Chapter 539: Chapter 503: Watching the Ceremony

"What’s wrong?" Qian Kun asked.

Zhang Daolong looked toward Wu Li and said, "Since today is the opening ceremony of the branch office, we might as well announce who the head of the branch office is."

He did not use a questioning tone, but a declarative one.

"Heh."

Xing Jun, who had been silent since Zhang Daolong entered, scoffed, "Is it up to you to announce or not?"

Zhang Daolong looked at Xing Jun, "Of course, what else would I be here for?"

Xing Jun leaned forward, staring at Zhang Daolong, "I also don’t know why you were called here."

Zhang Daolong’s expression remained unchanged, still indifferent, "Xing Jun, I heard before that you didn’t want to be the head of the branch office. So, are you contending for this position with me now?"

Xing Jun leaned back in his chair, spreading his hands, "No, it’s not me against you this time."

"Oh?"

Zhang Daolong shifted his gaze to Wu Li next to him, "Is it you, then?"

Wu Li met Zhang Daolong’s gaze calmly and shook his head, "No."

A hint of mockery flashed across Zhang Daolong’s face, "Then what else is there to say?"

Wu Li looked at him, "What I mean is, I don’t need to contend for it."

Zhang Daolong frowned slightly.

Wu Li looked at him, "I am the founder of Hua Jian, as well as its chairman. Do I need to contend for anything?"

"Haha, well said!" Xing Jun laughed and clapped.

A trace of anger flashed in Zhang Daolong’s eyes, "You’re mistaken about one thing, Hua Jian isn’t solely yours."

Wu Li countered, "If not mine, could it be yours?"

Zhang Daolong looked at Wu Li coldly, "After today, the Southern F branch will be mine."

Wu Li laughed, "Is that right? Then after today, the Earth is mine."

Just as Zhang Daolong was about to speak, Qian Kun hurriedly interrupted, "Can we set this matter aside for now and talk about it after the opening ceremony?"

At his words, Zhang Daolong gave Wu Li a deep look and said no more.

Wu Li, of course, was also too lazy to quarrel with the other party and closed his mouth.

Qian Kun stood up, "Then let’s go to the front."

Zhang Daolong got up and turned to leave immediately.

Qian Kun sighed softly and quickly followed.

"Tsk tsk."

Xing Jun watched Zhang Daolong’s retreating figure and sneered, then looked at Wu Li, "So, how do you feel?"

Wu Li’s face was impassive, "Since he’s being so direct, it’s down to our own abilities, I suppose."

Xing Jun nodded, "Alright, let’s go."

The two left the meeting room one after the other.

Up ahead, Qian Kun hurried to catch up with Zhang Daolong, "Instructor Zhang, didn’t we agree to not rush this matter? Wu Li is someone who can’t be forced. If we come on so directly, he definitely won’t agree. But if we slightly soften our stance, we could actually negotiate this."

Zhang Daolong glanced back at Qian Kun, "I’ve noticed you all place too much importance on this Wu Li. He’s just somewhat famous. What feats has he achieved? What kind of background does he have? When we do things, do we need to ask for his opinion?"

Qian Kun’s expression remained unchanged as he continued, "At least his strength is very formidable. The leaders also admire his character, and he has significant influence in both the martial arts world and among the American Hongmen. He is no small figure."

Zhang Daolong dismissed this, "Before I came here, the organization had already set the tone: fair competition, the capable rise to the top. Given that, what is there to discuss? Compete based on ability."

Qian Kun had nothing to say, knowing all too well what Zhang Daolong was like—an even tougher person to deal with than Xing Jun. Since he had already put it that way, Qian Kun had nothing more to persuade him with. Just as Zhang Daolong said, it would be a matter of individual ability.

The four of them walked one after another and soon arrived at the building used to greet guests at the front.

The first-floor lobby was already filled with many people, all high-ranking members of the Southern F Chinese societies. Moreover, each high-ranking member had brought skilled individuals from their societies, so more than half of the people in the lobby were martial practitioners, each with extraordinary skills.

People were gathered in small groups, chatting with one another, glancing occasionally at the entrance to see if anyone was coming in.

When Qian Kun and Zhang Daolong entered the lobby, people glanced over and then continued their conversations without much attention.

It couldn’t be helped; although Zhang Daolong was known as ’the greatest martial artist from within the imperial courts,’ he had hardly any reputation in the martial arts world, and few knew of him. His Kung Fu was developed on the battlefield and he didn’t care for mingling with the martial arts community, at most sparring with people like Xing Jun.

Not long after Qian Kun and Zhang Daolong entered the hall, Wu Li and Xing Jun arrived, and the commotion was distinctly different.

"Master Wu!"

"It’s Master Wu!"

"Master Wu has come!"

"Master Wu, hello!"

"Ha ha, Master Wu, I’ve long admired your great name!"

As soon as one person spotted Wu Li and cried out, others looked towards the entrance, then all moved toward the door.

Wu Li’s reputation in the Chinese martial arts community and among the Overseas Chinese Societies, especially within the Southern F Chinese societies, was well known, and almost no one was unaware of Wu Li.

Moreover, as for Wu Li’s strength, these Chinese Boxers held it in high regard. The incident where Wu Li had single-handedly defeated Luo Bin and other Master Level Martial Artists was widely known, and his image had almost reached mythical proportions in their hearts.

"The contemporary Sun Lutang!"

"A hundred years ago, the invincible Yang in the capital; a hundred years later, the invincible Wu in South Africa!"

"A true Grandmaster, without a doubt!"

These praises were not self-proclaimed by Wu Li but spoken privately by the Chinese Boxers in Southern F.

And as these praises spread beyond Southern F to the United States and other countries in Southeast Asia, they were widely accepted, and no one regarded Wu Li as merely having an empty reputation. This was because before the incident of ’one against five,’ Wu Li had already been titled the ’number one in practical combat in Southeast Asia,’ not to mention his three consecutive victories in public fights.

In this way, Wu Li’s previous accomplishments had made him an undisputed Great Boxer in the martial arts world, and after ’one against five,’ Wu Li had become an undisputed Grandmaster!

By comparison, the recent news of Wu Li collaborating with others to eliminate Celeon of the Mandela family, under the protection of over 300 soldiers, was less astonishing to these Chinese Boxers than ’one against five.’ After all, how formidable Luo Bin and the others were had been personally experienced by these boxers to some extent, while most had little concept of how challenging it was to face over 300 combat soldiers.

However, in any case, Wu Li had already become a legendary figure in the hearts of most Chinese Boxers. Many had come to witness the ceremony today primarily to see Wu Li in person, and if they could exchange a few moves with him, that would be even better – something to boast about later on.

Thus, when Wu Li entered the hall, he immediately became the center of attention.

The ceremony began with the focus on this young Grandmaster.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com