Technique 079

Ever since the energy emerged within his body, Zhong Yun had been trying to control it. Influenced by martial arts novels, he regarded this energy as something akin to inner strength. But he had never succeeded; the energy behaved like a mischievous child, completely ignoring Zhong Yun’s commands. If he tried to direct it to his arm, it would rush toward his feet; if he wanted it to gather in his lower abdomen, it would instead disperse throughout his body.

It was like Duan Yu’s Six Meridian Divine Sword—a comparison that wasn’t even apt, for at least Duan Yu’s sword had its moments of power, while Zhong Yun’s energy had never obeyed him at all.

He had once asked Zero if there was a way to control the energy. Zero replied that such methods existed, but that section of the database had not yet been unlocked.

Which was as good as saying nothing. Zhong Yun had no choice but to fumble along on his own.

During “combat simulation training,” he had indeed grasped some basic techniques, but they were crude and inefficient. When he made the invisibility cloak last night, it had only taken thirty seconds for him to be completely drained, yet the energy within him was far from exhausted.

Zhong Yun estimated that his efficiency in using the energy was perhaps less than five percent; the remaining ninety-five percent was wasted. He was constantly seeking ways to improve this, but had found no clues so far.

Now, with the system about to teach him the “Breaking” technique, he was wild with joy. Wasn’t this precisely a method for using the energy?

Today is truly my lucky day, Zhong Yun thought, overwhelmed with excitement.

He calmed himself and watched the figure before him intently as it demonstrated punches once more. He scrutinized every detail, afraid to miss a thing.

After three demonstrations, the figure vanished.

Zhong Yun jumped up at once. “Hey! Don’t go! I haven’t seen it clearly yet. Hey, hey…” His anxiety was palpable.

At that moment, the system’s voice sounded again: “Statistics indicate your technique is insufficient. You cannot learn the physical skill ‘Breaking’.”

“I can learn it! I can!” Zhong Yun protested. “Let me watch a few more times. I’ll get it if I see it again.”

The system ignored him. “In light of this, your challenge is temporarily halted. Begin with the basic techniques.”

“What?!” Zhong Yun, who had been hopping with impatience, was suddenly stunned, then overjoyed.

The method for using the energy was actually simple to practice—it resembled the way one accumulated energy, relying on breathing and meditation.

Originally, training in both accumulation and usage of energy would have happened together. But since much of Zero’s database was locked, Zhong Yun had only the accumulation technique, leaving him hobbled. Though he possessed a considerable reserve of energy, his techniques were sorely lacking.

In essence, mastering the use of energy was straightforward: constant training to make it obedient, able to strike east at command, or west, just like moving one’s own arm.

The method was to meditate, using breath to guide the body and force the energy to follow one’s will, gradually turning these unruly “children” into disciplined “soldiers.”

Because Zhong Yun already had a significant store of energy, the process was slow, but he wasn’t worried. Now that he knew the way, he was sure he’d master it with time.

He devoted himself fully to practice, shutting out all distractions, forgetting even the passing of time. It wasn’t until Chen Wen knocked on his door that he was startled awake, reluctantly leaving the virtual network.

By then, it was nearly noon.

He and Chen Wen went downstairs, finding Tian Hai still sleeping soundly on the couch.

Chen Wen patted his stomach and asked, “I’m starving—anything to eat?”

Zhong Yun glanced at the time. “Almost. Someone should be bringing food soon. Drink some water to tide you over,” he said, making a cup of hangover tea as he spoke.

He walked over to the still-sleeping Tian Hai, pinched his nose, and, when Tian Hai’s mouth opened, poured the tea in.

“Ah, pfft—” Tian Hai jerked awake, flailing to wipe the liquid from his shirt, and muttered in confusion, “Is it raining?”

The instigator, Zhong Yun, was doubled over with laughter. Chen Wen, who was drinking water, burst out laughing at the sight, spraying water everywhere and coughing so hard his face turned red.

Just awakened, Tian Hai looked bewildered at Chen Wen, not understanding the cause of his coughing, and asked, “Did you catch a cold?”

“I can’t take it anymore,” Zhong Yun said, clutching his stomach, tears streaming down his face with laughter.

Chen Wen almost choked from laughing, pounding the arm of his chair for relief.

After a while, Tian Hai finally caught on and woke up completely. “You’re messing with me!” he cried, just as the doorbell rang.

Zhong Yun seized the opportunity to answer it. It was the food delivery. Last night, he’d remembered to call Xiao Qing, asking her to send food today. After eating bland nutritional supplements at the alien base for over a month, he was desperate for something tasty.

At the base, what he missed most wasn’t Liu Yunqi, but Xiao Qing’s unparalleled cooking. No wonder they say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach—it’s absolutely true.

Naturally, it wasn’t Xiao Qing herself who came, but a waiter from Yunlai Restaurant. Zhong Yun chatted with him briefly, only then recalling that today was Xiao Qing’s exam day.

The junior high entrance exam here was different from the standardized admissions exam in Zhong Yun’s old country on Earth; in Davor, schools held their own independent tests.

Of course, public schools admitted students without exams, since elementary education was still compulsory. But anyone hoping to enroll in a private school had to pass that school’s entrance test.

After seeing the delivery person off, Zhong Yun returned to the living room.

Seeing Zhong Yun carrying in the food, Tian Hai and Chen Wen pounced like starving wolves. If Zhong Yun hadn’t specially asked Xiao Qing to make extra, he’d have gone hungry today. Tian Hai and Chen Wen were nowhere near as lucky as Zhong Yun, who could eat Xiao Qing’s cooking every day.

“Xiao Qing is really too biased,” Chen Wen complained between mouthfuls. “She even brings food straight to your house.”

“Exactly, exactly,” Tian Hai chimed in, still wolfing down his share.

Zhong Yun ignored them—his own mouth was far from idle. With these two ravenous wolves, if he slowed down even a little, everything would be gone.

After the meal, the three of them rested briefly before heading out together. Today was their last day of vacation, so they intended to enjoy it to the fullest. Their destination: the amusement park.

They played until nightfall, only reluctantly parting ways to return home. With school starting the next morning, they all needed an early night.

Watching his friends drive away, Zhong Yun took out his phone and dialed a number.

A beautiful woman’s face appeared on the screen. “Ah, it’s you?” she exclaimed, covering her mouth in surprise.

“It’s me.” Zhong Yun’s lips curved in a faint smile. “Are you free tonight?”

“Free, of course I’m free!” her eyes sparkled with delight, and she nodded eagerly.

“One hour from now, meet me at the main entrance of Pearl Tower. Be punctual—I don’t like people who are late.”

“I understand.”

PS: Recommending a friend’s novel, "Jurassic" by Saya, a journey through the Jurassic era. Book ID: 1228133