Going All Out

An old man and a young man simultaneously crouched at the corner, looking not far away.

A red sports car with its trunk wide open was stuffed full of flowers. Next to the car stood a simple, sturdy youth scratching his bald head.

Then came a bewildered Zhong Yue and a face-palming Lu Yao.

Zhang Fusheng also covered his face. Is Old Zhu an idiot?

"Do you know them?" Hong Tianbao watched with great interest.

"Yeah, the guy is my best friend. The other two are also friends," Zhang Fusheng replied listlessly, though he really didn't want to admit it.

Snap!

A dull thud sounded. The two of them eagerly looked over and saw the bald man drop to one knee with a 'bang'.

His expression was filled with deep affection.

"Fool," the chubby old man commented.

"Spot on," Zhang Fusheng grumbled. "Old Zhu's brain is getting worse and worse."

"I like you, will you be my girlfriend!"

Zhu Xiaoming's hoarse voice was deafening.

Lu Yao started to stammer, clearly losing the ability to think:

"Wh-what are you saying!"

Her face flushed red, all the way to her ears. She stumbled back three or four steps and fled in a panic.

As she ran, she fell face-first, then got up and continued to flee.

Zhu Xiaoming, that idiot, didn't help her up or chase after her. He sat on the ground, blankly scratching his bald head.

The chubby old man was amazed:

"This simpleton is even more of a simpleton than your Eldest Senior Brother was!"

Zhang Fusheng covered his face. He noticed Lu Yao was running in their direction, so he immediately stepped out from behind the trees, pretending to have just seen her, and asked in surprise:

"Lu Yao? Why are you covered in dust and dirt?"

The girl, her face red and her mind a jumbled mess, clearly froze:

"Zhang Fusheng?"

She didn't know how to explain. She stomped her foot and tried to flee again, but Zhang Fusheng stopped her, giving a wry smile:

"Alright, alright, I saw everything. But you can't get a taxi around here. Are you really going to walk back?"

He paused and then said sternly:

"I suspect Old Zhu specifically chose this spot so you'd have nowhere to run."

Lu Yao was both angry and ashamed:

"It would be a miracle if he had that much brains! He didn't even chase after me for two steps."

Taking two deep breaths, she managed to calm her emotions and looked at the chubby, round little old man beside them:

"Who is this elder?"

"My Master, my surname is Hong."

"Hello, Grandpa Hong," Lu Yao greeted him, still feeling annoyed. The chubby old man walked over with a chuckle.

Zhang Fusheng advised again:

"That guy is just a blockhead."

The chubby old man nodded in agreement:

"It's rare to see such a simpleton these days."

Lu Yao was silent for a moment, then said hatefully:

"He's just a big idiot!"

She didn't run anymore and followed behind Zhang Fusheng and Hong Tianbao, turning back.

"Oh? Lu Yao, you're back? Old Zhang?" Zhu Xiaoming said sadly as he sat on the ground. Zhang Fusheng pulled him up with a helpless expression.

He glanced at the flowers in the trunk and gasped:

"Who taught you to use white chrysanthemums for a confession??"

It was only then that Lu Yao noticed the large bunches of white chrysanthemums in the trunk and burst out laughing.

She was so angry.

Zhu Xiaoming was bewildered:

"These are chrysanthemums? The shop owner told me they were 'White Fairy Flowers,' symbolizing purity and eternity."

Zhang Fusheng fell silent.

After a while, he wearily introduced:

"This is Zhu Xiaoming, this is Lu Yao and Zhong Yue. This is my Master, surnamed Hong."

"Hello, Grandpa Hong," Zhong Yue greeted politely. Zhu Xiaoming, however, looked surprised. "Huh? Old Zhang, when did you get a Master? Hello, Grandpa Hong!"

The old, plump man chuckled and nodded.

Zhang Fusheng pushed down the trunk, bringing the farce to an end. The group of five then took a stroll down the small path, Zhu Xiaoming on the far right and Lu Yao on the far left.

The former didn't dare to get close, while the latter was still gritting her teeth in silent anger.

The four teenagers chatted about everything under the sun, while the plump old man watched them with a smile, occasionally chiming in.

Sunlight bathed them, exuding youthful vitality.

"Old Zhang, you still haven't said when you got a Master!" Zhu Xiaoming asked casually, having already cast aside the sadness of his failed confession and acting like nothing happened. This made Lu Yao even more annoyed.

"Didn't I join the Martial Arts Academy? Master saw my talent and hard work and took me as his disciple."

"Martial Arts Academy??" Zhu Xiaoming and the other two were clearly stunned. A Martial Arts Academy wasn't like a regular martial arts school; they taught cultivation, not just punches and kicks.

The School Master of a Martial Arts Academy would have to be at least a Sixth Refinement expert!

Their expressions changed as they looked at Hong Tianbao, adding a few touches of respect. But seeing that the old man was amiable and approachable, they didn't feel too constrained.

They were still naive teenagers, their eyes not yet accustomed to discerning levels of status.

"Is Grandpa Hong's Martial Arts Academy located in District Three?" Zhong Yue asked curiously.

"Yes, we originally wanted to choose District Four, but the rent was about the same in both places, so we went with District Three," Hong Tianbao lied casually.

Zhong Yue, half-understanding, said enviously:

"The Snake Fist Gym is in the Seventh District, and the School Master is offering a salary of three thousand. In District Three, how high must the salary be?"

Hong Tianbao chuckled:

"I think the wages for a handyman at a martial arts gym are around five thousand. Little girl, do you want to come?"

Zhong Yue thought seriously for a moment, then shook her head:

"The Snake Fist Gym is closer to my home, and School Master Huang is quite good to us. He even teaches us a few moves from time to time."

She struck a crude stance and threw a couple of punches.

Hong Tianbao raised an eyebrow, clearly recognizing the rough stance. He glanced at Zhang Fusheng, who gave a slight nod.

He understood. That old snake Huang Qiuxian had opened a martial arts gym in the Seventh District.

As they walked and talked, their conversation ranged from gossip in the woods to their aspirations for Jiang University, occasionally asking Zhang Fusheng a few questions about Genius Chen.

The plump old man watched the scene quietly, a sense of emotion welling up within him.

Youth is wonderful.

To be precise, this kind of simple, unadorned youth is wonderful.

"Yo, there's big news," Zhu Xiaoming said suddenly while scrolling through his phone. "There was a huge explosion in the Eighth District. Look, it's almost a mushroom cloud."

He turned his phone towards them. Zhang Fusheng and the plump old man looked, their expressions instantly turning serious.

In the image, several residential buildings were clearly destroyed, flames soared into the sky, and smoke and dust swirled. The sign for Ankang Hospital was faintly visible in the distance.

Just then, they had circled back to where they parked. Zhang Fusheng pursed his lips:

"My Master and I need to head back first. See you later?"

"Sure. I'll take Lu Yao and Zhong Yue home first. Do you want me to pick you up tonight?"

"No need."

After watching the red sports car drive away, Hong Tianbao frowned slightly and made a phone call.

After a while, the call was connected.

"What was the explosion in the Eighth District?" the old man asked. He clearly wasn't very worried about Niu Dali's safety.

An explosion of this magnitude wouldn't harm a Twelve Refinement Great Martial Artist.

From the phone, the Eldest Senior Brother's cough could be heard. "I just arrived with my men and entered the building when the explosion happened. These brats, who knows where they came from, set off a bunch of high explosives."

"There was also a Twelve Refinement guy there. I fought him and got injured, but it's not too serious."

"Twelve Refinement?"

The plump old man's voice turned serious. "Have you seen him before?"

"Never. He's from the East Cult. I've already killed him. I can confirm he was the mastermind."

"I found a commissioned receipt from Bar No. 19 on him. It's not just for Junior Brother, but also for me and two Junior Sisters."

Hong Tianbao's expression was unreadable. "Are you sure it was the East Cult? That doesn't make sense."

"I'm sure. He used the Five Thunders Art. Fortunately, I dodged quickly. I suspect Huang Qiuxian is seeking revenge on you?"

"Mm, I understand."

He hung up the phone.

Zhang Fusheng said softly, "Master, what exactly is the East Cult?"

"Of the four major evil cults pursued by the Federation, one is Daoism. Daoism is further divided into the East and West Cults. The East Cult practices non-action, while the West Cult engages in all sorts of deeds."

"That Old Master Huang is from the East Cult? He wouldn't have a reason to kill me."

"I know."

Hong Tianbao lowered his eyelids.

Zhang Fusheng shook his head, then asked curiously, "Master, who are the four major evil cults?"

Hong Tianbao answered while deep in thought, "One is the Myriad Gods Cult, formed by the merger of many small sects. The other three are Daoism, Buddhism, and Confucianism."

Zhang Fusheng was stunned. Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism.

"Alright, since your Eldest Senior Brother has dealt with the mastermind, this matter is considered concluded. I'm going to the scene to take a look."

Hong Tianbao said calmly, "Since I've already come to your door, Number 19 will voluntarily withdraw the commission. You should go back first."

He paused, then added, "The Five Thunders Art should be hidden within your bones. When you get back, you can look inside yourself and try to cultivate this technique. This technique from the East Cult is a true killing art with extremely high potential."

"Also, don't wait for me. Your Master needs to meet with someone from the Investigation Bureau. I might be back in a few days."

"Yes, Master."

Watching his Master leave, Zhang Fusheng returned to the Martial Arts Academy and bought three servings of Special Supply nutritional supplements at the restaurant, eating them silently.

With the over ten million from Zhou Quan, he would be free from worrying about Star Beast Meat for a while.

After consuming the three servings of Special Supply nutritional supplements, the Pact in his glabella, in the ancestral aperture, glowed once more.

"Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism," Zhang Fusheng muttered to himself, completely unaware.

The waters of this world, it seemed, ran deep.

He stood in a horse stance at the Martial Arts Academy for the entire night, observing himself internally. He truly saw an exquisite article on his bones.

Well.

He couldn't understand it.

Just like the Great Sun Illuminates Seventy-Two Snow Mountains, it was difficult to comprehend. He could only vaguely understand the opening part.

The next morning.

After studying the Five Thunders Art all night, Zhang Fusheng felt a bit tired. This technique was indeed profound, involving the so-called Five Directions, Five Thunders—

Southeast, Northwest, Center; Wood, Fire, Metal, Water, Earth.

However, according to the article, only by reaching the Great Realm of the Five Viscera could one preliminarily control the thunder techniques. Alternatively, those who mastered the Mental Spiritual Realm could unleash true thunder within the Spiritual Realm, killing people in illusion.

"The Great Realm of the Five Viscera should be the level of a Martial Arts Master. I'm still far from it, but the Spiritual Realm... I already possess that."

"The troublesome part is that the Five Thunders Art is too abstruse."

Zhang Fusheng pondered, his thoughts racing a thousand times:

"Has the assassination matter truly concluded?"

He felt something was off.

The matter had ended too hastily. Most importantly, that explosion was too strange.

It was like erasing traces.

Furthermore, he couldn't explain how they knew the progress of his Spring Thunder Technique.

Unless...

He pursed his lips. His Eldest Senior Brother and two Senior Sisters, who had just returned, were resting on the same floor.

"My physical constitution limits my martial cultivation progress, but meditation techniques can be stacked purely through time."

Zhang Fusheng went down to the second floor and entered the cafeteria.

"How much Star Beast Meat do we have in stock?"

"Replying to you, sir, there are only two taels left. The next shipment won't arrive until the middle of the month," the head chef replied respectfully.

"Two taels, one hundred grams."

Zhang Fusheng pondered for a moment:

"Grill it all. Deduct the cost from the account I registered yesterday."

How many years of hard cultivation are needed to push the meditation technique to true perfection?

Zhang Fusheng didn't know.

But he would have as many years as were needed.

Trading with martial artists required careful planning and arrangements, and the trading partners also needed to be carefully considered.

However, there were far too many who had practiced meditation techniques their entire lives without achieving anything.

Master had said that a perfect meditation technique was a true path to heaven.

If you're going to cheat, go all out!