On the training field on the other side of the building, numerous students listened to the whimpering coming from next door, each and every one of them reveling in the others’ misfortune.
Tang En looked at the students before him, his expression one of resignation.
’With this kind of discipline, can they really keep this up?’
That’s right. This was the very instructor competing with He Xiaotian.
He came from You Shi, a mere Second Grade Martial Artist.
He had been hired by Hua Country in the mortal realm to become a martial arts teacher.
Of course, he was classified as restricted personnel; the higher-ups had no desire for him to travel to other countries.
To appease Tang En, the higher-ups had specially selected two elites from the National Guardian Team to provide him with 24-hour personal protection.
They had also assigned him a translator so he could communicate with the students without any barriers, anytime, anywhere.
’They call them bodyguards, but who knows if they’re actually here to watch me?’
Besides, this was just what was on the surface. There was no telling how many others were watching him from the shadows.
"Settle down! Settle down!"
The words that came out of Tang En’s mouth were gibberish, leaving everyone completely confused.
The students, who had been laughing wildly, stopped when they heard him.
It wasn’t that they understood him; they were trying to figure out what on earth their instructor was even saying.
His accompanying translator immediately translated his words.
"I hope everyone can be a bit more serious. Practicing martial arts is no child’s play. It requires constant training, unyielding perseverance..." Blah, blah, blah. Tang En went on and on, recycling the words his village chief used to say.
The students’ cheerful atmosphere instantly vanished, replaced by a sullen gloom.
’Suddenly, I really want to beat this instructor and his translator to death!’
「Meanwhile, with the in-name disciples led by He Xiaotian」
"My time is precious, so I’ll start with the fundamentals. Come now, follow my lead. If your form is sloppy, I’ll kill you on the spot! This is the first form of ’Wei Can Presents the Pestle.’ First, straighten your legs, press your heels together with your toes pointed out, and stand at attention. Keep your torso straight, aligning the crown of your head with your perineum in a single line."
"Let your arms hang naturally at your sides, gaze straight ahead, and focus your mind. Next, raise your hands and press your palms together in front of your chest. Hold this pose. You will stand perfectly still for one hour. Whoever can hold this pose for a full hour without moving will be considered to have mastered the basics and will earn the right to learn the next form."
Hearing the two words "kill you," the entire group shuddered violently.
And so, to a man, they all obediently did as they were told.
Initially, most of them thought this form was nothing special. ’So simple,’ they thought.
But when He Xiaotian’s deep, powerful breaths began, the crowd unconsciously started to match his respiratory frequency.
After ten or so seconds, everyone’s breathing was more or less in sync with his.
Then, the shitty part began. The rate at which they were losing stamina suddenly intensified.
After five minutes, most of their legs were starting to tremble.
Ten minutes, and their arms were sore and weak.
Fifteen minutes, and the sound of bodies hitting the ground, THUD, THUD, THUD, rose and fell.
The one who lasted the longest only managed about twenty minutes.
A smile touched the corner of He Xiaotian’s lips. ’Everyone thought it was simple, huh?’
In truth, without matching his breathing, it wouldn’t be difficult for a normal person to hold the pose for an hour.
But once their breathing rhythm was synchronized, the stamina they consumed would increase exponentially.
"You three, watch them for me. If anyone dares to slack off, feel free to beat them. We have their life-and-death waivers, so even if they die, Roger can’t cause any trouble for us." With a wave of his hand, He Xiaotian delegated authority to his underlings.
Hearing this, the trio of lackeys’ eyes lit up.
’So this is what the boss meant by finding us a job where we can rough people up without getting tired. We’re assistant instructors!’
"Don’t worry, Boss. We’ve got this."
The bladesman drew a golden saber from a leather sheath on his back. The magician pulled a red handkerchief from his robes, and with a gentle flick, it transformed into an eight-faceted Han-dynasty sword. Feng Yu was even more direct: he opened his instrument case and pulled out a terrifying, blood-colored, ghost-headed saber.
The students’ eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. ’Aside from the first guy, how are the other two even more unhinged than the last?!’
’Normally, shouldn’t you be holding teaching canes?’
’A disciplinary rod would be fine, too. We could accept that.’
’But what’s the deal with drawing swords and pulling out sabers?’
’You’d feel bad if you didn’t kill us, is that it?!’
"I’m going to check out the other field and see who dares to compete with me."
As soon as the words left his mouth, He Xiaotian turned and walked away, ignoring the desperate looks his in-name disciples were giving him.
’Scared? Good, you should be!’
’That’s the only way you’ll train your hardest without holding back and meet my expectations sooner.’
On Tang En’s training field, over one hundred and fifty people were exercising, lifting stone locks weighing around fifty pounds with both hands.
He had requested these items from the 037 logistics department. He was completely clueless when it came to modern fitness equipment.
For now, he could only use the training methods and equipment from his village. He would have to wait until he was fully accustomed to modern life before he could make any changes.
"Your bodies are truly feeble. The teenagers in my village are all stronger than you. When you can effortlessly lift a three-hundred-pound stone lock, only then will you be considered a beginner and qualified to enter the next stage of training!"
Before Tang En could finish speaking, he felt a massive shadow fall over him, completely enveloping him.
He turned around to look.
"..."
’What the hell is that?!’
A giant, at least 3.2 meters tall—a height that surpassed human limits—was standing right behind him.
The students, who were struggling to lift their stone locks, were even more dumbfounded.
"Kid, so you’re the one competing with me? With such a primitive training method, it seems I was overthinking things. You... need to work harder." He Xiaotian bent down and patted Tang En’s shoulder, his face a mask of encouragement.
Tang En: "..."
The students looked like they wanted to laugh but didn’t dare.
’The more you look at it, the more this scene looks like a father encouraging his son, doesn’t it?’
The two bodyguards from the National Guardian Team remained expressionless the entire time, acting as if He Xiaotian didn’t even exist.
In reality, both of them were quite nervous.
The video of him smashing the "Abyss Submariner" to a pulp had gone viral among the relevant departments.
And the National Guardian Team, a level above the Cleaners, was naturally not on the list of those forbidden from watching it.
Veins bulged on Tang En’s forehead. ’Big muscles don’t necessarily mean big power!’
But when he saw the piggy mask on He Xiaotian’s face, the image of two brutal iron hammers flashed through his mind.
Along with the video of a single strike that had shattered an entire street.
’Wait a minute, this guy seems to be X, the one who slaughters Third Grade Martial Artists like dogs!’
In an instant, Tang En fell silent, not daring to make a peep.
The ferocious and brutal side He Xiaotian had once shown was deeply etched into his memory.
This person was extremely dangerous—an existence more dangerous than evil spirits and anomalies!
He was practically comparable to some of the regional bosses who dominated parts of You Shi.
’Right, the person Roger said I’d be competing against... is this guy right in front of me?’
’For fuck’s sake!!’
’Roger, why the fuck didn’t you tell me sooner?!’
’You deliberately set me up!’