Chapter 88: Qilin Temple: What? The clown is actually me? (Part

On the third day, Huāngmù's training of the Jīnglè trio changed again.

Because yesterday's training was too intense, right now Jīnglè, Fúzhú, and Shítān can't even lift their swords with both arms, so Huāngmù took the trio outside the Tranquil Spirit Court……

"Today is leg training! Everyone wraps sandbags around their legs and runs from the Azure Stream Gate (east) to the White Way Gate (west)!"

Huāngmù stepped on a four-wheeled cart and calmly said to Jīnglè, Fúzhú, and Shítān, who were pulling the cart ahead.

"Huh?!"

"Running from the Azure Stream Gate to the White Way Gate is impossible even without sandbags on your legs, let alone while pulling a cart with sandbags on!"

Jīnglè was indeed the first to rebel against Huāngmù.

"Pa~"

Then his butt took a whip lash from Huāngmù's swing.

"It hurts……"

Jīnglè's butt swelled noticeably at a visible speed.

"Anyone else with objections?"

Huāngmù sat on the chair of the four-wheeled cart and asked the three pulling it ahead.

"……"

Almost the moment Huāngmù finished speaking, the Jīnglè trio simultaneously lowered their heads.

"Then let's set off……"

Seeing the three little ones all convinced, Huāngmù coldly said to them.

"Damn……"

Jīnglè glanced back at Huāngmù, who resembled an old man, cursed angrily, but reluctantly became a human cart-pulling tool and started pulling the cart for Huāngmù.

"If it's 'Shave', its principle is actually similar to Flash Step, but if we combine them, as spirit particles gather toward the footsteps and we repeatedly step on the ground, Flash Step's speed might increase."

"For 'Iron Mass', controlling the flow of spirit particles within the body strengthens defense in a certain direction—only those relatively sensitive to spirit particles can do this! Oh, if trained to an instinctual level, it's quite similar to the Quincy's Still Blood Gear……"

"For 'Paper Draw', actively controlling the amount of spirit particles inside the body allows one to reduce or increase weight; when spirit particles are reduced to the limit, one can drift like a light paper in the wind, making any slash easy to dodge……"

"As for the later 'Moon Step', 'Storm Leg', and 'Finger Gun', they all basically involve spirit particle manipulation! Saying this, even if I reproduced the Six Styles according to this world's rules, these techniques are still only usable by geniuses, but fortunately all my disciples are geniuses."

After several days of cramming martial arts knowledge, Huāngmù combined his understanding of the Six Styles with his knowledge of the Quincy, and seemed to have sketched out a prototype of the Spirit Pressure Six Styles……

However, the entire Six Styles involves mastery over one's own spirit particles; simply put, it's a technique only geniuses can use, but fortunately Huāngmù's disciples have no fools.

"Huh?!"

Just as Huāngmù was sitting on the four-wheeled cart thinking, the cart beneath his feet suddenly jolted.

This made Huāngmù put down the book in his hand and look at the three running ahead……

One could see that the originally evenly matched trio now showed clear differences: Jīnglè was drenched in sweat, face red, though his stamina was exhausted, he still gritted his neck and persisted; Shítān, as a descendant of the Gangmidai family, had the best foundation among the three, so this exercise meant little to him; meanwhile Fúzhú had the biggest problem—his naturally weak physique meant he was gradually falling behind the steps of those beside him.

"Look at your companions beside you; keep the three of your breathing steps completely in sync. If my cart jolts once, all three of you will be punished together."

Seeing this, Huāngmù coldly said to the Jīnglè trio.

"Huh? Why?"

Huāngmù's words obviously made Jīnglè dissatisfied; even Shítān frowned, while Fúzhú, feeling ashamed for dragging down his companions, lowered his head slightly.

"I don't think coordinating with others is also training; since everyone's pace and foundation differ, we should use different training methods!"

Shítān gave his opinion.

"If you think you can defeat me, who bears the title 'Strongest', by relying solely on yourselves, then feel free to untie the rope and train alone!"

"But if you think you cannot defeat me, who is called 'Jiànbā', by relying solely on yourselves, then match your companions' pace and complete this training."

Huāngmù glanced at Jīnglè and Shítān and calmly said.

"Um……"

As Huāngmù's words fell, both Jīnglè and Shítān fell silent.

Especially Shítān, his expression kept changing; he had no confidence he could defeat Huāngmù, who even the current head of the Gangmidai family claimed to be invincible.

As for Jīnglè, he couldn't understand why, if one person had a problem, the others also had to be punished! But now he has understood……

At this moment, with Huāngmù's help, both Jīnglè and Shítān intentionally helped Fúzhú share a certain burden.

"Thanks!"

Upon this, Fúzhú's eyes were firm; his foundation was the weakest among everyone, but he absolutely refused to lose, wanting to prove he was absolutely not inferior to others. To this end, Fúzhú decided to put in more training each day than Jīnglè and Shítān, in order to become stronger!

When Fúzhú, Jīnglè, and Shítān's breathing nearly synchronized, a mysterious force drove the three to keep stepping forward—'one step', 'two steps', 'three steps'—even though their stamina was exhausted, their bodies kept moving forward!

When night fell, Fúzhú, Jīnglè, and Shítān finally saw the shadow of the White Way Gate.

One kilometer, eight hundred meters, five hundred meters, three hundred meters……

"We're almost there! We're almost there!"

The trio's expressions were excited; they felt as if they had just defeated a Vasto Lorde, their excitement unbounded.

……One hundred meters!

They seemed to be only a hundred meters away from that White Way Gate! Victory was right before their eyes.

"Boom!!"

However, at that moment, a massive spiritual pressure came from behind the trio.

"Um!"

Instantly, the faces of Jīnglè, Fúzhú, and Shítān all changed; the wooden cart they were pulling behind them suddenly increased in weight, making it feel less like pulling a cart and more like dragging a kilometer‑high mountain— for the three of them, each step forward seemed like agony.

"Is this the end?!"

Jīnglè's eyes were dull; he truly couldn't muster a shred of strength.

"Damn!"

Shítān's mouth corner trickled blood; he could feel his body nearing its limit.

Huff! Huff!

Fuzhu no longer had the strength to speak.

Just this?!

Huangmu, sitting on the vehicle, looked at the three who could no longer continue, used his Soul-Cutting Sword to heal their dark wounds, and then mocked them.

You're kidding!

Jingle had already collapsed to his knees, but he refused to give up, whether crawling forward on his knees or constantly dragging himself along the ground, he would keep moving forward no matter what.

Really not like me!

Shitan gritted his teeth, constantly mocking himself in his heart; given his personality, he should have given up here.

But seeing the 'idiot' and 'sickly weakling' beside him still persisting, he simply couldn't bring himself to say those four words: 'give up'.

After spending so much time with foolish people, even I myself have become foolish!

Regarding that, Shitan gave his evaluation.

……

Fuzhu could no longer speak, but his gaze had not given up.

After struggling for just a hundred meters, Fuzhu, Shitan, and Jingle finally reached the White Dao Gate at midnight.

We won!

Having come this far, the three finally collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.

Are you hungry?!

Huangmu looked at the three collapsed on the ground and asked.

Gurgle~

Before the three could speak, their stomachs already answered Huangmu's question.

Afterward……

Fourth Division Hot Spring.

So refreshing!

Jingle soaked in the hot spring, eating the handmade ramen Huangmu prepared, his face full of a refreshed expression.

Slurp~ slurp~

Fuzhu and Shitan said nothing, just kept gulping down the noodles.

Don't come now! You'll just cause trouble.

Qilin Temple's Tianshilang muttered while leaning against the hot spring's edge, gulping down noodles; this was already his fifth bowl.

Huangmu-sensei, this noodle is delicious! Do you have any secret?

Jingle looked at Huangmu and asked.

Secret? I don't have one; probably just practice makes perfect.

Huangmu looked at Jingle and replied, 'Even if someone sold noodles for a hundred years, their skill could reach legendary level.'

If Huangmu's status screen could show his ramen-making level, it would surely be maxed out at level 10.

Half an hour later……

Burp~

I'm full, I can't eat another bite!

Jingle let out a full belch, lay motionless at the edge of the hot spring and seemed to fall asleep instantly; as for Fuzhu and Shitan, they had already passed out, they were truly exhausted today.

Huangmu saw this and did not disturb them.

Huangmu-brother, are these three also your disciples?

Qilin Temple set down his bowl, wiped the soup from his mouth, and asked Huangmu.

Well, ever since Huangmu reattached his hair, he has regarded Huangmu as his older brother……

Therefore, although Qilin Temple thought opening the hot spring at midnight was troublesome, he still made all the preparations for Huangmu in an orderly manner.

I guess so~

Huangmu heard that and lightly nodded.

These three brats have real talent.

Qilin Temple glanced at Jingle, Fuzhu, and Shitan, instantly deducing that their talent was on par with Ye yi's; even purely in terms of strength, the trio of Jingle, Fuzhu, and Shitan are considerably stronger than the younger Ye yi……

Just average~

It's mainly because Old Man Shan asked me to.

Huangmu said this in a humblebragging way.

Well, compared to Lanran and Yihu, these three's talent really is just average, cough cough……

Oh! Looking at it this way, these three are the squad that Captain Shanben entrusted to you, right?

Qilin Temple immediately understood.

Then should I first raise a cup to our future captain?

Qilin Temple said, about to bring out the fine liquor he had treasured for years.

Hey! When I truly become captain someday, it's not too late to toast me then~

Huangmu directly stopped Qilin Temple.

Compared to this, I have something more important to tell you……

After stopping Qilin Temple, Huangmu said to him……

What is it?

Qilin Temple sat beside Huangmu and asked.

Do you know why I want to let Lie and you cultivate back to the Dao?

Huangmu looked at Qilinsi and asked.

No way? You wouldn't really plan to kick me out of the Guardian Thirteen Squad, would you? You want to replace me as captain of the Fourth Division with Maozhihua? Maozhihua just swings a big blade, knows nothing about medical treatment—how could she be as useful as me?

At this moment Qilinsi really panicked. What is this? On his sickbed he jumped up in fright— the clown turned out to be himself? He hadn't reacted yet before, but now he understands.

Qilinsi also knew the saying 'one emperor, one minister,' but he had thought he and Huangmu were so close that he affectionately called Huangmu 'brother.' When Huangmu became Chief Captain, he should have been retained out of their friendship, but the situation now seems not to be so……

Indeed, I plan to kick you out of the Thirteen Squad.

But it's not because you're not useful; it's because you're too useful, so I plan to help you get a promotion!

Huangmu laughed and said to Qilinsi.

Oh?!

Qilinsi raised his brows at the words; he didn't quite understand what Huangmu meant.

What do you think of the Zero Division?

Without waiting for Qilinsi to speak, Huangmu spoke bluntly.

'Zero Division?!' hiss……

Qilinsi heard that and sucked in a breath of cold air.

Brother Huangmu! No, Brother Huangmu—if you can get me into the Zero Division, you'll be like parents to this subject!

Qilinsi was now speaking incoherently, his words tangled.

Hehe… Huangmu merely gave a light smile, thinking: "This itself is your 'wealth and honor'; I'm just returning your 'wealth and honor' to you. In the end you still have to call me Brother Huangmu—I'll feel quite 'guilty' about that~

The members of the Zero Division, including myself, are people who have made certain contributions to the Soul Society: the naming of the 'Monk,' Wang Yue's 'sword,' my 'ability,' and… Qilinsi, your 'hot spring'!" Huangmu said, drawing a picture for Qilinsi: "But your hot spring needs improvement; the current hot spring doesn't meet the standards of the 'Spirit King'! Look, we build two pools—one to drain blood water and broken spirit particles, the other to inject the renewed spirit particles, so that no matter how severe the injury, the wounded can receive the utmost recovery."

Yin-yang balance, endless life! I understand, I understand completely!

Qilinsi looked at Huangmu's drawing, looking enlightened.

Hehe…

Huangmu merely smiled at the words; his drawing wasn't that lofty—it was just based on the mandarin duck pot from his past life.

So then, after Qilinsi meets the standard to advance to the Zero Division, Monk, can you still continue to loaf up in heaven and not come down?!

Thinking of this, Huangmu gazed at the stars in the night sky, muttering to himself.

Impossible! Absolutely impossible!

Wanting me to go down is itself something that doesn't exist!

The Monk naturally understood everything happening on the ground.

In response, the Monk declared he would hold fast to his original intention, planning to loaf out a bright universe, to loaf out a prosperous peaceful age!

Going down is impossible, impossible in this lifetime……

(End of chapter)