12: Chapter 12 ends on bad terms; Dad delivers goods to the door.

At the Bai family dinner table, the atmosphere was heavy.

After whispering a few words to his wife, Bai Qiming's gaze remained strange; he would occasionally sweep a cold look over Fang Zhuo and then glance at Bai Shiwei with a hint of anger.

He chewed his food in silence, looking particularly gritted-toothed.

Fang Zhuo remained calm and collected, taking a few symbolic bites.

He had already withstood his mother-in-law's overt 'offensive,' so why should he fear his father-in-law's gaze? Besides, no matter how sharp the look, he wouldn't lose a piece of flesh from it.

Bai Shiwei sat beside Fang Zhuo, occasionally putting food into his bowl while glaring back at her father, which made Bai Qiming grit his teeth in frustration.

Bai Gubei sat next to her second sister, picking at her rice in small bites. She didn't dare to be mischievous at the dinner table, as she was quite afraid of her father.

Bai Heng had the most voracious appetite, stuffing food into his mouth and swallowing it after barely chewing twice. More than half of the dozen or so dishes had already gone into his stomach.

He can really eat; that digestive ability...

Fang Zhuo clicked his tongue inwardly as he watched.

Thanks to Bai Shiwei's introduction, Fang Zhuo naturally recognized this brother-in-law; he was a genius who had awakened a Superior Martial Aspect.

Word was that he was only in his first year of high school, yet the only two Martial Arts Undergraduate institutions in Jinhe City had already offered him special admission quotas. As long as he enrolled after graduating high school, he would receive a 20 million martial arts scholarship.

Twenty million...!

However, while it sounded like a lot, in reality, for a genius who had awakened a Superior Martial Aspect, this treatment wasn't actually exaggerated.

Judging from past news reports.

Geniuses who awakened a Superior Martial Aspect, as long as they didn't encounter any accidents during high school training and their growth curve remained normal, could often get guaranteed admission to top-tier martial arts universities on New Moon.

There were plenty of martial arts conglomerates, large commercial, technology, and energy companies willing to invest in them.

Fang Zhuo wasn't clear on the details of the contracts they offered, but they certainly wouldn't be lower than 20 million.

Fang Zhuo sighed inwardly.

If he didn't have the system, he might struggle for a lifetime and still never even see the back of a genius who had awakened a Superior Martial Aspect.

But, there were no "ifs"...

Thinking of the Martial Aspect he had visualized, it was definitely not inferior to the nine recorded Superior Martial Aspects!

In the future, these geniuses were destined to just be the threshold to seeing his back!

"Second Sister."

Bai Heng suddenly put down his chopsticks, pulled out some paper to wipe his mouth messily, and muttered: "If you aren't resigned to it and really want to continue practicing martial arts, there's no need to take this path. Just lower your head and apologize to Dad. I can spend a little less each month so Dad can give the money to you."

"You marrying a Martial Arts Junior College student is just too demeaning."

Fang Zhuo raised an eyebrow and looked calmly at his brother-in-law.

He had been silent earlier, crazily stuffing his face; Fang Zhuo hadn't realized he had such a volatile temper. Indeed, the dogs that bite don't bark.

Bai Shiwei said angrily: "Shut up! My business is not for you to manage!"

Bai Heng stopped talking upon hearing this. He didn't look annoyed after being scolded; he just spread his hands and looked at his father.

Immediately after, he picked up his chopsticks and continued to stuff his face.

Fang Zhuo felt a sudden realization in his heart.

That's what I thought; this brother-in-law really didn't seem to have any ill intentions. His words and actions were more like those of a pure martial artist obsessed with martial arts.

It wouldn't be strange if his father-in-law had instructed him.

Even a clay figurine has three parts of anger; this father-in-law had always been at odds with his wife and had never given him a good look either.

Fang Zhuo picked up a peanut and tossed it into his mouth, then looked at Bai Qiming and said: "Jiang Chen, one of our Xia Kingdom's Flying Martial Artists—I wonder what his educational background is?"

Bai Qiming sneered, his tone disdainful: "What are you trying to say? Out of ten million Martial Arts Junior College students, can one Jiang Chen emerge? Can you compare yourself to Jiang Chen?"

This remark left Fang Zhuo speechless.

He didn't originally want to say anything more; arguing for verbal advantage was not as good as returning early to cultivate. Once he awakened his Martial Aspect and raised his Life Level, it would be far more persuasive than empty threats.

Bai Shiwei was full of anger and was about to flip the table to argue with her father.

Seeing this, Fang Zhuo had no choice but to say:

"If there can be one Jiang Chen, there can be a second."

Bai Qiming laughed: "Confidence is a good thing, but blind confidence is arrogance."

"Talking about Jiang Chen is too far; if you can just awaken a Martial Aspect and become an Advanced Martial Artist in the future, that would count as you being impressive."

A Martial Arts Junior College student, yet he dared to fantasize about comparing himself to Jiang Chen.

Jiang Chen was what kind of figure? The strongest Martial Arts Junior College student in history!

The Federation's first powerhouse to break through to Flying Martial Artist with a Martial Arts Junior College degree!

The words his wife had just relayed—Fang Zhuo had originally held a little bit of goodwill in his heart, but now it had all turned into disgust.

"Then let's wait and see."

Fang Zhuo snorted coldly; he was also getting fired up, so he stood up immediately.

Bai Shiwei also stood up.

Seeing his daughter acting like this, Bai Qiming's anger grew even more. He said: "Wait and see? I'll be waiting. If you can become an Advanced Martial Artist, I'll eat this table on the spot!"

"Bai Shiwei, you stay here!"

"You are not allowed to leave with this kid!"

Fang Zhuo didn't look back and strode away.

Bai Shiwei followed closely behind him, turning a deaf ear to Bai Qiming's roaring.

...

Bang! Bai Qiming slammed his fist onto the dinner table.

Soup splashed out, affecting Bai Heng, who was still burying his head in stuffing his face.

"Undutiful daughter!"

"This is simply outrageous! We worked so hard to raise her, and in her heart, she doesn't even value us as much as some yellow-haired college brat?"

Bai Heng wiped his face with paper, completely oblivious, and continued stuffing his face.

Bai Gubei sat uneasily, feeling worried about her second sister in her heart. She wanted to chase after them but didn't dare to slip out under her father's nose.

Xu Xue thought of Fang Zhuo's firm attitude in the study and sighed: "Old man, don't be angry anymore. Apart from his family background and martial arts talent not being a match for our daughter, Fang Zhuo is really not bad in other aspects."

"With his character, he will be able to accomplish something in the workplace in the future. If our daughter follows him, life won't be too difficult."

Bai Qiming snorted coldly: "Didn't you say this kid still wants to practice martial arts? Both of their Life Levels have long since passed the line; if they can't awaken a Martial Aspect, who knows how much money they will waste by overdrawing? By the time they settle down, I'm afraid they won't be able to live!"

"Besides."

"I just don't like this kid!"

Bai Qiming looked furious. He was an Advanced Martial Artist with an annual income of several million, yet he was questioned to his face by a Martial Arts Junior College student. Did he have no face left?

"Alright."

Xu Xue rolled her eyes at her husband: "At the end of the day, you still feel that your daughter doesn't respect you and doesn't hold you in her heart. Think about it yourself: have you ever truly held her in your heart?"

Bai Qiming raised an eyebrow but fell silent.

Perhaps he had indeed been too cold-hearted toward his other children?

After a long time, Bai Qiming looked at his youngest son and daughter and said: "Bai Heng, you should work harder in the future."

"Gubei, didn't you want to practice martial arts? Dad will give you 100,000 every year from now on. During your foundation-building stage, you can spend it as you see fit. If you can rank in the top 100 of your grade, Dad will increase it to 200,000 a year."

Bai Heng didn't say anything, just glanced at his twin sister.

Bai Gubei was delighted, but then looked at her father and shook her head: "Dad, when I had my Martial Aspect tested at school, the predicted awakening probability was less than 1%, so I won't waste the money."

"Let's just save it all for... Second Sister?"

"Second Sister's tested awakening probability was 80%. I believe..."

"Enough!"

Bai Qiming interrupted his youngest daughter and said coldly: "I don't need you to arrange how I do things. The money will be transferred to you in a moment. Do whatever you want with it."

...

Gardener Residential Complex. Inside the Federation resettlement housing.

Fang Zhuo and Bai Shiwei had gone out with high spirits and returned in low spirits; neither of them was in a good mood.

Especially Bai Shiwei; her pretty face was full of bitterness.

After entering the house and taking off her high heels, Bai Shiwei hugged Fang Zhuo from behind and said: "Hubby, don't take my parents' words to heart. In the future, we will live our own lives and won't go to see them!"

"It's okay."

Fang Zhuo turned around and pulled Bai Shiwei into his embrace: "You will awaken a Martial Aspect, and I will awaken a Martial Aspect too. In the future, they will regret this."

"...Mm."

Bai Shiwei's smile was forced. She would definitely be able to awaken, but her husband had given all the resources to her, and his own talent was not as good as hers, so it would be difficult for him to awaken a Martial Aspect.

The two held each other tightly and, without realizing it, began to kiss passionately.

Just then, the doorbell rang.

"Who?"

Fang Zhuo was a bit annoyed and let go of Bai Shiwei. The two hurriedly straightened their clothes.

He hadn't bought any express delivery, and not many friends knew about this Federation resettlement house; who would come to find him?

"Your old man!"

Fang Wu's rough voice rang out from outside the door.