37: Chapter 37 Chengxi, Apologizing to Lin Mo

"Fine blade technique..."

The middle-aged man known as Mr. Zheng stared at Lin Mo with a look of shock.

"Let me see that strike of yours again!"

The middle-aged man said.

His tone wasn't a request; it was a statement.

"My blade isn't for show! If you want to see it, you can come and try it yourself!"

Battle intent soared in Lin Mo's eyes.

Uncle Zheng didn't get angry; instead, he nodded and said:

"Good, you're right. That kind of blade technique isn't for show!"

Seeing that Lin Mo didn't respond, Uncle Zheng asked:

"Young man, what rank was that blade technique just now?"

Lin Mo remained silent.

Uncle Zheng wasn't annoyed either, and instead continued to himself:

"Rank A, or Rank S?!"

As soon as he spoke, everyone around them froze.

Li Chengxi's mouth hung open.

The two recruited veterans were also stunned, looking at Uncle Zheng in shock.

"No... that's impossible, right?"

"Mr. Zheng, could you have seen it wrong?!"

"A Rank A blade technique? He's just a student, how could he possibly..."

The other veteran also said in shock:

"Mr. Zheng, that kid's strike just now didn't have anything special about it other than being a bit fast. Are you sure you didn't misjudge it?"

Neither of them doubted Uncle Zheng's discernment.

But it was truly hard to believe that what Lin Mo had just performed was a Rank A or even a Rank S blade technique.

In this world, technique ranks from low to high were: E, D, C, B, A, S, and Super S.

Rank E blade techniques were the lowest level; students like Lin Mo, who were still in the foundation-building stage, usually mastered this kind of technique.

Rank D blade techniques could mostly be mastered by ordinary Awakeners after a few years of hard work, and the difficulty of cultivation wasn't high.

Rank C blade techniques could be mastered by elite soldiers and low-level officers, but they had a certain level of difficulty and required dedicated study.

The several Tier 2 veterans present had basically mastered one or two Rank C blade techniques.

Rank B blade techniques saw a massive jump in difficulty; even if a low-tier Awakener studied them for decades, they might not master them, as they required extremely high comprehension.

And Rank A blade techniques? Even among high-tier Awakeners of Tier 3 and above, very few had mastered them.

In the entire Southeast Military Region, there were probably no more than a hundred people who had mastered a Rank A technique.

As for Rank S blade techniques...

They were almost legendary.

Those who could master such a technique... were legends themselves!

Ordinary Awakeners would never even see them.

And now, Uncle Zheng was saying that this student's strike just now was at least Rank A, or even Rank S?

Uncle Zheng ignored the shocked gazes of those around him.

He just looked at Lin Mo and said to himself:

"I've practiced the blade for thirty-seven years and have mastered three Rank B blade techniques!"

"But in terms of subtlety, not one of them can match your strike from just now!"

"I can vaguely sense that the realm of your strike has already transcended the scope of mere technique. Its power is beyond imagination. If you practice for a few more years, I'm afraid even I won't be your match..."

These words were like a bomb exploding in the crowd.

"Uncle Zheng?!"

"But you're at Tier 3, Level 7..."

"So what if I'm Tier 3, Level 7?"

"Young Master, you don't understand..."

Uncle Zheng interrupted him.

Li Chengxi's expression changed completely; the look he gave Lin Mo shifted from anger to shock.

Uncle Zheng walked up to Lin Mo and lowered his posture, saying:

"Young man, your name is Lin Mo, right? I apologize to you on behalf of our young master. I hope you won't hold the unpleasantness that just occurred against him..."

Lin Mo was stunned.

The others around them were even more dumbfounded.

Normally, even when facing Li Chengxi, Uncle Zheng spoke more as an elder and had never acted like this.

But this time, Uncle Zheng, whose cultivation was as high as Tier 3, Level 7, actually adopted such a humble posture before Lin Mo.

"A misunderstanding? That didn't look like a misunderstanding just now!"

Lin Mo snapped out of it and said indifferently.

"Chengxi! Come here and apologize to little brother Lin Mo in person!"

Uncle Zheng barked.

Li Chengxi's pupils dilated instantly as he looked at Uncle Zheng in shock, seemingly unable to believe his ears.

"Uncle Zheng, you... you want me to apologize?"

Seeing that Li Chengxi didn't seem to understand the underlying meaning of his words, Uncle Zheng quickly walked to his side and said in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Young Master, you must recruit this Lin Mo!"

Li Chengxi swallowed. "Uncle Zheng, I know he's a genius, but his personality..."

"How do you still not understand what I mean?"

Uncle Zheng was getting a little angry.

"When I say 'recruit,' I don't mean like those pieces of trash you took in before! I mean treating him as your right-hand man, cultivating him as a future confidant!"

Li Chengxi was stunned.

This was the first time Uncle Zheng had ever been angry with him.

"You know the situation on your mother's side best. How fierce is the competition within the Zheng family in Yanjing?"

"How many people are eyeing those seats on the Awakener Alliance Board of Directors?"

"Which of those cousins of yours hasn't been making moves since they were young, recruiting geniuses from all over?"

"Even though your father is a high-ranking official in the Military Department's Southeast War Zone, can those military connections be brought into the Zheng family's struggles? No, they can't!"

Li Chengxi's face flickered with uncertainty; of course he knew all this.

His surname was Li, not Zheng—that was his greatest disadvantage.

Although his mother was a direct daughter of the Zheng family and he had a place there, compared to those cousins who grew up in Yanjing, he was just an outsider related by marriage.

"You need help—real geniuses who can help you win the family competition!"

"With Lin Mo's talent, if he were in one of those top noble families in Yanjing, people would have gone crazy trying to snatch him up."

"Securing him is far more useful than keeping a hundred pieces of trash!"

Li Chengxi took a deep breath.

He finally understood what Uncle Zheng meant.

This wasn't about recruiting a thug; it was about investing in a future powerhouse.

He looked at Lin Mo, his gaze completely transformed.

"Brother Lin Mo!"

Li Chengxi's face instantly broke into a smile as he stepped forward, his expression so fawning it was almost sickening.

Lin Mo's brow furrowed slightly.

"It was all a misunderstanding, all a misunderstanding!"

"I, Li Chengxi, failed to recognize your greatness and offended you! Please don't take it to heart, brother!"

Lin Mo raised an eyebrow, looking at Li Chengxi like he was a patient having a sudden fit.

Li Chengxi didn't mind at all and turned to bark at his confidants:

"What are you all standing there for? Hurry up and help Captain Wu inside to treat his wounds! Use the best medicine!"

The two confidants froze for a moment before hurriedly stepping forward to help up the heavily injured Wu Feng.

Wu Feng looked at Lin Mo, completely bewildered.

Lin Mo nodded slightly, signaling Wu Feng to go get treated first and leave the rest to him!

Li Chengxi turned to look at the three veterans—no, there were only two left now.

The smile on his face faded slightly, and his tone became more normal.

"A Liang's death was an accident. Blame him for offending brother Lin Mo himself; if he's dead, then he's dead. You two, go back and pack up. Someone will take you to a new station shortly."

The two veterans shuddered.

How could A Liang's death be an accident?

How did it become A Liang who proactively offended Lin Mo?

It was clearly you, Li Chengxi, who gave the order!

They understood.

This was... treating them as disposable pawns.

Going to a new station? It was clearly kicking them out!

But Li Chengxi had already walked away, all his attention now focused on Lin Mo.

"Brother Lin Mo, come, come, let's talk inside! I have some fine Spirit Tea brought from Yanjing. I wouldn't dream of bringing it out for just anyone!"

Lin Mo didn't move.

He just watched Li Chengxi quietly, like he was watching a performing monkey.

The smile on Li Chengxi's face stiffened for a moment, but he immediately regained his composure.

He lowered his voice, speaking at a volume only the two of them could hear:

"Brother, I know you have a prejudice against me, but I, Li Chengxi, am not the type to hold a grudge. You killed my man just now, but I won't pursue it. You called me trash, but I'm not angry. I just want to be your friend."

He paused and said sincerely:

"I truly want to help you. A genius like you coming to the front lines—isn't it because you want to become stronger?"

"While I may not be that powerful myself, I have people behind me. Techniques, resources, spirit medicine—as long as you say the word, I'll find a way to get them for you."

"And the conditions?"

Lin Mo finally spoke.