Online Game: Lord Of The Wheel Of Destiny

Jiang Lan's condition was currently stable. In this era, the military district hospital's medical standards were undoubtedly the best in the nation.

However, he still needed to remain bedridden for a while to recover.

Seeing Jiang Kai, Jiang Lan's spirits lifted. He sat up and asked about his younger brother's progress in Ghost Star.

"Everything's going well." Sitting by the hospital bed, Jiang Kai picked up an apple and began peeling it, smiling as he spoke.

"Have you changed your profession?"

"Yes…" Jiang Kai's gaze subtly scanned the room. This was, after all, military territory. While he trusted General Wei Ying, Wei couldn't possibly oversee everything in the hospital. "Big Bro, I'll tell you all about it once you're fully recovered."

"Ha!" Jiang Lan rolled his eyes. "Keeping secrets from me, are you? Have you joined a guild yet? I heard that in the Destiny Calling world, to really make it, you've got to join a strong guild."

"We can't aim for the major guilds, but there are a few decent ones in Jiangzhong City… Oh, I've done some research while lying here and found some options for you." Jiang Lan sent a file to Jiang Kai's phone.

"I've carefully vetted these for you—take a look."

Jiang Kai stopped what he was doing, looked at his brother, took a deep breath, and smiled. "Big Bro, don't worry about anything else. Just focus on getting better!"

"And when you're well, you can come to Ghost Star too!"

"Me?" Jiang Lan was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of excitement crossing his eyes before quickly vanishing.

"I'm already 24. There's no way I can compete with anyone. Besides, with my poor health, my base stats would be terrible. And... getting a qualification certificate costs two or three million alliance coins. That money would be better spent on Yingzi." Jiang Lan shook his head.

Jiang Kai chuckled and replied, "Big Bro, other people might not know your potential, but I do!"

"When you were ten, you led a four-year-old me and two-year-old Yingzi through countless fallen cities to reach Jiangzhong City. I dare say few could have done the same."

"If you could transition into a suitable profession, your development wouldn't fall behind anyone else's."

Jiang Lan's eyes became unfocused for a moment, and then he shook his head. "It was just good luck…"

Jiang Kai didn't press further. Perhaps his brother's age was indeed a disadvantage, and his health was no longer what it used to be. But Jiang Kai knew Jiang Lan once dreamed of joining Destiny Calling.

Back then, his brother had given up his dream for Jiang Kai and Yingzi. Now, Jiang Kai intended to help his brother rediscover it.

Jiang Lan still needed rest following his surgery. Jiang Kai placed the peeled apple on the table, stood up, and said, "Big Bro, next time I visit, you can peel an apple for me."

Jiang Lan laughed at the joke. "What a big face you have!"

———

Outside the Ward

When Jiang Kai stepped out, he saw three people waiting for him.

Startled, he paused. Lu Jun was in a military uniform, Xiao Hei had swapped his black suit for a white casual outfit, though a badge on his chest identified him as a "Tier-3 War God" from the War God Hall.

His outfit was dusty, and the cuffs bore bloodstains—it seemed he had just returned from the Beast God battlefield.

But it was the third person that surprised Jiang Kai the most.

This person was also in casual clothes, with a "Tier-2 War God" badge. Unlike Xiao Hei's disheveled look, his attire was much cleaner.

Jiang Kai recognized him immediately—Jiang Fang?

Was he the one seeking him out?

"Your brother's in good hands," Lu Jun said with a smile. "General Wei personally instructed the doctors to take special care of him."

Jiang Kai frowned slightly.

Through his interactions with General Wei, his respect for the man had grown. As the guardian of Jiangzhong City, a military leader, and an elder figure, Wei Ying was truly admirable.

"Hey, aren't you going to say hello?" Jiang Fang looked at Jiang Kai lazily.

Jiang Kai finally came to his senses. "I don't really know you."

Lu Jun chuckled and said to Jiang Fang, "Brother Jiang, most people either fear or revere the War God Hall. But this kid? He's even cockier than you guys."

Jiang Fang laughed. "He's got reason to be cocky…"

Xiao Hei snorted disdainfully. "Dragging me here to meet him? You're giving him way too much credit."

Jiang Fang turned serious. "Regardless of his strength, what he did on Eternal Frozen Island earned my respect. Jiang Kai, I haven't had lunch yet—how about I treat you to a meal?"

Jiang Kai checked the time and frowned. "I need to pick up my sister soon. Do you have something important to discuss?"

"Bring her along. Normally, people can't even dream of inviting us War God Hall members for a meal. Don't tell me you're going to turn me down?" Jiang Fang dropped his smile, his tone becoming firm. "I do have something important to discuss."

Jiang Kai thought for a moment. Though Jiang Fang was part of the Black Tortoise Guild, he didn't seem hostile.

Plus, with Lu Jun and Xiao Hei present, their company implied some level of trust.

"Fine. But you'll have to come with me to pick up my sister from her school bus first."

"School bus?" Xiao Hei's jaw dropped. A top-tier War God of Jiangzhong City fetching a school bus? How humiliating if someone recognized him.

"Should I change my clothes? I'm still wearing my War God Hall badge..."

"There's no time!" Jiang Kai interrupted as he stepped back. "The bus arrives in fifteen minutes. If you don't want to come, we'll eat next time."

Seeing Jiang Kai leave, Jiang Fang and Lu Jun paid no mind to Xiao Hei's protests, dragging him along as they followed.

———

At the School Bus Stop

Jiang Kai, Lu Jun, Xiao Hei, and Jiang Fang stood under a tree near the bus stop, waiting.

Passersby couldn't help but steal glances at Xiao Hei and Jiang Fang.

"Holy crap, War God Hall members! Am I seeing this right? Real War Gods?"

"Tier-2 and Tier-3 War Gods... Aren't Tier-3 the highest level in Jiangzhong City? My God, these are our city's top War Gods!"

"Is that blood on their clothes from a Beast God?"

Thankfully, Xiao Hei wore sunglasses, masking his discomfort.

Jiang Fang, unbothered by the attention, turned to Jiang Kai and said bluntly, "I've heard the Huang family plans to kill you in this year's Guild Challenge."

Jiang Kai wasn't surprised. Knowing the Huang family's vengeful nature, it'd be stranger if they weren't planning something.

He asked, "Isn't there a protection mechanism? The Guild Challenge isn't supposed to allow killing, right?"

"It used to have one, but starting this year, the protection mechanism has been removed," Lu Jun explained. "New rules require participants to land a 'kill' to secure victory."

"It's part of preparing participants for the global dominance tournament. The announcement will go public in about two weeks."

Hearing Lu Jun confirm this, Jiang Kai frowned deeply.

As a military-sponsored event, dying in the Guild Challenge would incur penalties just like dying in Ghost Star.

"Playing at this scale…" Jiang Kai muttered.

Lu Jun shrugged. "Ghost Star's stakes are high. We don't have much choice. Without this preparation, when the time comes for global competition, how would our players hold up?"

"Let me tell you something else," Lu Jun added. "Countries with access to the global arena are already organizing teams for combat. The public area is practically a slaughterhouse."

Interrupting, Jiang Fang said, "Back to the point. The Huang family has analyzed your combat style and identified your weaknesses. They've also prepared equipment to counter you. If you join the Guild Challenge, they're almost guaranteed to succeed."

"What kind of equipment?" Jiang Kai asked.

"I don't know the details. I died during the Eternal Frozen Island battle and don't involve myself in guild management. But honestly, countering you isn't difficult. Your only attack method is long-range darts."

"Though versatile and powerful, your weapon's grade is too low, limiting its penetration. If they suppress your darts, your other abilities are subpar compared to most second-tier players. You're far from invincible."

Jiang Kai frowned but remained silent.

Jiang Fang continued, "Also, Huang Da will personally join the Team Battles. Among all second-tiers, he's the absolute strongest."

"The strongest second-tier? He's only second-tier?" Jiang Kai asked, surprised.

"With his resources, shouldn't he be at least third or fourth-tier by now?"

Jiang Fang nodded. "Huang Da is at max second-tier. He could've advanced long ago, but for guild prestige, many guilds hold back their top players to dominate the lower-tier brackets."

"I'll tell you this: while Huang Da is technically second-tier, his gear is all third-tier or higher."

"In the second-tier bracket, if you think you're just up against ordinary players, you're wrong. The top teams in this bracket can rival most third-tier teams."

"As for Huang Da's personal strength, he's undefeated against anyone below third-tier."

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