Chapter 127: Military Negotiations

Before long, Gu Feng arrived at Lin Feng’s villa accompanied by two officers.

"Grandmaster Lin, may I ask why you summoned me at this hour?"

Facing Lin Feng, Gu Feng remained cautious and respectful. After all, as a talent highly regarded by the God of War, Yun Qianshang, Lin Feng was destined to lead the Soaring Dragon Squad, the pinnacle of China’s military might. In terms of both status and rank, Lin Feng was significantly higher than him—at least half a grade above his own acting position.

Lin Feng sipped his tea leisurely and gestured toward the east wall of the living room, where the lifeless corpse of Wang Youlin hung. He appeared perfectly composed.

"This is..."

When Gu Feng saw the utterly dead Wang Youlin on the wall, his scalp went numb, and his heart trembled. "Wang Youlin! This man is a high-priority fugitive wanted by China and a senior member of the Molo Society. Why is he here at your place, and why is he dead?"

Lin Feng set down his teacup and spoke calmly, "I killed him. He trespassed into my home attempting to assassinate me, so I executed him with a single strike. As for his identity, according to his own words, he was the helmsman of the Dongxuan Chapter of the Molo Society. His martial arts cultivation was not trivial; he was at least at the mid-stage of the Grandmaster Realm."

"Going by standard patterns, the Molo Society must have at least three other helmsmen of similar caliber—meaning three more Grandmasters. It seems there is a reason why your operation in the Southern Frontier suffered such a crushing defeat."

"A Grandmaster-level martial artist!" Gu Feng could not help but swallow hard.

This was a Grandmaster! In the entire Chinese military, the number of true Grandmaster-level martial artists could be counted on one hand. Although the presence of the God of War, Yun Qianshang, kept minor threats at bay, the results from the Southern Frontier showed that the Molo Society had been accumulating strength. At the very least, they now possessed the high-end combat power to challenge the Chinese military. No matter how one looked at it, this was a disastrous situation for China.

"Grandmaster Lin, what do you intend to do?" Gu Feng’s tone shifted, his address changing as he sensed Lin Feng’s extraordinary nature and became deeply respectful. He was no fool; he knew Lin Feng had not summoned him just to display a corpse.

Lin Feng glanced at Gu Feng. It seemed that those who reached high ranks in the Chinese military were indeed no simpletons.

"It is quite simple. I can provide a complete set of cultivation manuals ranging from beginner to Grandmaster level, along with spiritual artifacts capable of withstanding at least three full-power strikes from a Grandmaster. As for the terms, you may ask your superiors."

"What!"

Gu Feng was stunned. A complete set of cultivation manuals from beginner to Grandmaster? Such manuals were the lifeblood of major martial arts clans and sects. Even the God of War might struggle to secure such treasures; these were items of immense value, enough to establish a sect. And a spiritual artifact capable of blocking three Grandmaster strikes? Did such things truly exist? Was he joking?

Lin Feng sensed Gu Feng’s skepticism and tossed him a jade talisman. "If you don't believe me, take it and test it. If Yun Qianshang can break the talisman’s defense within three strikes, I will provide the Chinese military with one hundred such talismans every year for free."

Gu Feng took the talisman and examined it closely, unable to discern its mysteries. However, based on Lin Feng’s tone, he did not seem to be bluffing. Given the gravity of the situation regarding China’s future, Gu Feng dared not make a decision alone and immediately stepped aside to make a call.

A while later, Gu Feng returned with a solemn expression and bowed to Lin Feng. "Grandmaster Lin, the God of War said that regardless of whether the artifact is as powerful as you claim, he thanks you on behalf of the Chinese military for assisting the nation in such a critical time. He will consider whatever demands you may have."

"Excellent. This is a comprehensive set of cultivation manuals I have compiled, including various medicinal formulas, techniques, and arts that complement each other to accelerate a martial artist's progress. Naturally, the resources required are vast, so promoting this to the entire army is impossible, but it is perfect for the special forces."

"Furthermore, these talismans are all crafted by my own hands, so I can only allocate one hundred to the military each year."

Gu Feng accepted the manuals and began reading with insatiable hunger. As a martial artist himself, he was intimately familiar with the content. This was far more than just a set of manuals; it was all-encompassing, including team coordination tactics and emergency medicinal formulas. With this, the military could mass-produce its own Grandmasters and no longer be at the mercy of local martial arts families.

The Chinese military had long been in an awkward position. While many civilian martial arts families were willing to send their kin to be trained by the military, they were ultimately just using military resources to bolster their own clan strength. At critical moments, most would prioritize their family interests, often retreating or refusing to fight. The Southern Frontier operation was a prime example: because the mission was dangerous and involved the Molo Society, half of the Soaring Dragon Squad’s elites were recalled by their families, leaving the military’s own fresh recruits to face the brunt of the battle.

Lacking an independent martial arts heritage and relying on these families had always been the military’s Achilles' heel. While the God of War could suppress these families, once he passed, China’s defense would inevitably crumble into a fragmented mess. Lin Feng’s contribution was a lifesaver. This was precisely why Yun Qianshang had cleared the path for him.

"Of course, nothing comes for free. Gu Feng, I have my conditions."

Gu Feng clutched the manuals tightly, saying sincerely, "Grandmaster Lin, please, state your terms."

"As you have seen, the enemy is already using Grandmaster-level power to target me. I require at least one Grandmaster-level guardian to protect my family in Jinling. Additionally, during my time as an instructor, I have final authority over all matters; even Yun Qianshang cannot interfere. Lastly, I need ten sets of the items on this list. The Chinese military should have the wealth for this, right?"

Lin Feng handed over the list, and Gu Feng’s face turned pale as he read it.

"Millennium Inkstone."
"Hundred-year-old Lingzhi."
"Hundred-year-old Ginseng."
"Hundred-year-old Fleeceflower Root."
"..."

There were over a hundred types of spiritual materials, and he wanted ten sets of each! This was an exorbitant demand. However, glancing at the manuals in his hands, Gu Feng gritted his teeth and shouted, "Fine! I agree to it all!"

Lin Feng curled his lips, set down his teacup, and stood up to see him out. "Good, straightforward. Those are the conditions for now; if I think of others, I will let you know later."

"Ah..." Gu Feng stared at Lin Feng’s wily, fox-like face, feeling as if he had just been led into a trap.