167: Chapter 167 Have you ever thought about joining us?

"Fang Shouzheng."

A different voice rang out.

Everyone's eyes flickered as they looked toward the source of the voice in surprise, wanting to know who had the guts to go against the grain at a time like this.

However, when they saw who had spoken, they were stunned once again.

Su Wan raised her hand and calmly repeated, "I choose Fang Shouzheng."

Once they realized it was her, their expressions changed again. What was she trying to do?

Then, their gazes instinctively drifted upward, landing on Gu Changming behind her, wanting to see his reaction.

Gu Changming stood still. Noticing everyone's eyes on him, he finally spoke slowly:

"Fang Shouzheng."

After he spoke, the room fell silent for several seconds.

Bai Xiao and the other leaders began looking at each other, quickly exchanging glances.

What did this mean?

What was the meaning of this? Was this some kind of obedience test?

We've already been so compliant, and you still want to test us?

Skinny Monkey Man was the quickest to react.

A smile broke out on his face as he immediately turned to Fang Shouzheng and said, "Great! Then let us congratulate City Lord Fang on becoming the first Chief of our Council!"

With that, he was the first to start clapping.

Seeing this, regardless of what they actually thought, the others also raised their hands and followed suit.

However, their expressions all carried an indescribable sense of strangeness and caution.

They didn't mind a dictatorship, but could he not mess with them like this?

It was forcing these big bosses to start learning how to read the room.

...

The meeting concluded successfully.

Everyone began to disperse.

Gu Changming and his two companions were the first to walk out, heading down the somewhat empty street toward Su Wan's territory.

After leaving the building, Su Wan took a soft breath and finally spoke:

"Thank you."

"You're welcome," Gu Changming replied.

Su Wan turned her head to look at him in surprise. "Do you know what I'm thanking you for?"

"I don't," Gu Changming said, looking back at her.

"Then why did you reply?" Lin Jianqiu couldn't help but retort from the side.

"When someone says 'thank you,' isn't the next line supposed to be 'you're welcome'?" Gu Changming said as if it were obvious.

"So, what are you thanking me for?" He looked at Su Wan.

Su Wan smiled, her pace slowing down a bit.

"About the meeting just now—you didn't push me into that position. To be honest, I don't think I'm suited for it..."

Just looking after her own Battle Group already consumed most of her energy. Asking her to manage a place as large as the Xinhuo Stronghold... she truly felt she didn't have the ability.

Of course, the key was that she had self-awareness.

She wasn't cut out for administration. If she forced herself into it, she wouldn't just be hurting herself; the other humans living in the Xinhuo Stronghold might suffer as well.

So... it was best to leave the right tasks to the right people.

She was content just managing her own small corner.

"Mhm." Gu Changming nodded and then said, "Actually, I wasn't just helping you. I also think Fang Shouzheng is better for the job. Even if you hadn't spoken up, I would have."

He had witnessed Fang Shouzheng's capabilities firsthand in his past life. He had turned the Xinhuo Stronghold into one of humanity's major Strongholds. With an even greater advantage now, he would surely do even better.

As for... Su Wan... he wasn't sure if she had a talent for this. To be safe, it was better to leave the Xinhuo Stronghold to Fang Shouzheng.

However, after hearing Gu Changming's answer, the smile on Su Wan's face deepened. She tilted her head to look at him.

"Has anyone ever told you that you're quite considerate of others?"

Was he saying that just to comfort her, so she wouldn't feel like she had wasted his kindness?

Hearing Su Wan say this, Gu Changming was stunned and blinked.

What did she mean?

What he had just said were his actual thoughts.

...

The three of them reached the gate of Su Wan's territory.

Gu Changming stopped in his tracks.

Having already walked a few steps inside, Su Wan and Lin Jianqiu turned back as if sensing something.

They saw Gu Changming standing at the gate with no intention of following them in.

Su Wan understood that he was leaving again.

"Do you have things to take care of?" Su Wan asked proactively.

"Yeah." Gu Changming nodded. "I'm going to another Stronghold to find a friend I know."

"Oh." Su Wan nodded and pursed her lips, momentarily unsure of what else to say.

She had never been good at handling goodbyes.

Su Wan rubbed her fingers behind her back, then a bright smile bloomed on her face as she issued a half-joking invitation:

"My Battle Group—you've seen it, right? Do you have any interest in joining us?"

Gu Changming looked at her and also smiled. "Is that okay?"

"Of course."

"Alright," Gu Changming replied. "Then put me down as a member in name only."

The smile in Su Wan's eyes faltered for a moment, and a trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed through them.

Then, still smiling, she replied, "Sure. But since you won't be active in the group... I'll make you an Honorary Vice Leader."

"Alright, Leader," Gu Changming said with a smile.

Afterward, the two exchanged a few more pleasantries.

Gu Changming nodded to them in farewell, then turned and walked toward the Stronghold's main gate.

Once Gu Changming's figure was in the distance, Lin Jianqiu leaned her head against Su Wan's shoulder once more.

She didn't feel any sadness. Instead, she smiled and spoke in a teasing tone:

"Looking at his strength, I felt so inferior that I didn't have the confidence to speak, yet you, Madam Leader, actually invited him in the end."

Su Wan's gaze remained fixed in the direction Gu Changming had left, her tone calm.

"It's worth a try. If... he actually agreed, wouldn't we have hit the jackpot?"

Lin Jianqiu tilted her head, carefully observing Su Wan's profile and the look in her eyes.

She didn't say anything, but let out two muffled, ambiguous chuckles from her nose.

...

After leaving the Xinhuo Stronghold, Gu Changming found an open space and focused his mind.

The Mimic Beast on his shoulder spread its limbs and took flight, its form rapidly shifting. In the blink of an eye, a dark flying magic beast with a wide wingspan and a powerful build appeared in the sky.

Gu Changming leaped onto the beast's broad back.

Once he was settled, he raised his hand and pointed toward the east.

The Mimic Beast understood. With a powerful flap of its wings, it kicked up a gust of wind and flew toward the eastern horizon.

Once they reached a stable flight, Gu Changming opened his status panel.

[Strength: 301]

[Constitution: 315]

[Agility: 325]

[Spirit: 743]

After replenishing his point balance in the secret realm, Gu Changming had naturally purchased other attribute-increasing potion from the Mall to boost his stats.

Now, he was finally no longer a C-rank with incomplete attributes.

However, the effects of the eternal furnace meditation technique were just too heaven-defying, and this Assessment happened to provide an ample supply of fuel.

Currently, his Spirit attribute was more than double his other attributes.

So now, Gu Changming had to find a way to bring those other three values up.

He hadn't lied to Su Wan just now; he really was going to another Stronghold to find someone he knew.

Except... it was someone he had known in his previous life.