Volume 4: Hidden Battles – Chapter 177: Mastering the Return Home

“How do you know this title of mine?” Thorne asked, his lips trembling.
“You’ve been so dominant in Europe for so many years; it’s inevitable that someone would start investigating you. But to be honest, aside from knowing that you can always easily overcome danger, no one has figured out the mystery behind it,” Chu Tianyu said, his sword stance unchanged.
“Then how do you know that only when I merge with Black Hawk can I truly be killed?” Thorne asked desperately, feeling the intense pain in his heart.
“Actually, I don’t know either. It was during the ambush on PriestPriestOlin -> Priest Olin that, by chance, we discovered the secret of Gleir, the Eagle of Britain. He’s actually an energy entity, not a real human!” Chu Tianyu explained.
“Moreover, one of my friends knows something about Gleir. He found out that Gleir, like you, is immortal and can always escape danger. With the fact that the two of you cooperate without any conflicts of interest, and it seems like Gleir isn’t even cooperating with me but rather acting as one of my subordinates, this gave us room to use our imagination. Ah, speaking of which, one must admit that human imagination can be truly rich—it depends on whether you dare to think.” After a pause, Chu Tianyu continued.
“Did you simply conclude, so easily, that I and Black Hawk can exchange energy or transfer damage?” Thorne asked in disbelief.
“Hehe, imagination—imagination, as I’ve emphasized time and again. If we talk about ‘certainty,’ it can be said that I only truly became certain after you revealed the truth just now. Detailed investigations, creative associations, and bold deductions led to the current result! Especially today, facing you, our conclusions have even more basis. That’s why I acted both arrogant and powerful, making you look down on me while forcing you to bring out your best skills and all your resources! Only when you think you’ve figured out my weaknesses and believe you’re sure of victory can I seize your weaknesses and flaws as well, achieving a one-hit victory!” Chu Tianyu said calmly, with a smile on his face.
Hearing Chu Tianyu’s reply, Thorne’s expression finally calmed down. It turned out that his opponent had laid out his plan long ago, even when Black Hawk first saw him act arrogantly!

At this moment, Thorne felt his body’s energy continuously draining away, and his body temperature slowly dropping. The pain caused by Chu Tianyu’s sword strike was no longer something Thorne could sense, but the complexity in his heart was beyond description in words.
“I never expected it… I really never expected it…” Thorne stared blankly into the distance with empty eyes, murmuring to himself.
“By the way, was the friend you mentioned just now Orsini?” Thorne suddenly turned to Chu Tianyu as if remembering something.
“He’s just one of them. There’s another friend you’re quite familiar with—his name is Fernandi. He should be not far from here right now!” As he spoke, Chu Tianyu casually glanced at the sacred staff still tightly held in Thorne’s hand.
“Zhui Tian! I understand, I get it…” Thorne exclaimed in realization.
Seeing Thorne in this declining state as a “hero,” Chu Tianyu felt no sorrow. Just as he had said earlier, those who measure others will also be measured in return.
So, with that said, Chu Tianyu suddenly leaned forward, bringing himself close to Thorne’s ear, and said calmly, “That worthless Faluk you often mention also died at my hands. He was worthless and deserved to die. So what about you now?”
Upon hearing Chu Tianyu’s sudden words, Thorne was shocked. His pupils constricted. He hadn’t expected Faluk to also die at his hands. No wonder he had been able to parry the attacks so precisely earlier—both resisting them just enough while pretending to be weak. It turned out he had already deduced Faluk’s strength after their fight…
Just as Thorne understood everything, Chu Tianyu retracted Mo Yan, and a layer of protective energy surrounded his body. He had intended to prevent blood from spilling due to Mo Yan’s withdrawal, but unexpectedly, the sword’s intense heat had already sealed the wound. When it was pulled out, only an empty mark remained on Thorne’s chest—but this mark announced the death of Europe’s greatest warrior, Thorne…
…
The churches in Rome, along with various factions, were in chaos for a whole week. However, with the mysterious death of Archbishop Thorne and the careful preparations by several families led by Orsini, the turmoil soon subsided. Fernandi and his Zhui Tianyu took advantage of the situation, causing great trouble, which made the Orsini family and the others furious. But out of respect for Chu Tianyu and fear of Zhui Tianyu’s strength, they chose to hold back for now. As long as they didn’t act too recklessly, they would turn a blind eye.

After dealing with Thorn’s matters, Chu Tianyu returned to Paris, where he met up with Chen Lao from the Hidden Wind Hong Kong branch who had arrived. He gave him detailed instructions on the specifics here. In fact, Chen Lao’s visit was merely to carry out some preliminary preparations and arrange for appropriate personnel to be sent over; it wasn’t meant to mean taking over European affairs immediately or forcing Orsini to fulfill his promises.
It’s likely that after this confrontation with Thorn, Orsini will also realize clearly the consequences of breaking his word or having other ulterior motives!
However, what’s troubling Chu Tianyu now isn’t these matters but rather what to do with Angel. He finds it really difficult to decide how to handle this little girl. Leaving her in Europe would be like handing her over as an easy meal to those filthy bats, while entrusting her to Fernando—well, not only does Angel look terrified every time she sees him, but Chu Tianyu himself also feels extremely uneasy whenever he sees Fernando’s lecherous and wolf-like smile when looking at Angel!
But if he takes her with him back to the country, how should he arrange things? Right now, Angel trusts no one but him. As a foreign girl, she can’t possibly follow him to college every day!
Moreover, with her mysterious background and no proof of identity, although things might be easier if she were to immigrate officially later, it’s not straightforward to take her away temporarily, even for tourism purposes. All the necessary documents would have to be renewed, taking a long time—certainly not something that can be done in a day or two.
Chu Tianyu had originally planned for this simple task in Europe to take at most two or three days, but unexpectedly, it’s dragged on for so long. He estimates that if he delays returning for a few more days, school will already be on summer break. So, at this point, Chu Tianyu is eager to return home!
A few days ago, he also contacted Ouyang Ziyi and the others, saying that Bai Lei was handling all his exams and grades, so he didn’t need to worry about them. This also reassured Chu Tianyu a lot, allowing him to focus less.
But just as Chu Tianyu was struggling with Angel’s issue, his grandfather called, saying that due to certain reasons in Europe, the World Military Competition would be held earlier. He also asked his grandfather, and since Chu Tianyu was already in Europe on a trip, he could just wait for a couple of days and attend the competition, avoiding the hassle of traveling back and forth!
Chu Tianyu was speechless after receiving the call—things just kept piling up without end! Especially his grandfather’s last remark left him feeling utterly helpless and frustrated.

At the end of the call, his grandfather said, “Hehe, Tianyu, there won’t be much else to do in the future. Just help your second brother this time and win back the championship. I believe this is the simplest task for you, haha…” Those words—“simple task!”—made Chu Tianyu feel speechless and in tears after hanging up the phone, with the sound of camel bells echoing in his ears… Faced with this new situation, Chu Tianyu had no choice but to rethink his plans. It was also a good opportunity to take care of Angel’s matters, at least to gather some necessary materials and complete the required procedures. He had sought her opinion, and although the little girl hadn’t said a word, Chu Tianyu could clearly see the longing in her eyes and the sadness of wanting to stay. “So the quieter Angel is, the harder it is to handle. It seems I can only take advantage of my chance to participate in the military competition to sort out the procedures and take her back temporarily, to see if she can adapt to life in China. If not, we’ll think of something else. And with Ouyang Ziyi and the others back home, hehe, I probably won’t have to worry!” Chu Tianyu thought carelessly. Once a decision was made, things became easier. His grandfather said his second brother’s delegation wouldn’t arrive in Paris until the next day, giving him time to talk properly with Old Chen. It had been some time since they last met after leaving Hong Kong. He also entrusted Angel’s matters to Qianfeng here to handle. If that didn’t work, there were still the two local bosses, Orsini and Fernandi! To be honest, Chu Tianyu didn’t want to get involved too much in the political paths his grandfather and second brother were pursuing. For him, as long as he could use the situation to his advantage, that was enough. This was also one of the core principles taught by the sect leader of Xuanji Sect. Regarding politics, one should only use its momentum, not get trapped in it. His third master had given Chu Tianyu many examples. In politics, many people may start with good intentions, but once deeply involved, they find themselves unable to break free from constraints and distractions to do what they originally intended, losing their freedom and effectiveness! Thus, throughout history, Xuanji Sect has neither rejected nor delved too deeply into politics. Its principle of “using momentum” clearly expresses the idea of “using it for our own benefit without getting involved,” which is also an important reason why Xuanji Sect has endured to this day. However, whether it was to help his grandfather and second brother or to build a foundation for Xuanji Sect’s future use of momentum, in Chu Tianyu’s view, the most important thing was to win this championship for China, restore its pride, and foster a military spirit! …

When Chu Tianyu met his second brother and his teammates at a special airport, he was deeply uncomfortable seeing his brother’s serious expression and indifference toward him. His brother introduced Chu Tianyu to the other teammates in a very detached tone, saying he was a special practitioner for the team and an additional member allowed by the competition rules, sent specifically to assist them in striving for the championship. After speaking, his brother even led the applause to welcome him. Under the collective gaze and scrutiny of those tough men, Chu Tianyu felt very uneasy. Yet, he didn’t see any trace of contempt or disdain in their eyes—instead, there was respect and curiosity. This made Chu Tianyu nod in agreement inwardly; being neither arrogant nor impetuous, and not judging people by appearance, were qualities especially valuable for someone already strong in ability. His brother’s serious and cold expression only melted away when they were alone in a room, as he suddenly reverted to his usual hearty smile, becoming the brother Chu Tianyu was used to. The smile was as bright as before, the conversation as smooth, and the brotherly bond as sincere. But for Chu Tianyu, he could no longer find the same feeling he used to have with his brother. Now, there was a clear sense of distance between them. Especially when sensitive topics were casually brought up, his brother’s reserved words only intensified this sense of separation! It was then that Chu Tianyu truly understood why his grandparents had always told him to hide his strength and keep a low profile with his grandfather—once you took this path, you were trapped in the world of intrigue, unable to control yourself, even with those closest to you. Perhaps this was what they meant by politics! His brother and the others had come a bit early to discuss coordination with Chu Tianyu and practice some more, as it was a team competition. Although no one doubted Chu Tianyu’s strength, not everyone could master the art of integrating such exceptional abilities into a larger team. Clearly, Chu Tianyu surprised them greatly. When he effortlessly, naturally, and skillfully completed moves that would take others years to master, all the teammates were shocked, including Chu Tianfeng, who knew his younger brother had supernatural abilities, and was stunned—unable to relate him to the silly kid who had always followed him around since childhood, dripping with snot…

“Haha, dear Mr. Mori, I have absolutely no problem with the demands put forward by your French government. It’s just the price issue…”
“…”
“Oh! Haha, that’s great then. Don’t worry at all—this time I’m personally involved, with the entire Zhuitian backing me up. Even if we encounter some particularly skilled opponent, I’ll make sure they disappear. Haha, just prepare what I want, and this champion won’t be able to escape. You can start preparing for a celebration! Haha… hahaha… uh…”
On a rest floor of the French delegation’s booth at the World Military Competition, Fernandi stood by the window, watching the delegations from various countries arrive one after another, proudly patting his chest as he made guarantees. But just as he finished saying his last sentence, before he could finish smiling triumphantly, he saw a figure. In an instant, it was as if something choked him—he almost lost his breath!
“This… this can’t be!” Fernandi recovered slightly and said in disbelief, looking out the window.
“What did you say? What can’t be?” came the question from the other end of the phone, waking Fernandi up. Wiping the sweat beading on his forehead, he looked blankly at the phone in his hand. After a few more prompts from the other end, he placed the phone back to his ear with a blank expression and said with a bitter smile, “Mr. Mori, may I ask… if I settle for second place instead, will I still get the same amount of payment?”
“?＃￥~……”
…When Fernandi found Chu Tianyu, the first thing he said was, “How did you end up here too?”
“Hehe, what, aren’t you here too?” Chu Tianyu teased, trying to hold back his laughter. With this old fox showing up at such an event, looking so aggressive, it was obvious he had taken on another big deal—one of national significance. Naturally, Chu Tianyu’s arrival must have ruined his chances.
After being snapped at by Chu Tianyu, Fernandi also realized what was happening and couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. Realizing he was still upset over the huge loss in payment, he said reluctantly, “Chu, you know what? Because of your arrival, all the money I was supposed to get has just flown away! They said second place only pays one-tenth of what was originally agreed—damn it…”

By the end, Fernandi had shifted from reluctance to annoyance. His pained expression made even Chu Tianyu feel sorry for him, so he comforted him, “No matter how much reward is offered, what could possibly matter to you after having already plundered the Roman Church? You should relax a bit!”
“It’s 80 billion this time, you know? 80 billion euros! What I lack now isn’t treasures—it’s money, cash, bills…” Chu Tianyu’s words only served to stir up Fernandi’s pain, prompting him to shout at Chu Tianyu.
Hearing Fernandi’s words, Chu Tianyu also gasped in shock. They were willing to spend 80 billion euros for this championship, showing just how serious the countries took this competition.
But before Chu Tianyu could ask more details, he saw Fernandi looking at him with a resentful expression. That look, that demeanor—all spoke of him having just been exploited out of 100 billion, which made him crave that money desperately, along with a sense of pity, hoping that with such an aggrieved expression, Chu Tianyu might say something comforting, like returning those 100 billion to him…
“Heh, calculated like this, you still get 8 billion, which should be pretty good. By the way, bro, I have to go first. See you on the battlefield!” With that, Chu Tianyu, already alert and sensing the conversation had touched on a sensitive topic, quickly laughed and fled before Fernandi could react further.
“Tch, I’m not asking you for money anyway. Why are you running?” Fernandi said disdainfully at Chu Tianyu’s retreating back. But after saying that, he thought to himself, “Ugh, they say Chinese people care about face. They can’t refuse any request. I hinted so clearly just now—why isn’t this guy reacting at all?”
“It seems impossible to get anything out of this brat. Sigh, let’s see if I can find something else. 100 billion… 100 billion…” At the thought, Fernandi felt another wave of pain.
…
To be honest, the level of these military competitions was child’s play for Chu Tianyu. Even for Fernandi, without Chu Tianyu, his earlier grand claims would have been enough to make him stand out among the competitors!

Although various countries sent their elite teams and their most powerful special ability users, few could stand a chance against masters like Chu Tianyu and Fernando. In each competition, Chu Tianyu would first eliminate the opponent’s so-called top expert, then assist his second brother and the others. But once the opponent lost their advantage in special abilities, Chu Tianyu felt that even without intervening, his side could easily win. So he stopped interfering and simply followed behind his second brother and the others, no longer getting directly involved. This approach earned him respect from both the Chinese team members and their opponents! After all, this was a military competition fought for the honor of soldiers. The inclusion of special ability users was purely out of political motives and vanity. Any true soldier would genuinely despise such practices! However, thanks to Chu Tianyu’s presence, all teams competing against the Chinese military got a fair chance to compete and a great platform to showcase their true military prowess. So when all the soldiers of the Chinese military finally stood at the top of the podium, their pride was unparalleled, as it reflected their true capabilities. Although they were all top elites in the military, the competition system had previously prepared them to serve as mere props. But now, by standing on the podium through their own strength, they truly understood what true military honor meant! “Snap!” After the award ceremony, including his second brother, everyone gave Chu Tianyu a proper military salute, their respect and gratitude evident without words…