Kang and Lena returned triumphantly after Zero Jack finally gave up and agreed to provide them with five cyberseats for their use. The installation would take place within the next three days.
The Orphans members were simply shocked to hear they were getting electricity, not to mention that it was all thanks to the Institute's solakris. Though Lena ordered them not to speak about the matter, many still wondered what their gang could have possibly offered the Institute for such a deal.
The next morning, the whole gang gathered in the temple courtyard for their morning practice. Leaving Xiao Yun to lead the others with the Core Forms, Kang and Lena went to Xiao Yun's secret training area in the woods for Lena's "private lesson."
"Are you fine with not teaching Yunyun anything?"
Lena asked Kang along the way. She knew how much her sister longed to become stronger.
"But I am teaching her~" Kang replied cheerfully.
"By leaving her with the new trainers and practicing basic techniques?"
"Yes. I'm trying to teach her the most important thing she needs right now," Kang nodded. "Patience."
Lena didn't say anything at first and simply looked at Kang, waiting for him to explain.
"She's been too impatient these past few months. I don't blame her, but it's harmful to her training. What she needs right now is to calm down and try to find herself."
Lena looked puzzled.
"Is that some martial artist way of talking? 'Finding herself'... yeah, right. Is that also the reason you're not in a hurry to meet the Senka and ask about that sarariman who wants Yunyun dead?"
Kang nodded, his face serious.
"No need to rush. As long as Xiao Yun's still alive, he'll take action again sooner or later. For now, I just want to settle down a bit and prepare ourselves for what's to come."
"Hmn... nevermind then. I'm more curious about what we're going to do next for my 'private lesson.'"
Lena quickly focused her thoughts on what was to come. Private lesson, ehehehe. Somehow it had a nasty ring to it. Morally, it was disgusting. Personally, she liked it.
Kang looked at Lena with a sneer. Enjoy it while you still can, naive girl. He would make sure that the next time she heard "private lesson" her face would turn pale with fear.
Following the narrow trail, they arrived at Xiao Yun's training area. It was a wide clearing with only a few wooden training dummies, one of them still broken from Xiao Yun's abuse last time.
"So, what will you teach me? How about that Qi strike thing? It looks uber-powerful..."
Lena asked happily, her eyes sparkling with expectation.
"You don't need Qi strike, at least not yet."
Kang shook his head. Seeing the disappointment in her eyes, he added,
"Let me explain it more clearly."
He walked up to a training dummy, took a stance, and struck it with his right fist.
Bam.
The training dummy barely shook. Lena looked at it, puzzled.
"How was that attack?" Kang asked with a smile.
"Um... weak?" Lena replied, uncertain of his purpose.
Kang got back into stance again. This time he took a deep breath, channeled Qi into his fist, and struck the dummy once more.
Crack.
Unsurprisingly, the training dummy broke apart under his Qi-infused blow.
"That was a Qi strike. How about it?" Kang asked.
"Well, what can I say... it's stronger, sure, but..." Lena trailed off, lost in thought.
"...but you could do the same with your augmented legs, right?" Kang finished her sentence.
Lena nodded. That level of damage wasn't impressive at all. In fact, she could easily do more with her Schneider legs.
"That's what I was trying to tell you," Kang explained. "A basic Qi strike only boosts raw damage. You don't need to learn that right now, because your attacks are already strong enough with your cyberware."
"B-But it wasn't powerful enough when I fought Dick John..." Lena argued.
"You are powerful enough, you just haven't been using your power the right way."
Kang walked toward the last training dummy.
"Now watch this."
He took his stance, twisting his hips and threw a punch without channeling Qi.
CRACK.
The training dummy shattered with a loud sound and flew a short distance before hitting the ground.
"Just so you know, that was a normal hit without any Qi." Kang grinned.
"Impossible! How can that be?!" Lena was genuinely shocked.
"By transferring every bit of force in my body into the strike with the right technique, I can increase my power without using Qi."
Kang explained while Lena's eyes grew brighter. She seemed to finally understand what he meant.
"Then if I practice those techniques..."
"You can increase your power exponentially. It's a much better choice than trying to cultivate Qi, which can take years," Kang nodded. "And I have just the perfect technique for you."
"What is it?" Lena asked eagerly.
"One of the Nine Secret Arts of the Hidden Tiger Dojo — Phoenix's Dance."
Kang had been thinking about it for quite a while and finally reached this conclusion. This would be the fastest way to boost Lena's combat power. The technique normally required a Qi-awakened user to channel Qi into their legs but in Lena's case, her cyberware legs were already as strong and fast as any Qi-infused ones. That's why this technique was perfect for her.
Of course, normally only core disciples could learn the Secret Arts. However, Lena was his woman, as well as Xiao Yun's sworn sister, which meant she was part of the family now. They both needed to become stronger, and fast.
Not to mention that, according to Xiao Yun, this technique had already been stolen by Tian Long so it wasn't really a "secret" anymore. Though Kang doubted that guy could ever master it properly without the correct training method.
"I have a question, instructor!"
Lena raised her hand.
"What?"
"Why is it called the Phoenix's Dance when you're from the Hidden Tiger Dojo? Shouldn't it be Tiger's Dance or something?"
Kang froze. That was what she was thinking about?
"Good question. Don't ask again!"
After reprimanding Lena, Kang began his preparation. He told her to stand at the center of the clearing, then walked about five meters away.
"For now, just stay there and wait until I'm done."
Kang stretched his legs, both hands clasped behind his back, ready to move. Lena obediently stood in place, her eyes fixed on his every motion.
"Yes, instructor! I'll focus on every one of your movements and try to learn from them."
"Don't bother," Kang snickered. "You won't be able to."
Before Lena could protest, Kang's body blurred like a breath of wind. With his arms still behind his back, he moved in a perfect circle around her using only his legs, maintaining the same distance the entire time. His movements were so fast and unpredictable that Lena felt dizzy just trying to follow them.
In moments, Kang had completed the circle and returned to his original position. He stopped and took a deep breath. It was a bit tiring, even for him.
"What the heck was that just now?" Lena asked, her eyes still spinning.
"Your private lesson." Kang replied with an evil grin.
"You expect me to do that too?"
Lena pointed at him in disbelief. What kind of ridiculous teaching method was this? This man was the worst teacher she had ever seen.
"No, I don't."
Kang shook his head.
"Prove me wrong, if you can~" He added with a teasing grin.
The dust raised by Kang's movement finally settled, and only then did Lena notice what he had done. Footprints were left in the dirt—each about three centimeters deep—forming a perfect circle around her.
Kang slowly walked to her side at the center and pointed at the ring of prints.
"It's simple. Stand in one footprint, then move by placing the correct foot into the next one clockwise."
Lena did as he said. She soon realized how absurd this training was after only a few steps.
"What the heck? How am I supposed to put my foot into the next print without twisting my hip off?"
"Well, just twist it off then," Kang said with a shrug. "Do what you have to—jump, twist, backflip, whatever. As long as you can reach the next one, it's fine with me."
"You're fragging insane!" Lena shouted in frustration.
"Oh, you finally get it!" Kang nodded with a bright grin. "That's right, normal people can't become martial artists."