Jiang Xiu asked in passing, "Were you able to find Bodhi Gene's location in the end?"
"Mr. Jiang must have heard about the martial arts circle's Demigod Ranking. Bodhi Gene is an organization established by a man called Li Bodhi before the nation was founded. Bodhi Gene had resisted many invaders during that turbulent era and racked up many achievements. They disappeared after Japan retreated."
"Li Bodhi?"
Jiang Xiu felt that this name sounded familiar. He recalled that Ming Lun had mentioned this name and even seemed to give importance to this man so he guessed that Li Bodhi must be a little strong.
"Yes, Li Bodhi from the Demigod Ranking. Only, this matter is a century old. It's unknown whether he's alive, but his Bodhi Gene should still exist."
"This name's quite strange," Jiang Xiu commented.
"Indeed. It's to convey becoming Buddha through Bodhi. He's on the Demigod Ranking and uses such a name to deify his presence. The strength of Bodhi Gene is solid though as they have proved themselves through several bloody battles." Gu Dezhi explained.
"It's better if he's strong." Jiang Xiu commented.
"So where is it located?"
"It should be in the mountain called Xiping Mountain to the east of Ninghai City. The exact position is unclear to us. Elder brother paid a high price and utilized a lot of military power to find this trail."
Bodhi Gene had associated with the military before, and the late Old Father Gu had friendly relations with them. After all, it was an era enveloped in the flames of war, and they were resisting the enemies together.
"Secretary Gu's brother wishes to enter the mountain to find Bodhi Gene?"
Gu Dezhi felt Jiang Xiu's tone was a bit peculiar and a little unhappy. He too was helpless as his elder brother had his own thoughts. As the Gu family was planning to invite talents, they naturally had to consider the degree of seriousness. His elder brother trusted Bodhi Gene more than Jiang Xiu.
"This plan was already set into motion 3 months ago." Secretary Gu explained.
"Mhm. Anything else?"
Since ancient times, Monarchs have bestowed talents with positions, but this kind of action was naught but an insult to the genuine experts due to their pride. Let alone, someone as arrogant as Jiang Xiu.
"No. I'll have to trouble Mr. Jiang to wait at Ninghai City for my elder brother."
"Fine."
Gu Dezhi shook his head after hearing the beep sound on the other end of the call. He had advised his elder brother that he must not offend Mr. Jiang, but his brother got angry and berated that the Gu family was looking for talents, not show-offs. If they couldn't suppress the person, how would they make use of that person?
After witnessing Jiang Xiu's methods, Gu Dezhi was sure that Jiang Xiu was a ruthless person. They could at most form an alliance as there was no way Jiang Xiu would work for the Gu family. Hoping to make him work for their family was just a pipe dream.
Cheng Lingsu had also woken up when Jiang Xiu ended the call. She washed her face then went to Jiang Xiu's room. Her face looked better today, ruddy as a tomato after having proper food and sleep. "I was too tired yesterday and dozed off so I couldn't call my parents."
"What's our plan today…"
"No plans for today. We're going to wait for someone!"
"Wait?"
Cheng Lingsu felt this was quite odd. She believed Jiang Xiu would do something today. At the minimum, she expected that he would respond to the Tang family, but he acted completely carefree. She wished to know about his intention, "Who are we waiting for?"
"A person who dares to make this Deity wait?"
"Okay…"
Jiang Xiu received a call during noon from an unknown number. The person spoke with quite a heavy voice, "Excuse me, is this Mr. Jiang? Senior has already reached Ninghai City. We are currently at the former residence of Mr. Xu Zhirong. Could you come over here?"
"Alright!"
Jiang Xiu was ready to give face.
But not to this big shot from the military but instead to Secretary Gu.
"I'm going out to meet someone."
"Do I need to go with you?"
"No need!"
Xu Zhirong was a famous calligrapher from Ninghai City. He had passed away long ago, and the natives had decorated his former residence to commemorate him. The high officials liked to live there whenever they came to Ninghai.
Jiang Xiu went out and took a taxi.
The situation at Xu Zhirong's former residence was unusual today. Guards stood over the doorway, and though these people were donned in civilian clothes, they stood there with an imposing aura. One look was enough to discern that they were soldiers.
From a distance, Jiang Xiu saw a party of people speak to the guard, "We are Pinghai province's Luo Yin Sect. We've come to visit senior official."
"We spoke by phone before."
"Old Father Luo?" The guard asked.
One of the men cupped his fists, "It's this humble person!" This man appeared over 60 and a fat body, but on the contrary, his body movements revealed that he was a martial artist.
"Please go inside!"
Jiang Xiu watched all this in silence. It appeared that this senior official had come to Ninghai City to meet not only Jiang Xiu. Ninghai was close to Xiping Mountain, and this seemed to be the reason he had made these people come here.
"Who are you?"
The guard sized Jiang Xiu up when he went over there.
"Jiang Luoxia."
"The invite list indeed has such a name. You are Mr. Jiang?"
Jiang Xiu, "What? Do I not look like it?"
"I wasn't expecting you to be so young. Please go inside."
After Jiang Xiu went inside, the guard shook his head, feeling quite resentful. "He's so young and dares to come here to apply to our army division. Does he think our army division is a place to fatten himself to death?"
The other guard asked him, "Old Zhou, this youngster is younger than me. Is he going to lead us?"
Old Zhou explained, "I heard that senior official is looking for a drill master for us this time."
"That's even more unreasonable."
"In martial arts, talent is the most important, but it takes time to even cultivate to the inner breath stage. He would at most around 10 sets of boxing moves." Old Zhou continued.
"I fear he still hasn't even cultivated Inner Strength."
"I heard that this Mr. Jiang has some reputation at Jiangnan. They say he had killed Wang family's Demigod."
"Him? A Demigod? Stop kidding me!"
Old Zhou also laughed, "There are many masters among the ordinary folk. They brag about each other and cheat all those who aren't privy to the details. If he thinks he can trick us, he's only inviting humiliation to himself."
After going into the corridor, Jiang Xiu saw an open land at a distance. Many people were gathered there, and it seemed that some of them were dueling.
A gray-haired robust old man stood among them in an upright posture, surrounded by guards left and right. It was clear that he was an important person.
"Luo Yin Sect's Old Father Luo has arrived."
"Jiang Luoxia, Mr. Jiang has arrived."
The old man turned around after hearing this. He wore a solemn face, had thick eyebrows and big eyes, seeming full of vitality. 5 people had come from Luo Yin Sect. They gave their salutations after seeing the old man.
"Senior Official Gu."
This person was Gu Dekang. He laughed in return, "Thank you for taking the trouble to rush over here from Pinghai, Old Father Luo."
"No problem at all."
Jiang Xiu walked in calmly at this point yet stopped 10 m away, with no intentions of greeting Gu Dekang. Gu Dekang frowned upon seeing this arrogance, feeling that Jiang Xiu should've felt obliged to acknowledge him as he was the host. He signaled to the guard beside him with his eyes. The guard went over towards Jiang Xiu.
"You are Mr. Jiang, right?"
"Yes, it's this Deity!"
"This humble person is Azure Luan Sect's, Yan Zhen. Senior Official has invited many guests today, so please forgive us."
"Please! This is Senior Official…"
The reason Gu Dekang hadn't gone to welcome Jiang Luoxia was that he didn't believe Jiang Luoxia wasn't qualified, so he sent someone else to greet him. He felt that this would make Jiang Luoxia lose as he hadn't gone to welcome him personally.
"I've been looking to meet you for a long time, Mr. Jiang."
Gu Dekang sized up this eccentric youth. He had heard Jiang Xiu was quite young but wasn't expecting him to be so young. He appeared to around 20, 18 to be exact.
He was nothing more than a child in his eyes.
He sighed mentally.
"Many guests have come today. Luckily, everyone is from the martial arts circle. How about we deepen our friendship through martial arts? I can also witness Mr. Jiang's skills."
"You wish to see this Deity's skills?"
"This Deity will definitely kill the opponent, you sure you want to see?"