Age of Evolution

The Gale Martial Arts Hall proudly stands as the most significant martial arts academy in the Capital Base City, situated right in the city center. The place spans over a considerable area and houses thousands of members, including more than a hundred warriors of the War God Period alone.

Any small occurrence in Gale tends to attract significant media attention. For instance, today’s announcement by Gale’s grand master, Yue Zhenhua, about relieving Dongfang Jun of his duties as head of Ice City Base City branch stirred up heaps of speculation on the internet.

While the matter was still intensely discussed, with varying reviews, Yue

Zhenhua announced his intention to donate 10 billion to charitable causes! This instantly caught the media’s eye, prompting reporters to rush over for interviews.

Yue Zhenhua opted to be interviewed right outside the gates of Gale.

Clad in a suit, he disregarded the fiery pain from the wound inflicted by Lin Zhen on his back, standing tall before the public as he confidently engaged in conversation. Given the secrecy rules of the God Generals Training Camp, the incidents there were not divulged to the public.

“Mr. Yue, why did you dismiss Dongfang Jun? Is there any personal feud between you two?”

“Mr. Yue, rumors online mention your son’s failure to leave the God Generals Training Camp, he’s been there for seven or eight years already, has there been an accident?”

“Mr. Yue, could you comment on the rumors that your dismissal of Dongfang Jun has something to do with your son, who is reportedly dead?”

At this point, Yue Zhenhua took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his eyes. This gesture by a man in his fifties immediately confirmed people’s speculations.

“First, please forgive my emotional display. My son, Yue Feng, did indeed die within the God Generals Training Camp, passing away in my arms. As a father, I’m sure you can all understand my feelings.”

The reporters nodded sympathetically, expressing their condolences. Yet, it was clear that there was more to the story.

“However, due to the confidentiality of the training camp, I can’t reveal specifics or disclose the murderer’s name. You can find out through various channels, but what I want to tell everyone is, good and evil eventually receive their just deserts. Our donation of 10 billion to support the families of the deceased martial artists is a testament to our stance.”

The reporters hurriedly noted it down; seemingly Yue Zhenhua’s words held depth. But his donation definitely earned him some points, likely gaining the support of many.

Yue Zhenhua planned to assist the families of the deceased martial artists, who had passed away in various battles. Many martial artist families fell into decline due to a loss of income or revenge from their enemies, making life extremely miserable for the ordinary people left behind – many even became homeless.

For instance, the children of some martial artists became orphans after their parents’ death, and the parents of some martial artists lost their children and had no one to support them. These are issues concerning martial artists. Yue Zhenhua’s move undoubtedly received significant support from a large number of martial artists. While 10 billion can’t solve all problems, it can surely warm some hearts.

Online, many voices started supporting Yue Zhenhua, and Gale’s reputation was also on the rise, which was what Yue Zhenhua sought to achieve.

Engaged in conversation, Yue Zhenhua was about to partake in the donation signing ceremony. Once the signing was complete, Yue Zhenhua would be obligated to pay the sum, but right then, an employee rushed over and signaled to him urgently.

Yue Zhenhua excused himself from the reporters and retreating to a corner, asked the man, “What is it? Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“Master, it’s terrible, Lin Zhen is here!”

“He’s here? What does he want? Who came with him?” Yue Zhenhua’s eyes instantly grew wide.

“He came with some people from the Martial Artists Union, demanding that Gale Martial Arts Hall honor a promissory note personally written by young master, the one worth 500 million.”

“This son of a bitch actually has that promissory note! Would he really bring people from the Martial Artists Union over such a tiny sum? Does he think I would renege on this debt? Anyway, this matter can’t be made public, if it’s just

500 million, give it to him. You handle this.”

“Master, it’s not as simple as that… Lin Zhen doesn’t have just one promissory note. ”

“Not just one, then how many? Are there ten? Even if it’s fifty billion, give it to him, or even one hundred billion. Since the Martial Artists Union is here, it’s impossible to default. Gale’s credibility cannot be compromised.”

“It’s… It’s…”

“What’s with the stammering? Can’t you see that the signing ceremony is waiting for me out there? My dismissal of Dongfang Jun has raised some doubts, and I urgently need to recover my reputation, I don’t have time to chat with you.”

The employee steeled himself and said, “There are a total of… two hundred.”

“So what if there are two hundred… Wait, how many did you say?” Like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, Yue Zhenhua jumped up abruptly.

“Two hundred, with a total value of one hundred billion. He’s waiting in the Great Hall of the Martial Arts Academv for the exchange. He also said that if the money isn’t transferred to him in half an hour, he’ll call in the reporters outside.”

Sweat instantly beaded on Yue Zhenhua’s forehead.

He was aware of these promissory notes signed by Yue Feng. Yue Feng had also mentioned his plans to retrieve them soon. However, after Yue Feng’s death, no one came to claim the money, so Yue Zhenhua had forgotten about it.

He never expected that most of these notes would end up with Lin Zhen. This could spell trouble.

A hundred billion is not a hundred million. Although Gale is currently the leading martial arts academy, it does not have more than one hundred billion in liquid assets. This last-minute snatch by Lin Zhen was life-threatening.

“What shall we do? The people from the Martial Artists Union are here, and they can forcibly freeze and auction off our assets if we don’t pay, and if the press found out about this, our Gale Martial Arts Hall would face a crisis of survival.”

In a state of urgency, Yue Zhenhua paced back and forth on the floor, then finally asked one of the staff, “How much money do we have on the books now?”

“Eight hundred billion.”

“After deducting the hundred billion for Lin Zhen, we still need a hundred billion for our external donation, still short of three hundred billion. We have to get rid of Lin Zhen quickly. I will call to borrow money now.”

Yue Zhenhua pulled out his mobile phone and began to call his acquaintances to borrow money.

However, the process was not smooth. Although the public didn’t know about the God Generals Training Camp, for someone of Yue Zhenhua’s stature, it was nearly an open secret. Many people were dissatisfied with Yue Zhenhua’s actions and refused to lend him money when they heard about it.

After a long while of begging and pleading for money, Yue Zhenhua had to resort to getting a loan from the bank, thankfully the loan approval process was fast, and he managed to gather three hundred billion within half an hour.

The staff member quickly went over and transferred a hundred billion to Lin Zhen.

Yue Zhenhua did not want to see Lin Zhen’s triumphant face and told the staff to go to the front hall immediately after transferring the money. He planned to use the remaining hundred billion and then left.

After the staff had transferred a hundred billion to Lin Zhen, they were shocked when Lin Zhen presented twenty additional promissory notes demanding that Gale immediately pay the remaining hundred billion.

The remaining balance from the previous transfer had been displayed, Gale’s account still had a hundred billion. Under the supervision of the Martial Artists Union representatives, the staff member was forced to transfer the remaining hundred billion to Lin Zhen as well.

After collecting the money, Lin Zhen bid farewell to the representatives from the Martial Artists Union, asking them to monitor the payment of one percent of the transaction amount. For this, Lin Zhen paid an additional eleven billion, but he did not care.

The staff member ran to the front hall sweating yards, saw Yue Zhenhua about to sign, rushed over anxiously, and whispered this brutal fact in his ear.

Gale’s account was empty!

Not only was it empty, but they also owed the bank three hundred billion. This was a massive debt hole.

The reporters below saw Yue Zhenhua returning and began clapping enthusiastically, countless cameras pointed at him, waiting for the moment he signed the documents.

At this moment, Yue Zhenhua felt as if the pen in his hand weighed a thousand pounds. He didn’t think Lln Zhen would play this trick on him. If he signed the document now and his card was declined, what would this event become? Won’t he become the laughingstock?

What to do? What to do?

Yue Zhenhua pondered rapidly. It is impossible to borrow a hundred billion now, and the bank would not continue to lend to him. The only way out is… to deny the bill.

Upon thinking this, Yue Zhenhua, after a long moment of deliberation, finally made his decision. He put down the pen, “I think we need to reconsider our donation. Martial artists are well-off. Even if they are gone, their families should not have much difficulty in living. I think the homeless on the streets need help more than they do, so Gale has decided to reconsider the direction of the donation.”

As soon as he said these words, the complexions of many martial artists in the room changed.

“Yue Zhenhua, what do you mean? Is your word like a fart?”

“Are you saying that homeless people need help more than families who have lost their martial artist members? I spit on you Yue Zhenhua, even as a martial artist, and as the head of Gale, is this some sort of joke?”

“This is outrageous, my God, the head of Gale Martial Hall going back on his word in public, this could be a headline news.”

“Gale, you guys are full of bullshit, you are the number one Martial Hall on name, not even if I am invited on a grand lift to join Gale with you, Yue Zhenhua, as its head, I won’t!”

The martial artists on the scene were filled with righteous indignation, and the reporters were even more excited, taking continuous photos and notes, this incident was too sensational, they had to broadcast it the first time.

Yue Zhenhua’s face turned red and white alternately, he had no choice, who would make such a face-slapping move on himself, he wanted to leave the scene right then.

At this moment, Lin Zhen suddenly stepped in front of the reporters, “Ladies and gentlemen, I can’t help but feel sympathy for the families of martial artists who have lost their loved ones. Martial artists risk their lives hunting mutated beasts to protect our homes, we can’t let them worry about their families. Therefore, I have decided to donate to these martial artist families, and the amount is… thirty billion!”

As Lin Zhen raised three fingers, the reporters and martial artists present were all on fire.

“May I ask who are you? Are you a martial artist from Gale?” a reporter rushed up to ask.

Yue Zhenhua shouted from behind, “Yes, this was just a little joke I played with everyone. This man is Lin Zhen, a martial artist from Gale, our man from Gale. You can go and check.”

In Yue Zhenhua’s view, Lin Zhen seemed to want to reconcile with himself. So be it, give him some face now, get past this crisis and deal with him later.

Unexpectedly, Lin Zhen suddenly turned around, “Sorry Yue Hall Master, the Gale Hall Master of Ice City Base City, Tong Yuehu, just announced my expulsion from Gale. From now on, I am a free person.. This donation does not represent any faction, it represents only me!”