ALL NOVEL Chapter 18: A Costly Ransom
After completing another full practice session of the breathing technique with Pei Youguang, Xue Jing finally memorized all the intricate details of the method.
This time, the discomfort from finishing the breathing cycle was similar to the first attempt, yet slightly improved as he seemed to be acclimating.
Pei Youguang, having performed the breathing exercise twice in a row, also felt a bit uncomfortable. He rubbed his forehead in amazement and said, “Not only did you successfully complete the cycle on your first try, but you went through two consecutive sessions...”
“If the master from our dojo were to know of this, he'd probably be left speechless.”
Xue Jing gradually eased the strain from the exercise and said quietly, “Youguang, thank you for this.”
Pei Youguang, taken aback by this gratitude, hurriedly replied, “Oh! There's no need to thank me, Brother Jing, the honor's mine that you even let me teach you...”
Though it might have sounded a bit like flattery, Pei truly felt this way.
Considering Xue Jing's innate talent and potential, anyone could tell that he was destined for greatness. Pei felt privileged to establish even a small connection with him during this early stage by imparting some knowledge.
This basic breathing method was of little value on its own, but to build a relationship with someone of limitless potential was definitely a worthwhile trade.
Pei Youguang lamented, “It's a pity I don't have the dojo's secret elixirs. The breathing method should be paired with these concoctions for optimal effect. The master referred to this process as 'cleansing the blood'...”
“He mentioned that blood is the fundamental energy source of the body; the purer and more outstanding the blood, the stronger the energy flow it provides. Every dojo has its own unique method for 'blood cleansing'. One day, Brother Jing, if you join a dojo, you might have access to these secrets.”
As Pei spoke, Xue Jing glanced at a panel that appeared in his view.
【You have completed a breathing technique exercise, Fitness Experience +16】
“You've completed a breathing technique practice. Fitness experience +16.”
“Fitness Lv2.”
After practicing the breathing technique twice, his fitness experience increased by over thirty points?
Pei Youguang said the breathing technique could improve physical fitness, but he didn't expect it to be this effective.
“A complete cycle of the breathing technique takes about fifteen minutes, which means an hour yields over sixty points.”
In contrast, going to the gym can increase fitness experience by around a hundred points per hour.
Although the breathing technique seems less efficient than dedicated workouts, it shouldn't be calculated like that.
Exercising requires specific equipment and environment, whereas the breathing technique can be practiced anytime, anywhere!
If he could maintain the breathing technique for twenty-four hours, hypothetically, he could gain over fourteen hundred fitness experience points in a day by 'idling'!
What a remarkable increase!
Of course, this isn't possible at the moment; the breathing technique is quite taxing, and after two complete cycles, he already felt he needed to stop temporarily or risk injury.
Nevertheless, having a method to increase fitness experience anytime, anywhere, made Xue Jing very satisfied.
After about twenty more minutes, Xue Jing felt completely recovered.
He stood up and looked around. Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he glanced at a machine in the corner.
Pei Youguang noticed Xue Jing's gaze and chuckled, “That's the force measuring machine, Brother Jing, want to give it a try?”
Xue Jing nodded.
Pei Youguang said, “Alright, let me turn it on for you.”
He ran to the back of the machine and pressed a button, causing the screen on the frame to light up and display the previous test result.
【1472N】.
“The unit of measurement on this machine is Newtons, represented by the 'N'.”
Pei Youguang explained.
“1472 Newtons, if converted to kilograms, is about one hundred and fifty kilograms.”
Pei Youguang boasted a bit, “I generated this result two days ago with my full strength. Impressive, right?”
After a moment's pause, “Let me give it a try.”
Pei Youguang immediately stepped aside at the sight.
Xue Jing stepped forward, assuming a stance. He took a deep breath, aimed at the slightly worn leather pad of the machine, and delivered a powerful straight punch!
“BANG!!”
The heavy machine shook slightly with the explosive sound, and the numbers on the screen began to jump continuously before finally stopping.
Pei Youguang’s eyes widened slightly.
“What the hell!?”
1773 Newtons, when converted to weight, is approximately 181 kilograms.
“Jing brother, you wouldn't have secretly trained and come here to con me, would you?”
Pei Youguang clicked his tongue in amazement.
“Using pure brute force without any technique to hit 1773 Newtons, that’s around 180 kilograms, is just absurd!”
He rubbed his bandage-wrapped nose, “No wonder you almost knocked my nose off this afternoon...”
Xue Jing laughed heartily, “How was that, impressive?”
Pei Youguang nodded repeatedly, “Absolutely impressive, brother. If you learn to harness your strength properly, you could immediately go for the professional martial artist ranking test.”
Xue Jing didn’t respond but instead looked curiously at a machine beside them with many buttons, “What’s that?”
Pei Youguang chuckled, “That’s for reaction training. See all those buttons on it? It’s like playing whack-a-mole. The goal is to hit whichever button lights up as quickly as possible…”
…
Xue Jing stayed at Pei Youguang’s house until nearly eight in the evening, agreeing to visit regularly during this period before he finally took his leave.
Before leaving, Pei Youguang made one last request to be exempted from reciting the reflection report in front of the class the next morning, but Xue Jing refused him.
Initially, Xue Jing had decided on this as a way to discipline the school bully, but now, it was genuinely for Pei Youguang's own good.
Carrying the reputation of killer and thug is no joking matter.
Pei Youguang was too young to comprehend the consequences fully, or perhaps he vaguely understood but was neglecting them for some reason, yet Xue Jing did not want him to ruin his life because of it.
Even though he had made mistakes, as long as they weren't absolute breaches of principle, there was still a chance for redemption.
Xue Jing walked along the street. Despite it only being 8 PM, the street in the southern district was eerily quiet with just a few shops still lit.
The evening wind swept across, sending bottles, cans, newspapers, and plastic bags dancing about the street, creating a symphony of echoes in the quiet night.
Xue Jing carried his backpack on one shoulder, naturally heading to the nearest bus stop.
Unbeknownst to him, a few figures lurked several meters away in an alley, watching him with ill intentions.
One of them, a man with a lock of white-dyed hair, chuckled, "What a rarity, catching such a fat lamb at this hour. Judging by his school uniform, is he from Qing University Affiliated High School?"
Standing among them, a middle-aged man with a long scar across his right cheek took a deep drag from his cigarette and exhaled slowly.
He wore a sleeveless black vest with a coiling dragon tattoo on his muscular right arm. "Out for a stroll on Razor Gang's turf at night without leaving something behind? That's not going to fly."
"Able to afford tuition at the affiliated school, he should be able to afford some ransom money, right?"
……
The alley was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls as Chu Minyi made his cautious approach.
He clutched his phone tightly, using its light to navigate the confusing bends and narrow passages.
There was an eerie stillness in the air, punctuated only by the distant hum of the city.
Yet, his nerves were on edge, every sound heightened as if he expected trouble around every corner.
Out of the shadows, a figure stepped into his path.
A middle-aged man with a scar across his cheek, whose presence was as unsettling as the scar itself, stopped Chu Minyi.
"You're Pei Youguang's friend, right?"
The words were more of a statement than a question, his voice rough like gravel.
"We need to talk."
Chu Minyi swallowed hard, his mind racing.
This wasn't the first time someone had approached him due to his association with Pei, yet the air here felt dangerously different.
He nodded warily, conscious of the weight of his choice.
"What do you want with Pei? He's been trying to leave all that behind..."
The scarred man chuckled mirthlessly, a sound that echoed off the alley walls.
"Leaving is never that simple," he said, reaching into his coat pocket.
"There's a price to pay, and sometimes it's not money we're talking about."
The implication hung heavily in the air, laden with unspoken threats.
As Chu Minyi scrutinized the man's movements, his thoughts turned to Xue Jing.
If anyone could navigate these waters, it was him.
But first, he needed to find a way out.
Suddenly, the man whistled sharply, and two other figures materialized from the gloom.
They were not just after ransoms; they seemed to enjoy the power their threats wielded over others.
If the Razor Gang truly had their sights set on Pei, then their reach was growing.
"You have a message for Pei Youguang," the middle-aged man continued.
"Tell him his past isn't as buried as he thinks. And Chu Minyi..."
He paused, letting the name hang ominously in the stale air.
"Be smart about whose business you meddle in."
With that, the encounter ended as abruptly as it had begun, leaving Chu Minyi in the now empty alley, heart still pounding in his chest.
He took a deep breath and turned back, his resolve hardening. There was only one person he knew would understand the gravity of the situation—Xue Jing.