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Mu Guangming was dead. As a controversial figure, his death should have attracted a lot of attention. But it was a quiet death. Some important people heard the news, but most people didn't even know he was dead.
It was because of Li Zhanwu and Mu Qingsong.
Mu Guangming was no ordinary figure. Because he was killed by Qin Hao, some people would want to make news out of it, and Qin Hao would be affected.
Qin Hao didn't care, but Li Zhanwu did. Qin Hao was the coach of the Sky Group, a person Li Zhanwu supported. If something happened to Qin Hao, he, as well as the whole group, would be affected.
So Li Zhanwu used his influence to make sure nobody heard the news.
Qingsong also stood out and ordered that whoever was there should not talk about the matter, or they would be severely punished.
Mu Guangming, the real master died, and Mu Qingsong's status rose by a lot. He was the real master now, and his words mattered a lot more.
He was the biggest beneficiary of Mu Guangming's death. He had always been controlled by Mu Guangming like a puppet, and his words were not that important. That was why he could not realize his dream of making the Mu Family great again.
Now he was the real master, and his time had come. Mu Guangming was gone. All the pressure from him was gone.
With these two people's cooperation, Mu Guangming's death was known to the minimum number of people. Even if someone knew he was dead, the person would be told that he died because he was too old. It was an unfortunate accident.
But still, some people knew what really happened. There were a lot of people in the family who saw it, and someone might tell others later on. If it really happened, Li Zhanwu could only suppress the matter temporarily too.
If the truth were really known one day, they would say it was all rumors and would never admit it.
Mu Guangming's funeral was held quietly by Mu Qingsong. And Qingyao, who was injured, was sent to the best hospital in the capital city from Qin Hao's apartment.
A day went by after everything happened.
It was nightfall. The sky above Cloud Gazing Mountain was pitch dark. The big city was shining below it, creating a splendid view.
Li Zhanwu and Qin Hao were now at the base of the Sky Group. All the members were called there.
"Qin Hao, look at the scenery. Isn't our Capital City beautiful?" The two were standing in a pavilion, in the cool breeze, and looking at the city.
"It is. Very." Qin Hao admitted. It was spectacular.
"We must protect this beautiful city from being destructed." Li Zhanwu seemed to be talking to Qin Hao or himself.
Qin Hao always thought he was strange. "Old Li, you dragged me here all the way at night for sightseeing? What do you want? Just tell me."
"I do have something important to tell you." Li Zhanwu said with a serious voice and expression, but said nothing. Qin Hao was speechless.
"About protecting the city?" Qin Hao guessed.
"Yes and no. If it didn't work, the city would be messed up. And we can't see this scenery anymore."
"Is it that fxxking serious? What is it?" Qin Hao raised his voice.
Li Zhanwu turned to look at him, and seemed to be very serious, which confused Qin Hao.
"Qin Hao, listen very carefully."
"I am listening carefully." What was he talking about? Why couldn't he let the cat out of the bag?
And Li Zhanwu told him with a straight face about everything he heard from Director Wang, about the Dragon Group knowing the Sky Group's secret, and his discussion with Director Wang in great details.
After hearing all this, Qin Hao started to be serious too. And he even frowned, forming a dark line on his forehead.
Li Zhanwu felt even worse after seeing Qin Hao's reaction. "Qin Hao, you know the Sky Group best, tell me, do you think we can fight tomorrow?"
"You want the truth or some nice words?" Qin Hao asked with an equally serious expression, staring at Li Zhanwu.
"The truth." Li Zhanwu said immediately.
"We can't." Qin Hao answered at once.
It would be okay if it were just a challenge contest, but Li Zhanwu wanted a big victory that would scare their opponents.
The Sky Group only had only been trained for two months, and there was some time wasted, so they trained for less than that. It would be a great victory even to be the Dragon Group's equal, let alone winning them and scaring them. It was a fantasy.
Hearing this reply, Li Zhanwu's eyes narrowed and showed a painful expression. He knew it was not realistic. The Sky Group was too young. Before hearing Qin Hao's reply, he wasn't decided. But now he was.
"Since you've said so, we'll have to give up."
"Give up?" Qin Hao signed, "Did you just say that? Is it what a real soldier should think of?"
"But are we risking our lives on this? I'm not scared of death, but we could not waste innocent lives." Li Zhanwu emphasized.
Qin Hao said, "Before the battle, how do you know we are wasting our lives?"
Li Zhanwu said, "But didn't you just said we can't?"
Qin Hao said, "We can't win but we can't give up either. That's cowardice. A real martial cultivator has to face all his battles!"
Li Zhanwu said, "But we don't have to. Given the Dragon Group's ability, we would easily be killed. Some of the people in the Sky Group have great potential. We cannot risk their lives."
"So all in all, you're scared that they would be killed, right?" Qin Hao said sharply.
"Yes!" Li Zhanwu admitted it frankly.
"How do they grow without risks? As a warrior, they would have to face blood and fire to grow, to be better inspired, and to break through bottlenecks and become a strong person." Qin Hao couldn't be more serious when saying this, and every word sounded. "People only see my achievements today, but they didn't know from the day I started to learn martial arts, I went through so many battles, so many life-and-death situations, and so many death to stand here."
"And I'll continue to go through even more. It will never stop. The way of martial arts is a bloody one. If you live, then I'll have to die. There will always be stronger people, and they can do anything to weaker ones. In the eyes of a martial cultivator, people's lives are worthless. If you don't want to be suppressed and killed, you'll have to become stronger and stronger."
"As a martial cultivator becomes stronger, he'll have to walk a path of blood and fire. He'll have to go through deaths and think about it; he'll have to keep fighting and learning from battles. There's no other way."
...
Li Zhanwu stared at Qin Hao. Hearing his words, he found him to be a great man, a man with depth.
He always thought Qin Hao was just a boy and didn't have much life experience. He always did what he wanted and couldn't respect older people. But now Li Zhanwu had found something new in him, and he had taught this old guy a lesson.
Actually, Qin Hao had two generations' life experience in his soul.
After hearing this, Li Zhanwu also learned something new about a martial cultivator. It was very cruel.
He knew Qin Hao's experiences of being chased by killers. He went from there to killing those people and lived until today. No outsider knew how difficult it was and what he went through.
As Qin Hao said, others only saw his magical growth and quick gain of power, and didn't see the blood and fire he went through.
Li Zhanwu was inspired. Qin Hao did have a reason for growing this fast.
To walk the way of martial arts, it was important to have luck, but personal experiences also mattered.
Perhaps, the Sky Group needed such a battle to grow rapidly after this challenge of life and death.
Li Zhanwu hesitated, but he was still worried.
"Qin Hao, you mean we should fight?"
"Of course, we'll do our best." Qin Hao said firmly.
"But I'm worried. Anyway, you got the whole Dragon group, and they're doing better as a whole, so..."
"So they'll certainly beat us?" Qin Hao smiled sarcastically, "After I started doing martial arts, I've killed countless people that are more skilled than me."
"Well..." Li Zhanwu admitted that.
"Skills are important for fights, but techniques, experiences, styles, as well as one's characters, confidence, and determination are just as important. And you cannot learn these without real fights."
...
Li Zhanwu was silent for the moment. And he suddenly raised his head and there was fire in his eyes, as if his spirits as a soldier was shining through.
"OK, let's fight tomorrow!"