Chapter 292: Three Reasons

"Yes, Master!" Zhang Lie's two apprentices lowered their heads.

Zhang Hanxiang gripped her brother's arm. "Brother, you can't blame Jiuxiao and Xianchen for their actions, can you? You were gone for three whole months! They were training so hard in an attempt to avenge you..."

"...avenge? All of you, listen up: I'm not that easy to defeat or kill. If this sort of thing happens again, just calm down and go about your lives as usual. Jiuxiao, Xianchen—I won't have you ruining your bodies like that after my careful tutelage, do you understand? I still need the two of you to help take care of my sister! Alright, all of you, go and rest!"

The three youths scurried off as Zhang Lie returned to the second realm.

Back in the second realm, in the Qi manor, because Zhang Lie had mentioned that he would only be gone for half a day, Xiao Zhengyang had Zhou Liao wait for Zhang Lie's return. Since it was time for lunch, he naturally invited Zhou Liao to dine with him; thanks to Zhang Lie, Zhou Liao had his first meal at Governor Xiao's manor.

Zhou Liao, Xiao Zhengyang, and his wife had a pleasant conversation over a simple but surprisingly delicious lunch.

As one of Xiao Zhengyang's direct subordinates, Zhou Liao deeply respected him for his candor and treatment of his troops. No matter the directive, he would take some time to consider how his troops would feel and what they would need, unlike a few other governors in the second realm, who were perfectly willing to exchange their subordinates' lives for more resources.

As such, even though it was their first time dining together, the mood was convivial and conversation flowed easily. Zhang Lie naturally came up as a topic of some interest.

"Head, why the fuss over Zhang Lie? I'm surprised you're willing to advance him so rapidly."

Xiao Zhengyang gave him a meaningful smile. "Do you really want to know?"

Zhou Liao nodded fervently.

"There are three reasons I value him so highly. First, his strength is immense—even as a newcomer to the second realm, he's at least my equal in terms of strength. Second, as you know, I'm close friends with Commander Yan Long, and he's strongly recommended Zhang Lie to me before. He even told me to give up the governor's seat to Zhang Lie if he asked for it! Finally, Zhang Lie's reputation alone would shine a spotlight on the special forces of Qi. Given these factors, I hope you understand how important it is to treat him well."

Xiao Zhengyang's reasoning shocked the other two at the dining table. Even his wife was stupefied, let alone Zhou Liao. She had never heard him praise a hunter from the younger generation so highly before.

"Head, are you serious? Is he as strong as you claim?" Zhou Liao was flabbergasted by the claim that Zhang Lie was Xiao Zhengyang's equal.

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

Even Xiao Zhengyang's wife turned to him, as if awaiting his answer.

"I'm sure of it—I even think he's hiding the true extent of his strength from me, so he's even more frightening than what either of you are suspecting. You understand why I don't want him to take part in the official selection process now, don't you?"

Zhou Liao simply couldn't believe what Governor Xiao was saying. That would imply that Zhang Lie was at the peak of the second realm even as a newcomer—how could this be?! He had heard a little about the theory of limit fragments that Zhang Lie had promulgated. Were these its effects? How ridiculous!

At that moment, Zhou Liao decided that he would have to become close with Zhang Lie, no matter what. Who knew if there would be some opportunity for him to benefit from Zhang Lie's strength in the future?

He would, at the very least, let Zhang Lie do as he pleased.

"Zhengyang, did Commander Yan Long really say to make him the governor of Qi if he wanted it?" Lai Yunyun, Xiao Zhengyang's wife, was more shocked by this errant comment.

Xiao Zhengyang turned back to his wife and smiled. "Don't worry, he won't want our drab little city. Someone like Zhang Lie couldn't be tempted even with a thousand such cities."

Neither of the other two at the table dared to probe further. Both of them had only one thought in their minds: never to provoke Zhang Lie! Zhou Liao pledged that he would certainly give Zhang Lie no cause for displeasure.

Somehow, as a result of this lunch, Zhang Lie became one of the most influential figures of the city, backed by the governor, his wife, and the leader of the special forces of Qi.

Not long after the lunch finished, Zhang Lie appeared at the gates to Qi, and Zhou Liao hurriedly rushed off to welcome him.