Chapter 100

## Chapter 100. What do you think?

"Hahaha! This friend, this is a masterpiece! How can you speak so amusingly!"

Feng Zhenhuo pounded the table and burst into laughter. He seemed quite drunk, his face as red as a jujube.

"Isn't it because Mr. Feng listens so well that I get more excited?"

"Y-Yes, that's right. Hahaha."

On the opposite side, Baishulong, with a calm expression as if he were a painting, and Ming Yiwu, with a tense expression, were sitting.

Feng Zhenhuo, noticing Ming Yiwu's tension, filled his cup to the brim and said,

"Drink more like Mr. Bai. I'll pay for everything tonight, so don't worry about money."

"It's, it's fine."

Ming Yiwu tried to be cautious in front of his senior, fearing he might make a mistake, but Baishulong wouldn't allow it.

"Tsk. Yiwu, are you ignoring Mr. Feng's kindness? Does Mr. Feng look like a beggar to you?"

"Ah? Big brother, that's not what I meant..."

"Then drink faster. And drink more. That way, the atmosphere will be better, Mr. Feng will be happier, and our presence here will have more meaning, won't it?"

Moreover, the shop's sales will skyrocket, and that money will eventually end up in Baishulong's own pocket.

"Mr. Bai is right. Don't worry about my finances. If I want to have a sincere conversation with you tonight, I need to be sufficiently drunk, don't I?"

"Indeed, Mr. Feng. If that's the case, can we order more drinks and snacks?"

"Next time, don't even ask, just order."

"Then I won't refuse."

Baishulong smiled slyly, called the waiter, and ordered the most expensive drinks and snacks, successfully making Feng Zhenhuo look slightly flustered.

"Hehe... You really have a big heart."

"If it's a burden, shall I cancel the snacks?"

"What are you talking about? Do you think I can't afford to buy you a night of drinks!"

Feng Zhenhuo, while continuously drinking, kept stroking his lush beard.

The beard he had grown for ten years was his greatest pride. He had even said multiple times that he wouldn't cut it even if his colleagues offered him ten gold ingots.

Baishulong knew this story.

"Mr. Feng, your beard really suits you. I have a constitution that doesn't grow beards, so I'm quite envious."

"Hehe! You'll grow a lush beard when you get older."

"The shine and silkiness must require special care. Senior, if you have any secrets, could you share them?"

"Hmm. Actually, you need to consistently provide nutritional care. Regular washing and drying are essential, and there's a pharmacy I often visit..."

After a while of such trivial conversation, several bottles of wine were emptied before Feng Zhenhuo casually brought up the main topic.

"Do you have any idea why I only called you two?"

There were only two temporary lecturers at the current drinking session.

Baishulong and Ming Yiwu.

Feng Zhenhuo had arranged a separate place for Yue Lianhao and Zhuge Xiaoying, and was drinking with these two.

"I don't know."

"Neither do I."

They answered honestly.

It was hard to even guess why only they were called.

As if he had expected this, Feng Zhenhuo smiled and said,

"I'm sorry to say this, but you two are lecturers without much of a good background."

"..."

"Um..."

Baishulong listened quietly, while Ming Yiwu's expression slightly hardened, as if he was dissatisfied.

Seeing this, Feng Zhenhuo quickly explained,

"I'm not saying that Ming Family Manor is a small sect. But it can't compare to the Zhuge Family or the Shandong Yeh Family, can it?"

"..."

Ming Yiwu reluctantly nodded.

Feng Zhenhuo nodded, as if understanding his reaction.

"I'm the same. Have you heard of the Fengyun Hall in Shaanxi?"

They shook their heads.

But it was easy to guess that the Fengyun Hall was related to Feng Zhenhuo.

"Have a drink."

Feng Zhenhuo filled their cups and his own. After a long sip, he continued,

"Do you know which family runs the largest martial arts academy in the martial world?"

"The Nan Gong Family."

Ming Yiwu answered immediately. He was usually very interested in the martial world's situation and the academy business.

Feng Zhenhuo narrowed his eyes and smiled, seemingly satisfied with the quick answer.

"That's right. Many experts from the Nan Gong Family, including the Heaven Sword King, work as lecturers. There are more than ten experts who have gained fame as one-hit lecturers in the Nan Gong Family, did you know?"

"..."

Baishulong had never heard this before. Feng Zhenhuo refilled his cup and said,

"After the Blood Sect fell, the martial world entered a peaceful era. The evil forces, having lost their center, fought among themselves and declined, while the righteous heroes fearlessly punished the villains. Even the bandits and outlaws mostly went into hiding. But the world is truly fascinating."

A bitter smile appeared on Feng Zhenhuo's lips. His eyes shone like a snake eyeing its prey.

"When the evil forces lose power, the righteous forces also weaken. Who will save the common people from the evil forces and collect protection fees? In short..."

Feng Zhenhuo formed a coin shape with his thumb and index finger.

"In short, the income has decreased. The famous sects and families of the righteous forces suffered the most. That's why they turned their eyes to the academies."

"..."

"The Five Great Academies were established around that time. They said they were training the next generation of martial artists to prepare for the Blood Sect's revival, but why would the fallen Blood Sect revive? It's all an excuse."

Baishulong had a lot to say about the Blood Sect but remained silent for now.

'Now I see, he's not drunk at all.'

Feng Zhenhuo only appeared drunk on the surface. He had been controlling his drunkenness with his inner strength from the beginning.

He had only pretended to be drunk to create a relaxed atmosphere.

'He's a master. Not just in martial arts, but in many aspects.'

Baishulong's wariness towards Feng Zhenhuo grew. But he didn't show it and appeared to listen even more attentively.

"Is that so?"

"Ultimately, the reason the Five Great Academies were established was to make money through martial arts. That's why I didn't invite Mr. Yue and Mr. Zhuge to this gathering."

"Mr. Feng, isn't it an exaggeration to say it's all about money..."

"Have you seen what the Nan Gong Family is doing and still think it's not about money?"

Feng Zhenhuo's eyes suddenly turned cold. Ming Yiwu closed his mouth.

"The Nan Gong Family is just the beginning. The Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families, which used to be proud, are gradually entering the academy business. Isn't that so?"

"That's... true."

"Money is the first priority, and the second is networking. Nowadays, most talented children in martial arts attend academies. The one-on-one inheritance of martial arts is almost gone, and systematic teaching methods have developed. But where do the graduates of the academies go?"

Feng Zhenhuo took a sip of wine and answered his own question.

"They either advance to higher-level academies or are recommended to join sects. Of course, some work in security companies or trade companies, but the greatest success is becoming a formal disciple of a major sect."

As the Blood Sect disappeared and the martial world entered a peaceful era, the reasons for learning martial arts gradually changed.

'The times have changed more than I thought.'

Baishulong had only thought about teaching martial arts well and hadn't considered the future of his disciples.

But if the times had changed so much...

Feng Zhenhuo continued as Baishulong's thoughts deepened.

"Ultimately, the academy business has become a way to enrich and expand the power of the Nine Great Sects. In the end, the rich keep getting richer."

Feng Zhenhuo's sarcastic words poured out.

All of this was unimaginable before coming here.

'I thought he was the second-in-command of the Nan Gong faction...'

Instead, he was showing hostility towards the Nan Gong Family, which Nan Gong Shu belonged to.

Does Nan Gong Shu know this?

'He can't know.'

Baishulong recalled another thing Mai Jielian had said about Feng Zhenhuo.

-Although called the Nan Gong faction, Mr. Nan Gong is just at the center and doesn't do much. The real power lies with Feng Zhenhuo. He creates public opinion and incites the lecturers.

'He seems to be more than just a power player.'

At first, Feng Zhenhuo didn't seem like a significant figure.

But the man in front of him, smiling coldly and shining with ambition, was far more cunning and ambitious than imagined.

'He only called me and Yiwu here...'

Baishulong had a rough idea of what Feng Zhenhuo wanted.

"I believe that lecturers from small and medium-sized sects need to unite before it's too late."

"..."

Swallow.

Ming Yiwu's sound of swallowing was as loud as thunder.

'He's trying to pull us to his side this way.'