Chapter 26 Martial Arts Instructor
The next morning, Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu, who had enjoyed a good night's sleep, woke up feeling refreshed. They shifted into a comfortable position, ready to drift back to sleep.
These past few days had been incredibly hard on them, and finally having a comfortable and safe place to rest was a feeling they could easily get lost in.
After getting up, the two tidied up a bit. To their surprise, they found many new clothes in the closet, both men's and women's styles.
Without hesitation, they threw their old clothes into the bathtub, planning to wash them when they returned in the evening.
Leaving the bedroom, they made their way to the large dining room, where most of the others had already gathered. Chef Zhuo Jiu had prepared the food, and others were busy carrying plates back and forth.
Before, they were criminals and slaves, living lives worse than dogs. Now that the apocalypse had arrived, they found themselves with better living conditions and food they had never dreamed of, filling them with gratitude. Each of them was afraid of not performing well enough and angering Karen.
They could also see that Wan Lei, Fang Xiaoyu, and Yang Lazi were incredibly strong fighters, who would lead them to become stronger in the future. Combined with their leader Karen, they held these four in high esteem.
"Oh, you're here. I'm really envious of you, kid. I didn't realize how beautiful Xiaoyu was when you were both dirty. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
Karen greeted them with a smile, inviting them to sit down.
"Xiaoyu is what? Only I can call her that name."
"Then what should I call her?"
"Wan Madam."
"Bah, bah, bah, eating your dog food first thing in the morning. Hurry up and eat."
"Speaking of dog food,"
Gouzi, who was sitting nearby, looked indignant,
"After you two went back to your room last night, you didn't care about me at all. I couldn't even reach the doorknob and had to sleep in the hall all night. Are you even human? Is that how you do things? I shouldn't have followed you two in the first place..."
"Alright, enough nonsense. Starting tonight, you can sleep with Karen. Two single dogs can comfort each other."
"Don't bring up sensitive topics, let's be civilized."
"From today on, I will teach you martial arts. I know all eighteen weapons, but my specialty is the staff."
Yang Lazi stood in the middle of the hall, looking at the dozen or so eager students in front of her, her expression serious.
"Therefore, we will start by learning staff techniques.
The staff has a compassionate heart, injuring enemies but not taking lives.
In the martial world, always leave a way out. Never take lives lightly. I have been a chivalrous hero for so many years, and I have never killed a single person..."
"Sister Lazi, do you usually just cripple people and leave them to die or fend for themselves?"
Lei shaojie raised his hand.
"Yes."
"Good heavens, you might as well just give them a quick death."
"Hahahaha..."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Tch, are you telling me how to do things? Want to spar?"
"No, no, you're too violent. My Xiaoyu is much gentler."
"Enough nonsense, watch me demonstrate."
Yang Lazi wielded the iron staff with great power, demonstrating a set of staff techniques.
"The staff keeps both ends busy. The entire staff is a weapon, from tip to tail!
The tip can be used to sweep, chop, and slash!
The body can be used to block enemy weapons, and the tail can be used to attack enemies in front or behind. The tip and tail are often switched.
For example, if you use the tip to chop at an enemy and they block with their staff, you can retract the tip and, with lightning speed, raise the tail and strike the enemy's chin or chest..."
In the following days, Yang Lazi, Wan Lei, and Fang Xiaoyu taught these people staff techniques, gun techniques, hammer techniques, sword techniques, and more. With good food and drink, they quickly became strong and healthy. Through constant sparring, everyone's martial arts skills improved significantly.
Not only that, Yang Lazi also trained them in various combat skills such as running, hiding, scouting, and ambushing, as well as the use of ranged weapons such as bows and crossbows. Wan Lei also taught them various multi-person battle formations, turning them all into well-coordinated warriors.
As the leader and instructor, Karen, in addition to daily training, would also brainwash them, telling them how harsh the outside world was, how dark human nature was, and how cruel the apocalypse was. He emphasized the need to unite and eliminate enemies, and the need to be loyal to the team, warning that any betrayer would come to a bad end.
The fulfilling and peaceful life made time slip away quickly.
They got along well and developed deep feelings for each other. Wan Lei also learned everyone's names and personalities.
During these days, apart from frequently feeling the tremors of falling celestial bodies, their shelter had not been discovered by anyone.
"Wife."
Wan Lei lay in bed, embracing Fang Xiaoyu's smooth, delicate shoulders, and looked at her gently.
"What are you thinking about?"
"I'm thinking... what exactly is the task that the Gou Xianren (Dog Immortal) assigned? I'm almost used to life here. I've even forgotten that I'm a cultivator, and I feel like I'm just a person from this world."
"That's good,"
Fang Xiaoyu gently played with a strand of Wan Lei's hair,
"Only by fully immersing yourself in this world, by considering yourself a person from this world, can you understand the immortal's question."
"But it's been half a year. According to the timeline, they have already left this plane in the original story. And we haven't heard any sounds of falling celestial bodies in the last two days, but we still haven't achieved anything."
"That's right, half a year... Half a year?!"
Fang Xiaoyu's eyes suddenly widened, and she sat up. The sight of her exposed breasts made Lei shaojie drool.
"The Narcissus Secret Realm should have opened, right? Didn't the system say it would open after half a year? Crap, we're not going to make it."
"That's right. Hey, Dog System, come out."
"Don't worry, the time flow here is different from the Lei Feng Realm. You don't need to think too much about it. As long as you complete the task, I will send you to a point in time before the Narcissus Secret Realm opens."
The white-clothed youth stood leaning against the wall, his eyes closed, muttering to himself, "See no evil, hear no evil..."
"Oh, so you can control time? Tch, bullshitting."
I must find a reason to beat you up, kid. It's been fifty thousand years, and no one has dared to scold me. And you, kid, have been scolding me for so long...
Two more days passed. On this day, Karen gathered everyone together and ordered them to bring their weapons, dry food, and water bags.
"Brothers and sisters, half a year has passed. The celestial bodies are no longer falling, and we still know nothing about the outside world.
We have trained for half a year, and it's time to go out and practice. Let me see your fighting power. Don't let my efforts of the past half year be in vain. After we go out, everyone must follow orders. Anyone who dares to act without permission will be killed without mercy!"
Karen smiled coldly,
"Apocalyptic Trilogy: Wasteland Era, here I come!"