An attempt

The next day.

Lakeside Center, Restaurant.

Shen Heng walked along the food counter carrying a tray.

The tray now held a Old Gao stack of pork chops, five steamed buns, and a small bowl of pickled vegetables.

The body's daily energy needs are mainly met by meat chops and steamed buns, while pickled vegetables are used for seasoning to prevent the food from becoming too bland.

Shen Heng took a few more boiled eggs and then walked towards the end of the food counter.

Behind the food counter, a chubby chef dressed in a chef's uniform smiled when he saw Shen Heng approaching.

What do you want?

"A bowl of soy milk, please!" Shen Heng replied casually.

The portly chef, without finishing making the soy milk, asked with a smile, "Have you had your soy juice yet?"

"No!" Shen Heng shook his head.

"Then I'll have a bowl!" the chubby chef recommended with a smile.

"No need!" Shen Heng shook his head and refused.

"Hey, you haven't even tried douzhi (fermented mung bean juice)? How can you say you've been to Capital if you go back like this!" the fat chef laughed.

Shen Heng paused slightly upon hearing this, his gaze sweeping over the thermos containing the soy milk. After a moment's hesitation, he said:

"Then I'll have a bowl!"

Seeing that he had successfully sold the product, the chubby chef's smile widened even more, and he quickly poured a bowl of soy milk and handed it over.

"Here you are!"

"Thanks!"

Shen Heng accepted the soy milk and then walked towards the dining area under the smiling gaze of the chubby chef.

"Hey, I just convinced another person to drink soy milk. Guess what he'll do next...?"

Behind him, he could hear the chubby chef whispering gleefully as he discussed something with someone.

Shen Heng, somewhat speechless, found an empty seat and sat down.

He then looked down at the light gray soy milk on the tray.

Because of his personal habits, he usually likes to take a sip of soup first when eating, but this...

Shen Heng hesitated for a moment when he looked at the soy milk that smelled faintly sour, but still picked it up.

He took a small sip.

Hmm, it does look a bit like swill...

However, for him, it wasn't to the point where he couldn't drink anymore.

Shen Heng put down the bowl and then began to eat his breakfast with the soy milk.

A puzzled voice drifted from the dining table.

When Shen Heng was halfway through his meal, a figure suddenly sat down opposite him with a breakfast in hand.

Shen Heng looked up with some confusion.

The newcomer had half-white hair and beard, but a ruddy complexion. His long hair was casually held in place with a hairpin. It was none other than Li Daoyi, whom I had met just yesterday.

"Good morning, Daoist Master!" Shen Heng greeted Li Daoyi.

"Hmm, have you eaten?" Li Daoyi asked casually.

Uh, this... what kind of question is this?... Shen Heng's lips twitched slightly, and he could only reply:

"Eating!"

Li Daoyi chuckled and said, "Speaking of which, it's not even seven o'clock yet, you're up pretty early, kid!"

"It's at a normal time, right? Did you need something from me, Daoist Master?" Shen Heng asked.

"What? Can't I talk to you for no reason?" Li Daoyi retorted.

Shen Heng chuckled softly but did not reply.

The two had only met for the first time yesterday, and he didn't believe the other party would come looking for him for no reason.

Seeing that Shen Heng didn't reply, Li Daoyi clicked his tongue twice in boredom.

"Fine, fine, I just came to ask you, kid, how did you pick up that kid yesterday morning!"

Yesterday morning, that kid, that somewhat bookish Fang Ran?... Shen Heng quickly recalled and replied:

"By strengthening my lower arm with Origin Power, I can catch it!"

"Use Origin Power to strengthen the arm?" Li Daoyi looked at Shen Heng carefully. "Isn't it because of the ability?"

"No!" Shen Heng shook his head.

Li Daoyi nodded and continued, "But you probably didn't have time to strengthen your arm with Origin Power back then, right?"

Shen Heng looked up at Li Daoyi sitting opposite him, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

"Yes, it's too late!"

Upon hearing this Li Daoyi immediately became interested.

"Oh? How did you do that?"

"What kind of technique is it? I don't remember seeing a similar technique in Martial World Easy Exchange!"

"Could it be a newly developed technique that hasn't been evaluated yet?"

Shen Heng didn't reply; he looked up and met Li Daoyi's gaze.

The two stared at each other silently for a while.

Li Daoyi said irritably:

"Hey, you're still hiding things from me? What, are you afraid I'll covet your skills?"

Shen Heng nodded without hesitation.

"You..." Li Daoyi's eyes widened as he glared angrily at Shen Heng.

However, Shen Heng did not answer, but calmly looked back at him.

The two stared at each other for a while longer.

Li Daoyi suddenly laughed and said:

"Then I swear, if I'm lying to you, may our Clear Wind Temple's founder appear in my dream tonight and curse me!"

"I don't believe that!" Shen Heng waved his hand.

"Hey, don't go too far! This is already a very serious matter for us!" Li Daoyi said angrily.

Shen Heng didn't care. Although the other party's words sounded angry, the tone he heard didn't contain a trace of anger.

He turned his head and looked around, then pointed to a spot.

"You swear to this!"

Li Daoyi looked in the direction Shen Heng was pointing and saw the flashing red light on the surveillance camera. He couldn't help but twitch his lips twice.

"Alright, since you've said so, then I'll swear on it!" Li Daoyi smile.

He turned to face the monitor and said:

"I, Li Daoyi, am here today..."

After a pause, Li Daoyi turned to look at Shen Heng.

"By the way, kid, what's your name again?"

"Shen Heng!"

Li Daoyi turned his head back to look at the monitor.

"I, Li Daoyi, am here today to ask Shen Heng for a technique. If I were to lie about my technique, then..."

"Alright, that's enough!" Shen Heng interrupted.

"Is that enough?" Li Daoyi looked over with some doubt.

"Yes, if it's useful, that's enough. If it's useless, saying more won't help!" Shen Heng nodded.

"Hey, you're pretty realistic, aren't you!" Li Daoyi chuckled.

Shen Heng shook his head and did not reply.

"Can we talk about it now?" Li Daoyi asked again.

Shen Heng nodded, but he didn't say anything. Instead, he leaned over with his arm across his body.

"Touch it!"

Li Daoyi took three steps back with a "whoosh".

"Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable! Young friend, let me make this clear first. Although our Clear Wind Temple does not prohibit marriage leave, I, this old Daoist, am a devout follower of the precepts and have no intention of getting married, much less any homosexual desires!"

"I'm just letting you experience 'flow'!" Shen Heng's face darkened, and he gritted his teeth.

"Flow?" Li Daoyi confusion.

"Yes, that's the name I gave to that technique!" Shen Heng nodded.

"Oh, I see. You should have explained it earlier!" Li Daoyi sudden realization.

Who knew you had such outrageous ideas? Shouldn't normal Daoist priests be enlightened and have purified their minds?... Shen Heng silently complained to himself.

Li Daoyi his eyes and glanced at Shen Heng.

Then, with a smile on his face, he raised his hand and placed it on Shen Heng's arm.