Martin Wu was visibly excited, still shouting about how he wished he'd discovered such a super expert back in Jinnan. If he'd found one earlier and taken them as his mentor, he wouldn't have needed to join the Tiger Special Forces—he might've gone straight into Nightstar.
He kept making a racket, clearly full of regret.
"But it's really a shame. All these years in the Jinnan Military District, only the five who came to Tiger were truly outstanding. I actually crossed paths with them a bit back then—real men with pure hearts. It's a pity, honestly."
Martin Wu felt sorry for the five Blades, his words growing more somber as he knocked back a few more drinks.
Evan Lin sat across from him, drinking along, but didn't tell him that the guy who took down Blake Rowe was sitting right in front of him—or that the five Blades who died had been trained by Evan himself for a while.
As a Tiger Special Forces member, Martin only knew the rough outline of what happened. It was obvious the higher-ups had locked down the news.
If everyone knew the Tiger Special Forces lost men to Blake Rowe from the Rowe clan—and Nightstar's own people failed to handle it—that would be bad news for all sides.
But Evan Lin wiped out Blake Rowe and Brandon Rowe, plus Fourth Elder Rowe, Mason Shang, Logan Rowe, and the Meng family members. Now, Evan and the Rowe clan have a blood feud that can't be resolved.
Evan was still debating whether to head to Tangshan and wipe out the Shang and Rowe clans at the root.
If this only concerned Evan himself, he probably wouldn't bother. If the Shang or Rowe clans came for revenge, he'd just kill them one by one.
But in reality, this mess involves Professor Gordon Gu, Old Man Liu, and Autumn Zheng as well.
With so many people tangled up in it, Evan can't always protect them. Honestly, pulling up the roots is the cleanest way to deal with it.
Even if it's a hassle and takes some extra time.
Right now, Evan's just waiting—waiting for the Shang and Rowe clans to make their move. If they decide to swallow their pride and stay quiet, Evan doesn't mind letting them live.
Glasses clinked, drinks went down.
Selina Wu sat quietly eating, occasionally telling Martin Wu to drink less. But ever since they left Yannan Club, whenever Selina glanced at Evan, there was always a hint of worry in her eyes.
After eating and drinking their fill, Martin Wu didn't drive. Instead, he hailed a cab, asked Evan where he was staying, and he and Selina Wu escorted Evan back.
They got out in front of the hotel.
Martin Wu and Selina Wu had no intention of leaving. They followed Evan to the hotel front desk, booked two rooms, and checked in right away.
"We drank too much tonight. Dizzy, too lazy to run around—might as well stay here."
"If anything happens, just knock. I'll open up anytime."
Martin Wu patted Evan's shoulder, while Selina Wu nodded at him. "See you tomorrow."
After saying goodbye to Evan, the two headed into the elevator.
Their rooms were on different floors—Selina Wu and Martin Wu got off first, watching as the elevator doors closed and Evan disappeared from view.
"This is going to be tricky."
In the empty hallway, Selina Wu didn't rush back to her own room. Instead, she went to Martin Wu's room, sat cross-legged on the bed, frowning, the worry in her eyes growing deeper. "We both know what Nightstar is. Even though we all took a stand today, at most we can scare off the second-generation kids from Yannan Club—keep them from stirring up trouble in the middle."
"But thinking we can use that to make Nightstar hesitate is a bit naive."
Selina Wu rubbed her temples. "Still too impulsive. If we hadn't crippled them so thoroughly, maybe there'd be some room to maneuver."
"That's true, but those two Nightstar guys really went way too far."
Martin Wu looked indignant, but when Selina Wu glanced at him, he gave an awkward laugh and scratched his head. "Of course, it's my fault too—just not strong enough."
"If I'd been stronger, Evan wouldn't have had to step in. Then those two Nightstar guys wouldn't have ended up crippled, and Evan wouldn't be stuck with all this trouble because of me."
"Damn it, I owe him a huge favor—what am I supposed to do? You know me, I hate owing anyone. When Allen Ju saved my life as a kid, I counted my life as his. Now, what am I supposed to do about Evan's favor?"
Martin Wu looked troubled, then glanced at Selina Wu and grinned. "Hey, Selina, you're not getting any younger..."
He didn't finish his sentence before Selina Wu grabbed a pillow and smacked him right in the head.
"So you're planning to sell me off to pay your debt to him?"
Selina Wu looked annoyed. "Most brothers are desperate to keep their sisters from getting married, but you? Mom and Dad haven't even started nagging, and you're already picking out candidates for me?"
Martin Wu, rubbing his head, grinned. "Honestly, Evan's way better than Austin Guan from the Oceanport Guan family."
"Doesn't matter if he's got background or power—I just feel like he's trustworthy. If you really ended up with him, I'd die happy knowing you're taken care of."
Martin Wu said this seriously. Selina Wu leaned back on the bed, hands behind her head, staring at the ceiling. "Don't keep talking about dying, Martin. Trouble-makers like you always live forever—you won't die that easily."
"Nightstar came after Evan because of you. If their anger spills over to Tiger Special Forces, you can kiss your hard-won Tiger operator status goodbye."
"When we get home, Grandpa will probably whip you, but he won't actually kill you."
"As for you thinking about sacrificing yourself to take the blame for Evan with Nightstar—don't even consider it. It won't help at all."
Selina Wu suddenly sighed.
Hearing this, Martin Wu stopped smiling. He really had been considering it.
What he said earlier about wanting to marry Selina Wu off to Evan was his genuine idea, too.
Martin Wu would hesitate to throw his life away just for a friend. But if Evan were his brother-in-law, someone who could guarantee Selina's happiness, he'd go all in without a second thought.
No matter how special Nightstar's people are, they're still not as valuable as Martin Wu. The two who got crippled may survive, but they're ruined for life.
Allen Ju, Fangzhi Bi, Wanwan Sun, Calvin Zheng, Grace Liu, Hanxiang Liu, Selina Wu, Martin Wu—all these second-generation kids can't speak for their families. There's almost no chance Nightstar will hesitate because of them.
Martin Wu's plan was simple: he'd trade his life to offset the crippling of those two, to calm Nightstar's fury. If he died, Old Master Wu—who hasn't set foot in Beijing for decades—would probably have to come up for his useless grandson.
It's true the Wu family is weak, but after Old Master Wu left for Jinnan, none of the second generation ever made a name for themselves or joined the army.
Was it really because the Wu family had no talents?
Of course not.
Take Wu Zhihan for example—he managed to lay low in Jinnan for years, which says a lot.
It's not that the second generation lacked talent, but that Old Master Wu, who was a founding hero, overshadowed everyone.
But Old Master Wu had no interest in power, so he retired, put down his arms, and chose a peaceful life in Jinnan.
No one from the second generation joined the army until Martin Wu and his cousins in the third generation started serving.
If Old Master Wu's grandson died at Nightstar's hands, he'd definitely come to Beijing himself.
Even those old friends who owed Old Master Wu for stepping aside would drag themselves out of bed to see him—if they still had a breath left.
That's Martin Wu's bargaining chip: his life for Old Master Wu's trip to Beijing.
At that point, even Nightstar wouldn't dare go after Evan.
No matter how strong Nightstar is, they're still Huaxia people.
Not necessarily—what if they do?
But that's my last resort. If there's another way, I won't rush to die.
I don't really fear death, but dying for nothing would suck. I've never even dated, damn it—I always wanted to sleep with a star, but who knows if I'll ever get the chance.
Just hope Nightstar doesn't go too far tonight. If they come in force to kill Evan, I'll have to step forward, spill my blood, and slit my throat right in front of them.
I'd have to shout before slitting my throat—otherwise, if they knock me out before I explain who I am, you need to clarify for me so my death isn't wasted.
Martin Wu kept rambling.
The excuse about drinking and staying with Evan was nonsense—they just wanted to protect him.
Selina Wu finally got annoyed, sat up, left the bed, and headed back to her own room.
Hey, do you actually like him?
Martin Wu suddenly changed the subject, looking at Selina Wu gossipingly.
You should worry about finding a star to sleep with—not about my business. You can't even sort out your own problems.
Selina Wu waved her hand without turning, kept walking, and left.
Once outside, Selina Wu sighed, utterly exhausted.