Pentagon’s “Goodwill”

The weather gradually turned colder, and people on the streets had all started wearing thicker clothes. The martial arts school, however, was still filled with a group of creatures out of season.

It wasn’t only Zhan Liu and the few formal disciples who didn’t care. After this period of cultivation, even the ordinary named disciples had strengthened their physiques to the limits of ordinary people, so this temperature had no effect on martial artists.

Tony couldn’t hold out for more than a few days before running off again, dumping his work on the newly inducted third junior sister, Sharon Carter, under the pretext of "training the newcomer."

In any case, Sharon was a woman, so there was no need to worry about Pepper being taken advantage of by her.

Sharon was quite enthusiastic about these tasks. Every day, besides carefully studying and adapting to the Current Drive Realm while preparing to enter the Magnetic Field Rotation Realm in the future, she actively guided the various disciples. Her sense of responsibility was countless times higher than Tony’s.

With Sharon handling these minor affairs, Zhan Liu could settle down, focus on cultivation, and improve his Complete State.

That day, while he was cultivating, Sharon brought over a bespectacled man in a suit.

"Master, this guest is here to see you."

Zhan Liu stopped and took a look. The man looked like a successful businessman, wearing a custom-made suit and radiating confidence and pride from head to toe.

He waved his hand, signaling Sharon to continue leading his junior brothers and sisters in cultivation.

After Sharon went out, the man stood in front of Zhan Liu with a warm, enthusiastic smile and began introducing himself.

"Hall Master Zhan, hello. I’m Linderman, a consultant for the Pentagon. I’ve come here representing the Pentagon."

Ever since the martial arts school’s reputation had spread, all visiting guests had either taught themselves Chinese or chosen people who knew Chinese as their envoys.

"Mm." Zhan Liu nodded without saying anything, nor did he ask Linderman to sit down.

Linderman didn’t change expression and continued smiling. "The generals at the Pentagon are extremely interested in Hall Master Zhan’s Ultimate Limit Qigong. They believe it is humanity’s treasure, the key to opening the door to human evolution, and…"

It was fortunate that Linderman was eloquent. He managed to praise it continuously for more than ten minutes without repeating himself. Only when his lips were nearly worn out and his throat had gone dry did he stop, and then he heard Zhan Liu casually reply with a single word.

"Mm."

Linderman’s face stiffened, but then he restored his earlier smile, as though he were not the one being treated coldly.

"Hall Master Zhan, the generals at the Pentagon are planning to promote a bill that would make Ultimate Limit Qigong a compulsory subject in the military, replacing the existing hand-to-hand combat courses."

"At that point, Ultimate Limit Qigong will surely become famous throughout the world. The Ultimate Limit Hall will inevitably become the largest martial arts school in the world, while the Ultimate Limit Sect will become the world’s foremost Martial Dao sect."

"And you, Hall Master Zhan, will become the head instructor of the entire United States Armed Forces, leaping to become one of the most powerful figures in all of America, or even the entire world. By then…"

Linderman was gifted with words. He described these benefits so extravagantly that his own eyes began to shine with excitement.

"Oh."

After he finished, Zhan Liu’s flat one-word reply extinguished all of his enthusiasm.

"…Does Hall Master Zhan have nothing to say about what I just mentioned?" he asked tentatively.

"First…" Zhan Liu raised one finger and said:

"Everyone who wants to practice Ultimate Limit Qigong must become a disciple of our sect by taking me as their master."

"Every disciple who joins our sect must pass three tests. First, they must know Chinese. Second, they must reach the Current Drive Realm within three months. Third, they must reach the Magnetic Field Rotation Realm."

"Passing the first test makes one a named disciple, passing the second makes one a formal disciple, and passing the third makes one a true disciple."

"Second…" Zhan Liu raised a second finger and said:

"If someone secretly learns the techniques, they can complete the formal disciple ceremony after passing any of the three tests. However, the person who leaks the cultivation method to the secret learner will certainly face severe punishment and accountability from our sect."

"Finally…" Zhan Liu raised a third finger and said, "Our sect’s rules are strict and must not be defied. Our sect’s rules stand above every rule in the world. Anyone who dares violate them will surely receive severe punishment!"

With every rule he stated, Linderman’s expression grew uglier. By the time Zhan Liu finished explaining all three rules, Linderman’s face had turned green.

"Hall Master Zhan, your conditions are simply impossible to fulfill!"

"No one is forcing them to come here and become my disciples, but since they’ve come, they must follow my rules!" Zhan Liu still looked completely unconcerned.

Great capacity accommodates all; having no desires makes one unyielding.

The rules were the rules. They could come if they wanted and stay away if they didn’t.

No one would beg them to come, but if they came and dared not follow the rules, then… well, there was that May from last time… Huh, after Time Reversal, that May seemed to have come back to life too!

Previously, Zhan Liu had been busy consolidating his Magnetic Field Rotation Realm of the Twenty-Five Heavens and using the insights obtained from Earth Shattering, Time Reversal, Spatial Sky Eye, and the like to improve his own Complete State. He had completely forgotten about Melinda May.

It was such a trivial matter. Who would bother remembering it specifically?

Only at this moment did he suddenly recall that "chief disciple" who had once violated the sect’s rules.

However, he couldn’t be bothered to make another special trip to cause her trouble. That piece of trash had been unable to enter the Magnetic Field Rotation Realm even under his personal demonstration and coercion, so there was no need to waste time on her.

Linderman’s expression was extremely ugly. In his view, with the Pentagon offering such excellent conditions, only an idiot would refuse. Only after Zhan Liu became tempted would it be possible to negotiate the conditions that came afterward. But now that Zhan Liu had adopted such an attitude, there was no way to bring up those conditions at all.

"Mr. Zhan, this sort of lion’s-share negotiating tactic of yours isn’t a wise choice," Linderman said with a dark expression.

"Tch! Who’s negotiating with you? My rules are right here. You either follow them or get lost. There’s no room for negotiation." Zhan Liu spoke disdainfully.

"Mr. Zhan, don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. The Pentagon has already shown sufficient goodwill. As long as you drive all those Mutants away and promise not to continue teaching Mutants, the conditions I just mentioned will be your best possible reward. But if you refuse to appreciate our goodwill, I’m afraid you won’t be able to bear the consequences afterward!" Linderman’s words carried a threat.

"Heh. If you want to court death, bring it on."

Since the negotiations had broken down, Zhan Liu couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on him. With a wave of his hand, Linderman received the same treatment Tony experienced every day and was thrown out of the courtyard.

Tony was now agile enough to land steadily, but Linderman had no such ability. He landed with his face covered in blood, and even lost one of his front teeth.

"You’ll regret this! You lunatic!" Linderman shouted angrily from the entrance before getting into his car and driving away dejectedly.

The two had not lowered their voices, and Zhan Liu had not deliberately blocked them off. The martial artists in the courtyard now had exceptionally sharp hearing and had naturally heard their entire conversation.

Sharon Carter and Ororo, in particular, wore deeply furrowed brows after hearing it.

That night, the two of them separately reported the situation to their respective superiors.

Thanks to book friends 20170324124641983, Zhan Wuduan Yi, and Jinjide Mu Shu for the rewards!