Training Until His Body Took the Shape of a Tiger (Please Follow)

"Section Chief Guo, you're too polite."

Jiang Shu extended one hand, his voice calm.

"Oh, we're not at the office or discussing work. Why call me by my title? From now on, just call me Brother Guo. Whatever you need, if Brother Guo can handle it, I'll help you with it."

Section Chief Guo waved his hand, his face piled high with smiles. While sitting in the private room, he had seen all too clearly just how highly Director Zheng regarded this beardless young man before him.

For a busy man like Director Zheng, even as a section chief himself, it was difficult for him to get a meeting.

If he could not see the man or cling to his thigh, how was he supposed to rise step by step?

So, if he wanted to advance, he had to save the country by taking a roundabout route.

The moment Director Zheng left, he had waited in the lobby.

Heaven did not disappoint those with a will.

He had built a good relationship with this student Jiang Shu.

Wouldn't that mean he had indirectly gotten in touch with Director Zheng?

Director Guo chuckled, utterly unconcerned with the shock his actions had caused in the eyes of the Jiang Family.

No one had expected that the leader of Jiang Hongfei—the section chief they considered to be doing exceptionally well among ordinary people—would actually clasp Jiang Shu's hand with both of his!

In official circles, extending both hands for a handshake was a sign of respect for the other party!

Provided Section Chief Guo had not shaken the wrong person's hand.

That meant Jiang Shu possessed an identity they still knew nothing about!

The Jiang Family all watched the scene before them, their eyes occasionally darting toward Jiang Hongfei.

No one was a fool.

By this point, they could more or less figure it out: Jiang Hongfei definitely knew something, but he had simply kept it to himself all along.

"This is my business card. Brother Jiang, contact me anytime if you need anything. It's getting late, so I won't disturb your family gathering any longer."

Section Chief Guo knew when to stop while he was ahead and left with a smile.

His figure receded into the distance.

Yet the atmosphere around the Jiang Family was as gloomy as an overcast sky.

Jiang Xiangrong remained silent.

Jiang Yongren could not say a single word.

The words he had used to lecture Jiang Shu earlier seemed to have turned into slaps, striking viciously across his face one after another.

The son he had always bragged about, saying he was deeply favored and valued by his leaders—

Did not even have the chance to speak with Section Chief Guo.

Yet his nephew Jiang Shu, whom he had always thought was nothing special, could converse with Section Chief Guo as an equal.

Jiang Shu... why did he deserve that?

"Dad, Mom, I've called a car. Let's go."

Everyone was silent.

But Jiang Shu spoke up.

He knew the Jiang Family was waiting for his explanation.

But why should he explain?

Should he explain that Section Chief Guo treated him with such courtesy because he knew Director Zheng?

Or explain that he had already attained the Whole Body Qi and Blood Great Circulation, and could become a martial artist in the future?

They would not understand.

In their eyes, there would only ever be power and money.

They did not know that in this world, the fist was power!

When Xuanxing underwent its great upheaval, when the Xia Kingdom revealed all the information to the public—

They would naturally understand what Martial Dao represented.

Jicheng.

Xishan Kaiyuan Hotel.

"Ah, Jiang Shu, I'm dead."

Ye Zhenzhen could not help crying out. She glanced at Jiang Shu, who was still holding his stance beside her, rubbed her somewhat weak legs, and even her voice turned soft as she said, "No more standing, no more standing. Let's rest for a while."

After three days together, she had more or less figured out what kind of person Jiang Shu was.

She had initially thought that, like other men, he was playing some game of feigning indifference to make her pursue him.

Who would have thought that he was truly single-mindedly devoted to Martial Dao, caring about nothing else?

Every day at exactly eight o'clock, he arrived at the hotel to teach her stance training.

If she was willing, she would stand with him. If she was unwilling, he would stand by himself.

Other than meals and brief breaks in between—

He spent eight hours a day standing in the Horse Stance. He did not so much as glance sideways!

For the first two days, she had wondered whether she had not acclimated after coming to Jicheng recently, causing her complexion to worsen.

But after looking in the mirror, there was absolutely nothing wrong!

There was nothing wrong with her.

Then the problem could only lie with Jiang Shu.

They were already in their senior year of high school. Surely he had not yet awakened?

Unable to stop herself from glancing over Jiang Shu's entire body, Ye Zhenzhen silently wondered, then could not help asking again, "College is coming soon. Jiang Shu, aren't you planning to find a girlfriend?"

"Not planning to."

Jiang Shu held the Horse Stance. Feeling the proficiency of his Horse Stance ticking upward on the Panel, his heart filled with indescribable joy.

What could compare to an increase in strength?

Unfortunately, once the Horse Stance reached perfection, Xuanxing's martial arts would temporarily come to an end.

He needed to learn the Guidance Technique before he could comprehend Ming Jin.

He wondered what difference there was between Ming Jin and the force in Hungry Tiger Howling Mountain Force.

Were the martial arts of the two worlds different paths leading to the same destination, or two entirely separate roads?

Perhaps he would only learn a thing or two once he had begun Hungry Tiger Howling Mountain Force and the Guidance Technique.

Jiang Shu pondered inwardly, while his Horse Stance grew increasingly steady.

For him now, practicing martial arts was the same anywhere.

He had come here to teach Ye Zhenzhen the Horse Stance. If she could practice, then she could practice. She merely needed to be able to assume the posture, since the Martial Arts Promotional Video was only for publicity anyway.

No one would take it seriously.

Jiang Shu's answer had been casual.

But Ye Zhenzhen's question had been anything but casual.

Could he... be gay?

Looking at Jiang Shu, whose hair was already noticeably longer than that of boys his age, Ye Zhenzhen tilted her head, thought for a moment, and continued, "Jiang Shu, I once heard some Taoist priest say that those with spiritual attainment gather qi. Since it's still early today, how about we go up the mountain and take a look?"

"Either is fine."

Having found the hotel suite somewhat stifling already, Jiang Shu naturally agreed at once.

Xishan Kaiyuan Hotel.

Was located at the foot of the Jicheng Mountains.

It stood in a secluded place with fresh air.

That was precisely why Ye Zhenzhen had chosen to stay there temporarily.

Before long, the two left the hotel and climbed the mountain along the stone steps.

The bamboo grove was dense, and birdsong made the mountain all the more tranquil.

The fresh scent of earth rode the breeze into Jiang Shu's nostrils.

Jiang Shu took a gentle breath, stopped in an open space, and said, "This is far enough. The view here is open, making it ideal for martial arts practice. As I told you on the first day, the Horse Stance is about suspending the crown as though from above, opening both form and spirit. Come, hold a stance here."

Even a stroll up the mountain means practicing martial arts... what a disaster!

She thought it but did not dare say it aloud.

Ye Zhenzhen looked utterly lifeless. By now, she was basically ninety percent certain that Jiang Shu was gay. Any normal man, upon meeting a huge star like her, would at least chat a little and try to grow closer, right?

At the hotel, he always said her manager might come in from time to time, so it was inconvenient to talk much.

But now, there were only the two of them, deep in such a secluded mountain.

This terrain.

This atmosphere.

And the first thing he said was actually to make her practice martial arts?

She was convinced.

Ye Zhenzhen was truly convinced. She steadied her breathing and assumed a Horse Stance beside Jiang Shu.

However, just as she had fully settled into position, a rustling sound suddenly came from the grass beside her.

She instinctively lowered her head to look.

In the sparse grass lay a grayish-brown viper as thick as an arm. Its body was coiled, its triangular head raised high, its tongue flickering at her!

Had the Horse Stance she had just settled into not still given her a bit of structure, that one glance alone would have been enough to make her collapse limply to the ground!

"J-Jiang Shu... th-there's... there's a snake..."

Ye Zhenzhen stammered. Her voice was very soft, and she did not dare move in the slightest, afraid of drawing the viper's attention.

"Don't move."

Jiang Shu, who stood beside her, instantly transformed from the Horse Stance into the Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance.

With the Hungry Tiger Sitting Cave Stance and Hungry Tiger Breathing Method at major mastery—

In the space of a single breath, Jiang Shu gathered his entire aura. The Tiger Form Three Styles, at major mastery, could be unleashed at any moment!

His gaze remained fixed on the viper in the grass.

"Good. Now move toward me, little by little."

Jiang Shu's voice at her side held an indescribable steadiness.

But no matter how steady he sounded, she was facing a venomous viper!

Ye Zhenzhen closed her eyes, gritted her teeth. Right now, she could only choose to trust Jiang Shu.

Forget it, forget it. I'll risk it!

If it really bites me, then at worst I'll spend a few months in the hospital!

With a ruthless resolve in her heart, Ye Zhenzhen took a step toward Jiang Shu.

Yet just as she took that step, the viper in the grass shot out like a spring had been fitted inside it.

Its forked tongue flicked out, and a fishy stench seemed to rush into her face!

Ye Zhenzhen froze stupidly in place.

For a moment, she had no idea what to do.

Then she heard what seemed to be the wind of a fist rising behind her.

Tiger Form Three Styles.

Pounce!

Jiang Shu lunged forward, throwing a punch that slammed into the viper in midair.

Then he spun and kicked.

Shear!

His flying kick struck the viper with its toe, driving it straight into the nearest large tree!

Bang!

Countless leaves rained down.

In that instant—

The arm-thick viper was kicked cleanly in half at the waist by Jiang Shu's tremendous force!

Only its two severed halves remained, writhing and twitching ceaselessly on the ground.

Jiang Shu yanked the still-dazed Ye Zhenzhen behind him, stepped forward, and planted his foot on the viper's head as it tried to attack again.

He ground down hard, blood flowing everywhere.

Without turning back, he said softly:

"It's all right now."