The Holy Martial Hall remained as quiet as usual, yet no single department was truly still today. First, the head of the Intelligence Department, Dragon King Ba Baiying, a formidable martial artist who rarely engaged in combat, suddenly struck out, reducing the area outside the Intelligence Department to ruins.

Though no fighting took place within the headquarters of the Outer Holy Martial Hall, Solomon, the silent, young prodigy and disciple of the Auspicious Heavenly Maiden Jennifer, sat motionless outside for over twenty hours before vanishing without a trace, leaving many utterly perplexed.

The Mobile Division, a special unit existing outside the six major departments of the Holy Martial Hall, comprised personnel deployed wherever they were needed.

Unlike the bizarre architectural designs of the other departments, the Mobile Division’s building was utterly unremarkable, mirroring its functional role.

In the open space surrounding this plain structure, a fierce battle had recently raged. The sheer violence of the fight had so severely damaged the surrounding environment that the engineering teams responsible for restoration dared not approach immediately.

The resulting clearing, a kilometer in diameter, was crisscrossed with massive gashes ten meters long, and stones the size of fists lay scattered everywhere. There was hardly a single square meter of intact ground; pits a dozen meters wide and one or two meters deep were countless.

If this were not the Holy Martial Hall, one might easily suspect this area had just endured a concentrated barrage of heavy artillery fire from the military!

The acrid smell of smoke occasionally wafted up from the craters and piles of rubble.

Some time had passed since the battle ended. Under normal protocol, engineering crews should have long since arrived to make emergency repairs, restoring the area to its original state as quickly as possible.

Yet, the engineering teams, usually prompt in their arrival, had failed to appear.

Only those within the Mobile Division knew that the engineering team had come once, only to have another ferocious battle erupt after they began their repairs.

Moreover, the engineering team had returned a second time, but they refused to approach the ruined battlefield because of one person.

Kaitian, Brooks!

On the earth scarred by battle, Brooks stood gripping a serrated greatsword. This blade, once capable of shearing through iron like mud, was now completely covered in battle scars and nicks.

The handsome and dashing Brooks of yesterday was gone. His chestnut-colored hair, usually tied high at the nape of his neck, now hung loosely around his face, swaying with the breeze.

Brooks’ physique remained as robust as ever, but his martial uniform was tattered beyond recognition. His body bore the marks of intense heat and countless blade wounds—seventy-five in total, large and small! Personnel from the Mobile Division had meticulously counted every mark on the young man using long-range recording equipment.

Brooks held his sword ready, his stance wide in a deep horse stance, the greatsword drawn just high enough to rest near his waist, poised as if ready to execute the Iaijutsu draw strike at any moment. His entire being radiated a murderous fighting spirit that enveloped the vast battlefield. Even the smallest insect flying near would instinctively change course, sensing that any presence entering this arena would be met with a world-shattering strike.

Indeed, this was the case! Anyone who dared step onto that field was instantly attacked! The moment the engineering team returned to enter the battlefield the second time, they witnessed a flash of sword light so brilliant they would never forget it in their lives.

That strike at dawn surpassed the brilliance of the sunrise! The warriors of the Mobile Division would never forget that blow: savage, resolute, and final! It was a strike that could cleave the heavens themselves!

It was only because the head of the Mobile Division, Yaksha King, intervened, forcing the combatants out of the engagement zone and intercepting that momentous blow outside the perimeter, that the engineering team avoided suffering devastating losses in an instant.

Entering the combat zone meant facing the sword’s attack! Leaving the circle meant safety!

The warriors of the Mobile Division would never forget how, during special training, Brooks received a phone call, tossed the device into the nearest trash receptacle, and then sat down before the entrance to the Mobile Division, seemingly waiting for something.

As night deepened, he got his wish: a martial artist arrived. According to the night guards, the exchange between them was brief.

“Uncle, if you are interested in serving the family, I won’t stop you. But I hope you, in turn, won’t obstruct my decisions.”

“Brooks, you have strayed onto the wrong path. I am here representing the family to command you to obey the decisions we have made.”

“Uncle, if the family ordered me to kill Qin Lin, I would unhesitatingly take up my blade and march to Mount Qin Lin to slay Song Wendong. If the family takes issue with the President and demands I strike him down, I would rush to the Presidential Palace that very moment and bring back his head. However! This one matter is non-negotiable.”

“You? Why? Don’t tell me this is for a friend…”

“Yes, you guessed correctly. It is for a friend.”

“Foolish.”

“I choose to be so.”

“The interests of the family are paramount. Since you are so obstinate, I suppose I must prematurely end your tenure at the Holy Martial Hall.”

“Is that so, Uncle? I have a very bad habit that I’m sure you haven’t forgotten. Once I decide on something, I will see it through to the end. I dared to throw the family’s phone in the refuse bin; do you think I fear your threat? If you move against me, you must be prepared to be cut down.”

That brief dialogue escalated into a full-blown contest between two fifteen-star Martial Arts Grandmasters. Fights between such experts usually conclude swiftly, but these two dueled for an entire hour—a truly evenly matched contest.

In the end, Brooks broke two of his own ribs and took a heavy blow to his abdomen, managing to severely wound his uncle and force him out of the combat zone. Brooks then used his emblem to notify the medical team, who transported his uncle to the hospital.

The Holy Martial Hall boasted an extremely advanced medical system, arguably one of the most sophisticated in the world. Where martial artists gathered, intense battles flared up every other day, meaning injuries were inevitable.

Brooks had no fear that his uncle would die or suffer irreversible harm. If he had intended to kill his uncle, he would not have allowed that punch to land on his own abdomen.

The engineering team had just finished repairing the battlefield, which had been reduced to ruins, with many areas not yet fully settled, when someone else stepped onto the engagement zone.

“Uncle, my other uncle visited just now.”

“I know. You are wounded now. Relinquishing the fight and returning with me is your wisest choice.”

“Again? My answer remains simple. From the family’s standpoint, you have backed the wrong horse this time. Qin Fen is the one worthy of your wager. If the family insists on backing the Zuo family, then I know what I must do: I will bet against the family. I bet on my friend.”

“On what grounds? Just because he is one of the youngest Martial Arts Grandmasters?”

“No, no, no. Because he is my friend. Because I already promised him I would join him in the military.”

“Promised? When? Did he call you?”

“Does he need to call me? The moment he receives the examination questions from the Military Department, he must come looking for me. Otherwise, I will cut him down, throw him in the sea to feed the sharks, and then cut down Zuo Lin to accompany him in death. Uncle, you young people don't understand; we don't need phone calls to communicate.”

Another brief exchange, and Brooks, much like Qin Fen on Mount Hanguang, fought two fifteen-star Martial Arts Grandmaster duels in rapid succession.

The result: Brooks’ uncle was seriously injured and hospitalized. Among the three members of the Brooks family within the Holy Martial Hall, two were now hospitalized—the last one being Brooks himself.

After finishing the second battle, Brooks performed one final action: he settled into a wide horse stance, drew his greatsword halfway, and held it diagonally at his waist, maintaining the combat posture of the draw strike.

“A very cool posture!” was Yaksha King’s assessment.

“An extremely foolish act for someone unconscious!” was Yaksha King’s second assessment.

His will controlled his body, maintaining a vigil of uncertain purpose. Was this confidence, or utter stupidity? This was Yaksha King’s final judgment.

Yaksha King could not comprehend why his disciple—whom he had recognized upon first meeting as possessing extraordinary intelligence and martial talent—would engage in such a nonsensical vigil.

Even though Brooks had fallen unconscious, his battle intent continued to command his body, preventing anyone from moving him. His sword intent blanketed the entire battlefield.

“A person in a coma fighting with combat prowess exceeding their conscious state!” Yaksha King became highly interested and settled into his office to 'wait alongside Brooks for the potential arrival.'

Yaksha King had seen Qin Fen, reviewing all his files via the projector. He admitted Qin Fen was a young martial artist of considerable capability, but he still failed to grasp the reason behind Brooks’ actions.

Unlike the other department heads, Yaksha King, seeing Brooks' condition, immediately thought of others who might have accompanied him. He instantly dispatched scouts to gather information.

The resulting news was profoundly shocking! The Little Dragon King Yang Lie, that fourteen-star peak youth, had entered the Level Three Zhurong System seeking death, with the sole aim of reaching fifteen stars before Qin Fen arrived.

As for the silent Solomon, he had smashed his family’s cell phone and, like Brooks, was waiting outside the main gates of the Outer Holy Martial Hall headquarters.

The sword intent that had covered the entire battlefield suddenly… vanished!

Brooks, who had maintained his combat stance for many hours, suddenly went limp and pitched forward.

From a distance, a figure rushed forward at high speed, catching him before he hit the ground.

Brooks remained unconscious, lying peacefully on Qin Fen’s back. The greatsword he had refused to release suddenly slipped from his grasp as he fell, striking the ground with a clear metallic clang.

Yaksha King raised an eyebrow at his slender eyebrow sword, his star-like eyes flickering with surprise. Was this coincidence? Or had Brooks instinctively sensed the arrival of the person he was waiting for?

On the shattered battlefield, three men and one woman walked forward in silent solidarity. Brooks remained draped across Qin Fen’s back, still in his coma. At this moment, not a trace of fighting intent remained on him; he was utterly relaxed.

“What an interesting group,” Yaksha King said, rising from his chair and standing at the window, looking down upon the five figures on the broken ground. “I look forward to seeing what dazzling achievements a team like yours will achieve in the future.”

PA: The final chapter, 'Sweeping the World (End),' follows! This is all for today! Let us fall into slumber alongside Brooks! Ip Man 2 is excellent! Well, aside from a few flaws in the final bout, it’s thrilling throughout. If you have time during the May Day holiday and enjoy hot-blooded action like Gao Lou, you should check it out.