The spacious training ground was already riddled with bullet marks.

The floor, covered with elastic mats, was scattered with numerous spent bullet casings, making it easy for anyone walking over them to accidentally slip.

After confirming that Ji Jue was ready, Master Zhang stood twenty meters away, the old man still looking harmless, with just a short staff tucked behind his waist as a weapon.

It was just as well this was only a simulation, otherwise, literally going full force, the old man could tear him apart within ten seconds, bringing drying, vacuum sterilization, and packaging into play!

"Are you ready?"

With his hands behind his back and his waist slightly bent, Master Zhang asked casually, as if he were just an ordinary old man seen anywhere, stepping towards Ji Jue as he nodded in response.

They walked toward each other.

One step, two steps, Ji Jue's breathing became increasingly tense, even though he kept telling himself that this was just a simulation, that the opponent walking towards him was just an ordinary old man out for a stroll, he still couldn't deceive himself… the defeat and shadows he'd felt from the man all afternoon.

"Keep your breathing even, shoulders relaxed, open up, only in a relaxed state can you make the quickest instant reaction—"

Moving forward slowly, Master Zhang continued muttering training tips and keys.

Next, when the two were about three steps away from each other, he would launch an attack on Ji Jue—this had been the pattern during previous training sessions, but this time, before he even finished his sentence, without any change in tone or breath, his right hand, hanging at his back, flickered like a mirage, leaving a residual image.

A shriek suddenly burst forth.

It was like a shell exploding in close proximity.

The short staff at his lower back, swung casually, whistled out, spinning through the air and rushing towards him like a storm!

This wasn't what was agreed!

Playing dirty, eh?!

Caught off guard by the sudden change, Ji Jue's pupils shrank to their limits, feeling his body immediately stiffen, unable even to react.

Lie down? Lean back? Duck? Dodge? Move left or right?

In his empty mind, it seemed like thousands of thoughts surged in an instant, overwhelming him, leaving him unable to decide, but the first to react was, surprisingly, his own body.

It was the instinctual response forcibly ingrained into his body through the brutal beatings that afternoon!

He didn't even have time to draw his pistol from its holster.

He just grabbed at the holster and raised it.

Issued a command.

—[Fire]!

Bang!

The front end of the plastic holster exploded in an instant, bullets shot out right in front of Ji Jue's eyes, blasting the plastic staff precisely in the center, but the residual material still spread out, obscuring his vision, as half of the staff smashed onto his forehead, darkening his vision.

"Adaptability, six points."

At least his reaction was timely, but the measures he took were wrong.

Lacking in precision, his control over the shooting effect was too low, resulting in collateral damage. At this point, the right move would have been to immediately curl up and roll away to distance himself…

Struck as if by thunder because of the calm voice arising right in front of him.

So close!

"Hey—"

Master Zhang exhaled as he spoke, his palm suddenly swelling, the shriveled palm turning into a crimson stamp, radiating intense heat as it stamped down toward Ji Jue's chest!

Within the howling wind, his ribs began to feel phantom pain. Throughout the afternoon's training, he didn't know how many times he had been KO'd by this move. If it had hit, he'd definitely be flying towards the wall, irremovable!

He only managed to lift his left arm in front of his chest, feeling as if a large truck was heading straight for him, easily shattering his spiritually enhanced defenses, scattering them, advancing with withering force.

But this vital moment bought by sacrificing his arm, the White Deer Emblem finally on his legs was completed!

The mat deformed with a muffled sound, a faint rainbow light emerged from above Ji Jue's ankles, under the enhancement of the Superior Emblem, the spiritual strengthening effect surged once more, and in an instant, he was ejected backward like a projectile, creating a several meters gap, at the cost of his left ankle going completely numb.

But at least he still had his right leg, and he retreated again.

And there in mid-air, the weapon in the holster spewed out flames like flowing water, non-stop, the deafening sound echoing throughout the training area.

In less than half a second, thirteen bullets had been fired.

"Not bad."

The elderly man chasing in mid-air grinned, his extended palm already embedded with five bullets, while other bullets had aimed at his face, throat, heart, and legs, if it had been actual combat, his opponent, if not overwhelmed, would probably have lost mobility, right?

But what if the opponent's skills were a bit more superior?

Like this!

In an instant, numerous afterimages unexpectedly emerged in front of Ji Jue, the bullets fired from the muzzle were all blocked by Master Zhang's waving right arm.

The bullets embedded in the muscle hissed, stuck within the flesh.

Just like that, he casually lowered his hand to his waist.

"Right arm, already wasted."

Master Zhang lifted his left arm, "But there's still this one, what will you do?"

Backed into a corner, Ji Jue fell silent for a moment, discarding the holster and weapon, took a deep breath, and assumed a flawed fighting stance, beckoning Master Zhang with a hooked finger:

"Come!"

Master Zhang silently grinned, still too green... At this moment, he should have tried to break from the enemy's blind spot.

Maybe he should strike harder, to make him learn.

Bang!

Just as he prepared to rush, a loud explosion erupted from a corner he hadn't noticed.

Master Zhang's head tilted.

Above the temple on the side, out of nowhere, a bullet appeared!

It came from the weapon Ji Jue had discarded beside him…

A crucial kill!

"Master Zhang, the modified guard's magazine holds fifteen rounds."

Ji Jue finally took a breath, "You forgot to count the bullets."

In the silence, Master Zhang remained quiet, raised his hand, and picked the bullet embedded in his head, examining it closely before bursting into laughter.

"Passed!"

He shook his hand, and the bullets gripped by his muscles fell like sparse raindrops, then he vigorously patted Ji Jue on the shoulder.

"Very good, extremely good, you have finished the second lesson in defense, little Ji, just make sure not to slacken and keep up this practice."

He praised appreciatively, "A cunning and sly young man like you will definitely go places in the future!"

Ji Jue's expression twitched.

Although it was a compliment, why couldn't it be a bit more flattering?

"It's all thanks to your excellent teaching, Master Zhang."

"Hey, why so formal? Just call me Old Zhang. Come by for tea sometime!"

The old man waved his hand nonchalantly, clutching walnuts and humming a tune as he left.

Time had somehow slipped by without him noticing, and there was a celebration to attend in the evening. He couldn't afford to be late!

Just as he was leaving, he saw Wen Wen leaning on the corridor wall.

"How was the effect?" she asked curiously.

"Good comprehension, good adaptation; mainly, he learns everything quickly. There's nothing left for me to teach in the basics."

Master Zhang shook his head in reflection, "The new generation pushes the old one, the young ones these days are something else. If I had been this sharp when I was young, I might have made it to the World Bodybuilding Championships and contended for the title."

Wen Wen thought for a moment, then asked, "How about compared to me back then?"

"Um..."

The old man stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and shrugged slightly, "With a bit more effort, he might be able to challenge it."

Wen Wen's eyebrows rose slightly but she said no more.

When Ji Jue finally came out, he saw her smile, softly highlighted by the dim sunlight and weaving through her delicate strands of hair.

Like a fleeting crystal flower.

It made his heart skip a beat involuntarily.

"What's wrong?"

Wen Wen turned around, saw his dazed expression, and waved, "Come on, let's have a big meal tonight to celebrate!"

"Let's not…"

Ji Jue came back to his senses, his eyes twitching violently.

Thinking back to the devastating aftermath of previous experiences, he felt a chill run down his spine.

Unfortunately, it was too late to run or make excuses; before he could retreat, fate had already grabbed the innocent kitten by the scruff, leaving no escape.

When a frosty beer was slammed on the table to whet his appetite, it was already too late even for tears.

"Come on, drink!"

A mug of draft beer was thrust into his hand, and before Ji Jue could even lift it, Wen Wen had tilted her head back and downed it in one go.

By now, admitting that he couldn't drink was out of the question.

Two hours later, as the third bottle of liquor was opened, an alcohol-poisoned Ji Jue collapsed on the table, finally blacking out and closing his eyes peacefully.

A day that had been too full finally came to an end.

Unfortunately, with no sense of time after blacking out, Ji Jue felt as if he just blinked, and the world swirled around him… returning him from the banquet table to his own bedroom.

Ji Jue woke up in a terrible state, discovering only his legs on the bed while his upper body had slid to the floor amid burbling sounds…

The scorching sunlight streaming through the window landed on his face.

A fulfilling day was freaking starting all over again!

With absolutely no feeling of rest, damn alcohol, who on earth concocted such a harmful thing?

Luckily, after freshening up, due to a bit of speeding on a scooter, he made it close to the workshop and it was still not ten o'clock. Professor Ye's class didn't start until eleven, so he had time for breakfast.

Just as he sat down at a soup noodle stall by the street, he heard an unexpected voice.

"You're still in the mood for breakfast?"

Ye Chun appeared out of nowhere, looking aggrieved, "Trouble's about to land at our doorstep."

"Ah?"

Ji Jue was stunned, "I didn't do anything!"

What could have gone wrong now?

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