Apprenticing to a Master

"Timing starts."

Hao Yi took a metal pocket watch from his coat, glanced at the time, and placed it on the table.

This pocket watch was also a product of the Mingxin Reform. By now, the entire Great Blue Dynasty had adopted the twenty-four-hour time system of the Western nations.

A few seconds later, Li Fei felt his body begin to itch.

His expression did not change as he continued standing steadily in a horse stance.

The horse stance was also one of the basic courses in the vocational school's Conflict Mitigation Department. Over his three years there, Li Fei had gone from being able to hold the stance for only a few minutes to standing firm for half an hour.

Time passed bit by bit. A few minutes later, it was no longer just itching—every muscle in Li Fei's body began to ache, and sweat started beading on his forehead.

Seeing this, Li Lei showed a worried expression and unconsciously clenched his fists.

Li Fei took a deep breath and remained calm.

He 'looked' at the Myriad Blood Bead within his body. Its original 10 Blood Souls had become 9 + 97%.

In other words, his Health Bar had dropped by 0.3%.

Only 0.3%. No big deal.

Li Fei thought to himself.

As time slowly passed, the ache in his muscles turned into pain, accompanied by itching across his skin. It was indeed rather unpleasant, but still within the limits of what he could endure.

His Health Bar had only dropped by 1%.

Ever since transmigrating, Li Fei had spent plenty of time studying the Myriad Blood Bead inside him and had conducted many 'experiments.'

He discovered that the Myriad Blood Bead had quantified his life force into 10 Blood Souls, binding his body closely to them. When his body was injured, nearly 99% of the damage would be borne by the Myriad Blood Bead, with the Blood Souls taking the damage. As a result, the injuries displayed on his body were far lighter than they should have been.

For instance, if someone slashed Li Fei's arm, the blow should have severed it outright. But because the vast majority of the damage was borne by his Blood Souls, the final result would only be an extra wound on Li Fei's arm, while the number of Blood Souls in his body decreased according to the actual damage.

By the same logic, now that Li Fei had taken the pill, over ninety percent of the damage it inflicted on his body was directly borne by the Myriad Blood Bead. Thus, the pain, itching, and other sensations he felt were greatly reduced.

A process that would have been agonizing and unbearable to others was, for him, something he could get through by gritting his teeth for a little while.

But to avoid letting Hao Yi notice anything unusual, Li Fei still tried his best to put on a pained, struggling appearance.

Tick, tick, tick, tick. The room was so quiet that the turning of the pocket watch's hands could be heard.

Nine minutes had already passed, and Li Lei was practically holding his breath as he awaited the final result.

There was even more satisfaction in Hao Yi's gaze as he looked at Li Fei.

The pill he had given Li Fei was called the Bitter Essence Pill, a medicine that could increase one's resistance to Implant mutation.

Taking this pill regularly could improve the human body's ability to adapt to Implants. However, after taking it, the pain one felt would grow increasingly intense over time and would continue until the medicine's effects ended.

The vast majority of people found it difficult to endure even the first ten minutes of pain, much less maintain a horse stance at the same time.

Hao Yi had required Li Fei to endure this pain while holding a horse stance because he wanted to test Li Fei's willpower.

Many people possessed decent talent but lacked sufficient willpower, wasting their gifts for nothing.

Li Fei's performance, however, made Hao Yi feel that he was not bad at all—a promising piece of jade waiting to be carved.

"Alright, time's up. You passed."

A minute later, Hao Yi put away the pocket watch on the table, a faint smile appearing on his face.

Li Fei let out a long breath, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and clasped his fists toward Hao Yi. "Student Li Fei greets Teacher."

"Thank you, Mr. Hao!"

Li Lei rose to his feet with a delighted expression, then quickly asked, "Mr. Hao, the antidote..."

Hao Yi looked at Li Fei. "The medicine I gave you is beneficial for your future training. The longer you endure, the greater the benefits you gain—but the pain ahead will also become increasingly intense.

"So you may decide for yourself whether you want to take the antidote now. Rest assured, I have already decided to accept you as my student. No matter what you choose, it will not affect that result."

"This..."

Li Lei immediately fell silent.

Without hesitation, Li Fei said, "In that case, this student is willing to hold on a while longer."

He could see his own Health Bar and knew he had not lost much health, so he was not worried in the slightest.

"Good."

Hao Yi found Li Fei increasingly pleasing to the eye. "Sit down first."

He rose and walked to a desk nearby, picked up a receipt from it, and handed it to Li Lei.

"Captain Li, go pay the fee at the finance office first."

Li Fei glanced at the receipt and saw only the large words: 'Two Hundred Yuan.'

Two hundred yuan for a semester's tuition?

He was secretly shocked.

Li Lei was a mid-level official in the Overseeing Bureau, yet his monthly salary was only one hundred yuan. Without counting any other income, this tuition would cost him two months' wages.

Still, considering Hao Yi's status as a Special Grade Instructor, Li Fei found it reasonable again.

Many people probably would not even be qualified to pay this money.

Li Lei took the receipt and left the office.

"Adjust your breathing rhythm according to what I tell you."

After Li Lei had left, Hao Yi suddenly said to Li Fei.

"Yes, Teacher."

"Exhale three times in a row, each breath slower than the last, then inhale..."

Li Fei altered his breathing rhythm according to Hao Yi's instructions. Gradually, the pain he felt lessened somewhat. Combined with the Myriad Blood Bead continuing to shoulder the damage, he could barely feel anything anymore.

Yet seeing that Li Fei's expression remained calm throughout, Hao Yi was somewhat surprised.

The breathing technique he had taught could only slightly reduce physical pain. More than that, it was meant to distract a person's attention. For Li Fei to remain so composed showed that his willpower was even stronger than Hao Yi had expected.

Perhaps this student really can bring me some surprises?

This thought flashed through Hao Yi's mind.

Looking at Li Fei, he asked, "Your father is a squad captain in the Overseeing Bureau. Wouldn't it be easy for you to work there after graduating from vocational school? Why come to this Military Academy to suffer?"

Hearing this, Li Fei replied without hesitation,

"Because this student wants to become a martial artist."

"And why do you want to become a martial artist?"

Hao Yi continued asking.

Li Fei recalled the incomparably dark two years of oppression in his previous life. Then the image of the noodle shop owner's corpse sprawled on the ground flashed through his mind again. He said firmly,

"To take control of my own fate!"

In this life, he would never again allow himself to be trampled underfoot like an ox or a horse!

Hao Yi froze, then fell silent and said nothing more.

How many people in this world could truly take control of their own fate?

Even the Son of Heaven had times when he could not act as he wished. Thus, Hao Yi merely took Li Fei's words as the bold declaration of youthful spirit.

Soon, Li Lei returned after paying the fee.

After waiting in the office for some time, Li Fei's Health Bar had stopped dropping.

At that moment, his Myriad Blood Bead had become:

Level: Level 1, 49% Blood Souls: 9, 23%

His Health Bar had dropped by roughly 8%, which was not strange. What surprised Li Fei was that his level energy had suddenly risen by 12%.

Previously, the food he ate each day could bring only 1% energy to the Myriad Blood Bead.

Could this pill also contain energy that the Myriad Blood Bead can absorb?

Li Fei secretly guessed.

"Very good."

Hao Yi spoke.

More than an hour had passed since Li Fei took the pill, and the Bitter Essence Pill's effects had ended.

Li Fei had endured the entire process and fully absorbed the medicine's potency, which pleased Hao Yi greatly.

"Starting tomorrow, report to me here at precisely six every morning."

Hao Yi said to Li Fei.

"Yes, Teacher."

Li Fei nodded in acknowledgment.

Though he had not yet graduated from vocational school, there were already few classes left in the final month. He was free to arrange all his time as he pleased.

Afterward, Li Fei and Li Lei left the office together.

"Not bad, Xiao Fei. You actually passed Mr. Hao's test."

Li Lei said with a smile. "Now that you can become his student, perhaps you really may have a chance to compete for a university placement in the future."

He had brought Li Fei here today merely to try their luck, never expecting it to actually work.

"Uncle Li, can you tell me about Mr. Hao?"

Li Fei asked.

Out of habit, he wanted to understand a person's character first, so he could prescribe the right remedy later. That was also a survival rule within the system.

Li Lei said, "A year ago, I led a team handling a murder case. The suspect was a student at the Xing City Military Academy, and he was Mr. Hao's student."

"His student?"

Li Fei was somewhat surprised.

Li Lei nodded. "That student had already become an official martial artist and was very formidable. We all carried guns during the arrest, yet he still injured quite a few of our brothers. In the end, Mr. Hao personally stepped in and captured him. Afterward, he came to the Overseeing Bureau to see that man several times. I made things convenient for him during that period, so he owed me a favor."

"So Mr. Hao is the sort to put righteousness above family."

Li Fei pondered this.

"Indeed. I could tell that he deeply detests those who commit wicked deeds and crimes. You have an upright-looking face, so it is easy for you to earn his favor. Mr. Hao is a capable man. Becoming his student is a rare opportunity, so make sure you seize it."

Li Lei advised him.

Li Fei nodded. "I understand. Don't worry, Uncle Li."

Then he asked curiously, "Uncle Li, you said you led the team to arrest Mr. Hao's student before. You had guns, yet he still injured quite a few people. How do powerful martial artists deal with Firearms?"

Li Lei thought back for a moment and said, "He was extremely fast and agile. He could even run directly along walls, leaping over eaves and traversing walls as though walking on level ground. On top of that, the terrain where we arrested him was complicated, so even with guns, the brothers found it difficult to hit him."

"I see."

Li Fei fell into thought.

Li Lei glanced at him, then smiled and rubbed his head.

"Now that you are Mr. Hao's student, you will certainly become a martial artist that formidable someday too."

"Mm!"

The two chatted as they walked out of the building.

Li Fei looked ahead. A breeze brushed over his face, and ginkgo leaves rustled down from the trees lining both sides of the road, carpeting the ground.

The midday sunlight fell over the street, bathing the road ahead in a field of gold.