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Chapter 103: The Enemy in the Shadows
Chapter 103: The Enemy in the Shadows (Requesting Monthly Votes)
Crimson Vault Martial Arts Pavilion
Though it was the Lunar New Year, the staff were already bustling with activity—likely due to the spatial portal incident from the previous day.
“Sun Manager, Mr. Lin!”
The receptionist bowed respectfully as Lin Qi entered.
Lin Qi nodded and followed Sun Manager into the elevator, ascending to the top floor. As the doors opened, a burly figure approached them.
Lin Qi recognized him instantly—it was Deputy Pavilion Master Lu, his face a mass of bulging muscles, impossible to forget.
“Good morning, Lin Qi! Feel free to drop by sometime!” Deputy Pavilion Master Lu greeted warmly.
Lin Qi paused, surprised, before replying, “Certainly.”
After the deputy pavilion master walked away, Lin Qi asked, “What’s gotten into Deputy Pavilion Master Lu?”
Sun Manager chuckled but offered no explanation. “You’ll see soon enough.”
Ding!
The office doors opened, and Lin Qi entered Yue Feng’s office for the third time. A faint jasmine scent drifted out, and at the desk sat Yue Feng in combat gear, as if ready to depart at a moment’s notice. Two steaming cups of tea awaited them.
“Lin Qi, try this special jasmine tea,” Yue Feng offered.
As the fragrance filled his nostrils, Lin Qi felt his tension ease. He sipped the tea, its smooth flavor calming his mind.
“You summoned me, Pavilion Master Yue?” Lin Qi began.
Yue Feng shook his head. “Too formal. Call me Uncle Yue.”
“Alright… Uncle Yue.”
Satisfied, Yue Feng stood and gestured toward the projection screen. “We’ve all seen your performance at Wanda Plaza.”
Sun Manager activated the display, showing footage of Lin Qi battling the disaster beasts.
“You exceeded our expectations in your first fight against disaster beasts,” Yue Feng said. “Fifteen slain, twenty lives saved. The Crimson Vault Martial Arts Pavilion will reward you accordingly.”
Lin Qi raised a brow when Yue Feng added, “You’ll be interviewed on television alongside Jiang Tao and Li Zhou.”
“A televised interview?” Lin Qi frowned.
“Once it airs, you’ll be honored as an Outstanding Young Martial Artist and awarded one million Xia Kingdom Currency,” Yue Feng explained.
Lin Qi relaxed. “Understood.”
Yue Feng continued, “Under the martial pavilions’ and military’s regulations, the government purchases disaster beast corpses. You’ll receive 500,000 Xia Kingdom Currency for the fifteen you eliminated.”
Lin Qi nodded. While 500,000 wasn’t trivial, he knew the offer was generous. Combined with the interview reward, he’d earn 1.5 million—a tidy sum.
Yue Feng studied him. “You’ve broken into the Second Realm, haven’t you?”
“Yes.”
“Excellent.” Yue Feng’s eyes gleamed. “Lin Qi, you show S-Rank Prodigy potential. If you place top ten in the Cang Province Monthly Assessment during your senior year, I’ll grant you a personal reward.”
Lin Qi’s heart pounded. Yue Feng was a Seventh Realm powerhouse—his “personal reward” could be life-changing.
“I’ll do it,” Lin Qi vowed.
Sun Manager and Yue Feng exchanged satisfied glances.
After a pause, Yue Feng said, “Lin Qi, since you’ve proven your potential, it’s time you knew the truth.”
Sun Manager projected a map of Cang Province. Red and blue markers dotted the cities. Tianhai’s Wanda Plaza, 21st Alley, and Forest Park bore blue markers. Three other locations were marked in red.
“What do those mean?” Lin Qi asked.
Yue Feng’s tone darkened. “Yesterday at exactly 10 a.m., spatial portals appeared simultaneously in nine cities across Cang Province.”
Lin Qi stiffened. “A coordinated attack?”
“Yes,” Sun Manager interjected. “Someone orchestrated this. While the disaster beasts distracted us, their true goal was the S-Rank Prodigies within Cang Province.”
Yue Feng leaned forward. “At that very moment, three S-Rank Prodigies in Tianhai City were assassinated.”
Lin Qi’s breath caught. “Assassinated?!”
“They failed,” Yue Feng assured. “But this isn’t the first time. Our real threat isn’t the beasts.”
Sun Manager switched the projection to two grotesque figures. One had bark-like skin and bulging eyes; the other’s body resembled polished armor, its head sharpened to a point.
“These are the Vermin Race,” Yue Feng said grimly. “A species as intelligent as humans, with technology that rivals ours. They possess Special Abilities comparable to our S-Rank elites.”
Lin Qi frowned. “If they’re so powerful, why haven’t I heard of them?”
“Because they’re rare,” Sun Manager replied. “They hide in shadows, forming the [Vermin God Cult]. Through genetic modification, they enhance ordinary martial artists, granting them superhuman speed and defense.”
Lin Qi’s fists clenched. “So they’ve been targeting prodigies like us all along?”
Yue Feng nodded. “Exactly. And if you awaken a Special Ability, you’ll become their next target.”
(End of Chapter)
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