Ling Xiaoxiao's small mouth dropped open.
She stood rooted to the spot, stunned.
She had never imagined that she would become the clown.
When she entered the door just now, she had already fantasized about saying a few good words for Fang Xin in front of Old Master Ye.
At that time, Fang Xin would be praised by Old Master Ye, which would add bricks and mortar to Fang Xin's future development, and Fang Xin would have to thank her, this big sister.
Unexpectedly, Old Master Ye directly said that Fang Xin was his grandson.
Ling Xiaoxiao stared at Fang Xin, dumbfounded.
Recalling the first time she met Fang Xin, she had told him then that she would put in a good word for him in front of Old Master Ye, whom she called great-grandfather.
At that time, Fang Xin’s expression showed that he didn't take it to heart at all.
Ling Xiaoxiao had thought then that Fang Xin felt she was bragging.
Now it seemed that Fang Xin had clearly disdained such a small favor.
And in terms of seniority...
She should even call Fang Xin 'Uncle'.
She had been calling Fang Xin 'Big Sister' all this time, what a waste!
Ling Xiaoxiao felt like a clown right now.
And Ling Xiaoxiao's grandfather, Ling Hanmo, was also slightly surprised to hear this.
He turned his head to look at Fang Xin, as if wanting to remember Fang Xin thoroughly.
The grandson of Old Master Ye, who was behind the Ninth Division—his status needed no further explanation.
Ye Qingcang introduced Fang Xin, "Xiao Xin, this is Ling Hanmo, the Head of the Red Tassel Gate. You should call him Uncle Ling."
"Hello, Uncle Ling!" Fang Xin also greeted Ling Hanmo very perceptively.
Ling Hanmo quickly nodded at Fang Xin, "Hello, hello! So, if that's the case, it was you, the uncle, who saved Xiaoxiao! Xiaoxiao, you haven't formally thanked your Uncle Xiao Fang yet, have you! You must be more respectful to your Uncle Xiao Fang from now on!"
Ling Xiaoxiao looked at Fang Xin, o_o... She inexplicably gained an uncle.
Ling Hanmo continued.
"Fang Xin, it's okay for me to call you Xiao Xin, right? From now on, all hotels, restaurants, and amusement parks under the Red Tassel Gate will be free for you. If you have anything, you can mobilize the nearby Red Tassel Gate!"
Hearing this, Fang Xin couldn't help but be taken aback.
Ling Hanmo was indeed generous, but this also indirectly proved that Ling Hanmo truly valued Fang Xin's identity. Firstly, Fang Xin was the top person in the Ninth Division during the same period, and his own strength was beyond doubt. Secondly, Fang Xin was Old Master Ye's eldest grandson. Building a good relationship with Fang Xin was equivalent to building a good relationship with Old Master Ye!
He wouldn't lose out either way.
Fang Xin thanked Ling Hanmo.
Old Master Ye said with a smile, "Xiao Xin, you take Xiaoxiao outside first. I have some things to discuss with Head Ling!"
He took Ling Xiaoxiao out of the study and closed the study door behind him.
Ling Xiaoxiao kept staring at Fang Xin's profile the whole time, as if there were words on Fang Xin's face.
"Why are you looking at Uncle?" Fang Xin glanced at Ling Xiaoxiao.
Ling Xiaoxiao's small fist landed on Fang Xin's arm, "Damn it! Why didn't you tell me you had such a status earlier!"
"I already told you it wasn't necessary!"
Ling Xiaoxiao pouted, "How was I supposed to know you were Old Master Ye's eldest grandson? Ugh, my seniority has dropped, and now I have to call you uncle!"
"As my niece, you don't need to feel inferior! If you encounter trouble in the future, just mention my name!"
Ling Xiaoxiao was a scatterbrain, and immediately her face lit up with a smile. She linked her arm with Fang Xin's and sweetly said, "Uncle, is mentioning your name really effective!"
"I don't know if it's effective, but you can try! What if it works? But it also doesn't rule out the possibility of getting beaten even harder!"
Ling Xiaoxiao casually changed the subject, "Uncle Xiao Fang, will you be starting your job after the New Year?"
"Yes!"
"Then, since you're Old Master Ye's eldest grandson and a top talent among your peers, a position as a Squad Leader is guaranteed when you start, right?"
Fang Xin chuckled, "I might not become a Squad Leader!"
Ling Xiaoxiao was stunned for a moment, "Ah? Why? Oh, oh, oh, I understand. You're Old Master Ye's eldest grandson, so you need to avoid suspicion, right? They'll let you go to the grassroots for experience, and after a period of tempering, promoting you would be reasonable, wouldn't it?"
"I'm directly appointed Battalion Commander upon entry!"
"Batt... Batt... Ah?" Ling Xiaoxiao's eyes widened like light bulbs, "Battalion Commander? You're directly a Battalion Commander of the Ninth Division upon entry? Holy crap! That position is equivalent to a team leader in other divisions, and this has never happened before!
No... wait? Being a Battalion Commander of the Ninth Division isn't that easy, is it? Military merits are one aspect, but your strength must also reach Level 8 Warrior, right? You... you're a Level 8 Warrior?"
Fang Xin spread his hands, the expression on his face saying it all.
Ling Xiaoxiao was dumbfounded, "Awesome!"
Wang Lao Ji finished tidying up his things and said to Fang Xin, "Xiao Xin, come on, let's go out and see tonight's party!"
"Uncle Xiao Fang, take me with you, I want to go too!" Ling Xiaoxiao's little mouth was so sweet, and she followed Fang Xin excitedly, having transformed from the previous 'tough guy' into a genuine little fangirl.
The group walked out one after another.
Fang Xin had arrived in a special car, which was a treasure capable of isolating the occupants from perceiving their surroundings, so Fang Xin didn't know much about this place.
Although Wang Lao Ji was a big Turtle, he walked nothing like the slow-moving creatures in fairy tales; instead, he was as swift as a deer.
Fang Xin looked around. The courtyards in this place were scattered like stars, well-arranged. According to Wang Lao Ji's hint, many important figures from official organizations lived here. The closest families to Old Master Ye's house were mostly several elders from the Sky Shield Bureau.
Further ahead, a wide road, dozens of meters across, lay before them.
On the other side of the road were rows of villas.
This wide road seemed to divide the residential areas on both sides, specifically separating them.
Wang Lao Ji pointed to that side and said, "Mostly high-ranking church officials live over there, especially the residences of many important figures from the northern faction of the church are all here. Of course, most of them were from the Royalist Faction back then!"
Seeing Fang Xin pause, Wang Lao Ji explained, "Since your maternal grandfather lives here, those church people wouldn't dare let the reformists gather here; wouldn't that be turning the world upside down? Also, there's something else I need to remind you about: there's an unwritten rule in this place, conflicts between church people and our younger generation are common, and there's an unwritten rule that you can't tell your parents. These two groups of kids each have their own camps. You can interact with these kids more often when you're free; it will be very helpful for your future!"
Fang Xin quietly took note.
Further ahead was a beach, bustling with thousands of people. In the distance, there was also a huge stage with a host warming up the crowd.
Many treasures floated in the sky, which, upon closer inspection, were numerous private boxes, offering an even better view.
Many young people were also playing on the beach.
Those with fire-attribute talents set off even more beautiful and exciting fireworks.
And those with water-attribute talents created an ice and snow wonderland, which was also quite a sight to behold.
In addition, there were many theme parks created by various other talents, with an endless stream of visitors.
Wang Lao Ji was very familiar with this place. Many people coming and going greeted Wang Lao Ji cheerfully. Although he was just a chef who cooked for Old Master Ye's family, this old Turtle was able to eat at Old Master Ye's table, which was a privilege not afforded to just anyone.
Strolling around naturally involved food. There were many gourmets in this place, as quite a few people had awakened cooking talents, which was also a skill.
Wang Lao Ji seemed to have high prestige among these people. Anyway, throughout their stroll, these people never charged Wang Lao Ji, and Fang Xin and the others ate and took whatever they wanted freely.
More than ten minutes later, Wang Lao Ji pointed in a direction, "Look over there!"
Fang Xin looked in that direction and noticed that there were clearly two distinct groups of people, keeping to themselves.
With just a glance, Fang Xin could tell that one group belonged to the church. Anyone with that inherent 'noble' aura, carrying a strange sense of superiority, was definitely from the church.
In addition, the church people had a clear hierarchy, which created many 'face-changing artists' who flattered and fawned over superiors while suppressing and exploiting subordinates, treating them purely as beasts of burden.
In contrast, on the other side, although there were rank distinctions between superiors and subordinates, in many cases, they could all mingle together.
Wang Lao Ji cracked sunflower seeds and chuckled, "You should know, right? Those bastards from the church, they judge status by bloodline. Those royal bastards from the church are even more arrogant. What era is this? They really think of themselves as royalty and nobility!"
Fang Xin turned to look at Wang Lao Ji. At this moment, Wang Lao Ji was cracking sunflower seeds, with many shells accumulated on his lower lip, looking just like the gossiping aunties from the village's intelligence network.
Noticing Fang Xin's gaze, Wang Lao Ji turned back, "Why are you looking at me?"
"Old Wang, if I may ask, if they are bastards, then what are you?"
Wang Lao Ji spat out the sunflower seed shells, pointed at himself with his claw, and said very proudly, "I am a Turtle! I am the father of these bastards!"
Fang Xin gave Wang Lao Ji a thumbs-up, "Old Master Wang is truly great!"
"You flatter me, you flatter me!"
"Old Wang, this kid is Fang Xin, right!"
A voice came.
Fang Xin turned around and saw a short-haired young man with bronze skin.
Wang Lao Ji turned around and, seeing the person, smiled and introduced, "Xiao Hua, this is Fang Xin. Fang Xin, this is Hua Qing, Hua Cheng's cousin."
Fang Xin couldn't help but size up the person in front of him. Based solely on the other party's appearance and attire, if Wang Lao Ji hadn't said anything, it would have been hard to recognize that this was a girl.
She was very tall, and her posture was very upright. With a pompadour, her appearance was quite neutral.
Hua Qing smiled at Fang Xin, "Come, call me Sister Qing!"
Since the other party was Hua Cheng's sister, it was appropriate for Fang Xin to call her 'Sister'. "Sister Qing."
Hua Qing grinned, then her gaze fell on Jiang Xiaocha and Ling Xiaoxiao beside Fang Xin.
"Who are these two?"
"This is my younger sister, Jiang Xiaocha, and this is my niece, Ling Xiaoxiao!"
Both girls greeted Hua Qing.
Hua Qing's personality was somewhat similar to Hua Cheng's. She said to Fang Xin nonchalantly, "You're my brother's brother, which means you're my brother. If you ever need anything, just let me know! We're all family, no need to be too polite!"
"Alright, Sister Qing!"
While the two were talking, someone shouted from a distance, "Sister Qing, let's go!"
Hua Qing and Fang Xin exchanged contact information. Hua Qing lightly patted Fang Xin, then turned and walked away with a group of people.
Wang Lao Ji looked at Hua Qing's retreating figure, "You're lucky, kid, to be able to hang out with the Hua Family. Those Hua Family people are famously protective and clannish. Not only are they clannish, but there are also a damn lot of them. The Hua Family, from top to bottom, has hundreds of members. If you mess with one, you're basically messing with the whole nest. It's not just the Hua Family; the Hua Family Army, from top to bottom, are basically reliable people selected by the Hua Family, and they are extremely united internally.
Didn't the various factions have a major cleanup plan before? The Hua Family Army was one of the factions with the fewest internal spies among all forces. Out of tens of thousands of soldiers, only a dozen or so spies were rooted out, and they were all from the middle and lower ranks. I ask you, aren't you convinced!"
While the group was strolling.
Fang Xin saw an old acquaintance, who also saw Fang Xin and immediately came over to greet him.
"Xiao Lu Jie!"
Xiao Lu gave Fang Xin a sweet smile. She was pushing a wheelchair, in which sat a very refined young man. The young man's legs were covered with a blanket, and he smiled at Fang Xin.
"Let me introduce you, Xiao Yan, this is my younger brother Fang Xin, the genius from the Ninth Division!"
"Hello!" The young man smiled at Fang Xin.
Fang Xin immediately said modestly, "In the Ninth Division, how can I be considered a genius? Just call me a prodigy!"
The group exchanged smiles. Xiao Lu Jie then introduced Fang Xin, "This is Tai Shi Yan, Tai Shi Bo's biological younger brother."
Tai Shi Yan smiled at Fang Xin, "Brother Fang Xin's name is truly renowned! The first place on the Dragon-Tiger Rankings in the final exam, the one who single-handedly changed the rules of the unified exam!"
Fang Xin smiled for no reason. After the final exam, the people from the church shot themselves in the foot. Fang Xin alone took away twenty-five million god and demon marrow, which led the church to spearhead a complete change in all future unified exam rules.
This was the first time since the final exam that such a drastic change was made because of one person.
From a distance, Hua Qing waved towards Fang Xin, "Fang Xin! Xiao Lu! Come play with us!"
The group walked over. Hua Qing was with a few people, ready to play beach soccer, and they needed a defender and a goalkeeper.
Fang Xin raised his hand, "I can play defender."
"Who will be the goalkeeper?"
Ling Xiaoxiao was about to raise her hand, but Fang Xin's gaze turned to Tai Shi Yan.
Tai Shi Yan's face immediately stiffened.
Hua Qing also seemed to have a light bulb appear above her head.
She slapped Tai Shi Yan's shoulder, "It's you, A Yan!"
As she spoke, she carried Tai Shi Yan to the goal, "I'd like to see who would be shameless enough to kick the ball in!"
Everyone smiled, and Tai Shi Yan just smiled calmly.
The game began, and both sides played exceptionally fiercely, all using their respective talents to kick the ball wildly.
Fang Xin knew a little about this sport. He heard that a few hundred years ago, this sport was not very strong in the country.
During the break in the game.
While resting, a girl standing next to Xiao Lu handed Fang Xin a towel and water.
"You are?"
The girl smiled brightly, "Just call me Yanzhi!"