Chapter 21: Xiaoxiao Is Missing!

The old man’s eyes narrowed, and the aura around him surged wildly once more. Although he had already known that Mo Han would not yield so easily, at this moment, for the sake of the people of the War Division, he had to stop Mo Han. Even if the War Division’s men were at fault, he could not allow Mo Han to punish them.

As his aura soared, the old man's clothes fluttered though there was no wind, and he seemed almost like a deity descending to the mortal world, exuding an extraordinary presence. Wu Yue, who stood beside him, turned pale and instinctively stepped back.

“Interesting,” Mo Han sneered as the old man’s aura grew ever stronger. “If you survive a punch from me, I’ll give you this courtesy and let him go.”

“Very well. I, too, would like to see just how strong you are,” the old man replied with a calm smile. There was no hostility in his eyes, but they blazed with the desire for battle.

“Watch carefully.”

With a low shout, Mo Han raised his fist and, with a powerful thrust of his legs, shot toward the old man like a cannonball. Even before he landed, he unleashed a punch in midair.

The old man’s expression grew grave. He took half a step forward with his right foot, raised his fist, and, with a sudden push, propelled himself up to meet Mo Han’s blow head-on.

Boom!

Their fists collided in midair, and the surrounding air erupted instantly. A powerful shockwave radiated outward from the point of impact, sweeping rapidly in all directions. The tables, chairs, and wine glasses in the hall were shattered in an instant by the force.

Wu Yue and Ding Si were caught unprepared, lifted off their feet by the shockwave, slammed into the wall, and crumpled to the ground, blood spurting from their mouths.

The old man landed, stumbling back seven or eight steps before finally coming to a stop. His once ruddy complexion had turned deathly pale, and a few seconds later, he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Only after spitting out the blood did he finally breathe a long sigh of relief, his eyes filled with shock. In that instant of energy clash, he had truly felt as if death was upon him.

Mo Han, on the other hand, descended slowly and landed steadily, his expression unchanged.

“What… what cultivation level are you?” the old man stared at Mo Han and asked.

“I don’t know what level I am. That punch just now used only half my strength. You can judge for yourself,” Mo Han replied with a shake of his head. He truly did not know his current level of cultivation.

For it was only upon awakening the memories of his previous life that his soul power had suddenly erupted. The power within his body now was entirely drawn from the awakening of his soul. He had little concept of the ancient martial world and could not define his cultivation.

Still, he believed that in this world, there was likely no one who could defeat or kill him. And when he began to cultivate and fully merge his soul power, he would become truly unstoppable, able to roam heaven and earth at will.

“Half your strength?!” The old man was shaken to his core, unable to believe it.

He was an invincible expert at the mid-Earth level—a top powerhouse even among the ancient martial world’s elites. Yet Mo Han, barely in his twenties, already stood at the late Earth level? It was monstrous.

If Mo Han spoke the truth and had only used half his strength, then his power was that of the late Earth tier.

The ancient martial hierarchy was: Heaven, Earth, Mystic, and Yellow. Heaven-tier experts were the stuff of legend, rarely heard of in modern times. Earth-tier stood at the visible pinnacle; among the world’s known top ten fighters, the strongest were only late Earth-tier, all of them aged, formidable beings. Mystic-tier denoted the great war gods and the mighty guardians at the borders of various nations. Below that, Yellow-tier encompassed ordinary martial artists who had just cultivated inner power, as well as some competent warriors in the War Division. Those who had not cultivated inner power could not even be ranked.

Thus, for someone as young as Mo Han to possess such formidable strength, entering the ranks of the top martial artists, was what rendered the old man so incredulous and profoundly shocked.

“That’s enough. Since you’re still alive, I won’t pursue the matter with him. But if you provoke me again, things won’t end so easily next time.” Mo Han glanced at the old man and turned to leave.

“Wait!” the old man suddenly called out.

Mo Han turned back. “What is it?”

The old man nodded. “I won’t beat around the bush. I came from the north to Qian City for one reason—you.”

Mo Han nodded. He had guessed as much. Three days ago, he had used special means to interfere with electronic imaging. He knew the War Division would likely come seeking him. And since this old man was with Wu Yue, the local commander, and had pleaded for Ding Si, he was undoubtedly a big shot in the War Division.

For such a figure to come to the Tan family and conceal his identity, masquerading as an ordinary person, could only mean he was here for him.

“My name is Huang Zhanguo. I am the Fifth Elder of the Central War Division of China. The five of us hold all authority over the War Division. But we are old now, and the heavy responsibilities of the future must fall to the young. Therefore, on behalf of the War Division, I sincerely invite you to join us.”

Huang Zhanguo looked Mo Han in the eye as he spoke, sincere and earnest.

“Not interested.” Mo Han did not hesitate for a moment; he turned and walked away.

“I can persuade the other four to let you lead the entire War Division—to hand it all over to you!” Huang Zhanguo quickly added in a loud voice.

To let him lead the entire War Division?!

Wu Yue and Ding Si’s expressions changed, their hearts pounding. To lead the War Division was to possess supreme authority, to stand as an unrivaled figure who could discuss the fate of the world with the greatest powers of the nation.

In that instant, the two stared at Mo Han’s departing back, their hearts threatening to leap from their chests. They knew that with a single word, Mo Han could become their king from that day forward—the Four Great War Gods would all have to call him their lord.

Yet Mo Han merely paused for a few seconds, shook his head, and walked away without a backward glance. He was a man who valued his freedom and had no interest in commanding the War Division. He only wished for his family to live in peace and happiness.

Seeing Mo Han shake his head, Ding Si and Wu Yue stared, wide-eyed, unable to believe it. Mo Han was turning down such unimaginable power—how could that be possible? At this moment, they were even more shocked than when Huang Zhanguo had offered him control over the War Division.

As Mo Han continued to refuse, Huang Zhanguo grew anxious. To let such a formidable talent slip away from the War Division was a terrible waste.

He tried again. “Mo Han, don’t you want to know how your parents died?”

At those words, Mo Han suddenly turned and fixed his gaze on him.

Huang Zhanguo nodded. “That’s right. Before I came, the War Division had already investigated your background. Your grandfather and father were both heroes of the War Division. There was something strange about your parents’ deaths. Don’t you want to know the truth?”

Mo Han was silent for a moment. “I’m sure my godfather knows these secrets. I can ask him.”

“But if you are willing to tell me, I will owe you a favor.”

Huang Zhanguo was about to speak when, at that moment, the doors were flung open and Li Anan burst in, flustered and anxious.

“Mo Han, something’s wrong! Xiaoxiao is missing!” she cried as soon as she entered, her voice filled with worry.