Reinforced Human

Yang Hao let out a heavy sigh, his expression a mix of fury and helplessness.

"That 'good stuff' cooked up by the Lyle Federation!"

"It's ruined every single sport and athletic competition out there."

"For a Level 1 Enhanced Human, as long as your genes are a match, it's just a matter of getting a shot."

"One injection, and it beats us killing ourselves with half a lifetime of grueling training."

Zhou Kai listened quietly; this knowledge touched upon a blind spot in his understanding.

He couldn't help but feel a sense of irony—it really was an information silo.

As they spoke, the rotund Yuan Duo shuffled over, clearly intrigued by the topic.

"I've heard that Level 2 Enhanced Humans can go toe-to-toe with True Energy martial artists; they're ferocious. The downsides are obvious, though—the costs are like burning money, and you have to stay on drugs for the rest of your life."

Zhou Kai followed up, "What about Level 3?"

Yuan Duo rubbed his chin as if recalling something, speaking only after a moment. "I went on a long trip with my family back in the day and saw one from a distance."

"Level 3... that thing, it barely counts as human anymore. Do you know what flows through their veins?"

Yuan Duo's tone was a mix of envy and dread.

"It's a chemical compound."

"There are two types of Level 3s. One is experimental; their strength and speed might not even match a top-tier Level 2, but their bodies have been modified the most thoroughly."

"As long as the compound doesn't run dry, their lives can be extended to the theoretical limit of humanity—about two hundred and sixty years."

"Longevity and eternal youth, everyone."

"A fifty or sixty-year-old geezer standing in front of you looks no different from a man in his early twenties."

"In the Lyle Federation right now, many top-tier billionaires are these Level 3 Enhanced Humans. Here in Red Star... it's hard to say, but I'd bet quite a few have done it in secret."

Fischl had approached silently at some point, likely having overheard the conversation.

Her beautiful eyes swept over Zhou Kai with disdain as she mocked, "What? Do you think martial arts training is too tiring, and you're thinking of drilling a few holes in yourself to install some parts?"

She picked up right where Yuan Duo left off, adding information about the other type of Level 3.

"You're a martial artist. If you wait until you break through to the True Energy realm before modifying yourself, you'd end up as one of the strongest types..."

"Your lifespan would be three times that of a normal person, you'd have infinite strength, and your brain would process information faster than an AI."

"We wouldn't even be the same species anymore."

Fischl chuckled softly. "It's certainly worth considering for someone like you. A martial artist-type enhanced human is a hot commodity wherever they go."

"Just being a bodyguard for some billionaire would net you a starting annual salary of several million."

"But I advise you to wait for further technological breakthroughs. This young lady hasn't heard of any Level 4 Enhanced Humans appearing yet."

"It won't be too late to use yourself as a lab rat once something better comes along."

Zhou Kai shook his head with a faint smile. "No, I was just curious. Personally, I prefer the step-by-step approach to getting stronger; I don't want to take shortcuts."

The paths of martial arts and Scars were enough to keep him grinding for a long time.

Getting shots? Lifelong medication?

Just thinking about it made his head ache. What was the point of killing the goose to get the golden eggs? It would be a total waste of his extraordinary intellect.

Fischl's sparkling eyes swept over Zhou Kai's face, half-mocking and half-warning. "You? You'd better focus on mastering those amateur moves of yours first."

After that, they chatted about many more secrets that opened Zhou Kai's eyes.

After listening, Zhou Kai leaned against a tree, lost in thought.

In a sense, Fischl's arrogance wasn't entirely without cause.

In this world.

The world seen by their circle and the one seen by ordinary people were truly two different versions.

For instance, this cutting-edge information, which couldn't be found online no matter what keywords one used, was nothing more than trivial dinner conversation to them.

After all...

Once the technology matured further, they might transform themselves into cyborgs capable of living over two hundred years, continuing to protect their interests and the tangled web of influence behind them.

Vested interests, huh?

Zhou Kai's eyes narrowed into slits.

The fact that those with wealth and power could attain near-eternal life was certainly not good news for a healthy social structure or the vast majority of ordinary people.

But these grand narratives were not his concern, at least not yet.

Zhou Kai trusted more in the fists he had armed with his own effort and sweat.

For the rest of the day, until the sky turned dark, these young masters and misses didn't seem to have any interest in practicing martial arts.

They really were just paying for someone to play with them.

A sense of inexplicable emptiness and absurdity welled up in Zhou Kai's heart.

But then, a second thought crossed my mind: as long as I spend five days a week hanging around with the chubby kid, the little bespectacled one, and this bratty girl, I can pocket ten thousand.

That lingering sense of emptiness was instantly filled.

Sure enough, there's no trouble that money can't solve.

Ma Yifan, however, couldn't be fooled; that kid was genuinely ambitious and truly eager to learn!

But... I heard Little Ma recently went to another province with his father to negotiate a big deal, so I probably won't see him for a week.

As night fell, everyone prepared to head home.

"Bye, weakling martial artist, see you tomorrow."

Fischl had one hand in her pocket, while the other waved casually, serving as her farewell to Zhou Kai.

Yang Hao's jaw nearly hit the ground when he saw this.

Since when did the young miss become so... polite?

Not bad at all, Little Zhou!

Yang Hao kept a straight face, shooting Zhou Kai a complex look that clearly said, "You've got game, kid."

Zhou Kai sighed inwardly, ignoring the silent exchange as he prepared to head back to the gym.

At this hour, Senior Brother Chen Ping should still be there.

Just as they stepped out of the campsite exit, a burly man in an oversized hoodie appeared before Fischl without warning, standing like a wall.

Fischl was startled, instinctively stepping backward.

Yuan Duo and Feng Mingtai reacted immediately, stepping forward to shield her behind them.

And standing at the very front was Yang Hao, his hand already pressed against the holster at his waist.

"Who are you? What do you want? Do you have any idea whose young miss this is?!"

Yang Hao's voice was like a booming bell, his three consecutive questions ringing out with deafening force.

He even deliberately exposed his hand gripping the pistol handle, issuing a blatant threat.

"Haha."

The man laughed with a snort, as if he had just heard the greatest joke in the world.

He reached up and pulled back his hoodie, revealing a grim face covered in blue-black tattoos.

"Yang Hao, it's been a few years, and you've found yourself a good employer... The Vitas Family is quite a renowned name even across the ocean."

"I just wonder if this young miss still keeps in touch with her father and brother."

Yang Hao stared fixedly at that gaunt, almost unrecognizable face, finally remembering who stood before him.

His voice trembled as he asked in terror, "Qiu Ping... you've returned to the country? What do you want?"

Qiu Ping's hawk-like eyes swept over Yang Hao, and he said lazily, "Just taking care of some business, and picked up a little extra work on the side... Don't worry, it has nothing to do with you or the Vitas girl."

"Little Hao, why so tense? Can't I just come by to catch up on old times?"

Yang Hao dared not let his guard down; the veins on his hand gripping the gun bulged as he shouted, "Get lost! Don't force me to get rough!"

Qiu Ping scoffed at the threat, a playful smile hanging on his face.

Yet, he still raised his hands in a gesture of surrender: "Fine, fine, fine. You really don't cherish old ties... I'm going, I'm going."

As his voice gradually faded, Qiu Ping's figure merged into the darkness at the exit like a ghost.

A full two minutes passed before Yang Hao's rigid body slowly began to relax. He tilted his head to listen, confirming, "He should... really be gone."

Fischl's small face was drained of all color under the streetlights: "Who is this guy?"

Yang Hao's frame swayed slightly; despite having only stood in a motionless standoff, he looked as if he had just run a half-marathon.

"The man who brought me into the world of no-holds-barred fighting. In the octagon, he was both my master and my senior brother."

"Of course, now..."

Yang Hao's throat bobbed as he struggled to spit out the words: "He is an augmented human, and a wanted criminal. He was back then, and he still is now."

Upon hearing this, Fischl whipped her head around to look in the direction where Qiu Ping had vanished, her expression even worse than before.

She pulled out her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen for a long moment before she finally turned to Feng Mingtai: "You, send a message to Zhou Kai. Tell him to watch his safety."

Feng Mingtai wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said, "It shouldn't come to that, right? How could Zhou Kai possibly be involved with someone like him?"

Fischl shook her head. She didn't know why she was so certain, but she felt an inexplicable sense of unease and said impatiently, "Listen to me, a warning never hurts."

After all, the direction where Qiu Ping had disappeared... was also the direction Zhou Kai had taken.