pjbooks Chapter 16 The Face of the Nation? First, fix the road at the entrance of my alley!
Chapter 16 The Face of the Nation? First, fix the road at the entrance of my alley!
"Not going?"
Fang Qingxue's breath caught in her throat for a moment when she heard those two words.
She had imagined a thousand different reactions from Lin Fan.
Perhaps they would just laugh it off, seeing it as a provocation from an ant.
Perhaps it was the coldness in his eyes that caused him to become truly angry at the disturbance to his peace.
At the very least, they should feel a little annoyed, but ultimately, for the sake of the name "national martial arts," they should reluctantly agree.
But she never imagined that Lin Fan's answer would be so... self-righteous.
"Sir, but..."
Fang Qingxue's voice revealed a hint of urgency that she herself was unaware of.
"They have openly slandered you and trampled on the dignity of Chinese martial arts! If we do not respond to their challenge, it will be tantamount to admitting their claims, and the whole world will think we are afraid!"
"Let them think what they want."
Lin Fan rolled over, lay back in the rocking chair, closed his eyes, and spoke in a lazy tone, as if he were shooing away an afternoon fly.
"People can say whatever they want; am I supposed to go and tear them apart one by one?"
He paused, then added logically.
"The last time I took action was because they kicked down my door and trampled my flowers."
"We haven't even seen a shadow of them this time, and they're shouting from a distance of tens of thousands of miles away. Why should I pay any attention?"
Lin Fan's logic is extremely simple.
If you come to my doorstep, I will beat you up.
You're yelling at me through the loudspeaker at the village entrance? I can't even stand hearing it, let alone run out and yell back at you.
dream.
"But what about Chairman Li..." Fang Qingxue still hadn't given up.
"Li Zhenguo?"
Lin Fan let out a soft hum.
"That's his business. He receives a government salary, and protecting the country is his duty."
"My only responsibility as an ordinary citizen is to water and remove pests from the flowers and plants in my yard."
"If he feels he's lost face, let him fight it himself. Isn't he a Grandmaster of Internal Energy? Why is he coming to me?"
"..."
Fang Qingxue was completely speechless.
She realized that she had ultimately failed to grasp even a fraction of her husband's thought process.
In the gentleman's value system, so-called national honor, so-called martial arts dignity...
Its importance seems to be far less than that of the few carefully tended rose bushes in the corner of his yard.
What kind of detached state of mind is this?
A complex mix of admiration and helplessness welled up in Fang Qingxue's heart.
She knew that further persuasion would be useless.
Once a man makes a decision, not even ten oxen could pull him back.
She could only silently step aside, tap her fingertips on her phone screen, and send a short message to Li Zhenguo.
The gentleman said he wouldn't go.
……
The capital city, the headquarters of the Martial Arts Association.
The atmosphere in the highest-level conference room was as oppressive as the deep sea.
Li Zhenguo sat in the main seat, his face ashen. Around him were more than a dozen representatives from the military, national security, and various martial arts families, all with solemn expressions.
On the giant screen, a video of the "Butcher's" bloody and brutal battle was playing on a loop.
That's the situation.
Li Zhenguo's voice was hoarse, as if it had been sanded.
"Black Bear's challenge has spread throughout the global supernatural community. Now, countless eyes are fixed on us."
"In this battle, we have no way to retreat."
A middle-aged military man with general's stars on his shoulders spoke in a steady, mountain-like voice: "Chairman, have you investigated this 'Butcher' thoroughly?"
Li Zhenguo's secretary immediately stood up and reported: "His real name is Grigory Ivanov, a former Siberian special forces member. He was expelled for massacring civilians and later joined 'Black Bear.' He is a natural-born combat maniac and later underwent the most advanced genetic modification by 'War God Industries,' which has pushed his physical capabilities beyond human limits. According to the assessment, his strength... is infinitely close to the peak of the Transformation Realm."
A suppressed gasp filled the conference room.
Peak of Transformation Realm!
Apart from Li Zhenguo himself, no one present could match him.
Even if Li Zhenguo were to personally take to the field, the outcome against this madman who revels in killing would be a 50/50 chance.
Moreover, once he takes to the field in an official capacity, the nature of the event will be completely changed, regardless of whether he wins or loses.
"We cannot get involved," the military representative shook his head. "This matter must be kept within the scope of 'civilian martial arts exchange.' Otherwise, we'll be handing the knife to those Western countries, with endless consequences."
"But among the common people, besides Mr. Lin, who else can be a match for that 'butcher'?" a representative of a prominent family said bitterly.
All eyes were once again focused on Li Zhenguo.
Li Zhenguo remained silent.
Just then, his private phone vibrated.
It was Fang Qingxue.
He picked up his phone, and when the words "The gentleman said he's not going" came into view, Li Zhenguo felt a buzzing in his head and his body swayed uncontrollably.
It’s over.
The last straw has broken.
He could even clearly foresee the headlines of global media the next day.
Chinese martial arts are utterly vulnerable; a mysterious master is afraid to fight!
"A Century-Old Scam Has Ended: Ancient Eastern Techniques Were Just Superficial Skills!"
At that time, they will become criminals against the country and be nailed to the pillar of historical shame!
"Chairman? What did Mr. Lin say?" The person next to him asked anxiously when he saw that his face was pale.
Li Zhenguo put down his phone, a stiff, unnatural smile tugging at the corners of his mouth, looking worse than crying.
"Mr. Lin... he said he's been quite busy lately and probably won't have time."
A deathly silence fell over the conference room.
Everyone knows that "being busy" is just the most respectable excuse.
Despair spread like a plague through the room.
"This is outrageous!" A hot-tempered general slammed his fist on the table, making teacups rattle. "Fine, I'll lead a team to secretly take care of that 'Butcher'! Let's see how they compete then!"
"No way!" Li Zhenguo flatly rejected the idea. "The whole world is watching him! If anything happens to him within China, we'll be unable to defend ourselves, and it will only confirm our reputation as someone who can't afford to play this game!"
"What can we do? Just stand by and watch them dump the blame on us?"
"How about... we send someone to plead with Mr. Lin again?"
"Please? How can we plead? Those divine beings wouldn't care about the thoughts of mortals like us!"
The meeting room was in complete chaos.
Li Zhenguo's head throbbed with pain. He pressed his temples hard, his mind racing.
wrong.
We can't just give up like this.
Mr. Lin has an eccentric temperament, but the fact that he stepped in to help the Bafang Martial Arts School shows that he is not entirely without affection for traditional Chinese martial arts.
He said he wouldn't go, it must be because our "reason" was wrong!
Dignity, honor... these intangible things couldn't move him at all.
Let's get practical!
Li Zhenguo suddenly stood up, grabbed the secure phone on the table, and dialed Fang Qingxue directly.
He realized that directly contacting Lin Fan would only lead to humiliation, and that going through Fang Qingxue, who was "close to him," was the only right solution.
The call connected instantly.
"Miss Fang, I am Li Zhenguo."
Li Zhenguo's voice carried a resolute determination, as if he had already decided to burn his bridges.
"I know you don't want to be burdened by empty fame. But please pass on one more message for me."
"The reason you took action last time was because someone destroyed his 'property'."
"Then this time, please name your price, sir!"
"As long as you're willing to help, whatever you want, as long as China can do it, we'll risk our lives to pluck the stars from the sky for you! This is my guarantee, Li Zhenguo, with my reputation built over decades and this military uniform!"
……
Siheyuan.
Fang Qingxue hung up the phone and looked at the figure leisurely watering the old locust tree with a strange expression.
"gentlemen."
"What is it now?" Lin Fan asked without looking up.
"Chairman Li said... as long as you're willing to make a move, you can name your price," Fang Qingxue tentatively repeated.
Lin Fan stopped watering the plants.
He turned his head to look at Fang Qingxue, his eyebrows slightly raised.
"What's your price?"
He stroked his chin, seemingly seriously weighing the issue.
He originally had absolutely no interest in it.
Fighting is exhausting, and having to travel far is extremely troublesome.
But now that Li Zhenguo has taken the initiative to offer "payment," the nature of the matter is completely different.
This is not called fighting.
This is called a business activity.
It's only right that we provide the technology to solve your problems, and you pay us in return.
"Hmm..." Lin Fan pondered for a moment, "Tell him I'll think about it."
Fang Qingxue immediately replied with those three words.
In the martial arts association's conference room, Li Zhenguo stared at the three words "Let me think" on his phone, so excited he almost jumped up on the spot.
There is a play!
If they're willing to talk, then there's hope!
"Quick! Compile a list of all the highest-level resources we can access! Show it to the master!" Li Zhenguo roared excitedly.
Meanwhile, inside the courtyard, Lin Fan was making plans in his mind.
What should I order?
Money? It's just a number. I haven't touched the 200,000 from last time.
Martial arts manuals? You can get them just by signing in, and they're all top-tier ones.
Divine weapons? Your own fists are the strongest divine weapons.
"Sigh, once a person becomes invincible, even their desires become simple and unadorned. It's truly distressing," Lin Fan sighed inwardly, as if on Versailles.
He pondered for a long time, and then a flash of inspiration struck him, and he finally came up with something practical.
"Got it."
He said to Fang Qingxue, who was holding her breath and waiting, "Report back to Li Zhenguo."
Fang Qingxue immediately unlocked her phone, ready to take notes.
"First," Lin Fan held up one finger, "the road at the entrance of my alley has been in disrepair for years, full of potholes. Last time it rained, I almost twisted my ankle. Have them repave it for me, with the best asphalt, and make sure it's perfectly smooth. Also, give me a designated parking space; I never seem to find a place to put my secondhand bicycle."
Fang Qingxue: "..."
"Secondly," Lin Fan held up a second finger, "the wiring in my yard is still the old line from decades ago. It trips the circuit breaker every time I turn on the air conditioner. Have them rewire it for me, replace it with the thickest copper wire, and run a dedicated power line for me. Oh, and the electricity bill... from now on, put it on the Martial Arts Association's account."
Fang Qingxue: "..."
"Third," Lin Fan held up his third finger, "My neighbor, Grandpa Wang, has been worrying about his grandson going to kindergarten lately, it's made his hair turn white. Go tell Li Zhenguo to arrange a spot for Grandpa Wang's grandson at the best international kindergarten in Beijing."