Xu Wannian was taken aback for a moment, Old Xu? He had never been called that before, and for a moment he didn't respond.

Ever since Jiang Chen decided not to keep a low profile anymore, he had been completely unrestrained, no longer tentative as before, and he was very clear that in this society, strength and power were venerated; if your fists were hard enough, you could be arrogant. As for terms of address, he no longer placed such importance on them.

Of course, it wasn't that Jiang Chen had become arrogant but rather that he was becoming more and more true to himself.

After he began to follow his heart, an invisible force had begun to converge within him, only he had not discovered it yet.

"Old Xu, I'm asking you a question!" Seeing Xu Wannian standing there in a daze, Zhang Zijian called out softly.

Xu Wannian snapped back to reality and, with a somewhat amused look at Jiang Chen, said softly, "Instructor Jiang, we came to ask you about the training method you taught to Zhang. Upon our study, it seems as if something is missing, is that the case?"

Zhang Zijian was slightly startled and turned to look at Jiang Chen with surprise.

"Yes," Jiang Chen nodded calmly.

Xu Wannian, Long Jianfei, and Zhang Zijian were all taken aback at the same time. Was it really that matter-of-fact?

"Why... why is that?" Xu Wannian asked, puzzled.

Jiang Chen replied earnestly, "Isn't that a silly question? It's my stuff, I decide how much I want to give. What? You think you should still play innocent after taking advantage?"

"No!" Xu Wannian said incredulously, "We had an elder look at this training method you provided and they said that if we practiced according to what you gave us, it'd only be slightly better than the mundane techniques. But if the method was completed, it would be a top-tier cultivation technique, perfectly suited for the troops. Is that so?"

"Yes! I did create this method specifically for the troops!" Jiang Chen said casually.

A spark of eagerness flashed in Xu Wannian's eyes as he asked urgently, "Then why don't you give us the complete technique?"

"Why should I give it to you?" Jiang Chen's brows furrowed slightly, "What? You think I should just hand over the complete cultivation technique for free? Who do you think you are? It's mine to give or withhold as I please. What are you going to do, try to take it by force?"

Shen Xiangtian and Zhang Zijian frowned at the same time, their expressions turning unsavory as they looked at Xu Wannian.

Realizing Jiang Chen's dissatisfaction, Xu Wannian quickly waved his hands, saying, "No, no, no, Instructor Jiang, that's not what we mean. We just wanted to..."

"You just wanted the complete technique for free, hoping I'd hand it over without you giving anything in return, right? Or otherwise maybe you'd try to use the country's interest to pressure me, implying that withholding the technique is unpatriotic, right?" Jiang Chen looked at Xu Wannian with a cold smirk.

"No, no, no! That's not possible!" Xu Wannian's face changed as he quickly waved his hands again.

Jiang Chen responded indifferently, "Old Xu, let me make it clear, I developed the technique, but I am under no obligation to give it to you."

"We mean no disrespect, Instructor Jiang. We merely wanted to inquire..." Xu Wannian tried to explain again.

"I know what you want," Jiang Chen said flatly. "I can give you the complete technique, but I have two conditions."

Xu Wannian eagerly said, "Name them."

"First, this technique needs to be learned by the brothers from Long Ya first, before it's passed on to other special forces units. The technique has high base requirements, and it would do more harm than good to anyone outside of special forces. If they fail, they could very well end up crippling themselves!" Jiang Chen held up one finger.

Xu Wannian's face became serious, and he nodded emphatically, "We will be mindful of that. We agree to this condition."

"Good! Secondly, I need someone to secretly protect my family. You don't have to get involved in my disputes with other forces, but I need assurance of my family's safety," Jiang Chen held up a second finger.

This was what he most desired. He never wanted Ye Jingyi or Gong Lin to go through what they had endured again!

"Well... your definition of family is too broad. I can only offer you five slots! That's the most we can afford you after discussion!" Xu Wannian hesitated and then held up his hand, showing five fingers.

"You all discussed it?" Jiang Chen was taken aback and looked at Xu Wannian in surprise.

"You were prepared?" Jiang Chen frowned slightly, his eyes showing a scrutinizing look.

"Don't misunderstand, Instructor Jiang."

Xu Wannian smiled slightly, "We're not fools. We anticipated that you would set conditions, and based on our research, we thought it highly likely that you would ask to protect your family. Hence, we discussed and agreed on this number. After all, you have quite a few family members; if we go by relations, the Jiang Family, the Gong Family, and the Ye Family are all your relatives, and we couldn't possibly protect them all!"

Jiang Chen nodded, understanding the extent of Xu Wannian and the others' capabilities; it would be simple for them to find out everything about him, and inferring such a conclusion from his background and his style of doing things was not surprising.

Five slots, huh? That would do.

Mom counts as one, Jingyi, Lin Lin, Yu Wan, that's four, and one more... Grandfather? Grandfather is the former Family Head of the Jiang Family, would anyone really target him? If Grandfather doesn't count...

Jiang Chen furrowed his brows, mulling over whom to give the five slots.

"Instructor Jiang, I need to remind you that you have to give the names for these five slots now. We can't let you hold onto slots for future needs!"

Seeing that Jiang Chen had yet to speak, Xu Wannian reminded him. If Jiang Chen kept the slots for later, that would mean they'd have to be ready to protect anyone Jiang Chen designated at any time. What kind of situation would that be!

"Alright, Ling'er!"

Jiang Chen spoke softly; he remembered what Elder Yao had told him before that even four Innate Grandmasters wouldn't be able to contend with Fu Ling'er's family. With Xu Wannian and the others' protection, Ling'er should be safe, right? No matter how powerful Fu Ling'er's family was, could they stand against the whole Flame Dragon?

"I've decided!" Jiang Chen looked up at Xu Wannian: "My mother Shen Xiaoqin, my women Ye Jingyi, Gong Lin, Yè Yùwǎn, and my sister Fu Ling'er!"

"Oh? You actually didn't choose yourself?" Xu Wannian looked at Jiang Chen, surprised.

Jiang Chen smiled faintly, "How can I grow stronger if I always have someone protecting me? Without the trials of life and death, how can I reach the pinnacle of martial artists?

A Martial Artist must be self-reliant!"

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