Mountains and giant beasts, cabins in the woods

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible!" Liu Huimin stood up abruptly. "How old is the president? He just turned 18 this year! Besides, he's someone who's devoted to his career and spiritual practice. How could he think about such mundane things?"

"I was just saying, don't take it seriously." Xu Wenting waved her hand, picked up her chopsticks, put a piece of meat into Liu Huimin's bowl, and said, "Our little Huimin should eat more and grow up quickly, so that your club president brother might take a second look at you."

"Sister Wenting is talking nonsense! The president is younger than me, what kind of brother is he? Aren't you ashamed!" Liu Huimin quickly shrank into her seat, her face flushed.

They chatted freely over here.

Over there, Liu Xingmo walked back calmly and slammed an oil paper package onto the table.

The sound of coins clattering together filled the air.

Liu Zhili stared in disbelief: "They've already reached an agreement?"

"Hey, the boss really loves my storybooks and reads them every week. As soon as I explained why I came, he took out his money."

Liu Xingmo plopped down in his seat, picked up his bowl and chopsticks, and casually said:

"I reckon that guy didn't understand what I meant by 'GG' at all. Anyway, after we finish eating, let's find a smart guy and get them ready for next week's surge in customers."

"Amazing! You're the best, President!" Liu Zhili gave a thumbs up.

"I told you so! The president could easily handle it all by himself." Liu Huimin proudly curled the corners of her mouth.

Liu Xingmo was baffled: "What are you talking about? Does such a small matter have to go through so many twists and turns? This isn't how you flatter someone."

"Is this what a strong person is like? No wonder they attract so many admirers." Xu Wenting glanced at Liu Huimin and chuckled.

Liu Xingmo said irritably, "Stop chatting! You guys should eat quickly, you all have to write articles after you finish eating, I'll put them all together into a food column."

"Ah, no!" Liu Huimin's joy vanished completely.

"You have to take it whether you want it or not. We'll divide this bag of money later, and next week we'll go out and eat at some good restaurants. We'll have to write a report for each one. Got it?" Liu Xingmo issued the task.

The other three felt a fierce internal struggle between pain and pleasure.

……

At the dinner table, everyone naturally spoke freely.

The entire cafeteria was filled with the noisy chatter of clinking glasses.

From the fat cat at his boss to the fish and dragons in the South China Sea, from everyday family matters to world affairs, they talked about everything and nothing at all.

The four people from the newspaper quieted down and listened to the information from customers at other tables to prepare for next week's articles.

Two tables away, an older woman shouted at the top of her lungs, "My seventh great-uncle's third niece has really made something of herself! She deserves the title of Black Dragon Village's number one genius!"

Upon hearing this, Liu Xingmo secretly chuckled.

For some reason, from ancestors and elders to young and strong laborers, everyone likes the topic of "the number one genius".

To draw an analogy, it's like the fervent pursuit of being number one in exams in a past life. First in the class, first in the school, first in the district, first in the city…

In this life, being number one in Black Dragon Village is a hot topic.

In the cafeteria, someone retorted, "How can just anyone come here and call themselves a genius? Can they even compare to Liu Yizhu? He has a Bloodline Innate Body, born with the ability to control blood energy, and his cultivation progresses by leaps and bounds!"

The middle-aged woman, with her neck stiffened, shouted, "So what if you have a congenital physique? My relative's daughter also has a congenital physique! She's even more amazing; she has a martial arts congenital physique!"

Upon hearing this, some people whispered among themselves:

"Martial arts? Cultivating internal energy?"

"Now that you mention it, I have indeed heard of such a person from our village. He later went out to learn a skill from a master."

"That means we're going to the Heavenly Blade Society! There aren't many human settlements in these mountains, and the Heavenly Blade Society has a very solid martial arts tradition."

……

Some protested, "Our Black Dragon Stronghold has a long and distinguished tradition; how could we possibly lose to a bunch of镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) with their unorthodox martial arts?"

Someone chimed in, "Exactly! Our ancestors were extraordinary; the blood and wood arts they passed down are far superior to wielding a broadsword!"

The woman didn't directly refute her, but changed the subject: "Speaking of cultivation, my relative's daughter is only sixteen years old this year, and she has already entered the third level!"

Those around were truly shocked: "Two times eight is sixteen! He advanced to the third rank at the age of sixteen! He is truly a peerless genius! Liu Yizhu is twenty years old this year and is only at the peak of the second rank."

Someone who knew the inside story said, "This woman is playing tricks. I know that girl's real name is Tie Yuanying, and she's twenty-eight years old this year, not some 'twenty-eight-year-old girl'."

Some people, lacking common sense, said: "What do you mean 'two times eight equals sixteen'? What nonsense! Didn't the lady clearly say it? A twenty-eight-year-old girl."

Someone breathed a sigh of relief: "Pshaw, that scared me! Looks like my youngest can still compete..."

……

The four people at the newspaper office table looked at each other in bewilderment as they listened.

Liu Xingmo poured himself a cup of wine and drank it down in one gulp. He shook his head and sighed, "Heroes are as numerous as the men crossing the river; we are but mortals after all!"

"Haha, I am indeed a mortal." Liu Zhili chuckled self-deprecatingly, drank a glass of wine, and then looked at the young man diagonally opposite her. "But you, President, are definitely not."

"You lot, how come you've learned to flatter so well? I'm telling you, you should at least go and speak well of me to the old monkey. What's the use of praising me? I'm just an ordinary person, and I'm still only at the first level." Liu Xingmo said.

"President, you're absolutely extraordinary!" Liu Huimin leaned forward, her hands gripping the table. "Your methods and abilities are definitely a hundred or a thousand times greater than those geniuses with innate physiques! Your achievements will absolutely surpass theirs!"

Liu Xingmo was amused. He put down his wine glass and spread his hands, saying, "How could I possibly surpass such a peerless genius?"

"Use your wisdom! Use your money! President, you're only this age, yet you've earned so much money on your own, almost reaching the level of a second-tier cultivator! If you just buy some good medicine and diligently accumulate and hone your cultivation, you'll definitely be able to advance to the second tier!" Liu Huimin said with utmost seriousness.

"You're right. I also think I'm pretty sure I'll reach the second tier in my lifetime, but then what? Then it's all over." Liu Xingmo frowned, picked up a piece of meat with his chopsticks, and chewed it.

"How could it end there? Once you reach Tier 2, as long as you work for this old man, you'll definitely be able to show your true colors!"

Liu Huimin's words were surprisingly calm:

"Our library has many rare and valuable books. The main family frequently sends people to consult them, and also seeks the old man's opinion. With your vision and skill, President, you're sure to make a name for yourself in the eyes of the managers and elders! Once you're appreciated, you can naturally be promoted to the third rank!"

"You actually think I can reach the third rank just by talking? Should I say you're a little girl who doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth..." Liu Xingmo smiled bitterly and poured another cup of wine.

"It's more than just tier three!"

Liu Huimin's eyes seemed to be flashing with fire, and her dark pupils reflected the young man's appearance.

"President, once you join the main family, helping to manage the affairs of the entire Black Dragon Stronghold will be a piece of cake, won't it? The ancestor will definitely like you very much and reward you with a rare beast. You can even reach the fourth rank, no! You'll definitely reach the fifth rank!"

Liu Xingmo was genuinely surprised this time.

Even in his most beautiful dreams, he never dared to think in this direction.

He looked up and saw three pairs of bright eyes, filled with trust and expectation.

He laughed: "My God, you guys think way too highly of your club president!"