An hour later.
Back at the Su Family Villa.
In the courtyard.
Su Muwan stood holding a shark plushie, blinking her eyes and asking, "Qin Luo, what are you up to? So mysterious."
"I'm testing out a new move I just learned," Qin Luo replied, looking around the open space. With a thought, he activated his technique.
The next moment.
Gurgle gurgle—!
Like an endless tide rising from the abyss beneath the earth, thick, viscous black mist began to spread through the air.
The fog expanded rapidly, enveloping the entire courtyard in an instant, and the sky above the yard gradually darkened, creating a heavy, oppressive atmosphere.
Suddenly, a low, guttural howl echoed through the air.
Within the black fog, countless pairs of blood-red eyes appeared.
Those eyes gleamed with a fierce, menacing light.
Swish swish swish!!
Then, a swarm of shadowy crows burst forth from the fog.
"Caw caw caw—!"
Qin Luo stood in the center of the courtyard, looking up at the sky with a playful expression as the massive flock of shadowy crows formed a black cloud. The sound of their wings beating was thunderous, deafening.
The crows circled in the sky, their black wings blocking out the sunlight, plunging the entire courtyard into darkness. Their figures rose and fell, resembling a colossal shadowy beast, exuding an overwhelming sense of pressure.
"Come here," Qin Luo beckoned, gesturing toward the crows above.
The next moment.
"Caw caw caw!"
The crows excitedly and affectionately swarmed toward Qin Luo, and in no time, he was completely surrounded by the flock, forming a massive black mass.
Su Muwan watched as Qin Luo was engulfed by the crows, her pupils shrinking in shock.
What is this?! Your technique is so... spooky!
Most importantly!
"Hey! Stay away from Qin Luo, all of you!" Su Muwan angrily charged forward.
"Caw caw caw!"
"What are you cawing about!"
Bang bang bang!
The crows were scattered.
They shrank in size, turning into tiny creatures like ants, trembling on Qin Luo's shoulders.
"Caw..."
One by one, they emitted fearful, aggrieved sounds.
Qin Luo chuckled wryly, looking at Su Muwan, who was standing in front of him with her hands on her hips, forcefully shooing away the crows.
He shook his head with a smile. "Miss Su, they're just a bunch of crows."
"Caw caw!" (We're Shadow Crows!)
Su Muwan snorted coldly. "I don't care what kind of crows they are. If they dare to invade my jade... ahem."
Her face turned red as she glared at Qin Luo. "In short! They're not good crows!!"
"And Qin Luo, where did you learn this technique? Is this even considered martial arts?"
"This has already gone beyond the concept of a martial artist, hasn't it?"
Do you even have the right to say that?
Qin Luo glanced at Su Muwan.
Compared to me, you're the one who's way beyond the realm of a martial artist.
Who else could be as invincible as you?
I've only gained a bit of self-defense...
But...
Qin Luo looked at Su Muwan, who was hugging her shark plushie, hands on her hips, her face flushing as she thought of something.
Hey, the most absurd person in this world is you, isn't it...
Su Muwan suddenly looked alertly at Qin Luo. "Qin Luo, why aren't you saying anything? Are you secretly mocking me in your heart?"
How did you know that?
Qin Luo took a deep breath, waved his hand, and recalled the crows while smiling at Su Muwan. "Miss Su, you're overthinking. I was just thinking about all the important matters waiting for you to handle after unifying Jiang City."
"For example..."
As he spoke, Qin Luo pulled out a schedule and looked at Su Muwan. "For example, this afternoon, you have a press conference to attend."
"Martial Arts News and various media outlets will be sending reporters to Jiang City to interview you."
"There might even be a live audience Q&A session."
"After the press conference, you'll need to personally review the regional allocation of Jiang City's factions."
"Also, since most of the other factions in Jiang City have been merged into the Su Family, a significant portion of their industries are currently closed."
"The Jiang City branch of the Martial Arts Alliance has already contacted me, saying that this is affecting the overall economy of Jiang City. They're requesting you to sign off on reopening those businesses in your busy schedule."
"Additionally, the annual investment and charity sponsorship for the Martial Arts Academies in Jiang City also need to be redistributed by you..."
"And this..."
"This..."
"Tomorrow, the law enforcement team of Jiang City will discuss with you the future governance of the city."
At this point, Qin Luo looked at Su Muwan, whose expression was gradually turning blank. "Miss Su, did you understand all that?"
Understand... did I understand?
Su Muwan's eyes were blank, her mind completely empty.
What's going on? Why do I feel so dizzy all of a sudden?
I didn't know there would be so much to do after unifying the city!
I... can I back out now?
"Qin Luo... I don't want to do this anymore..."
"Miss Su, with great power comes great responsibility. If you want to wear the crown, you must bear its weight. If you don't do it, who will?"
"You do it! Have Little Qing make a mask of my face, put on a dress, and pretend to be me!"
"........Miss Su, are you not planning to eat your snacks anymore?"
"Waaa..."
....
....
Afternoon.
At the press conference.
A large conference hall capable of seating thousands.
Qin Luo, Su Muwan, Su Ba, and others sat at a long table on the stage, each with a microphone in front of them.
"This is outrageous!"
Su Ba, who had not shown up before, stood up, holding the microphone and shouting at the crowd of journalists, "Who spread the rumor that I was gravely ill? How shameless!"
"I may be old! But I'm not dead!"
"Oh, never mind. They're already gone."
Click click click!
Camera flashes went off.
The reporter asking the question awkwardly chuckled. "Heh heh... Mr. Su, you're quite the joker."
"Anyway! As you can see, Mr. Su is in good health."
We at Martial Arts News also remind everyone that spreading rumors is easy, but debunking them takes a lot of effort.
"The unification of Jiang City was the result of the other factions' own mistakes."
"Please don't imitate them."
With that, another reporter stood up with a notebook in hand, looking at Su Muwan and asking, "Miss Su, how are you feeling now? Is there anything you'd like to say?"
Feeling? Something to say?
Su Muwan blinked, looking at the crowd of journalists below, all holding cameras and flashing pictures.
The flash was too bright.
Besides...
She cleared her throat lightly. "Can you turn on some beauty filters?"
The journalists: ?
Qin Luo leaned over and whispered, "Miss Su, they're asking if you have anything to say after unifying Jiang City."
"Also, Miss Su, you're already the most beautiful in the world without any filters."
The journalists: ??
"......"
Su Muwan's face turned red.
Wait, couldn't you have been clearer about that?