Chapter 48 Miscellaneous Thoughts

"Eh, the medicinal dish I made earlier seems a bit bland. Next time, get a dipping sauce to try... Forget it, too much trouble. I’ll make it stronger next time. I’ve heard ginseng powder supplements qi and blood and strengthens kidney qi. Next time, should I add some..." "I should be lying in bed with my left foot on my right foot now..." "What does a ten-year cerebral thrombosis mean?" "I heard the recent update of 2048 added a lot, should I check it out..." "If a pig has kidney deficiency, does its kidney still supplement?" "Is a person caught on the way to surrender still considered surrendering?" "..." Lu Ren opened his eyes, exhaled deeply, his expression quite helpless. Practicing fist techniques was fine, all his energy focused on one thing, and distracted thoughts naturally faded away, with no disturbance. But sitting idle and doing nothing, those scattered thoughts are indeed a wave after another, truly unstoppable. How to deal with it? Lu Ren stood up, paced back and forth a few times, then decisively went to the courtyard, pulling open the Phoenix Falcon Fist stance again and started practicing. "Ding, you are practicing Phoenix Falcon Fist, Phoenix Falcon Fist skill level +1" "Ding, due to practicing Phoenix Falcon Fist, your constitution, power, and agility proficiency +1" "Ding..." As his fist technique improved profoundly, he could even perform the techniques instinctively, often ignoring the system’s prompt sound completely. Suddenly, Lu Ren paused his movement, then slowly opened the fist stance, his body practicing the technique, but his mind wasn’t focused on the fist technique but concentrating his spirit, visualizing the Wooden Sword. After two hours, Lu Ren stopped his movements with a look of joy, unexpectedly successful, especially the system’s prompt sound in his mind that made his expression excited. "Ding, due to concentrating spirit and visualizing the Wooden Sword, your spiritual proficiency +1" This was Lu Ren’s first time hearing the sound of spiritual proficiency actively increasing, meaning what Yan Zhenghua taught him was indeed genuine and correct. Lu Ren finally felt relieved, starting daily uninterrupted practice, periodically according to the agreed time, went to the weapon store to pick up his customized longsword, called by the boss as an extremely common name, Longquan Sword. Lu Ren couldn’t care less to change it. Sharp as mud, hair-snipping indeed wasn’t an exaggeration, the weapon store boss even said it applied the latest nano-carbon material technology for overall enhancement, toughness and hardness had risen several levels. He tried, bending with full force only slightly curved, releasing strength it snapped straight. And living next to him Li Shu once leaned on the courtyard fence exclaiming: "We live in such a peaceful country, unexpectedly there’s a martial fanatic like you! What are you doing this for?" Lu Ren didn’t stop at all, performing Phoenix Falcon Fist repeatedly, his mind also copying the Wooden Sword’s shape. After a long moment, completing a cycle of visualization Lu Ren spoke: "If you’re not careful and fall into Alternate Space again, filled with monsters, how long can you last in your current state?" Li Shu’s expression slightly paused: "Not so unlucky, right?" "Don’t you watch the news? Hua Country’s official stance has changed from previously keeping hidden about spacequake causing spatial rift channels, to now slowly revealing the truth piece by piece. Though slow, eventually it’ll shift the global landscape someday." Li Shu: "...Ha? Those bizarre tabloid news?" Lu Ren glanced at her: "Haven’t you received survival drills or extreme survival safety exercise notifications recently, and the Ministry of Education has issued many documents emphasizing physical exercise, importantly including survival skills and combat as courses too?" "Received..." Li Shu wasn’t stupid, soon she reacted, her voice somewhat trembling: "Are you saying that might become the norm?" Lu Ren shrugged slightly: "I can’t say for sure, after all, many things are unclear, but regardless, improving your own strength is always a correct choice." "Can I train with you?" "No." Lu Ren said, then pondered briefly, "though it’s not impossible." Li Shu’s disappointed expression quickly turned to joy. Lu Ren continued: "But my tuition is very expensive, charging in phases, guaranteed teaching without refund, if you give up complaining of hardship and fatigue halfway, the tuition won’t be refunded no matter whether you learn or not." One must find some side earning after all. "No problem, how much is the tuition?" Lu Ren asked exorbitantly: "One million!" To his surprise, Li Shu didn’t hesitate at all and directly nodded. "No problem!" Lu Ren still had some conscience, "Um, actually many fist techniques schools teach true skills too. I know one and can recommend you there, the tuition isn’t as expensive." Li Shu said: "I trust you!" "Alright." Lu Ren sighed, "Since that’s the case, then transfer the one million introduction fee, I’ll introduce you to your teaching master." Li Shu asked in surprise: "Not you teaching." "I can barely manage myself, where’s the time to teach you, are you training or not?" Li Shu hesitated, then asked: "Is it reliable?" "Definitely reliable, all my skills were taught by him. That one is a master hidden in the city!" Lu Ren patted his chest, seriously. "Well... alright." "Ding, funds received through Zhi Fu Bao, one million yuan!" Lu Ren looked at his phone, checking repeatedly, somewhat surprisedly looking at Li Shu across the fence. "Did you transfer it just like that, trusting me so much?" Li Shu smiled: "No matter the reason, you saved me in that world, regardless of your state of mind then." Lu Ren nodded slightly, not saying more, reasonably the money was deserved. When introducing Li Shu to Yan Zhenghua, Yan Zhenghua’s eyes with a wretched look filled with green light upon seeing Li Shu’s beautiful fashion, drooling nonstop. Li Shu looked at Yan Zhenghua’s greasy middle-aged wretched image, especially his gaze on her making her instinctively cover her chest, looked back full of unease: "Is this the master you talked about?" Yan Zhenghua also realized his image was inappropriate then, immediately straightened his chest and stomach, trying to appear as a master, with a composed expression. "Little girl, just now I merely used the True Eye to scan your root bone talent suitability for martial arts practice. Since you’re willing, come let me examine your bones, see if you match our school’s fist technique." Li Shu looked pitifully at Lu Ren, Lu Ren said seriously: "You’re no longer young, without bone examination and master’s adjustment as per your actual condition, you can’t practice martial arts. Don’t be confused by the old man’s wretched appearance, he’s actually a passionate person, those are just appearances, don’t be deceived. We must see the essence through the appearances." Old virgin counts as loyal, right? Li Shu: "..." ```