Chapter 115: Clearing the Battlefield

Unsurprisingly, Jiang Xiaotian’s backside was scorched once again. He had no idea what Ling’er was angry about, but then again, trying to reason with a woman was never a logical endeavor.

Eventually, Ouyang Ziqian was summoned home by her family. She stomped her feet in frustration, but seeing that her sister was also quite heavily injured, she could only glare indignantly at Qin Lulu and Jiang Xiaotian before leaving.

Once she was gone, Qin Lulu opened her medical kit, which was well-stocked with a variety of bandages and herbs.

The city park was now almost devoid of spiritual energy, so the fog had lifted, and the oppressive atmosphere had vanished. Most of the families began treating their own on-site; after all, hospitals were of little use to martial artists.

As Qin Lulu tended to his wounds, she grumbled about Jiang Xiaotian’s recklessness while feeling a twinge of heartache at the sight of the scars covering his back. This bespectacled girl didn’t have many friends, and since she found Jiang Xiaotian easy to talk to, she cared for him more than most.

Fortunately, there were no fatal injuries, and with his superior natural healing ability, he would likely be back to normal before long.

Ling’er watched from the side, looking slightly surprised before offering a relieved smile. "You’ve reached the second tier."

Jiang Xiaotian nodded proudly and gave himself a thumbs-up. "Jiang Xiaotian, strong! Invincible!"

Ling’er rolled her eyes, too tired to bicker with the boy. Besides, he was truly worthy of praise; he had managed to kill a Divine-tier expert using his own strength. She had originally planned for Xuan’er to intervene and save him should he encounter such danger. It seemed her initial judgment hadn’t been wrong—Jiang Xiaotian might truly be a talent worth cultivating.

However, there was something strange about that sword. She would study it carefully later; for now, with so many eyes around, it was better to wait.

Before long, Zhang Guodong arrived with the Falcon Squad. He still wore his usual expression, though he coughed twice and looked at Jiang Xiaotian with a completely different gaze than before. The others felt the same.

"I honestly didn't expect you to step directly into the Inner-tier, let alone kill a Divine-tier."

"You were already strong enough to kill Inner-tier experts when you were only at the Outer-tier, and now that you’re Inner-tier, you’re killing Divine-tier ones. Jiang Xiaotian, you’re truly badass," Wu Jian said, holding nothing back. He spoke his mind, though he looked somewhat comical with one arm wrapped in bandages.

Wu Siya and Song Yixuan had also changed their opinions of him. Initially, they had disliked him because they felt he was all airs with no substance, which had hindered their mission. Now, however, Jiang Xiaotian had not only demonstrated formidable strength but had also exceeded the mission requirements by eliminating the culprit and saving them in the process. What reason did they have to hold a grudge?

The two girls thanked him, though as competitive individuals, seeing Jiang Xiaotian’s strength only fueled a deeper desire to surpass him.

"Alright, *cough, cough*, you should get some rest. Leave the matters here to Director Ling to resolve. He was the one who insisted on bringing you in; I thought... but now it seems you’re even more surprising than expected," Zhang Guodong remarked with a sigh.

He had always assumed that Ling Tianzhi’s goal in recruiting Jiang Xiaotian was Ling’er. But as it stood, that wasn't necessarily the case. While Ling’er was powerful, she was a known constant, whereas Jiang Xiaotian was a variable.

At the mention of Ling Tianzhi, Jiang Xiaotian’s temper flared. While the man had saved him today, if it weren’t for him, would he have ever found himself in so many dangerous situations?

"What exactly is his identity, that even you are his subordinate?" Jiang Xiaotian asked, brimming with curiosity.

Zhang Guodong had nothing to hide and recounted the whole story. Ling Tianzhi was powerful and a core executive; he had single-handedly founded the Falcon Squad, and thus, all Falcon units scattered across the country reported to him. However, the man was incredibly lazy and often acted as a hands-off manager.

This time was no different. When Zhang Guodong received the request for reinforcements, he knew he wasn't enough to handle it, and knowing Jiang Xiaotian was Ling Tianzhi’s recruit, he had quickly contacted him. Who would have guessed that after initially refusing to help, Ling Tianzhi would suddenly lose his mind and rush over, leading to everything that had just transpired?

By now, everyone still capable of moving was clearing the battlefield, with the Ouyang family naturally taking the lead. Everyone knew that once they walked out of here, the Zhao family would be finished. The remaining two families had suffered heavy losses as well, but compared to the Ouyang family, the Li family was ultimately inferior. Besides, it was now common knowledge that Li Qing was genuinely in love with Ouyang Zijing, so the future of the two families remained to be seen.

Ling Tianzhi directed his own men to take everyone from the Zhao family involved in the murder case into custody for investigation. He was ruthless; he took almost everyone at the Inner-tier level, leaving behind a group of Outer-tier members who didn't know whether to stay or go, surrounded by the hostile gazes of the others.

The Zhao family had offended too many people. Independent martial artists who had once been too afraid to voice their grievances now had the chance to settle old scores, especially since the strongest among the remaining Zhao family members were only at the late Outer-tier.

The cleanup work lasted for several days, resulting in countless casualties—a rare sight in Dragon City for decades. Yet, although this "pillar of the sea" had been removed by Jiang Xiaotian, the spiritual energy in Dragon City did not show any obvious decline. After all, the primary source of the city's energy was the fall of the dragon a century ago; the divine sword had merely been absorbing that energy all along.

The following days were quite leisurely for Jiang Xiaotian. To his surprise, his superiors awarded him three million! Since he had resolved a major case, many details were overlooked, and he was granted leave to go home and celebrate the Lunar New Year.

Jiang Xiaotian first took Ling’er and Qin Lulu out for a fine meal, then visited the Ouyang family. Although he felt Li Qing was a man, that was only in relation to Ouyang Zijing; when it came to character, he trusted the Ouyang sisters more. Therefore, he hoped the Ouyang family would become the top power in Dragon City.

However, the moment he arrived, Ouyang Ziqian clung to him like a koala, refusing to let go and insisting that he stay the night. He never expected this gentle woman to have such a side. Of course, he didn't know that her behavior had been collectively approved by her family. If they could tether someone like Jiang Xiaotian to the Ouyang family, it would be a blessing beyond measure! Where else could they find such a genius?

Their enthusiasm, however, scared Jiang Xiaotian away. Ouyang Ziqian was nearly moved to tears of frustration, and in the end, he had to promise to come back and visit often.

With matters in Dragon City settled, Jiang Xiaotian was finally able to rest. As the New Year approached, he realized he had no home to return to. Where would he spend the holiday?

Just then, Ling’er found him. "Xiaotian, I need to leave for a while. I have to go back home for the New Year."

At that moment, Jiang Xiaotian felt like crying.