Chapter 46

"Rishou, are you saying that Buqi's current combat strength can match yours?" Wang Yingfu's face was filled with genuine shock. "How is that possible? He is only at the ninth level of bravery!"

Wang Rishou shrugged. "That's why I say Buqi is a genius. If it's just a friendly match, I can still hold my own, but if it really comes to a life-or-death struggle, I might not be his match."

Seeing that Wang Rishou was speaking the truth and had the example of killing a large ape spirit beast, Wang Yingfu's expression brightened with joy. "This news makes me happier than receiving a heart core..."

Wang Yingfu looked at Lu Buqi with a gleam in his eyes, about to say something when a noisy sound came from outside the hall. A deep voice, filled with barely suppressed anger, roared: "...I want to see what kind of distinguished guest could make the peonies I've been looking at for so long wither!"

As the words fell, a tall, slender man in a gray-silver robe strode in, his sleeves flapping, a gloomy smile on his face. Behind him followed five people: two burly men in black attire and three young men in tight orange clothing.

"Oh... I'm really sorry, Manager Jianglong. Look, I was just about to come and greet you!" Wang Yingfu's face was plastered with a fake smile. "But my great hero of Guokan Town just returned... Come, Rishou, Buqi, this is the chief manager of Zhutan Town, Wang Jianglong, and the others are all elite talents of Zhutan Town!"

Wang Rishou and Lu Buqi naturally stood up in a welcoming manner. "Wang Rishou, Buqi, we greet you, Manager Wang."

"Hmph!" Wang Jianglong's face was longer than a donkey's, showing no respect to Wang Rishou and Lu Buqi. "I thought it was one of the masters coming over, but it turns out to be just two servants. Wang Yingfu, what do you mean by this?"

Wang Yingfu's smile did not waver. "Oh, when subordinates achieve something, as the chief manager, if I don't reward them, or even show proper respect, wouldn't it make them feel cold? It seems I shouldn't judge others by my own standards. I thought Manager Jianglong usually acts this way..."

As Wang Yingfu spoke, he glanced at the two black-clad men behind Wang Jianglong, and sure enough, their expressions were quite subtle and interesting.

Wang Jianglong's face became even gloomier. No matter how stupid he was, he could not miss Wang Yingfu's implications. He could only look directly at Wang Rishou and Lu Buqi. "Oh, so you are the heroes who achieved something? It's only right to receive and entertain you, but I wonder what kind of achievement it is. Could you tell me?"

"Wang Rishou is the top expert in Guokan Town and also a master blacksmith. It's not a particularly outstanding achievement, just that when he went to gather warriors, he also killed a spirit beast for me. That's why I'm concerned about whether they were injured, after all, such good subordinates are not easy to come by!" Wang Yingfu smiled proudly, playing with the heart core in his hand like a cherished toy.

Wang Jianglong and his group's faces all changed. The few people behind Wang Jianglong looked at Wang Rishou with surprise. A person who could kill a spirit beast alone was definitely a top-notch expert. As for Wang Jianglong, he looked at the heart core in Wang Yingfu's hand, his eyes becoming even more shadowy. But then he turned to Lu Buqi. "Is this the warrior you gathered? He's not a commoner, right?"

A commoner, or a person with a name and surname, Wang Jianglong could tell that Lu Buqi was not a commoner because when they first met, Lu Buqi introduced himself as "Buqi," and there was no such surname in the Yunze Kingdom.

Lu Buqi nodded, lowering his head. "In response to Manager Wang, I am still a slave of the marsh."

"Slave of the marsh? Is Guokan Town really so short of people that you have to choose a warrior from the slaves?" Wang Jianglong's face showed a hint of satisfaction, as if he had gained an advantage.

While Wang Yingfu's face was awkward, Lu Buqi responded in a low voice. "Chief Manager, I think such a small matter can be handled by a lowly slave like me. There's no need to mobilize a large group, to avoid any conflict."

"Such arrogance!" Wang Jianglong shouted angrily. "Is the selection of warriors a small matter? You, a slave, are being too presumptuous!"

Wang Yingfu, however, was inwardly praising him, his eyebrows dancing, a bright smile on his face. "Manager Jianglong, you don't need to take things out of context. Buqi didn't say the selection of warriors is a small matter."

"Then what is a small matter?" Wang Jianglong wanted to catch him in a lie. He found that he really disliked this lowly slave, as no slave had ever dared to speak to him in such a way.

Wang Yingfu was not to be fooled. "He just said that dealing with the warrior exchange in Guokan Town is a small matter. Isn't that right, Buqi?"

Lu Buqi still kept his head down. "Chief Manager is wise. Otherwise, Master Wang could just pull out a few disciples, and they would be stronger than me."

"Is that so?" Wang Jianglong laughed in anger. "Very well, Uncle Wang, what do you think of this?"

A young man with phoenix eyes beside Wang Jianglong sneered. "This kid looks strong, but I wonder if he's just a stuffed dummy... I don't want to wait so many days just to face a useless idiot!"

"See, he wants to spar. Young people are always so impatient!" Wang Jianglong looked at Wang Yingfu provocatively. "Yingfu, do you need more time to prepare?"

Wang Yingfu pursed his lips. "I was planning to wait a few more days, after all, the age difference is significant. Buqi is only thirteen, while Wang Shubao is already eighteen..."

"Thirteen? Your Guokan Town really has no one left!" Wang Jianglong sneered. "But it makes sense. Even if you lose, you have a good excuse. Yingfu, you are really a cunning fox."

Wang Yingfu smiled. "Thank you for the compliment. But, Manager Jianglong, you brought three warriors this time. Surely you don't only have Wang Shubao to show? Why don't we have a small match today?"

"Fine, to avoid looking like I'm bullying someone!" Wang Jianglong waved his hand. "Wang Zhimin, you go and play with this lowly slave... Yingfu, Wang Zhimin is just fifteen, so you have no complaints, right?"

Wang Zhimin stepped forward. At fifteen, he was about the same height as Lu Buqi, but his build was slimmer, and he looked delicate, probably from a good family, and he looked down on others, much like Wang Bo.

"Even though it's still a bit unfair, it's close enough!" Wang Yingfu shrugged. "After all, I can't find a thirteen-year-old at the ninth level of bravery for you!"

As Wang Yingfu said this, the crowd was in an uproar. Wang Jianglong looked at Lu Buqi in shock. "This kid... ninth level of bravery!?"

Wang Zhimin's previously raised nose had dropped. He was only at the eighth level of bravery, and while he was not as strong as Wang Shubao, he was still a well-known talent in Zhutan Town. But the person in front of him was a monster.

Wang Yingfu smiled. "But I am rather cunning, so you can consider this a psychological tactic!"

Wang Jianglong's eyes darted between Wang Yingfu and Lu Buqi, finally landing on Wang Zhimin, who, without waiting for him to speak, said confidently, "Chief Manager, we'll only know if he's at the ninth level of bravery after the fight."

"Very well, give it your all!" Wang Jianglong nodded. A thirteen-year-old at the ninth level of bravery, how many would believe it?

"But, Manager Jianglong, since this is a warrior exchange, as chief managers, we should put up something as a prize, right?" Wang Yingfu played with the heart core in his hand, smiling at Wang Jianglong.

Wang Jianglong's pupils contracted slightly, sensing a hint of conspiracy. "What do you plan to put up as a prize?"

"How about this heart core?" Wang Yingfu smiled. "If Wang Zhimin wins Buqi, this heart core will be his reward."

Wang Zhimin's eyes suddenly lit up, filled with greedy desire. The two men behind him, Wang Shubao and another young man, looked pained, clearly upset at not being able to participate in the exchange.

"Of course, if Buqi wins Wang Zhimin, the reward shouldn't come from me, right?" This time, it was Wang Yingfu's turn to look at Wang Jianglong provocatively. "Dare to play, Manager Jianglong?"

Faced with Wang Yingfu's provocation and Wang Zhimin's enthusiasm, even sensing a hint of conspiracy, Wang Jianglong gritted his teeth and nodded. "Since you are so generous, Yingfu, I can't appear petty. I agree. If this lowly slave wins, I will give him a heart core!"

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