"I can."
That single, defiant statent revealed Qin Fan's unabashed arrogance. It was this direct display of brazenness that truly made them see him as just a young man.
The group of four hurried away from No. 1 Villa, disappointnt in their wake.
But no sooner had they left than Wei Shuying dashed upstairs. Seeing Qin Fan descending from the rooftop, she asked, "Xiao Fan, who were those people? What did they want with you?"
"They're from an official organization," Qin Fan said with a candid smile. "They wanted to recruit , but I'm not interested!"
"An official organization wanted to recruit you?" Wei Shuying asked, her voice laced with disbelief. An official organization recruiting a young man not even twenty? Was that really necessary? But then a thought struck her, and her mind imdiately went to the Spirit Water No. 1 and the Spirit Fruit. She quickly asked, "Was it because of the Spirit Water No. 1 that they wanted to recruit you?"
"No! Mom, let's not talk about it. I've already refused! I don't want to be bound by rules and regulations. It's so much better to live freely and do as I please!" Qin Fan said with a grin, draping an arm over his mother's shoulder.
"Alright, as long as you're the one making the decisions, that's fine! But sotis, you still need to tell so I can help you think things through. After all, understanding the human heart is sothing that only cos from experience and wisdom!" Wei Shuying said with a kind, instructive laugh.
Experience and wisdom, huh? This heart of mine has been beating for over five hundred years!
But these were words Qin Fan could only say to himself.
As the people from the Guardian Institute were leaving No. 1 Villa, Ye Jiguang was back at the Ye Family mansion. Standing in front of Ye Congjun, he took out his phone and called his superior, Lao Yi.
"Jiguang, did it work?" As soon as the call connected, the voice on the other end rang out before Ye Jiguang could even speak.
"Lao Yi, do you really think this is like casting extras for a movie?" Ye Jiguang replied with a weary, bitter smile.
"If it didn't work out, why the hell are you calling ? Hurry it up! If we co in last place again this ti, you, , Guo Zhengwei, and those schmucks in the exercises might as well go drown ourselves in a manure pit! Even if we don't die, we'll have no face to show anyone! Jiguang, do you have any idea what those bastards from the other military regions say about us? 'Don't let the Northwest join; they'll just lower the quality of the martial competitions!' God damn it! Can you understand how I feel? I get so mad I could kill soone when I hear it! It's like they're saying the soldiers under my command are all useless trash! But what can I do? Facts speak for themselves, so I have to endure it! Damn it, I just have to endure! I'm telling you, if we co in last again this ti, I might not have the face to keep my position as Lao Yi! It's a disgrace! We've disgraced our ancestors! I'm not asking for much. Just as long as we're not dead last! That's all I want!"
The forthright and fiery temper of a soldier burst forth in Lao Yi's words. The string of curses was a testant to his pent-up frustration.
"HAHAHA!"
After Lao Yi finished speaking, he had yet to hear a reply from Ye Jiguang when a hearty laugh burst from the phone's earpiece.
Hearing that vigorous laughter, Lao Yi paused, taken aback. "Who's laughing?" he asked.
"The Old Master," Ye Jiguang replied.
"Little Han! After all these years, it seems your explosive temper hasn't cald down one bit!"
Ye Congjun, who had been listening to Han Rongguang's frustrated, curse-laden rant from the side, chuckled and extended his hand to Ye Jiguang. Understanding imdiately, Ye Jiguang handed the phone over. Holding it, Ye Congjun laughed into the receiver.
"Old Ye! Is that you?" Han Rongguang's furious tone vanished instantly. He stamred, completely caught off guard. "Uh, have you eaten? How has your health been lately? I just realized it's been over half a year since I last saw you. I should fly to Jiangzhou one of these days to catch up!"
"I'm perfectly fine, as healthy as a horse! Thanks for asking, haha!" Ye Congjun replied cheerfully, his voice full of a vigor that didn't belong to a man in his seventies.
"That's good to hear, that's good to hear! Old Ye, about this temper of mine… it's not that I don't want to rein it in; it's that I can't! Who could stand the sha of being last for six years straight? It's mainly because those damn recruits under are so disappointing. We get crushed every year at the martial arts et, and now the annual elite soldier competition is coming up again. Old Ye, you have no idea. Just hearing the words 'elite soldier competition' gets stead up. It ans our soldiers are about to get ravaged by other military regions again, and this sha of finishing last is going to be extended for a seventh year! And Old Ye, the worst part is yet to co. Do you know what those bastards from the other military regions are doing now? They're opening up betting pools! They're betting on how long our Northwest Military Region can last! This has gone beyond bullying; this is outright humiliation!"
As Han Rongguang spoke, his emotions spiraled out of control again, and curses involuntarily spilled from his lips.
It was hard to bla him. Being last every year was frustrating enough, but now people were placing bets on how long his so-called elite soldiers would last before being completely wiped out. This was beyond bullying; it was a profound insult.
Without waiting for Ye Congjun to reply, Han Rongguang continued, "Now that I've said all this, Old Ye, you must understand how bitter and hateful I feel! If this disgrace of finishing last continues, I truly won't have the face to go to the capital anymore! That's why I'm pinning all my hopes on Jiguang, hoping he can invite Master Qin to join our Northwest Military Region's team. At this point, I'm not asking for much. Just escaping last place will be enough!"
"The chances are slim. Do you think it's realistic to ask a Grandmaster to co and teach?" Ye Congjun's laughter faded as he sighed.
"Even if it's unrealistic, I have to try! We've tried recruiting those Martial Arts Masters before, but it was no use! We were still utterly defeated! Old Ye, Master Qin's ho base is in Jiangzhou, and your Ye Family must have so dealings with him. Please, help !" Han Rongguang pleaded.
"Jiguang can't help you, and neither can I. But here's an idea: you co to Jiangzhou. I'll go with you to ask him in person. We'll show our sincerity. The chances of success may not be high, but if we succeed, the Northwest Military Region will absolutely take the crown in this year's elite soldier competition. Absolutely!" Ye Congjun said slowly, a smile touching his lips.
Take the crown?
The words made the hair on Han Rongguang's arms stand on end.
Just escaping last place would be enough to dispel the years of gloom and humiliation that had settled in his heart. But now Old Ye, a man whose status and position ant he didn't just blow smoke, was assuring him with "absolutely." If there was truly a chance to win first place, what would that even be like?
Han Rongguang had never considered it. A man who was perennially last could only think about how to escape his disgrace. Who the hell would have the audacity to dream of first place?
In that instant, as his skin prickled, an electrifying excitent surged through his heart and rushed straight to his head.
"Old Ye, I'll fly to Jiangzhou imdiately!" Han Rongguang exclaid.
"No, no, no, there's no rush! Make it tomorrow. I'll be waiting for you at ho," Ye Congjun replied with a hearty laugh.
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