Chapter 36 Obtaining Insights from the Mist: A First Look at the Green Vine Martial Arts School

[The simulator continues to run—]

[March, the spring chill is biting.]

[You left the deep mountains and embarked on a journey to Wuyue City.]

[This time, you did not wander aimlessly like before.]

[Equipped with your 'map hack,' you headed straight for the Misty Forest west of Wuyue City.]

[Familiar with the route, you avoided the venomous insect zones and bypassed the territory of the Phantom Light Butterflies.]

[On a hidden cliffside, you once again found that hundred-year-old crimson blood ginseng.]

[The guardian nearby, a second-rank exotic beast called the Iron Beak Eagle, let out a sharp screech and attempted a diving attack.]

[But now, you were no longer the novice who needed to use clumsy methods to wear it down.]

["Clang!"]

[A flash of blade light, followed by an instantaneous Triple Surge.]

[The Iron Beak Eagle didn't even see your movement before its wings were severed, and it became another soul under your blade.]

[You carefully harvested the crimson blood ginseng, not thinking of keeping it for personal use like last time.]

[For you, now at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood Perfection, herbs of this level were precious but could no longer bring a qualitative leap.]

[Your goal now was clear—make money.]

[Whether it was for your subsequent plans or to establish a foothold in this unfamiliar city, you needed significant financial support.]

[In the black market of Wuyue City, you sold this perfectly preserved crimson blood ginseng for the high price of five hundred thousand.]

[Looking at the anonymous five-hundred-thousand crystal card in your hand, you felt a surge of confidence.]

...

[Wuyue City · Qingteng Martial Arts Hall]

[The next morning.]

[You changed into a set of ordinary high school sportswear and carried a backpack.]

[You disguised yourself as a 'newbie' who was full of yearning for the martial path, came from a family with a little money, but didn't know the ropes.]

[You walked into a private martial arts hall named 'Qingteng' located in the city center.]

[This martial arts hall wasn't large, the decor was somewhat dated, and even the sign at the entrance had peeling paint.]

[But in Wuyue City, where land was at a premium, anyone who could afford to open a martial arts hall had some level of foundation.]

["Welcome! Are you here to learn about our courses, student?"]

[The girl at the front desk greeted you warmly.]

[Acting somewhat restrained, you looked around before speaking. "Um... I want to enroll in a martial arts improvement class."]

["But my foundation isn't very good. I heard there's a female coach here named Liu Qing who is a very good teacher."]

["Coach Liu?" The front desk girl paused for a moment.]

["Yes." You scratched your head awkwardly. "I've seen her photo and thought Coach Liu looked more approachable. I'm a bit afraid of those fierce male coaches."]

[The front desk girl gave an understanding smile.]

[With business at the door, she naturally wouldn't refuse.]

["Alright, alright! Please wait a moment. Coach Liu is currently teaching a class and will be here shortly!"]

[A few minutes later.]

[A young woman wearing a white training uniform with her hair in a high ponytail hurried out.]

[You looked up, your pupils constricting slightly.]

[It was her.]

[That face was exactly the same as the cold-blooded, heartless cult mole you saw at the end of the simulation.]

[But at this moment, her state was completely different.]

[She looked somewhat haggard, with faint dark circles under her eyes, and the cuffs of her training uniform were even a bit frayed.]

[That sense of exhaustion was like a string tightened to its absolute limit.]

[However, when she saw you—a 'client' who specifically asked for her—her eyes instantly lit up.]

[As if changing masks, the fatigue on her face vanished, instantly switching to the vibrant and radiant appearance you had seen in the last simulation.]

["Hello! I'm Liu Qing!"]

[She walked over quickly and reached out warmly. "I heard you want to learn martial arts from me? That's wonderful!"]

["You have great taste, student. Not to brag, but I have the most experience leading foundational classes!"]

[She wasn't in a hurry to make you pay. Instead, she professionally took you on a tour of the hall and introduced the curriculum system of Qingteng Martial Arts Hall in detail.]

["Our coaching team here is very professional. The lowest rank is Sixth Stage of Qi and Blood, and our Hall Master is a master at the Ninth Stage of Qi and Blood!"]

["It's more than enough to guide high school students like you for your exams."]

[Afterward, she took the initiative to offer you a free trial lesson.]

[On the training field.]

[Liu Qing taught very hard, one could even say desperately.]

[She not only corrected your movements personally—even though you were intentionally being clumsy to play the part—but also kept encouraging you with a slightly exaggerated tone.]

["Yes! Just like that! You're quite talented!"]

["The power delivery of this punch is very standard! Do it again!"]

["Don't be afraid of being tired, keep at it! Martial arts is about sweating!"]

[It was obvious she really wanted to close this deal.]

[That sense of urgency was enough to make one feel a hint of sadness.]

[An hour later, the trial lesson ended.]

[You wiped your sweat and acted satisfied. "Coach Liu, I think it's great. I want to get a VIP annual card."]

["Really?!"]

[Liu Qing cried out in surprise, almost unable to stop herself from jumping up.]

[The commission from a VIP annual card was enough for her to pay a significant expense.]

["Great! I'll take you to handle the paperwork right now! There's even a discount if you sign up today..."]

["However..." You patted your pockets and said awkwardly, "I came out in a hurry today and didn't bring my card. The money is at home."]

["How about this, let's exchange contact info. I'll contact you once I've gone home to get my card?"]

["Ah... I see."]

[The light in Liu Qing's eyes dimmed for a moment, clearly disappointed.]

[But she quickly adjusted her emotions and took out her phone to exchange numbers with you. "No problem! No problem! I'll wait for your call!"]

[To avoid suspicion and further verify your information, you didn't leave immediately.]

[You sat in the rest area, drinking water and acting like a curious kid, starting to chat with her.]

["Coach Liu, you're so amazing. Which martial arts university did you graduate from? Why didn't you stay in a big city to develop your career?"]

["I see many powerful seniors going to first-tier cities."]

[You played the role of a high school student full of yearning for university life but confused about the future.]

[Liu Qing seemed touched by your innocence, and her gaze softened slightly.]

["I only graduated from a second-rate martial arts university. No big city would want me."]

[She gave a bitter smile. "Besides... my family needs me here."]

["My parents are getting old; someone has to be around to look after them."]

["Then do you have any siblings?" you followed up.]

["If you had a brother or something, you wouldn't have to work so hard."]

[Liu Qing paused for a moment.]

["I have a younger sister."]

[She said with a smile, "She just started her first year of high school, about your age."]

["She's very pretty and does well in her studies."]

[However, as she reached this point, the smile on her face suddenly froze.]

[Her expression instantly became extremely unnatural, and a flash of undeniable pain and anxiety even flickered through her eyes.]

["Unfortunately... she recently... her health hasn't been very good lately."]

[She glossed over the topic vaguely, her gaze starting to wander, clearly not wanting to talk about it further.]

[You thought to yourself: As expected.]

[The problem was right here.]

[You had investigated her background on the Intelligence Network before: Liu Qing, from an ordinary working-class family, both parents are retired workers.]

[She has a younger sister in her first year of high school named Liu Yiyi.]

[But what the records didn't mention was that this sister had recently contracted a strange illness and had been draining money for treatment.]

["That matches up."]

[Looking at the woman before you who was smiling but had eyes full of despair, the puzzle in your heart was finally complete.]

[Lack of money.]

[Extreme lack of money.]

[And it was the kind of massive medical debt that offered no hope and was enough to crush an ordinary family.]

[This was the Heart-Eroding Cult's favorite method—taking advantage of vulnerability.]

[Once the target steps into the trap, what awaits them is the 'Heart-Eroding Cult's' specialty: mental control.]

[The controlled person becomes a human Puppet manipulated by the higher-ups.]

[They don't need to use direct force; they only need to hand over a 'lifeline' with a barbed hook when she is at her most desperate.]

[Some falls from grace begin with love that has nowhere else to go.]

["We can cure your sister."]

["We need you to do a small thing in the school."]

["This is the exchange."]

[This was most likely the true reason Liu Qing joined the 'Heart-Eroding Cult.']

[Before meeting Liu Qing face-to-face, this might have just been a guess based on data.]

[But after this afternoon's interaction, seeing her desperate attempt to sell the course and her pained expression when mentioning her sister...]

[You were certain; it was almost definitely the case.]

["Right now, she has likely only just entered the 'Heart-Eroding Cult's' sights."]

[You thought to yourself as you watched her back while she poured water for you.]

[If she were already that cold-blooded mole who had become a 'God-Chosen Disciples,' she would never show such genuine vulnerability.]

[That couldn't be faked.]

[In other words, the cult might not have officially contacted her yet, or she might be in an observation period.]

["This is my chance."]

[You gripped the water cup in your hand.]

["If I can solve her sister's illness and cut off the cult's hand reaching for her..."]

["To break the situation, I must obtain solid evidence to have a reason to seek Wu Changhe's intervention."]

[After saying goodbye to Liu Qing, you stepped out of the Qingteng Martial Arts Hall.]

[Although the sunlight outside was scorching, at that moment, you felt a bone-chilling cold.]

[Because you knew very well that the opponent you were about to face was not just a woman toyed with by fate.]

[The real opponent was a behemoth lurking in the shadows, waiting to devour its prey.]

["But this is not just saving someone; it is also saving myself."]

["Reversing Liu Qing's path to corruption is itself a means to gain 'destiny points.'"]

["The priority now is to find out exactly what strange illness her sister has."]

[Having made up your mind, you lowered the brim of your hat and turned to blend into the bustling crowd.]