Chapter Thirty-six: The Envoy

Today, the Extreme Club was bustling with visitors. Qin Ming had just circled to the front when he saw Wang Lang approaching. He greeted him warmly, “Brother Wang, I haven’t had the chance to congratulate you yet!”

On June 1st, Wang Lang had passed the preliminary martial artist assessment.

“When compared to you, I’m still far behind!” Wang Lang hurried over. “Are you here to watch the assessment?”

“Yes,” Qin Ming nodded. “It’s nearby, and I needed a break, so I thought I’d come take a look.”

“Come, let’s go in together.”

“All right.”

Just as they were about to enter, Qin Ming caught sight of two people entering through the gate and couldn’t help but laugh. Raising his hand, he called out, “Luo Feng, I guessed you’d come today, and sure enough, my prediction was right!”

“Qin Ming, are you participating in the assessment today?” Luo Feng hurried over to them.

“I’ve already completed mine,” Qin Ming replied, greeting the middle-aged man accompanying Luo Feng, “Hello, Instructor Jiang.”

This man was the instructor from Luo Feng’s martial arts school, here to accompany him.

“Qin Ming, your name has been echoing in my ears these days!” Jiang Nian laughed. “Luo Feng, you might not know yet, but Qin Ming not only passed the preliminary martial artist assessment two months ago, he was directly recruited as a martial artist!”

“He became a martial artist without the combat assessment?” Luo Feng was astonished.

“A half month ago, he ventured into the wild for combat and even escaped from a horde of rats,” Jiang Nian sighed. “Qin Ming, it’s hard to believe you’re only eighteen!”

“In the future, Luo Feng will be no less than me,” Qin Ming replied. “Instructor Jiang, you’ll surely take pride in having such a student. Come, let’s go in together.”

As they walked inside, Qin Ming introduced Wang Lang to the others.

There was still some time before the assessment began, so Luo Feng waited in the hall while Qin Ming and his companions proceeded ahead. Here, nothing hindered Qin Ming anymore.

“Little Qin, you finally decided to show up!” Wu Tong greeted him with a smile as soon as he saw him.

“A journey in the wilderness taught me the harshness of the world. Even now, I haven’t quite recovered!” Qin Ming replied with a wry smile.

“Everyone faces their first time,” Wu Tong said. “That first impression is often the most profound, touching the soul and unforgettable. You’ll get used to it. Little Qin, want to give it a try? See how much you’ve improved?”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea,” Qin Ming glanced around; there were plenty of people present.

“They’re all our own, no problem!” Wu Tong assured him. “Besides, the news about you becoming a martial artist without a combat assessment is already out. And your escape from the rat horde, unscathed, and the three decapitations you performed upon your return—everyone saw that!”

“That incident was known?” Qin Ming was surprised.

“The military base is nearby, after all.”

“Will there be any trouble?”

“If there is, it’s personal. No one in the city would dare bother you.”

“That’s good,” Qin Ming relaxed. “Uncle Wu, let me show you my progress!”

“Judging by your demeanor, your improvement must be substantial!” Wu Tong’s eyes shone, and he quickly instructed the staff to power up the machines.

Wang Lang watched with envy and awe. In Wu Tong’s presence, he always felt reserved, but Wu Tong seemed to be courting favor with Qin Ming—an incredible sight. The others were equally shaken.

“Compared to him, Luo Feng is far behind!” Jiang Nian thought to himself.

The machine was ready. Without hesitation, Qin Ming stepped forward and punched.

Boom!

The sound burst echoed, a fierce wind swept through the room, causing those nearby to step back. Such force stunned everyone present.

Most were seasoned battle generals and understood the terror of that punch. But when the numbers flashed on the screen, even Wu Tong, who had anticipated this, blurted out, “My god, is this real?”

“Heavens!”

“How is this possible?”

“Am I seeing things?”

“He’s only eighteen, how can he achieve such a feat?”

“A prodigy—no, a monster-level genius!”

The entire room was in disarray.

“Forty thousand one hundred thirty-eight kilograms!” Wang Lang stammered.

“Forty thousand one hundred thirty-eight kilograms!” Wu Tong repeated, his gaze at Qin Ming filled with complex, barely concealed excitement. “On June sixth, you reached the entry-level battle general. On June fifteenth, you barely met the intermediate standard in another test! The standard for a senior battle general is thirty-two to sixty-four thousand kilos. Little Qin, you just punched forty thousand one hundred thirty-eight kilos, firmly stepping into the ranks of senior battle generals! In such a short time, my god, in such a short time!”

He was so moved he nearly jumped.

“Qin Ming, hurry, throw another punch so I can confirm!” Wu Tong spoke quickly, pulling out his phone to record.

Qin Ming’s eyes gleamed, and he punched again.

This time, everyone watched even more intently.

As expected, the force again surpassed forty thousand kilos.

Forty thousand kilos—forty tons of force in a single punch. Enough to obliterate even an ox.

“Excellent!” Wu Tong raised his thumb, quickly sending the recording. Within moments, his phone rang and he answered immediately.

“Wu Tong, is this real?”

“Uncle Bai, would I ever lie to you?”

“Good, good, good! I’ll notify the supervisor right away. Tell Qin Ming not to leave, wait!”

“All right!”

He didn’t hang up.

The others glanced at Qin Ming and then at Wu Tong’s phone. They all knew the young man before them was about to soar.

A senior battle general! How many among them had reached that rank? All had accumulated it bit by bit over years. But looking at Qin Ming, they felt utterly humbled.

A moment later, a voice came through the phone.

No one uttered a sound; all eyes were fixed on Wu Tong’s phone, ears pricked.

“Wu Tong!”

“Supervisor, it’s me!”

“Is it true?”

“I swear on my life!”

“Good! I’ll come to your club immediately. Wait for me. Also, I’ll notify headquarters—they’ll likely send a special envoy. Prepare for their arrival!”

“Yes!” Wu Tong was visibly excited. After regaining composure, he turned to Qin Ming, “Did you hear?”

“I heard.”

“Soon, Chief Zhuge will come, even the chairman, and a special envoy!” Wu Tong paused. “Do you know what a special envoy means?”

Qin Ming shook his head.

Wu Tong laughed, “Of course, at your age, how much could you know? Only exceptional talents can prompt headquarters to send an envoy for personal evaluation. The special envoy is always a War God, sometimes even a senior War God—figures at the pinnacle. Being evaluated by an envoy means you have a chance to become a War God yourself. And you, Qin Ming, I’m certain you’ll become one! An eighteen-year-old senior battle general—damn, Old Qin is so lucky, having such a monstrous son. I’m green with envy!”

Qin Ming could only smile.

Wu Tong slapped his forehead, “The supervisor is coming. I’m sure the chairman and the envoy will arrive, too. We need to prepare!”

“Uncle Wu, what about the preliminary martial artist assessment?”

“Postpone it to the afternoon—no, tomorrow. Let’s wait until tomorrow!”

“Uncle Wu, that’s not good!” Qin Ming quickly objected. “The assessment is soon, and there aren’t many candidates. Why not finish it quickly while we have time?”

“All right!” Wu Tong hesitated briefly, then agreed.

Qin Ming thought to himself: I remember after Luo Feng’s preliminary assessment, when he returned home, his father was bullied. If the assessment is delayed and his father ends up crippled or even killed, that would be a disaster!