The Fatty's Ambition

"What... what?" The fat man suddenly stammered. He was sure he wasn't going crazy and hadn't misheard.

Under the fat man's gaze, Mu Fan repeated himself with perfect seriousness. "That move. I should be able to do it too."

With that, Mu Fan stood up and walked toward the Training Field under the fat man's awestruck stare.

He stopped. His body stood like a wooden post. He lifted his right leg, then abruptly set it down. His left leg shot forward in a lightning-fast step. Then his entire body twisted sideways in a way that defied the laws of physics. As his waist bent at an almost unnatural angle, his right leg sliced through the air like lightning tearing through the Night Sky. Before the afterimage had even faded, the fat man felt the ground shake—like the heavy stomp of an ancient mammoth. By the time the shockwave reached his brain, he was still staring slack-jawed at the shattered wooden post, his chin yet to close.

After a brief silence, "Ah!!~~ Master, take me as your disciple!!" The fat man erupted with strength completely disproportionate to his body, launching himself off the ground like a Cannonball toward Mu Fan. Just as Mu Fan was debating whether to stop the fat man's charge with his palm or his foot, the fat man dropped to his knees two meters away, slid forward like a collapsing pillar, and wrapped his arms around Mu Fan's leg. He craned his neck and howled.

"This can't be real. I actually saw that move from the video in person! Big Brother! Take me as your disciple!" The fat man, who had never encountered violence in his life, saw that move materialize right before his eyes. If he hadn't confirmed that this kid had just been watching the Sky Communicator with him, he'd have thought he was Dark Right Foot himself.

I've run into a master today. I need to make a good impression. The fat man had no time for anything else. He clung to Mu Fan's thigh, completely ignoring the twitching muscles on Mu Fan's face.

He still owes me 500 Star Coins in tips... He still owes me 500 Star Coins in tips... Mu Fan struggled to control himself from kicking this kneeling fat man away, silently repeating the most enticing number in his mind.

"Master, take me as your disciple!" This time, the fat man didn't howl.

When he saw Mu Fan's cold gaze fixed on his hands clutching his leg, the fat man instinctively let go. But just as Mu Fan was about to pull his foot back, the fat man grabbed his pant leg again, as if letting go would make him fly away.

"Why do you say that?" Mu Fan didn't realize how much his action had shocked this well-traveled fat man.

Bro, do you seriously not know that move is something a human can do? Keep pretending, and I'll believe you when pigs fly. The fat man grumbled inwardly while putting on a fawning look. "That move? I've never seen anyone pull it off. Master, take me as your disciple. I'll do whatever you say."

"Not interested." Mu Fan gently pulled his leg free.

"Master, god!! Take me as your disciple. I can endure hardship." Seeing Mu Fan's calm, aloof demeanor, the fat man panicked, afraid the master would walk away dissatisfied.

"Let's hit the PO Battle Network together. We'll definitely make a name for ourselves." Seeing Mu Fan still uninterested, the fat man grew desperate and wailed, "Teacher, teacher, take me as your disciple! I'll give up my allowance. I'll offer it all to you as tuition!"

Mu Fan's ears perked up. "Tuition? You still owe me 500 in tips. Don't think you can weasel out of it." He thought this scheming fat man was trying to pass off his tip as tuition and got a little angry.

"I'll pay, I'll pay. Tuition is extra."

"How much?" Mu Fan's reaction was unusually sharp. Then he rubbed his nose awkwardly. "But I don't have anything to teach you. I don't actually know those moves. I just copied them from that video." Mu Fan was always honest. Even though the tuition sounded tempting, he told the fat man the truth.

"No problem, no problem! I don't want to learn that move. Even if you taught me, I couldn't learn it." The fat man shook his head like a rattle-drum. He hadn't even considered that.

"Master, no, god-teacher, play PO Battle Network with me." The fat man looked at Mu Fan sincerely. Under the master's training, in a few days, he'd definitely make everyone in class drop their jaws. Let them keep laughing at me, he thought, already scheming.

"But... I don't know how to play PO Battle Network." Mu Fan was even more confused.

"No problem, I'll teach you!"

"But I don't have tuition."

"I'll give you tuition. God-teacher, just hang out with me." The fat man answered twice in a row. He could tell—this was definitely a hidden master he'd stumbled upon by luck. He had to cling to this leg. This kind of opportunity was a godsend. Thank Dad, thank Uncle Wu.

"Uh, forget it." Mu Fan hesitated but refused. His top priority was making money. He didn't have time for anything else.

"What's wrong, god!" The fat man was on the verge of tears. His chance to break through the Silver 1 Star Natural Barrier in mecha combat was right in front of him, in this silent master.

"I still need to work to earn money. I'm pretty satisfied with this job." Mu Fan thought of the free Nutritional Meals in the cafeteria and felt quite content.

"How much do you make a day?" The fat man stood up and asked.

"500 Star Coins, and I keep all tips." Mu Fan answered honestly.

"Master, I'll come here every day for the next half month. I'll go apply for an Advanced VIP and designate you as my sparring partner. I'll pay an extra 1000 Star Coins in tips daily. You come with me to the PO Battle Network. Deal?" The fat man thought briefly and then spoke to Mu Fan with rare formality.

"Deal." Mu Fan agreed without hesitation. Money like that was free for the taking.

"I'll bring a light brain tomorrow. A gift for you. An Apprenticeship Gift." The fat man knew Mu Fan's situation and offered proactively.

"No need. I'll buy my own." Mu Fan wouldn't accept gifts for no reason.

"Don't rush to refuse. You can pay me back when you have money. You'll need it to enter the PO Battle Network. You can log in from home with it too." The fat man had thought it through thoroughly.

"Then... fine. Forget the tips. Consider it me paying you back. Whatever the light brain costs, I'll make up the difference later." Mu Fan hesitated, then said firmly.

"No need... fine. Pay me when you have money." The fat man started to say "no need" but stopped when he saw the determination in Mu Fan's eyes.

A guy who can pull off a Diamond 5-Star Combat Expert's move—could he be ordinary? Fat Bro here has an eye for talent, heh heh. This is my secret weapon. In half a month, I'll make all of you drop your jaws. Keep laughing at Bro for being fat, keep mocking my "Lemon Balloon." This time, Bro has backup. Just wait.

"And, my name is Mu Fan. Don't call me anything else." Mu Fan couldn't read minds, but his natural sensitivity let him see the sincerity in the fat man's eyes. This fat man didn't have that annoying rich-kid attitude, no condescending gaze, no mocking or contemptuous looks when he saw him.

Our Young Master Harry was a bit stunned when Mu Fan said that to him. Because of his weight, he'd always been a little insecure, mostly immersed in the virtual world, his social circle shrinking until he was practically a shut-in. But now, a surge of emotion rose in his eyes. "I... my name is Harry. Master... no, Mu Fan. Hello."

The fat man nervously extended his right hand...

Mu Fan lightly punched his palm.

The two youths froze in that moment. A wild ambition sprouted in the fat man's heart—for the future... or for friendship... or perhaps for a dream!