Urban God of War: The Live-in Son-in-law

Into the night, Ye Feng did not sleep, and Zhu Guangbo in the Northern Border Camp also remained awake.

Before the desk, Zhu Guangbo sat up straight, his eyes shining brightly. Suddenly, he smiled, flicked his fingers, and the ink brush on the inkstone came to him. Then he nourished his qi and concentrated his spirit, quickly dipped the brush in ink, and when he began to write, his movements were as smooth as a cloud flowing through water, done in one go.

On the desk lay two pieces of rice paper. On the left a couplet: The dragon is not a dragon, the phoenix not a phoenix, heaven commands me to go where all eyes turn; on the right a couplet: I am myself, not what I am, who dares to contend in the Vast Sea and behave carelessly.

The scroll reads: Life itself is hard to bear.

Unable to see the life ahead, as complex as a game of chess, looking at the couplet, Zhu Guangbo could not help but feel more sentimental, and he brought the flame from the front to burn the freshly copied couplet to ashes.

"What are you writing? Not willing to let me have a look?"

About ten minutes later, a figure wearing a black robe and a black Evil Ghost Mask walked in.

The voice was not old, clear and resonant. The person removed the mask, revealing an exceedingly clean face, to which people often say, "In this world, people are like jade, and the young master is unparalleled." This face belonged to that very young master.

If Ye Feng were here, he would certainly be very familiar with this face.

"Mere trivial words, not worthy to be shown before the young master."

Zhu Guangbo stood up and bowed to the newcomer, then gestured for him to take the seat of honor.

"No need to be modest."

"In the Northeast, those who know Zhu Guangbo as a great calligrapher are not few."

The man glanced over the ashes, his expression clearly one of disdain.

"I am ashamed!"

"May I be so bold as to ask the young master, how does my calligraphy compare to Ye Feng's?"

Zhu Guangbo feigned ignorance as he asked.

"In his presence, you could barely pass as an entry-level student, while he is a teacher who has nurtured countless others."

Obviously, this young man had more than a passing knowledge of Ye Feng and spoke with affirmation of him.

"Then I am even more ashamed."

Although he spoke of shame, Zhu Guangbo's face showed no genuine concern.

"The letter?"

The man's tone turned cold, filled with authority.

"Please, young master, have a look!"

Zhu Guangbo seemed accustomed to this, smiling as he handed over the letter written by Ye Feng, another Battle Challenge Letter.

On Chuwu of the following month, sixty li to the east, I sincerely invite the Northeast Tiger to a life-and-death competition. Taking the Gesang River as the boundary, each will choose one main peak and eight hills as strategic points to arrange troops. Limited to seven days, whoever captures the opponent's main peak will be the victor.

Condition: excluding the soldiers from the main camp, all else as you please.

Sealed by: Ye Feng.

The man read the short Battle Challenge Letter over and over, each time with extreme care, causing Zhu Guangbo to wonder whether the man was just putting on an act of seriousness.

"I used to think he was an ambitious hero, but now it seems I misunderstood him. Do you think people in this world, once they have something they care about, become sentimental and indecisive?"

Finally, after about five minutes, the man who had read the letter countless times put it down and began to ask casually.

"Man is the most intelligent creature because humans understand the word 'emotion' best. I believe there is truly no one in this world able to erase all feelings."

"After all, you are not Ye Feng's man, how could you truly understand him?"

In the presence of this man, Zhu Guangbo maintained a respectful tone, yet he did not mince his words, because this is what the man had requested.

"If this were the past, I would surely argue, but now I no longer have the strength to refute. You are right, Ye Feng is Ye Feng, and I am inevitably myself. No matter how much I empathize, I still cannot step into his world."

"I've been playing this role for too long, lamenting so much that I'm nearly convinced I've lost myself."

The man laughed heartily, stood up, and threw the Battle Challenge Letter into the fire pit.

A burst of flame ignited, seemingly burning not just the letter, but also the man's memories of Ye Feng.

Tired of the game!

Let the past be smoke, and let him turn to smoke as well. The man's face showed a sinister smile, eerie in its chill.

"What does the young master mean?"

Zhu Guangbo frowned; he did not understand why the other would do this.

"I just wanted to burn it, that's all. Don't overthink it."

"If you want to become the true Northern Border King, you have to accept this battle, whether you want to or not. I think Ye Feng has already anticipated this; that man is still so full of confidence, as if the big lessons didn't teach him to smarten up."

The man sat down again, sipping tea as he spoke.

In an instant, the man's aura changed completely. If previously he had been a gentle and graceful young master, now he seemed more like a domineering emperor, replete with a sense of authority, masterfully calculating every move.

"The young master speaks the truth."

Zhu Guangbo nodded. In fact, he too knew that he had no choice but to accept the battle, as Ye Feng had outmaneuvered him. How else would the millions of soldiers at the Northern Border Camp look upon him, their proxy Northern Border King?

"Have you ever played a kind of game that many young people like to play outside, called Honor of Kings?"

The man suddenly asked this seemingly random question.

"No."

Zhu Guangbo's head ached, the rapid shifts in the man's aura before him made it difficult for him to keep up.

After all, he was the acting Northern Border King, with no leisure to play any games. The savages of Mingbei Kingdom had always been eyeing them covetously—just defending against the activity from the great northern side was quite challenging.

"Come here."

The man swiftly walked over to a sand table and pointed at a river on the map, saying, "Gesang River is over here. Back then, Ye Feng also used the Gesang River as a boundary, confronting the Elite Snow Wolf Cavalry of Mingbei Kingdom for over a month. In the end, he lured tens of thousands of Wolf Cavalry across the Gesang River boundary and annihilated them near Sky Cluster Ridge."

"The reason those savages from Mingbei Kingdom have been somewhat restrained these past few years is largely because their Snow Wolf Riders suffered heavy losses. Do you know what Ye Feng did back then? He fought seven battles at Gesang River, feigning defeat in all of them, showing a transition from strong to weak, leading those arrogant savages into believing he was out of tricks.

In the eight battle, Ye Feng even intentionally divided his troops into three routes. Since wolves are voraciously bloodthirsty, they fell for the trap in that final battle."

"I'm telling you this to let you know that the contesting location Ye Feng deliberately chose holds significant meaning. Many people will be watching this battle, including the savages from the north."

The latter words caused Zhu Guangbo's pupils to shrink suddenly.

"Are you saying Ye Feng will reuse his old tactics?"

Zhu Guangbo asked unwillingly.

The target of the repeated tactic was clearly not him, Zhu Guangbo, but the savages of Mingbei Kingdom. What made Zhu Guangbo feel indignant was, was Ye Feng really that confident he could win?

"As I said before, a wolf is a bloodthirsty creature, but it also has another trait: wolves hold grudges. Counting the years, it's been about four, and the Snow Wolf Riders of Mingbei should have nearly reformed."

The man stated confidently.

If Ye Feng were here at this moment, he surely wouldn't be surprised. This man had always understood him well, and their thoughts were nearly identical.

"If the Snow Wolf Riders of Mingbei really came."

Zhu Guangbo's words were thick with worry. He had not known before that the spot Ye Feng had chosen for the contest had such a history and contained intentions beyond his anticipation.

"That's why this is a contest of kings."

"Whether you or Ye Feng wins, the next match will surely be against the Snow Wolf Riders. The Northern Border has been in chaos for nearly half a year. If those savages from Mingbei don't take advantage of the time you two are clashing to make their move, they'd be wasting their brains."

"This is the path Ye Feng has chosen for himself; he wants to declare to the world that the Northern Border King has returned powerfully."

The man withdrew his gaze.

Having said so much, in fact, he didn't care at all; he just thought Ye Feng was bold and confident enough.

"What now?"

Zhu Guangbo quickly bowed his head to ask for instruction. Feeling somewhat panicked at the heart, he'd heard that the Snow Wolf Riders from Mingbei were certain to come.

Who wouldn't be moved?

"You have seven days. Gather your people from the Zhu Family; I have an agreement with the imperial capital, and the strength I can mobilize is ultimately limited."

"As for the Snow Wolf Riders, you needn't worry about them."

The man kept a thought to himself: if Ye Feng were defeated, he would still crush the Snow Wolf Riders, as a gift to his deceased close friend.

Of course, it was also to prove he could do better than Ye Feng.

In this world, despite the rivalry, just as Zhu Guangbo said he was competing with Ye Feng for the title of Northern Border King, neither would forget the enemies to the far north.

While the man competed with Ye Feng too, it was a contest between the powers behind them, but regarding external enemies, their stance remained united.

"I'll get to it right away."

Zhu Guangbo sought affirmation with his eyes, and the man nodded in agreement.

Once Zhu Guangbo had left, a robed figure appeared in the camp, as if from nowhere. The man seemed unsurprised by the robed figure's presence and asked:
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"What did Zhu Guangbo write?"

"Dragon or not, Phoenix or none, destiny beckons to the crowd's wish; I am me, not someone else, in Vast Sea's contest, who dares to play games."

"The horizontal inscription is 'Hard to tolerate life.'"

The robed figure's voice was cold yet full of awe.

"Seems our acting Northern Border King has some thoughts of his own," the man chuckled upon hearing this.

"Young Master, if he's disobedient, should we?"

Icy killing intent filled the eyes behind the mask.

"He does have some smarts."

"Clever people are useful. No wonder he's the chess piece recommended by those people. Let him be. I don't know why, but I always feel that whatever he does is in vain."

"Am I too into my role these years? Are the death guards ready? It's time to send a 'gift' to my good friend."

For a moment, the man reverted to his graceful, gentlemanly demeanor.

"They're all ready."

"If you're worried, Young Master, why don't I take people to finish off Ye Feng right now?"

The robed figure bowed deeply, aware that the Young Master with this demeanor was the most formidable one.

"Didn't you hear what I just said?"

"The Battle Challenge Letter has been sent out; if we dare touch Ye Feng now, those from the imperial capital would not turn a blind eye. Your task is only to protect me. Don't speak of killing in front of me ever again."

As a dog, all you need to do is obey; don't bark unnecessarily.

The man left with a flick of his sleeve. Big or small, everyone had their place in this contest, even the kings behind the scenes.