Chapter 1193 - 395: My Loyalty and Faith

"To go through fire and water for the motherland and the people, I will not hesitate.

"I don’t care who the head of the government is, nor do I ask who the Marshal of the Military Department is. I swore an oath to the national flag back then. I will be loyal to the people and protect the safety of this country, even if it means my body is smashed to pieces.

"As a man, I must, of course, keep my promises. Moreover, facing the national flag, this was the most devout promise of my life.

"These words might sound a bit official, but this is truly what I think in my heart.

"You students of the four great Martial Arts Academies have a choice, but the students of the Warring States Military Academy have never had a way out.

"We are true soldiers.

"Loyalty to the motherland is our everything."

Jin Guoqian nodded at Su Yue. To be honest, Su Yue’s scalp tingled at this moment. He was truly touched by Jin Guoqian’s gaze. Su Yue had never seen such pure, clear, and resolute eyes. He was like a giant cannon standing across the city wall, ready to burn himself for the faith in his heart at any time.

Jin Guoqian was right. These words were a bit official; growing up, one could often see them in textbooks. But hearing them from a peer, a classmate, or even someone who could barely be considered an acquaintance, the feeling was truly different from reading cold, hard text. What Jin Guoqian protected was not Yuan Longhan, nor those medals. What he protected was his own faith and loyalty.

Following the cafeteria window, Su Yue saw the national flag fluttering in front of the West Martial Main Building. He suddenly realized that while he was aware of the country’s existence, he had never deeply considered the meaning that the Divine Land represented. Following Su Yue’s gaze, Jin Guoqian also saw the national flag fluttering over West Martial. At this moment, the light in his eyes grew even more resolute. That was where his loyalty lay.

"Su Yue, I have already sent a friend request. If you are willing to help me, accept it, and I will send you the location of the secret research institute.

"Of course, you can take some time to think about it. In about a week, we will conduct the second Ice Crystal Glove experiment. You have a week to consider.

"You don’t need to feel pressured. Even if you refuse, I can understand.

"Cultivate well. For the Divine Land to gain another pinnacle expert sooner is more useful than ten million people like us.

"Keep it up!"

Jin Guoqian patted Su Yue’s shoulder, then turned and left the cafeteria. Although they were all young, they were already adults, and everyone could make decisions for themselves. The reason Jin Guoqian approached Su Yue in his personal capacity was that he didn’t want to use the banner of the Military Department to morally kidnap Su Yue. Everything depended on Su Yue’s own decision.

Of course, Jin Guoqian believed in his heart that Su Yue would come to help him. From the way he looked at the national flag, Jin Guoqian could confirm this. The methods everyone used might be different, but the goals in their hearts were perhaps the same. After all, everyone’s experiences were different, and Jin Guoqian couldn’t demand that everyone possess the awareness of a soldier.

***

Su Yue sat calmly in the cafeteria. All his packages had been signed for, and he had gathered those precious pills and put them in his Beast Selection Waist Bag.

"Sigh, I’m really useless.

"I should listen to my dad and not go to the Eight Races Sacred Land to throw my life away, but helping Jin Guoqian should be fine, right?

"I’m not helping the Military Department, nor am I helping Yuan Longhan feed those parasites.

"I’m helping a friend.

"Yes, Jin Guoqian is my friend. Helping a friend isn’t too much to ask," Su Yue thought.

Su Yue picked up his packages and left the cafeteria. Regarding the Ice Crystal Glove, he decided to help Jin Guoqian, even if it meant delaying his breakthrough to Rank Five. Although he had a lot of resentment in his heart, he couldn’t just stand by and watch coldly.

"I can be disappointed in Yuan Longhan.

"But I cannot be disappointed in the Divine Land, because I am also a part of it."

As for whether this made him a bit of a bleeding heart, Su Yue couldn’t be bothered to care. "It’s not Bai Zhiyong I’m helping," he thought.

***

That afternoon, Su Yue took a car to a city 400 kilometers away from West City.

He was a rich man now and could afford to rent a car. Of course, so the driver would accept his money this time, Su Yue deliberately wore a hat and mask so the driver wouldn’t recognize him.

Su Yue came to this city to find the master who compressed Qi Blood Pills, as introduced by Li Yongjun. Since he had a recommendation letter reserved by Li Yongjun, there shouldn’t be any major problems; it was just a matter of money. He planned to store all the medicinal effects of the Qi Blood Pills in his body first, so he could slowly refine them. This way, he wouldn’t need to pop them one by one, which was extremely troublesome. The main issue was that Qi Blood Pills were not only bitter but also incredibly sour. As for the expert who taught dagger combat arts, he would visit them tomorrow. That expert was in the Research Institute, and the Research Institute’s headquarters was in Dongdu City.

Su Yue quickly found the master. It was easy to find. The master didn’t offer his services casually and required appointments. Su Yue came on a good day; the master happened to be working today, so there was no need to wait. The master must be very famous. Many devoted parents wanted him to help compress pills for their children, and even the driver who brought Su Yue over had heard of this master.

In fact, besides allowing Martial Artists to absorb the medicinal effects more conveniently, compressing pills also applied a constant oppressive force on the body. Of course, since Su Yue cultivated in the Wet Realm year-round, he had long ignored this tiny bit of pressure. But for ordinary Martial Artists, especially Qi and Blood Martial Artists, it was truly extremely important. Su Yue only learned these things while he was waiting in line.

That’s right. Su Yue was obediently waiting in line. Even though he had a recommendation letter, he couldn’t just cut the line.

Fortunately, the master worked in an office building, and the waiting environment was decent. There were pastries, tea, and even massage chairs. Standing in front of Su Yue was a father and son. Perhaps because the wait was too boring, the father and son struck up a conversation with Su Yue.

"Young man, I see your strength is quite good. Are you from an A-tier Martial Arts Academy? Although my son is a B-tier student, he is the president of the student council at his school.

"You young people nowadays must work hard. Only then can you be worthy of your parents’ painstaking upbringing."

When talking about his son’s education, the father’s words were full of emotion.

"Indeed, it’s not easy for parents either," Su Yue nodded. Although his dad’s days in Shenchu City seemed very leisurely, he must also care about him. As for the father in front of him, Su Yue could feel his weathering.

Finding this master to compress pills was truly not cheap. A father and son had just walked out from inside, having spent over three million. For a wealthy family like that of Du Jing’s Book, it was fine, but for an ordinary family, three million was truly a massive sum.

"Dad, you sold our house for my cultivation. I definitely won’t let down your expectations."

This student from the B-tier academy looked incredibly hardworking. He tightly gripped his father’s hand, hot tears shimmering in his eyes. The father and son looked into each other’s eyes, exuding a sense of solemn tragedy.

Selling the house for the sake of cultivation? How decisive they must be! It was basically a desperate, all-or-nothing gamble.

Su Yue felt a pang of sorrow in his heart. Being the sentimental handsome youth that he was, he was deeply touched by the stirring bond between the father and son before him. There were even quite a few white hairs on this father’s head. Su Yue quietly took a pill out of his Beast Selection Waist Bag. Meeting by chance was fate. Even though he wasn’t familiar with this father and son, he was deeply moved. "I’ll give them a pill. Out here in the world, life isn’t easy for anyone," he thought. At this moment, Su Yue’s sympathy was overflowing; he simply couldn’t hold it back. He was, at his core, a sentimental and handsome young man.

"Since you sold your house, where will you live from now on?" Su Yue asked out of concern before giving them the pill.

"My family has over eighty houses, so we just have to move to another one."

The son wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, looking at his father with extreme gratitude, while Su Yue hastily put away the pill he had prepared to give away.

"I’m sorry.

"I’m bringing down the average.

"I have no right to be moved," Su Yue thought.

A big shot with eighty houses was someone Su Yue couldn’t afford to provoke. He even had the urge to rob these Rich Dogs.

"Your family has eighty houses, and you only sold one. You’re part of the landlord class, so why are you putting on this bitter tragedy act?

"You made me feel touched for nothing.

"Sure enough, I’m the only poor one here.

"Wait, that’s not right. I don’t seem to be poor anymore either."