Zhang San, please behave yourself!

During dinner, Zhang San made a point of getting close to Wei and Xu.

When Wei saw Zhang San coming over, he immediately moved to sit on the other side of Xu, keeping a distance from Zhang San.

Although Wei still hadn't figured out what Zhang San's background was, his instincts told him that this kid was not right, very not right!

"Senior Wei, Senior Xu, do you know about the Primordial Extreme Technique? Wang Ziteng cultivates this technique, and I've heard it's very powerful, is that true?"

Earlier in the day, Zhang San had Wang Ziteng call him big brother, which was nothing more than an attempt to cozy up to him first.

If Wang Ziteng was a powerful supporter, then why not grab onto him?

Wei was disinclined to pay attention to Zhang San, so he just bowed his head to eat without saying much.

However, Xu was quite enthusiastic.

"This cultivation technique is actually extremely remarkable."

"The Primordial Extreme Technique is similar to the Child Exercise since it has to be practiced from a young age. But what's different is..."

"Cultivating the Primordial Extreme Technique, one must not break through for ten years, not even reaching the second stage of the Primordial Qi Realm, and can only stay at the stage of Refining Qi into the Body for ten years."

"During these ten years, one doesn't accumulate Qi but uses Qi to continuously wash over the body, making the body more adept at transforming the spiritual energy of heaven and earth into Qi."

"But even so, Qi will still slowly accumulate within the body until it's on the verge of breaking through. At this point, martial artists must compress their own Qi to prevent it from breaking through the meridian channels and reaching the second stage of the Primordial Qi Realm – the Twelve Meridian Channels."

"This not only trains the martial artists' control over Qi but also continuously tempers their own Qi, and even..."

"It's a tremendous test of the martial artists' temperament. After all, for ten years, countless opportunities to break through right in front of you, but you have to extinguish the urge to break through time after time."

"Ten years of withstanding, and when you do breakthrough, it's earth-shattering!"

"So it's not an exaggeration to say that the Primordial Extreme Technique is the strongest technique in the Primordial Qi Realm."

Zhang San originally thought Wang Ziteng's cultivation technique was merely more powerful in practice, but he hadn't expected such a price to pay.

However, this also proved that Wang Ziteng must be from a major family, or even the core member of an influential noble family.

But seeing that Wei continually ignored him, Zhang San felt it was necessary to bridge the gap with Wei.

After all, since he was cultivating Wei's secret manual, he could be considered Wei's student.

"Senior Wei, don't give me the cold shoulder whenever you see me! It's like seeing a disobedient nephew. If I've offended you, should I kneel down and apologize to you now?"

When Wei heard what Zhang San said, his face changed.

Wei was certainly not like Xu, a warm-hearted, naive good guy who would think Zhang San truly wanted to be his nephew; this kid was definitely trying to manipulate him for benefits.

But Wei knew better; if he really let Zhang San kneel and call him master in the canteen, he might refuse, but everyone would definitely think there was some relationship between him and Zhang San.

And this was what Wei feared the most.

Avoiding karma means avoiding entanglements. This was Wei's rule for survival.

Wei took out a mung bean from his bosom. As the mung bean lay in his palm, a tender sprout grew from it, extending and curling up half of the mung bean's shell towards Zhang San.

Zhang San, seeing the look in Wei's eyes, knew he had to put the half of the shell connected to the tender sprout into his ear.

And just at that moment, though Wei didn't speak, Zhang San's ears rang with Wei's voice.

"You don't even know how to refine Qi, and you've joined the Town Martial Office. Not only that, but you were seriously injured in an ambush on the Demon Cult Followers and lost your memory. Do you think you're safe?"

Wei's voice was not loud, but after Zhang San heard it, he felt like thunder was rolling in his mind!

His previous guess might have been an unnecessary worry.

But Wei was a mighty hermit; if he said so, Zhang San's former self must have truly offended someone.

Even though for some reason, it might not be convenient for them to kill him directly, letting him die naturally during a mission would be all too easy.

At this moment, countless plots and twists he had seen before as his former self flashed through Zhang San's mind.

Strength!

Indeed, all that fantasy about a great start is a lie.

Deceiving might bring him some advantages, but in the end...it all comes down to his own strength!

Time to return and cultivate!

Zhang San stood up, ready to leave the canteen.

Seeing the unusual demeanor of Zhang San, Xu immediately said, "Child, finish your meal first."

Zhang San just gave a bitter smile, "At my age, how can I still have the appetite for food?"

But just then, from outside the canteen, came a loud and arrogant laugh.

Laughter approached from afar, and everyone's faces revealed expressions of seriousness and even concern.

Bai Yucheng stood up and walked towards the entrance of the dining hall.

A crow-like bird with three heads flew in, cackling with a "hahaha" sound.

Bai Yucheng took a rolled-up piece of paper from the strange bird, unfurled it, and slightly furrowed his brows.

"The Qiongqi brings a message, movement from the Demon Cult Followers spotted, set off in a quarter of an hour! Tonight, we ambush the Demon Sect!"[Note 3]

The people in the dining hall immediately returned to their rooms to pack, while Zhang San didn't need to pack much; he first ran to the kitchen and stuffed his bag with plenty of food to avoid hunger on the way, then attended to the bathroom, to avoid falling behind because of a toilet break.

At this moment, Zhang San realized he was equally in danger at the Town Martial Office.

Isn't it just two or three months a year that we have to go out on missions?

Why have there been so many missions recently?

Could it be that they are specifically targeting me?

From this moment on, Zhang San did everything with extra caution.

He also solidified his determination to become stronger.

To become stronger!

One must become stronger!

Meanwhile, Bai Yucheng returned to his room, and a shadow emerged from his own shadow, turning out to be a voluptuous woman dressed in black, with a black mask.

"Shadow, go and lurk in Zhang San's shadow and report his every move to me," Bai Yucheng ordered.

"Yes."

The woman's form once again merged into a shadow, winding on the ground like a small snake, and swiftly left the room.

Just then, Zhang San had just finished relieving himself and gave himself a shake or two.

Suddenly, he felt a chill.

Startled, he shook himself again, then quickly pulled up his trousers and looked behind him.

Around the silent lavatory, there was no one and no sound.

Yet, Zhang San always had the feeling that he wasn't alone there, as if something was lurking around him, spying on him.

This feeling was indescribable for Zhang San, but it was as though he was being constantly watched.

Zhang San pulled up his trousers and immediately went back to his room, grabbed his Horizontal Blade and his protective gear, and then joined the others for the assembly.

By now, many martial artists of the Town Martial Office were already prepared.

Bai Yucheng, too, appeared in a black outfit.

"This nocturnal raid on the Demon Sect followers has to be rapid!"

"But considering that moving in a group of more than a dozen people might be too conspicuous, we will split into several teams, congregating or leaving markers at three designated points along the way."

"Ling, you take..."

After Bai Yucheng assigned the teams, Zhang San was astonished to find that he was assigned to a group with Big Head Wang and Wang Ziteng.

"Officer Bai, I've lost my memory and don't know the way, I'm afraid our group might..."

Zhang San didn't trust Big Head Wang to remember the way, nor did he expect the newcomer Wang Ziteng to know it.

Officer Bai furrowed his brow; he had arranged for Shadow to lurk near Zhang San and had put Zhang San together with Wang Ziteng deliberately to test him.

After all, Wang Ziteng was of no ordinary stature, and if Zhang San still retained memories or the innate greed and cruelty of the Demon Sect, he would surely try everything to make his move.

But if there was an expert following them, Zhang San would likely not take unnecessary risks.

Just then, Xu stepped forward to offer a solution, "Officer Bai, Senior Wei and I have always been inseparable, but after all, these three kids are still young. I will lead their group."

Officer Bai, finding no excuse to refuse and knowing Xu to always be a kind-hearted man who takes care of everyone, could only nod in agreement.

Zhang San, seeing Xu join their group, felt his own hanging heart finally settle down somewhat.

========

[Note 3]Source Explanation

Qiongqi (qí tú): A kind of bird mentioned in the "Classic of Mountains and Seas".

Upon Mount Yi, there is a bird, in appearance like a crow, with three heads and six tails, and it is adept at laughing. Its name is Qiongqi; wearing it ward off weariness and can also repel evil.