Gao Teng's physical fitness had improved significantly; running 20 laps around the track was now a trivial task for him. However, he had to hide his strength—after all, in Xue Dong's eyes, Gao Teng was still perceived as weak.
Everyone else carried 50 pounds of weight, but Gao Teng's load was considerably lighter. Xue Dong was truly taking care of his "good brother."
To meet his elder brother's expectations, Gao Teng had to put on a show of being exhausted. After just a few laps, he was panting heavily, drenched in sweat, looking as if he'd been pulled out of the water.
People dashed past him, casting indescribable glances his way, filled with a mix of emotions. To sum it up, they were... displeased.
Gao Teng tried his best to ignore these impolite stares, immersing himself further into his performance.
His breathing changed from steady to rapid. His expression shifted from calm to pained. His steps grew from light to heavy. Layer by layer, he meticulously portrayed his exhaustion, leaving no detail untouched.
To the onlookers, Gao Teng seemed truly overworked. After only two laps, he appeared nearly on the verge of collapse. Could he even survive 20 laps?
Super S-grade potential, they thought. Is this all there is?
By the seventh lap, only a few were still running alongside Gao Teng; most had already completed their weighted long-distance training. The remaining runners gathered together, whispering among themselves, their tones laced with contempt.
Xue Dong, however, was not pleased. He coldly remarked, "Do you really think that Super S-grade potential is exaggerated? Let me give you some advice: don't be so self-righteous. What you're facing is a long marathon, not a 100-meter dash. If you think crossing the finish line first means you've won, then I'm sorry, that will be your eternal finish line."
His sharp words silenced everyone.
"Look," Xue Dong continued, raising a finger. Everyone followed his gaze.
Gao Teng was stumbling as he ran, falling but quickly picking himself up, continuing to push forward despite the evident pain in his body. He had already fallen several times in that short span, but each time, he got up immediately without taking a second to rest.
"See that?" Xue Dong said. "See how hard he's working? See how strong his will is? He's weak because of frequent illness. But when his body grows strong and his strength increases, how many of you will be able to match him? I urge you to put away your jealousy, arrogance, and contempt... Every bit of disdain you have for him will turn into a sharp blade that will hurt you in the future."
Everyone bowed their heads in shame.
"If I were you, I wouldn't just stop at 20 laps. What right do you have to slack off when someone like him is working so hard?"
Stunned by his words, the others immediately rushed back onto the track, their bodies fueled by renewed determination, their minds filled with only three words: effort, effort, and more effort!
As the track quieted down, Xue Dong was about to light a cigarette when he noticed a beautiful, sparkling girl standing beside him.
"Fang Meng, why aren't you running?" he asked.
"I'm not as easily deceived as they are," Fang Meng replied coldly.
Xue Dong chuckled. "I'd like to hear where you think I've lied to them."
"I want to learn from you," Fang Meng stated, avoiding pointless questions and looking directly at Xue Dong.
"When the running training is over, everyone will have a chance to spar, don't worry," Xue Dong replied.
"I'm serious!" Fang Meng insisted. "I want to know how far I am from you."
Xue Dong shrugged, "Not too far, maybe the distance between the sky and the earth."
In an instant, arcs of electricity crackled around Fang Meng's body. She nodded firmly at Xue Dong. "Please teach me," she said before dashing off at lightning speed.
The next second, her beautiful face made harsh contact with the ground, slamming into the concrete.
What just happened?
Fang Meng didn't see anything clearly—just a blur in front of her, and then...
"You're as slow as a snail. I could have had a cup of tea," Xue Dong said casually.
Fang Meng gritted her teeth and jumped up. "Again!"
Xue Dong scratched his stomach, completely unfazed by her challenge. Fang Meng roared and rushed at him once more.
...
It was a long performance, but Gao Teng was entertained, so it wasn't too difficult for him.
When he finally completed his 20 laps, there were still many others sweating on the track. Gao Teng wasn't interested in another encore; he returned to Xue Dong and saw Fang Meng still relentlessly getting beaten, her face swollen and bruised, her body covered in wounds.
Xue Dong showed no mercy, his blows coming down hard.
Fang Meng was nearing her limit, her energy nearly depleted, no strength left to continue the fight.
Xue Dong lit his cigarette, his tone unusually gentle. "I understand your desire for revenge, but you can't rush it. Don't let hatred consume your heart; it will only lead to your downfall."
"I'm leaving for now. I'll be back tomorrow," Fang Meng said, limping toward the locker room, replaying the battle in her mind. She hadn't even touched Xue Dong's clothes; she had been completely outclassed.
But she wasn't sad or desperate. How could she, who had just awakened her abilities, expect to defeat a B-rank ability user? What she wanted was to improve quickly so that when she finally faced the one with the sealing ability, she could defeat them!
"That girl is so stubborn," Gao Teng remarked, watching Fang Meng's retreating figure with a sigh.
Xue Dong smirked. "What? Are you interested in her?"
Gao Teng shook his head. "I'm blind; I can't tell who's beautiful or not. What could I possibly think?"
Xue Dong squinted at him. "You think you're handsome?"
Gao Teng replied without hesitation, "Of course."
"Do you think I'm handsome?" Xue Dong asked.
"Only next to me," Gao Teng responded.
"With that level of honesty, you sure have a high opinion of your looks," Xue Dong said, amused. "But I think she's going to be pestering me tomorrow. Such a hassle." He scratched his head in frustration. "Training newcomers is really hard work."
"You could change jobs, save the kids from misunderstanding," Gao Teng suggested.
"You don't understand," Xue Dong sighed. "I'm too good at my job. The recruits I train turn out too well, and the higher-ups are practically begging me to keep doing it. Then they slap me in the face with piles of money. What else can I do?"
"…"
"By the way, what's going on with Fang Meng? Do you know something?" Xue Dong asked.
"You still say you're not interested in her? Why are you asking about her, then? You can't hide your thoughts from me, young man. I get it. If you're thinking about someone, it's only because you're fantasizing about a bed scene," Xue Dong teased.
With a serious tone, he added, "But I'll tell you anyway, out of the goodness of my heart. Fang Meng's parents were both ability users. They were killed during a mission by someone with the ability to seal."