"Hm?"
"Luo Feng?"
After leaving the chat group, Jiang Li noticed several missed calls from Luo Feng on his communicator.
He called back.
"Brother Jiang, Captain Gao Feng would like to invite you to a dinner banquet at the HR Alliance Mall," Luo Feng's voice came through the line. Even though they'd gone through life-and-death battles together, Luo Feng's tone now carried respect—and a trace of nervousness—brought by the growing difference in their status.
"Alright," Jiang Li said calmly."I'll tidy up a bit first."
He didn't have that so-called "high and mighty" attitude that came with rank.
Jiang Li soon stepped out of Villa No. 99. Luo Feng, Chen Gu, and Zhang Ke were already waiting at the door, all of them visibly uneasy.
When Jiang Li appeared, the three straightened up, a little awkward and unsure of how to address him now.
"So, uh… how should we call you now?" Zhang Ke stammered. "Inspector Jiang?"
"Heh."Jiang Li shook his head with a small smile and teased, "I don't mind if you call me like before… or—if you insist—you can call me Jiang Ye."
Hearing that, the three exchanged looks before shouting in unison:
"Jiang Ye!"
Jiang Li: "(O√O)!!!"
The upcoming inauguration ceremony for the new Inspector of the Extreme Martial Hall had drawn countless big shots—military figures, political officials, tycoons, and top martial experts—to the Jiangnan Base City.
At this moment, Jiang Li and Luo Feng's group were in a special HR Alliance vehicle heading toward the towering skyscraper of the HR Mall for the banquet.
Ding!A soft electronic tone chimed.
"Gentlemen, please come in," the doorman at the entrance said respectfully.
The four martial artists, dressed in casual wear, stepped into the skyscraper.
"The last time we were here, not even half a year ago," Chen Gu sighed, "but it feels like a lifetime has passed."
Back then, he was the one who'd strongly recommended Luo Feng and Jiang Li to join the Fire Hammer Squad.
And now—Jiang Li had become an Inspector.Luo Feng was on the verge of entering the elite training camp as a high-level warrior.
"Heh, this dinner's two months late," Zhang Ke chuckled. "Looks like the captain's inviting quite the big shot today."
His eyes swept toward the bar area. "Luo Feng, your little girlfriend's here."
"Luo Feng."
As soon as they entered the lobby, a woman in a sleek black suit came forward with a bright smile. "Brother Zhang, Brother Jiang—you came too? And this is…?"
"Jiang Li," he replied with a faint smile, patting Luo Feng's shoulder. "You could say I'm Luo Feng's senior brother."
"Senior brother?" Luo Feng blinked in surprise, just as the woman bowed politely.
"My name is Xu Xin. I'm Luo Feng's friend. Greetings, Senior Brother Jiang."
"Female friend?"Zhang Ke and Chen Gu exchanged knowing looks, grinning."I think you mean girlfriend."
At that, both Luo Feng and Xu Xin's faces flushed red—just like two teenagers caught red-handed by their parents.
As they chatted idly—
"Xu Xin?"
A man, whose face bore a few similarities to hers, approached.
"Brother."Xu Xin quickly introduced him. "This is my brother, Xu Gang."
"They're Luo Feng's friends."
"Hm. All martial artists?" Xu Gang's gaze swept over them, his tone indifferent. "Young Master Wang has arrived. Come help me welcome him."
"Brother…"Xu Xin clearly hesitated.
"Enough nonsense," Xu Gang said sternly. "Young Master Wang is a direct heir of the Wang Family of Jinghua City—one of the nine core families of the HR Alliance."
He said the words to Xu Xin, but his eyes were fixed coldly on Luo Feng.
It was obvious who he really meant to warn.
"Xu Xin," he continued, his tone heavy with implication, "you should know what it means to be a martial artist. Out in the wilderness, you live on the edge of a blade—death can come at any moment."
"You understand what I'm saying."
"I…"Xu Xin faltered.
Her brother wasn't wrong. Even Wargods risked death in the wilderness. Luo Feng, just a War General, was far from safe.
Jiang Li and the others stood quietly watching.
Zhang Ke turned toward Jiang Li. "Jiang Li?"
"Not our place to interfere," Jiang Li said calmly.
Hearing that, Chen Gu and Zhang Ke both nodded.
Jiang Li stepped forward, clapping Luo Feng on the shoulder. "If you can't resolve it, you can always come find your senior brother. We'll be upstairs."
With that, he, Zhang Ke, and Chen Gu headed up to the second floor.
Xu Gang frowned slightly, displeasure clouding his face."Luo Feng?" he sneered, glancing at the departing figure. "Who's this 'senior brother' of yours? Does he think he can ignore the Xu Family—and the Wang Family too?"
Luo Feng's brows furrowed. His expression darkened.
"That's enough, brother! I'm not going!" Xu Xin suddenly said firmly, slipping her arm through Luo Feng's in front of everyone.
"Xu Xin…"Luo Feng froze, caught completely off guard by the gesture.
"Haha, Captain, what did I tell you?" someone called out with a laugh. "There's definitely something going on between Luo Feng and this Xu family girl!"
At that moment, Gao Feng and the Wei brothers arrived.
Wei Qing grinned and leaned in. "Why're you two down here? Where's our great Inspector Jiang?"
The name hit Xu Gang like thunder.
Inspector Jiang?
Not just him—the nearby martial artists watching the scene froze, exchanging bewildered looks.
They knew that title.The Inspector wasn't someone ordinary martial artists could even approach.
"Brother Jiang and the others went up already," Luo Feng replied casually.
"Got it. Let's head up too." Gao Feng clapped Luo Feng's shoulder. "Bring your little girlfriend along. Don't worry about saving me money—opportunities to dine with Inspector Jiang don't come often!"
He deliberately threw Xu Gang a look as he said it.
After all, they knew exactly what kind of man Luo Feng was—and how the Xu Family saw him: a rootless commoner unworthy of their circle.
The early spring breeze outside was biting cold.
And at that moment, Xu Gang's face went deathly pale, his mind frozen as if struck by the chill.
As the Xu Family's young master, he naturally knew both Inspectors of the two major martial halls.
But there was only one he hadn't yet met—the newly appointed one.
And that new Inspector… was the most terrifying of them all.
Even among Inspectors, Jiang Li's name was one that could make War Gods tremble.
Xu Gang knew—better than anyone—that several super-level experts had perished by Jiang Li's hand.
"Luo Feng."Xu Xin looked up at him, taking a deep breath. "Your senior brother… he really is Inspector Jiang?"
"Mm." Luo Feng sighed helplessly. He hadn't wanted to use Jiang Li's name for influence. But since she asked, he nodded slightly and smiled. "Xu Xin, why don't you join us for dinner?"
"Sure!"Xu Xin smiled sweetly, then shot her brother a playful look. "Brother, you're not against it this time, are you?"
Xu Gang nodded furiously, like a pecking chick, not daring to breathe a word.
Later that night, after the banquet ended, Luo Feng sought Jiang Li out to express his gratitude.
Though Jiang Li hadn't lifted a finger, just the word senior brother, coupled with his identity, was enough to make even the greatest families of Hanxia—or the entire world—treat Luo Feng with newfound respect.
"Brother Jiang, thank you."
Luo Feng, his face slightly flushed from drink, stepped out to the balcony and bowed deeply.
"Heh. Even without me, you'd earn the Xu Family's acknowledgment eventually," Jiang Li said with a calm smile, unconcerned.
Then he reached out and gently tapped Luo Feng's forehead with his finger. A stream of light surged and coiled around.
Luo Feng shuddered, eyes widening in shock. "B-Brother Jiang, what are you—?"
"This title of senior brother isn't just for show," Jiang Li said with a faint grin. "This is the Soul Seal of Inheritance your teacher left for you."
He smiled. "Later, I'll teach you a secret cultivation method. How far you go from there—depends on your own effort."