Chapter 148 I’ll Give You Some Reward
Just like all high-level hotels that could hold such a large banquet, outside the hall that was used for the main venue, there would always be a few more hidden small halls that were specially used for the guests who needed some private space.
Chu Nan saw the person who wanted to see him in one of the small halls.
To his surprise, this person was actually an old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles. From his appearance, he should be at least 70 years old and was qualified to be Chu Nan’s grandfather.
However, although the old man was old, his face was red and his eyes were energetic. He did not show any signs of aging.
When he saw Chu Nan, the old man carefully sized him up from head to toe twice with a glint in his eyes.
“Very good! You’re indeed a good child!”
Chu Nan opened his mouth and was momentarily at a loss for what to do. He could only barely maintain his smile.
Seeing Chu Nan’s discomfort, the old man laughed.
The old man from before revealed a dignified aura from his body as he sat there, causing Chu Nan to involuntarily feel a sense of pressure. Now that he smiled, he instantly felt much closer.
“There’s no need to be so nervous. I just want to see you and chat with you. Come, sit down.” The old man pointed at the seat opposite him and waved his hand at President Zhang who had guided Chu Nan in.
President Zhang immediately bowed and left.
Chu Nan confirmed again that this old man’s status was definitely not simple.
However, he was already mentally prepared for this, so he was not surprised. He sat opposite him according to the old man’s instructions and looked at him calmly, waiting for him to speak again. The old man sized up Chu Nan again with an expression of admiration.
“That’s right. Being able to maintain calm at any time is one of the qualities a martial artist needs the most. Chu Nan, you’ve performed very well in this aspect.”
Only then did Chu Nan finally find a chance to speak. He smiled and nodded, “Thank you for your praise. May I ask who you are…”
“It doesn’t matter who I am, but you can call me Xio.”
Chu Nan was puzzled. He was certain that he did not know the old man and did not have any impression of this name.
“It’s good that you don’t know me, because we’ve never met before.” Xio smiled again, “I specially got them to invite you over this time mainly because I heard about your performance in the West Cloud Planet’s martial arts competition.”
“It’s indeed because of this…”
Chu Nan’s mind stirred and he asked curiously, “Heard?”
“Oh, no, I only heard about it at first. Later on, I got them to look at those competition videos of yours. I discovered that you were indeed as they said, and your performance was especially outstanding. Especially in the last round, you were actually able to defeat that Maruk of the Kingdom of Kexley. It’s really surprising.”
“You’re too kind.”
Chu Nan smiled and did not mind Xio’s evaluation.
Regarding his performance in the martial arts competition, many people in the various media outlets of the federation and the Milky Way Network gave a high evaluation. Chu Nan was already numb to such praise.
“Of course, the reason why I asked them to find you is only because you’re a young martial artist from our Purple Cloud Planet. You’ve done well in the martial arts competition. Not only have you defended the honor of our Earth Federation, but you’ve also won honor for our Purple Cloud Planet. Apart from wanting to praise you in person, I want to give you some rewards when I see you this time.”
Chu Nan hurriedly waved his hand. “I’m already very happy to receive your praise in person. As for the reward, there’s no need. I don’t think I’m qualified to receive any special reward.”
“Heh, what? Are you looking down on me?” Xio pretended to be angry.
“No, no, no. Of course not. However, to be honest… I’m only doing my best to compete for myself. I’ve never thought of defending the honor of the federation or winning honor for the Purple Cloud Planet…” Chu Nan scratched his head in embarrassment.
After waking up from his coma in the hospital, Chu Nan had nothing better to do and had read many evaluations regarding his previous closed-door cultivation through the Milky Way Network. He discovered that the media of the federation liked to say that he had defended the honor of the federation through his hard work. There were even media who called him the hero of the federation.
To be honest, Chu Nan was a little proud when he first saw these evaluations.
However, after reading too much, he gradually became very disgusted with this saying
He was not as noble as those media outlets described. What did they mean by “risking his life to protect the honor of the federation”, “protecting the dignity of the federation with his life”…
Stop bullshitting. He was purely doing this to enter the finals.
When he threw the last punch, there was only one thought in his mind, and that was to punch!
Now that this group of media outlets had forcefully given Chu Nan an ambitious slogan, he was not so thick-skinned to calmly accept
it.
Hearing Chu Nan’s answer, Xio was stunned for a moment before laughing.
“Haha… good… good. I like children as straightforward as you. That’s right, let’s ignore the propaganda stuff! For your own competition, that’s right! Back then, when I risked my life on the battlefield, I didn’t fight for some bullsh*t federation honor like those guys said either. It was completely for the sake of protecting my family.”
Chu Nan looked at him speechlessly and thought to himself, what does this old man want to do by changing the topic later?
Moreover, from his tone, he had actually joined the Federation Army when he was young?
In the recent hundred years, the large-scale war of the Earth Federation had only been the battle with the Kingdom of Kexley more than 40 years ago.
According to his age, more than 40 years ago, this old man in front of him was in his prime and was indeed at the age of enlisting. He might have participated in the war with the Kingdom of Kexley at that time.
“Yes, that’s right. Back then, we were indeed fighting with those bastards from Kexley. That was really tragic…”
Xio confirmed Chu Nan’s guess before he seemed to have opened his mouth and started to talk about his various experiences on the battlefield.
This was the first time Chu Nan had heard a retired veteran who had personally experienced that war talk about the past. He could not help but beam with joy as he listened. From time to time, he would mention some details that could not be seen in various documents. It was so exciting that he started dancing in excitement.
The old and the young chatted for half an hour before they calmed down.
“Hmm… Alright, I can’t finish talking about that war for three days and three nights. If you want to hear it in the future, I welcome you to find me at any time.”
After explaining the dangerous sneak attack that led the team, Xio waved his hand and finally stopped talking.
“Let’s get back to business. I just said that because of your outstanding performance in the martial arts competition… I don’t care if you did it for yourself or for the federation. In short, you beat that Kexley guy and didn’t let him enter the finals. I like you a lot and am willing to give you some rewards.”
Chu Nan’s words were stuck in his throat and he could only smile bitterly and shrug.
“Since you’re willing to do this, I can’t reject
you.”
“Yes, men should be more straightforward like this. I’ve decided to reward you, just take it obediently. As for the reward… It’s too tacky if I give you some money. It’ll be like I’m looking down on you.”
Chu Nan moved his lips and wanted to say, ‘If you really give me some money, I’ll be very happy to accept it.’
After all, he was still worried about the cost of entering Star Cloud Academy. However, since the old man did not mean that, Chu Nan was really embarrassed to ask.
“However… I really can’t take out a toy with at least a B-rank martial technique as a reward for you like Mu Yutong.”
Chu Nan looked at him in amusement.
Could it be that he could prepare some special reward?
“Chu Nan, I’ve seen what the media has said about you. The biggest problem you have now is because your previous accumulation is insufficient, so it’s very difficult for you to break through the Cosmic Heaven’s Gate in the future, right?”
“Yes, that’s the judgment of the two Supremacies, but I don’t think it’s impossible to break through.” Chu Nan nodded.
“Alright, you’re ambitious. I like it.” Xio gave Chu Nan a thumbs up, “However, it’s the judgment of two Star-Grade Martial Artists after all. It definitely makes sense. However… what they said is not completely true. At the very least, I know that someone’s situation is similar to yours. Later on, he successfully broke through the Cosmic Heaven’s Gate and is now a famous expert in the federation.”
Chu Nan’s heart stirred.
Was Xio talking about that person?