Chapter 126: Team Building, Heart-to-Heart

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Team Building, Heart-to-Heart

"I almost forgot, you joined a Weapon-Forging Sect." Liu Zhi came to a sudden realization. "But a Fourth Grade expert... what a pity."

"Take a guess. What grade is my master’s Cultivation?" Lu Yuan asked with a smile.

"What grade?" Liu Zhi’s eyes widened with anticipation. He had never heard of it, let alone seen it, so he was completely clueless about the details.

"Heh." Lu Yuan didn’t answer.

Before he died, his nominal master had been at the Third Grade. Of course, there was no need to tell Liu Zhi something like that.

"What grade is it really? Fifth Grade? Fourth Grade? It can’t be Third Grade, right?" Liu Zhi guessed.

"Don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask," Lu Yuan snorted.

"Oh." Liu Zhi already had a guess in mind.

Anyone who could teach someone like Yan Qing and enable Lu Yuan to forge an Upper Grade Profound Weapon in just a few days was definitely a Grand Artisan. A Grand Artisan’s Cultivation was at least Fifth Grade, though typically they were at the Fourth Grade. Therefore, it was highly likely that the master was at the Fourth Grade. However, a Grand Artisan’s status was comparable to that of a Third Grade expert.

The two returned to the Demon Suppression Bureau without further discussion. Everything went on as usual.

By evening.

"I’m treating you all to dinner tonight," Chen Qiang said as he appeared.

"Is there another mission?" Jiang Hongfei’s eyes lit up. He was addicted to missions now, given how many Pills he could earn. Recently, Lu Yuan and Mu Lingche had gone out alone twice, and he didn’t know how much they had made. The thought of it left a sour taste in his mouth.

Yu Qiuyang and Liu Zhi also looked forward to it. They needed both practical experience and access to more and better resources.

"Can’t I treat you guys to dinner without a mission? It’s just a simple gathering to bond," Chen Qiang rolled his eyes and laughed.

This was team building, something every team leader had to do. In other places, subordinates might need to suck up to their superiors and offer to treat them. The Demon Suppression Bureau was different, however, because they were comrades-in-arms who entrusted their lives to one another. This was especially true for the low-level Banner groups, which formed the most foundational units.

"Really?" Jiang Hongfei was a little disappointed.

"I have something to do tonight, so I won’t go," Mu Lingche spoke up. He didn’t need this kind of thing, nor did he like it. He felt there was nothing to bond over with the rest of them.

"I’m also busy tonight." Yu Qiuyang raised his hand. He wanted to go back and quickly improve his strength.

"What about you three?" Captain Chen’s expression gradually cooled as he looked at Lu Yuan, Jiang Hongfei, and Liu Zhi.

"I’ll go, I definitely have to go!" Lu Yuan nodded without hesitation. Someone was treating, and there would be free food and drinks. Why wouldn’t he go?

"Captain Chen, why don’t we go to the Liu family’s restaurant tonight?" Liu Zhi suggested.

"I’ll go too." Jiang Hongfei didn’t hesitate either. He didn’t want to go home, so anywhere was fine.

"Does your family’s restaurant serve fragrant meat?" Chen Qiang’s expression softened as he looked at Liu Zhi.

"No," Liu Zhi shook his head.

"Then we’ll go to Jixiang Hall!" Chen Qiang decided. He loved eating fragrant meat.

"Let’s go!"

"Let’s move."

The four of them set off together for Jixiang Hall.

They were all in civilian clothes now, so their pace was fast. The only issue was that Lu Yuan had quite a bit of equipment on him, carrying both a bow and arrows alongside three sabers. The sabers were fine, as carrying one or three was just a matter of personal habit. However, his exceptionally heavy strong bow had to be wrapped in cloth. It was too precious and could easily draw attention, inviting unnecessary trouble.

Upon arriving at Jixiang Hall, it was the same old routine. Chen Qiang waved his hand and ordered the dishes.

The shopkeeper and the waiter clearly still remembered them. They served them with great caution and brought the food out quickly. After all, shortly after this group had left last time, the Jia Brothers had disappeared. Judging by their spirited demeanor, Cultivation, and age, these young men were clearly either wealthy or highly influential.

Chen Qiang downed two cups of wine and began to pour his heart out. "To speak from the bottom of my heart, I’m actually very satisfied with all of you. Even though we just formed this team, we already possess formidable combat power and a mature level of coordination..."

Jiang Hongfei, Lu Yuan, and Liu Zhi exchanged glances in silence.

"It’s all thanks to Brother Qiang’s prowess," Liu Zhi said with a smile. Chen Qiang’s combat power was obvious to everyone, as his performance in both of their recent engagements had been exceptionally strong.

"Of course! I’m naturally impressive, heh." Chen Qiang looked smug. His strength and talent were undeniable.

"But you guys shouldn’t be underestimated either, especially..." He pointed his finger around before finally stopping at Lu Yuan. "You!

"You’re really something, kid. You’ve given me quite a few pleasant surprises. Your combat power is outstanding, and your growth rate is astonishing. In less than a month, you’ve already...

"As expected of the person Elder Wu recommended.

"Sigh, I feel like I won’t be able to keep you in my squad for long."

"Won’t be able to keep me? Where else could I go?" Lu Yuan asked with a smile.

"Where could you go? That’s right. Until you reach the Seventh Grade, you’ll be staying in my squad!" Chen Qiang nodded.

Normally, a squad member wouldn’t leave unless they achieved a breakthrough or retired due to severe injuries. For Lu Yuan to break through to the Seventh Grade, it would take at least half a year to a year. That was a considerable amount of time, giving Chen Qiang a chance to scout for new members while simultaneously training Liu Zhi, Jiang Hongfei, and the others. Besides, Su the Ninth definitely wouldn’t stay long either, which meant there would be a massive gap in his team’s roster with many issues to sort out.

Chen Qiang’s gaze fell on Jiang Hongfei and Liu Zhi. "The two of you have also made remarkable progress and have promising futures. Work hard, and you won’t be any worse than either of them in the future."

Jiang Hongfei and Liu Zhi looked at each other in dismay. They wondered whether this was a genuine compliment, or if they were just being praised in passing. Why did it feel a bit off? Could either of them really compare to Lu Yuan or Su the Ninth? Even if they were reluctant to admit it, they knew there was a real gap between them—a massive one.

"You guys don’t know this, but I used to be completely ordinary as well," Chen Qiang said, beginning to recount his past experiences.

"I just worked hard every day and cultivated with all my might. I didn’t stop for wind or rain, nor did I rest through the biting cold or sweltering heat.

"It wasn’t until I broke through to the Seventh Grade that I felt like I had suddenly experienced an epiphany. My Cultivation and strength advanced by leaps and bounds..."

Jiang Hongfei and Liu Zhi didn’t even want to speak. They wondered what he meant by "completely ordinary." How were they completely ordinary? They still had their own merits, didn’t they? Furthermore, was Chen Qiang really ordinary? The Seventh Grade Primordial realm was literally centered around opening and refining acupoints anyway...

"Our Chen family is a small Sixth Grade clan. We’ve passed down our heritage for many generations, but we haven’t made any major progress. In this generation, I’m the only one with slightly outstanding talent, so I became the family’s hope..." Chen Qiang’s gaze suddenly grew distant, his expression filled with a sense of wistful lament.

"I started practicing martial arts at the age of four, and I’ve been cultivating bitterly for nearly twenty years. Now that I’m in my twenties, I haven’t even held a girl’s hand, let alone gotten engaged or married..."

"Pick a brothel tonight, I’ll pay for you," Lu Yuan said generously. It was just a small matter. It wasn’t a big deal at all.

"Hahaha!"

"Hahaha!"

Jiang Hongfei and Liu Zhi couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

"Ahem, ahem!" Chen Qiang coughed hastily. "That’s not what I meant. What I’m trying to say is that it hasn’t been easy for me to grow to where I am today.

"If I can do it, so can you.

"As long as you work hard, you can definitely reach my current level, or even surpass me.

"I don’t think about women. My heart belongs only to the Martial Dao!"

"Wouldn’t surpassing you be a piece of cake?" Jiang Hongfei said indignantly. He had a Middle Class Root Bone, after all, and hailed from the Jiang family. His conditions in all aspects should be superior to Chen Qiang’s.

"Brother Qiang, if you really don’t think about women, then why did you bring it up just now?" Liu Zhi was extremely curious.

"We’re all men here. We understand, we understand," Lu Yuan chuckled.

"What do you understand? You don’t know shit!" Chen Qiang scolded, directing his ire at Lu Yuan. "You’re the only underage kid among us. Tell me, what do you know?"

"Sigh..." Lu Yuan let out a breath. "Brother Qiang, you’re pretty average-looking, so you just can’t experience the troubles of a handsome guy like me."