Zhang Fusheng shivered.
He smiled bitterly:
"Senior Sister, I chose her not for that reason..."
Chen Yuque sneered:
"A poor cover-up."
"It's really not!" Zhang Fusheng shook his head helplessly. "I actually want to ask, what does 'shortcut genius' mean?"
He was somewhat confused:
"I heard that Chen Nuanyu is a super talented person who has achieved Great Success in both the Breathing Technique and Contemplation Technique."
"Hehe."
Senior Sister Chen sneered coldly:
"Regardless of whether it's true or not, even if it is true, can it be as abnormal as you?"
She sat down cross-legged, flicked her wine-red long hair, her well-proportioned thighs had not a trace of excess flesh, smooth as silk, and so white that it was almost dazzling.
"Normally, achieving Great Success in the Contemplation Technique requires over ten years of spiritual accumulation. Chen Nuanyu took the crooked path, using 'Spirit Potions' to forcefully achieve Pseudo Great Success."
"This Pseudo Great Success only has spiritual strength but lacks the mystical aspect that should come with Great Success in the Contemplation Technique."
Zhang Fusheng asked curiously:
"What is Spirit Potion?"
"As the name suggests, it's a high-energy potion that amplifies spiritual strength."
Senior Sister smiled and said:
"Chen Nuanyu spent most of her loaned money on Spirit Potions, forcefully boosting herself to the level of Pseudo Great Success. It's unclear what she's trying to achieve."
As she spoke, she casually sent Zhang Fusheng the detailed profile of Chen Nuanyu.
"Thank you, Senior Sister."
"It's no big deal." Chen Yuque waved her hand nonchalantly: "By the way, the teacher asked you to prepare. In a couple of days, you will be teaching the Contemplation class."
"Also tomorrow, the teacher will announce your entry-level status... Are you still joining the combat technique class at three in the afternoon? It shouldn't be of much use to you."
Zhang Fusheng pondered for a moment:
"Seems like there's no need to attend; the combat technique class is taught by the little Senior Sister?"
"Yes."
"Then I definitely shouldn't go." Thinking of the Little Child teaching, Zhang Fusheng shook his head vigorously.
The combat techniques learned by regular students don't involve anything too profound. After achieving Perfection in Tiger Roar Fist, he has already mastered many striking techniques and force application skills.
After watching Senior Sister leave.
Zhang Fusheng opened Chen Nuanyu's detailed profile on his phone and browsed with interest, occasionally clicking his tongue.
The phone buzzed slightly.
Zhu Xiaoming: Are you there?
Zhang Fusheng raised his eyebrow.
Zhang Fusheng: Not logging in.
Zhu Xiaoming: Get lost
Zhu Xiaoming: I have something tomorrow, can we switch to dinner tonight?
Zhang Fusheng: Sure, where to?
Zhu Xiaoming: Just some random place next to Jiang University. I'm planning to stroll around Jiang University in the afternoon, want to join?
Zhang Fusheng pondered for a moment and gave a definite answer without chatting further with Zhu Xiaoming. After confirming Chen Nuanyu's profile again, he exhaled lightly.
"So, this is... a loan genius?"
He was amused and helpless; Chen Nuanyu's talent is indeed high, but not that high.
At least her Enlightenment might not be that high.
There's not much to say about her Root Bone, even though she bought many supplements with loans, in three years of high school, her actual cultivation time might be less than two years, yet she still reached the level of Third Refinement...
As Second Senior Sister said, she is a little genius.
"The repayment deadline is approaching, no wonder she wants to steal Longevity Powder."
Zhang Fusheng's gaze grew deep:
"But what could the consequences of overdue be, for her to take such a big risk?"
Thinking of Second Senior Sister's bright yet lazy demeanor, he shivered all of a sudden.
Not a good person!
......
One in the afternoon.
"Why are you just arriving now?" Bao, covered in tattoos, frowned: "I've been waiting for you all day."
"Where's Zhou Quan?"
Zhang Fusheng casually closed the clinic door and said calmly:
"I just got back from the Martial Arts Dojo."
"Today is Fire Hall's incense offering day, the young master went to offer incense." Bao replied casually, placing one large and one small tote bag on the table.
Zhang Fusheng understood, no wonder he couldn't find Zhou Quan at the Martial Arts Dojo....No wonder Bao didn't know the change in his 'status' that has already occurred.
"One bag contains your transportation fee, thirty thousand, the other contains ten pounds of Longevity Powder, that's all for the first day for now."
Bao explained in detail:
"Once you enter the Third District, head straight to the cluster of villas in the east. Villa 19 is a bar, go there and find Mr. Black Eye, he will tell you how to distribute goods, and to whom, do you understand?"
Zhang Fusheng did not respond, instead he opened the two tote bags, took out a large bag of powder, and walked to the sink, under Bao's bewildered gaze.
Ripped it open.
Poured.
"You fucking madman!!" Bao was first stunned, then realized what was happening, and pulled out a gun to point at Zhang Fusheng.
After hesitating for a moment, he aimed the gun at the boy's leg, about to pull the trigger, but saw the boy had somehow turned around, staring calmly at him.
In a moment of daze, he saw his reflection in the boy's deep eyes—an eerie skeleton.
Bao shuddered sharply and suddenly snapped back to reality, but before he could react.
Everything blurred.
The gun fell apart, the madman was already in front of him, and a somewhat rough hand grasped Bao's throat, lifting him gently into the air.
Bao exerted all his strength but could not break free.
"Wu..." He gasped: "Martial Artist..."
Zhang Fusheng released his grip, and Bao fell to the ground, coughing violently.
"Zhou Quan isn't enough."
He squatted down, stared at Bao, and smeared the thick layer of Longevity Powder on his hand across Bao's face:
"The Hall Master of the Fire Hall is called... Zhou Xianmin?"
Bao dared not breathe heavily, not out of fear, but because he was afraid of inhaling the Longevity Powder on his face into his nostrils... that would be troublesome.
He stared intently at Zhang Fusheng:
"Who are you?"
Bao had seen Zhang Fusheng's profile and had thoroughly investigated him, an ordinary student from Lishu Middle School, lucky enough to get into Jiang University's computer science department...
Other than that, there was nothing special.
How could he be a martial artist?
Zhang Fusheng clapped his hands, shaking off the remaining Longevity Powder:
"Go back and make the arrangements. In a few days, I want to meet Zhou Xianmin. As for who I am... I am Zhang Fusheng."
"My master is Hong Tianbao."
Bao's expression changed drastically.
He watched the young man, who was entirely different from earlier, lightly pat his own cheek, smearing the remaining bit of Longevity Powder from his hand onto his lapel.
"Oh, by the way, tell Hall Master Zhou, I have some information about the forty pounds of goods that went missing from the Fire Hall recently... Would you like to stay for lunch?"
Bao was stunned for a moment, struggled to get up, dared not say a word, and fled the clinic in embarrassment.
Zhang Fusheng stood up and exhaled.
Forty pounds of Longevity Powder was not a trivial amount for the Chai Gate, but it was not enough to cause lasting harm.
What's important is their reputation.
The Chai Gate had been searching the Lower Three Districts recently; losing money, losing goods, it's all right, but losing face and prestige means some wolves might start having bad ideas, and the Chai Gate's real troubles would begin.
Therefore, they must catch the thief.
Zhang Fusheng turned on the faucet, washed his hands, and made a phone call.
"Master, I plan to meet with the Hall Master of the Fire Hall, Zhou Xianmin. Considering your reputation, he should agree to see me."
"Hmm."
On the other end of the line, Hong Tianbao's gentle voice came through:
"There's no need to report everything. The Chai Gate is both a resource for you and a training ground. When it's time to close the net, I will deal with the Sect Leader of the Chai Gate for you, but before that..."
After a pause, the elderly man continued:
"Before that, you must take each step on your own. You're free to borrow the name and influence of Hongji, and if you encounter someone you can't handle, you can pay to have your senior brother act. His business is to get paid to handle affairs, but other than these, I won't help you with anything."
"How far you can push forward, how much contribution you can make, and how much upheaval you can create all depend on you."
"This also relates to how much of the resources you can enjoy after consuming the Chai Gate."
Zhang Fusheng nodded silently:
"I understand, Master."
He hung up the phone.
His senior brother's business is about getting paid to handle affairs... an assassin? A hitman?
It should be managing a group of 'assassins.'
Thinking of Niu Dali's honest and naive appearance, Zhang Fusheng gave a bitter smile.
People cannot be judged by their appearances.
He shook his head, walked back to the basement, and turned on the gas stove in the corner.
During lunchtime, his dad always cooked at the clinic, so there were plenty of pots, pans, and dishes, and of course, spices and other ingredients.
He took out a piece of Star Beast meat he had advanced from the Martial Arts Dojo cafeteria, tore off the packaging, and carefully put it in the pot to fry and boil.
"20 grams of Level 1 Star Beast meat is 200,000..."
Zhang Fusheng clicked his tongue, his mindset hadn't quite adjusted yet; 200,000 was still an astronomical number in his eyes.
Moments later, the cooked meat pieces were taken out of the pot. Zhang Fusheng didn't rush to eat them but rather used a knife to evenly divide them into 20 parts and then weighed them with an electronic scale.
A small piece of meat, 'weighing' 1 gram, went down the hatch.
His pores expanded, his whole body felt comfortable, and a massive amount of Mysterious Factors broke out in his belly, but it didn't benefit him... he had hit a bottleneck.
He couldn't send the Mysterious Factors to the deepest layer of his skin to complete the final refinement of Skin Three Refinements.
Zhang Fusheng wasn't too distressed about the wasted Mysterious Factors; his thoughts were focused on the Contract,
As 1 gram of Star Beast meat dissolved in his stomach, it seemed that some unknown substance was flowing into the Contract, and the dim Contract also regained some luster.
"The original charging time of sixty-two days has been shortened to 60 days."
"1 gram of Star Beast meat can offset two days?"
Zhang Fusheng continued to eat the Star Beast meat piece by piece, gram by gram, while accurately measuring the reduction in charging time.
By the time all the Star Beast meat was consumed, there were 23 days left until the Contract could be used again.
"At the rate of 1 gram per two days, it should have only been 22 days left... the effect of the last few pieces of Star Beast meat weakened somewhat."
Zhang Fusheng didn't look happy, murmuring to himself:
"What's the specific reason? Some sort of 'drug resistance,' or something else?"
He picked up the packaging and took a look.
[Level 1 Star Beast Copper-Horned Giant Rhinoceros, tenderloin, net weight 20 grams]
Zhang Fusheng calculated silently, vaguely suspecting that the reason Star Beast meat could charge the Contract was likely because of some unknown substance contained within the meat.
If the hypothesis is correct, does the unknown substance vary among different levels and species of Star Beast meat?
Is the weakening effect because the Contract has 'eaten' enough of the mysterious substance in this type of Star Beast meat?
"The specific reasons need to be verified slowly in the future."
He exhaled, rhythmically tapping the bowls and dishes with his wooden chopsticks, lost in thought.
A long time passed.
'Ring, ring, ring'
The phone vibrated.
He picked up the call, and Zhu Xiaoming's duck-like voice came through.
"Hey, Old Zhang, I'm downstairs at your place... I notice your window is shattered; what's going on?"
"Nothing, it was shattered by thunder the day before yesterday, I forgot to fix it... I'm not at home, heading back now, ten minutes or so."
Zhang Fusheng exhaled, nearly forgetting to have someone come to repair the window, otherwise, it would be hard to explain when his mom and dad return in a few days.
"Shattered by thunder?"
On the phone, Zhu Xiaoming seemed puzzled, but he didn't think much of it:
"Hurry up, it takes some time to get to Jiang University, Lu Yao has been studying in the library there recently, you'd better be my wingman for a while, I'll treat you to a nice dinner."
He seemed to remember something and added:
"By the way, I heard from Lu Yao that Chen Nuanyu is also at Jiang University's library recently. We might meet this gifted young woman in the afternoon."
Zhang Fusheng paused, a mysterious smile appearing on his face:
"Is that so? What a coincidence."