Master and Disciple

Old instructor?

Zhang Fusheng blinked, recalling the "supposedly" he had seen while looking up information before entering the Martial Arts Academy.

His master had once served as an instructor for some special unit.

"I couldn't hide it from you, sir." The rugged man with a full beard and a plaid shirt gave a bitter smile. "There really was such a thing."

Hong Tianbao cast him a sidelong glance.

"Not a word of it leaked. Were you guarding against this old man as if I were a cultist?"

"Surely you understand the Investigation Bureau's confidentiality regulations as well, sir."

"Heh heh."

Hong Tianbao smiled without any warmth in his eyes.

The two exchanged a few more disjointed remarks. Only then did the rugged man cup his fists and carefully take his leave, bringing his disgraced subordinates away with him.

Watching them disappear into the distance.

Hong Tianbao let out a breath.

"Even the Investigation Bureau has arrived. Things are truly about to turn turbulent."

Zhang Fusheng could not help asking.

"The Investigation Bureau is?"

"A special organization established by the Federation, which draws elite personnel from the military. It is responsible for investigating, detecting, striking at, and hunting down cults."

The fat old man narrowed his eyes.

"When the Investigation Bureau Vanguard Team appears in a city, it means a large-scale encirclement operation is about to begin. Your master was once invited to serve as an instructor in several military units, and I also trained some of the Investigation Bureau's youngsters."

"If I remember correctly, that man was called Liu Zhengbang. He was once my student in the military. Now that he has come to Jiangzhou City without even paying me a visit, he has clearly placed your master among the suspicious individuals as well."

Zhang Fusheng listened in confusion and asked tentatively.

"Are you?"

The old man glanced at him and answered calmly.

"You mean a cultist? I used to be."

Zhang Fusheng nearly choked.

His master was... rather forthright.

After estimating the time, Hong Tianbao nodded faintly.

"The Vanguard Team should have withdrawn by now. Let's go to Number 19."

He led Zhang Fusheng to the iron gates of Villa Number 19 and entered the bar under the guidance of an attendant.

There were only scattered customers in the bar. When some of them spotted the fat old man, they shuddered in alarm, and the overlapping chatter gradually died away.

"Old Master Hong." The bartender, who had been polishing a wineglass, set it down. No emotion could be seen in his entirely black eyes.

"What brings you here in person?"

Hong Tianbao could not be bothered with nonsense.

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

The bar fell deathly silent.

"This..."

Black Eyes said softly.

"Old Master Hong, you know Number 19's rules. We keep secrets for every customer. That is the foundation upon which Number 19 stands."

After a pause, he gave a bitter smile.

"If Number 19 does not follow its rules, then there would be no reason for it to exist. Wouldn't you agree?"

Hong Tianbao said nothing, merely gazing at him in silence. Black Eyes sighed softly and met his gaze without fear.

The customers in the bar left one after another. The atmosphere grew increasingly oppressive, and Zhang Fusheng could clearly feel that even the air around them had become thick and sticky, leaving him with a suffocating sensation.

"Following rules is a good thing."

Hong Tianbao lightly tossed out those words, chuckled, and turned to leave with Zhang Fusheng.

Black Eyes let out a breath of relief.

After leaving the bar, Zhang Fusheng was full of questions, but the old man gave him no chance to ask. Instead, he explained calmly.

"That youngster has refined three of his five viscera. Among Martial Arts Masters, he is considered quite capable. Coupled with those pair of inborn eyes, he can rival the very best Martial Arts Masters."

Zhang Fusheng pondered this.

"Martial Arts Masters refine their internal organs?"

"They cultivate supernatural abilities from within their viscera," Hong Tianbao said. "The main issue is still those eyes of his. It would not be difficult for your master to kill him, but if he fought to the death, I might not be able to protect you."

After saying that, he made a call.

"Dali, have someone seal off the entire area around Ankang Hospital in the Lower-Level District. Go there yourself. Search every house, break down doors, dig up the ground. I'll send you a video shortly."

"Also, spread the word. Establish a new rule: anyone entering Number 19 dies."

After hanging up.

"Send that video to your Eldest Senior Brother."

After Zhang Fusheng did so, he humbly asked for guidance.

"Master, just because Black Eyes refused to provide the information, must we really fight to the death?"

"Who said anything about fighting to the death?"

The fat old man smiled.

"If we were truly fighting to the death, wouldn't I simply send you somewhere far away and go back to butcher him right now?"

He patiently explained it to Zhang Fusheng.

"Black Eyes is a man who follows rules and values promises. His connections spread in all directions. He has some reputation not just in Jiangzhou City. He is an interesting fellow."

"Your master is pressuring him so that he will come to my door and beg forgiveness."

Zhang Fusheng seemed to understand.

"Because... of his reputation?"

"What is reputation worth?"

Hong Tianbao looked at him and spoke earnestly.

"The conflict began because of you. If he comes to my door, he will be begging your master for forgiveness. I will beat him out. Every time he comes, I will beat him out, until he comes looking for you."

Zhang Fusheng suddenly understood.

"You want me to form a good bond with him? You play the villain, and I play the good man?"

"Of course." Hong Tianbao nodded. "It does not matter how many enemies you have, but you must have many friends if you wish to walk farther on the road of cultivation."

He said quietly.

"Especially friends like Black Eyes. The more, the better. They are well-informed and deeply connected. They may truly save your life in the future. Such people must be befriended, used, and bound to you as friends. Best of all, let them owe you a favor, then find an opportunity to owe them one in return. The greater, the better."

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

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

He was bewildered. It had only been a few days since he entered the school. Was his master not treating him far too well?

As though seeing the question in Zhang Fusheng's heart, Hong Tianbao smiled and said frankly.

"Your Eldest Senior Brother and the others certainly did not receive this treatment. Your master has placed a heavy bet on you, and I have something I seek as well."

"Just give your orders, Master." Zhang Fusheng instead felt relieved. Reality was not some storybook. Where could there be kindness for no reason at all?

Kindness to this extent?

Other than one's parents, if not everyone, then at least ninety-nine percent of people harbored ulterior motives.

"It is not yet time for you to shine." The old man shook his head. "But your master can tell you this: I value you so greatly because of your talent in the Visualization Method."

"A Visualization Method at Great Accomplishment is more important than you imagine. In your master's eyes, one Visualization Method at Great Accomplishment is worth more than a hundred great martial artists at Twelve Refinements."

Zhang Fusheng nodded silently. Great Accomplishment in the Visualization Method was already so valuable—what about Perfection?

His master spoke just then.

"In this world, there are wondrous medicines that can increase Mental Accumulation out of thin air. Such things can only be encountered by chance, never sought."

"If there is an opportunity, I will find you a dose. Then, in twenty years—no, ten years—you may be able to bring your Visualization Method to Minor Perfection. In that case, you may hope to glimpse true Perfection in this lifetime. That is a road leading straight to heaven."

Zhang Fusheng was silent for a moment.

"Thank you, Master."

"Mm." The fat old man nodded. "Today, I had the Public Security Bureau erase the traces because I did not want your circumstances exposed before too many people."

"Remember, cultivation demands struggle. When you struggle, you may lose. To avoid that, you need to hold something back. Never let anyone see through your true capabilities. The more mysterious you are, the more they will fear you. Use thirty percent of your strength when beating someone, seventy percent when killing someone. Unless you are at the end of the road, always keep thirty percent in reserve."

"Yes, Master."

"One more thing. A young man's blood and vitality are at their peak; this is the age when springtime feelings begin to sprout. Be careful of women. It is not that you cannot touch them, but that you cannot fall into them, drowning in love and affection. Women are poison."

"Do Senior Sisters count too?"

"What women are those two? The second one barely counts, but the third one—tch!"

Some Little Bean barely four feet tall sneezed.

"Show mercy when beating people, kill them all when killing people. A family should leave together, neat and tidy."

"Uh, I have learned, Master."

"Then let me ask you: when you are uprooting weeds and pulling out their roots, a little girl runs out. What do you do?" Hong Tianbao gave him a sidelong glance.

Zhang Fusheng thought seriously for a moment, recalled a joke from his previous life, and answered.

"Ask whether she hates me. If she says she does, then naturally she cannot be left alive."

"And if she says she does not?"

"This child is deeply scheming, so she cannot be left alive either."

Hong Tianbao laughed, yet shook his head and said seriously.

"Wrong."

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

The fat old man spoke earnestly.

"When someone suddenly runs out like that, it is usually to cover for younger brothers or sisters. You should grab her by the neck, walk back and forth inside and outside the house, stopping now and then. If she suddenly becomes nervous, that means you have found them."

Zhang Fusheng's eyes widened.

"I really learned something this time."

"And also..."

The old man taught bit by bit, and the disciple listened bit by bit.

Master and disciple walked along a tree-lined path. They did not head toward the Public Security Bureau's blockade, but went farther east.

One old, one young, just like a grandfather and grandson.

Zhang Fusheng suddenly felt as though he were taking an evening walk down a quiet street with his father and mother after dinner.

He felt very relaxed.

As they walked, they heard a duck-like voice that had summoned up its courage.

"Yaoyao, actually, I like you!"

Zhu Xiaoming made his earth-shaking confession.