"I thought of a poem that feels very fitting for you," Su Fan suddenly said to Fang Tongzi.
"What poem?" Fang Tongzi asked, a little curious. What poem could describe him? It must be a poem about a hero!
"Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road, the grass is green," Su Fan said slowly.
"Huh? Isn't it 'Outside the long pavilion, by the ancient road, the grass is green and stretches to the sky'?" Fang Tongzi, though often frivolous, had some knowledge of ancient poetry and immediately corrected Su Fan.
"Yes, because you have no shame!"
Fang Tongzi: ...
Fang Tongzi finally understood that Su Fan was insulting him.
"Stop messing around, let's eat," Su Yutong quickly stopped their bickering, wondering why two adults were arguing like children.
"Oh, right, the martial arts world is holding a youth martial artist exchange competition these two days. Are you interested?" Fang Tongzi said to Su Fan as they were finishing their meal.
"Youth martial artist exchange competition? If I go, what chance will they have?" Su Fan asked with a puzzled expression.
Fang Tongzi: ...
Su Yutong: ...
It wasn't that Su Fan was arrogant. Aside from Lin Yao, who else in the Chinese martial arts world could currently match Su Fan? He was practically invincible in the martial arts world.
"You're right, I have nothing to say. Then I'll just forfeit this spot," Fang Tongzi had a recommendation spot for young martial artists. Seeing Su Fan's lack of interest, he decided to let it go.
"Don't! If he doesn't go, I will!" Su Yutong suddenly raised her hand and said. A martial artist exchange competition, it sounded impressive. She definitely wanted to witness it.
"You?" Su Fan looked at Su Yutong strangely. He had almost forgotten that Su Yutong was also a martial artist now.
"What's your current strength?" Su Fan asked Su Yutong cautiously, afraid she might reveal a realm that would shock him.
"Peak Yaoguang realm, I guess. Entering Kaiyang realm is so difficult; it's been days and there's no progress at all," Su Yutong said with some disappointment.
Su Fan was utterly speechless.
"Don't be so Versailles. You look so down because you haven't improved in a few days. What about people who haven't made any progress in decades? How do they live?" Su Fan said to Su Yutong, speechless.
Fang Tongzi: ...
Fang Tongzi, standing nearby, had a dark expression. "I feel like you're subtly insulting me, and I have concrete evidence!"
"Well, how about I give the spot to Yutong? Let her go and see the world," Su Fan thought it would be good for Su Yutong to participate in this martial artist exchange competition and experience the harshness of the martial arts world.
"Alright, take this invitation letter and head to the capital tomorrow," Fang Tongzi took out an invitation letter from his embrace and handed it to Su Yutong. Su Yutong happily accepted it. She seemed delighted to be able to participate in the exchange competition.
"Is there a need to be this happy?" Su Fan said with a wry smile.
"You wouldn't understand. This is my first time participating in a martial arts world event, so of course, I'm happy," Su Yutong said to Su Fan.
"Alright then, can family members accompany participants to the exchange competition?" Su Fan asked Fang Tongzi.
"Yes, they can. As long as they are martial artists, they can watch the competition, but it costs money," Fang Tongzi told Su Fan. Su Fan didn't mind spending money; he had plenty of it.
The next morning, Su Fan and Su Yutong boarded a plane to the capital. To ensure no accidents occurred, Su Fan still felt uneasy and followed them.
Su Fan wondered who the sponsor of this exchange meeting was, to have chosen the Capital Gymnasium as the venue. The entire massive gymnasium was booked. He couldn't imagine which "great martyr" was so wealthy.
Su Fan and Su Yutong walked into the gymnasium. The gymnasium was enormous. If one were to run its entire length, it would be about eight kilometers. However, the exchange competition only used a portion of the gymnasium, not the whole place. Only half of it was utilized.
"Cousin!" Su Yutong suddenly exclaimed, spotting a familiar face. Dongfang Tingyin, dressed in professional attire, was discussing something with the on-site负责人. Hearing Su Yutong's voice, she turned back with a hint of surprise.
"Yutong? Su Fan?" Dongfang Tingyin looked at them, somewhat surprised.
"Are you participating in the exchange competition too?" Dongfang Tingyin said to Su Fan with a strange expression. If Su Fan participated, would other contestants even stand a chance?
"Cousin, I am participating in the exchange competition. Su Fan is accompanying me," Su Yutong explained with a smile.
"Why are you here?" Su Fan looked at Dongfang Tingyin, puzzled. Dongfang Tingyin wasn't at the Martial Alliance; why was she in the capital?
"If I'm not here, who would organize this exchange competition?" Dongfang Tingyin gave Su Fan a sidelong glance.
"What do you mean?" Su Fan looked confused.
"This exchange competition is sponsored and organized by the Martial Alliance," Dongfang Tingyin immediately clarified for Su Fan.
Su Fan was speechless. So, the "great martyr" was him all along?
"Why sponsor this exchange competition? Isn't it a thankless task?" Su Fan asked, perplexed.
"I knew you wouldn't understand, which is why I didn't tell you," Dongfang Tingyin had an expression that suggested she had expected him to say this. "How long has our Martial Alliance been established? Although it's quite famous in the martial arts world now, we still need to expand our influence. We must think about the future. The participants in the youth martial artist exchange competition are all new-generation martial artists. This can help to quickly increase the Martial Alliance's visibility and will be better for the Martial Alliance's development. It's not that much money. If there weren't better options, I would have found an even larger venue with more complete facilities," Dongfang Tingyin explained to Su Fan. After all, it was Su Fan's money being spent, so it was necessary to explain it to him.
"Oh, I see. Whatever you think is best," Su Fan wasn't very knowledgeable about management, so he left it to her, as long as she didn't bankrupt the Martial Alliance.
"Do you have a place to stay?" Dongfang Tingyin asked the two of them.
"I do. Su Fan bought a ticket to get in, so he doesn't," Su Yutong answered first.
"Yours is just a regular participant's lounge. I'll arrange new rooms for you," Dongfang Tingyin said without hesitation, directly arranging new rooms for them. As the boss, she, as an employee, had to ensure the boss's food, lodging, and transportation were taken care of. Soon, under Dongfang Tingyin's arrangement, Su Fan and Su Yutong were assigned to a luxurious lounge. It was completely different from other lounges, practically a presidential suite, with people waiting outside twenty-four hours a day to fulfill any needs.
"I say, is this necessary?" Su Fan was a bit unaccustomed to it. Although he was wealthy now, he had never enjoyed such luxury before.
"Why isn't it necessary? If people found out that the head of the Martial Alliance came to watch the exchange competition and didn't even have a place to stay, wouldn't that make me, the manager, look incompetent?" Dongfang Tingyin was unmoved. After escorting Su Fan and Su Yutong to their room, she took her leave, giving Su Fan no chance to refuse.
"Su Fan," Su Yutong walked around, excitedly looking at the room's environment. After a while, she came out with a hint of shyness.
"What's wrong?" Su Fan asked, confused.
"There's only one bed..." Su Yutong said shyly to Su Fan.