10: Chapter 10 Father Bai, Advanced Martial Artist

"It doesn't matter. Without awakening a Martial Aspect, there's actually no difference between a Martial Arts Junior College and a Martial Arts Undergraduate. Like me, I was also given up on by my father."

Bai Shiwei wasn't good at comforting people. After saying that, she realized it sounded like she was denying Fang Zhuo, implying that he was already destined to never awaken a Martial Aspect.

"...Um, what I meant was..."

"It's alright."

Fang Zhuo squeezed Bai Shiwei's hand and smiled.

The two snuggled together and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day.

After morning training, Fang Zhuo and Bai Shiwei set off early for the city center, heading toward the Bai family residence.

Bai Shiwei had spent a long time getting ready before leaving. After penciling in her eyebrows, her pair of peach-blossom eyes looked even more enchanting; she had put in more effort than the past two days.

She wore a light blue shirt and a black skirt that fell past her knees, revealing a segment of fair calf, with red-bottomed, black-edged high heels on her feet.

Walking along the residential road, she frequently attracted the side-glances of passersby.

This residential complex consisted entirely of housing provided by the Federal System for newlywed couples. Most of the people living here were ordinary people, with a small minority being Primary Martial Artists.

Intermediate Martial Artists were almost non-existent, and Advanced Martial Artists certainly wouldn't live here.

"I'm a bit nervous."

Bai Shiwei clung to Fang Zhuo's arm, bit her red lips, and said: "Should we go in a while? I'm not far from awakening a Martial Aspect; I'm only one spirit-nourishing pill away!"

"Or, with two or three months of hard training, there's a chance I could awaken one!"

"If we go then, we can stand a bit taller."

Bai Shiwei fluttered her beautiful eyes and looked up at Fang Zhuo. If they went now, they would inevitably face cold looks. She didn't mind for herself, but she didn't want Fang Zhuo, who had supported her so much, to suffer any grievances.

"There's no need."

Fang Zhuo smiled and said: "Let's just go. We should fulfill the proper courtesies. If we're really not welcomed, we'll just visit less in the future."

As the young couple was talking, another pair of newlyweds walked toward them.

The man and woman both looked very ordinary; placed in a crowd, they were unremarkable and would be subconsciously ignored.

"Fang Zhuo?"

Wang Meng said in surprise. When his eyes shifted to Bai Shiwei, who was holding onto Fang Zhuo, they widened significantly. What a beautiful woman; her figure and temperament were absolutely stunning!

"And this is...?"

Wang Meng asked Fang Zhuo. Although, judging by their body language and demeanor, plus the fact that they had met in this residential complex for newlywed couples provided by the Federal System, the relationship between Fang Zhuo and the woman beside him was already obvious. But... it didn't make sense!

Fang Zhuo's parents were both Primary Martial Artists, and his family's income level wasn't high. While his martial arts grades at school were good, they were limited to a Martial Arts Junior College level. He simply wasn't a match for a woman like this!

"My wife."

Fang Zhuo introduced her with a smile: "Her name is Bai Shiwei, and she attends Jinhe Martial Arts University."

"This is my college classmate, Wang Meng."

"We usually hang out a lot."

Bai Shiwei leaned closer to Fang Zhuo and smiled faintly: "Hello, classmate Wang."

"H-hello."

Wang Meng stuttered slightly. After hearing Fang Zhuo's words and seeing Bai Shiwei's posture, his heart was a mix of complicated emotions, and the envy in his eyes was practically overflowing. It was actually true...

"Fang Zhuo, I didn't expect you to have registered your marriage too. How did you meet your wife?"

"Naturally, through the Federal System matchmaking."

Fang Zhuo glanced at Bai Shiwei, who was clinging tightly to him. She really knew how to save face for him in front of outsiders... With a shift in thought, he said to his good classmate Wang Meng: "We're in a rush; we need to go to my father-in-law's house. Let's meet up and chat again when we have time."

"Ah, right!"

Wang Meng replied, his eyes fixed on the backs of Fang Zhuo and Bai Shiwei as they left, until their figures disappeared at the entrance of the residential complex.

The woman beside him then said gloomily: "They're gone!"

"You were staring straight at her; is she that good-looking? Why don't we divorce, and you can go find a pretty one?"

It was simply too much! He met a classmate and didn't even introduce her. His soul had been hooked away by someone else's wife. Did he even have her in his heart?

"A-Lian."

Wang Meng pulled himself together and laughed sheepishly: "I didn't. I haven't seen Fang Zhuo in so long, I was just a bit excited for a moment. You don't know, this guy's martial arts talent... how should I put it, it's very strange!"

"In school, he was considered a somewhat famous genius. His Life Level was excellent, exceeding level 15, and his Body Control could be called monstrous—he reached Micro-Perception!"

"It's a pity he couldn't awaken a Martial Aspect; otherwise, he would have definitely secured a guaranteed spot for the 'College to Undergraduate' program."

Wang Meng sighed with regret: "It's a shame. Fang Zhuo has basically been off-campus for the past year. I heard he was working as an instructor at a martial arts gym under the Tengfei Group to save money to buy a spirit-nourishing pill for one last attempt. I didn't expect he'd already gone through matchmaking and got married. I guess he's given up on the martial arts path."

"Oh."

Wang Lian was uninterested, her eyes becoming increasingly resentful: "So do you have me in your heart or not?"

"A-Lian, my heart has long been filled with you. There's no room for any other woman in this life."

Wang Meng said it without hesitation. Although the image of Fang Zhuo and Bai Shiwei leaving still flickered in his mind from time to time, it didn't stop him from trying to please his wife: "Women being too beautiful is useless; someone like you, my wife, is the best."

A beautiful woman is a disaster; being too pretty easily leads to trouble. Bai Shiwei was even a Martial Arts Undergraduate. That appearance, figure, and temperament were simply not something an ordinary man could handle. He didn't know what methods Fang Zhuo used to trick her into his hands. But he could trick her for a while, definitely not for a lifetime. In the future... they would most likely separate!

"Smooth-talker!"

Wang Lian crossed her arms over her chest and walked forward, wiggling her somewhat bloated waist.

...

Jinhe City, Chaoyang Residential Complex.

Located in the most prosperous commercial district of Jinhe City, the housing prices were among the most expensive in Jinhe City, over fifty thousand per square meter—almost comparable to some provincial capitals.

Fang Zhuo held Bai Shiwei's hand as they walked on the bluestone brick road of the residential complex. Looking around, he could tell it was extraordinary just from the finishing materials used on the exteriors of the houses.

"It's much higher-end than Mingyue Residential Community. This wife of mine really comes from an extraordinary family; they count as a wealthy family in Jinhe City!"

"With family conditions like this, she was actually forced to go through matchmaking in order to continue practicing martial arts."

Calculating it out, the subsidy provided by the Federal System, including the housing, was only around one million. Adding the support he promised to give each year, at most it wouldn't exceed two hundred thousand per year, which would be around one million over five years. Adding the two together made two million.

For an ordinary family, that was a lot. Most Primary Martial Artist couples couldn't come up with that much money to invest in their children's martial arts training. But the Bai family was clearly not in that category. Being able to buy a house in Chaoyang Residential Complex, with that kind of economic strength, taking out two million wasn't difficult.

Fang Zhuo looked at Bai Shiwei.

Bai Shiwei explained: "My dad is an Advanced Martial Artist with an annual income of over five million, but it shouldn't reach ten million. It sounds like a lot, right?"

Fang Zhuo nodded. Advanced Martial Artists generally had an annual income between one million and ten million. Father Bai being able to earn several million a year was indeed a lot! He must be a strong individual among Advanced Martial Artists.

"It's not much at all."

Bai Shiwei wrinkled her nose and said: "First of all, Advanced Martial Artists earn a lot, but if one wants to continue cultivating, the expenses are terrifying. My dad still has the ambition to push toward becoming a Transcendent Martial Artist."

"Also, I have many siblings. My dad has seven children; it's impossible to invest too many resources into each one. Only those who show sufficient martial arts talent will receive support, but it will only be invested up to level 15. If the Life Level reaches 15 and a Martial Aspect hasn't been awakened, he will give up."

Fang Zhuo nodded. Father Bai earned a lot, but his own expenses were high, and with so many children, he naturally had to choose the talented ones to cultivate. Looking at it this way, Bai Shiwei's choice was not hard to understand.

While Bai Shiwei was introducing the family situation to Fang Zhuo, the two arrived at the door of the Bai residence.

"Ding-dong~~~"

Bai Shiwei pressed the doorbell. Footsteps could be heard from inside the house, and after a while, the door was pulled open.

"Second Miss, you're back?"

Standing behind the door was the Bai family's nanny, Aunt Huang. Her face was full of joy.

"Aunt Huang."

Bai Shiwei nodded and asked: "Are my mom and dad both at home?"

"You brought your man back; how could I not be here?"

Before Aunt Huang could reply, a dignified cold snort rang out, and immediately after, a tall figure appeared in the line of sight of Bai Shiwei and Fang Zhuo.

Bai Qiming had a resolute face and could be called handsome, but right now, he kept a straight face, and just standing there quietly gave people a great sense of oppression.

His gaze, as if tangible, landed on Fang Zhuo, who was beside his daughter.

An inexplicable pressure struck.

Fang Zhuo felt his shoulders grow a bit heavier, but he merely straightened his back, held Bai Shiwei's hand, stepped forward, and said: "Hello, Uncle. I am Fang Zhuo, Shi Wei's husband."