Watching the imposing, burly man, Wang Li looked wary and said cautiously:
"Hello, sir. We just got here today."
The man, built like a bear, nodded.
"What are your names?"
Wang Li took the initiative to introduce everyone again. The man grunted and said:
"At least you've got some manners. I'll let it slide that you didn't come over and greet me first.
"You can call me Brother Yao. I'm in charge around here, so remember that."
He glanced over the four of them, then paused at the pile of empty green tubes beside Chen Chong and sneered.
"Were you starving to death in your past life? Even dogs won't eat that stuff, and you're wolfing it down."
Wang Li's expression shifted. He looked at Chen Chong and hurriedly signaled to him with his eyes.
But the student didn't fly off the handle like Wang Li had expected. He merely lowered his head in silence, his expression calm.
Wang Li relaxed and put on a sycophantic smile.
"Brother Yao, we only got here today, so we're not used to things yet. We were a little hungry."
Brother Yao grunted through his nose.
"I never eat that stuff."
He waved a hand.
"All right. I hope you'll follow the rules from now on."
Watching the group swagger off, Wang Li wiped his forehead.
"That guy must be the boss around here. Judging by how wary everyone is of him—why are you all looking at me like that? Your boy Brother Li has seen the world. You've got to know when to bend so you can stand tall!
"Damn it, if I hadn't just gotten here and wanted to humor him, I'd have..."
He paused, then lowered his voice.
"Good thing you kept your cool, Chen Chong. From the way they carried themselves, they're no worse than the Red Sticks in my old gang. They're probably about to reach that realm and become Official Fighters."
Chen Chong lowered his eyelids.
"No need to prove who's better right now."
Wang Li was stunned for a moment before replying:
"I know you went to No. 1 High School. What are you putting on airs for?"
He turned to Li Xiaoguang.
"I saw you almost get up just now. Chen Chong didn't lose his temper, so why were you so worked up?"
Li Xiaoguang snorted.
"His mouth stinks. We're all in this together, so I couldn't help it."
"Then how come you held back?"
Wang Li shot him a sidelong glance.
Li Xiaoguang's eyes darted around.
"Brother Li was giving him face, so I gave him face too."
The "Brother Li" made Wang Li pause again. Li Xiaoguang had clearly thought better of him after seeing how he'd handled things.
"You little..."
"But Brother Yao is strange."
Liu Hetao said earnestly:
"He said even dogs wouldn't eat Nutrient Paste, then he said he doesn't eat it either. What do you think he meant?"
The three of them stared at the earnest-looking Liu Hetao, then burst out laughing, drawing curious glances from those nearby.
For a moment, laughter filled a corner of the Small Building Cafeteria, and they forgot they were in the cruel Wasteland.
At night, Chen Chong returned to the room assigned to him, a cramped single room on the third floor.
He took the Nutrient Paste from his pockets and lined the tubes up on the table, then closed his eyes and recalled what he'd learned.
Fifteen minutes later, he opened his eyes, tore open the first tube of Nutrient Paste, and began practicing the Breathing Method, followed by the Combat Drill.
Silver moonlight spilled through the cramped transom window onto the table. The tubes of Nutrient Paste grew fewer and fewer.
"Breakfast has already been claimed?"
Chen Chong frowned at the woman serving food.
She jerked her chin toward the far end of the cafeteria.
Chen Chong turned around and saw Brother Yao's group gathered around a table, laughing loudly. There were clearly more buns on it than their share.
I never eat that stuff.
Chen Chong slowly turned back, returned his tray to the collection area, and picked up a few tubes of Nutrient Paste from the window beside it.
Li Xiaoguang and the other two arrived at the cafeteria one after another and went through the exact same thing.
The four sat in a corner, frowning.
"I asked around. That guy's called Zhang Yao. He really is one of the strongest here, and there've been rumors lately that he's about to break through. The people in charge are planning to offer him a Contracted Fighter's deal. Most importantly... his sister is Zhou Hu's woman. So nobody in this building dares mess with him."
Wang Li spoke in a low voice.
The others immediately understood.
Zhou Hu was the Tiger in Dragon Tiger Leopard, Thunder Dragon's second-in-command and chief enforcer. He was mainly in charge of the bar and the fighting ring.
Li Xiaoguang spat and sighed.
"Looks like we're stuck eating Nutrient Paste."
Wang Li groaned.
"If we have to gnaw on toothpaste every day, I'm going to get depressed."
Liu Hetao scratched his head.
"Hey, at least we can fill our stomachs, right?"
Wang Li watched Chen Chong earnestly chewing Nutrient Paste and clicked his tongue.
"Chen Chong, how do you make that stuff feel like a gourmet feast?"
Chen Chong looked at the 88% before him.
"If we don't eat enough, we can't train. If we don't train well, we'll be in danger ten days from now."
The three fell silent, then quietly picked up their Nutrient Paste.
In the distance, Zhang Yao glanced over. Seeing a table full of empty green tubes, he mocked them.
"What a bunch of pigs."
"Brother Yao, with your status, you can eat whatever you want in the cafeteria. Why bother taking their share?"
A somewhat dim-witted young man asked.
The burly man beside him smacked him on the head and scolded him.
"Idiot! If you don't put the newcomers in their place, how will they know who's boss around here?"
"Oh, right. That makes sense. Brother Yao, you're brilliant!"
Zhang Yao smiled, then took another bun in his mouth. Looking at the large platter of meat buns, smoked meat, and other food left over, he shook his head.
"I can't eat any more. Throw it out."
Yu Feng had scheduled class for nine, but Chen Chong and the others had already gone downstairs to train on their own.
The thought of what awaited Warm-up Fighters weighed on their hearts like a mountain.
They practiced the Combat Drill against the iron frames. They still couldn't make the terrifying racket Yu Feng did, but they gritted their teeth and threw themselves against the iron posts with all their might.
The pain seemed to strengthen their bodies bit by bit, giving them a little reassurance.
As nine o'clock approached, they began resting and getting ready for class.
Chen Chong and Li Xiaoguang exchanged a look and nodded in silent understanding.
They could both tell the other had trained extra the night before.
"Once we've gotten the hang of it in a couple of days, want to spar?"
Li Xiaoguang asked eagerly.
Chen Chong nodded.
"Sure."
Li Xiaoguang immediately broke into a bright smile.
Yu Feng arrived at the Training Room right on time.
This was his private classroom, a quiet place. The Fighters upstairs had a communal Training Room on the other side.
"Today, we'll go over a few applications of the Breathing Method..."
The day passed quickly.
Chen Chong's progress once again left a deep impression on Yu Feng.
But the more outstanding Chen Chong was, the more Yu Feng regretted it.
Chen Chong was quite pleased with his own progress, too.
He had become fairly Proficient in the Breathing Method, and Yu Feng hadn't found any major flaws.
He still couldn't use it in actual combat, but if he kept practicing, that was only a matter of time.
And although he practiced the Breathing Method for less than an hour in front of others, he could secretly train for two or three hours a day with his Food Healing ability.
He was also gradually getting the hang of the Combat Drill. His movements looked much more convincing than the day before, and he should be ready for practical training within three days.
Both skills were improving rapidly, and naturally, their combined effect was also raising Chen Chong's "realm."
It was as if his bones were gradually changing, growing sturdier, while his body was getting stronger—and that wasn't all.
His overall physical fitness had improved: his speed, reflexes, and resistance to blows had all gotten better.
The other improvements were hard to quantify, but strength was easier to measure. By his own estimate, his punching power had now passed 100 kilograms. But he didn't want to leave a record on the Training Room's testing machine, so he hadn't checked the exact figure.
And this was only the second day.
The effects of the Breathing Method were clear to see.
Of course, the other three weren't getting results like his, because Chen Chong had talents beyond the Breathing Method.
During the day, he deliberately kept his appetite in check. He didn't want that talent's progress to increase too quickly.
He was saving it for the night.
At night, in the dormitory.
"98%."
Looking at the number before him, Chen Chong felt his emotions stir.
He slowly took the Nutrient Paste from his pockets and laid the tubes out on the table one by one.
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