Urban Most Awesome Dad

Chapter 418: Chapter 418: Factional Conflict_1

“However, before we spar, I need to buy some snacks for my daughter to take home; otherwise, the little girl will give me a headache again,” Xu Fan’s eyes flickered quickly with a touch of indulgence.

“Sure, have it your way. As it happens, I haven’t eaten since rushing over to meet you. Let’s do this, midnight at Tianxin Pavilion by the southern river of the city, no absence allowed.”

“No problem.”

Xu Fan agreed and bowed slightly to take his leave, “I will bring the promised martial arts techniques.”

Li Fuqiang smiled and waved his hand.

Having arranged the time and venue for their match, Xu Fan nodded to Qian Zongsheng and turned to walk back to the Xinghai Media Building.

Li Fuqiang’s gaze lingered on that departing figure.

Qian Zongsheng leaned in and whispered, “Chief Steward Li, are you sure you don’t want to discuss this with the other chief stewards?”

“There’s no need.”

Li Fuqiang’s eyes turned instantly cold as a blade: “What’s the point in discussing? There is no alternative way to deal with this matter. These people have the gall to harm the family of a Martial Arts Grandmaster; their fate is sealed. Had there been enough evidence, I would have personally intervened to deter them. Daring to challenge the majesty of a Grandmaster—is preposterous.”

“As for the two who died in this incident, there’s nothing much to say. That Island Country Ninja had the audacity to show off his Ninjutsu in our Yan Country; he deserved to be made an example of. Had Xu Fan been defeated or killed by him, that would have been a disgrace to Yan Country and a stain on the reputation of the Ancient Martial World of Yan Country.”

“Should the Island Country dare to pursue the matter, we will see it through to the end. The national stance on such matters has always been firm and resolute. Within our own borders, we may do as we please, but we will never tolerate outsiders meddling or coercing us. Moreover, it was the ninja who attacked first. Had the ninja survived, we would have detained and imprisoned him; since he is dead, there’s no further issue. Should the Island Country or the forces behind it cause trouble, we will stand our ground and show no weakness.”

“As for Huang Yechun, heh, he’s a scumbag from the Black Blade Organization—killing him ten times wouldn’t be excessive. Of course, it would be better to capture him alive to extract valuable information, which would save us a lot of trouble. It seems the Black Blade Organization might be gearing up again; we must use this opportunity to give those major families a warning. We can’t feed a tiger that might turn against us and risk losing our considerable heirlooms.”

This was Li Fuqiang’s true nature—domineering, confident, aggressive, and resolute.

As for his earlier complaints to Xu Fan, they were also in line with his cunning fox persona, framing the situation as quite severe. His intention was merely to gain more benefits from Xu Fan.

This was not really a betrayal of Xu Fan—after all, his personal feelings for Xu Tianlong had to come second. The priority was to ensure the interests of the Flame Dragon Organization and the nation.

Therefore, after settling the matter, he proceeded to discuss private affairs with Xu Fan, building a relationship and using his personal status to help Xu Fan as much as possible.

Qian Zongsheng, now understanding the tone of the conversation, felt a weight lifted off his chest and said with a smile, “Chief Steward Li’s wisdom and might are truly admirable.”

Qian Zongsheng certainly hoped nothing would happen to Xu Fan—not only did he recognize Xu Fan’s potential, but Xu Fan had also promised to copy a set of Superior Martial Skills for him.

“Chief Steward Li, I think I understand your actions, but it seems you’re not following the rules,” Gao Ziling suddenly said with a frown of displeasure.

The two men’s gazes shifted to him.

Gao Ziling immediately felt an overwhelming pressure envelop him, and his body showed signs of breaking into a cold sweat.

Yet he clenched his teeth, stubbornly stood his ground, and insisted, “Chief Steward Li, in my opinion, this issue is too important. Without the unanimous decision of the other chief stewards, it seems reckless for Chief Steward Li to act alone.”

The Flame Dragon Organization, aside from the Dragon Leader, has four Elders and eight Chief Stewards. The Dragon Leader, who rarely shows himself, has long since stopped intervening in the organization’s affairs. Most Elders do not engage in worldly matters, either remaining in seclusion or wandering the world and only preside over the organization in times of grave importance.

Hence, the day-to-day management and development of the Flame Dragon Organization were presided over and decided upon by the Chief Steward level.

Among the eight Chief Stewards, half were stationed at the four borders, while the other four remained at headquarters, handling all kinds of affairs.

It could be said that those stationed at the borders were like regional military commanders, each dominating a territory. Those in the headquarters were akin to cabinet ministers of the military, commanding the whole world.

And Li Fuqiang was one of these “cabinet ministers of the military.”

However, even within the headquarters, things were not always harmonious, nor were they as tightly united as a cast-iron bucket.

Although they presented a united front to the outside world, appearing as an impenetrable whole, internal strife never ceased to exist. There were grudges, interests, and naturally, factions.

The four “regional military commanders,” being far from headquarters, did not feel this as acutely due to fewer entanglements and less involvement in conflicts of interest.

But the “cabinet ministers of the military” were well-acquainted with each other, meeting frequently in the course of duty, and inevitably, contradictions and opposition arose in the workplace.

Among them, “Ferocious Lion of the Fiery Prison” Li Fuqiang had a deep friendship with “Thunder Devil” Qin Jiumo; while “Sword Without Red” Ye Duanchang had close dealings with “Kuang Wo Kuang Tian” Jiang Taikuang.

This naturally led to the formation of two major factions within the Dragon Group. Since the strength and power of both sides were very similar, neither was willing to concede to the other. The ongoing clandestine battles were proof that each wanted to demonstrate who truly had the leadership and the greatest authorial voice.

As soon as signs of the factions emerged, protectors, executors, and various local department heads below, were all influenced and had to choose sides.

Qian Zongsheng was undoubtedly a man of Li Fuqiang, while Gao Ziling belonged to Ye Duanchang.

Thus, when Gao Ziling saw Li Fuqiang impose his will unilaterally, making decisions without even offering the chance for discussion, it naturally made him uncomfortable. Despite facing immense pressure, it couldn’t stop him from raising objections.

Of course, his courage was also largely motivated by the desire to compete for the Six Superior Martial Skills and one hundred elite soldiers from the military proposed by Xu Fan.

These two matters were undoubtedly crucial.

If Li Fuqiang were to monopolize the credit for these, his faction wouldn’t even get a share of the spoils.

One hundred soldiers trained by Xu Fan, the finest in the military, all becoming Ancient Martial Artists in the Qi Drawing Realm, with not a few potentially breaking through to become Grandmasters.

Once their group training was over and they joined the Flame Dragon Organization, they would greatly enhance the vitality of the group. And they would be subsequently recruited under Li Fuqiang, with Ye Duanchang unable to reap any benefits, thereby directly disrupting the balance of power within the factions.

The influence brought about by the Six Superior Martial Skills would be even more profound. Once they were placed in the Flame Dragon’s treasury, anyone wanting to learn them would have to exchange Merit Points. But Li Fuqiang was no fool; once they passed through his hands, he would surely keep backups.

By then, both Li Fuqiang and Qin Jiumo would be armed with Superior Martial Skills, firmly surpassing Ye Duanchang and Jiang Taikuang in combat strength and even using martial arts to attract the other four “regional commanders.”

At that time, Ye Duanchang’s faction would find itself in a difficult situation, facing exclusion and suppression.

Only then did Gao Ziling understand why Qian Zongsheng had kept this matter a secret from him all along.

Because once he knew, he would surely report it, and Ye Duanchang would inevitably obstruct it.

Although he had heard about it now, the matter was already a done deal, and any further objections probably wouldn’t affect the outcome.