My Ares Son-in-Law

The tense, almost palpable atmosphere was abruptly ripped open by this explosion.

Duanmu Jue's brows furrowed sharply, and a barely perceptible fluctuation appeared in the killing intent he had been gathering. His gaze, sharp as a hawk's, shot towards the doorway, his eyes icy and piercing.

Outside the gate, where the dust had not yet completely settled, a dozen figures stood tall like javelins before filing in one after another.

Their steps were perfectly synchronized, landing silently, their movements carrying the crispness and chilling precision characteristic of the military, their aura as solid and unyielding as iron. Their uniform dark green combat uniforms, adorned with striking and imposing dark gold insignia on their armbands, were uniformly bold and dignified.

The two men at the front were Zhuang Yuan, the garrison commander of the Western Region. One had a square face, slightly graying temples, and eyes as calm as a deep pool. The other was slightly younger, with a cold and stern face and sharp eyes like an eagle. He was Li Can.

What truly made Duanmu Jue's pupils shrink abruptly was the weapon Li Can held level in his hand. It was entirely matte black, with a streamlined gun body that gleamed with a cold, hard metallic luster, exuding a sense of futuristic technology.

The muzzle was not a normal circle, but a slightly expanded hexagon, with faint blue energy flowing wildly inside, ready to be released, and it was steadily aimed at his forehead!

Duanmu Jue felt a chill run down his spine, instinctively feeling a pang of fear.

He could clearly sense that the energy condensed at the muzzle was not aimed at the physical body, but rather precisely locked onto the dantian and meridians upon which a martial artist depended for survival, emitting a strange fluctuation that made him instinctively repel and be alert.

The Martial Arts Army's "Flame of Ashes" series of specially made weapons! It is said to be designed specifically to deal with "extraordinary beings," and it was highly controversial from the very beginning of its project, but unexpectedly it has already been officially deployed!
Xiao Chen's gaze also fell on this group of uninvited guests, a barely perceptible hint of surprise flashing in his eyes before he regained his composure. Martial Arts Army? Their appearance at this moment was indeed unexpected.

Zhuang Yuan stepped into the hall without stopping, walking straight between Xiao Chen and Duanmu Jue, his gaze sweeping over the mess on the floor like a hawk.

The shattered floor tiles, scattered cups and plates, the unconscious Dragon Group members, and Ao Feiyang, whose dantian was destroyed and who was lying on the ground with only half a breath left, finally settled on Xiao Chen's calm and expressionless face.

He then turned to Duanmu Jue, who was filled with murderous intent, his brows furrowing instantly, his face so dark it could drip water.

“Zhuang Yuan,” Duanmu Jue spoke first, his voice as cold as ice. His left hand remained in a clenched position, the suspended, trembling wood chips and spikes still firmly locked onto Xiao Chen. “What do you mean by this?”

He paused, his tone suddenly becoming more forceful, his words carrying the unquestionable authority unique to the Dragon Group's top brass: "You should know that when it comes to the 'supernatural' level, the Dragon Group has the highest priority to handle such matters! Have you considered the consequences of overstepping your authority and interfering?"

Zhuang Yuan met Duanmu Jue's icy gaze and took a step forward.

His martial arts skills may not be as good as Duanmu Jue's, but at this moment his spine was as straight as a pine tree and his aura as steady as a mountain was not weak at all. He withstood Duanmu Jue's pressure without flinching.

“Lord Duanmu,” Zhuang Yuan’s voice was deep and resonant, carrying the steely quality honed by military experience, echoing in the deathly silent hall, “this matter has long exceeded the scope of the Dragon Group’s jurisdiction.”

Duanmu Jue raised an eyebrow, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes: "Oh? Could it be that you're bringing up those trivial matters of your Western Martial Arts Army?"

Zhuang Yuan didn't reply, but slowly turned to the side, his gaze falling on Xiao Chen again.

A complex look flashed across his eyes, a mixture of seriousness about the situation, apprehension about Xiao Chen's strength, and a firm resolve that had already been made. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling slightly, and said in a deep voice, "Mr. Xiao Chen is the chief instructor of my Western Martial Arts Army."

The words "Chief Instructor" resounded like three thunderclaps in the hall!

Duanmu Jue shuddered, his expression drastically changing. The Dragon Group warriors behind him, barely managing to stay upright, all had their pupils shrink to pinpoints, their faces filled with disbelief and shock, as if they had heard a fairy tale. The Chief Instructor of the Western Martial Arts Army?!

This was no ordinary position; it was a virtually legendary honorary title!
Only those with extraordinary abilities or terrifying foundations that overturn existing understanding of martial arts can possibly get their hands on it!

Behind these three words is not only the endorsement of the special organization, the Western Martial Arts Army, but also the will of the appointer. It is the absolute trust jointly granted by the highest power and military force in the Dragon Kingdom!
In other words, behind Xiao Chen stands not a certain institution, but the heavens, which are powerful enough to determine the fate of the world!

"hiss……"

A suppressed gasp rang out, exceptionally clear in the otherwise silent hall, breaking the brief stillness.

The murderous intent surging in Duanmu Jue's eyes vanished instantly, as if doused with ice water, replaced by deep apprehension and suspicion.

He stared intently at Zhuang Yuan, his voice filled with suppressed rage, almost gritting his teeth as he asked, "Zhuang Yuan, are you determined to protect him? Have you thought carefully about the consequences of taking this step today?"

His speech suddenly quickened, each word like a heavy hammer blow chilled to the bone, striking the heart with devastating force:

"This means that the 30-year cooperation framework between the Western Martial Arts Army and the Dragon Group has completely collapsed!"

"From this day forward, the Dragon Group will stand idly by in handling all your thorny cases in the realm of the extraordinary, and in all missions requiring high-end military support! How many elites will you lose? How many avoidable sacrifices will you suffer? How much infamy and accountability will you bear?"

“And you, Zhuang Yuan,” Duanmu Jue’s gaze was like a knife and a sword, fiercely slashing at Zhuang Yuan’s face.

"How many more days can you hold onto this position? Is it worth risking the future of the entire Western Martial Arts Army, and your own life and future, for a brat who doesn't know his own limitations?!"

Zhuang Yuan fell silent.

Every word Duanmu Jue uttered struck the deepest part of his heart.

He had already weighed these consequences repeatedly. The cooperation and checks and balances between the Western Martial Arts Army and the Dragon Group involved a complex web of interests, and once things came to a head, the chain reaction would be incalculable.

His gaze involuntarily drifted towards Xiao Chen.

The young man remained as upright as a pine tree, standing still in place. There was no joy at surviving a disaster, no smugness at taking advantage of the situation, only a deep, unfathomable calm.

Beneath that calm was an almost indifferent confidence, as if the confrontation before him, which was enough to cause a rift between two martial arts giants and a choice that concerned the fate of countless people, was nothing more than a gentle breeze brushing against a mountain, insignificant to him.

The top-secret assessment report flashed through Zhuang Yuan's mind, along with a vague yet chilling description that sent shivers down his spine every time he thought of it:

"...Suspected of possessing an unknown power that transcends the existing 'martial arts' system, the threat level is tentatively set at 'unpredictable.' It is recommended to adopt the highest level of contact strategy and strictly prohibit any attempts to escalate the conflict..."

His jawline suddenly tightened, as if severing all hesitation. He abruptly turned his head, staring directly at Duanmu Jue, and spoke each word with force and conviction, like a thunderclap:
"With Mr. Xiao here, it is a blessing for the martial arts of our Dragon Kingdom, a guarantee of national stability, and a source of peace for the people!" (End of Chapter)