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Chapter 81: Hostility Perception

“Do you wish to use the Hostility Perception trial card now?”

“Yes,” Lu Li whispered to himself.

The trial card activated instantly, and when Lu Li opened his eyes again, the scene and colors kept shifting as his vision leaped through space and landed on a bustling street.

On the street the crowd bustled, playing out every facet of life.

There was a biker gang brandishing knives and robbing passers-by, a pair of middle-aged women who argued while breaking into tap dance, a man frowning at a wailing child, and an elderly couple supporting each other as they walked.

A wisp of mist clung to each of them.

The mists appeared in four colors: red, orange, yellow, and white.

Lu Li could clearly sense overwhelming malice from the red mist, a savage, bloody odor that repulsed him to the core.

The orange mist ranked next, signifying disgust, while the yellow mist stood for mild impatience.

As for the white mist, it carried a peaceful serenity that not only caused Lu Li no discomfort but actually felt as clear and refreshing as blue sky and clouds.

Although the street teemed with people, those shrouded in white mist were clearly the majority, the orange mist was scarce, and only that biker gang wore red.

So there are still more good people in this world… While Lu Li pondered this so-called Hostility Perception, the image before his eyes shifted dramatically.

The red-misted bikers had just stolen a girl’s purse at knifepoint, yet before they fled 50 meters two burly men radiating white mist smacked them off their bike with shovels.

“Lu Li, Lu Li?” Shao Kang waved a hand in front of the dazed Lu Li.

His vision snapped back, and Lu Li opened his eyes, noticing Shao Kang before him.

A white mist rose from Shao Kang’s body, emanating a gentle warmth like a spring breeze.

Lu Li dismissed the Hostility Perception, cleared his throat, and said, “Coach Shao, I can agree to compete, but I have one condition.”

As long as he agreed to compete… Shao Kang breathed a sigh of relief, for he really could not find another pro to fight on short notice.

“Go ahead,” Shao Kang nodded gently with unusual patience.

Lu Li said, “I hope you can give me ample time to train on my own.”

Shao Kang sat up straight. “Of course, during the run-up to the tournament the Martial Arts Club’s resources will be at your disposal; whatever gear or venue you need, I can arrange it.”

Lu Li cleared his throat. “No, no, I mean I want to schedule my own training during this period; I have my own training methods, and I don’t want to practice inside the Martial Arts Club.”

“Hmm?” Shao Kang stood up, frowning, “You don’t want to train at the club? How can that be?”

“Lu Li, let me be blunt with you: the national competitors are exceptionally strong; Xu Feng’s best result was only top 8, and the semifinalists are geniuses among geniuses.”

“If you think beating Xu Feng is enough to take the title, then you are truly arrogant…”

“Coach Shao, I know you’re anxious, but please calm down first,” Lu Li cleared his throat. “Actually, I’ve been training with methods my master taught me, and those methods can’t be shown in public, or my master will be angry.”

Shao Kang’s brow eased slightly. “Is that so?”

Shao Kang had long wondered how Lu Li could handle Taiji so well at such a young age; it turned out he had special training, which now made perfect sense.

“Exactly, my master is an old stick-in-the-mud; if he learned I exposed his methods, he would never let me off,” Lu Li exaggerated.

Shao Kang pondered for a moment and hesitated. “But what if, when the tournament arrives, your training yields nothing? Wouldn’t that jeopardize the national competition? I can’t take that risk.”

Lu Li nodded. “How about this: I’ll come to the club once every 10 days so you can test my skills personally; if I show no improvement, I will not take a cent of the salary you promised me, deal?”

That proposal was, indeed, barely acceptable…

Shao Kang nodded slowly. “Fine! I’ll trust you this once; if you have not improved in 10 days, don’t blame me for getting tough with you.”

“Thank you for understanding, Coach Shao.”

“Hey, you’re Linlin’s classmate; just call me Uncle from now on, there’s no need to be so formal.”

“Thank you, Uncle Shao.” Lu Li lifted his eyes and glanced at the small cubicle in the lounge. “Um, Uncle Shao, has Shao Linlin come to the club?”

“No, she usually goes home for a shower after school,” Shao Kang coughed. “What is it, do you need something from Linlin?”

“It’s nothing.” Lu Li shook his head. “Uncle Shao, I’ll be going now.”

“Alright.”

Lu Li shot a sidelong glance at the cubicle in the lounge and left the Martial Arts Club at a brisk pace.

Just now, through Hostility Perception, he had sensed a white mist inside that cubicle…

That cubicle clearly had someone inside…

Watching Lu Li leave, Shao Kang stood, knocked on the door, and said, “Linlin, since Lu Li came, why didn’t you come out to see him?”

Shao Linlin opened the door, threw herself into Shao Kang’s arms with a sob. “Dad, a really pretty girl confessed to Lu Li today.”

Shao Kang patted his daughter’s back and asked, “So, is Lu Li dating that girl?”

“I… I don’t know.” Shao Linlin wiped her tears on the front of Shao Kang’s shirt.

“Silly girl,” Shao Kang chuckled in exasperation, “you don’t even know whether Lu Li accepted, so why feel wronged?”

“That’s true.” Only then did Shao Linlin lift her head and give a silly grin. “Hehe, maybe Lu Li didn’t say yes.”

Shao Kang knocked lightly on the top of her head. “You really are a dummy.”

Shao Linlin wiped her tears on his shirt twice more, pushed him away, and grumbled, “It’s all Dad’s fault! I’m this stupid because you keep knocking on my head!”

Shao Kang glanced at his now-soiled shirtfront, both amused and helpless. “So, are you still going to chase after Lu Li?”

“I don’t know…” Shao Linlin shook her head.

Shao Kang sighed softly. “An outstanding boy will never lack suitors; if you quit easily, you certainly won’t be the one who wins in the end.”

“Back in my day, girls chasing after your dad were as numerous as fish in a river, and many were prettier than your mom, yet in the end I still chose that silly woman who stayed quietly by my side.”

After speaking, Shao Kang asked Shao Linlin, “So, Linlin, do you understand what I mean?”

Shao Linlin pondered for a long while, her large eyes blinking repeatedly:

“Dad means… the reason I’m not smart isn’t because you keep knocking my head, but because I inherited Mom’s silliness?”

Shao Kang: “…”

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