The two stood motionless.
Qin Hanchu's expression was calm, even a smile played on his lips.
But Hua Shixin's father frowned, his eyes filled with shock.
He hadn't expected Qin Hanchu to be telling the truth.
To have actually reached the late Ninth Rank at such an age!
Judging from Qin Hanchu's expression, his strength was even a bit greater than his own.
Hua Shixin, covering his face, looked at Qin Hanchu in disbelief.
His father was a solid late Ninth Rank, and Qin Hanchu could actually exchange blows with a late Ninth Rank?
No wonder Qin Hanchu didn't take his father seriously!
Who would have thought that someone in their twenties could reach the Ninth Rank.
It was simply unheard of!
Qin Hanchu calmly retracted his fist, smiling, "How? Do you still want to fight?"
Hua's father put his fists behind his back, stretching his fingers to relieve the pain.
"You've truly opened my eyes, young man. You will surely have a boundless future," Hua's father said.
"Control your son and don't set your sights on my fiancée," Qin Hanchu said sternly.
Hua's father remained silent, his face grim as he left the coffee shop.
Hua Shixin cast a frightened glance at Qin Hanchu, then hurried to follow his father.
Far from the coffee shop, Hua Shixin said, "Dad, you're the chief instructor of the Pacification Army, why are you afraid of him? Even if he's a Ninth Rank martial artist, he's just a student."
"Are you brainless?" Hua's father roared, frustrated by his son's lack of ambition. "He reached the late Ninth Rank at just over twenty years old. Such a prodigy wouldn't be without powerful backing!"
...
Overseas, at a branch of the Dark Star organization.
"How are the investigations going?" the branch leader asked the woman before him.
The woman shook her head. "No anomalies found. Shadow Kill has been working as a minor security guard at Golden Lion Group."
"Not even the slightest anomaly?" the branch leader asked in a low voice.
The woman pondered for a moment. "He seems very respectful towards the chairman of Golden Lion Group, but the chairman is just an ordinary person."
"Shadow Kill is our ace assassin. He wouldn't show respect to an ordinary person for no reason," the branch leader said. "Give me all the intelligence."
The woman quickly handed the file bag in her hand to the branch leader.
The latter took the documents and began to examine them carefully.
Soon, his movements stopped.
"Qin Hanchu? This name seems familiar."
Muttering to himself, the branch leader opened his computer.
Soon, the bounty from the Nolan family appeared on the screen.
"It's him!" The branch leader's eyes narrowed menacingly. "Late Ninth Rank, he must be the one who killed Shadow Demon!"
The woman came to the computer, and when she saw Qin Hanchu's file, she exclaimed in shock, "Late Ninth Rank in his twenties? And skilled in poison arts!"
"Yes, the Blade Master organization has already accepted his bounty," the branch leader said.
"Since the Blade Master organization has taken the mission, he has no chance of survival."
Although Dark Star was quite powerful, it was significantly inferior to the Blade Masters.
"What a pity for a martial arts prodigy," the branch leader grunted.
"What should we do now?"
"Gather the branch's elites and infiltrate the Great Yan Kingdom in batches. I will lead the team this time," the branch leader said coldly. "Now that we know who the opponent is, it will be easier."
Also overseas, at the Blade Master organization's base.
"Any news from Earth Character One?" a middle-aged man in his fifties asked in a modernized command center.
"Still no reply," the technician sitting at the computer answered.
"Call them," the middle-aged man had a bad feeling.
Earth Character One never lost contact for such a long time when on a mission.
The technician immediately dialed the phone numbers of the three individuals.
After a long pause, the technician shook his head. "No one answered."
"Something must have happened," the middle-aged man said angrily. "With the three of them working together, they could escape even from a Grandmaster. How could they have lost contact?"
"Perhaps they are on a mission and don't have time to answer calls."
The middle-aged man nodded thoughtfully. "Let's hope so. Try contacting them again in an hour."
Time flew by, and an hour quickly passed.
The technician contacted Earth Character One again.
"Commander, still no contact."
The middle-aged man was furious. Earth Character One was an ace in his hand.
If they lost their lives because of this mission, it would be a huge loss.
"Notify Sky Character Nine. Have him go to Island City to search for Earth Character One's whereabouts. Alive or dead, I want to see them."
...
At five-thirty in the afternoon, Jin Hailu walked out of the elevator.
"You're finally off work," Qin Hanchu said, walking over from the lounge with a smile.
Seeing Qin Hanchu, Jin Hailu was startled and asked, "Why are you here?"
"I happened to be passing by and wanted a ride home with you," Qin Hanchu said with a smile.
Although Qin Hanchu was natural, Jin Hailu still felt something was amiss.
She looked up at Chen Feiyu and found his eyes slightly evasive.
"You know about this morning, right?" Jin Hailu asked.
Qin Hanchu nodded. "Don't blame Feiyu. He was just worried about you."
Jin Hailu's expression was complex. She nodded. "I know."
"Want to talk?" Qin Hanchu asked.
Jin Hailu initially wanted to refuse, but seeing Qin Hanchu's sincere gaze, she finally nodded.
As night fell, the beach barbecue area became lively again.
Compared to the bustle there, the reef area was very quiet.
Sitting on a large reef, the only sounds were the sea breeze and the waves.
"Didn't you want to talk to me?" Jin Hailu broke the silence after a long while.
"I've never guided anyone before, so I don't know how to start," Qin Hanchu said awkwardly.
"I thought you were going to lecture me with some grand life lessons," Jin Hailu said.
"I'm only twenty-one years old, I don't have that many profound life lessons in me."
"However, there is one thing I want to ask you."
Qin Hanchu turned to look at Jin Hailu.
Jin Hailu was looking out at the sea, the moonlight casting a glow on her profile, making her even more captivating.
"What is it?" Jin Hailu asked.
"Are we good friends?" Qin Hanchu asked.
Jin Hailu nodded. "Of course."
"I spoke with Rose today, but she wouldn't tell me anything about you."
"If we are good friends, can you tell me yourself?"
"I want to understand you better," Qin Hanchu said gently.
After spending time together recently, Jin Hailu and Qin Hanchu's relationship had become much closer.
Although it hadn't reached the level of romantic love, they were considered close confidantes.
After a long silence, Jin Hailu finally spoke slowly.
Qin Hanchu remained silent, sitting quietly beside Jin Hailu, playing the role of a listener.
As she spoke of sad memories, Jin Hailu's eyes welled up with tears.
At this moment, Qin Hanchu took out the tissues he had prepared earlier.