Chapter 60: Chapter 57: Poor Literati and Rich Warriors, A Banquet for the Second Generation
Soft Power, also known as Hidden Power.
It represents an advanced technique for manipulating Power.
By minutely controlling the Power and concentrating it at one point, then channeling it into the target and unleashing it there, one can achieve this effect.
Xue Jing threw a punch using Soft Power, directing all the Power into the punch pad of the Strength-Testing Machine without touching the machine itself, leaving the machine unaffected while the punch pad was torn into pieces by the Soft Power.
Those skilled in using Soft Power, such as Meng Qingjiao, could even manage it with ease, striking silently and effortlessly, a mere touch of their palm capable of sending Xue Jing flying dozens of meters without hurting him, focusing all their Power on "Thrust."
Since the day before yesterday when Xue Jing's Channeling Energy reached Lv6, he had quickly learned how to use Soft Power.
However, he was not yet proficient, as his punches still made a dull sound, failing to achieve the state of silent and effortless lifting.
"Junior Brother, please go get a punch pad from the warehouse and fit it onto the Strength-Testing Machine,"
Xue Jing said with a smile, as he patted the shoulder of a junior disciple.
He suddenly felt slightly strange, as if he were a leader who caused trouble for others and needed their help to clean up his mess...
However, he had not actually planned to strike, it was only because the disciples enthusiastically invited him that he couldn't restrain himself from showing off a little. Even without dismissing the fact, it was definitely the cheering disciples' fault that the punch pad was destroyed.
The disciple, unaware of the thoughts going through this Senior Brother's mind, hurriedly nodded and respectfully said, "Yes, Junior Brother!"
He inadvertently established a bit of authority in the process...
Xue Jing chuckled, said no more, and left the training hall at a leisurely pace.
Just as he was leaving, he saw Chen Fuguang standing there, and Xue Jing immediately asked,
"Senior Brother Chen, do you need something from me?"
Chen Fuguang put an arm around his shoulder and smiled, "The dojo just received a mission that's very suitable for you. Would you like to try it?"
At these words, Xue Jing's face showed a trace of interest.
"Please tell me about it," he said.
Since he had started practicing Armor Shaking Skill, he deeply realized the meaning of the phrase "the poor excel in literature, the wealthy excel in martial arts."
The various secret medicines he needed daily for his training cost, on average, over ten thousand Zhuxia currency each day.
That was just the cost price! It only included raw material costs and processing fees, essentially meaning Hidden Dragon Dojo was losing money by supporting him.
Many of the raw ingredients for these secret medicines needed to be sourced from Intersecting Boundaries, purchased from those gluttonous Intersecting Boundaries companies, especially materials related to "Dragon Breed," which were outrageously expensive.
As the training deepened, the required medicine would only increase in quantity and price...
This was why Direct Disciples were always so busy and often elusive--because they needed to earn money.
Currently, Xue Jing's regular income included only a monthly salary of two hundred thousand from the containment company and bonuses from completing containment missions--an unstable income.
This was insufficient to support his Martial Arts Practice needs.
Therefore, he also had to start, like other Direct Disciples, taking on some "assignments."
Hidden Dragon Dojo was renowned, and many affairs requiring Martial Artists were entrusted to it from various sectors of society. These assignments were a significant source of income for Hidden Dragon Dojo, even exceeding the tuition fees paid by ordinary disciples by a large margin.
As long as he completed the assignments, Xue Jing could earn a considerable commission, which was why he had asked Chen Fuguang a few days earlier to give him any suitable assignments.
There was finally some news.
Chen Fuguang took out his cellphone, operated it for a moment, and then handed it to Xue Jing.
On the screen was an address.
[East City District, Jinhai Street No. 617, Rui Zhu Hotel, Telephone: XXXXXXX]
After memorizing it, Xue Jing handed the cellphone back to Chen Fuguang, who, taking it back, said, "The client is Rui Zhu Hotel. According to them, last night one of their guests was attacked mysteriously."
"Mysterious attack?" Xue Jing showed a puzzled face.
Chen Fuguang nodded and mumbled, "It was a young woman in her twenties, on a business trip from out of town to Qingcheng. She was in her room at midnight, and suddenly she was murdered. Her body was mauled terribly--it's unknown whether it was the work of a psychopathic killer or something else."
"The surveillance didn't capture any clues?" Xue Jing asked.
"No, the hotel corridor's surveillance didn't capture anyone coming to that floor several hours before and after her death."
"Therefore, the murderer likely entered the room from somewhere else, such as a window or balcony."
Xue Jing nodded and said, "So they suspect the killer might be a martial artist who used light-body skills to enter the room and commit the murder?"
Chen Fuguang grunted affirmatively and said, "Exactly. Actually, murders in hotels are not uncommon. Generally, you just report to the police, and let the Public Security Bureau handle it."
"However, unfortunately, Rui Zhu Hotel has a banquet tomorrow... it's organized by a group of influential second-generation kids from North City District. Their parents are either Governing Councilors or company heads, and none of them can afford an incident, so Rui Zhu Hotel had no choice but to enlist several dojos to enhance security at the event."
Xue Jing complained, "Someone died, and these people don't find it unlucky. Don't they think of changing the venue?"
Chen Fuguang smiled helplessly and said, "Originally, Rui Zhu Hotel did suggest changing the venue or date, but these second-gens, hearing about the death, were even more thrilled by it, saying it adds an exciting and thrilling element, and insisted on having the banquet tomorrow."
Upon hearing this, Xue Jing raised an eyebrow. "Talk about taste."
Once people have both money and power, they naturally lose a lot of things, such as worries...
The saying goes that you seek what you lack, so it wasn't surprising to see these influential youths creating their own troubles; it was quite normal.
"This time your assignment is to protect these influential youths at the banquet. Besides our Hidden Dragon Dojo, there will be disciples from a few other dojos present."
Chen Fuguang patted Xue Jing on the shoulder.
"I don't think the killer will come looking for trouble. Most likely, it'll just be a formality to complete the assignment. But you also need to be careful. If you encounter any danger you can't handle, don't hesitate to run immediately; safety is most important--it doesn't matter what happens to those rich kids."
Xue Jing nodded with a smile.
"Tomorrow night, someone from Rui Zhu Hotel will come by car to pick you up. Little brother, you just need to follow them."
"Well then, brother, I also have an assignment to tend to, so I'll be leaving now. Call me anytime if you need anything."
Having said his piece and given a few more instructions, Chen Fuguang then left Hidden Dragon Dojo.
Xue Jing saw him off at the door before returning to the training hall to continue recording the students' test results.
Unlike before, this time all disciples were seriously and silently going through the tests, none dared to tease him again.
The sponge fragments on the floor had already been cleaned up, and the punching pads that had been replaced emitted a distinctive smell of new leather.
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