Chapter 182 : Chapter 182
Chapter 182. Zhou Yu and Jiang Feng Turn Against Each Other
“This is your dorm?” Shen Qingyue turned back to look at her son.
Jiang Yichen nodded. “Mom, isn’t my dorm beautiful?”
“You live here alone?”
“…Yeah.”
Shen Qingyue froze for a moment, then stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Yichen by the ear.
“Mom, what are you doing?” Jiang Yichen was stunned.
Frowning, Shen Qingyue said, “How many times have I told you to treat Linyu better? Can you really bear to let her sleep in the military dorms?”
Hearing that, Jiang Yichen was just about to explain.
But Su Linyu hurriedly spoke first. “Auntie, it’s not like that. We have dorm inspections every night, and if we do not return at night, points get deducted from our internship evaluation. There’s no way for me to move over here, so please don’t blame Brother Yichen.”
Only then did Shen Qingyue slowly let go of Jiang Yichen’s ear. “Fine. But let me tell you this—Linyu is the daughter-in-law I have my eye on. You are not allowed to bully her the way you did before.”
“…” Jiang Yichen nodded.
With how good Su Linyu was to him, how could he possibly bear to bully her?
After taking a brief look around the dormitory building, his mother and Su Linyu went into the kitchen and began cooking.
Naturally, Jiang Yichen did not know the first thing about cooking, so he stayed out of the way.
Still, as he listened to the laughter and cheerful chatter drifting out from the kitchen, he propped up his chin and smiled.
My mother loves me, and so does my future wife. Just thinking about it makes me happy. Life is really becoming more and more worth looking forward to.
Half an hour later, the table was filled with fragrant dishes.
His mother and Su Linyu took off their aprons and sat on either side of Jiang Yichen.
“Your father is still in the ruins, so he couldn’t come to your award ceremony. But if he knew his son had received a ‘Special Class Merit,’ he would be overjoyed.”
His mother picked up a piece of ribs and placed it in Jiang Yichen’s bowl.
“Mhm! Auntie, Brother Yichen is super amazing. A Special Class Merit is only a tiny part of it.” Su Linyu also placed food into his bowl, her face full of admiration.
Jiang Yichen felt as if he were being utterly spoiled.
But it really did feel wonderful.
“What else is so impressive about him?” Shen Qingyue asked curiously.
Su Linyu put down her chopsticks. “Auntie, Brother Yichen has already broken through to the Seventh-Realm Martial King. Before the military district internship began, he defeated the Divine Battle Department and became the first recruit in history to earn training exemption. Isn’t that amazing?”
Her tone was full of pride.
Seventh Realm?!
Shock appeared in Shen Qingyue’s eyes.
When they had left Central China, was he not only at the Grandmaster Realm? How had he reached the Martial King Realm in just one month?
That was completely beyond reason.
Staring at her son, Shen Qingyue asked, “How did you reach the Martial King Realm so quickly? And how did you stop the SS-Rank Beast Tide?”
Jiang Yichen bit into a piece of juicy ribs, hesitated for a moment, and said, “You just have to slack off.”
“…” Shen Qingyue rolled her eyes, set down her chopsticks, and said, “Who are you trying to fool?”
“I’m serious.”
“I’m counting to three!”
Jiang Yichen: “…”
Why was it that nobody believed him when he told the truth?
“Mom, I got here through my own hard work. I really did push myself desperately this past month to raise my realm, and that’s how I—”
“Eat your food. I can’t be bothered listening to your nonsense.”
Seeing that her son refused to tell her the truth, Shen Qingyue simply changed the subject.
Today, Xiao Chen had received the military’s highest honor. Celebrating that was what mattered most.
Jiang Yichen looked utterly innocent. She did not believe the truth, and she did not want to hear the lie either.
This was too hard.
“Brother Yichen, eat this. Auntie said this was your favorite dish when you were little. I’ve already learned how to make it, so I can cook it for you in the future too.”
Su Linyu picked up a slice of boiled pork with garlic sauce and placed it into Jiang Yichen’s bowl with a sweet smile.
Jiang Yichen sighed inwardly and nodded.
Shen Qingyue, meanwhile, tapped Su Linyu on the forehead. “Don’t spoil him too much, or you’ll suffer for it in the future.”
“It’s okay.” Su Linyu did not agree at all. “If I do not pamper the person I love, then it just means I do not love him enough. I should reflect on myself instead.”
“…” Shen Qingyue shook her head helplessly.
Jiang Yichen could not help pinching Su Linyu’s cheek. How could there be such an adorable Warrior of Pure Devotion in this world?
The three of them chatted about everyday matters as they ate in the glow of dusk.
Meanwhile, in the Chief Instructor’s Office at the recruit training camp—
“Zhou Yu, I’m giving up on competing for the position of the Jiang family heir. I do not have the strength to compete with Jiang Yichen. I… can’t beat him.”
Jiang Feng lowered his eyes, a bitterness he could not describe welling up in his heart.
Seated behind the desk, Zhou Yu narrowed his eyes. It was not yet time to make a move against Jiang Feng. He first had to keep him stable and prevent him from spreading the truth about the cause of the beast tide.
A false smile appeared on his face as he said, “You’re giving up just like that? We still have a chance. We can still—”
“That’s enough!” Jiang Feng’s voice suddenly rose. “Don’t think I don’t know what you were planning. I clearly never pressed the trigger disc that was supposed to start the beast tide, so why did the beast tide still break out?!”
“You had a device for triggering the beast tide in your hands too, didn’t you? Why didn’t you tell me? You were obviously trying to make me take the blame for starting the beast tide and become your scapegoat!”
The moment he said that, the office fell into a brief deathly silence.
Zhou Yu and Jiang Feng looked at each other, and the chill in their eyes deepened.
Bang!
Zhou Yu slapped the desk and stood up. “So what exactly are you trying to do?”
“I’ll bear the consequences of my own mistakes myself. But your deception will come at a price.” Jiang Feng’s gaze was resolute.
This beast tide had not caused a serious disaster. If he voluntarily turned himself in to the Law Enforcement Bureau, then with the honor of a Second Class Merit on top of that, he might still receive lenient treatment.
At present, that was the best option available to him.
But if it were uncovered through an investigation, then the nature of the matter would be completely different.
His cold eyes swept over Zhou Yu. Without my permission, you dared make me your scapegoat.
Zhou Yu, you will pay for this!
“So you’re planning to report me to the Law Enforcement Bureau? What good would that do you?” Zhou Yu asked in a deliberately relaxed tone, though murderous intent filled his eyes.
“It won’t do me any good,” Jiang Feng said without the slightest fear. “But you’ve angered me, and the consequences will be severe.”
Zhou Yu chuckled. With a light movement of his finger, a virtual window appeared before Jiang Feng’s eyes.
“Jiang Feng, in here is the audio of your father colluding with the Zhou family to make a move against the Jiang family heir, along with other evidence.”
He walked up to Jiang Feng. “If you dare reveal that I planned the beast tide, then I don’t need to tell you what will happen to you and your father.”
He had not wanted to completely tear things apart with Jiang Feng, but now he had no choice.
Jiang Feng looked at the recording playing inside the window, as well as the video of his father discussing matters with Zhou Mingyuan of the Zhou family, and slowly clenched his fists.
His father valued power above all else. If this evidence landed in the hands of the Jiang family’s clan elders, then his father would undoubtedly be expelled from the family.
He might even face imprisonment.
Jiang Feng bit down slightly on his lip, and conflict appeared in his once-firm gaze.
“What? Are you actually going to uphold justice over family ties and send your own father to prison?” Zhou Yu sneered.
Jiang Feng’s fists cracked loudly as he clenched them, his eyes fixed on Zhou Yu.
It was ridiculous. He had always been the one scheming against others, yet today he had been schemed against himself.
After thinking for several minutes, Jiang Feng slowly let out a breath.
His fists loosened, and he said weakly, “What do you want me to do?”
Hearing that, the corners of Zhou Yu’s mouth lifted slightly. “Don’t make it sound so grim. As long as you don’t reveal the truth about the beast tide, none of this will fall into the Jiang family’s hands.”
Jiang Feng was silent for a while, then nodded. “I understand.”
With that, he walked out of the office on unsteady steps.
Zhou Yu watched his back, his eyes filled with killing intent.
“I’ll let you jump around for one more month. During the recruit assessment, I’ll make you disappear from this world!”