No, more accurately, it should now be called Liuhe City. The star beasts had been brought under control ever since that global war years ago. Once Liu Diqiu’s combat puppets had entered mass production, the star beasts quickly declined from their dominant position as Earth's overlords, and humanity regained its place as the ruling force.
Nowadays, humans no longer needed to cower behind tall city walls. A regular city only required a force of combat puppets and a garrison of martial artists to ensure complete safety. Ordinary people could now venture into the wilderness for sightseeing or labor.
At last, humanity could walk beyond the towering walls and freely enjoy the beauty and bounty of nature. This shift brought about an explosive growth in material resources for humanity.
Hunger was eradicated. The plants and water sources in the wild were also purified. Fruits and vegetables that were once considered luxuries had finally become affordable for the average household.
To the southeast of Liuhe City lay a lake named Yuze. Yuze Lake had once been a forbidden zone, home to a high-grade water-type star beast known as the Toothed Horse, along with hundreds of other water-type star beasts. Even martial artists at the Acupoint Opening Realm dared not linger near its shores.
But now, the sound of children's laughter and joy echoed across the area. The elementary, middle, and high school divisions of Red Flag School were holding a joint summer camp in the wilderness.
Colorful tents had been set up on the grassy lakeshore. Under the teachers' guidance, the children were busily preparing lunch. All ingredients had been gathered from the wild, and were processed and cooked on site. The activity served to train the children’s hands-on skills.
As the birthplace of the Martial God Li Xiaofei, Liuhe City now enjoyed widespread fame, not just nationally, but globally. Countless saints and pilgrims came to visit the city, touring Li Xiaofei’s former residence and alma mater, and interviewing those who had once crossed paths with him. Hongqi School was undoubtedly a sacred stop on their pilgrimage.
To facilitate the visits and understanding of the faithful, the site of the old high school had long since been converted into a memorial hall, while the new high school was relocated and rebuilt elsewhere.
Red Flag High School had completely absorbed other local high schools such as Lanshan and Petroleum High, becoming the sole secondary school in Liuhe City.
The principal, Qin Dewei, was a highly decorated elder with a long record of accomplishments. However, he kept a very low profile in his daily life and rarely accepted media interviews. While his name was not well known to the public, he was a figure so respected in Liuhe City that even the city leader would bow his head and respectfully call him Elder Qin.
The vice principal, Hu Yuer, on the other hand, was a renowned superstar. Her fame stemmed not only from the deep respect she commanded among students or her formidable martial prowess but also from her unparalleled beauty.
This stunning woman, capable of exuding both the charm of a dignified lady and the sweetness of a young girl, was a mystery when it came to age. She always appeared to be eighteen. Principal Hu consistently ranked first in beauty contests across the globe, no matter the region or the panel.
As a result, she had amassed a massive global following. She was the dream goddess of countless men. Many martial prodigies, heirs of prestigious clans, and even top-tier martial giants were infatuated with her. The current sixth-ranked warrior on the Global Martial God Ranking, Chris Banco from Yiggs Union, once publicly confessed that he would gladly drink her bathwater.
Yet despite all this attention, this dazzling enchantress had never been linked to any romantic scandal. She remained as cold and untouchable as ice. Only the old principal, Qin Dewei, seemed able to hold a conversation with her.
Today marked the annual summer camp event of Red Flag School. In addition to the school’s own teachers and students, many representatives from other prestigious schools around the world had traveled long distances to attend, eager to experience the glory of a world-class institution like Red Flag.
This included a delegation from the renowned Wisteria State High School from Yiggs, led by none other than Chris Banco. Ranked sixth on the Global Martial God Ranking, Chris was widely recognized across Yiggs Union as a martial arts prodigy.
He had risen in the era following Li Xiaofei’s time, and in just a few short years, had advanced rapidly to become a Saint. Many in the West considered him the reincarnation of the God of War.
Some Western media had even hyped the narrative that Chris Banco had been born in the wrong era, suggesting that if he had been born fifty years earlier, he could have stood shoulder to shoulder with the War God Li Xiaofei and become one of the greatest martial warriors in human history.
In the end, it was Chris Banco himself who stepped forward to shut down that line of speculation. At twenty-six years old, Chris Banco could certainly be considered a young man who had achieved early success. He had attained nearly everything he had ever wanted, except for Principal Hu. She remained the one dream forever out of reach. And the more unattainable she was, the deeper his obsession grew.
Taking advantage of Red Flag High School's annual summer camp event, the golden-haired, blue-eyed Chris Banco had arrived in Liuhe City under the title of honorary principal. But anyone with eyes could see his true intentions.
Graceful and handsome, Chris Banco was not only a martial arts expert of remarkable cultivation, but also a man of broad knowledge. He spoke with elegance and poise, with the distinct charm of a Western gentleman. He was the kind of man who was difficult to dislike.
He stayed close to Hu Yuer, earnestly asking her about education and cultivation. But Hu Yuer paid him no attention.
Chris did not seem bothered by the cold treatment. He maintained a perfect sense of distance, occasionally making polite conversation with a gentle smile and always appearing composed and respectful.
However, this self-assured man held no appeal to Hu Yuer. As a Beast King who had taken on human form, she had seen far too many types of humans. The Western man at her side couldn’t be called unimpressive. On the contrary, he could easily rank second among all the human males she had encountered. But unfortunately, he was not the first. The first could only ever be that one man.
They had endured countless storms together, fought side by side through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and relied on each other in life-and-death situations. Every time they touched, Hu Yuer could never forget that overwhelming ecstasy, the exchange of energy, and the perfect resonance between soul and spirit. Nor did she want to.
It was just that the damn man... had left and never returned. So many years had passed, and there was still no sign of him. Not a single word. The world beyond the heavens was a dangerous place.
But as the saying went, ‘Good people die young, but disasters live for a thousand years.’ That bastard had been the most outrageous disaster she'd ever known, so surely he wouldn’t die so easily. He was probably out there somewhere, flirting with some group of goddesses beyond the stars.
As Hu Yuer thought of this, a faint smile unknowingly appeared at the corner of her lips. The sudden, radiant smile struck Chris Banco like a soul-rending blow. At that moment, he was completely captivated. He was lost in her beauty and utterly dazed.
She smiled. She really smiled. Was it because of me?
Chris Banco was overwhelmed with excitement. But then he noticed something, Hu Yuer’s smile was growing even brighter and even more radiant. Her flawless, breathtaking face bloomed with joy like the first rays of dawn bursting across the horizon.
At that moment, Chris sensed something wasn’t quite right. The goddess wasn’t smiling at him. She was smiling in a completely different direction. He followed Hu Yuer’s gaze.
A man stood in the distance, at the edge of the lake. A man. He had a slightly chubby build and fair skin. Dressed in a simple white tracksuit, he stood quietly by the lakeside. There was nothing special about him, he looked completely ordinary.
Is the goddess smiling at him? No way... right?
As doubt flickered across Chris Banco’s mind, Hu Yuer suddenly let out a joyous scream. She dashed toward the slightly chubby man by the lake.
Chris had never seen Hu Yuer . She ran, her long black hair streaming through the air, each strand shimmering as if infused with pure joy. She leaped high into the air and threw herself into the man’s arms.
Chris nearly turned to stone as a sharp pain pierced his chest. In the next instant, Hu Yuer wrapped her legs tightly around the unremarkable man’s waist, clinging to him like a koala. Her arms circled his neck, and she kissed him fiercely and passionately, as though nothing else in the world mattered.
Chris Banco’s vision went dark as his body swayed unsteadily. One giant question mark echoed in his mind, Who the hell... is that guy?