"Ji Jue—"

Lou Feng squeezed the words out through gritted teeth, "If you're okay, I swear I'm going to Cliff City today and we'll die together!!!"

"It was you who despised me first!"

Ji Jue was shocked, having already had his fill of amusement from the conversation, he stopped teasing, "Do me a favor, contact your—the—"

"In your dreams!"

Lou Feng flew into a rage, cutting him off before he could finish, "Absolutely not, I knew your crooked heart hadn't changed, still thinking about my aunt... wait, what the hell did you say!"

"I said..."

With a helpless sigh, Ji Jue took a deep breath and almost shouted, "Help me contact your teacher!!!"

Then, there was another awkward silence.

Finally, Lou Feng killed off his embarrassing past self, pretending like nothing had happened and spoke again, his voice still trembling, "What do you need the teacher for?"

"I need her to sign something."

"To sign for what..."

Lou Feng's sentence trailed off halfway, suddenly stammering.

It seemed like he remembered something.

The phone was silent for a long time.

Unsure if he was astonished or envious, he asked, "Already?"

"I wanted to ask that too, but I truly don't have the guts," Ji Jue shrugged, "I can only ask for your help."

"I got it."

Lou Feng didn't dwell further on the matter, just added finally, "I'll talk to the teacher. Send me the address, and it'll be delivered to you today."

The call ended.

The beeping tone lingered, leaving Ji Jue unable to snap back to reality for a long time.

Today?

Considering the distance between Tide City and Cliff City, and the difficulty of travelling in the wilderness nowadays, they'd probably have to assign someone to take a flying airship available today...

Only the Lou family would send a signature in such a lavish way.

The second signature was easily secured.

Then, another problem arose...

Teacher, Master Kong, now that I have two signatures, where do I find the third? The last one can't be a letdown after the previous two experts...

Otherwise, wouldn't that devalue the endorsement?

As he crouched on the steps, pinching his chin and pondering goblin-style, his phone suddenly vibrated.

A message from Professor Ye.

Just a location and an address.

Then, Ji Jue started scratching his head, comparing it over and over with the address previously sent by Tong Zhiwu, seeing no difference at all.

This location seems to be...

The Tong family?

"Hello? Is Dummy there?"

Ji Jue made the call, naturally hearing the embarrassed voice on the other end, "Who are you calling Dummy? Who's Dummy?! Ji Jue I'm warning you, watch your attitude, I just transferred tens of millions to your account yesterday!"

Tsk.

That's the problem when you get too familiar, not even calling me 'Brother Ji' anymore.

But since we're all friends and I'll rely on Miss Dummy for laundering later, it's not good to scare people anymore.

But before Ji Jue could speak, a faint voice came from the other end, "Did you just tsk at me again."

"No, no! I wouldn't dare!"

Ji Jue's eye twitched.

Crafty little Ether imp, I'll personally strip you... of all your sunflower seeds and nuts!

To avoid further argument, he got straight to the point: "Are you at home?"

"Ah? Me?"

The groggy voice on the other end immediately woke up and panic ensued, "What... what are you planning?! Do you need money that badly?"

Smack!

Ji Jue slapped his own face, completely numbed.

Why is it that since this morning, none of the conversations I've had lined up?!

"Tong family! Tong family!"

He offered a weak explanation, "I have some business to visit your home for, just wondering if it's convenient for you to show me the way, maybe bring some fruits or milk, sort of a bribe for Minister Tong."

...

After another drawn-out, awkward silence.

A while later, a hesitant voice finally came through, "Address is sent, call me when you get here."

Should have just said that earlier.

Ji Jue ended the call, sighing.

Is it so hard these days to ask for a favor? Everyone seems to think I'm either a lustful ghost or a lawless villain, or perhaps both.

Before even getting my words out, it nearly turned into kidnapping or extortion.

What image do I even have in their minds?!

.

The Mustang sped along the road, and twenty minutes later, Ji Jue had reached the edge of Cliff City. Looking back over the green hills to the city in the distance, ships sailed out or returned to the harbor, an endless bustling sight.

Following that rarely traversed flat road among the mountains, a vast complex eventually came into view nestled among the lush forest.

There wasn't much luxurious decoration outside, even the security was so lax it was practically non-existent. In front of the quaint door, only a dry old man dressed in Cliff City's standard old man three-piece suit was lazily lying in a rocking chair drinking kung fu tea.

It was just past noon, yet it was unknown how much tea he had already drunk, the used tea leaves almost piling up into a mountain beside him.

"Old sir?"

Ji Jue leaned forward, waving his hand, "Excuse me, where should I park the car?"

"Anywhere you want."

The old man casually pointed to the open space in front of the door, glanced at the Mustang, and sighed appreciatively, "Nice car... Young man looks promising, where are you from?"

"From the city, that area of the Northern Mountain District."

"Come come, sit down, have some tea."

Seeing him carrying large and small bags, the old man warmly gestured him over, expertly pouring water, the mountain-high tea leaves in the pot making Ji Jue's eyebrows twitch. After pinching the thumbs-sized cup with bamboo tongs, the lid was quickly lifted off, the rich tea soup gleaming with a layer of tea oil, almost reflecting his image.

Seeing this, Ji Jue's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, but he couldn't refuse.

I can only say that the Federation has its own unique charm.

"Hey, it's rare to see such young folks visiting these days."

The old man lamented as he warmly welcomed him. "How old are you, in your early twenties—so young and promising! When I was twenty, I was still pushing a cart around town selling fish balls. Now in my old age, all I can do is guard doors, my prime days are long gone.

Oh, you're looking for Tong Hua? Tong Hua might have just woken up. Just walk inside, go to the fork at the back and turn right, then move forward a bit, and you'll get there.

Ah, there are no strict rules here, it's just outsiders talking nonsense.

Go on, youth is a great thing..."

After having a cup of tea and chatting with the lonely old man for a long while, Ji Jue hadn't registered what was happening when he had already been led through the gate by the old man, who enthusiastically showed him the way.

Walking quite a distance and looking back, he could still see the old man enthusiastically waving his hand.

It wasn't until he was in the middle of the winding path that he encountered a yawning, sleepwalking-like Tong Hua.

Both were stunned.

"How did you get in here?" Tong Hua stared in shock.

"What? Isn't it said to be open access?" Ji Jue looked confused, glancing back at the now unseen gate. "The gatekeeper grandpa let me in and even showed me the way."

"Which gatekeeper grandpa?" Tong Hua's expression stiffened.

"The one wearing a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops. He was really energetic."

"..."

Tong Hua's expression grew even more complex and indescribable.

"Is there a possibility..." She took a deep breath, looking helpless, "that the energetic gatekeeper grandpa you mentioned... is my family's grandpa?"

Then, in the silence that followed, it was Ji Jue who felt flustered.

"Your grandpa?"

"Yes."

"The Tong family's... patriarch?" His eyes twitched. "Are you sure?"

Tong Hua responded solemnly, "Do you think anyone else in the Tong family mansion would dare to walk around in a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops?"

"..."

Ji Jue fell silent for a long time, finally managing to say, "Really energetic."

The mighty Heavenly People, the Tong family's grandpa, guarding his own front gate—what the hell was going on?

And he was toying with people, too!

At this point, Ji Jue could only feel fortunate that he hadn't started the conversation by talking badly about 'that damn Xu Chaoxian'...

After all, as a power from the Taiyi System, Ji Jue didn't dare to whisper behind backs, nor dared to harbor such thoughts; he could only rack his brains to praise grandpa in front of Tong Hua, heralding his heroic spirit, unconventional charm, accessibility, and his return to simplicity. He truly was a rare and admirable hero, endlessly impressive like the flow of Nandu River.

It was only after he suddenly tripped while walking that he prudently shut his mouth.

"An autograph?"

After hearing the backstory from Ji Jue, Tong Hua understood. "Recently, Tong Zhiwu's equipment has been undergoing redesigns, not sure where they found some awesome guy, it's been busy a long while, right there in Uncle Zhao's workshop in the back."

Ji Jue's eyes lit up. "That must be it."

"Are you sure?" Tong Hua was skeptical. "I heard he likes putting on airs, his nose stuck up in the air. Don't get snubbed going there like that."

"That's impossible."

Ji Jue shook his head resolutely: "Actually, I'm really good at dealing with craftsmen. Ordinary people think craftsmen are aloof, but that's an illusion. Everyone just appears cold but is warm inside. As long as you open up your heart and enhance mutual understanding, there's nothing you can't discuss."

Then, five minutes later, he saw a crestfallen face at the entrance of the workshop.

As ugly as it gets.

The young apprentice standing there god knows how long had a subtly swollen face full of irritation and impatience.

Just like Ji Jue, who was leaning on a crutch, unlike Ji Jue's now-converted toolbox Mercury crutch, this guy was a genuine disabled person, his right leg also in a cast.

At that moment, on seeing Ji Jue, his eyelids immediately began twitching.

Grinding his teeth instinctively.

"Ji Jue…"

He squeezed out the words through clenched teeth, as if he would pounce and tear Ji Jue apart the next moment.

The guiding Tong Hua also paused for a moment, looking back and forth between him and Ji Jue, growing more doubtful. "Cold outside but warm inside? Are you sure your craftsmen are like this?"

"Isn't it just that we haven't opened up our hearts yet?"

Ji Jue shook his head, stepping forward and enthusiastically grabbing the other's hand.

Mainly the one holding the crutch.

He started shaking it vigorously.

"Hello hello, nice to meet you for the first time. Is there some misunderstanding?"

He asked curiously, "Brother, what should I call you?"

The crutch user, jerked around, nearly fell to the ground. He was about to erupt, but upon hearing Ji Jue's words, his face turned even uglier, a mix of pallid and flushed against a backdrop of black.

"Misunderstanding?"

The apprentice, shaking with anger, nearly laughed: "Wasn't it you who broke my leg? What misunderstanding is there! What are you pretending for!"

Ji Jue was momentarily stunned, silent, staring at him for a long time.

His gaze fixated on his leg.

Lost in thought for a long while.

Mainly because he generally didn't leave survivors when he got physical, to the point where suddenly encountering a victim, he just couldn't react.

Until an epiphany finally dawned on him.

"I remember now, you are that what!" Ji Jue slapped his forehead, "Back at the Spring City outpost, in the association's lounge, that... who was it? Zhou... Zhou..."

"Zhou Cheng!!!"

Zhou Cheng's eyes were bloodshot; unable to tolerate any more humiliation, and if the circumstances hadn't been inappropriate, plus his leg still not healed, he would already have fought this guy to the death.

Ever since being sent back to the workshop by his grandfather, after such a long time, day and night, tossing and turning, he wracked his brains to find an opportunity to avenge the 'Arrow.'

He imagined countless times the scene of their reunion.

But never did he think that it would be merely less than half a month later, and Ji Jue had already forgotten who he was!

Actually, had it not been for the Heart Poison Arrow he obtained from him having some effect when assaulting Old Deng, Ji Jue probably wouldn't even remember his surname.

Now as the enemies finally met, only Zhou Cheng's red eyes revealed his extreme degradation and desolation.

He still wanted to say something, but suddenly his body stiffened.

As if he heard condemnation in his ear.

Breathing heavily for a long time, staring unblinkingly at Ji Jue's face.

His eyes filled with hatred as he looked away.

"Follow me."

He supported himself with his crutch, turning towards the door behind, "Grandpa has been waiting for you for a long time."

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