Half an hour later, Wu Yuqing arrived to pick Lin Fei up in a white BMW.
As the eldest daughter of the Longhua Group, she had a whole fleet of luxury cars from different brands.
From Monday to Sunday, she could drive a different one every day.
Lin Fei couldn't help feeling envious. He thought that once he sold his gold coins, he'd get himself a luxury car, too.
Cloud Sea Pavilion.
It was the most famous high-end private club in Yunzhou, and it only served members.
Anyone who wanted to dine there had to have their assets verified.
Those with less than a million in assets weren't eligible for membership.
An ordinary person like Lin Fei would never get the chance to eat there, not in a lifetime, unless someone invited him.
Many wealthy people came to spend money there not only because they liked the surroundings and the food, but because of the club's owner.
The owner behind Cloud Sea Pavilion was Wu Zhen. It was a Wu Family business.
Cloud Sea Pavilion was much like a platform. Anyone who wanted to do business with the Wu Family or get to know Wu Zhen would come here to spend money.
Like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden, Lin Fei looked all around at the club's interior.
The enormous crystal chandeliers, the floor tiles that reflected people's images, and the European Imperial Family's style of decor all exuded extravagance and grandeur.
"All right, stop staring. If you're interested, you can come by and enjoy yourself anytime."
Wu Yuqing tugged Lin Fei farther inside. The attendants at the club couldn't help whispering among themselves when they saw them.
"Who's that man?"
"I don't know. I've never seen him before. Could he be the young lady's boyfriend?"
"Give me a break. He's dressed so shabbily. How could the young lady possibly be interested in him?"
"That's true. There are enough rich young heirs in Yunzhou trying to court our young lady to fill an entire reinforced platoon."
Wu Yuqing tugged Lin Fei along until they reached the door of a private room.
An attendant stood guard by the door to keep anyone from disturbing them.
"Miss!"
The attendant opened the door, and Wu Yuqing led Lin Fei inside.
Wu Zhen and Zhou Wangdao were in the private room, drinking coffee and chatting.
"Dad, I've brought him."
Lin Fei hurried to greet them. "Mr. Wu, I came in such a rush that I didn't prepare a gift. I'm terribly sorry."
Wu Zhen had invited him to dinner, and Lin Fei had originally wanted to bring a gift. It was only proper etiquette.
But Wu Yuqing had said there was no need to prepare anything; her father already had everything he needed.
Lin Fei figured she was right. Wu Zhen was the head of the Longhua Group. No gift would be particularly precious to him.
If Lin Fei showed up with a basket of fruit or some milk, he'd only make a fool of himself. This wasn't a casual visit to relatives.
Wu Zhen laughed heartily and beckoned to him.
"Hahaha, no need to be so formal. Come, have a seat!"
"I invited you here for dinner today mainly to express my gratitude. Ever since I took the pill you gave me yesterday, not only has my old injury of many years healed, but I feel as if I'm on the verge of a breakthrough in my cultivation."
Lin Fei's heart stirred at his words.
Back in Nanli City, he had only learned a little about Cultivators. His understanding was far from deep.
He'd heard that the first realm of cultivation was called Qi Refining.
Only people with a talent for cultivation could sense the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth. They then practiced special Qi Refining techniques to absorb that energy and make it their own. That was why the realm was called Qi Refining.
Xunmei, the maid by Li Ruxue's side, was at the Qi Refining realm.
But Lin Fei had never heard how martial artists on Earth cultivated.
"Mr. Wu..."
"Lin Fei, don't keep calling me Mr. Wu. It sounds so distant. If you're willing, you can call me Uncle Wu."
Wu Zhen was warm and amiable, without the slightest air of authority.
Zhou Wangdao looked at Lin Fei with eager anticipation and added, "Lin Fei, Mr. Wu and I have been friends for many years. You can call me Uncle Zhou, too. It'll make us feel closer."
Lin Fei didn't stand on ceremony. These two were both influential figures in Yunzhou, and knowing them would be a great help to him.
"Then I'll do as you say, Uncle Wu, Uncle Zhou!"
"Hahaha, good!"
"There's something I'd like to ask you about, Uncle Wu."
Wu Zhen poured Lin Fei a cup of coffee, then waved his hand. "There's no need to ask so formally. If you have something to say, just say it. I don't like beating around the bush."
"Uncle Wu, I heard before that you're a martial artist. I'm curious about how martial artists cultivate. Do you need any special talent?"
"Heh, so that's what you're curious about."
To satisfy Lin Fei's curiosity, Wu Zhen explained in detail.
"Martial artists cultivate through four realms: Bright Force, Dark Force, Transformation Force, and Dan Formation."
"Bright Force focuses on the use of external strength, mainly drawing on the power of the muscles, bones, and skin."
"Dark Force puts more emphasis on the use of internal strength, mainly drawing on the power of the meridians and internal organs."
"Transformation Force allows you to meld your inner and outer strength, open up the meridians throughout your body, refine your own vital essence, and transform it into internal energy, also known as true qi."
"Dan Formation is said to let you transform true qi into a higher form of power, known as astral energy."
Lin Fei listened with rapt attention. Zhou Wangdao did, too.
Wu Yuqing, on the other hand, looked uninterested. She'd practiced martial arts with Wu Zhen as a child, but later decided it was too exhausting and difficult, so she gave up.
"Lin Fei, are you thinking of learning martial arts?"
"If I can, I'd really like to give it a try."
Lin Fei looked at Wu Zhen. He was the only martial artist Lin Fei had met so far.
If he could learn from Wu Zhen, he'd have some way to protect himself in Nanli City and wouldn't be bullied by a few lowlifes.
Wu Zhen continued, "Martial arts aren't something just anyone can learn. Plenty of people practice their whole lives and learn only a little, without even managing to get their foot in the door."
"To accomplish anything in martial arts, you need talent, perseverance, and understanding. I've practiced for so many years, and I've only reached the first realm, Bright Force."
"But I feel like I've already touched the threshold of Dark Force. As long as I can make my internal organs resonate, I'll reach the Dark Force realm and my strength will increase greatly."
Wu Zhen saw the disappointment on Lin Fei's face and realized that his words might have discouraged him.
"Lin Fei, if you really want to learn, I can teach you."
"Martial arts can strengthen your body. If you learn a few techniques as well, you'll be able to protect yourself a little if you run into danger."
Wu Zhen was in his fifties and had only reached Bright Force.
Lin Fei was already twenty-five. If it took him another twenty or thirty years to become as strong as Wu Zhen, he might as well forget it.
Zhou Wangdao spoke up then. "Why learn martial arts? This is a society governed by law, an age of guns and cannons. No matter how good you are, can you withstand bullets and artillery shells?"
"If you ask me, Lin Fei, since that old miracle doctor thinks so highly of you, you should focus on learning medicine and carrying on the legacy of traditional Chinese medicine. Especially the arts of alchemy and pill-making—you have to pass those down."
A single pill had restored Lin Fei, whose ribs had been broken, to perfect health.
A single pill had cured Wu Zhen's old injury of many years.
Zhou Wangdao yearned to learn the arts of alchemy and pill-making. He very much hoped to meet the old miracle doctor Lin Fei had mentioned.
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