Master and Disciple

Old instructor?

Zhang Fusheng blinked, recalling the "rumors" he'd seen when researching before entering the Martial Arts Academy.

His Master had once been an instructor in a special forces unit.

"I can't hide it from you either." The burly man with a full beard, dressed in a plaid shirt, gave a wry smile. "There is indeed such a thing."

Hong Tianbao squinted:

"Not revealing a single clue, are you guarding against this old man like an evil cultist?"

"You say that, but you know the Investigation Bureau's confidentiality regulations, old sir."

"Heh heh."

Hong Tianbao forced a smile.

The two chatted for a few more nonsensical sentences before the burly man cupped his fists and cautiously took his leave, bringing his disheveled subordinate with him.

Watching them go.

Hong Tianbao let out a breath:

"The Investigation Bureau is here, it's really going to be chaotic."

Zhang Fusheng couldn't help but ask:

"Who is the Investigation Bureau?"

"It's a special agency formed by the Federation by drawing elite personnel from the military, responsible for investigating, detecting, combating, and hunting down evil cults."

The fat old man narrowed his eyes:

"When the Investigation Bureau's advance team appears in a city, it means a large-scale encirclement and suppression operation is about to begin. I was once invited to be an instructor in some units and also trained some of the Investigation Bureau's youngsters."

"This person, if I remember correctly, is named Liu Zhengbang. He was my student in the military. He came to Jiangzhou City this time but didn't even come to visit. He's listed me as a person of suspicion."

Zhang Fusheng listened, confused, and tentatively asked:

"Are you?"

The old man glanced at him and calmly replied:

"You mean an evil cultist? I used to be."

Zhang Fusheng choked abruptly.

His Master was quite… frank.

Estimating the time, Hong Tianbao nodded slightly:

"The advance team should have withdrawn. Let's go to Number 19."

He led Zhang Fusheng to the large iron gate of Villa Number 19 and, guided by a waiter, entered the bar.

The bar was sparsely populated. When some patrons saw the fat old man, they were startled, and the rising chatter gradually died down.

"Elder Hong." The bartender, wiping a wine glass, put it down. His eyes, composed entirely of black, showed no emotional fluctuation.

"Why did you come in person?"

Hong Tianbao was too lazy to waste words:

"Someone has assigned a public mission to kill my disciple. Give me the employer's information."

The bar fell silent.

"This..."

Black Eyes said softly:

"Elder Hong, you know the rules of Number 19. We keep secrets for every guest. This is the principle Number 19 stands on."

He paused and then gave a wry smile.

"If Number 19 doesn't follow the rules, then there's no need for it to exist, don't you think?"

Hong Tianbao said nothing, quietly gazing at him. Black Eyes sighed softly, meeting his gaze without fear.

The patrons in the bar left one by one, and the atmosphere grew increasingly heavy. Zhang Fusheng could clearly feel that even the air nearby had become thick and suffocating.

"Following the rules is a good thing."

Hong Tianbao lightly tossed this sentence aside, chuckled, and turned to leave with Zhang Fusheng.

Black Eyes breathed a sigh of relief.

After leaving the bar, Zhang Fusheng was full of questions, but the old man didn't give him a chance to ask. He calmly explained:

"That kid has refined three of his internal organs. He's quite good among Martial Arts Masters, and with his pair of innate eyes, he can rival top Martial Arts Masters."

Zhang Fusheng pondered:

"Martial Arts Masters train their internal organs?"

"They cultivate Spiritual Power from their internal organs," Hong Tianbao said. "The main thing is his eyes. It wouldn't be difficult for me to kill him, but if he fought to the death, I might not be able to protect you."

After speaking, he made a phone call:

"Dali, have someone seal off the entire Lower-Level District and the area around Ankang Hospital. Go there yourself, house by house, door by door, digging up the ground. I'll send you a video later."

"Also, spread the word and establish a new rule: anyone who enters Number 19 will be killed."

After hanging up the phone.

"Send that video to your Eldest Senior Brother."

After Zhang Fusheng complied, he asked humbly, "Master, are we going to fight him to the death just because Black Eyes won't give us information?"

"Who said it's a fight to the death?"

The fat old man chuckled.

"If it were, I would have sent you far away. Wouldn't it be enough to go back and kill him right now?"

He patiently explained to Zhang Fusheng:

"Black Eyes is a man of his word, values trust, and has connections everywhere. He's not just famous in Jiangzhou City; he's quite a character."

"My pressuring him is meant to make him come here and beg for mercy."

Zhang Fusheng pondered, "Because of his reputation?"

"What is reputation worth?"

Hong Tianbao glanced at him and said earnestly, "The conflict started because of you. If he comes to beg me for mercy, I will beat him away. I'll do it every time he comes, until he seeks you out."

Zhang Fusheng suddenly realized, "You want me to build a good relationship with him? You'll be the bad guy, and I'll be the good guy?"

"Naturally." Hong Tianbao nodded. "It doesn't matter if you have many enemies, but you must have many friends to go further on the path of cultivation."

He continued softly, "Especially friends like Black Eyes, the more the better. They are well-informed and have deep connections. They might truly save your life in the future. People like that, you should befriend them, use them, and build a connection with them. It's best if he owes you a favor, and then find an opportunity for yourself to owe him one, the bigger the better."

"People are always closer to those they have helped than those who have helped them. You must remember this."

Zhang Fusheng fell silent. Was his Master paving the way for him?

He felt lost. It had only been a few days since he started his training, and his Master was treating him too well.

As if sensing Zhang Fusheng's confusion, Hong Tianbao smiled and said frankly, "Your Eldest Senior Brother and the others don't get this treatment. I'm betting heavily on you because I have expectations."

"Just tell me what you need, Master." Zhang Fusheng felt relieved. This wasn't a novel; there was no such thing as kindness for no reason.

To this extent?

Besides his parents, everyone else, not all, but at least ninety-nine percent, had ulterior motives.

"It's not your time to shine yet." The old man shook his head. "But I can tell you that my focus on you is because of your talent in meditation techniques."

"A perfected meditation technique is more important than you imagine. In my opinion, one perfected meditation technique is worth a hundred Martial Artists who have achieved Twelve Refinements."

Zhang Fusheng nodded silently. If a perfected meditation technique was so important, what about Perfection?

His Master then said, "There are rare elixirs in the world that can increase spiritual accumulation, but they are rare and hard to come by."

"If you have the chance, find one for me. With it, in twenty years, no, ten years, you might achieve minor perfection in your meditation technique. Then, in this life, you might have a chance to glimpse true Perfection. That is a path to the heavens."

Zhang Fusheng was silent for a moment.

"Thank you, Master."

"Mm." The fat old man nodded. "I had the Public Security Bureau erase the traces today because I didn't want your situation to be exposed to too many people."

"Remember, cultivation is a struggle. Struggling can lead to defeat. To avoid that, you need to hold back. Never let anyone see your true strength. The more mysterious you are, the more they will fear you. Use thirty percent of your strength when hitting, and seventy percent when killing. Unless you're in a desperate situation, always hold back."

"Yes, Master."

"Also, a man's blood essence is vigorous at this age, and romantic feelings are beginning to sprout. Be careful of women. It's not that you can't interact with them, but you can't get lost in them. Drowning in love is like poison, and women are poison."

"Are my Senior Sisters like that too?"

"What women are those two? The second one is debatable, but the third one, tsk!"

A certain one-meter-two little dwarf sneezed.

"When hitting someone, leave some mercy. When killing someone, kill them all. A family should stick together."

"Uh, I've learned that, Master."

"Then let me ask you, when you're cutting down weeds and encounter a little girl running out, what do you do?" Hong Tianbao asked, narrowing his eyes.

Zhang Fusheng thought seriously for a moment, recalling a joke from his past life, and replied, "Ask her if she hates me. If she says yes, then of course, she cannot be spared."

"You're saying you don't hate him?"

"This kid is too cunning, we absolutely can't let him live."

Hong Tianbao chuckled, then shook his head and said earnestly:

"You're wrong."

"Huh?" Zhang Fusheng was surprised. "Please enlighten me, Master."

The fat old man spoke with great care:

"Someone like this who suddenly appears is usually covering for their younger siblings. You should have grabbed her by the neck and walked around inside and outside the house, stopping here and there. If she suddenly got nervous, that would mean you found it."

Zhang Fusheng's eyes widened:

"I've really learned something new today."

"And also…"

The old man taught, and the disciple listened.

Master and disciple walked along a tree-lined path, not towards the police blockade, but further east.

The old man and the young man looked just like a grandfather and grandson.

Zhang Fusheng suddenly felt like he was strolling down a quiet street with his parents after dinner.

Very relaxing.

As they walked, they heard a voice, boosted by courage, like a duck's quack.

"Yaoyao, I actually like you!"

Zhu Xiaoming declared his earth-shattering confession.