The person, experiencing the effects of just breaking free from gravity, was slammed to the ground by Cheng Jinyang with a shoulder throw and immediately exclaimed, "Ah, it hurts."
Even though he was saying it hurt, his voice strangely carried a lazy feeling.
"Jinyang, you can stop now," Xing Yuanzhi quickly came to his side and whispered, "It's not an enemy attack."
"Ah?" Cheng Jinyang half-believed, half-doubted, loosening the weapon he had caught in his hand.
"Hahaha!" A strange young man walked out from behind Ah Zhi, helping up the unlucky fellow who had been thrown to the ground, and mocked him without reservation, "You're having a taste of your own medicine, Cheng Huaiyan!"
"I misjudged." This guy named Cheng Huaiyan was a tall and thin young man with an expressionless face. With the help of others, he managed to stand up straight, squeezing out a faint smile as he reached out and patted Cheng Jinyang's shoulder:
"Your reaction is quick, cousin. You're very suitable for joining our Tian Luo... Hiss!"
Perhaps this movement aggravated his sprained area, as he quickly covered his right shoulder again, his expression clearly spasming:
"...just got a bit too rough."
Cheng Jinyang: .....
"You came at me without a word, but I didn't kill you on the spot, yet you blame me for being too harsh?"
"Xing Junmo." The man beside him pressed his chest and introduced himself, saying, "I'm Cheng Huaiyan's partner and also Xing Yuanzhi's cousin. We're Tianluo special agents. We heard that the Cheng family has a formidable descendant, so we came to assess your skills. Haha, although Cheng Huaiyan isn't skilled in close combat, you managed to injure him in just a few encounters. You kid indeed have some potential!"
Xing Yuanzhi sighed beside them, apparently speechless about the two men's 'ambush-style testing.'
"I've met two cousins." Since they weren't enemies, Cheng Jinyang bowed and greeted.
"Cousins?" Xing Junmo expressed surprise, "Aren't you engaged to Yuanzhi? Then you should call me brother in-law!"
"We're only engaged at the moment, we haven't formalized it within the family yet," Xing Yuanzhi explained helplessly.
In the marriage customs of this world, it's typical to first engage in matchmaking and exchange lineage data.
Once both families agree, the engagement is formalized. Of course, a betrothal without prior matchmaking and lineage exchange can occur, but the matchmaking and lineage exchange steps need to be completed afterward, which is referred to as 'the families retaining the right to review the engagement.'
When Xing Shumin took Xing Yuanzhi to the Shendu Cheng family previously, it was part of the matchmaking process, but unexpectedly, it was rejected by the Cheng family patriarch.
So, the subsequent steps require both the Cheng and Xing families to reach an agreement again before this process can be completed.
"Hey, Huaiyan." Xing Junmo sized up the younger couple in front of him and suddenly had a whimsical idea. "What do you think of Jingyang and Yuanzhi?"
"They seem quite compatible," said Cheng Huaiyan.
"In that case, why not just have them partner up directly and join our Tianluo together?" Xing Junmo's enthusiasm peaked.
"A married couple might not be a good idea," Cheng Huaiyan remarked.
" What's wrong with that? After all, we both know each other inside out," Xing Junmo muttered incessantly. "Compatibility between partners is crucial, you know? Many times, I feel like your introverted nature is holding back my full potential."
"Same sentiment," Cheng Huaiyan said.
"If only Yuanzhi had the Universal Gravitational Bloodline, I would immediately ditch you and make Yuanzhi my partner," Xing Junmo sighed heavily.
"Impossible," Xing Yuanzhi said.
Cheng Jinyang: ???
Suddenly it seemed like he understood why Ah Zhi was so aloof. Just spend a moment with her talkative cousin, and you'd completely lose interest in saying much.
"Jinyang, what do you think?" Xing Junmo casually draped his arm around his shoulder, winking as he said, "You join Tianluo, have Yuanzhi as your partner, and then the two of us can be your mentors. How about that? Currently, we're ranked first in performance in the Tianluo department. So many new recruits want us as their mentors but don't have the chance!"
"What is the role of 'Tianluo partners'?" Cheng Jinyang asked carefully.
He knew that Tianluo's profession was equivalent to a combination of mercenaries and assassins, but he didn't know that Tianluo always operated in pairs. Such a design must have a special significance.
"In general, the smallest unit of Tianluo is a team of two people, with one person from each of the Cheng and Xing families. The Cheng family member is responsible for long-range sniping and firepower suppression, while the Xing family member is responsible for close combat assassination and combat cover."
Seeing that he had hit the nail on the head, Xing Junmo explained in detail, "Since you are a gravity manipulation supernatural, you should know that the weakness of gravity manipulation lies in its slow initial movement. It needs to accelerate over long distances to unleash its destructive power, so once someone gets up close, it becomes troublesome."
"The mass effect can exponentially increase or decrease mass, instantly changing kinetic energy without the need for work over distance. Therefore, it is highly effective in close-range combat. Partnering with the Xing family, combining long and short-range attacks, creates a layered firepower output. It also balances maneuverability and self-defense, making it the top choice for military contractors."
"The last line sounds like an advertisement," Cheng Jinyang remarked.
"Indeed," Xing Junmo said with a hint of truth, "being able to quickly pick up on my words shows that you do have the potential to be a Tianluo. So, what do you think? If Yuanzhi is unwilling to be your partner, would you consider coming to me? I'll immediately fire your dumb cousin."
Of course, this was a joke from him. It couldn't be accepted, but refusing directly would seem blunt. Hence, Cheng Jinyang smiled and said, "No, Yuanzhi wouldn't agree."
"Why wouldn't she agree?" Xing Junmo asked curiously, "She doesn't want to be your partner, yet she doesn't allow me to be either. What's the rationale behind this?"
"Certainly," Cheng Jinyang replied, "because the Tianluo Team has at least two members, and you fired my cousin, so he can only partner with Yuanzhi."
"Brilliant!" Xing Junmo immediately understood and chuckled, "Yuanzhi is reserved and taciturn, and my partner is a silent type as well. During missions, neither of them would speak, just staring at each other, unable to utter a word to the employer..."
"Xing Junmo!" Xing Yuanzhi scolded her cousin, glaring at him.
"Slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue," Xing Junmo quickly covered his mouth, expressing regret for his earlier rude words.
Then he smiled and said, "But it's true that you have potential in being a Tianluo. We watched the combat footage of your brain domain development class: being able to fight your way out of such a siege situation, doing clan affairs or scientific research would only bury your talent. Besides, you should know that the heir to your family clan must have Tianluo experience, right?"
"Yes," Cheng Jinyang nodded, showing a thoughtful expression.
"No rush." Seeing him deep in thought, Cheng Huaiyan said, "But, you should consider it carefully."
"Got it, thanks a lot, cousin."
"Yeah, if you decide, remember to sign up with your sister Yuexian. We'll be the ones to guide you then."
Meanwhile, on the outskirts of the Songjiang ruins, in Huishan District.
Princess Nankang stepped back hastily, pushing her arms backward. Layers of ripples emanating from her palms spreading outwards.
Then, a certain invisible force burst through, exploding into countless transparent shards.
"Introduce yourself," She said as a graceful and blurry figure appeared in front of her.
"My title is the fourth star under the jurisdiction of the Northern Dipper, the Goddess Tianquan."
"...um, in your terms, a, greater demon."