"Lightning Pulse Step?"
Li Jinshui's eyelid twitched. This martial technique was famous.
The delivery riders he'd seen before had all practiced this thing. They strapped external batteries to their legs, and when they ran, sparks flew everywhere. It really was more than twice as fast as his Basic Lightness Skill.
But Rong City News often reported on delivery riders' batteries exploding. People online were all calling it "Lightning Explosion Step" now!
With my status and standing today, Li Jinshui, I still have to practice this lousy thing? Bah, even a dog wouldn't practice it.
And they claimed it was comparable to an Eighth-Grade technique? Wasn't it still Ninth-Grade?
"Is this taught for free?" Li Jinshui asked with an odd expression.
"Right, the lessons are free, but you have to pay for an official registration code," Huang Lichen replied calmly.
"Then I'm not learning it." Li Jinshui rolled his eyes without hesitation.
He might as well spend that money on some other Ninth-Grade lightness skill. It wouldn't be as fast, but at least it'd be safe.
"Relax. Ordinary delivery riders have to pay to learn it, of course. They sign installment loan agreements with their companies, use it first, then pay it off later. But our Youth Training Camp is different. As long as you become a Single King Seed this year, we'll give you the official registration code for free."
"Free?"
Li Jinshui shook his head again and again. "Free is even scarier. All the more reason not to practice it. I'd rather save up and buy some other Ninth-Grade lightness skill."
"Look at you, falling back on your prejudices again."
Huang Lichen smiled and gestured at Li Jinshui a few times, then continued, "People outside still misunderstand this martial technique badly. But among Ninth-Grade techniques, it ranks first in speed, and its leg strikes are fierce, too. Its explosive power is no weaker than the Ninth-Grade Great Vajra Leg. It was originally good enough to be classified as Eighth-Grade; it was only relegated to Ninth-Grade because it needs a battery to charge it!"
"Yeah, yeah, and the batteries explode too. I get it." Li Jinshui nodded perfunctorily.
"You don't need to worry about that at all. The batteries that meet the New National Standard are very stable now, and explosions are extremely rare. Besides, Daqing Insurance won't let delivery riders buy insurance, but you can insure a New National Standard battery. If it really does explode, just file a claim with Daqing Insurance. The payout will definitely cover your treatment."
Huang Lichen spread his hands. "And you have to learn it whether you like it or not. If you want to make something of yourself in this line of work, you'll never outrun the competition without it. Your Qi-Blood and stamina won't be enough to keep you running all day, either. Unless you drive to deliver food, I suppose. Then we'll see whether your car is faster or their Lightning Explo—cough, Lightning Pulse Step!"
Li Jinshui fell silent. On the highway, a high-performance car might indeed beat his lightness skill. But in the city, especially in areas full of narrow streets and alleys, his Basic Lightness Skill could easily beat those drivers—let alone the Lightning Pulse Step, which was famous for its speed.
"Commander Huang, since you think so highly of me, how about lending me a million or so out of your own pocket? I'll buy a Seventh-Grade lightness skill and pay you back with my delivery earnings." Li Jinshui persisted, probing hopefully.
"Tsk. Young man, don't reach too far beyond your grasp. Even if you really managed to learn a Seventh-Grade lightness skill, your meager Qi-Blood wouldn't hold up against the strain. You'd be flat on your back after ten minutes at most." Huang Lichen spoke earnestly. "The most important secret to delivering food is low energy consumption and high speed. Lightning Pulse Step is a perfect fit, and you can practice your martial technique while making deliveries. You're training on the clock and improving every moment. Isn't that great?"
"Li Jinshui, I'll let you in on a secret."
Ye Mei, who'd been silent beside them, spoke up. "The company has a Sixth-Grade lightness skill called Aurora Pulse Step. If you master Lightning Pulse Step, the cost of redeeming Aurora Pulse Step will be cut in half, and you'll be able to practice it twice as fast."
What? There was a deal that good?
Li Jinshui's eyes immediately lit up.
Why didn't you say so earlier? Who wouldn't learn it after hearing that?
Who said Lightning Pulse Step was bad? It was fantastic!
"I'll learn it. I absolutely have to. I love taking on thrilling challenges like this!" Li Jinshui promptly changed his tune and declared with righteous conviction.
"Good. Now that's the makings of a Single King!" Huang Lichen nodded in satisfaction with a chuckle.
Over the next few days, Li Jinshui continued to take it easy.
The Youth Training Camp students' ID cards only activated the elevators for floors 49 through 53. Li Jinshui had wandered around all of them, familiarizing himself with the place.
He'd also found time to book a training room on the 52nd floor and use up the Supplement Potion he'd had left over.
Praise Datang Pharmaceuticals!
Not only was the stuff effective, it lasted a remarkably long time.
Just nine-tenths of a dose had boosted his Basic Lightness Skill from beginner to proficient, bringing it close to minor mastery.
[Basic Lightness Skill (Proficient 60/100)]
Even though he was only forty proficiency points away from minor mastery, Li Jinshui began to worry as he looked at the panel.
After his Stake Standing reached minor mastery, the D-Grade Supplement Potion had stopped working. The same would probably happen with martial techniques.
Once he received the D-Grade Potion issued each week, it might not improve him much.
The best option was obviously to sell it on the Doudou Secondhand app and use the money to buy a C-Grade Potion. But if Huang Lichen and the others found out, it'd be hard to explain.
"A C-Grade Supplement Potion costs eighty thousand, exactly the same as four D-Grade Potions. If I asked them to change my allocation to one C-Grade Potion a month..."
As soon as the thought occurred to him, Li Jinshui shook his head and dismissed it.
That still wouldn't make sense. He couldn't explain it, and it might attract suspicion and unwanted attention.
After all, only First-rate Martial Artists or better needed to use C-Grade Supplement Potions.
He was only a Third-Rate Martial Artist. What the hell would he do with a C-Grade Potion?
"Forget it. I'll wait until I get my first D-Grade Potion, then grind Basic Lightness Skill to minor mastery. After that, I'll see if I can get my hands on a copy of Basic Fist Technique to practice. I'm this handsome. There's no reason I can't charm Supervisor Ye."
Standing in front of the bedroom's full-length mirror, Li Jinshui tousled his hair and smoothed the golden "A" embroidered on the chest of his training uniform. Then he turned and walked out.
Today was the first day of the month. It was time to start official training.
Training was held on the 52nd floor. The entire floor looked unusually empty and quiet. From that moment on, it had been sealed off, and only this year's Youth Training Camp students and instructors were allowed in.
It wasn't until Li Jinshui entered Training Hall One that he noticed more than thirty young men and women standing in neat formation in the center of the hall.
The entire group was quiet, and the atmosphere felt heavy.
At the very front, Huang Lichen had also changed into a training uniform. With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood facing away from everyone.
"Ten years ago, Flash Group Delivery opened a new branch on Yangliu Street in Shuangliu District, Rong City. My brothers and I were assigned there, full of ambition."
Huang Lichen suddenly spoke, his voice low and solemn as it echoed through the empty hall. "Who knew that less than half a month after we opened, the neighborhood security guards would block us from entering the gates an average of nine times a day, and the Drifter Gang would rob us of eighteen deliveries a day? Six of my brothers died within a month!"
"May the Great Ming King protect us!"
He clasped his hands and prayed toward the heavens, then spun around and looked straight at everyone present. "A fortune-teller once said I was destined to become a general at the cost of countless lives! But I don't believe that. I believe that when you go out to deliver food, whether you live or die is up to you! You've spent the least time in the Youth Training Camp, and your records are the cleanest. You get to choose which path to take."
"Whoosh!"
As soon as he finished speaking, at least half the students stepped forward with stern expressions and bent to pick up the stainless-steel thermoses on the floor.
"Good!"
Huang Lichen smiled in satisfaction and picked up a thermos too. Raising it high above his head, he called out, "I wish you all smooth sailing in the Security Squad! Cheers, future security team leaders and property managers!"
"Cheers!"
More than ten students raised their thermoses in unison and gulped down their drinks.
"Hiss!"
Standing by the doorway, Li Jinshui watched the scene and drew a sharp breath.
Good grief, were they sending half the students to infiltrate the Security Company?
Then, by the same logic, had the Security Company also sent spies into the company's building?
"All right, the rest of you, go wait for me in Training Hall Two. Everyone else, get back into formation."
Huang Lichen waved to dismiss the undercover team for the time being, then glanced toward the entrance. "Li Jinshui, come over here. Starting today, you're the class monitor. Lead the group in reciting Lightning Pulse Step twenty times. We'll continue the lesson when I get back."