Big Data Cultivation

Chapter 213: Grudgingly

Feng Jun did not intentionally leave Wang Haifeng hanging; he simply observed the other party for a moment at first.

Then he spoke seriously, “Haifeng, let me be honest with you, our relationship goes back further than the time I’ve dealt with Lei Gang, and your physical condition is quite decent. My expectations for you were originally higher than for Lei Gang.”

“That’s true,” Xu Leigang immediately chimed in, “I knew Master Feng was no ordinary person and wanted to become his disciple too, but the master only said the time wasn’t right and didn’t agree to it.”

“But today, you attacked first and then said you wanted to learn martial arts. Not only did the master not hold it against you, but he also agreed right away… Strictly speaking, I should actually thank you.”

Wang Haifeng had already decided to restrain himself and behave, yet hearing this, he felt it was too much to bear. He cautiously glanced at Feng Jun, “Master, can I retort him?”

Feng Jun raised an eyebrow, the expression clearly one of “neither support nor opposition.”

Wang Haifeng understood the tacit understanding between them; he turned his head towards Xu Leigang and spoke vehemently, “Then why didn’t you tell me earlier? If I hadn’t been beaten today, wouldn’t you still be waiting?”

Xu Leigang glared at him, “I wanted to tell you, but without Master’s permission, would I dare to?”

Upon hearing this, Wang Haifeng was dumbfounded. He then realized that if Feng Jun were really that miraculous, the news leaked out would certainly attract countless admirers.

By then, those begging to become disciples could probably line up all the way to the outside of Peach Blossom Valley. Where would it be his turn, with his less than respectful attitude?

Coach Wang was rather casual in his approach, but he had one good quality: as soon as he realized he was wrong, he would immediately admit it.

So he quickly nodded, “Alright, Lei Gang, I was wrong to accuse you. I apologize, but… you could have hinted me secretly.”

Feng Jun felt speechless as he reached for the cigarettes on the table: Speaking like this in front of me, is that really okay?

However, he didn’t mind Wang Haifeng and Xu Lei getting along well, for it was best if there were no rifts between martial brothers.

“I could hint you, but you would have to be willing to listen,” Xu Leigang glared at Wang Haifeng again, “I’m often moving around the master and luckily know some secrets. Your mind is all on flirting with girls, who would be willing to put in such hard effort?”

“Hey, hey,” Coach Wang cried out, “Lao Xu, let me tell you, don’t spew blood, I have many serious things to do.”

“Heh,” Fatty Xu laughed with a hint of disdain, “Your serious business is to prove to your wife you’re not flirting with girls.”

Wang Haifeng pointed a finger at him, but in haste, he couldn’t find any reason to refute.

“Enough,” Feng Jun didn’t want to see them argue anymore. Seeing Wang Haifeng had returned to normal, he beckoned, “Come here, let me assess both of your aptitudes first.”

His method of assessment was simple… it was taking pulses!

That’s right, he held the wrists of the other party’s hands with both hands, as if taking pulses just like a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, except that he did it with both hands simultaneously.

In doing this, it wasn’t entirely for show; he also channeled two streams of Inner Qi into their wrists and then, following the meridians, investigated the condition of their entire bodies.

Upon examining, he actually made a small discovery, “Haifeng, have you suffered an injury near your left shoulder on your back?”

Wang Haifeng first froze, then nodded, “Yes, that’s right… you can even detect that?”

It happened in junior high when he twisted his back due to a collision while playing basketball. He was young and resilient and didn’t care about it, even though it hurt for several days before his family took him for physical therapy.

Now, he barely felt the injury anymore, but occasionally, if he misapplied a bit of force, he could still feel some soreness, so he was well aware that there was a lingering issue.

Then, Feng Jun checked Xu Leigang’s meridians. Lao Xu’s physical condition was clearly on the decline, but surprisingly, Fatty Xu’s meridians and muscle responses were quite good, even a bit stronger than Coach Wang’s.

But soon, he realized the truth—it was after all the one who had taken a Body Tempering Pill!

Then he rose and went upstairs, “You two chat for a while; I need to consider carefully how to design the cultivation techniques for both of you.”

The two of them looked at each other until Feng Jun entered the room and closed the door. Wang Haifeng then asked in a low voice, “Lao Xu, he… Master Feng actually designs cultivation techniques?”

“I really didn’t know that,” Xu Leigang replied quietly, “but, we absolutely must not let that information spread… When the master’s mother came last time, she seemed clueless about his martial arts abilities.”

“I see,” Wang Haifeng nodded thoughtfully and moved his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately refrained.

He felt that Feng Jun knew quite a few extraordinary skills and was keeping them secret from his parents, which seemed somewhat… unfilial. But now, who was he to criticize the master over such a matter?

In fact, he was misunderstanding the situation. Feng Jun did care deeply for his parents, but martial artist cultivation was not especially beneficial for longevity, and plus, the younger one started cultivating, the better the results.

For older individuals to cultivate, not only would it be a hard endeavor, there was also a chance that over-cultivation could damage their innate vitality.

Feng Jun believed that it was somewhat bizarre for an old lady to risk harming her body to become a martial artist—wasn’t that an odd scenario?

He thought that it wasn’t too late to teach his parents Immortal Techniques after he had obtained them—at the very least, he needed to find some life-extending treasures before it was worth making a special trip to see them.

About ten minutes after Feng Jun entered the room, he walked out.

Descending the stairs to stand by the two men, he nodded slightly, “Not bad, your talents haven’t disappointed me much. Lei Gang’s talent is even stronger than Hai Feng’s, although it’s a pity that he’s a bit too old.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Haifeng felt a bit displeased again, while Xu Leigang, with a happy smile, chimed in, “Master, do I need to lose weight too?”

Feng Jun gave him a strange look and said, “Are you sure you can manage it?”

“Uh,” Xu Leigang was suddenly at a loss for words. Even though he had many strengths, he had one habit that was criticized—laxity. If it weren’t for this, even with his Innate weakness, he wouldn’t have ended up this overweight.

“Alright, you can go back now,” Feng Jun waved them off. “In two days, I will give you the Cultivation Techniques… Use these two days to take care of your personal affairs.”

It was then that Wang Haifeng remembered something, “Master Feng, about Sister Hong, I’ve contacted her. Her tone was rather strange… It seems like she needs to be contacted by you personally.”

“Did she say that?” Feng Jun was startled for a moment before slowly nodding, “Then let her be.”

The news from Sister Hong dampened his spirits, but he was quite pleased with the way Wang Haifeng had conducted himself.

This young man actually knew to apologize first and seek forgiveness before relaying the news, rather than using it as leverage to gain forgiveness, showing that he knew when to advance or retreat in matters.

During those two days, Feng Jun translated two Cultivation Techniques, one being the Nine Forms Eighteen Diagrams, and the other the Nine Forms Twenty-Seven Diagrams.

Wang Haifeng and Xu Leigang were also busy. They sorted out their family matters and even bought training apparel. Neither of them lacked money, so they purchased high-quality goods, including training clothes, socks, shoes, and even leg wraps.

In addition to this, they set up a moveable shed not more than four square meters at the entrance of the villa courtyard, resembling a guard booth, and even ran a separate power line to it.

According to Xu Leigang, this would allow them to stand guard in case Master Feng was not available, having even arranged a place to sleep.

Of course, if Master Feng was not in, they would stay inside the house overnight.

Fatty Xu might come from a wealthy second generation, but he knew quite a few things and was very considerate in his planning.

That afternoon, Feng Jun handed two booklets to them, “The Cultivation Techniques you two will practice differ. Follow the instructions I’ve given you; do not take hints from each other’s Cultivation Techniques, but feel free to discuss other matters.”

Wang Haifeng received the most common Nine Forms Eighteen Diagrams, the same kind that Lang Zhen practiced.

As for Xu Leigang, he received the Nine Forms Twenty-Seven Diagrams because his constitution was a bit unusual—although strong in the Wood Attribute, it was severely suppressed by the Gold Attribute, similar to Liu Feifei.

However, his weakened attributes were mainly because his mother was quite old when she gave birth to him, after already having several other children. This, coupled with a long stay in the military camp, a Land of Slaughter, resulted in his current state.

Fortunately, Feng Jun had a Cultivation Technique that suited this condition, which he then passed on to him.

Wang Haifeng’s talent could only be described as average, with a balance in the Five Elements, a harmonious cycle of creation and restraint, and a balanced Yin Yang. Feng Jun thought it over and decided that, in this case, it was better to start with basic Tun Na (breathing exercises).

The two pondered over the booklets for half a day, and Feng Jun took another two hours to lecture them, asking them to quickly sense their Inner Qi.

Finding the sense of qi is not an easy task. Apart from studying the Cultivation Techniques, the two spent most of their time trying to sense their qi.

But five days passed, and they still hadn’t achieved anything. Feng Jun was somewhat frustrated by this. How is it that when I want to impart some Cultivation Techniques, not only are my disciples acquaintances, but also of such mediocre talent?

Looking at other main characters in stories, their disciples are either born with a Spiritual Root or are children of fate. Even a random child picked up along the way turns out to be a tormented Princely Heir from the Prince’s Mansion, and the most impressive ones… could even be reincarnated powerhouses.

Of course, these were just Feng Jun’s musings. He knew all too well that his own decisions had been hasty.

But there was no helping it; those were his circumstances. Without a solid foundation or supportive people around him, how could he recruit just anyone he wanted?

He didn’t wish for friends to become disciples, preferring to give them more time to consider their options. After all, relationships would change, and many people are not able to accept that calmly.

But now, with limited options, only his friends could earn his trust.

At the same time, it was essential to quickly establish a foundation in modern society.

Only by establishing a solid foundation could he act freely in the world within the mobile phone.

Thus, the first disciples he ended up teaching were of such caliber, leaving him with no choice but to accept the situation.

Not only were their talents… just so-so, but they were also friends, and what was more critical, their ages—their bones had already fused.

(Update to this point, calling for monthly votes.)