After a brief rest, the children resumed their journey. By dusk, they had left Xuanwu County behind—the bitter cold gradually receding. Though it was already autumn, a warm breeze drifted in from the west. It was a bit dry, but no longer freezing. A Jun felt much more comfortable, even his nose could take a break.
As night fell, A Jun's plan was to stay overnight in a small town along the way—a place he had long looked forward to visiting, because a familiar and kind-hearted person was waiting for him there.
With the moon rising above the treetops, and under its dim glow, the group walked for quite some time before finally spotting a cluster of buildings and lights in the valley ahead. The layout and appearance resembled a machine in full operation—full of vitality and energy.
Suddenly, A Jun quickened his pace, practically skipping forward with excitement, leading the team toward the town. Slowly, the outline of the town emerged before them. But rather than a traditional town, it looked more like a sprawling industrial park made up of office buildings.
Xiao Xi, however, began to suspect that with this setup, the only thing inside might be cafeteria food. What was his brother so excited about?
Of course, Xiao Xi didn't know A Jun's acquaintance here—it was before the two boys had become friends.
"Uncle!"
A Jun, usually composed and low-key, now waved his hand excitedly, calling out to a figure at the town's entrance while running over with the cat—completely out of character.
"You rascal, haha…" The slightly aged figure walked toward the boy with a smile, teasing him gently, then patted A Jun's head.
"Strategist Uncle, long time no see!"
"Mm! You and Yi—why haven't you come to visit me…"
Under the town's lights, the figure became clear. He was the former strategist of the White Tiger County's city guardian team—Yi's close elder brother, though that was long ago.
This seemingly small town was called Wulin Town. It was the headquarters of the Hero Alliance from major cities across the nations—the central hub for martial guilds. It coordinated and directed the operations of various factions, and was responsible for discovering, training, and reserving talent. Every year, it hosted the Wulin Tournament—a grand stage for martial arts. Whether guardians or civilians under confidentiality agreements, anyone could showcase their skills here, earn qualifications, and even gain honor.
Now, Strategist Uncle was a senior figure in this town—the right-hand man of the president, second-in-command. Compared to his days back home, he was no longer the same. He had risen in status—a true comeback. Of course, it was thanks to Yi's accidental help back then that this middle-aged man found a new direction and a mentor.
Those who once looked down on him, excluded him, or suppressed him now flocked to Wulin Town, eager to curry favor. Whether or not the strategist gave them face, they came bearing gifts or apologies. But every time, he felt a headache. The only ones he truly cared about were his old friends from home—including young A Jun.
"A Jun, who are these folks?" The strategist stroked his slightly graying beard, looked at A Jun's companions, and asked kindly.
"Oh!"
A Jun's eyes widened as he quickly responded. First, he introduced the cat on his shoulder: "Uncle… this is Xiao Jiuwuo, a good friend I met on my journey!"
The cat crouched on A Jun's shoulder and meowed politely to greet the strategist. Seeing how cute she was, the strategist reached out to pet her head—but she darted into A Jun's hood, still unfamiliar.
Soon, the Saintess and Xiao Xi arrived. They politely greeted the strategist. The elder sized up the two new friends, then looked at his young companion and gave a mysterious smile. He said nothing, just nodded to welcome them.
Without delay, the strategist led the children into town for dinner. It was late—they must've been starving. Though he didn't say it, he had already arranged everything.
Dinner was served in the town's cafeteria—but not the usual work meals. It was à la carte. Under Yi's influence, the strategist, like A Jun, had developed a refined palate. Since arriving here, he had reformed the food system, earning praise from the town's workers. Now, Wulin Town offered large pot dishes, specialty meals, and delicacies from all regions. The chefs constantly fused classics to create the town's unique flavors.
Sure enough, Xiao Xi was happily stuffing his face, eating ravenously. Of course, that habit wasn't great—A Jun corrected him from the side. The cat and the Saintess laughed nearby, while the strategist felt deeply gratified.
He had watched A Jun grow up and knew exactly how hard it had been for the boy. Seeing him like this now, he felt reassured.
The strategist had defied social prejudice and risked being expelled from his clan to become the only one who treated A Jun kindly. Besides his ties to Yi and the guardian team, it also had to do with his own past—he too had been unrecognized.
He had risen to fame young, and his clan placed high hopes on him. But years of struggle made him see through worldly affairs and grow disillusioned. He chose to settle as a humble strategist in a small guardian team.
As the saying goes, the higher you stand, the harder you fall. Naturally carefree, fond of freedom, and uninterested in power, he faced misunderstanding and criticism from his clan. Their former pride had become their shame. Eventually, he chose silence—playing dumb under pressure while waiting for new hope.
Without A Jun and Yi, he might still be living that way. So the strategist understood A Jun's hardships and treated him with genuine kindness. But that also meant Yi often took advantage of him—like tricking him into "family dinners" that were really just babysitting setups, while Yi slipped away.
Many times, the strategist didn't mind—whether forced or by habit. He was more patient than Yi, more attentive, and A Jun liked him for it. Plus, the strategist always brought new gadgets. His family had been merchants for generations—stingy with outsiders, but generous with their own.
Tonight, the children would be staying at a luxury hotel in the town called Konglan—a towering cylindrical building that seemed to reach the clouds. The kids gazed up longingly at the top, feeling as if it pierced the sky. Its absolute stability and safety came from the joint effort of the Luban family and tech magnate Nangong. It was the town's landmark and most unique hotel.
Inside, the hotel blended vintage and modern design, full of technological flair. Each elevator served a single suite, and the hotel offered thoughtful family-style service and a strong focus on room safety.
The strategist arranged a high-end suite on a low floor for the children—considering A Jun's condition, as higher floors might make him uncomfortable. Xiao Xi, who had been excited to enjoy the view from the top, understood completely. Otherwise, he would've insisted on staying at the very top.
After checking in with their elder, the children settled in. Seeing that it was still early, the strategist sat with A Jun and Xiao Xi in the suite's lounge, sipping tea and catching up. The Saintess, who disliked crowds, took the cat back to the girls' room.
After chatting for a while, the doorbell rang. A middle-aged man in a suit and refined glasses burst in, flustered and unsure, seeking out the strategist. He asked question after question, speaking rapidly. Though a bit abrupt, he was very polite.
The strategist quickly stood up, returned the greeting, and listened carefully to the man's concerns. He patiently offered advice and reassured him not to worry—there would be a solution.
A Jun watched from the side, feeling the man looked familiar. But since the elders were deep in conversation, he didn't interrupt, sipping tea with Xiao Xi as they waited. The man was accompanied by two others—a capable-looking woman holding a stack of documents, likely an assistant, and a man who appeared to be a bodyguard. He looked cool and imposing, wore a baseball cap like A Jun's, obscuring his face. His build was unusual, and he wore a strange wristband that occasionally emitted a faint glow.
A Jun noticed the bodyguard's eyes—sharp and unreadable, with a faint blue light flickering within.
"Alright then, don't worry. Leave this to me—hmm, maybe he could…"
Suddenly, the strategist's words seemed to lift the man's anxiety. But upon noticing the two children, he grew uneasy again. The strategist quickly explained who they were, assuring him they were trusted companions. Only then did the man relax and leave the hotel with his two subordinates.
"Sigh, why so anxious? It's just a phone call… Wait, where's my phone?"
"—Uncle, why does he look familiar?"
Finally, A Jun couldn't hold back and asked the strategist, who had just given up searching and was sipping tea to calm down.
"Ah! You mean him? He's the current president of the Wulin Tournament—your sister's husband's successor. Oh, right, he visited your home when you were little. It's no surprise you remember him."
—Oh! A Jun began to recall something. Though the details were fuzzy, he vaguely remembered someone like that visiting. It was because of him that the strategist switched jobs—young A Jun had been upset for quite a while.
"He's the president here? Doesn't look the part!" Xiao Xi suddenly interrupted, shaking his head in disbelief.
"As the saying goes, don't judge a book by its cover!"
The strategist stroked his beard and explained seriously, "He's just a bit cautious—gets nervous easily. Seems to lack presence, maybe. But over the years, his abilities have been recognized. He's well-deserving. Though not flashy, he's methodical, hands-on, meticulous, and manages everything with precision…"
The strategist rarely gave such earnest and positive evaluations. A Jun listened, thinking the president must be quite capable—at least enough to earn such praise. But what intrigued him more was the mention of "foreign races."
Foreign races—also known as outsiders—were non-human groups hidden within human cities. Books mentioned them, but information was scarce and often hostile.
Unable to resist his curiosity, A Jun asked the strategist about the earlier conversation. The elder spoke openly—after all, he saw A Jun as his own child, and Xiao Xi's presence was safe.
It turned out the president had come to discuss a strange case in one of the territories. The suspect was an outsider. Though all evidence showed he had been saving someone, the investigation was still ongoing. To be cautious, they had to apprehend the fugitive—even if it meant wrongly accusing a good person. Right or wrong, the rule was clear: immediate deportation. This was a new policy set by the royal family in recent years.
Outsiders possessed talents and physiques comparable to guardians. Some had special abilities; others excelled in strength or speed. Capturing them was no easy task—it had to be discreet to avoid panic, and manpower was a concern. A real headache.
According to intel, this outsider had near-sonic speed. Based on the data, even Qing's Lingbo Step—a lightfoot technique A Jun had used at Ruoshui River to evade beasts—might not be enough. A Jun had only learned three steps; Qing's level was eight-step mastery.
The strategist chuckled as he explained, joking that sending someone like Yi, with his big belly, would be hopeless.
"That guy… who is he?"
The boy referred to the person the strategist had just considered—the best candidate to catch the suspect. Judging by the strategist's expression, he seemed reliable.
"Oh, you mean Yao."
The strategist paused, tasted his tea, then continued proudly, "He's probably the most suitable—strong, trustworthy…"
This candidate, whom the strategist spoke of with such pride, was the champion of the last Wulin Tournament—the first ordinary person in years to win. He was hailed as the strongest human, with speed as his specialty.
According to the strategist, Yao's martial arts were exceptional. His background was ordinary, but he was mysterious—no one knew his lineage. What was certain was that he had no ties to guardians or outsiders. He was likely just a regular human, though his abilities had clearly surpassed normal limits.
Across human territories and nations, many talented martial artists emerged. The best among them had potential close to guardians. Discovering and nurturing such talent was the job of the Hero Alliance headquarters—and the reason for the Wulin Tournament. It was also the strategist's main role—like a talent scout.
"But… if he was doing something good, why treat him like that?"