In an unnamed city, two young men in suits walked into a coffee shop and ordered two cups of coffee before taking their seats.
"Finally, we've finished the task Master gave us," one of the youths said as he pulled out a laptop and logged onto a website, only to freeze in place.
"What's wrong, senior brother?" asked the youth sitting opposite him.
The youth facing the computer remained stunned for a moment before exclaiming in surprise, "What the heck is this King's List?"
"Let me take a look," said the other youth, moving to sit beside him.
A golden banner had appeared on the underground forum, with only four words written on it: 'Path of the King.'
When the youth clicked on it, he saw a list with only ten names. The name in the tenth position was dimmed, while the others shone with a golden light.
The last person's name was Ning Xuan, ranked tenth on the King's List.
The second-to-last name caught the eyes of both youths—Lin Tanyu.
"Who is this Lin Tanyu?"
There was a description next to the underground forum's King's List: We had already announced a year ago the new generation of young elites from the Martial Arts World, the Magic World, and the Superpower World. Defeat any of them to take their place. Lin Tanyu is the new superstar on the list, and that's Lin Mo's new code name!
It was unclear whether the list's creator had given Lin Mo this nickname, or someone else had.
The underground forum was shrouded in mystery; no one knew when it was created or who was behind it. However, an increasing number of Martial Artists, Superpower Users, and Magic Users began communicating on the forum, and many secrets were being exchanged there.
Of course, the list also had a strong public credibility. It was not like the open Emperor List but was the list of the new generation of peak young warriors.
Ning Xuan had made it to the tenth position on the Path of the King, and Lin Tanyu had killed Ning Xuan to advance to the ninth position.
"The third position is held by Li Yang of the Southwest Li Family, who reached the Martial God Realm at twenty and, at twenty-five, has fought a day-long, undefeated battle against the veteran Martial God and Sect Leader of the Taiji Sect."
"The second position belongs to Lu Xing, the main disciple of the Magic Master from Hong Kong."
"The first position is held by Aixinjueluo Qiyue."
The youth was stunned, then cried out, "Isn't the Aixinjueluo family from the Imperial Family? After the Great Qing Dynasty collapsed, they disappeared; it's unbelievable that they're still in Huaxia."
"We don't even know these secrets; the creator of this underground forum must be incredibly powerful," the other youth added.
With the list's introduction, the whole underground forum became even more popular.
"Our eldest senior brother didn't even make the list, what a crappy list that only put my Master in the diamond ranking."
"Isn't Lin Tanyu's ranking too low? He fought three people alone; how is he only ninth?"
"Who are those people ahead? I've never heard of them."
"Yeah, are they really all more powerful than Lin Tanyu?"
Many expressed their doubts, but meanwhile, the Martial Arts World continued to buzz with excitement. There were still so many geniuses in Huaxia who simply chose to keep a low profile due to the suppression of nuclear weapons and had completely disappeared from the public eye.
At that time, Lin Mo was unconcerned, already on a plane leaving the Northeast with Yingzi and Xia Mengdie.
"The New Year is only a few days away. I suppose after being away for so long, I'll get an earful from Mother when I get home," Lin Mo said with a wry smile, sounding somewhat helpless.
For someone like him, a Peak King to be afraid of his mother—imagine the shock that would give to the jaws of the Martial Arts World if they heard.
"Don't worry, I've explained it to her, telling her that you were traveling with me. She won't be worried," Xia Mengdie said, covering her mouth to laugh upon seeing Lin Mo's troubled expression.
Lin Mo said with a smile, "My wife really knows how to care for someone."
"You're not even embarrassed," Xia Mengdie's pretty face turned slightly red; the plane was full of people after all.
Yingzi rubbed her chilly nose after getting off the plane and said, "Sir, may I take a leave to go home? I'll come to find you after the New Year."
"Mhm, go home and have a look," Lin Mo smiled and asked indifferently, "Is your family from Japan?"
"My mom is from Japan, and my dad is Huaxia," Yingzi replied.
"Oh, in that case, half of your blood is ours, Huaxia's, and since your father is Huaxia, you're essentially Huaxia too," Lin Mo said.
Yingzi had been following him around, and even though she was technically a maid, after all, she had protected Xia Mengdie many times, so Lin Mo didn't really treat her like a maid anymore.
Instead, she felt more like a friend, a sister!
"Sister Mengdie, bye-bye," Yingzi waved her little hand and slipped into a Rolls-Royce Phantom.
Though Yingzi was but a small maid by Lin Mo's side, in reality, her father was a tycoon worth over ten billion, and Yingzi herself was a lady from a wealthy family.
Xia Mengdie looped her arm through Lin Mo's and hailed a taxi.
"Mo, if others knew you're treating a lady worth billions as your maid, their eyes would pop out," Xia Mengdie said, covering her mouth as she giggled.
Lin Mo smiled and said, "It's not as you think; in fact, I practically saved her. I don't think she'd feel like I'm treating her as a maid."
Lin Mo wasn't lying; originally, Yingzi had come to assassinate him, and if he hadn't helped her, perhaps she still wouldn't have escaped being controlled by the organization.
"Why don't we just let Yingzi become your girlfriend too, I won't mind," Xia Mengdie suddenly said seriously, her face earnest.
The taxi driver, overhearing their conversation, had just taken a sip of water—which he then spit out.
Goodness, young people are so open these days, his wife is even encouraging him to get a mistress?
The taxi driver's gaze through the rearview mirror conveyed the highest respect imaginable to Lin Mo.
"..." Lin Mo was speechless.
Pulling on Lin Mo's arm, Xia Mengdie said, "I'm afraid no one will take care of you if I'm not around."
"What nonsense are you talking about; how could you not be by my side?" Lin Mo flicked Xia Mengdie's smooth forehead gently, saying earnestly, "Besides, silly girl, my feelings for you are unique, and I don't want to share them with a second person. If I must, it won't be until you truly become my woman."
"I was just joking," Xia Mengdie's thin lips curved into a gentle smile, resting her head on Lin Mo's shoulder.
Back at the Lin Family, Yang Chuxue and Lin Guang were already waiting at the door.
"It's almost New Year's, and only now you decide to come back. I'll see how I'm going to deal with you," Yang Chuxue said with a bright smile on seeing Lin Mo return, feigning a frown.
"Mom, I'm an adult now, and you still want to deal with me all the time; where do I put my face?" Lin Mo said helplessly.
"Mom, it's my fault for making Mo hang out a few more days," Xia Mengdie intervened to break the ice.
Yang Chuxue pulled Xia Mengdie to her side, a happy smile on her face: "You should make Xiao Mo spend more time with you; otherwise, heaven knows what he gets up to every day."
"Biased mom," Lin Mo thought to himself.
"Alright, now that Xiao Mo is back, let's go in and have dinner," Lin Guang said from the side, his eyes full of deep love for Lin Mo despite remaining quiet.
A father's love is a silent mountain!
Inside the Lin Family villa, all the core members were present; Lin Guang sat at the head, flanked by the third uncle, fourth uncle, and others, with the younger generation like Lin Fang, Lin Shuai, and others waiting quietly inside.
"Eh, how come my auntie isn't here?" Lin Mo asked, since in the Lin Family, apart from his cousin, his auntie was also very good to him, which made him inquire upon her absence.