My Core is the Boss

Chapter 306.1: I Was Joking

In Mingwu Martial Arts Gym, lanterns and decorations were hung everywhere, as if celebrating some joyous event. What happened could indeed be counted as a happy occasion. For the first time, Xu Tiehua had made it into the top ten of the city-level tournament!

He was brimming with a heroic spirit. Even if a top-ten finish was insignificant for someone of his stature, it still added luster to his reputation. It was still worth boasting about, like a mayor winning third place in a city-level calligraphy competition.

The other two contestants stood behind Xu Tiehua, full of admiration.

Lin Feng praised him, "We must celebrate this, Senior Brother Xu!"

Yang Jiang also smiled. "In ten years, I am sure Senior Brother Xu is going to reach the peak of martial arts and win the national championship!"

The rest of the trainees also felt a sense of admiration. They were dying to win the national championship as well. After all, it could bring considerable benefits and perhaps even hundreds of millions. Fame, endorsements, and treatment as an honored guest by certain nobles naturally followed.

As for Xu Tiehua, reputation was even more important, as it would help pave the way for his future career.

He couldn’t help but sigh. "Ten years is far too long..."

Due to how small the martial arts circle was, its prospects were far too limited. He couldn’t possibly stay in this circle for another decade. Becoming one of the nation’s top hundred martial artists was worth at most one or two years of his time. The martial arts world could only help him so much.

Lin Feng laughed. "I’d gladly spend ten years to win the national championship!"

Xing Yu said, "Your ten years and Senior Brother Xu’s ten years are not the same. He’s also going into politics in the future. Why would he waste another ten years in the martial arts world?"

The others nodded in agreement. Promotion among officials in the kingdom did not depend much on seniority. After nobles spent a period cultivating their reputation, they could enter officialdom. Xu Tiehua was exactly in that phase.

Wang Shiqiao asked curiously, "Senior Brother Xu, are you going into politics or the military?"

Xu Tiehua answered firmly, "The military!"

Lin Feng seemed worried. "That's far too dangerous. The world isn't exactly peaceful right now. The war between Wugui and Yuelang might spread to our country at any time."

In his view, joining the military was nowhere near as safe as going into politics. Bullets and artillery had no eyes. They could land on your head at any moment.

Meanwhile, Yang Jiang had a different opinion. "Wealth and honor are found amid danger. With a great war on the horizon, countless opportunities will arise to earn merit and forge a career. Perhaps the next time we meet Senior Brother Xu, we’ll have to call him General Xu!"

Xing Yu had a complicated look on her face. "Joining the military is indeed full of danger. I heard something through unofficial channels. A few days ago, one of Wugui’s military bases was completely wiped out, including the entire regiment stationed there."

Wang Shiqiao said loudly, "Haha, you mean that video of a giant sword annihilating a whole camp? I saw it too. It's way too ridiculous. The special effects were obviously dirt cheap. It looked so damn fake!"

Since she had always been hostile toward Wugui, it was normal for such videos to show up in her feed.

Lin Feng clearly did not believe it. "Your inside information is a little too shady. An entire regiment wiped out, and yet I haven't heard any official report?"

After all, Yuelang was considered a military ally of the Qin Yuan Kingdom. If Yuelang had really achieved such a grand victory, the kingdom’s news channels would definitely be broadcasting it nonstop. Yet there was none, making it little more than a rumor at best.

Xu Tiehua said, "It is indeed over the top. I saw that video too. I can say for certain that our kingdom doesn’t have any weapons capable of producing that kind of effect."

Since he intended to join the military, he was very familiar with all of the kingdom’s advanced weaponry. No weapon could transform into a giant blood-red sword and come crashing down with such force. Not even the Eye of the Sky produced attacks like that.

Wang Shiqiao laughed. "I saw all the comments! They said someone is secretly cultivating to immortality!"

Everyone stayed up late "cultivating" in the slang sense, but could it be that someone had succeeded in becoming an immortal?

The other trainees were confused, as they had not seen the video.

The group of trainees chatted idly for quite some time. Lin Feng and Yang Jiang tactfully did not mention Qi Yuan, who had fled at the last minute. The atmosphere in the martial arts hall was joyful and harmonious.

Just then, the receptionist girl called out to Wang Shiqiao, "Sister Shiqiao, someone's here to see you."

As Wang Shiqiao turned around, Xing Yu teased, "Is she bothering you again?"

Wang Shiqiao became helpless. "Probably. Haa, what a match made in hell."

Xing Yu burst into laughter. "What? It might be a good match!"

"Get lost. My taste has always been normal. It has to be a handsome guy!"

"She is handsome!"

Wang Shiqiao said indignantly, "No matter how handsome she is, she's still a woman!"

A year ago, she had been frequenting nightclubs and met a handsome young man. The two had a few drinks, and the mood quickly turned heated. However, once they got to the hotel, she discovered the other party had no equipment. Wang Shiqiao was straight, so she firmly refused.

Wang Shiqiao had originally believed that was the end of it. However, in recent days, she had been relentlessly chasing after Wang Shiqiao again. Wang Shiqiao had also just found out that their families had been close for a long time. As fed up as she was, Wang Shiqiao had no choice besides meeting that woman.

Wang Shiqiao reluctantly walked out of the hall, muttering, "Cosmetic surgery companies nowadays are really shameless. They just had to transform a woman to look like a man and make me fall for such a huge trap!"

As she stepped outside, the sky was cloudless and the sunlight dazzling.

Looking at the buzz-cut person not far away, helplessness flashed in her eyes. "Zhao Di, what do you want with me?"

Sure enough, it was the handsome 'young man' Wang Shiqiao had met in the nightclub. With a somewhat rugged face, Zhao Di donned a long blue robe. Nothing in her appearance suggested she was a woman.

Zhao Di said in a rather androgynous voice, "Little Qiao, don't resist me. I just want to be friends with you."

Wang Shiqiao rolled her eyes. As if she'd believe that. Friends? More like wanting to sleep with her. She was all too familiar with that line.

Zhao Di said softly, "In a few days, Auntie's art exhibition will begin. Do you want me to come support it with you? I know some wealthy businessmen who are quite interested in artwork."

In five days, Wang Shiqiao's mother would be holding an art exhibition. Zhao Di meant that she wanted to attend. As the host's daughter, Wang Shiqiao naturally had to go as well.

Wang Shiqiao grew even more displeased, anger rising for no reason. Having always lived a carefree and libertine life, she hated this sort of subtle coercion above all else. It would be better if Zhao Di just went upfront about what she wanted.

Wang Shiqiao said angrily, "Sorry, I can't be bothered to go to my mom's exhibition. I'd rather it have no visitors at all, so she'll hurry up and give up her artistic dreams and go home to play mahjong!"

Zhao Di also realized she had said something inappropriate and hurriedly replied, "Little Qiao, it was my mistake. Don't be angry. Look, I brought you a gift."

She took out a leather bag, revealing a broken and damaged sword inside.

Zhao Di said proudly, "I saw that you liked this sword. I bought it for you."

Last time, Wang Shiqiao had been browsing the antique street and had taken a liking to a broken sword. Unfortunately, someone else had bought it first. The other party also refused to sell it even when she offered three times the price. Wang Shiqiao was extremely disappointed.

Zhao Di, who witnessed the scene by chance, resorted to threats and inducements to obtain the sword.

Surprise flashed in Wang Shiqiao's eyes, followed by annoyance. "How did you get this sword?"

To be honest, her dislike of Zhao Di went beyond the fact that she was a woman presenting as a man. Above all, she felt they were not from the same world. Although Wang Shiqiao saw herself as a rotten person with little morality, she would never rely on her family background to bully others or break the law.

Zhao Di was clearly different. Wang Shiqiao heard that when Zhao Di got jealous in a love dispute, she had directly broken a man's leg. In the end, she had escaped legal repercussions through her powerful family background.

Wang Shiqiao deeply disliked such behavior. This broken sword was likely obtained through the same method.

Zhao Di’s expression turned cold as she began to lose patience. Grabbing Wang Shiqiao's hand, she said coldly, "This sword—"

"Wang Shiqiao, what a coincidence. As soon as I arrive, I see you. Looks like my luck with money is excellent today."