Chapter Twelve: Digestion and Absorption (Part One)

“Sir, if you don’t want anyone to know about what happened yesterday, I suggest you don’t put this question on record.” Zhao Li paused, but still carefully reminded Officer Christine.

“I understand. This won’t go into the record, don’t worry.” Christine gave Zhao Li a peculiar look. “I just want to know how you’re doing.” After explaining, a trace of irritation flashed across her face. “What did you just call me?”

“Two cycles, Christine!” To cover one lie, Zhao Li had to fabricate more. That was the situation now, and he could only grit his teeth and carry on.

“I’m sorry.” After a moment of silence, Zhao Li vaguely heard this phrase, though he wasn’t entirely sure. Judging from Christine’s expression, it was genuine.

“Christine…” Zhao Li didn’t know what else to say. The silence settled over the medical bay, making the atmosphere strange and unspoken.

“May I practice my internal energy here for one cycle, sir?” After a long time, Zhao Li cautiously requested permission from Officer Christine, accidentally addressing her as “sir” again. This time, Christine didn’t correct him.

“Go ahead, you can practice here.” Whatever realization she came to, Christine gave Zhao Li a sweet, radiant smile. In that instant, Zhao Li felt the familiar heat surge throughout his body—he could now be certain it was Christine’s sudden shift to that enchanting smile.

Unable to grasp why, Zhao Li gave up trying to get to the bottom of it, and hurriedly began circulating his energy, hoping to assess the progress from the previous night.

To his surprise, the foreign energy clogging his meridians had diminished significantly. Previously, it had blocked the path from the Major Vertebra all the way to the Crown of the Head, then the Chest Center, and finally the Dantian—all filled with foreign energy. Now, Zhao Li’s own energy could circulate up to the Crown unhindered.

Descending to the Chest Center, he finally encountered the foreign energy again, and it took nearly half an hour before he could guide his true energy back into his Dantian.

But, since he’d told Christine he’d only completed two cycles overnight, he had to continue pretending that he hadn’t finished a single cycle yet.

After meditation, his efficiency improved dramatically. Calculating by cycle, six hours was enough for Zhao Li to complete nine cycles. It seemed last night he’d indeed managed nine cycles, compressing and absorbing much of the foreign energy.

Christine’s energy was truly formidable. Zhao Li wondered how she’d cultivated it at such a young age; surely her talent was exceptional, and she must have trained in specialized schools or military units to achieve such results.

Even after just one night of absorption, Zhao Li felt his own energy grow noticeably, almost by a significant percentage. At this stage, Zhao Li understood that Christine’s method was effective; the mistake lay in his concealment, which caused her to miscalculate the timing.

After five consecutive cycles, Zhao Li concluded his practice and stood up. It had been more than two hours, but he insisted to Christine he’d only completed one cycle.

Christine waited patiently for him to finish, and had already filled out the usual questions according to standard answers. To cover up the secret, she too had to continue weaving lies. This truth applies to anyone.

Instructor Arnold came in at the right moment to check on Zhao Li, and all three tacitly avoided mentioning yesterday’s events. After confirming Zhao Li’s normal condition, Arnold escorted him back to the ranks to resume training.

Frankly, Zhao Li’s ability to keep up with the training under these circumstances astonished Arnold. These routines were designed for those who had mastered first-level cultivation techniques, yet Zhao Li had only practiced basic physical conditioning. His performance justified the close monitoring by Arnold and Christine.

If Christine hadn’t acted impulsively, Zhao Li might well have become a focus of higher-level attention. Unfortunately…

For several days, Zhao Li endured extreme fatigue in training, spent about two hours in the medical bay to recover, then resumed training. At night, in a state of utter exhaustion, he easily entered deep meditation and practiced his energy techniques. In less than a week, Zhao Li’s meridians were free of any foreign energy blockages and flowed smoothly.

Yet Zhao Li dared not reveal these changes to Instructor Arnold or Officer Christine. Fortunately, current technology couldn’t detect the state of his internal energy; otherwise, his lies would be impossible to sustain.

Of course, he had to feign some progress. For example, he claimed that a single cycle now took only an hour and a half, indicating a healthy recovery.

Christine’s attitude toward Zhao Li became increasingly casual. Each time, she teased him until he could barely endure, but after each night, Zhao Li seemed to return to normal, unaffected by Christine’s seductive charm. As a result, Christine always appeared somewhat wistful when she saw him, making Zhao Li anxious, worried that he’d somehow wronged her.

From the way his comrades were increasingly distracted by Christine’s flirtatiousness, Zhao Li vaguely guessed the reason, but said nothing. Everyone has their own temperament; reminders cannot change that. Besides, he didn’t believe any simple warning would have effect in Christine’s presence.

To Zhao Li, Christine was a dazzling beauty, alluring and enigmatic, making all the army’s self-proclaimed romantics behave like proud beasts, seduced into leaping into a deep abyss with no clear outcome.

Who knew how many had figured it out? But that was no longer Zhao Li’s concern. Now, apart from deceiving Instructor Arnold and Medical Officer Christine as planned, Zhao Li was absorbed in his own cultivation.

The absorption of Christine’s foreign energy had increased Zhao Li’s energy by at least thirty percent. One night, he experienced three rounds of nine cycles in deep meditation, and the density of his energy had solidly improved.

Even more gratifying, Zhao Li could now complete a cycle in under three minutes. Even during brief training breaks, he could instantly practice a cycle and restore his strength.

Thank you everyone for your support—please continue to click, recommend, and add to your favorites!