Treating Guests

By the time Chen Hao came downstairs, the Training Hall on the Martial Hall's third floor was nearly empty. Only Yang Wu and a dozen others remained.

When he joined Yang Wu and the others, he remarked, "It's pretty empty in here!"

"They're feeling guilty," Tong Yun said bluntly. "Don't forget, when Zhang Haobai gave you trouble last time, they all took pleasure in it. I bet they're kicking themselves now."

Chen Hao raised an eyebrow. It seemed the people across the hall felt guilty, so they had deliberately avoided him.

But he didn't care. Those people belonged to a different world from his now, and they were unlikely to cross paths again.

"Hey, why's Luo Feng here so early today?" Just then, he spotted Luo Feng walking in and was surprised. It was only a little past three in the afternoon.

When Luo Feng saw Chen Hao, he froze for a moment, wondering to himself, Why are there so few people here?

After Chen Hao greeted him, Luo Feng explained, his expression complicated, "My last two classes were Martial Arts Class, but I skipped them. I told the teacher and came straight to the Martial Hall. Chen, I can't believe you became a Martial Artist so quickly."

Seeing the envy on Luo Feng's face, Chen Hao smiled and shook his head. "My physical fitness had already surpassed the Quasi-Warrior threshold. Once I sensed Cosmic Energy, becoming a Martial Artist came naturally."

"You don't need to envy me. At your rate, you'll probably become a Martial Artist within two months. You're the most talented person in the Martial Hall. Becoming a Martial Artist won't be a problem for you. Honestly, you don't need to focus so much on your studies. Once you get into college, your best path will still be to become a Martial Artist."

"This is an age that belongs to Martial Artists. Only strength lets you control your own fate. Otherwise, even if you get into a military academy and become an officer in the army, you'll still be nothing more than a slightly higher-ranking cannon fodder when facing monsters."

Chen Hao's words left Luo Feng momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected him to offer such direct advice.

Luo Feng's outlook hadn't changed yet. He still hadn't made up his mind to become a Martial Artist and was focused on getting into college.

Yang Wu and the others quietly nodded at Chen Hao's words. In this world, Martial Artists came first. Only by becoming a Martial Artist could you take control of your own destiny.

With Luo Feng's talent, it would be a terrible waste if he didn't become a Martial Artist.

Tong Yun interrupted their thoughts. "All right, think about that another time. We're not training this evening. Come on, let's celebrate Chen Hao becoming a Martial Artist. Chen Hao said he's treating us. I'm going to eat like a king today."

Everyone laughed, then headed to a hotel beside the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

Tong Yun had talked a big game, but when it came to ordering, she picked two very cheap dishes.

The others did much the same. Their families weren't well-off, and they rarely ate out. Besides, they knew Chen Hao had grown up an orphan. They didn't want him to spend too much.

Seeing how considerate they were, Chen Hao nodded to himself. Anyone who got along with Yang Wu and Tong Yun really did have good character.

But as the host, he wasn't about to be stingy. He could afford it, so he ordered every specialty on the menu.

The others knew the prices and silently marveled. This guy's loaded!

The food soon arrived. Martial Artists drank regularly, so Chen Hao raised his glass. "Thanks for coming, everyone. Let me toast you!" He drained his glass.

After a few drinks, the diners grew much more talkative.

Luo Feng was the only one who didn't drink. He hadn't graduated or come of age yet, so they ordered him a bottle of soda instead.

"Come on, one more!"

"Zhang San, you're done after just two glasses?"

"Whoever can't handle it is a wimp. I may not match you in punching power, but I'm not afraid of you when it comes to drinking. I'll finish this one!"

As everyone at the table started chatting and joking around, letting their true selves show, Chen Hao couldn't help finding it amusing.

Listening to them tease and complain, he felt as if he'd returned to those gatherings with friends in his previous life. Life in the world of Martial Artists was far too tense.

Still, he could understand. Everyone was under a lot of pressure. They might be Senior Trainees now, but as they grew older, if they failed to break through and become Martial Artists, they might lose their chance altogether.

The more pressure Tong Yun was under, the harder she drank. No one tried to stop her. Everyone had their own burdens to bear.

What Tong Yun had to face was no different from what they all faced. If they couldn't become Martial Artists after a long time, they would have to face reality, find jobs to support their families, and become ordinary people like everyone else.

When everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, they said their goodbyes one by one. As Yang Wu and Luo Feng were leaving, Chen Hao handed each of them a box. They hurriedly tried to refuse.

Chen Hao firmly pressed the boxes into their hands. "We probably won't see each other for a long time. Think of these as gifts for when you become Martial Artists. I'm heading to the Wilderness Zone for training tomorrow, so I won't have much time to come back to the Martial Hall. Keep at it. I'll be waiting for you on the road ahead."

"All right. We'll catch up with you. We won't let you have all the glory to yourself."

"After the college entrance exams, I'll put all my effort into martial arts training. I'll do my best to become a Martial Artist as soon as possible."

Chen Hao's heartfelt words left Yang Wu and Luo Feng fired up.

As he watched them leave, Chen Hao turned and saw Tong Yun silently holding her glass. He couldn't help feeling conflicted.

He wasn't a fool. How could he not notice that Tong Yun liked him? But he didn't want to take advantage of her feelings, and he didn't want distractions.

Tong Yun had a firm goal: she dreamed of becoming a female Martial Artist. The pressure from her family must have been intense, especially since she was already twenty-two.

"Chen Hao, why do people have so many troubles? Is it really so hard for a woman to make something of herself? Do we have to get married young?" Tong Yun suddenly asked.

"Sis Tong, isn't life about pressing forward through one trouble after another? Otherwise, it'd be far too dull. The troubles in front of us are only temporary obstacles. Once we get past them, we'll realize they weren't such a big deal after all. We have to keep looking ahead."

A hint of disappointment flashed across Tong Yun's eyes, but she quickly pulled herself together. "That's right. It's only a temporary obstacle. Even if I get married, I won't give up on my dream of becoming a Martial Artist."

She drained her glass, set it down on the table, stood, and walked over to Chen Hao. She gently embraced him. "The Wilderness Zone is dangerous. Make sure you stay safe." Then she let go and headed outside.

Chen Hao took out a box. "Sis Tong, if anything happens, you can blame me. Once I'm in the Wilderness Zone, it'll probably be a long time before we see each other again. Consider this a gift for when you become a Martial Artist. Keep at it!"

Tong Yun paused when he called out to her, seeming unsure. But after hearing his words, she accepted the box and said, "Your big sister will definitely become a Martial Artist." Then she turned and left.

When Tong Yun was out of sight, Chen Hao called over a waiter and settled the bill.

As he walked back to Mingyue Community, he wondered what would become of the three of them. But from this moment on, he would have to give up his ordinary life and walk the path of a Martial Artist alone.

The road ahead was sure to be rough, but fortunately, he had the Synthesis Panel. He believed he would reach the end.

When Chen Hao got home, he received the Military Tent Xiao Mei had ordered before he went to the Martial Hall. The material used for the eighty-one tents was indeed excellent.

He combined the tents using Nine-Grid Synthesis and examined the new automatic folding tent in front of him. Curious, he Identified it:

A9-Rank Folding Safe House

Synthesized using a special method

Can withstand attacks from a Planetary Level Ninth Rank star.

He pressed the green button on one side of the tent. It quickly unfolded, eventually becoming a small cabin over three meters long, two meters wide, and two meters tall.

He walked up and knocked on the wall. The material used throughout the cabin seemed very similar to that of the synthesized A9-Rank combat protective suit. Hmm.

He opened the door and went inside to look around. The floor was thick, no less than ten millimeters, and the walls and ceiling didn't seem much thinner.

Inside was a folding bed two meters long and one meter wide, with an inflatable pillow at the head.

There was a small table beside the bed, with a pull-out stool underneath it. At the foot of the bed was a one-square-meter washroom, which had a small 200-liter water heater.

The entire cabin was packed with advanced technology. Folded up, it seemed to take up only about one cubic meter, but unfolded, it had plenty of space and all the necessities. It was an absolute must-have for home and travel.

After stepping out of the Safe House, he pressed the hidden red button outside the door to fold it up, then stowed it in his Space Backpack.