"I saw someone at school, named Tang Fei, using his ’Useless Heart’ technique... This technique is unique to him."
"Useless Heart? Didn’t he make that technique public? There are quite a few Lu Family members who know it...."
"Instead of asking who Tang Fei is, you’re trying hard to explain that many people know the technique...." Lu Siyu chuckled coldly.
"Si Yu, why don’t you believe what Uncle said? I can deceive others, but can I also deceive you?" Lu Zhiyong said with a pained smile on his face.
Lu Siyu gave him a cold glance and then turned to leave.
Once Lu Siyu was a good distance away, Lu Zhiyong spoke, "Really not going to see her?"
An old man appeared silently behind him, his eyes greedily and sadly fixed on the tightly closed iron door, as if he could still make out some lingering figure.
If Tang Fei and Little Fatty saw him, they would undoubtedly cry out in surprise.
This was the man they mistook for still being in the Old Land, their godfather.
"Not seeing." The old man shook his head and said solemnly, "What would it change if I saw her? The hate would still remain."
"She came to ask about you; it shows she still cares about you," Lu Zhiyong said, trying to comfort him. "When you left without saying goodbye, suddenly disappearing, how old was Si Yu?... It’s understandable that she would be angry."
"I understand, I don’t blame her at all. I’m the one at fault; I owe her too much."
"Let’s focus on more pressing matters first." The old man interrupted Lu Zhiyong’s words and said, "I can’t reveal myself at this time."
"But Si Yu is already growing suspicious," Lu Zhiyong said. "If she sets her sights on Tang Fei, what will you do? Exposure seems to be a matter of sooner or later."
"If I’m not mistaken, she’s already caught Tang Fei’s attention... She doesn’t know how to hide her emotions, and that boy must have sensed something," the old man frowned deeply. "Knowing him, he must have already tried to probe. That’s also why Si Yu angrily rushed back here...."
"Do you want to meet them?"
"The timing isn’t right yet." The old man shook his head and refused. "His relationship with the Princess is too close; the Royal Family won’t feel at ease; he probably has many spies around him now, and any newcomer will enter Chen Fenglei’s ’blacklist’...."
"If that old dog Chen Fenglei catches a suspicious scent, things will get complicated. Many will be endangered, including you."
"What danger should I fear?" Lu Zhiyong said. "Since I dared to bring Big Brother back from the Old Land, I’ve prepared for the worst."
"Needless bloodshed is meaningless," the old man shook his head and said, "Give me some more time."
"What kind of time do you want exactly? What are you waiting for?"
"Waiting for the best opportunity," the old man said. "To hone the sword even sharper, so it cuts faster when the time comes to strike."
"And who holds that sword?"
"No one can control it," the old man said with determination. "The only one who can is himself."
Tang Fei was practicing his swordsmanship in the Gravity Room.
Every slash seemed as heavy as a thousand weights, each stroke nearly exhausting all his strength.
Little Fatty could swing his hammer under twenty times the normal gravity; Tang Fei felt as a Cultivator, he had to set an example for his brother...
So he started at twenty times the gravity and kept slashing down with his sword.
Soon, he felt short of breath and his movements became stiff.
This wasn’t an assessment or competition, so the training in the Gravity Room was not broadcasted live.
No one could see his current state, but he knew he could see it himself.
He needed to become stronger, ever stronger.
To be strong is in itself a kind of madness.
To be weak is in itself a mistake.
The law of the jungle prevails everywhere, whether it’s on Old Land or on New Star.
Tang Fei had set a goal for himself of a thousand swords.
Now, there were still eight hundred swords left....
When Tang Fei emerged from the Gravity Room, his body was drained, and his legs were weak as if a gust of wind could knock him over.
His face was pale, and his forehead was drenched with sweat, making the long sword in his hand seem too heavy to lift.
His clothes were soaked with sweat, as if he had just been fished out of the water.
Mr. Ran rushed over and supported Tang Fei’s arm, asking, "Are you alright, Tang Fei? Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere?"
"Just, just no strength left." Tang Fei tried to smile but found his facial muscles too tired to move.
"In the future, you must control the intensity of your training, too much is as bad as too little... Starting tomorrow, you’ll train according to my plan," Mr. Ran said. It was clear he was truly concerned about Tang Fei, his student, fearing he’d hurt himself from not knowing how to pace his training.
There had also been some very gifted students in the Ancient Martial Department who pushed themselves too hard and eventually burned out. He didn’t want Tang Fei to follow in their footsteps.
"No worries." Tang Fei explained with a smile, "If you don’t push yourself, you never know where your limits are."
"That’s still not the way to push yourself..." Mr. Ran interjected. "Come on, let’s get you into a Recovery Cabin to rest for a while."
Recovery Cabins could quickly help students recover both physically and mentally, but their exorbitant prices meant that the entire Martial Arts Hall had only three units.
Therefore, a teacher had to make a special request for students to use them...
Otherwise, if every student heading there after training, how would it ever be anyone’s turn?
"Thank you, teacher," Tang Fei said gratefully.
With Mr. Ran’s help, Tang Fei finally enjoyed the same treatment as Little Fatty, spending two hours in the Recovery Cabin.
By the time Tang Fei left the Recovery Cabin, the sky had darkened, and many were rushing to the cafeteria for dinner.
"Bro, are you okay?" Little Fatty had come out from the Gravity Room much earlier and had been anxiously waiting at the door of the Recovery Cabin after learning Tang Fei had trained to exhaustion.
"I’m fine," Tang Fei said with a smile.
After observing Tang Fei carefully, Mr. Ran said, "Hmm, you seem to have recovered quite well... Tang Fei, I lodge a serious protest against you. You absolutely must not make such a mistake again. What if you had a serious injury? Who would I go to then?"
"Yes, I’ll follow Mr. Ran’s plan," Tang Fei said with a smile.
He could feel that Mr. Ran genuinely cared for him and was very concerned about his physical condition.
It felt good to be cared for.
"You need to train scientifically and find the right methods. Only then can you achieve more with less effort," Mr. Ran, satisfied with Tang Fei’s attitude, chuckled and continued, "I have been working on a training plan tailored for you, which should be ready tonight. Starting tomorrow, you’ll train according to my plan."
"Tang Fei, trust me... this is our area of expertise."
"Alright, alright, I’ll listen to the teacher," Tang Fei complied.
Just then, a loud voice echoed through the hall of the Martial Arts Hall:
"Where is Tang Fei? Would you dare to accept my challenge?"
Tang Fei glanced at Mr. Ran and asked, "What’s going on here? Can students fight each other? I suggest the school expel troublemakers like that."
"This isn’t fighting..." Mr. Ran explained, "We are the Ancient Martial Department; this is the Martial Arts Hall, where any student can challenge an opponent they admire... The school doesn’t stop this behavior; they even encourage it somewhat."
"So, am I the opponent they admire?" Tang Fei asked.
"You beat Chen Qingping with medium-grade Qi Control, and you have become immensely popular at the school. Plus, the views on your forest combat video are astounding... It’s only natural for someone to challenge you."
"Only by defeating someone famous can one quickly make a name for oneself... Many people have climbed the ranks this way," Mr. Ran explained.
"The brighter the picture, the bigger the crack," Tang Fei reflected. "Can I refuse it?"
"Of course," Mr. Ran nodded. "A match only takes effect if both parties sign a challenge... However, it might impact your reputation. Others might think you are cowardly and afraid to fight..."
"Oh," Tang Fei nodded and said, "I refuse."