Within the 'Limit Home' martial artist forum database, there were numerous threads concerning feuds between martial artists. Take Huaxia Country, for instance: martial artists operating within the six major base cities were subject to government regulation and legal constraints! But once they stepped outside the base city limits, entering the territories claimed by monsters, all legal restraints vanished.
That was the hunting ground where martial artists and monsters clashed—a lawless zone! Martial artists, living constantly on the edge of life and death, frequently found themselves in conflicts that led to killing one another.
Naturally, the major martial arts schools and the government alike wished to prevent such occurrences.
Martial artists were humanity's precious assets!
They were humanity’s sharpest weapon against the monsters. They did not want to see these warriors depleted by internal strife. Hence, the concepts of 'internal negotiation' and 'private settlement' arose. If you have a grudge, fine, let's sit down at the negotiating table to resolve our grievances. If negotiation fails, that's another matter entirely.
"Luo Feng, you are still a newcomer, just stepping into the martial artist circle. It’s better to keep your enemies few," Chief Instructor Wu Tong chuckled. "You're just starting out, and you need money right now."
"Mmm."
Luo Feng nodded. A private settlement was preferable. "Uncle Wu, but we can't let Zhang Haobai off lightly either! If I had been weaker then, my limbs really would have been broken."
"Naturally," Wu Tong nodded solemnly. "If we don't make them bleed a little, they’ll think our Limit Martial Arts School is afraid of them."
"Uncle Wu, how much money do you think is appropriate?" Luo Feng asked. Not fully understanding the customs, he felt it best to inquire first.
Wu Tong deliberated before saying, "Since the one who provoked you is just an ordinary person, it's best not to exceed fifty million Huaxia Coins! However, since you are an elite of our Martial Arts School, we can't ask for too little either. The minimum is ten million Huaxia Coins! Between ten and fifty million, just name your figure."
"Understood," Luo Feng murmured thoughtfully.
"If you agree, I'll notify them tonight to meet," Wu Tong smiled.
"Great, I'll trouble you, Uncle Wu," Luo Feng replied with a smile.
※※
Luo Feng returned first to safely store the Nine-Layered Thunder Blade manual. He then logged into the internal network, 'Limit Home,' to meticulously search for information regarding private settlements between martial artists.
"Oh... so that's how it is."
"This compensation money is actually tied up with issues of face."
Luo Feng read through numerous posts, finally gaining a clear picture of the negotiation scheduled for that evening.
"Xiao Feng, time to eat," his mother, Gong Xinlan's voice drifted up from downstairs.
"Coming, Mom."
Luo Feng shut off the power and immediately headed downstairs.
In the downstairs hall, his father and mother were holding their bowls, while one of the housekeepers was stir-frying dishes.
"Where is Luo Hua?" Luo Feng asked, puzzled. "Hasn't he returned yet?" They now employed two housekeepers, both middle-aged women in their forties. One was specifically assigned to care for his younger brother, Luo Hua. Since Luo Hua found many things inconvenient, having dedicated care allowed him more freedom to go out and wander.
"Your brother is at the Lotus Pond Park nearby. He just called; he'll be here soon," his father, Luo Hongguo, chuckled.
"Why has my brother been going to that park so often lately?" Luo Feng asked, confused.
His mother, Gong Xinlan, softly laughed beside him. "Xiao Feng, your brother has found a girlfriend."
"A girlfriend?" Luo Feng was surprised. Although society had many disabled individuals—like soldiers injured in battles with monsters—and disabled people could still date, marry, and have children—his brother had only moved in less than a month ago.
Dating so soon?
"Xiao Feng, don't listen to your mother. Your brother is seeing a girl now, but it hasn't reached that stage yet," Luo Hongguo laughed.
"Never mind him; it's a good thing for my brother to be dating," Luo Feng felt genuinely happy inside. Regardless of whether the relationship succeeded or failed, it was still a form of life experience. It would benefit his brother.
※※
Yian District, Yangzhou City, Tiandu Garden residential complex.
"Uncle," Zhang Haobai looked at his Uncle Zhang Zehu. In the days leading up to this, Zhang Haobai had lived in constant dread, fearing the Security Bureau agents would arrive and arrest him in the middle of the night.
"A'Hu, as long as we can protect Haobai, taking a small loss is fine," Zhang Zelong couldn't help but say.
"Big Brother, rest assured!" Zhang Zehu was tall and powerfully built; his entire presence gave the impression of a peerless ferocious beast. Zhang Zehu grinned, revealing his snow-white teeth. "That brat Luo Feng, just a rookie martial artist! He's only sparred with the weakest monsters kept in the military zone. Once he became a martial artist, he should know the rules! He won't dare to act recklessly. If he does act recklessly... Hmph, crossing my 'Mountain-Splitting Tiger' is seeking death!"
Seeing his uncle so confident, Zhang Zelong and Zhang Haobai breathed a sigh of relief.
"Alright, leave it to me. I'm heading out now."
With a wave, Zhang Zehu walked outside.
Outside, a six-wheeled heavy-duty modified Hummer was parked. Someone inside was peering out and laughed, "Brother Hu, are we set?"
"Mmm. Let’s go pick up Old Li, then head to the Limit Martial Arts Hall," Zhang Zehu got into the vehicle and commanded with a wave.
"Roger that!"
Rumble—
The six-wheeled Hummer emitted a deep, powerful roar and swiftly pulled away from the Tiandu Garden complex.
As evening approached, in a reception room on the second floor of the Limit Martial Arts Hall in Mingyue Community, Yangzhou City, Luo Feng and a group of others were gathered.
"Xiao Feng, what a coincidence today. Your Uncle Kong and Brother Chen are both here," Wu Tong laughed heartily. Luo Feng also greeted the two men beside him. One of them was notably lean, with a scar running across his face that almost split it in two—staring at him evoked fear and dread.
The other man was stout, with thick eyebrows and sharp, tiger-like eyes; he immediately struck one as an enthusiastic figure.
"Brother Chen, Uncle Kong," Luo Feng called out.
Neither of these two were ordinary figures. Currently, the Limit Martial Arts Hall in the Yangzhou area housed three Wargod-level martial artists: Chief Instructor Wu Tong, 'Cannon' Chen Gu, and 'Eagle Blade' Kong Quan. Wu Tong had already retired from fighting monsters, but both 'Cannon' Chen Gu and 'Eagle Blade' Kong Quan frequently left the base city to hunt monsters.
These two were the leading figures among the martial artists in Mingyue Community.
"Xiao Feng, we know about your situation. Don't worry, we'll stand up for you in this matter!" 'Cannon' Chen Gu laughed loudly. "Damn it, no matter how arrogant the Thunderbolts Martial Arts School gets, they won't dare bully people right under our noses."
"Mmm," 'Eagle Blade' Kong Quan nodded slightly as well.
A moment later—
In the reception room, the people from the Limit Martial Arts Hall and the Thunderbolts Martial Arts School sat on opposite sides. The Limit side had over twenty members, while the Thunderbolts side had only eight.
"Wu Tong, it’s true that Tiger's nephew was in the wrong here," a burly man with a big beard said with a smile. "But his nephew is just a child, how old is he? What does he know? Besides, he’s just an ordinary person, not a martial artist. There’s no need to haggle over him."
"Old Li, stop with the irrelevant talk," Wu Tong shook his head and smiled. "This matter is crystal clear. You came here clearly intending to settle privately, right? Mountain-Splitting Tiger, you speak."
Zhang Zehu, known in martial artist circles as 'Mountain-Splitting Tiger,' wielded a massive two-handed broadsword and was renowned for his ferocity and ruthlessness.
"Director Wu," Zhang Zehu smiled slightly, his gaze falling upon Luo Feng. "Let Young Luo discuss how this should be resolved to his satisfaction. Little Luo, how do you want to settle this?"
"Shut up."
'Eagle Blade' Kong Quan, standing nearby, glared and snapped, "Luo Feng is a good brother of our Limit Martial Arts School. Little Luo? That’s hardly a title you’re qualified to use."
Zhang Zehu froze. Kong Quan, 'Eagle Blade,' was known as a ruthless character in the martial artist community; Zhang Zehu dared not provoke him.
"Mr. Zhang Zehu," Luo Feng stood up and smiled faintly. "It feels a bit improper for me to have so many elder brothers step in for me on this matter. Frankly, according to my own thoughts... Hmph, Zhang Haobai trying to break my legs was a small issue, but daring to strike my father—that is asking for death!"
Luo Feng glared and barked.
Zhang Zehu flinched, and the martial artists on the Limit side all laughed. 'Mountain-Splitting Tiger' Zhang Zehu was a veteran martial artist, currently at the peak of the Advanced Warrior level, just a step away from the Wargod level. Luo Feng daring to glare at him like that showed the Limit members that this kid had guts!
"Hmph, Luo Feng, what do you plan to do? Say it!" Zhang Zehu looked displeased, his expression souring.
Luo Feng smiled.
He truly didn't care about Zhang Zehu's anger. Setting aside the future, Luo Feng’s current physical fitness was top-tier among Intermediate Warriors, nearing the Advanced Warrior level. As for his Spiritual Force, estimating a two-level gap between physical fitness and spiritual power, he was at least a Beginner Wargod.
"One sentence: Fifty million Huaxia Coins. I, Luo Feng, will give you face, and this matter ends here," Luo Feng said with a slight smile.
"You truly have the audacity to ask for such a high price—fifty million!!!" Zhang Zehu glared.
"That price is too high," the Thunderbolts Hall Director Li frowned.
Luo Feng smiled faintly and remained silent.
"The price isn't high," Limit Hall Director Wu Tong said with a smile.
"Luo Feng, I’ll give you a counter-offer: five million! I'll give you five million, and this matter is settled. That’s giving me face. Otherwise, you are refusing to give face to me, Zhang Zehu!" Zhang Zehu stared intently at Luo Feng.
Five million?
The Limit Hall members also frowned. Just having 'Cannon' Chen Gu and 'Eagle Blade' Kong Quan show up today was already showing respect. The price was too low; that showed disrespect!
"Otherwise, I’m refusing you face?" Luo Feng glared back. "Zhang Zehu, let me say this too: Fifty million, not one point less. If a single point is missing, you can prepare to meet your nephew at the Security Bureau!"
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