83: The size of one's heart

Three days passed in a row.

The morning of September 20th.

Inside the high-level meeting room of Jinling Martial Arts University.

Many people sat around a square-shaped long table, many of whom had appeared at the opening ceremony.

Among them were Mu Linxi, Dean of the Wood Department, whom Chen Qing had met, and Yan Tianhao, Dean of the Fire Department.

At the head of the long table sat Xu Jingzhong, the principal of Jinling Martial Arts University, who had spoken at the opening ceremony.

Xu Jingzhong sat silently at the head of the table, not saying a word.

“Hmph! The Federation is clearly targeting us, Jinling Martial Arts University! Holding the Youth Martial Arts Competition at such a critical juncture is just to make things difficult for us!” A burly middle-aged man with rough features slammed the conference table, indignantly saying, “For these past few years, our Jinling Martial Arts University students have been warlike, suffering heavy casualties in missions, and among this year’s senior students, we can’t even find a few fourth-rank students!

Yet the Federation, of all times, chooses to hold some Youth Martial Arts Competition now!”

“Lei Zhan, use your brain when you speak! Why would the Federation target Jinling Martial Arts University for no reason? Don’t say such things again!” A mild-mannered middle-aged man reprimanded him, his eyes sharp and incisive, then continued, “We can’t blame the Federation for this. I heard that this time it was jointly proposed by several major regions outside of the Chinese Region, and the Federation had no choice but to agree.”

“Song Xin, you just think too highly of them! What is the strength of the Chinese Region? What is their strength? When did it become their turn to call the shots on such matters?”

Song Xin, helpless, said coldly, “What do you know? This isn’t a matter of strength; the Federation also needs to consider the overall situation. Moreover, the Federation probably wanted to hold such a Martial Arts Competition for a long time, and it’s also a good opportunity to observe the strength of the new generation.”

“Song Xin is right. Humanity has been at a disadvantage in the Space Battlefield for years. Why? Is it not because the power of the new generation is insufficient?

The Federation also hopes that more hope can emerge. Students may not know about the front-line battles, but how could you and I not know?

The higher-ups are also a bit anxious.” In a seat relatively close to the main seat, a handsome, sunny-looking middle-aged man sat upright, his brows tightly furrowed.

“Old Zhang, you’ve been to the front lines many times, what’s the situation really like?” Lei Zhan asked.

Zhang Chengguang shook his head: “Not good. A large-scale battle just occurred two days ago. The Giant Spirit Star organized an attack, and both sides suffered heavy casualties. Roughly estimated, our low-rank Martial Artists suffered over ten thousand dead or injured!”

“That many?”

“This is just a rough estimate from before I returned; the battle might still continue.” Zhang Chengguang looked around, his gaze sweeping over a woman across from him whose figure was hidden in shadows, and continued, “Moreover, I also learned a piece of information this time.”

At the head of the table, Xu Jingzhong remained silent, listening quietly.

“Something happened in the European Union Region. I heard that an unprecedented major battle occurred in a certain small battlefield! That small battlefield seemed to have gone mad, launching an all-out war against Blue Star!”

As soon as these words came out, many people on both sides of the long table sat up straight, waiting for more.

“The European Union Region doesn’t seem to have revealed the specific reason, but I learned that they once requested support from the Federation, but the Federation did not respond. I don’t know why.”

“Could it be trouble they brought upon themselves?” Song Xin proposed a guess.

The Federation has always advocated for unity and has no reason not to consider the European Union Region’s demands in such matters, yet this time there was no response.

It was a bit abnormal.

Zhang Chengguang nodded: “That possibility cannot be ruled out. Although the higher-ups are busy with front-line battles, they cannot ignore battles in other battlefields.

So I suspect that this Federation Youth Martial Arts Competition is also a probe from the European Union Region!

They are sending a signal of dissatisfaction to the Federation, or rather, to the Chinese Region government!”

“What? Do they want to use this to demonstrate their power?” Lei Zhan scoffed.

“It is a demonstration! Otherwise, why would they suddenly make such a fuss publicly? Either they want to use this opportunity to test the Federation’s bottom line, or they want to suppress us using the younger generation.” Song Xin echoed.

“A bunch of useless old farts! The old ones can’t beat us, now they’re calling the young ones to back them up, no backbone!”

In the closest seat to the left of the head of the long table, an old woman gently tapped the ground twice with her cane.

Hearing the sound, Lei Zhan quickly shut up and reined in his temper.

Seeing this, Zhang Chengguang continued: “Since we generally know the other party’s intentions, the Chinese Region’s high-level officials must also be expecting us Martial Arts Universities to contribute.

As one of the four famous schools in the Chinese Region, Jinling Martial Arts University naturally cannot fall behind. This is also a good opportunity to showcase our strength.”

He looked at Yan Tianhao in the lower half of the long table and said, “Tianhao, the Fire Department is primarily combat-oriented, and you have many talented people in your Fire Department. How about you take on the role of the person in charge of Jinling Martial Arts University’s side of this Martial Arts Competition?”

Yan Tianhao, who had not spoken until now, was stunned when he heard this. Seeing everyone’s gazes on him, he felt a bit flustered and quickly replied, “Brother Zhang, the Fire Department has a lot of things going on right now, and the overall strength of our students isn’t very good. Plus, I don’t have any experience leading a team like this. How about we find someone else?”

This was not an easy task. Didn’t Lei Zhan say at the beginning that Jinling Martial Arts University’s student casualties have been high in recent years?

The previous batch of seniors had just graduated, and among this new batch of senior students, he hadn’t heard of many outstanding talents.

Zhang Chengguang’s expression showed slight displeasure. He frowned and said, “Tianhao, entrusting this matter to you is a sign of trust! Are you trying to shirk responsibility?”

Yan Tianhao quickly shook his head. Although he usually liked to act wild with Yang Chen, in front of this Dean of the Light Department, he still knew how to advance and retreat.

“Then I’ll take on this task, but Brother Zhang, I really lack experience. How about you find me a partner to help each other out?”

Zhang Chengguang thought for a moment and looked at the two seats at the very end of the long table: one was occupied by Mu Linxi, Dean of the Wood Department, and the other was empty.

“Then I’ll trouble Linxi. Linxi is good at healing, and the final stage of this competition will likely be held in reality. Students are bound to get injured, so your help would be appreciated.”

Mu Linxi smiled and nodded, not declining.

Zhang Chengguang then looked at the empty seat opposite Mu Linxi, a bit annoyed: “Where’s Yang Chen?”

Everyone was silent.

Yang Chen was always like this; he’d shrug his face, harden his heart, and dive into his research lab, not caring about anyone.

There weren’t many things that could make him appear in person.

Mu Linxi thought for a moment and explained for him: “Dean Yang has been very engrossed in his research lately; he’s probably close to a breakthrough.”

“Nonsense breakthrough!”

It wasn’t Zhang Chengguang who swore, but Xu Jingzhong, who had been silent at the head of the table.

He said with a cold face, “That kid is playing a trick on me!”

He called Yang Chen “kid” because he was indeed much older than Yang Chen.

“Heh! Last time, he dared to openly mock me at the opening ceremony. It’s merciful of me not to have revoked his research institute! Wasn’t it just revoking the Ice Department’s subsidy? He actually dares to play a trick on me!

His heart is too small!”

Everyone else remained silent, feeling a bit speechless.

Principal, someone just mocked you a couple of times, and you directly cut off their funding. You say his heart is small, but your heart isn’t exactly big either!