The Zhang Family, being one of the top eight elite families in Mingzhu, had spoiled her from a young age.
This led to her developing a haughty and unruly temperament.
However, the man standing before them was likely a martial arts expert.
Provoking such a person was hardly wise for the Zhang Family.
More importantly, Wild Lion had noticed a murderous intent in Xiao Qiang’s eyes!
He knew well that someone as powerful as Xiao Qiang could kill Zhang Ru in seconds.
Just one confrontation and she could lose her life.
Hence, he stepped in to protect Zhang Ru.
Xiao Qiang gave Wild Lion a glance and said coldly, “If you’ve decided to be someone’s guard dog, be prepared for the life it entails.
Are you worthy of discussing rank with me?
You can protect her temporarily, but you can’t protect her forever.”
In that instant, Wild Lion’s face twitched; his whole body’s aura seemed to explode in anger.
Xiao Qiang’s words stung like a sharp sword piercing through his heart, stripping him of his last shred of dignity.
Being a powerful martial artist yet serving as someone’s guard was the ultimate humiliation for Wild Lion.
Due to certain circumstances, he had been forced to serve the Zhang Family like a slave.
His resentment had been building up, and Xiao Qiang’s provocative words were the last straw that made him lose his temper.
Qin Zheng, sensing trouble, immediately shielded Xiao Wen and Wang Yue, slowly stepping back.
He was aware that a big showdown was imminent between Wild Lion and Xiao Qiang.
The eyes of the Wild Lion turned bloodshot — a sign of his rage.
His immense aura grew more powerful as he prepared to unleash his full potential at any moment, waiting for the perfect opportunity to attack Xiao Qiang.
Xiao Qiang stood there, unperturbed.
Unlike Wild Lion’s earth-shattering aura, Xiao Qiang appeared calm and composed, blending seamlessly with his surroundings.
“Bastard, die!”
Wild Lion suddenly charged forward, throwing a straightforward punch squarely at Xiao Qiang’s face.
He intended to kill this insolent man and let him know that the dignity of the strong was not to be challenged.
Watching Wild Lion charge at Xiao Qiang like an arrow, Wang Yue and Hu Feifei screamed in terror, Qin Zheng’s face turned grim.
Only Xiao Wen raised an eyebrow.
Despite his lack of martial skills, his intuition told him that Wild Lion was not going to have the upper hand.
Xiao Qiang observed Wild Lion’s iron fist calmly.
For others, it might have seemed like a fierce attack, but to Xiao Qiang, Wild Lion’s movements seemed too slow.
It should be noted that if we categorize the martial artists by levels, Xiao Qiang, being only a step away from the absolute peak, was a top-notch expert, while Wild Lion had just entered the realm of the experts.
While Wild Lion might seem invincible to an ordinary person, he was barely considered a challenger to Xiao Qiang.
A cold smile formed at the corner of Xiao Qiang’s mouth.
The sight of his cold smile sent a shiver down Wild Lion’s spine, making him anxious.
A sudden feeling of danger welled up in his heart.
Realizing the danger, Wild Lion wanted to retreat.
Seeing his punch going through Xiao Qiang’s body, Wild Lion couldn’t help but panic.
“It’s an afterimage!” Wild Lion shouted in his mind and tried to retreat.
Just then, a hand caught Wild Lion’s wrist as swiftly as a bolt of lightning!
Xiao Qiang sneered, “I told you, you are far from ready.”
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