Year 2048, China Calendar.
Hua Zhong Base City.
Inside a private dining room on the fourth floor of the HR Alliance Mall, the aroma of wine permeated the entire space. Shen Ping, already a bit tipsy, sat at the table. He raised his wine glass and looked at the burly man beside him, saying sincerely, "Captain, thank you for taking care of me all these years. If it weren't for you, I would have died in the Wilderness Area long ago. Now that I've lost my right arm, it's time for me to leave."
With that, he drained his glass.
Then, with a hint of self-mockery, he continued, "Actually, I should have retired a long time ago, but I've always been unwilling to give up. I wanted to temper myself in the Wilderness Area, hoping that one day I could become a God of War."
"Haha, I know I was overestimating myself. After so many years of effort, I'm still just a Warlord, and being a Warlord is probably the limit of my life…"
The burly man patted Shen Ping's shoulder, who was smiling bitterly, and sighed, "Lao Shen, since the Great Nirvana, countless martial artists have wanted to become a God of War, but very few truly succeed. Even the powerful corporations of the HR Alliance in China don't have many Gods of War. Just try to be more open-minded."
The other squad members remained silent.
They had long since accepted reality; going to the Wilderness Area was just for money. They held no hope for self-improvement, only wanting to accumulate enough wealth before retiring.
"Alright, don't look so gloomy."
"Retiring is a good thing. You won't have to risk your life in the Wilderness Area anymore."
The burly man continued, "Lao Shen, you're over thirty now. After you retire and go back, marry a wife and live a stable life. Don't be like Mu Yang, who can't control himself and constantly goes to universities to flirt with young girls, harming them."
Mu Yang immediately became anxious, "Captain, you can't just make accusations. How did I harm anyone? It was mutual consent."
The squad members all burst into laughter.
The atmosphere in the private room became lively again.
Shen Ping also laughed, "Alright, I'll listen to the Captain. Come on, let's keep drinking. Tonight, we brothers won't go home until we're drunk!"
They drank until late into the night.
The squad members left one after another.
The Captain drove Shen Ping back to Nanyuan Community in Zheng City, one of the six Wei Cities of Hua Zhong Base City. After getting out of the car, he looked at Shen Ping, who had mostly sobered up, and gave him a bear hug: "Lao Shen, if you ever encounter any trouble in the future, just come to me."
Shen Ping nodded, "Don't worry, if I really have trouble, I'll definitely find the Captain."
The two exchanged a smile.
After parting ways, he returned to his detached villa, number 76, in the community.
He first took a shower, then went to the open-air balcony on the third floor, picked up a bottle of wine, and continued drinking. After tonight, he would bid a complete farewell to his past self.
"God of War… perhaps that will be a long time from now."
If it were any other martial artist, after losing their dominant arm, they would have long given up on the idea of becoming a God of War. But Shen Ping still held onto hope. This wasn't because his willpower and conviction were exceptionally strong, but because he knew this was the Swallowed Star world and was aware that Earth's future, under Luo Feng's leadership, would advance into the universe and become a peak lineage.
By then, the God of War, which was now an unattainable aspiration, would be within easy reach.
He looked up at the bright moon hanging high in the sky.
He couldn't help but sigh with melancholy, thinking, "Without a golden finger or innate talent and comprehension, it's truly too difficult to stand out on this Earth, which has been transformed by mighty beings. Forget it. No matter what, I've tried my best. From today onwards, I'll just live a laid-back life. Once Luo Feng grows up, I'll move to Jiangnan Base City."
Having made his decision, he completely let go of the obsession to strive and struggle on his own.
The next day, Shen Ping brought gifts to Old Wu's house in the community and asked Aunt Wu to play matchmaker for him.
Aunt Wu readily agreed, not caring at all about Shen Ping's missing right arm. For many families, a disabled martial artist was actually a good thing, as it meant their daughter wouldn't have to live in constant fear after getting married.
"What kind of wife are you looking for? Do you have any specific requirements?"
Aunt Wu teased, "At your age, you're most popular with young girls. How about I find you someone in her prime?"
Shen Ping waved his hands repeatedly, "No, please. They're too boisterous. I'd prefer someone calm and mature. Whether she has a job or not doesn't matter."
Although most of the money he earned over the years was spent on equipment and secret techniques, he still had two to three hundred million in savings, enough to support a wife. Moreover, as a Warlord martial artist, he would be more than qualified to be an instructor at a district-level Dojo of Limits in the future.
"Alright, wait for my good news."
Less than two days later, Aunt Wu had news.
She brought three photos to Shen Ping's house, sat on the sofa, and began to introduce them to Shen Ping, "Take a close look and see which one suits your fancy. Let me tell you, these three girls all come from good families, but none of their families have produced a martial artist. When I told them about your situation, they were all willing."
Shen Ping quickly thanked her, then picked up the photos to look at them.
He didn't have too many demands for his other half, but everyone appreciates beauty. In the end, he chose a girl with excellent looks and figure.
"Oh, good taste. I quite like this girl myself."
Aunt Wu hesitated for a moment, "It's just that I heard she works at the HR Alliance Mall, so she's probably quite busy on weekdays. It's best to be mentally prepared. If it really doesn't work out, you can have her quit her job and find a stable one near the community."
To work at the HR Alliance Mall, whether as a server or in another capacity, indeed required high standards for appearance and figure. However, such places often dealt with martial artists, and sometimes there would inevitably be social engagements.
Shen Ping frowned slightly, "Aunt Wu, let's meet her first and see."
That afternoon, Aunt Wu arranged for the two to meet.
The location was a quiet and elegant cafe near Nanyuan Community, a very comfortable place where Shen Ping sometimes went to sit when he felt troubled.
Arriving at a window seat, he saw the girl from the photo.
She was wearing a stylish brown and white trench coat, with only one button fastened at the chest, clearly revealing a rose-red tight-fitting long dress underneath. Her legs were long and slender, and she wore pink and white boots. Her hair fell over her shoulders, and her skin was fair and firm, showing that she wasn't wearing heavy makeup.
Sitting across from the girl, before any introductions, she smiled and said, "Shen Ping of the Raging Wind Squad, I've seen you before, at a bar on the third floor. But a martial artist like you probably wouldn't remember a server."
Shen Ping heard the teasing in her words and couldn't help but chuckle, "If I had known earlier that I would be sitting here drinking coffee with you someday, I would have gone to that bar often."
The girl smiled brightly and extended her slender, jade-like hand, "My name is Li Yuewei."
After a simple handshake, the two began to chat.
It had to be said that the girl was very talkative, truly worthy of working at the HR Alliance Mall; she made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.
As they chatted, the topic shifted to matters after marriage.
Li Yuewei took a sip of coffee and said earnestly, "Mr. Shen, if we marry, I hope you won't interfere with my work. I'm not saying this for my own sake, but for the future. You should know that my family doesn't have any martial artists, so my parents really hope their child can become a martial artist."
"With Mr. Shen's strength as a Warlord martial artist, I believe it won't be difficult to cultivate a martial artist, but I hope our child can go even further."
"As for other aspects, I will defer to you."
Shen Ping remained silent for a moment. He didn't want his wife to work at the HR Alliance Mall, but what Li Yuewei said made sense. Moreover, he himself had no great talent, so he naturally had to place his hopes on his child.
After careful consideration, he nodded.
With no other disagreements, their matter proceeded very smoothly.
Choosing an auspicious day, Shen Ping and Li Yuewei officially became husband and wife.
On their wedding day, he invited members of the Raging Wind Squad, as well as martial artists and their families from Nanyuan Community, to witness their union.
Late into the night, the daytime's lively clamor gradually faded.
Under the starlight, Li Yuewei, dressed in her wedding gown, lay on the bed, a hint of blush on her cheeks.
Watching the calloused hand slowly remove her wedding dress piece by piece, her body tensed, and she whispered, "You, you later, later be gentle."
As his heavy body pressed down, Li Yuewei twisted her brows in pain, her expression crumpled.
The wedding night was all too short.
A night of passion.
The next morning, Shen Ping saw the crimson stain on the bedsheet and slapped his forehead, secretly annoyed that he had been too vigorous last night and had not been gentle with his wife's body.
Just as he was about to say some comforting words to his wife, a translucent virtual frame slowly appeared before his eyes.
[You have gained a wife, opening a new chapter for your family.]
[Reward: Ninefold Thunder Blade Second Stage, Micro-level Great Accomplishment Movement Technique]
... ...
PS: Newbie, new book, please support.