Logan stood on the stage, his eyes vacant and lifeless, utterly speechless.
He truly understood what it meant to be 'vanquished before even beginning the campaign.' This was even generous praise, considering he was here to cause trouble and didn't deserve such a grand saying.
Seeing that the situation was opportune, Mayor Xu Zhijian walked onto the stage with a smile and approached the microphone.
Xu Zhijian addressed the crowd, "Mr. Logan's entire demonstration has now concluded. Ladies and gentlemen, I believe you have all seen clearly. We will now proceed to the vote. If 70% of you support Mr. Logan in establishing this aristocratic school in Jinling, the Jinling authorities will comply with the public will and grant the founding qualification. Alright, please begin voting."
Though unspoken, everyone present was already inwardly laughing.
Did this even require a vote?
What a joke!
Four consecutive defeats, repeated failures, all highlighted Logan's inadequacy. And he had the nerve to claim that teachers from the "Beautiful Country" were superior to those in China.
There was no visible sign of superiority!
The outcome was as predictable as the sunrise. Forget 70% of the votes, Logan didn't even receive a single vote!
ZERO!!!
A miserable result, Logan's demonstration garnered zero votes. This utterly shameful outcome was entirely thanks to Lu Ming.
Logan remained silent, but his eyes had reddened. He glared at Lu Ming, filled with extreme hatred.
On stage.
Mayor Xu Zhijian nodded upon seeing the results and said, "The results are in. Mr. Logan, I am very sorry, but you have not received public support, with a vote count of zero. Therefore, I cannot approve your qualification to establish the school."
Logan had no words to say. He tightly shut his eyes, disappointment, disappointment, and still more disappointment.
In that moment, it felt like five years ago.
Like the moment when the ten great empires' allied forces were routed by the Dragon Warlord. Logan's heart was filled with grief. Too old to bear such a blow, his head spun, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Staff members immediately rushed to help Logan and escort him to the hospital.
The scene devolved into chaos.
Amidst the crowd, Lu Ming wore a victorious smile. He adjusted his sleeves, stood up, and began to walk out.
Mission accomplished, retiring with honors.
Peng Ying followed Lu Ming, smiling as she said, "Congratulations! Your performance today was truly remarkable, defeating Logan time and again, completely thwarting his plan to disrupt China."
Lu Ming paused, then turned to Peng Ying, "So, you were also aware of Logan's plan?"
"Of course, I knew," Peng Ying replied. "When he sought help from the White Lotus Cult, he must have revealed his entire plan. Otherwise, the White Lotus Cult wouldn't have helped him. But these are matters of the organization, beyond my purview. I'm only responsible for hosting. Honestly, I also find Logan's actions very displeasing. A foreigner coming to our China to cause trouble should be dealt with severely."
Lu Ming chuckled and asked, "You helped me so much today; won't you be disciplined by the organization when you return?"
"Yes, I'll definitely get scolded, but I don't care."
Peng Ying's tone was that of a spirited and adorable young girl. If Lu Ming hadn't witnessed her chillingly effective methods with centipedes, he might have been deceived by her innocent demeanor.
Peng Ying always maintained a harmless, innocent, and naive appearance. But if one truly got to know her, they would discover her schemes and depths far exceeded imagination.
The two of them walked out of the venue, preparing to head to the parking lot and leave this troublesome place.
However, the moment they stepped out, an old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles stood before them, blocking their path.
Peng Ying, whose face had been beaming with smiles moments ago, instantly lost her smile upon seeing the elder. Lu Ming could even sense her deep-seated fear.
Were there still people in this world who could make Peng Ying afraid? Who was this elder?
Peng Ying respectfully called out, "Master."
Master?!
Lu Ming instantly understood. This elder before him was the Left Protector of the White Lotus Cult, the second-in-command, on par with the Right Protector and below only the Cult Master – a super powerful figure.
It turned out that such a formidable figure appeared so benevolent and like a kindly old man in his daily life.
But an old man who could inspire fear in Peng Ying was undoubtedly not simple.
The elder looked at Peng Ying, narrowed his eyes, and ignored her, instead focusing his gaze on Lu Ming.
He had come to find Lu Ming!
The elder extended his hand towards Lu Ming and said, "Hello, Mr. Lu. I am Xiang Chong, the Left Protector of the White Lotus Cult. It's our first meeting, please guide me."
So polite.
Lu Ming extended his hand as well. As their hands clasped, Lu Ming immediately sensed something was amiss.
The opponent's strength was absolutely not to be underestimated!
With a single handshake, Lu Ming knew the man was an extremely skilled, top-tier master, unlike any ordinary person. Despite his age, twenty men probably couldn't get close to him.
Xiang Chong was undeniably a formidable individual.
They released their hands.
Xiang Chong said to Lu Ming, "Mr. Lu, I, Xiang, never liked to beat around the bush. I'm here to ask you one question: Do you have any enmity with the White Lotus Cult?"
So direct?
Lu Ming was taken aback, then replied, "No enmity."
"Since there is no enmity, why has Mr. Lu repeatedly thwarted the White Lotus Cult's plans and opposed them?"
Heh.
Lu Ming answered straightforwardly, "I am not opposing the White Lotus Cult. I am merely protecting Jinling and China. If Left Protector Xiang feels that my actions are opposing the White Lotus Cult, then it can only mean one thing: the White Lotus Cult is opposing China."
With those words, he elevated the discourse, placing the White Lotus Cult in direct opposition to China.
Xiang Chong burst into laughter after hearing this.
He said to Peng Ying, "Little Ying, your intended is truly interesting. Hmm, a good prospect, worth your liking."
Normally, a woman hearing such words would blush and feel shy.
But Peng Ying did not.
Strangely, her gaze suddenly became sharp, and a killing intent emanated from her entire being.
Yes, killing intent!
However, this aura vanished as quickly as it appeared, lasting only for a fleeting moment.
But to top experts like Lu Ming and Xiang Chong, this killing intent was undeniable, sensed by both.
Xiang Chong patted Peng Ying's shoulder and said, "Little Ying, don't be too nervous. Alright, I won't disturb your date. I won't be a third wheel here."
With that, he turned and left.
His arrival was sudden, and his departure was even more so. Lu Ming was somewhat bewildered, not understanding the purpose of the old man's appearance.
However, Lu Ming could feel immense pressure from Peng Ying.
Ever since the elder appeared, Peng Ying had been acting strangely. The killing intent she displayed moments ago made Lu Ming feel that something was terribly wrong.
Yet, he couldn't quite articulate what was so wrong.
Suddenly.
Lu Ming cleared his throat and said, "Peng Ying, you helped me so much, and I haven't properly thanked you. Let's go, I'll treat you to a meal."
"Mm."
"Mm?"
Peng Ying finally snapped out of her tense state, looking at Lu Ming in a daze.
She really wanted to have dinner with Lu Ming. But no matter how many times she had invited him before, he had refused. Why had he suddenly changed his mind?
Lu Ming asked, "What, you don't want to?"
"Uh, no, it's just a bit of a surprise."
The sudden joy dispelled the pressure brought by Xiang Chong. Peng Ying happily led Lu Ming, and they drove to Jinling's northern food street.
They chose a Huaiyang cuisine restaurant.
After being seated, they ordered several of the restaurant's signature dishes. When the food was served, they exchanged a smile and began to eat.
As they ate.
Suddenly, Peng Ying's expression changed again.
She quietly put down her chopsticks and looked at Lu Ming, who was sitting opposite her.
She uttered a seemingly strange sentence: "You felt it, didn't you?"
Lu Ming didn't look up, continuing to eat his food as he replied, "Yes, I felt it."
What they felt was killing intent.
Lu Ming invited Peng Ying out for dinner, partly to thank her for her help, and partly to alleviate her killing intent, to prevent her from being consumed by it.
Peng Ying hadn't understood at first, but after sitting down, her intelligence quickly grasped Lu Ming's intention.
"Thank you."
Peng Ying said, then picked up her chopsticks and resumed eating.
Lu Ming picked up a small bowl, scooping soup as he asked, "So, why? Isn't Left Protector Xiang your master? Why do you harbor killing intent towards your own master?"
This killing intent was too obvious. Both Lu Ming and Xiang Chong had noticed it.
Peng Ying had nothing to hide. She said coldly, "He is my master, and more importantly, my enemy. The reason I showed killing intent just now was because he harbored killing intent towards you. Xiang Chong intends to kill you, and that displeases me."
Huh?
Lu Ming was taken aback and said, "But I didn't feel any killing intent from Xiang Chong."
Peng Ying smiled, "He's a smiling tiger. He never reveals his killing intent. Only those closest to him can discern the true intention behind his every word and action. Lu Ming, you have repeatedly gone against the White Lotus Cult, even placing them in opposition to China. Xiang Chong cannot accept this. Prepare yourself; he will definitely see you as a thorn in his side and a splinter in his flesh. He will definitely make a move against you. Xiang Chong's strength is far beyond those minor figures you've encountered before. You must be careful."
She paused.
Then, Peng Ying suddenly looked at Lu Ming and said very seriously, "But don't worry, I will always be on your side. I will risk everything to protect you."
This…
While he was touched, he was also confused.
Lu Ming furrowed his brows, saying with great puzzlement, "Peng Ying, I am very grateful for your dedication to me, but I am also very perplexed. It seems there is deep conflict between you and Left Protector Xiang. And you also don't seem that loyal to the White Lotus Cult. So, why would Left Protector Xiang allow someone like you to be the Saint Envoy of the White Lotus Cult, why would he take you as a disciple, and even help you eliminate your subordinate He Honghui? What is the true nature of your relationship?"