Chapter 21: Duel with the Capital Genius Ye Bai!
Every word drilled straight into Chen Guodong's ears.
His face flushed crimson, and his hands trembled.
Yet, terrified of offending Zhang Feng, he hurriedly stepped forward, trying to pull the General aside.
"General Zhang, there are hidden circumstances behind this. Let's discuss this privately, privately!"
Zhang Feng dodged his hand directly and sneered. "Privately?"
"When your Chen family demanded benefits under the guise of being a martyr's family, why didn't you think to discuss it privately?"
"If not for General Ling valuing old sentiments, did you really think no one would have stepped in?"
"Now that the Association is here, you want to kick our Military aside? Things aren't that cheap."
Zhang Li immediately deployed her signature 'Green Tea' tactics. "Secretary Feng, I know the Military has always had complaints about the Association."
"But regarding the Awakening Potions... actually... actually, I kept it from the Patriarch the whole time. I gave them all to... Yu'er!" She turned her head away, looking aggrieved.
"I was selfish. As a mother, who doesn't want the best for their own son? Chen Chen is just the son of the Patriarch's ex-wife, so I..."
Before she could finish, Zhang Li began to sob intermittently.
Hearing this, the crowd gasped in unison. The Chen family truly has no shame left!
Everyone knew exactly what kind of heart the Chen family had.
But Zhang Li's tears effectively stitched together the lies she had woven earlier.
She was openly performing for Feng Kai!
They had gained the Association's favor. The SS-Class Chen Chen was about to soar. As for the F-Class Chen Yu?
Who cared about him!
The Ling family and Wei Tianyi wouldn't value these guests just for speaking out for justice.
The result of their shamelessness was delightful. The guests, understanding the assignment, chimed in with tacit agreement.
If three men speak of a tiger, the lie becomes truth.
"You don't say, you really don't say!"
"What did Chen Yu awaken? That was an SSS-Class Logia character template!"
"In contrast, Chen Chen had to strain just to squeeze out an SS-Class with four abilities."
"Then that engagement matter... perhaps it really was Chen Yu causing trouble in the dark..."
Listening to the discussion turn in their favor, Chen Guodong stared wide-eyed at Zhang Li.
Hey! You damn woman, you really are a genius!
Not only did she salvage the exposed 'bait-and-switch' drama, but she also wiped their hands clean of the Awakening Potion scandal.
And the only price was their dignity!
With a wife like this, what more can a husband ask for!
Feng Kai finally reacted. His expression shifted rapidly; the Chen family's eating manners were truly too ugly.
However, thinking of the Vice President's instructions before he left...
This military training concerned the future allocation of resources. It was of grave importance.
Feng Kai took a deep breath, suppressing the discomfort in his heart, and braced himself to address Zhang Feng.
"General Zhang, perhaps there is a misunderstanding regarding the Awakening Potions. But right now, the most important thing is Young Master Chen Chen's growth."
"The Vice President instructed that, no matter what, Young Master Chen Chen's SS-Class talent is a fact certified by the Alliance."
"The Association's determination to support him will not change."
As soon as these words came out, the whispering guests instantly quieted down.
The Awakeners Association's attitude was crystal clear.
No one was willing to offend an official organization for an irrelevant matter.
They put away their desire to watch the drama and surged toward Chen Guodong, cupping their hands in congratulations.
"Patriarch Chen has good fortune!"
"With the Association backing Young Master Chen Chen's SS-Class talent, entering the Military or the Association in the future is a certainty. The Chen family will prosper even more!"
"Is it not so! The Association sees clearly and wasn't disturbed by trivial matters. A good seedling like Young Master Chen Chen deserves key support!"
"Compared to some people who can't even show a decent talent, Young Master Chen Chen is true gold that fears no fire!"
The compliments surged like a tide. Chen Guodong's suspended heart finally landed, and his spine instantly straightened.
His previously embarrassed face was now glowing red.
Clutching the wine glass handed to him by a guest, he deliberately raised his volume.
His gaze swept toward the door where Chen Yu had disappeared, his words dripping with derogation.
"You flatter me. It is merely my dog-son's good luck to receive Alliance certification."
"Unlike some people—with an F-Class foundation, even if they play some petty tricks, they won't amount to anything. Ultimately, mud cannot be plastered to the wall!"
Zhang Li immediately picked up the cue, wiping away nonexistent tears. Her tone was full of grievance.
"It's all my fault for being greedy. I almost delayed Chen'er's future. I have failed Sister Lin."
"Thank goodness the Association distinguishes right from wrong. It was my selfishness that caused..."
Chen Chen stood beside Chen Guodong. He lifted his chin slightly, looking as if the person who had wet himself in terror just moments ago wasn't him.
Accepting the compliments, he glanced out the door and snorted coldly. "With the Association's help, I won't lose to you again."
He, Chen Yu, is just an F-Class! I am the SS-Class! He doesn't even have the qualification to stand next to me!
Listening to the rising and falling waves of praise, Chen Guodong smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits. He patted Chen Chen's shoulder and addressed the crowd.
"The Association truly has vision! In the future, Chen Chen will definitely not let down the Association's support. As for certain people..."
"Let him fend for himself!"
The scene had actually been forcibly rounded back by Zhang Li, exuding an absurd atmosphere of "everyone is happy."
Zhang Li looked at the "thriving" scene before her, the corner of her mouth hooking into an imperceptible cold sneer.
The Chen family side is resolved. But Chen Yu... it's safer to just kill him!
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Chen Yu had already walked out of the Chen family gates. He didn't know what was happening in the hall, nor did he care.
Although he had already decided to take back everything he had lost...
Now was not the time. Zhang Li's true objective was still unclear, and his actions had already alerted the snake in the grass.
Assassination attempts would inevitably follow in the days to come.
Getting stronger was imminent.
Just as he was about to walk away, rapid footsteps approached from behind.
"Chen Yu, stand right there!"
Chen Yu turned around to see Ye Bai chasing after him.
The young man's face was full of defiance, his fists clenched white. "So you are Ling Yue's real fiancé!"
"You were pretty arrogant in the hall earlier. Do you dare to fight me now?"
"No." Chen Yu waved his hand, rejecting this chunibyo teenager. "I have no reason to fight you."
"Reason?" Ye Bai said indignantly. "Of course there is! I want to let you know that Ling Yue isn't someone you can lay a finger on!"
"..." Chen Yu looked at him with the expression one reserves for caring for intellectually disabled children.
"Uncle Ling already broke off the engagement with me. If you like her, go chase the girl yourself."
Saying this, Chen Yu's peripheral vision drifted toward Ling Wenhe, who had just exited.
"Your daughter is being targeted by a blondie. Aren't you going to take some measures?"
"Elder Wei and I can testify for you. When he comes out, he'll be in pieces."
Hearing this, Ling Wenhe's face darkened. "Do I look like an unenlightened father? Ye Bai?"
???
Ye Bai froze. Asking me?
Can I say yes?
"Hahahahaha." Chen Yu laughed loudly at the instantly deflated Ye Bai.
At the same time, he looked Ye Bai up and down. The aura on this guy wasn't weak. He heard it was an SS-Class talent.
Perfect. My proficiency progress for the Marine Six Style is stuck.
Maybe Ye Bai is suitable for farming proficiency.
"Old Ye, look. I don't care who you like." The corner of Chen Yu's mouth hooked up into a light smile.
"But a fight isn't out of the question."
"However, are you sure you want to be my sparring partner?"
"Who is the sparring partner is yet to be determined!" Ye Bai stiffened his neck. "I want to see the person Elder Wei praised!"
Wei Tianyi was also interested in seeing Chen Yu's strength. The aura he displayed in the hall earlier had resonated with him.
Since his defeat by a ferocious beast, his Sword Dao had not advanced an inch in years. This was the main reason for his seclusion.
A swordsman should expose their sharp edge, but that battle seemed to have broken his sword.
Seeing Chen Yu's aura, Wei Tianyi had a sudden epiphany that perhaps this might be the opportunity to find himself again.
So, he smiled and spoke. "Since you want to fight, why not go to my dojo? The space is wide, and we don't have to worry about accidentally injuring bystanders."
Soon, they arrived at the dojo.
It was night, and there weren't many people inside.
In the open clearing in the center.
Ye Bai immediately assumed a combat stance. His aura flared—clearly at the Initial Stage, Mid-level.
A wisp of grey mist condensed at Ye Bai's fingertips.
With a flick of his arm, the smoke instantly expanded, surging toward Chen Yu like a tide.
The entire clearing was soon shrouded in grey fog.
Smoke-Smoke Fruit, huh!
Chen Yu raised an eyebrow. This fruit ability was very dependent on the user's skill.
Powerful like Morel, but Smoker in One Piece developed it rather poorly.
"My smoke can condense into attacks and trap opponents. Don't get careless!" Ye Bai's voice came from within the smoke, carrying a hint of pride.
"Increasing your own target area, and you're proud of it?" Chen Yu gave a crooked 'Dragon King' smile as his Observation Haki spread out.
"Although the ability is nice, but..." His feet moved.
Shave!
The footwork triggered instantly. His body became a blurred afterimage. "You have to know how to use it."
Chen Yu shuttled nimbly through the smoke, dodging every tendril that tried to entangle him.
Seeing this, Ye Bai slammed his palms together.
"Smoke · Heavy Fist!"
A massive amount of smoke condensed before him into a giant grey fist, smashing toward Chen Yu with the sound of howling wind.
Chen Yu didn't dodge. Instead, he raised his hand and tensed his arm muscles.
Iron Body!
The hard qigong instantly fortified him, his skin glowing with a faint sheen.
He threw a punch to meet the heavy smoke fist. His arm was coated in a layer of Armament Haki, thin as a cicada's wing.
BANG!
Fist collided with fist. The smoke fist instantly dispersed into a sky full of grey mist, while Chen Yu's arm remained motionless.
Two rounds. The difference in skill was instantly judged.
To the side, Wei Tianyi's eyes lit up. He whispered to Ling Wenhe, "His Marine Six Style techniques are skillful. He's even stronger than some Awakeners who specialize in Taijutsu."
"To train to this realm, he must be naturally gifted. I didn't expect his Sword Dao talent to be high, yet his Taijutsu is not far behind!".
Ling Wenhe nodded, his gaze fixed on Chen Yu. "And there is some kind of energy covering his hand. It allows him to physically touch Logia Awakeners."
Saying this, Ling Wenhe's eyes began to shine. "If only he could cooperate with my experiments!"
"Then I wouldn't need to waste massive amounts of Sea Prism Stone to make prosthetics. Sea Prism Stone is too hard to process."
Inside the smoke.
Ye Bai's patience was running out.
He took a deep breath. A massive amount of smoke erupted from his body, and he merged completely into the mist. "White General!"
Instantly, the smoke shrouding the clearing became viscous, squeezing Chen Yu's maneuvering space like a solid substance.
In the next moment.
The thick smoke began to condense, transforming into ten clones of Ye Bai.
Although each clone wasn't as strong as the original, they possessed half his strength and, more importantly, were unkillable.
"This is?!" Wei Tianyi and Ling Wenhe sucked in a cold breath.
They were shocked by Ye Bai's talent. Someone who had awakened less than two days ago could already develop such a move?
Smoke Clones?
"Very good!" Chen Yu's eyes lit up. Here is someone who knows how to play.
He no longer dodged deliberately.
Instead, he charged straight in, focusing his attention completely on every inch of muscle in his body
Various derivative moves of the Marine Six Style emerged one after another.
For a time, Chen Yu fought one against eleven, not falling to a disadvantage at all.
The two spectators, who had just been shocked by Ye Bai, now had their eyes popping out of their sockets.
"This kid... is really an F-Class?"
"This strength is practically in a different league compared to his peers..."
[Marine Six Style: Proficiency +1]
[+3]
[+1]
[+1]
...
Chen Yu was high on the thrill right now.
The proficiency of the Marine Six Style on his panel was skyrocketing.
Life Return... I can feel it!
The explosive leg power of Shave, the muscle tension of Iron Body, the flexibility of Paper Art..
These moves were no longer separate techniques.
They began to flow naturally, following his breathing and heartbeat.
[Taijutsu — Marine Six Style: Lv4 → Lv5. Unlocked: Life Return.]
The aura around Chen Yu suddenly changed.
His originally slightly hurried breathing instantly became long and steady.
The stamina consumed during the battle was actually recovering rapidly.
Everything in his physical body was now under his absolute control.
(To be Continued)