Chapter 188: Chapter 97: Shock and Knowledge Epiphany (5.8)_3
But inside the base, Zhang Feng typically wears the uniform of his extraordinary advancement (research achievement), along with heavy military boots.
With one kick, he could shatter stones.
Zhang Feng prefers the uniform, not for anything else but its style, with an air of approaching solemnity.
The training outfit feels somewhat detached, but seems stable, suitable for wearing outside.
"Just as you’re here, I have some insights."
Zhang Feng reminisced about his attire while taking the oar from his hand.
Whoosh—
It seemed a simple gesture, but near the shallow water by the shore, the paddle went straight into the mud below.
Between Zhang Feng’s terrifying strength and finesse, the boat five meters from the shore shot directly like an arrow toward the land.
"Uh..." Old Liu staggered with the thrust, feeling surprised.
’Today, Grandmaster Zhang showed me that even rowing a small boat can have a thrusting sensation?’
...
Nearby police station, their only large conference hall was temporarily requisitioned.
At this moment, Old Liu and over ten researchers from the base sat around, facing their encrypted computers.
"Visualization is..."
Zhang Feng spoke at the top about martial arts, quickly organizing a simplified version of Eight-Step Chasing Cicada in his mind and explaining it directly to them.
’Is this martial arts?’ Outside the conference hall, many officers were listening in.
It was allowed by Zhang Feng, partly because he chose not to keep secrets, and also, he had once been one of the officers.
...
About twenty minutes later.
Zhang Feng finished some key points and looked toward the audience outside the conference room, "Do you have any questions?"
"Report to President Zhang! You explained very well! Very detailed! We understood everything!"
"Report to President Zhang, we also noted it down."
They dared not ask more but discreetly observed Zhang Feng, examining this ’extraordinary human’ who performed miracles this afternoon.
Because, in their minds, unless they level up dozens of times, today might be the only chance in their lives to meet a ’pioneer of humanity’ up close.
’Pioneer of humanity’ was the nickname given to Zhang Feng by online users this afternoon.
However, Zhang Feng had not gone online yet, was unaware of these things.
Nor did he care much.
To Zhang Feng, as long as more people start training, it’s a good thing.
"Everyone can return."
Seeing things are finished, Zhang Feng looked at Old Liu, "I’ll return to the base in a few days."
After speaking, Zhang Feng walked away briskly.
...
Seven o’clock.
Zhang Feng arrived at the curator’s home.
"Don’t rush! Almost ready!"
Today, Master Wang was cooking personally, preparing dishes.
He had some skills.
Living room.
"Master Zhang, I’ve acquired a good sword!" The curator standing in front of the table introduced the sharp sword on the table to Zhang Feng.
Crafted entirely with modern techniques from alloy, the streamlined blade with a length of 1.3 meters seemed impractical but beautiful.
Now the curator understood Zhang Feng’s taste for these ’ordinary weapons’, only appreciating their aesthetic values, not practical uses.
"Not bad." Zhang Feng swung it a few times and then looked at Dr. Wu, who was making tea, "Old Wu, any thoughts on working at the base?"
"I’ll stick to the hospital." Dr. Wu said with a smile, "Thanks to Teacher Zhang, I’m now the Deputy Chairman of the city’s medicine association."
"That’s great; besides, the pace at the base is a bit fast, with more pressure than in the hospital." Zhang Feng still enjoys conversing with these early friends, talking more relaxedly, without much tension.
Tap-tap—
At this point, a knock on the door was heard.
"I’ll get it." The curator went to open the door, outside stood Xiaoli, holding two large bags of skewers.
"You’ve arrived!" The curator knew Xiaoli.
Because Xiaoli’s family sells home appliances, not TVs and fridges, but sockets and wires, and light bulbs and such.
Although the store isn’t big, the items are complete, all for household use.
Moreover, the curator recently opened a new martial arts hall in the city.
Initially, he used goods from Xiaoli’s store.
It was Zhang Feng who introduced him.
Interestingly, Xiaoli only charged the cost price.
This left the curator feeling awkward to take advantage of, but he did get to know Xiaoli.
"President Zhang! Curator! Dean Wu!" Xiaoli greeted each person after entering, though somewhat restrained in his actions.
He’s someone helping at the family’s small store, really has never been in contact with such big figures.
Because the curator, Dr. Wu, and Master Wang are now indeed big figures, traveling across martial arts halls nationwide, distributing secret books and prescriptions.
They are part-time ’civilian consultants of company and traditional sects and martial arts halls’.
Zhang Feng oversees it all.
Facing these people, Xiaoli was certainly cautionary.
"Li Zi, come." Zhang Feng invited him to drink tea, easing the somewhat awkward atmosphere.
But Zhang Feng knew internally.
With such changes caused by himself, and Xiaoli not wanting to leverage his influence, the original friendship and tacit understanding were mostly diluted by their identity differences.
Life is like this.
Very realistic, very conflicting, yet unavoidable.
However, Xiaoli indeed has a sense of a gentleman’s relationship.
Because Zhang Feng changed his phone number several months ago, he told Xiaoli about the new number, saying he could reach him if he needed anything.
But Xiaoli only called once.
It was two months ago, asking if he’d still go for night runs.
Back then, Zhang Feng was studying at the base and declined.
Afterwards, Xiaoli never called again.
In this world, there are such people who see their friends doing well and silently choose not to contact so their friends don’t suspect them of coveting anything.
Especially when that friend is an extraordinary human, it feels more daunting.
Xiaoli is precisely such a person, a bit stubborn, somewhat serious, but filled with more chivalrous spirit.
He thinks he’s not skilled enough, so he chooses not to cling to friends.
Thus, during dinner.
Zhang Feng saw him sitting next to the dining table, eating, drinking, and chatting as he should, but his aura completely contrasting with the curator and the others.
In business, someone like this appearing is quite rare.
But not surprising.
When Zhang Feng was working in the criminal world, handling large investigations, he met many businesspeople, and some were just like him.
...
A meal finished since no alcohol was consumed, not even eight o’clock.
"Heading off, Master Zhang." Master Wang waved a stack of documents in his hand, "The martial arts materials you gave me, I’ll study them at home, so I can teach them to the students tomorrow."
"Where to?" Dr. Wu didn’t have a car, "May I hitch a ride?"
"Old Wu, you’re really frugal to the core." The two have been frequently interacting recently, forming a good relationship, often joking around.
"Just hitching a ride, and you’re criticizing me?" They joked, heading downstairs.
"Shall I give you a ride?" The curator, being sincere, looked at Zhang Feng and Xiaoli.
Xiaoli waved his hand, "Thanks, curator, no need."
He spoke, then looked at Zhang Feng, "Brother Zhang, curator, I’ll leave first."
"Okay." Zhang Feng nodded.
Once he left, Zhang Feng looked at the curator and the table full of dishes, "Since you don’t need to leave, these are all your chores."
’What kind of twisted logic is this?’ The curator was puzzled but complied with a chuckle, starting to clean up.
"After tidying up, remember to take the prescription and practice." Zhang Feng reminded him, then went to the clothes rack by his door, "I’ll take this new hat and sunglasses.
Leave the sword here, I’ll come for it in a few days."
"Why don’t I deliver it to the martial arts hall?" The curator posed with a plate, "You said you’d visit the martial arts hall in two days? Instead of walking back and forth, isn’t it troublesome?"
"No need." Zhang Feng selected his new hat, then added, "Alright, send it over, keep it in the warehouse. If I don’t have time to fetch it, I’ll send someone to pick it up."
After finishing this, Zhang Feng closed the door and went downstairs.
Then, stepping several stairs at a time.
Arriving at the building entrance.
Zhang Feng saw Xiaoli slowly jogging ahead, just finished eating and couldn’t run fast.
"Li Zi!" Zhang Feng called him once, walking over.
Xiaoli turned curiously, "What’s up, Brother Zhang?"
"Nothing." Zhang Feng flexed his limbs and asked, "After digesting, should we jog home?"
Xiaoli paused first, then smiled, "Okay!"
"Alright." Zhang Feng nodded with a smile, put on his hat and covered with sunglasses, "With this disguise, nobody will recognize me, right? Your Brother Zhang is quite famous now, unlike before when jobless, freeloading your skewers.
Let’s go, run till our stomachs have space, then I’ll treat you to a hot pot, four plates of meat."
...
The night run didn’t end early.
Added supper at ten.
At ten fifty-nine, Zhang Feng finished washing up and lay on the bed, gazing toward the next world with anticipation.
’After resting for three months, will there be any changes in the upcoming world?
Will it be more difficult?
Or is the sole purpose of rest to ease my heart demon?’