The Sun watched from the blue sky, and the currents of the world gently brushed through Jing State.

Qin Ying seemed to be playfully bantering with Wang Zhan. Even though she was prostrating herself behind him like a weak woman who had fallen in love, at this moment, she was a true queen.

Just then, the notable figures from seventeen families still standing before Wang Zhan nearly trembled at their first sight of Qin Ying, wishing they could turn and flee immediately. It was as if she wasn't a beautiful woman, but a red stretch of skeletons.

Only Wang Zhan remained noncommittal. Whether Qin Ying offered him a knife or a sword, he was merely a hard stone, concealing his intentions and goals behind his outward demeanor.

"Qin... Aunt Qin?" Yang Zecheng stammered, tentatively addressing Qin Ying.

Qin Ying nodded and responded nonchalantly, "It's been a while, Xiao Cheng. How have you been lately?"

"Ha... ha... I'm... I'm doing fine. Wouldn't... wouldn't dare to cause Aunt Qin any worry, ha ha... ha ha..." Yang Zecheng's gaze was frozen, and he could only respond to Qin Ying awkwardly, intermittently, and far from politely.

What on earth is going on with Wang Zhan? How did he attract this female hooligan? With her around, who would dare try to recruit him?

It had to be said, Wang Zhan found this feeling of riding on someone else's coattails truly satisfying.

When Qin Ying stepped in, the world was astonished.

She was like the Sun suspended in the sky, like a rampaging beast in the wilderness. It allowed Wang Zhan to stand on the shoulders of giants and truly see that even powerful, established families could find themselves lacking.

And just like that, the others quickly greeted Qin Ying. Most of them addressed her as Aunt Qin, appearing to be a generation or two younger than her. Then, laughing, they told Wang Zhan they would welcome his visit with open arms, before hastily scrambling into their luxury cars and speeding away, their engines rumbling.

They fled even faster than rats, especially Yang Zecheng.

"They seem to be very afraid of you." Wang Zhan stared at the convoy. They had arrived full of imposing arrogance, but now they looked more like they were fleeing in utter, desperate panic.

"Do you really want to know?" Qin Ying tilted her head slightly.

Admittedly, Wang Zhan did possess some skill. He had indeed beaten those Level 9 Martial Masters from the Xu Family to death without letting them touch a single hair on him. However, Qin Ying could see through his deliberate scheme of pushing her into the spotlight, which made her gaze towards Wang Zhan somewhat strange.

Wang Zhan shrugged. "No, I have no interest in your identity, just as I have no interest in Qin Yuan's achievements."

Qin Ying quieted down and didn't continue the conversation with Wang Zhan, seemingly relieved.

However, she hadn't expected Wang Zhan to turn and walk directly over to the soldier who had delayed him. Wang Zhan looked at the soldier's somewhat pale face, at the words the soldier seemed to be holding back. Wang Zhan was smiling, but his smile carried a hidden chill.

Wang Zhan patted his shoulder, casually adjusted his military uniform, and gazed indifferently at this soldier who, by rights, deserved respect, saying softly, "I advise you, it would be best for you to get demobilized, or have your direct superior transfer you to another position."

"Are you threatening me?" the soldier retorted sternly. He was just an ordinary man, an ordinary person fit only to live in the Jing State Military Camp. Yet he still considered himself righteous and refused to back down an inch, even though so many prominent figures had just left in disgrace before Wang Zhan.

Wang Zhan smiled. "No, I didn't threaten you."

With that, he once again patted the soldier's shoulder, so gently it didn't even stir a speck of dust. But this very action made the soldier fearful and uneasy, his face changing dramatically, terrified he would become one of the five corpses lying on the ground.

Qin Ying had said she wanted to watch Wang Zhan beat them to death, and Wang Zhan had truly beaten them to death, one by one, with his fists. If it were him, would his body even remain intact?

Watching Wang Zhan casually leave with the woman on his back, the soldier suddenly felt an immense rage. He was enraged that he had finally witnessed the darkness within the Federation, and enraged at his own insignificance, as small as an insect.

"You are the scum of the Federation! No matter how powerful you are, you will be sanctioned by the righteous Federation and its laws! You can't threaten me, you can't threaten me! Sooner or later, I will make you understand the power of Federation law..."

The soldier angrily stated his trust in the Federation and his disdain for dandies like Wang Zhan, attempting to achieve a moral victory with words.

But Wang Zhan only responded with a single phrase, "Suit yourself."

Like a giant standing in the sky, overlooking the vast clouds and myriad ants below, his expression didn't even flicker.

"Sigh, you should listen to him and leave quickly. He might not care about you, but the fact that you blocked him at the entrance will definitely cause his Family to lose face. So, take my advice, submit a report to the boss..."

"Impossible! I am a soldier of the Federation! My loyalty belongs entirely to the Federation! I will never bow down to parasites like them! They are the darkness beneath the Federation's bright facade!"

...

Whatever thoughts the soldier behind him harbored were his own.

By noon, Wang Zhan was already on one of the ubiquitous trams in peaceful Jing State City. Of course, Qin Ying was still on his back, like a quietly sleeping parcel.

"Young man, is this your girlfriend? You two are so sweet, just like me and my husband when we were young."

"Ah, respected lady, have some decorum! Who would dare to carry their girlfriend around in public like this, not letting go for a second, as if afraid she'd be stolen away? Young man, be mindful of the impression you're making; it's not like she can't move."

"Exactly! If it's inconvenient, go get a room at a motel or hotel. Seeing this, oh, it's an eyesore for this old woman! How have young people these days become so brazen?"

Some were teasing, others were being sarcastic. But feeling Qin Ying's long, steady breaths against his back, Wang Zhan hurriedly apologized.

"Aunts, I'm sorry, could you please keep your voices down a little? My girlfriend... there's something wrong with her legs. She can't stand, her lower body is paralyzed. I have to carry her like this to get her out for some fresh air; otherwise, she gets sick if she stays indoors too long. See, she's fallen asleep. Please, I beg you, a little quieter, please. Thank you for your trouble."

Ah, she really can't move?

At that moment, all the women on the tram, whether they had been envious or mocking, quietly lowered their voices, their hostility gradually diminishing.

Ever since Spiritual Energy appeared, the divide between the Federation's nobility and its commoners had become increasingly stark. When it came to illness, resources were prioritized, and those with incurable conditions could only scrape by. Since they were all poor, their conversations naturally became a bit more congenial.

"Sigh, what a poor soul. Paralyzed, you say? To spend her whole life in a wheelchair... My father-in-law was the same. Taking care of him was exhausting, and his life was so frustrating. It was a blessing he died early; it was a relief for everyone..."

"Isn't that the truth? If you're rich or a Martial Artist, you can at least manage to survive. But for people like us, who have nothing, all we can do is wait for death. Look at this young couple, all dirty and ragged, without a single decent piece of clothing. Life is hard..."

As one woman spoke, she became overwhelmed by her own pent-up sorrow and frustration. She started crying and insisted on stuffing a handful of loose change into Wang Zhan's hands. Thankfully, Wang Zhan wasn't so brazen as to accept; he just kept refusing, asking them to be quieter. The tram was soon filled with tear-dimmed eyes.

They all said Wang Zhan was too kind-hearted, refusing money offered by others. No wonder his life was so hard; he was such an honest man. And so, their voices grew even softer, until the tram moved in silence.

Just then, a news broadcast caught Wang Zhan's attention.

"This just in: at 9:15 AM today, the Chu State Military Martial Academy, a leading contender for the Federal Martial Arts Competition championship, suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of the Royal Martial Arts Academy, one of the Federation's four great academies. All four team members have sustained fractures and lost consciousness. They have been rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment. They have no hope of competing in the Federal Martial Arts Competition in the short term, and there is even a possibility that they will be permanently disqualified from the Federal Martial Arts Competition following subsequent battles..."

No one else on the tram paid any mind to this news; it belonged to a world entirely separate from theirs. The affairs of Martial Artists belonged to Martial Artists, the affairs of the Federation belonged to the Federation, while birth, aging, sickness, and death were the lot of those living at the bottom.

However, Wang Zhan froze. His eyes were vacant, and he could only grip the tram's handrail tightly, desperately trying to conceal his emotions.

He should have been standing on the arena, leading the Chu State Military Martial Academy Team to sweep aside all rivals. Yet, he could never fend off the overt attacks and covert schemes from behind the scenes. Power, wealth, and influence were far more formidable adversaries than any straightforward battle.

Qin Ying, who had woken up at some unknown point, gently stroked Wang Zhan's sun-kissed, resolute face. After the Death Battlefield, Wang Zhan's appearance had become more mature and rugged, making him utterly captivating.

"Does it hurt you so much? Do you want to go back and help them?" Her voice was very soft, audible only to Wang Zhan. He didn't respond.

However, seeing the girl's actions, a few of the women on the tram spoke to her with envy.

"Young lady, you're awake? Your boyfriend treats you so well. He wouldn't even put you down on the tram and just asked us to be quiet for you."

"Indeed, young lady, you're so fortunate to have met such a good man. Where do you live? When are you getting married? When you do, perhaps you'll let us come and join in the celebration? Don't mind us, we just love a lively occasion..."

Their chatter, back and forth, made Qin Ying's smile widen, and she looked quite charming and demure.

"Mm, okay. Why don't you give me your contact information? When he and I get married, I'll definitely let you all know..."

The tram arrived at the station: Jing State G District. Further ahead lay the core area of Jing State City, requiring a transfer.

Unfortunately, Wang Zhan just wanted some peace and quiet for himself. He and Qin Ying had never been lovers; they were just a strange, mismatched pair, each harboring animosity towards the other.

"Do you hate me?"

"...Not at all. Where's your home? I'll take you there now. You need a shower."

"Are you disgusted with me?"

"How could I possibly be? I'd give up the whole world to love you," Wang Zhan said with a laugh, making no effort to hide his insincerity. Qin Ying laughed too, not minding his deception in the slightest.

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