But at this critical moment, those bigwigs also had no alternative but to act out of necessity. What followed was the present, where almost all the ordinary people in the Southwest states once again witnessed the brutality of war, just as their Ancestors had. Because, although they were not Martial Artists and could always hide in the background during times of peace, when war came, once Martial Artists lost their power, the first to die would definitely be these powerless ordinary people.

It was just as Wang Zhan rounded a corner that he heard a hysterical yet constantly suppressed voice by his ear. It turned out to be a child, no more than ten years old, crying bitterly while lying on a desk, tears streaming down his face, yet filled with hatred.

"Big brother, rest assured, I will become a Martial Artist! When I become a Martial Artist, I will personally avenge you and personally slaughter those beasts…"

The lingering sound resonated continuously, making people feel cold, unable to look directly, filled with sorrow and pity.

Wang Zhan even thought to himself, If I were the child inside the house, just an ordinary person with average talent, then what expression would be on my face when confronted with the loss of loved ones, able to do nothing but watch helplessly?

Moreover, if the deceased was a Martial Artist, one could imagine the extent of devastation it would bring to some fragile worlds.

Immediately, for some reason, Wang Zhan recalled the half-year when he first aspired to become a Martial Artist. That half-year was his happiest six months. At the same time, it was also the half-year when his family was always together.

That year, his mom was doing odd jobs in Chu State City, occasionally showing her face and engaging in some trade.

That year, his sister had already entered university and chosen the Martial Arts Academy, which Wang Zhan also chose the following year.

Regrettably, the Chu State Martial Arts Academy had long since become a wisp of smoke in Wang Zhan's mind. But the Beast flesh his sister had specially brought home from the Martial Arts Academy, so he could accumulate internal energy faster and step over the threshold of martial arts to become a Martial Student, seemed, even today, to have become the most profound and irreplaceable smell in Wang Zhan's mind.

Of course, because he suddenly thought of his sister, an unprecedented urge to bring her back home surged within Wang Zhan. He quietly took a deep breath and Xu Xu adjusted his emotions.

The Wang Zhan of the past didn't understand, but the current Wang Zhan understood everything.

Sometimes, not being able to find someone wasn't necessarily a bad thing, because it could mean she was still alive, just hiding somewhere. But other times, if you knew that the person you had tried so hard to find was the unmoving corpse lying right in front of you, then what awaited you would be a huge tragedy, or an unacceptable psychological crisis.

Therefore, Wang Zhan firmly believed that his sister was still alive, certainly living well somewhere, and waiting for him to achieve success in his martial arts. She would only officially return after his strenuous efforts!

Therefore, the still hopeful Wang Zhan didn't mind giving another small child a tangible hope. What's more, he had already seen it: the child's bone age was likely nine this year. Although his talent in martial arts was average, it was sufficiently pure and resolute. That is to say, as long as the determination in the child's heart didn't dissipate with the passage of time, then perhaps, one day in the future, this child before him would also vigorously take the baton from his hand, just like Wang Zhan, the former dark horse of the Federation.

Thus, Wang Zhan appeared, appearing in this room. Immediately, he quietly observed the layout of the surroundings; it turned out to be a small two-bedroom, one-living-room apartment! After some exploration and confirmation, Wang Zhan discovered that these were likely two brothers who depended on each other for survival. Although there was no parental support at home, even the furniture, which looked very old at first glance, was arranged neatly and kept clean, inspiring admiration. So much so that Wang Zhan couldn't help but nod. Although he could see that all the furniture was junk salvaged by someone, at this moment, what he saw was the brothers' attitude towards survival and the sincerity they maintained while facing a life full of troubles.

And don't forget, Wang Zhan's roots were in that godforsaken Chu State, in those slums that outsiders rarely visited. Therefore, the tragic plight of the child before him naturally warranted a second look from Wang Zhan!

Unexpectedly, as Wang Zhan was examining most of the home's layout, trying to observe the details, the child suddenly felt something was amiss! There's someone else in the house!

He abruptly lifted his eyes, which were gradually reddening and swelling from crying. Then, turning his head, he saw Wang Zhan carefully examining the surroundings. His pupils immediately contracted.

SCRAPE!

When Wang Zhan turned his head back, the first thing he saw was a fierce-looking child, holding a watermelon knife with several notches in its blade! His face was full of ferocity, yet his eyes were as red as a rabbit's. However, it was precisely this that amplified the child's intimidating presence, making him look like a madman ready to attack at any moment, exceptionally ferocious. He seemed ready to go berserk at any moment!

And just as Wang Zhan turned his head, the child raised the knife in his hand, pointing it directly at Wang Zhan. Without shouting or showing fear, he spoke with a sinister tone, "Who are you, and why are you in my house?"

Wang Zhan was stunned. A thought popped into his mind, How did this kid find me?

One should know, although Wang Zhan hadn't completely concealed his aura previously, it was enough to deceive many Grandmaster Realm experts. But now, he had been so easily seen through. For Wang Zhan, whose strength had already reached a certain pinnacle, this was as shocking as foundering in a gutter.

So, Wang Zhan asked quietly, "You could detect me?"

The little brat's face was filled with ferocity. "Bullshit! If I hadn't detected you, how could I be talking to you? Do you think you're a ghost?"

Wang Zhan shot him a knife-like gaze, making the child nervous. He immediately cursed without restraint, "What are you looking at! Just because there are no adults here doesn't mean you can do whatever you want! Dare to look at me like that again, and I'll gouge your eyes out!"

Wang Zhan was speechless, wanting to say something but holding back. He could only surmise that this child possessed some innate, almost magical talent regarding mental energy.

However, after the little brat uttered those somewhat gory words, Wang Zhan fell silent.

After all, people are ultimately different! And he was certain he wouldn't like such an abrasive personality. This was due to his upbringing, and the two women who had accompanied him through the first half of his life, supporting each other as they raised him. Even in the most desperate situations back then, Wang Zhan had never shown such a gaze. He had been somewhat reserved, somewhat lively, somewhat aloof, somewhat mischievous, somewhat solemn.

And upon seeing this pair of eyes, Wang Zhan was even more certain that this child had definitely seen blood; otherwise, his grip on the knife wouldn't be so firm and steady.

Therefore, Wang Zhan fell silent.

Of course, Wang Zhan also knew he had no grounds for condemnation, as this was not something one could choose. He just didn't know whether this should be called the sorrow of the Federation, or if it merely represented the tragedy of the child before him.

Thus, he met the child's gaze, which seemed on the verge of erupting. He spoke with some detachment, pointing to his own head, "I saw you and your sorrow through it, so it wants to give you a chance. That's why I am here. But I would advise you not to glare at me like that."

The child evidently wasn't easy to fool. The watermelon knife in his hand didn't waver in the slightest. He just stared at Wang Zhan with cautious, cold eyes, no longer resembling a child. Then he asked, "Are you a powerful Martial Artist?"

Wang Zhan's lips curved slightly, his gaze as cold and merciless as a lightning flash. "That depends on your definition of powerful. If being a Martial Artist itself is a powerful thing, then without a doubt, I am powerful!"

The little brat didn't understand such sophistry, so he simply pointed his knife at him and said, "How can you prove—"

CLANG!

Before the child could finish his question, the knife in his hand snapped—not at the notches, but across the blade body itself!

Undoubtedly, Wang Zhan had used his power to prove he was a powerful Martial Artist. Moreover, to deliver a small counter-blow and apply pressure to this brat, he had directly used his mental energy, so effortlessly it seemed he hadn't even lifted a finger.

However, what also surprised Wang Zhan was that, not long after he had used his mental energy to snap the brat's knife, the brat tossed aside the handle of his broken knife and then, THUD, knelt directly before Wang Zhan.

That small, seemingly tender face, at this moment, beneath the immense pressure emanating from that stubborn lowered head, dropped without the slightest hesitation, almost touching the ground as he kowtowed deeply!

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