High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 497: Chapter 477: Give Me an Explanation

Tianhai Building

The most famous commercial office building in Celestial Sea City, it housed only the city’s most financially powerful corporations.

It was now business hours, and ordinary office workers, men and women alike, streamed in and out.

The security guards at the entrance were burly and tall, and their bodies emanated powerful fluctuations of Qi Blood.

Just then, three figures walked in. The man in the lead was powerfully built with a resolute expression, while the woman beside him had a gentle air.

The last man had a refined and scholarly air. They were none other than Lin Zhen, Fang Huiyi, and Fang Zhe.

Lin Zhen and the other two entered the elevator, heading for the 6th floor.

DING!

The elevator doors opened. Down the corridor, a massive blue company logo was visible.

Xu Group

Behind a spacious front desk, three tall, beautiful staff members in white uniforms saw them approach, and their expressions changed slightly.

They exchanged a look.

One of them clicked forward in her high heels, forcing a smile as she spoke:

”President Lin, you’re here!”

”This way, please!”

Lin Zhen nodded and asked directly,

”Where is your Manager Chen?”

”Is he here yet?”

The receptionist kept her smile in place as she shook her head.

”I’m sorry, but Manager Chen has a family emergency. He may not be in for a while.”

Lin Zhen frowned.

”Then we’ll just wait for him here!”

The receptionist could only apologize, ”My apologies!”

She led Lin Zhen and his companions to a spacious reception room, serving them snacks and drinks.

After the receptionist left, Fang Zhe sneered.

”That bastard Chen Xiaonian is deliberately avoiding us. Last time, we waited an entire afternoon. He’s probably planning to pull the same trick again.”

”They act all friendly on the surface, but in the end, they refuse to meet with us. You don’t think they’re investigating our background, do you?”

Lin Zhen also shook his head. The last time he had come looking for Chen Xiaonian, he had learned the man was the general manager of the Xu Group’s Cang Province branch, a position of great power.

’For a minor figure like me, it used to be impossible to get a meeting with someone like him. The only reason we got in last time was because Guo Heng’s father brought us.’

In the inner circles of Celestial Sea City, he was now a figure of some note.

But to one of Xia Country’s top conglomerates, his status was still insignificant.

Besides, he suspected that Chen Xiaonian didn’t even know who he was.

Even they, Lin Qi’s own parents, had only found out a few days ago that their son had become an SSS-level genius.

Word was spreading, but many people were still in the dark.

...

Inside a luxurious office, a woman reported, ”Manager, the people from the Lin Fang Group are here again!”

A stout, paunchy middle-aged man was sitting on a sofa with a plate of meat on the table before him.

He picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth, chewing and then swallowing.

Standing beside him was a glamorous woman in a slim black business suit.

She spoke while massaging Manager Chen’s back.

”Wouldn’t it be better to just kick them out? Why are we even bothering to entertain them?”

The portly man spoke with an expression of pure enjoyment.

”They were brought here by Guo Jingsong, which means they must have some status.”

”We’re in business; you can’t just go around offending people for no reason.”

”You’ve only been here half a month. You still have a lot to learn, especially if you’re going to be my secretary.”

”I told you to look into their background. Did you?”

A guilty look flashed across the woman’s face before she quickly spoke.

”I did. They’re friends of Guo Jingsong. Apparently, their family produced some kind of Awakened genius.”

She didn’t dare admit that she had spent the last two days after work having fun and had completely forgotten to check.

Manager Chen shook his head.

”Just some Awakened genius? At most, they’re S-class. Nothing to worry about.”

”That Guo Jingsong... seriously. He said they had some great background. The country bumpkin has probably never seen the splendor of the Imperial Capital.”

”If there’s one thing the Xu Group doesn’t lack, it’s S-class geniuses.”

”When you’re trying to make it out here, it all comes down to your backing.”

”If it weren’t for my sister, how could I have become general manager? And if it weren’t for me, how could you be so sure you’ll become my secretary?”

”Xu Changfeng is coming for an inspection tomorrow. I need to get ready.”

”Tell the front desk to just let them wait. They’ll leave on their own when they get tired of waiting.”

”If anyone asks, just say I had urgent business and couldn’t make it to the office.”

The glamorous secretary nodded and left the room.

...

Back in the reception room, after waiting for a solid hour, Lin Zhen couldn’t stand it any longer. He went out to question the front desk staff.

”I’m very sorry, but something came up for Manager Chen. He won’t be coming in this morning.”

The receptionist apologized, lowering her head.

Lin Zhen’s expression darkened. With a dismissive wave, he turned and went back to the reception room to relay the news to Fang Huiyi and Fang Zhe.

Fang Zhe’s expression turned ugly as he cursed,

”Chen Xiaonian, that bastard! He’s gone too far!”

”I have to tell Little Qi about this! And don’t either of you try to stop me!”

With that, Fang Zhe decisively pulled out his smart-device and dialed Lin Qi’s number.

A moment later, Fang Zhe slowly lowered his phone and sneered.

”Little Qi says he’s on his way over now!”

”He’s going to handle this!”

Lin Zhen and Fang Huiyi nodded, their hearts a mix of anger and worry.

...

Meanwhile, at the Star Sea Tea House—Celestial Sea City’s most famous teahouse—many wealthy individuals and Martial Artists liked to gather to discuss business.

Inside a luxurious, antique-styled private room, the servers were all dressed in traditional robes.

A server led Lin Qi inside.

Two bodyguards stood at the door. Inside the room, two men were seated.

One of them was handsome with a refined, scholarly air. Lin Qi guessed this must be Xu Qin’s second older brother, Xu Changfeng.

”Hello, Junior Brother Lin Qi!”

Xu Changfeng smiled and extended his hand to shake Lin Qi’s.

”Lin Qi, I’m from the 29th graduating class of Azure Sky Martial Arts Academy, so I suppose that makes me your senior.”

Lin Qi nodded. ”Hello, Senior Xu!”

Xu Changfeng shook his head. ”If you don’t mind, just call me Brother Xu.”

”Alright!”

After the brief exchange, the two sat down, and the male secretary beside them poured the tea.

On the table, there was hot tea and an assortment of exquisite pastries.

Xu Changfeng, ever the refined gentleman, spoke with a smile.

”Junior Brother Lin Qi, to rise from an ordinary family all the way to an SSS-level genius and win the championship of the Global Martial Arts Tournament...”

”It’s truly incredible. You’re far more impressive than wastrels like us.”

Lin Qi felt a secret thrill as he listened to Xu Changfeng’s lavish praise.

’This isn’t just some ordinary person,’ Lin Qi thought. ’He’s the biological brother of Xu Qin, a top-level SSS-level genius. It’s rare for someone like him to be so effusive.’

He nibbled on a pastry as he listened. ’Have to admit, these are delicious,’ he thought. ’They must have cost a fortune.’

After a bit more small talk, Xu Changfeng continued,

”Junior Brother Lin Qi, our Xu Family is involved in many industries, with branch offices in every province. The sale of Disaster Beast Flesh and Blood is one of our most crucial businesses.”

”And it looks like I’ll be based in Celestial Sea City for the next few years.”

”If you’re open to it, our two families could go into business together.”

Lin Qi nodded to himself. ’He calls it a partnership, but he’s really just offering to help my parents with their business.’

His father’s current business was similar to the Xu Family’s, but it was just small-time stuff in comparison.

He thought Xu Changfeng had a point. ’Even though I have backing and people are afraid to provoke me,’ he mused, ’...the business world is a far cry from the Martial Arts Dojo. My family still needs someone to show them the ropes.’

And Xu Changfeng was the perfect person for that.

With his help, his father’s business could really flourish.

”Sounds great!” Lin Qi said with a smile, raising his teacup.

A smile spread across Xu Changfeng’s face. He raised his own cup, touched it to Lin Qi’s, and drank it all in one go.

He was pleased. ’Lin Qi is even more approachable than I imagined.’

’Right now, Lin Qi is still in the Sixth Realm. By the time he breaks through to the Seventh, Eighth, or even the Ninth Realm...’

’...building a good relationship with him won’t be this easy.’

BUZZ! BUZZ!

Suddenly, Lin Qi’s phone vibrated. He pulled it out and saw it was a call from his uncle, Fang Zhe.

”Excuse me, I need to take this call.”

Lin Qi stepped out to take the call. When he returned a moment later, his expression had darkened, and a domineering aura radiated from him.

It made Xu Changfeng’s heart pound. He was also at the Sixth Realm of Marrow Refining, but facing Lin Qi felt like a rabbit facing a tiger.

Not even his own sister gave him this kind of feeling.

Xu Changfeng asked with concern,

”Junior Brother Lin Qi, what happened?”

”Senior, this actually concerns you.”

Lin Qi explained what had just happened at the Tianhai Building.

As he listened, Xu Changfeng’s expression grew dark, his face turning pale with fury.

The secretary beside him knew his boss was furious.

’That idiot Manager Chen,’ he cursed inwardly. ’He’s slammed into a titanium plate this time. Nothing can save him now.’

Lin Qi’s expression was icy. ”Senior, I need an explanation. Especially from this Manager Chen!”

Xu Changfeng spoke to Lin Qi with grave solemnity.

”Junior Brother Lin Qi, I will absolutely give you a satisfactory resolution to this matter.”

”Secretary Xue, we’re going to the Tianhai Building. Now.”

”Yes, sir!”

”Junior Brother Lin Qi, we’ll head over right now!”

Lin Qi nodded and followed them to the Tianhai Building.

He wanted to see for himself just who gave this manager such nerve.

...

Tianhai Building

On the 6th floor, inside the Xu Group’s reception room.

Lin Zhen asked Fang Zhe curiously,

”Is Little Qi really coming over?”

Fang Zhe nodded. ”And not just Little Qi. Someone else is coming with him.”

”Little Qi said it’s Xu Changfeng from the Xu Group!”

Fang Huiyi asked curiously, ”Xu Changfeng? His surname is Xu... could he be from the Xu Family?”

Fang Zhe pulled out his phone and searched for information on Xu Changfeng.

But he found nothing about Xu Changfeng online.

BUZZ! BUZZ!

Suddenly, Fang Zhe’s phone buzzed. He pulled it out, glanced at the screen, and exclaimed,

”Lin Qi and the others are coming up!”

”That was fast!”

”They were nearby. They’re in the elevator now.”

...

At the front desk, the three receptionists were gossiping in hushed tones.

”Haven’t those people from the Lin Fang Group left yet?”

”Is Manager Chen really that bold?”

”I heard from my little brother that the Lin Fang Group has a powerful backer.”

”How powerful can they be compared to Manager Chen? His sister is the mistress of someone important in the Xu Family.”

”Everyone in the company knows that. Otherwise, how could a waste of space like him possibly have become the general manager?”

”And now that waste of space has hired a completely clueless secretary.”

”In just one year, the company’s performance has dropped significantly.”

”Those two are doomed, sooner or later!”

Just as the three were muttering amongst themselves, the elevator doors opened and four figures emerged.

An oppressive aura radiated from the group.

The receptionists’ expressions changed dramatically when they saw the man in the lead.

”President Xu is here!”

Hearts pounding, the three receptionists immediately stood up and hurried to greet him with forced smiles.

”President Xu, what brings you here?”

Xu Changfeng didn’t answer. He glanced at Lin Qi, then walked straight toward the reception room.

Secretary Xue, at his side, said in a cold voice,

”Get Chen Xiaonian over here. Now!”

”Right away!”

The three receptionists exchanged a look, a terrible premonition dawning on them.

The other employees in the lobby saw the scene unfold and sensed that a storm was about to break.

...