Zhao Xueqing was slightly taken aback.
The Jiang Tian she knew was as stubborn as a rock in a latrine—stubborn and unyielding. When had he ever been the type to bow his head and admit defeat?
Hmm, maybe when I fought back fiercely last time he went crazy, it scared him!
A small sense of pride bubbled up in Zhao Xueqing’s heart, and she quickly adapted to this new dynamic in their relationship.
She put on a domineering air and said, “Hmph! It’s good that you know you were wrong. If you cause trouble again, I’ll spank you!”
When the food was served on the table…
“Ah, the taste I’ve missed for so long…”
Jiang Tian immediately dug in, eating voraciously. To him, this simple home-cooked meal tasted a hundred times better than the elixirs, dragon livers, and phoenix marrow he had consumed while traversing the universe.
“Is it good?” Zhao Xueqing asked, taking a bite of shredded radish. She immediately frowned—it was way too salty, almost unbearably so.
Aspiring to be a strong, independent woman, Zhao Xueqing had always been focused on her career. Life skills like cooking weren’t her forte, and she had never been interested in learning.
“Mhm, it’s delicious! Absolutely delicious! My wife is a five-star chef!” Jiang Tian exclaimed, his eyes bulging as he choked on the food, his mouth smeared with grease.
“You fool, it’s not good at all. Can’t you tell? Slow down…” Seeing Jiang Tian’s silly and clueless expression, Zhao Xueqing pouted, both amused and exasperated. She pulled out a tissue and gently wiped his mouth.
As her smooth fingertips brushed against his chin, Jiang Tian felt a lump form in his throat, and tears nearly welled up in his eyes.
She was three years younger than him, yet she cared for him like a gentle older sister or a loving mother.
—
As the Chevrolet approached Zhao Pharmaceuticals…
“Xueqing, I’ll get off here. It’s better if people don’t see us together. It might harm your reputation,” Jiang Tian said gloomily.
“Oh, alright,” Zhao Xueqing hesitated for three seconds but eventually pulled over and let Jiang Tian out.
Rushing into the lab, Zhao Xueqing took out the experimental plan from her handbag and handed it to her assistant, Zhou Liwen.
“Xiao Zhou, we’ll follow this plan for today’s experiment. We need results as soon as possible. We can’t wait any longer!”
Zhou Liwen nodded, flipping through the pages. She frowned in confusion. “Miss, why is the new prescription handwritten? It looks like it’s been altered.”
Zhao Xueqing hadn’t seen this page yesterday, having only reviewed the theoretical analysis at the front. Now, she also frowned. “Professor Li is always like this. Confirm with him before proceeding.”
“How can I confirm? He’s gone back to Yanjing for a research retreat. His phone is completely unreachable!” Zhou Liwen said helplessly.
Professor Li had been overwhelmed by the prescription recently. After leaving the tenth experimental plan, he had returned to Yanjing to work on the next one. He was known for his unpredictable habits—when he was in research mode, he would eat, sleep, and work in the lab, refusing to answer calls or meet anyone. There was no way to contact him.
“Then don’t confirm. It’s probably a last-minute change. Proceed with the experiment as per this plan,” Zhao Xueqing instructed before leaving the lab.
—
“Jiang Tian’s here!”
“We owe you one from yesterday. If it weren’t for you, we’d have been in trouble!”
On the other side, as soon as Jiang Tian entered the PR department’s office, he was greeted with enthusiastic applause. Even Ding Yahan looked at him with newfound respect.
“Jiang Tian, have you had breakfast? I bought an extra portion,” Wu Fangfei said, handing him a hamburger and a cup of aromatic coffee.
“Thank you, but I’ve already eaten,” Jiang Tian replied with a faint smile. It was clear that the girls’ attitudes toward him had significantly improved.
Wu Fangfei’s eyes showed a flicker of disappointment, but she quickly handed him a ticket. “Jiang Tian, there’s an opera performance at the International Convention Center tonight. If you’re free, would you like to go together?”
The other girls exchanged glances, thinking to themselves, Beauty has always loved heroes, and Wu Fangfei is no exception.
“Wow, Jiang Tian is really on a roll. He’s only been in the PR department for a day, and he’s already won Wu Fangfei’s heart!”
“How does he do it?”
The male employees, especially Shen Le, looked at Jiang Tian with envy, some even pounding their chests in frustration.
“I’m sorry, I have other matters to attend to. I really can’t make it,” Jiang Tian politely declined.
His heart was entirely devoted to Zhao Xueqing. He had no interest in wasting time on a date with Wu Fangfei.
Wu Fangfei was momentarily stunned. She had always considered herself charming and never expected Jiang Tian to reject her.
“Also, about what happened last night, I hope everyone can keep it to themselves,” Jiang Tian added.
In this life, he had returned with the sole purpose of protecting his wife and loved ones. He wanted to keep a low profile and avoid unnecessary trouble.
“Don’t worry, we won’t spread it around,” the girls who had been part of last night’s incident nodded in agreement.
—
Wolong Villa, with its vast grounds and classical architecture, exuded an ancient charm.
Tang Linglong, dressed in her training attire, was practicing martial arts in the courtyard. Her movements were as agile as a swimming dragon and as graceful as a startled swan, her fists and feet cutting through the air with force.
Meanwhile, Old Master Tang sat under a tall pine tree, holding a purple clay teapot, watching the girl’s training and occasionally offering guidance.
At this moment, Xiao Wei, dressed in military uniform, hurried in and reported in a serious tone, “Old Master, we’ve almost figured out Jiang Tian’s background.”
“What did you find?” Old Master Tang’s expression turned grave.
“Jiang Tian is from Jinling, a member of the Jiang family. However, he’s the son-in-law of Zhao Hucheng from the Zhao family and works at Zhao Pharmaceuticals,” Xiao Wei explained. “Last night, he encountered two martial artists at Hundred Zhang Cliff. He was able to withstand blades with his bare body, reaching a level where he’s impervious to swords and spears. Later, he clashed with Zhou Zhenghao and defeated several of his top fighters.”
“Withstanding blades with his bare body…” Old Master Tang suddenly thought of a possibility, his expression changing dramatically. “Do you think he’s practicing the traditional martial art of Iron Body, or…”
“I believe he might be a practitioner of ancient martial arts…” Xiao Wei swallowed hard, finding it difficult to voice his thoughts.
“What makes you say that?”
“He can draw in energy, causing the wind to howl and white mist to swirl around him. He can even exhale a white aura that extends several feet…” Xiao Wei recalled the scene of Jiang Tian meditating at Hundred Zhang Cliff, his heart still racing at the memory.
He had only seen such a phenomenon once before, during a secret training session years ago, when he witnessed it on the First War God of Huaxia’s Dragon Group, Ye Zhan Tian.
“An ancient martial artist… So he really is a martial artist!” Old Master Tang exclaimed, his eyes flashing with a mix of awe and uncertainty.
Although Old Master Tang had once held a high position and wielded significant power, he was merely a martial arts master in the secular world. In the realm of ancient martial arts, he was only scratching the surface, far from mastering it.
“Jiang Tian is a martial artist? What’s a martial artist?” Tang Linglong, having finished her set of movements, came over and sat under the tree, downing a cup of tea in one gulp.
“In this world, there are extraordinary individuals who are like dragons soaring in the sky. Some are masters of mystical arts, while others are martial arts experts,” Old Master Tang explained with a sigh. “Mystical masters can summon soldiers from beans, command spirits and ghosts, control the wind and rain, and wield thunder. Ancient figures like Jiang Ziya, Ge Hong, Qiu Chuji of the Quanzhen Sect, and Zhang Tianshi of Longhu Mountain belong to this path.”
“As for martial artists, they can scale walls, walk on water, become impervious to blades, condense energy into weapons, and use their energy to harm others! Figures like Mozi and Zhu Hai from the Warring States period, Li Jing, Qiu Rangong, and Gongsun Daniang from the Tang Dynasty, Yue Fei and his son Yue Yun from the Southern Song Dynasty, and Zhang Sanfeng and Chang Yuchun from the Ming Dynasty are among them!”
