Chapter 494: Crisis at 195, Brother Jiang Returns (Second Update)_1
 

Ming Dongheng had witnessed Bai Lian’s footwork.

Although Bai Lian usually appeared lazy and indifferent, sometimes Ming Dongheng felt she gave him even more pressure than his own teacher did.

Not to mention those few moves she executed while standing in stance, despite practicing for a long time, Ming Dongheng still hadn’t achieved half of her proficiency.

His teacher was an eighth-dan, and Bai Lian, in Ming Dongheng’s opinion, should also be at least eighth-dan. Perhaps her young age meant she had the ability but not the seniority, so at least she should be seventh-dan.

“Me?” As the car stopped, Bai Lian looked towards the nearby bus stop, unhurried, “Theoretically, I have eight or nine dan.”

“Theoretically?” Ming Dongheng pressed a button, and the rear door automatically opened.

He didn’t understand what Bai Lian meant by “theoretically.”

Bai Lian got out of the car, very calmly, “Because I’ve never taken the test.”

Ming Dongheng: “…”

Ming Dongheng was somewhat frustrated, why wouldn’t you take the test?!

Looking at Chen Jingyu, Yu Hongyi, and the others, every one of them seemed eager to test twice a year.

“What’s the matter?” Bai Lian stood outside the car window, speaking while also glancing at the mobile phone in her right hand.

She was probably memorizing vocabulary.

Ming Dongheng’s expression was always cold, and he replied without a change in his demeanor, “I just feel it doesn’t match your temperament.”

Bai Lian: “…”

By coincidence, the bus also arrived, and Bai Lian boarded.

Ming Dongheng left the car where it was, watching the bus drive away before taking out his phone to report to Jiang Fulai about Miss Bai coming to print and then immediately leaving.

After finishing his report and just putting down the phone, it rang. It was Jin Kai.

The current hall master of Xingyi Martial Arts School.

While starting the car, Ming Dongheng pressed the hands-free button, “Hall Master Jin, do you only have fifth-dan?”

Bai Lian was unwilling to take the test; surely, she had her reasons, like studying hard.

But Hall Master Jin was from a martial arts family; they had run a martial arts school since he was a child. Why hadn’t he taken the tests?

After spending so much time together, Ming Dongheng knew Jin Kai’s skills far exceeded fifth-dan.

“You already know? Yes, I only have fifth-dan,” Jin Kai was startled and then chuckled bitterly, “After the martial arts school closed down, I went to work on construction sites and didn’t seriously test for any level. I tested last year, and now I’m still at fifth-dan.”

His real skills were definitely higher than fifth-dan.

But to continue testing for higher levels, he had to wait until his fifth-dan reached the six-year mark before he could test for the sixth-dan.

He had missed over a decade; this wasn’t something he could make up for in a short time.

Now, with certificates and reputation being significant, even if Jin Kai had the skills of a sixth-dan or seventh-dan, without a certificate, he couldn’t convince outsiders.

Ming Dongheng drove slowly, “Besides you, how are the other masters doing?”

“Two fourth-dan and one fifth-dan, the rest are all third-dan,” Jin Kai answered.

They all had sat for the tests only after starting at Xingyi Martial Arts School last year. Before that, as the martial arts school declined, they were busy with their livelihoods and never imagined, under Secretary Zhou’s suppression, the martial arts school could reopen, so they didn’t continue testing.

“Come Here Friend” went viral, and netizens scrutinized everything. Xingyi Martial Arts School already had students who came across similar video posts complaining about the school’s teachers and hall master as being average with not even a sixth-dan instructor.

They even said their spear performance wasn’t as good as Yan Lu’s.

Many net users believed Xingyi Martial Arts School should live up to its name and felt it was even inferior to Jingfeng Taekwondo.

Meanwhile, the people from Jingfeng Taekwondo took this opportunity to market their Muay Thai eighth-dan instructor online.

Jin Kai regretted for the first time not taking his levels more seriously.

“This month is the recruitment season,” Jin Kai said gravely, “I’m afraid they might be influenced by online chatter and, just like before, all go to Jingfeng Taekwondo. Miss Bai would be very disappointed, wouldn’t she?”

“Let’s think of another way,” Ming Dongheng squinted, “perhaps the situation isn’t as bad as it seems.”

**

Sunday evening.

5:30 PM.

At Xiangcheng Library, Ning Xiao packed up early, lowering his voice, “I’m heading home first.”

“Everyone should go,” Bai Lian said to the others, methodically sorting files at a leisurely pace, “After dinner, it’ll be just in time to watch the second episode.”

Tonight, the second episode of “Come Here Friend” would be broadcast.

Ning Xiao and Tang Ming walked in front, with Jian Zhe trailing a step behind them. Yang Lin had left in the afternoon, while Pu Xiaohan couldn’t sit still at noon, claiming she needed to go to Internet Celebrity Street to shoot a video.

Bai Lian moved slowly, leisurely trailing behind everyone else.

It seemed cold at the library’s entrance. The three in front slowed their pace, and Tang Ming, who had been chattering non-stop, suddenly fell silent.

Bai Lian, looking at her phone with downcast eyes, sensed something and looked up towards the street.

A car was parked at the door, beside it stood a tall, lean figure with a casual and relaxed posture, eyes lowered, looking at a child squatting by his feet, pinching the corner of a blanket with two pale fingers.

In one hand he held a phone, only revealing his proud, cold profile.

Ning Xiao, Tang Ming, and the others stopped walking. Having not seen him for several days, they seemed even more intimidated by Jiang Fulai, speaking in hushed tones, “Brother Jiang.”

Jiang Fulai withdrew his cold glance from Jiang He and looked up to nod at Ning Xiao and the others.

His gaze fell on the person behind them.

Bai Lian stood at their rear, with a black backpack slung over her shoulder, her eyes pitch-black, her skin luminescently pale, hair tied up but slightly undone, with wisps being gently blown by the wind onto her brow bone.

The setting sun cast its light on her eyes, brows, and the white garment she wore, making her stand out even more.

The bus arrived, and Ning Xiao along with Tang Ming and the others departed.

Bai Lian sauntered slowly towards Jiang Fulai, crossing into the light and stopping in front of the two, looking down at Jiang He, “What’s wrong with him again?”

Jiang Fulai put his phone in his pocket, lifted his hand to lightly brush the hair from her brow bone to the side, casually glancing at Jiang He with an indifferent tone, “He left his pillow behind, so he’s sulking.”

Bai Lian nodded, looking at Jiang He, “Your bag, my grandfather has finished making it. Aren’t you going to get up?”

Finally, Jiang He looked up. He watched Bai Lian expressionlessly and then stood up to grasp the hem of her clothing.

**

In the evening, the second episode of “Come Here Friend” was broadcast.

At Jiang Fulai’s residence, he hadn’t returned.

Xu Nanjing looked outside, “Didn’t Young Master Jiang arrive in Xiangcheng early? Why hasn’t he come back? He knows many people; I don’t know if he can get us an invitation.”

“Can’t buy one on the black market?” Ming Dongheng came in from outside.

Xiao Bingwen nodded, “It’s a bit difficult this time; they’re auctioning off the last of the encrypted currency. You know how many around the world are waiting for it; our country isn’t at an advantage.”

The White Tiger Auction House was foreign capital, connecting with foreign powers.

As he spoke, Xiao Bingwen noticed the time had come.

8:00 PM.

He placed the computer beside him on the coffee table, opened the webpage, and jumped to the live broadcast of “Come Here Friend.”

The computer emitted the sounds of Yan Lu and Mei Yi.

There was also the cheering of the crowd and commentary from the fighting ring.

Five minutes later.

“Are you watching the TV program, Yan Lu’s?” Xu Nanjing recognized the match they had watched back then. He wasn’t much interested in variety shows, leaning back lazily with a tea cup, giving the computer only a glance, sipping lightly, “Why bother watching without seeing her… ”

Before he could finish, a giant logo of “White Tiger Auction House” appeared on the screen.

Then the camera panned up from below to capture the majestic lion.

Xu Nanjing coughed violently, “Cough cough…”