Chapter 184 - 183: Martial Academy

Chapter 184: Chapter 183: Martial Academy

The Daoist, whose hair and beard were both red, felt his eyelid twitch.

’Senior Brother, don’t you have a goddamn clue where your own temple is?’

’No wonder the entire Daoist Alliance leadership was against you coming to oversee Shanghai.’

’If Eldest Senior Brother hadn’t gone against everyone’s opinion, with your talent for not even being able to find your own home, you would’ve been sent packing ages ago.’

"Ma-Ma... Master... there seems to be... a pit up ahead," Daoxuan said weakly, pointing toward the original location of the Divine Void Temple.

After a moment of stunned silence, Shouyangzi immediately rushed forward to check.

As he got closer, he could actually hear sounds of laughter and playful arguments.

The distinct aroma of charcoal grilling fatty meat even wafted through the air.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...

The old Daoist’s junior brother gave the master and disciple an embarrassed smile.

Anyone who’d run nonstop for an entire night would inevitably be hungry.

’Damn it!’

’Don’t let me find out who’s having a BBQ in the middle of the night for no reason, or I swear I’ll make them pay.’

Cursing silently in his heart, the three of them had already walked to within a dozen meters of the giant pit.

With every step, Shouyangzi prayed in his heart.

’Please don’t be what I’m imagining.’ As for what he was imagining?

Heh.

"Master, it looks like our temple was destroyed by a meteor," Daoxuan said with a dejected look, staring at the massive crater that spanned a thousand meters.

’We were only gone for less than three days, how is our home just... gone?’

Other than a meteor strike, he couldn’t seem to find a more suitable explanation.

"What the hell?!"

Shouyangzi walked to the edge and immediately saw the hundred or so people having a ’get-together’.

Among them, a burly man with the build of a bear, standing two meters tall, was the most eye-catching.

His brawny physique made him stand out.

Especially the way he was eating skewers with both hands, which was extremely attention-grabbing.

’He’s devouring them so fast the metal skewers are practically sparking. Is there anyone more ferocious than this guy?’

"What the hell is going on here?"

The old Daoist descended into the giant crater, trembling all over as he walked up to the self-serve barbecue and asked.

"Yo! Old Yang, you’re back? I’ve got good news for you, I saved your temple. I chased away all the Papermen for you," He Xiaotian said casually.

"?! Sa-sa... saved? You’re telling me this giant crater is my temple?" Shouyangzi looked up at the Netherworld fissure dozens of meters above his head, then his face contorted with rage. ’I’ll fucking strangle you, you son of a bitch!’

Daoxuan threw his arms around his crazed master, pleading with a sob in his voice, "Master, don’t be reckless. Look at the hammer at Scholar X’s feet. You’re no match for him."

Roger, who was standing to the side and chowing down on skewers alongside He Xiaotian, looked extremely awkward.

’Having a barbecue party on someone’s ruins... no, in a giant crater where their temple used to be.’

’It’s a little uncool.’

’But what could they do?’

’They’d all rushed over in the middle of the night, thinking they were about to die for their country.’

’But it turned out to be an accident caused by someone accidentally using too much force.’

’They couldn’t just arrest He Xiaotian for that, could they?’

’Besides, he was just defending himself.’

’There wasn’t a single law or regulation that stated a victim couldn’t fight back.’

’Although He Xiaotian’s counterattack might have been a bit fierce, or even downright violent...’

’...when it came to matters between Peculiars, could you really call that crossing the line?’

’It’s not like he, Roger, was chickening out because he was afraid of He Xiaotian’s power.’

’Special cases call for special measures!’

’On top of that, they’d been woken up in the middle of the night and smelled barbecue.’

’And then... and then they’d shamelessly sat down and started eating with everyone else.’

He Xiaotian wasn’t the type to hoard food, so he didn’t chase them away.

Barbecues were more fun with more people, after all.

And so, the current scene that made Shouyangzi fly into a rage unfolded.

"Want a bite first?"

He Xiaotian was very embarrassed, offering the half-eaten skewer in his hand.

’It’s not like I did it on purpose!’

Shouyangzi’s face was full of grief and indignation. ’His attempt to change the subject is as clumsy as ever.’

’Besides, look at the time! What mood am I in to eat skewers?’

’My temple...’

The more he thought about it, the angrier he got, but one look at the man-sized hammer made him deflate instantly.

’There’s nothing to be done. Who was the one who entrusted the temple to him before leaving?’

’This skewer in front of me?’

’Laozi’s home is gone. How could I possibly have the heart to eat?’

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE...

This was very awkward. He had traveled all night and was indeed a little hungry.

Under He Xiaotian’s and Roger’s gazes, Shouyangzi snatched the skewer and, glaring at the two of them, ferociously took a bite.

’Wait!’

’This is... amazing...’

The old Daoist had never eaten such delicious barbecue before. He instantly felt like he had wasted half his life.

He had to admit, this guy’s cooking skills were on another level.

Meanwhile, Shouyangzi’s junior brother and disciple had long since started stuffing their faces.

Any thought of "teaching someone a lesson" had been extinguished the moment his junior brother saw the hammer at He Xiaotian’s feet.

’Who could possibly stand up to something that big!’

"X, a word in private."

Roger said to He Xiaotian, looking at the old Daoist whose mouth was slick with grease.

Although he wasn’t sure what the guy had up his sleeve, He Xiaotian still gave the Deputy Director of the Cleaners some face.

The two walked to the side, and Roger lowered his voice. "X, you’re not actually a Peculiar, are you?"

"?!" He Xiaotian looked at him in surprise. ’How did you know?’

’Didn’t you guys at the city Cleaners always treat me like a triple-element Peculiar?’

"I wasn’t the one who figured it out. This involves a secret. Someone repeatedly watched the recordings of you killing the Netherworld Martial Artists and the Abyss Submariners and finally determined that you’re not a Peculiar.

"He said you’re actually a Martial Artist, just that your cultivation system is different from his own. And the higher-ups recently revealed their intention to set up a trial Martial Academy in Shanghai. If the results are promising, they’ll expand it nationwide.

"The government will provide this Martial Academy with the greatest resources and authority. The location has already been chosen; all that’s left is to make the appointments. After witnessing your strength, the higher-ups in the Capital City feel that you are highly capable.

"They want to hire you as one of the instructors at the Martial Academy. The compensation, naturally, will be excellent. Now it just depends on what you think. Of course, we won’t ask you to train everyone to be exactly like you.

"Frankly, any discerning person knows that you must have had your own unique opportunities. Or maybe you are a Peculiar, and your awakened aspect is martial arts. Don’t worry too much about that.

"Who among us Peculiars doesn’t have a few secrets? The Director, even myself included. The higher-ups won’t look at your past, unless you’re some heinous criminal. They only care about your current abilities."

He Xiaotian tilted his head, thought for a moment, then asked.

"Why the sudden decision to start a Martial Academy? And don’t you dare say it’s some whim you had after seeing my unrivaled combat power."

Roger saw that he couldn’t just brush him off.

"Someone said that the Netherworld is almost entirely composed of Martial Artists, and that evil spirits are most afraid of a Martial Artist’s powerful Qi and Blood. As you know, Peculiars aren’t common. Every one that dies is a great loss. But with martial arts, as long as someone has enough aptitude, sufficient nutrition, and works hard, you can train a large number of them.

"Even if not many of them become top masters, they can at least help alleviate the endless cases of evil spirits killing people all over the country. This would give the Peculiars more time to rest and train their abilities.

"When our overall strength rises to a new level, it will be easier for us to deal with all these demons and monsters. Then we can cultivate even more Martial Artists, creating a virtuous cycle. No one can deny the appeal of that."