Because he would be leaving China at the end of the month for the global headquarters of the Limit Martial Arts Gym, Luo Feng spent nearly every day at home during his brief return, keeping company with his parents and younger brother. His father, Luo Hongguo, mother, Gong Xinlan, and brother, Luo Hua, were all reluctant to part with him, but they did not want to hinder Luo Feng’s promising future.
On March 12th, Luo Feng and his teammates from the Hammer Squad gathered together. First, they sold the monster materials they had obtained from their previous hunts. Since this was the last time the Hammer Squad would be selling monster materials, Luo Feng proposed that the money be divided equally among the five of them.
The total proceeds from the sale amounted to slightly over 800 million yuan.
Normally, Luo Feng, who had contributed the most, should have received the largest share—approximately over 300 million yuan.
However, everyone understood that Luo Feng was leaving the Hammer Squad, and that Chen Gu, Wei Tie, and Wei Qing, who were older, would also retire. Thus, the Hammer Squad would naturally disband. This past half-year had been Luo Feng’s normal time as a member of a martial artist squad, but Gao Feng and others had been in such squads far longer.
Everyone felt a complex mix of emotions.
When Luo Feng proposed an equal division of the money, Gao Feng immediately agreed. Since Luo Feng and Gao Feng, who had contributed the most, were in agreement, Chen Gu, Wei Tie, and Wei Qing did not protest further. Each of the five received slightly over 170 million yuan.
That night, the Hammer Squad drank until the early hours of the morning, around three or four o’clock. The next morning, the group boarded trains to return to their respective homes.
Thus, the Hammer Squad officially disbanded.
Chen Gu, Wei Tie, and Wei Qing retired, Luo Feng was about to head to the global headquarters, and Gao Feng would join another martial artist squad to continue striving!
…
On March 21st, the sun was bright and the weather was excellent.
In the main urban district of Jiangnan Base City, within the university district, the area was vast, housing all eight undergraduate universities of the entire Jiangnan Base City.
Outside one of the university campuses, the dazzling golden words “Jiangnan Second Military Academy” stood proudly above the main entrance. Many male and female students were exiting the academy gates—some couples entwined together, others in groups of male or female classmates.
Only one young man stood apart, wearing a simple dark blue T-shirt, leaning against the railing of a small bridge near the campus entrance, watching the passing students.
“Hey, Luo Feng!” a loud voice rang out from a distance.
Luo Feng turned his head toward the source of the sound. From the sidewalk, a slightly thin young man was running toward him. He looked refined and scholarly—none other than his childhood friend, Wei Wen.
“Ah Wen,” Luo Feng smiled and ran over. “I was waiting at the school gate for you. How come you came out from here?”
“I finished my morning literature class early, so I went back to the dorm. There’s still some distance between the dorm area and the campus,” Wei Wen explained.
“Oh, the dorm and campus are separate? You’re really giving me an eye-opening experience, someone who never went to university,” Luo Feng joked.
“Ha! You, a martial artist, are teasing me now,” Wei Wen chuckled, playfully punching Luo Feng in the chest. “It’s still early spring, it’s cold out, and you’re only wearing a T-shirt? Tsk tsk… Only a martial artist would dare do that!” Compared to Luo Feng, Wei Wen was clearly dressed more warmly.
Luo Feng looked around. “Come on, let’s find a place to sit.”
“Haha, it’s rare to run into such a big sheep. This time, I’m definitely going to take you for all you’re worth. Let’s go to… that ‘Baiyeju’ restaurant!” Wei Wen eagerly suggested.
“Alright, that ‘Baiyeju’ place. You lead the way,” Luo Feng smiled. Normally, in the wilderness zones or in the supply bases with other martial artists, his mindset was always slightly guarded. But with Wei Wen, Luo Feng felt like he had returned to his middle school and high school days—relaxed and carefree.
Baiyeju was a moderately priced restaurant, where a meal for two or three people would cost around three to four hundred yuan.
But for students with no income, this was already a luxurious expense. For martial artists, however, it was quite ordinary.
“Sir, how many people?” a female waitress greeted them warmly.
“Two,” Luo Feng glanced around. “Find us a quiet spot.”
The waitress, having seen countless people come and go, immediately sensed that Luo Feng was different from the usual student crowd. His sharp gaze alone made her feel a slight chill, and she instinctively lowered her head. “There are private rooms upstairs. Please follow me.”
“Wow, private room! I’ve never been there before. I’ve only been to the first floor dining hall a few times when I brought my girlfriend here to splurge,” Wei Wen said as he followed Luo Feng up the stairs.
“Girlfriend? You didn’t mention her during the New Year, and it hasn’t been that long, right?” Luo Feng asked curiously.
The two entered a quiet private room upstairs. They quickly ordered some dishes and a case of beer. Putting down the menu, Wei Wen smiled. “During the New Year, my relationship with my girlfriend wasn’t fully established yet. It was only after the holiday, when school resumed, that we officially became a couple.”
“Congratulations!” Luo Feng grinned with a fist pump. “You’ve been in military school for less than a year and already got a girlfriend. Impressive!”
“I was just a bit lucky. My girlfriend goes to the neighboring Normal University,” Wei Wen opened a beer bottle. “You know how it is. Our military school has way more guys than girls. The gender ratio is completely off.”
“So you had to look outside the school?” Luo Feng couldn’t help but laugh.
“Come on, let’s drink first,” Wei Wen raised his beer bottle.
Luo Feng also raised a bottle, clinked it with Wei Wen’s, and took a few sips.
“Romance isn’t easy, Luo Feng,” Wei Wen sighed, taking another large swig of beer, his face quickly turning red. “People compare everything these days—relationships, who has the prettier girlfriend. That’s the least of it! The biggest issue is… the atmosphere!”
“Atmosphere?” Luo Feng looked puzzled.
“For example, if I go out to eat with my girlfriend and don’t choose a decent place, my girlfriend, who has a good temper, won’t say anything. But… her female classmates will gossip endlessly,” Wei Wen shook his head. “You wouldn’t believe how scheming girls can be—it’s even more exaggerated than guys!”
“One girl might say her boyfriend is the son of a rich family, another might say her boyfriend is an advanced student at the martial arts gym. They all compare and compete!”
“So, even for my girlfriend’s sake, when I go out to eat with her, I have to take her to a decent place,” Wei Wen sighed helplessly.
Luo Feng was momentarily stunned.
He had never attended university and didn’t understand these things. But even back in high school, he had seen hints of such competition among girls.
“You know how expensive it is to eat out, and I occasionally buy my girlfriend gifts. In just one month, I’ve already spent over 4,000 yuan,” Wei Wen finished his beer in one gulp, his eyes slightly red behind his glasses. “Sometimes, she even pays the bill for me.”
Luo Feng’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.
“We’re both from ordinary families, living in government-subsidized housing. How much money do we really have? That’s why I’ve started tutoring part-time. Unfortunately, I’m not even an advanced student at the martial arts gym yet, so I don’t earn much from tutoring,” Wei Wen shook his head. “I’ve figured it out—life is all about appearances!”
Luo Feng sighed inwardly.
Wei Wen’s family had been slightly better off than his own back in their childhood days. Back in middle school and high school, Wei Wen had even lent him money.
“This one month has opened my eyes completely.”
“To sum it up in two words—status!”
“This society is all about people stepping on each other. Look at those who come from wealthy families—they always have followers, and girls throw themselves at them! Those with strong abilities, already martial artists, are also respected! And those with powerful backgrounds? There are even students who willingly follow them, hoping they’ll help them out in the future!”
“Money, power, strength!”
“The rich have status.”
“Those with powerful backgrounds hold power and also have status.”
“Martial artists naturally have status.”
Wei Wen opened another bottle. “So you see, the world is simple. People naturally respect those with high status and look down on those with low status.”
Luo Feng couldn’t help but nod.
Over the years, Luo Feng had always thought Wei Wen was smart. These words were simple and crude, yet they revealed the truth of society.
“Rich people lose their money, and they’re finished.”
“People with power lose their positions, and they lose their power.”
“Money and power are external things. Personal strength is the most real.”
“So I’ve come to this conclusion—personal strength is the most reliable. Take martial artists, for example—even if a martial artist is disabled, as long as they have strong martial prowess, they can still become a martial arts gym instructor,” Wei Wen smiled. “This relationship experience has only strengthened my belief. I must become a martial artist!”
“This year, I might become an ‘Advanced Martial Arts Gym Student.’ I hope to become a formal martial artist before graduating from military school!” Wei Wen raised his beer bottle. “Come on, let’s drink!”
Luo Feng saw that Wei Wen was not discouraged in the slightest and felt relieved.
“Alright, let’s drink!” Luo Feng raised his bottle.
The two friends continued chatting and drinking, finishing their meal before ordering a pot of tea to continue their conversation. It wasn’t until around four in the afternoon that Luo Feng walked Wei Wen toward the dormitory area.
Outside the dormitory zone.
“Just follow this road, pass two traffic lights, and you’ll see the Jiangnan University campus,” Wei Wen pointed.
“Alright.”
Luo Feng took out his phone.
“Calling Xu Xin?” Wei Wen teased.
Suddenly—
Wei Wen felt his phone vibrate. He took it out, muttering, “Probably my girlfriend asking me to have dinner together. Ugh, more money to spend.” He looked at the message on his phone: “Your account ending in 0306 received 6,000,000 yuan at 16:51 on the 21st. Balance: 6,002,100 yuan. (Bank of Communications)”
“Six… six… six million?” Wei Wen’s eyes widened.
To him, this was an astronomical figure.
“Who sent me this money?” Wei Wen immediately thought of one person—Luo Feng, standing beside him! Among his relatives and friends, only Luo Feng could casually hand over such a sum without batting an eye.
“Luofeng, is this from you…?” Wei Wen looked up at Luo Feng.
Luo Feng placed a hand on Wei Wen’s shoulder. “Ah Wen, if you’re going to become a martial artist, focus entirely on it. Don’t waste your time tutoring for a little money. Consider this a gift from me to celebrate your first official relationship. In the future, let’s see if your girlfriend’s female classmates dare to say anything. A man should stand tall in front of a woman.”
Wei Wen’s eyes slightly reddened.
“Are you seriously going to cry?” Luo Feng widened his eyes, as if witnessing something strange.
“Who’s going to cry, you idiot!” Wei Wen couldn’t help but laugh.
To Luo Feng, this sum was nothing. Killing a mid-level Warlord-class monster would easily fetch over ten million yuan.
“Alright, I’m heading to Jiangnan University now,” Luo Feng waved and walked down the street toward the Jiangnan University campus.
Wei Wen looked at the bank message on his phone, the shocking number “6,000,000” still felt like a dream. Just recently, he had been secretly worried about the expenses of dating his girlfriend, smiling on the surface while secretly anxious. Now, in the blink of an eye, he had received a huge sum of money.
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