**Tianhai City, Early Morning**
A thick fog enveloped Tianhai City as a plane landed at Tianhai International Airport.
A young man in his twenties, with bold eyebrows, bright eyes, and a refined appearance, stepped off the plane with four or five subordinates. His handsome demeanor exuded confidence and charm.
“Tianhai City, I’m finally here,” the young man muttered to himself.
“Young Master, where to next?” a middle-aged man behind him asked.
“Since we’re in Tianhai City, we can’t miss paying a visit to my dear big brother,” the young man said, a sly smile curling his lips.
“Understood,” the middle-aged man nodded.
“Let’s go. We have one day to prepare. Contact our person in charge in Tianhai City immediately and have them meet me,” the young man said as he walked forward.
“Yes, sir.”
—
At the same time, in another airport terminal, Li Feng and Bu Meng disembarked. Looking at the familiar sights of Tianhai City, Li Feng let out a sigh of relief.
Finally back!
Though only a few days had passed, it felt like a century to Li Feng. If not for the need to improve his cultivation, he wouldn’t have left this bustling city. To him, a modern man’s life was about beautiful women and fine wine—things this vibrant city offered in abundance.
“Young Master Feng, where are we going?” Bu Meng asked from behind.
“To a training base,” Li Feng replied. He hadn’t taken Bu Meng on just to freeload. His goal was to train him as a reserve member of the Black Hawk Team. Bu Meng’s current strength was weaker than even Tian Lang’s when Li Feng first recruited him, far from qualifying for the Black Hawk Team. For now, he could only be a reserve.
The idea of a reserve team for the Black Hawk Team had been brewing in Li Feng’s mind for a while. With Linghe Garden and Tianya Pavilion requiring the team’s protection, plus the members assigned to guard Hu Yuanyuan, the number of Black Hawk Team members Li Feng could deploy was pitifully low, severely limiting their combat effectiveness. This was unacceptable.
Previously, he had recruited some retired soldiers for Tianya Pavilion’s defense, but he knew that wasn’t enough. Establishing a Black Hawk reserve team was now a priority.
Moreover, the Black Hawk Team was his sharpest weapon for future missions. Splitting their forces would weaken them, which was detrimental to his plans.
After taking in Bu Meng, the idea of forming a reserve team grew stronger. Missions would inevitably lead to casualties, and a reserve team would ensure a steady supply of fresh manpower.
“Bu Meng, once we reach the training base, you’ll undergo grueling training. I hope you can endure it,” Li Feng said.
“Don’t worry, Young Master Feng. I can handle any hardship,” Bu Meng said, thumping his chest.
Li Feng smirked. The training wasn’t just about enduring hardship—Bu Meng was oversimplifying things. He’d learn soon enough.
Leaving the airport, Li Feng hailed a taxi and took Bu Meng to the Black Hawk Team’s training base.
“Young Master Feng, this is the training base?” Half an hour later, standing before the high walls of the base, Bu Meng asked in disbelief.
“Yes, this is it. Let’s go in,” Li Feng nodded, leading the way.
“Bu Meng, stick close to me. This base is filled with traps. One wrong step could be deadly,” Li Feng said calmly, noticing Bu Meng’s curiosity.
Bu Meng flinched, startled.
“Young Master Feng!”
“Young Master Feng!”
Along the way, Black Hawk Team members greeted Li Feng enthusiastically, and he nodded back with a smile.
“Young Master Feng, you’re finally back,” Tian Lang said, rushing over after receiving the news.
Li Feng glanced at him and nodded. “Not bad. You haven’t slacked off these past few days.”
“Young Master Feng…” Tian Lang glanced at Bu Meng.
“This is Bu Meng, a future reserve member of the Black Hawk Team. Tian Lang, arrange someone to take him to training,” Li Feng said, giving a brief introduction.
“Understood,” Tian Lang said, calling over a team member to handle Bu Meng.
Li Feng patted Bu Meng’s shoulder. “Work hard. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Don’t worry, Young Master Feng. I’ll give it my all,” Bu Meng vowed.
After Bu Meng left, Tian Lang said, “Young Master Feng, a lot has happened in Tianhai City while you were gone.”
“Let’s talk in the office,” Li Feng said gravely.
In the office, Tian Lang briefed Li Feng on recent events in Tianhai City.
“Hu Meng? I didn’t expect a small fry like him to dare pull my whiskers,” Li Feng said with a cold smile after hearing the report.
“Young Master Feng, everyone thinks Commander Zhong is being too cautious,” Tian Lang said.
Li Feng glanced at him. “Is that what you think too?”
Tian Lang lowered his head.
“Hmph, Tian Lang, it seems your strength has grown, and so has your arrogance,” Li Feng said coldly. He had entrusted Zhong Shuhui with command of the Black Hawk Team because her years with Mu Chunfeng gave her insight into things others didn’t know, allowing her to see the bigger picture.
He hadn’t expected friction to arise between the team and Zhong Shuhui in just a few days. Li Feng knew the team respected strength and looked down on Zhong Shuhui, a woman, leading them. But didn’t they consider that he had his reasons for giving her command?
“I wouldn’t dare,” Tian Lang said, head bowed.
“Not daring, or not wanting to?” Li Feng sneered, his aura suddenly erupting with overwhelming force.
*Boom!*
A terrifying pressure burst from Li Feng, a wild energy sweeping through the room like a god descending, engulfing the entire office.
The spacious office, dozens of square meters, trembled under the surging aura. The ground shook as if trampled by a thousand horses or as if the world were collapsing.
*Thud, thud, thud…*
*Plop! Plop!*
The immense pressure forced Tian Lang to stagger back until he hit the wall, with nowhere left to retreat. His body wavered, and he fell to his knees.
Looking up at Li Feng, his face was filled with shock.
He had never imagined that a mere aura could render him unable to stand. It was terrifying—what kind of strength produced such an overwhelming presence?
During his recent training, Tian Lang had felt his strength growing, thinking he was closing the gap with Li Feng. But now he realized the distance between them was only widening. Li Feng’s power was beyond his comprehension.
“Hmph, you can’t even withstand my aura. Where does your pride come from?” Li Feng retracted his energy and looked at Tian Lang coldly. “Right now, in Tianhai City, there are plenty of people stronger than me. In their presence, not just you, but the entire Black Hawk Team could be crushed with a flick of their wrist.”
“What? How is that possible?” Tian clot Tian Lang’s face was full of disbelief. He had just experienced Li Feng’s terrifying strength firsthand. People stronger than Li Feng? That was unthinkable. Could there really be such individuals?
“What’s impossible? There are always stronger people out there. The world is vast, and those more powerful than me are countless,” Li Feng said, thinking of the Du brothers, Du Wen and Du Wu, and Zheng Xiaoyang. They were either peak acquired-realm experts or innate-realm powerhouses. Even he, in his current state, had no chance against them.
Tian Lang lowered his head in shame. He didn’t doubt Li Feng’s words. If Li Feng said there were stronger people, it must be true. This realization stunned him. Back when he was a mercenary in Africa, he thought he was strong. But since coming to Tianhai City and meeting Li Feng, he’d been hit with one harsh reality after another.
It made him feel even more ashamed. When he thought he’d gained some strength and started feeling proud, he realized he was just a frog in a well. Li Feng had warned them before, but he hadn’t taken it seriously.
Now, unable to even withstand Li Feng’s aura, he didn’t know where his previous pride had come from.
“The reason I put Zhong Shuhui in charge of Hawkeye and gave her command of the Black Hawk Team while I was gone is because she knows who in Tianhai City we can provoke and who we can’t,” Li Feng said coldly, staring at Tian Lang. “Do you think a nobody like Hu Meng would dare challenge us? Is he tired of living? You don’t need an investigation to know someone’s backing him. Until we know who, holding back is the right move.”
Of course, in Li Feng’s mind, he also thought Zhong Shuhui was being overly cautious this time. If he were in Tianhai City, he’d have taught Hu Meng a lesson. But to discipline Tian Lang, he had to back Zhong Shuhui’s decision.
The Black Hawk Team was his life’s work. If they grew arrogant, it could hinder their development. Tian Lang, second only to him in influence within the team, could drag the whole team down if his pride went unchecked.
Li Feng had been looking for a chance to rein him in, and this was the perfect opportunity. Otherwise, it could jeopardize his plans in Tianhai City.
“Young Master Feng, I was wrong,” Tian Lang said, lowering his head.
“Get up. I know you feel stifled, being bullied by a nobody like Hu Meng. I feel it too. But if you don’t want to feel stifled, you have to improve your strength,” Li Feng said gravely.
“Young Master Feng, I’ll train harder from now on,” Tian Lang vowed.
Li Feng nodded, satisfied. “I’ll handle Hu Meng. For now, your priority is to boost your strength. I don’t want you to be too weak when I need you.”
“Young Master Feng, the Black Hawk Team won’t let you down,” Tian Lang said firmly.
“Good. I hope you keep your word,” Li Feng said, looking at him. “How many retired soldiers have we recruited for Tianya Pavilion?”
“About twenty,” Tian Lang replied.
“Too few,” Li Feng said, then asked, “Tian Lang, do you still know people from other mercenary groups?”
“I know some. Young Master Feng, are you…?” Tian Lang looked at him, puzzled.
“The Black Hawk Team needs a reserve team,” Li Feng said gravely. “I want to build a reserve team of about a hundred people. Tian Lang, if you know anyone, bring them in.”
“Got it,” Tian Lang nodded.
“Besides recruiting mercenaries, I’ll also bring in more retired soldiers,” Li Feng said. “Once the reserve team is formed, we’ll hold a grand competition. The top three from the reserve team will join the Black Hawk Team, and the bottom three from the Black Hawk Team will be demoted to the reserve.”
This competitive system would keep everyone motivated and ensure fresh blood in the Black Hawk Team. Li Feng didn’t want his team to grow stagnant or complacent after a few achievements.
Without this wake-up call, Tian Lang’s arrogance could have infected the entire team, potentially ruining it.
With a reserve team, the stark contrast in treatment would ensure they trained diligently.
Tian Lang shuddered, understanding the implications but not arguing. He knew Li Feng’s intent.
“Go now. And tell Zhong Shuhui to come see me,” Li Feng said.
