After an intense hour-long training session, Kai was finally satisfied with the progress they made. As they took a break, Mr. Zhou appeared out of nowhere with snacks and water for everyone. The trio sat on the bamboo long chair, indulging in the delightful treats.
While they savored their snacks, Kai couldn't help but examine the reward he received for completing the Chain Quest for Mae Ling. To his surprise, this reward's requirement was her itself and It turned out to be a set of fist techniques, not just a single move.
The first set was a complete boxing technique, and part of it was the 5 moves that Kai taught Mae Ling. The second set was called 'Kuma Fist.' The rest of the book was blank, and it seems that Mae Ling needed to master these two sets before she could proceed to the third set of techniques.
Now, Mae Ling has her own techniques that are solely for her. Even he is not allowed to practice the technique since there's a requirement, which is herself.
"Can I copy it, I wonder?," Kai muttered.
He was captivated by the title of the Martial Art technique 'Fist of Destruction'.
"Well, there's no harm in trying," Kai shrugged, glancing over at Mae Ling and Reika, who were happily devouring the last slice of apple pie.
"Ling-er, follow me," Kai called out and walked into the distance.
Mae Ling finished her last bite of pie and eagerly ran towards him. "What is it, Senior Brother? Are we going to train some more?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.
"No, we're done for today. Give me your hand," Kai said, his voice laced with excitement.
Mae Ling didn't question him and extended her small hand. Kai gripped it gently, a secretive smile playing on his lips.
"Ling-er, I have a special Martial Arts technique that is meant only for you. I don't even know what the rest of the techniques in this book are," Kai said.
"Really?" Mae Ling exclaimed, her eyes lighting up.
"Yes, it's exclusively for you," Kai confirmed, his smile growing wider.
"Yay! Thank you, Senior Brother! You're the best!" Mae Ling exclaimed, squeezing him in a tight hug.
"Are you ready?" Kai asked, his voice filled with anticipation.
"Is it similar to the Dual Cultivation technique I learned earlier?" Mae Ling inquired.
"Yes, so be prepared, alright?" Kai reminded her.
"Hm," Mae Ling nodded eagerly.
Without a moment's hesitation, Kai clicked the "Use" button right next to the Martial Art Technique named 'Fist of Destruction.'
As soon as he did, just like the Dual Cultivation that Mae Ling had learned earlier, a series of knowledge from the book flowed through her soul and imprinted on it, then to her memory. After a few minutes, Mae Ling's body started to surge with power, her surroundings began to whirl as the Aura of Destruction emanating from her caused dirt, grass, and leaves to float in the air. Even the trees around them started to sway as if caught in the midst of a sudden storm.
Overwhelmed by the newfound power and the enveloping aura, Kai was blasted away, though he managed to regain his footing with sheer brute strength. Reika rushed to his side, concern etching her face.
"What just happened to Mae Ling, Kai-kun?" Reika asked, assisting him.
"Don't worry, she's fine. She's simply absorbing new techniques, although I wasn't expecting it to boost her power so significantly. I think she might end up as strong as me when I was at the peak of my BodyBuilding Stage," Kai explained, his excitement evident.
The book inside the inventory of Kai materialized and transformed into an abundant energy that looks like a huge bear but there's a huge tail that is similar to a dragon. It roared loudly and pounced towards Mae Ling. Kai and Reika were startled, but they suddenly saw Mae Ling doing some strange moves as she copied the movement of the huge bear. Once it was done, the abundant energy entered her body and flowed over to every nook and cranny inside Mae Ling's body, strengthening her body to the limit.
Mae Ling then hurriedly sat down, cross-legged, as she absorbed every bit of energy she received. The Destruction Aura also vanished, making the surrounding area calm down. Kai and Reika breathed a sigh of relief, settling down in nearby chairs to observe Mae Ling.
"Kai-kun, is this part of your—" Reika asked, but hesitated.
"Yes, it is," Kai confirmed.
"Hmm, we should be careful. The commotion might draw unwanted attention," Reika cautioned.
"You're right. I was being careless. But how come Mr. Zhou and Xia Chen haven't noticed? They should have arrived by now, considering how disruptive this was," Kai pondered.
"It is quite strange indeed," Reika agreed.
"Let's just ask later. Luckily, we are in this secluded place. If I'm gonna pass down a technique, it's gotta be somewhere private. I mean, earlier I thought it was gonna be like Dual Cultivation technique that I passed down to her earlier that it didn't do much of a thing, you know? Didn't realize it would cause such a ruckus around here," Kai said, scratching his head.
"That's better," Reika said and looked at Mae Ling with a little bit of jealousy.
Seeing this, Kai put his hand on her shoulder, bringing her close and whispered, "Hey, don't worry. You've got your own thing too. It's just that I haven't figured out how or when you'll get yours."
Reika shook her head, a mix of jealousy and happiness in her eyes. "I'm just a little jealous.. But at the same time, I'm happy for her. I just don't wanna be left behind."
Kai smiled reassuringly. "Of course not. It's only temporary. You were already strong before we met, so who knows? Maybe when you get yours, you'll be as strong as me, or maybe even stronger."
"Hm" Reika nodded.
Reika pouted her lips, silently asking for a kiss. Kai leaned down, meeting her halfway. After a few sweet seconds, they pulled apart, with Reika resting her head on Kai's shoulder. As they watched Mae Ling diligently cultivate under the starry sky, Reika couldn't help but feel a sense of determination.