Chapter 120: The Dragon Squad, A Secret Organization

"Looking back, if it weren't for the Dragon Group stepping in at the critical moment, we would never have been able to handle a ruthless character like Sha Polang!"

Liu Zhenhua spoke with a lingering sense of fear mixed with relief. He paused, a glint of cunning flashing in his eyes. "Perhaps the reason Sha Polang didn't show up in person this time is because he was intimidated by the Dragon Group’s methods and decided to send a small fry to test the waters first!"

The moment he said this, the atmosphere grew tense. Li Chao listened, his heart filled with curiosity about the mysterious Dragon Group. The Dragon Group—a legendary existence so powerful that even a master like Sha Polang had to avoid their edge?

"Is that so?" Li Chao muttered, his eyes flickering as he seemed to be calculating something. On second thought, with Liu Zhenhua’s words in mind, perhaps this mission wouldn't be as thorny as he had imagined. He slapped his thigh, stood up, and said to Liu Zhenhua, "I'll go talk to them and see what they’re really up to!"

With that, he strode toward the bearded man. Seeing him approach, the man curled his lips into a meaningful smile and pointed toward a pavilion in the distance. "Let’s go over there and talk!"

Li Chao nodded and followed him to the pavilion, though he couldn't help but wonder: what exactly was the background of these Dragon Group people?

Once the group sat down in the pavilion, the atmosphere became subtle. The bearded man spoke first: "Let me introduce myself. My name is Guan Xiao, captain of the Third Team of the Dragon Group in Zhongzhou Province. I am a mid-stage Xuan realm cultivator."

At these words, Li Chao’s heart skipped a beat. No wonder he had sensed an indescribable pressure from this man from the start; he was a team captain in the Dragon Group with such unfathomable cultivation!

"A Xuan realm expert, truly hiding his depth!" Li Chao was secretly startled, his awe for the Dragon Group’s strength increasing. From a small glimpse, one could see the whole picture; as the guardians of the order in the cultivation world, the Dragon Group’s strength was indeed extraordinary.

He cleared his throat and gave his own name simply: "Li Chao."

Guan Xiao stared at Li Chao, looking as if he were waiting for more. A few seconds later, he looked at Li Chao, completely bewildered: "That’s it?"

*Good grief, I said so much, and you reply with two words? Is that polite?*

Seeing this, Li Chao coughed awkwardly and added, "I’m from Li Family Fort in Kaiyuan County, just a village doctor! As for my cultivation... I suppose it’s the Xuan realm!"

Guan Xiao’s mouth twitched. He thought to himself: *Brother, are you serious? You don’t even know your own cultivation level? And you "suppose" it’s the Xuan realm?*

However, he didn't dwell on this too long. He rubbed his face and continued to ask, "That Di Shitian, the swordsman who died by your hand—what is your relationship with him?"

Li Chao shook his head repeatedly. "No relationship. I was just a helper hired by Liu Zhenhua."

Guan Xiao examined Li Chao again, then pressed further: "Do you have a sect? Who is your master?"

Li Chao hesitated for a moment, then shook his head. "My sect... it is not convenient to speak of."

He knew that if he claimed he had no master and was entirely self-taught, no one would believe him. He had no choice but to invent a mysterious, secretive sect to brush off the inquiry.

Hearing this, Guan Xiao became even more curious. A mysterious sect, a seemingly ordinary village doctor, yet possessing Xuan realm cultivation... Guan Xiao frowned, scrutinizing Li Chao as if trying to discern something from his face. But Li Chao’s silent demeanor forced him to sigh in frustration.

"Fine, if you don’t want to talk about it, then don't!" Guan Xiao said, his tone carrying a hint of uncharacteristic concession. "But there is one thing you must know: cultivators and ordinary people are two different worlds. Although we live in the same world, the differences are vast. In the future, you must act carefully and not break the rules!"

With that, Guan Xiao seemed to have no intention of continuing the topic. He stood up, patted Li Chao on the shoulder, and said, "Alright, that’s enough for now! If anything comes up, I’ll find you again!"

He then led his two team members away. Their conversation drifted back faintly, making Li Chao chuckle.

"Captain, why did you seem a bit timid today?" one of the members asked.

"Nonsense! When have I ever been timid? Even if he managed to kill Di Shitian, I’m not afraid!" Guan Xiao’s voice sounded annoyed.

"But you were really nervous during the talk!" another member added.

"Was I? Haha... you must have misread it! I’ve never been nervous even when facing the Hall Master!" Guan Xiao’s laughter followed, tinged with self-deprecation.

Listening to this, Li Chao suddenly felt the Dragon Group wasn't so scary after all. They seemed quite grounded! However, he still wasn't clear on what exactly those "rules of the cultivators" were. He thought to himself that he should find time to ask Liang Meng; he would surely know. He’d better not accidentally break any rules and get into trouble.

Returning to the pavilion, Liu Zhenhua hurried to meet him, asking nervously, "Little Divine Doctor, did they give you a hard time?"

Li Chao waved his hand and smiled. "It's fine, they just asked a few questions!"

***

After the group descended the mountain, the moonlight washed over them like water, as if draping them in a silver veil. Chen Shan was sent back to the Liu villa to rest. Liu Zhenhua left in a hurry; tonight was destined to be a sleepless one for him, with many matters waiting to be handled.

Inside the Liu villa, the lighting was soft and warm. Liu Jingjing was curled up on the sofa in her pajamas, her beautiful feet resting casually on the coffee table, revealing her slender legs. A fruit platter sat beside her, and her eyes were fixed on the television screen.

When Li Chao walked into the living room, a flash of panic crossed Liu Jingjing’s eyes, but it quickly returned to calm, and she made no effort to hide it. Li Chao glanced at her, feeling a sense of irony. They were sisters, yet they walked completely different paths. Today’s events had been perilous, with her sister Liu Lele still at the Liu Group helping their father, while Liu Jingjing knew nothing, lounging at home watching TV. Sometimes, ignorance is a form of bliss.

Li Chao sighed softly and turned toward his room. But just then, Liu Jingjing seemed to think of something and shouted, "Hey, you!"

Li Chao looked back, his tone calm. "I have a name, not 'you.' And your legs are showing."

Liu Jingjing pouted, put her legs down, and looked at Li Chao with dissatisfaction. "I watched the video of you beating those people several times yesterday. They were wearing martial arts uniforms, yet you beat them into submission without them being able to fight back. Your kung fu must be very impressive, right?"

Li Chao just smiled faintly and said nothing. He chuckled inwardly. *Sister, you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you, but not long ago, I just finished off a Xuan realm expert in seconds. It’s no exaggeration to say that if I claimed to be the number one expert in Wannan City, it would be well-deserved.*

However, Liu Jingjing probably wouldn't understand the affairs of cultivators. So, Li Chao raised an eyebrow and asked, "Why do you ask?"

Liu Jingjing looked up, her eyes shining with determination. "I want you to teach me kung fu!"

Li Chao was stunned. He hadn't expected such a request. He paused and asked, "You’re a girl, why do you want to learn kung fu?"

Liu Jingjing looked determined, not backing down. "You spanked me last time. Once I learn enough kung fu, I’m going to pay you back!"

*What?* Li Chao was speechless. He refused immediately: "No!" *Are you kidding? If I teach you and you come back to beat me? That’s insane! Besides, ethically speaking, that’s like betraying your master, sister!*

After refusing, Li Chao turned to go to his room to rest. But Liu Jingjing stared at his back, clearly unwilling to give up. She gritted her teeth, followed him, sat directly on his bed, and crossed her arms. "I don't care! You must teach me!"

Li Chao felt depressed. *Why is she latching onto me?* He darkened his face and raised his hand in threat. "It’s no use! I’m tired! If you don’t leave, I’m going to do something about it!"

Instead of being scared, seeing Li Chao’s action made Liu Jingjing’s eyes light up. She didn't seem afraid of his threat at all, but rather, her resolve to learn kung fu grew firmer. Faced with her provocation, Li Chao had a headache. He puffed out his chest and said with a touch of helplessness, "Go ahead, hit me? I promise not to fight back?"

He muttered to himself: *This is a disaster! Why is this girl so difficult to deal with? And that strange obsession—it’s both laughable and frustrating.*

*No more fighting! If I can’t handle it, I can at least run away!* Li Chao walked out without another word, intending to find a hotel to spend the night. Watching his back, Liu Jingjing pouted, her eyes filled with resentment. She thought to herself: *I don’t eat people, do you have to be so scared that you run away? Seriously!*

Meanwhile, in a private ward of the hospital owned by the Liu Group, the atmosphere was heavy and serious. Liu Zhenhua and Liu Lele sat on the sofa, Zhou Laosan lay on the hospital bed, and Liang Meng sat nearby, wrapped in bandages. By now, Liu Lele already knew the outcome of the battle. Liu Zhenhua valued his daughter’s business talent and was cultivating her as his successor, so he hadn't kept anything from her.

"How are you both feeling? Are you alright?" Liu Zhenhua asked with concern.

Zhou Laosan laughed and said generously, "Back in the day, when I held blades in both hands and chased hundreds of people, the wounds were much worse than this! These are just minor injuries; they don't count for anything!" As he gestured, he accidentally tugged at his wound, causing him to grimace in pain.

Liu Zhenhua looked at him helplessly and said, "Now that the matter with Howard is temporarily settled, you should focus on recovering. I came here to discuss something with everyone." His tone grew serious. "The main issue is Sha Polang. Although he didn't appear this time, he sent a Xuan realm expert to test us. From this, it’s clear he hasn't been idle all these years. We’ve managed to stop the first wave, but if this person isn't eliminated, he will certainly be a major trouble later."

Initially, Liu Zhenhua’s plan was to concentrate his strongest forces and use thunderous methods to take down Howard, giving Sha Polang a warning. But reality had given him a harsh slap in the face. If it weren't for Li Chao, they wouldn't have even been able to defeat Howard’s advance guard.

The disparity in strength was clear. Now, Liu Zhenhua began to worry about the future.

Liang Meng nodded and said in a deep voice, "During the fight, I heard that Xuan realm expert call Sha Polang 'Big Brother.' If that’s the case, Sha Polang’s strength must be even greater now. If he really comes to Huaxi, it will be hard to deal with. Fortunately, we have Mr. Li on our side. If we can win him over, he will definitely be a powerful ally!"

Mentioning Li Chao, a flash of reverence passed through Liang Meng’s eyes. His admiration for Li Chao was beyond words. He had originally thought Li Chao was just a Huang realm cultivator, never expecting him to slay the Xuan realm swordsman Di Shitian in seconds. This combat power was terrifyingly boundless—he was absolutely the best in Huaxi! He might even rank among the top in Zhongzhou Province!

Liu Zhenhua looked at Liang Meng and nodded. "That’s what I think, too. So I intend to use this opportunity to build a good relationship with Li Chao. He is not only our powerful ally but also the key to our future confrontation with Sha Polang."

Zhou Laosan asked suspiciously, "How does Mr. Liu plan to win over Li Chao?"

Liu Zhenhua stood up, hands behind his back, walked to the window, and looked into the distance with deep eyes. "I intend to transfer all the resources under Howard’s name to Li Chao! Then, I will organize a Chamber of Commerce in Huaxi City and nominate him as the Chairman!"

At these words, Zhou Laosan, Liang Meng, and Liu Lele were stunned. They hadn't expected Liu Zhenhua to make such a bold decision.

Liu Lele widened her eyes and asked, "Dad, if you do that, wouldn't you be making Li Chao the number one person in Huaxi City?"

Indeed, just the wealth of the Howard family was not a small amount, calculated in the hundreds of millions. Not to mention the position of Chamber of Commerce Chairman, which would mean controlling the economic lifeline of Huaxi City; in terms of authority, it would even surpass the Liu family.

Liu Zhenhua shook his head. "He already has the qualifications to become the number one in Huaxi! And don't forget, it is we who need him now, not the other way around! Perhaps the position of Huaxi Chamber of Commerce Chairman still holds some attraction for him now, but in a while, I fear Huaxi City won't be able to contain him!"

Hearing Liu Zhenhua’s words, everyone present fell silent. They began to realize that Li Chao’s rise was an unstoppable trend. Perhaps Li Chao himself didn't know what this battle meant, but for the people of Huaxi City, his performance was enough to be called unrivaled. His combat power, his mysterious background, and the potential he had shown forced everyone to re-evaluate his status in Huaxi City and even the entire Zhongzhou Province.

After chatting with Liang Meng and Zhou Laosan for a while, Liu Zhenhua and Liu Lele walked out. The night was deep, and the moonlight spilled over them like water, draping the father and daughter in silver. Reaching an open area, Liu Zhenhua stopped, looked up at the moon, and said slowly, "Lele, what have you considered regarding what I told you before?"

Liu Lele remained silent; she knew her father was asking about her relationship with Li Chao. She had been thinking about this for a long time, but never reached a clear conclusion.

"You don't like him?" Liu Lele asked again, her tone full of concern.

Liu Lele shook her head gently and whispered, "I suppose I do. It’s just that it feels a bit rushed, and with my personality, I don’t know how to pursue someone!"

Liu Zhenhua sighed. He understood his daughter and knew she was passive and reserved in matters of the heart. But he valued Li Chao too much to let this opportunity slip away. "I know, as a father, I shouldn't interfere in your personal happiness!" Liu Zhenhua said sincerely. "But Li Chao is someone who will transform into a dragon when the clouds and rain arrive. If you don't grasp this opportunity now, you might not have another chance later!"

Liu Lele was silent for a while, then said, "Give me a few more days, I will try!" She knew she couldn't avoid this issue forever and needed to face her feelings bravely.

...

As for Li Chao, after leaving the Liu villa, he drove to a decent hotel and checked in. After washing up, he sat on the bed bare-chested and began to practice the Star Tempering Technique. As starlight entered his body, tempering his muscles and bones, Li Chao felt a sense of comfort, as if infinite power were surging within him. Through this period of cultivation and battle, he had gained a preliminary understanding of the cultivation world. He knew his journey was still long and required constant effort and exploration.

While cultivating, Li Chao became increasingly curious about his technique. Recalling Liang Meng’s words, he knew that techniques were scarce and resources tight in the cultivation world, and ordinary people could spend decades without breaking through the Huang realm. Yet, in just over a month of getting this technique, he had already reached the Xuan realm! If he told anyone about this speed, it would definitely shock the entire cultivation world.

Li Chao had a clear perception of himself; he knew this was likely because the technique was of an extremely high grade, not because he was naturally gifted.

Beyond that, he thought of the Ancient Tower. The first floor held a peerless technique, and the second floor held a divine weapon that could kill someone of the same rank in seconds... The origin of this tower must be even more peculiar and profound! Li Chao wondered if he could find clues by checking the repair records of the tower.

Just as Li Chao was pondering, the doorbell rang. Who could it be this late?

Li Chao stood up and opened the door. Standing before him was a woman wearing a camisole and a miniskirt, carrying a shoulder bag. She blinked and asked, "Sir, do you need any service?" As she spoke, she specifically puffed out her chest.

Li Chao was stunned, thinking to himself: *Has this industry become so rampant that they are now coming directly to the door?* He looked her over and asked, "What kind of services can you provide?"

The woman brightened up and quickly said, "Massage, singing, dancing, and other services—actually, anything is possible!" Her tone was filled with temptation, as if she could satisfy all his needs if he just nodded.