CHAPTER 428: CHAPTER 428: CHU MO YOU YUN, GU CHEN BEI FENG

"Custom made? What do you mean?" Xiao Zhan asked.

Ye Youlong explained, "It means selecting suitable SSS Artifact Spirits and Spirit Masters from across the Federation and then having them form a contract. Since the annual number of SSS Awakeners isn’t fixed—sometimes there are more, sometimes less, and sometimes there might not be any at all."

"So it’s very difficult to have three pairs of SSS-level contract partnerships, which is why it’s said to be custom made."

As he said this, Ye Youlong suddenly looked at Xiao Zhan with a hint of amusement, "If it weren’t for finding you, I would probably be going on blind dates with others."

"Blind dates aren’t as good as finding someone on your own. You really are lucky, finding your true love so quickly," Xiao Zhan joked.

"Is it me who’s lucky, or is it you?" Ye Youlong countered.

"Umm...I’m the lucky one."

Xiao Zhan wanted to say that she was the lucky one, but he changed his wording before speaking.

"Why?" Ye Youlong asked.

"Because scythes as big and round as you are hard to come by."

For a moment, Ye Youlong was taken aback.

Then she understood the meaning of his words.

"You’re done for tonight," Ye Youlong warned with a tone of threat.

"How so?"

"From tonight until tomorrow morning, your lifespan will be reduced by eight hours."

"Then I really am done for."

Xiao Zhan felt the urge to laugh.

Even if you don’t play tonight, my time is still shortened by eight hours.

To be precise, everyone in the world will have eight hours less.

Just a joke to liven up the dull wait.

Then back to the matter at hand.

Xiao Zhan responded to the round-faced man, "I’ve heard of it, the Golden Iron Triangle, quite famous."

The round-faced man’s eyes narrowed into crescents upon receiving recognition, and he spoke even more cheerfully, "Since you’ve heard of it, that makes the introduction easier. We are two corners of the Golden Iron Triangle, Chu Mo You Yun, and Gu Chen Bei Feng."

"I’m Chu Mo, and she’s You Yun."

You Yun looked like a very gentle woman, wearing a black dress and not fond of speaking.

After hearing Chu Mo’s introduction, she just glanced faintly at Xiao Zhan and Ye Youlong without much enthusiasm.

Her demeanor was somewhat similar to Ye Youlong’s, but lacked Ye Youlong’s noble and cold arrogance; hers was somewhat more subdued.

After this.

Chu Mo introduced the other two, "He’s Gu Chen, and she’s Bei Feng."

Gu Chen was the thin-faced man who gave the impression of being very arrogant, egocentric, and disliking anything dark.

To put it nicely, he had a strong sense of justice; put it less nicely, he was conceited and blindly unaware of it.

The woman beside him, named Bei Feng, exhibited a demeanor completely at odds with her name, being very lively instead.

She wore cute green and exquisite attire, her hair styled in two buns, her eyes bright and clear, and her lashes twinkling, as if capable of speaking.

When she was introduced, she took the initiative to enthusiastically greet Xiao Zhan and the others.

"Hello there."

"Hello." As the saying goes, one does not hit a smiling face; a polite greeting must be returned.

Chu Mo continued, "The old Han we just mentioned, Han Shuang and Meng Lu, they’re our good friends, and we often spend time together."

"Oh, then I know," Xiao Zhan nodded.

Immediately after, Chu Mo continued, "The dispute we were just discussing is about the ownership of the Secret Realm. You should know about it. We thought it would still be us, the Golden Iron Triangle, taking action, but unexpectedly, Han Shuang and Meng Lu were replaced."

"Being replaced is not a big deal in itself; the competent should take precedence. It’s all for the Federation’s interest."

"But it’s said that the two who replaced them are a pair of younger Spirit Masters, and it was Qin Wanfeng who settled on them using his quota without anyone’s consent."

"This is clearly Qin Wanfeng’s personal bias, so whether it’s for the Federation’s interest or our relationship within the Golden Iron Triangle, we must take a stand!"

Xiao Zhan’s guess was right.

These four people were indeed his future teammates.

But for now, it seemed these four teammates were somewhat resentful because of his arrival.

"Do you know the strength of those two people?" Xiao Zhan asked thoughtfully, from another angle.

To avoid unnecessary conflicts.

If he outright said that he was the one who replaced them, they might just blow up on the spot.

Especially someone like Gu Chen.

Clearly a hot-headed fellow.

Hearing Xiao Zhan’s question, Chu Mo thought for a moment and shook his head, "Don’t know."

"Not even their names?"

"Don’t know, and don’t want to know."

Initially, Chu Mo wanted to know, but when he heard it was a younger pair, he instantly lost interest.

Because if they’re young, they couldn’t possibly be stronger than Han Shuang and Meng Lu.

Then it must be Qin Wanfeng pulling strings.

"If you’ve made judgments without clear information about the replacements, I think it’s a bit rash. You could wait for Director Qin to arrive and then get to understand the situation properly, so you don’t start with accusations and avoid any misunderstanding," Xiao Zhan suggested.

Chu Mo frowned slightly upon hearing this, seemingly disagreeing with Xiao Zhan.

He remained silent, offering no reply.

Then Gu Chen spoke up, his voice urgent and dissatisfied, "I think you, kid, are in league with Qin Wanfeng, taking their side. I tell you, we don’t need to know what sort of people they are; just based on age alone, they are not qualified to replace Han Shuang and Meng Lu!"

After he said this, Chu Mo immediately nodded in agreement.

"That’s right, when talent is roughly equal, practice depends on time. They can’t possibly be stronger than Han Shuang and Meng Lu," said Chu Mo.

He actually agreed somewhat with Xiao Zhan’s words.

Without the full picture, there’s no right to judge.

But he didn’t choose to stand on Xiao Zhan’s side because, in his heart, he wanted Han Shuang and Meng Lu to join them in the competition.

He wanted all six of them to stand together and share the glory.

Even if those replacing them were indeed stronger than Han Shuang and Meng Lu.

It was his personal bias.

Seeing their reactions, Xiao Zhan knew immediately that there was no need to continue communicating with them.

He shook his head inwardly and chose to stay silent.

Gu Chen was very self-centered, blindly trusting his judgment; there was no point in communicating with him, as it would only lead to conflict.

And this Chu Mo, while seemingly amiable and easy to talk to, actually harbored his own stubborn thoughts, often more difficult to persuade than Gu Chen.

Thus, Xiao Zhan felt no need to continue the conversation.

Everything would be left until Qin Wanfeng arrived later.

And so, the atmosphere became tense.

After about three minutes, the door to the conference room was pushed open, and Qin Wanfeng and others walked in.