Chapter 126: Devil Training 1

Watching Wu Meitian’s expression and complexion shift again and again, Le Kai was stunned when a rare touch of bashfulness finally appeared on her face. Even the way she looked at him had taken on an inexplicable hue. His heart tightened, and he hurriedly said, “Don’t misunderstand me. I... I’m really not that kind of person.”

Wu Meitian asked blankly, “You’re not that kind of person? After saying so much, and claiming that you alone can cure my illness, isn’t it obvious that you want to do something improper? Hmph! I, Wu Meitian, would rather die than submit. You little lecher—having Miss Li Yan isn’t enough for you, and now you want to lay hands on your big sister too? You’ve truly disappointed me.”

With that, Wu Meitian shot Le Kai a furious look and turned to leave.

“Wait!”

In his panic, Le Kai flashed in front of her. Wu Meitian could not stop herself in time and crashed straight into his arms. Although Le Kai was still underage, he was nearly as tall as Wu Meitian. With her soft, fragrant body suddenly in his embrace, he froze for a moment, his mind going blank.

Utterly bashful, Wu Meitian shoved Le Kai away and fled.

Her face was flushed crimson, and she looked so overwhelmed with shyness that everyone outside stared wide-eyed, forgetting whatever they had been doing.

Lambo, who had been brimming with excitement, looked as though he had been struck by lightning. He collapsed to the ground in despair and pounded his fists against it. “Boss, Boss! How could you do this? Sob... my first love!”

Le Kai gave an awkward laugh as Li Yan passed by him, nearly brushing shoulders with Wu Meitian. Judging by the astonishment in Li Yan’s eyes, she had probably misunderstood him as well. But why did her gaze also contain a trace of anger and disappointment?

“What did you do to Sister Wu?” Li Yan demanded, stepping forward. There was none of her usual gentleness now; she looked like a little tigress guarding her food.

Le Kai said gloomily, “If I told you I didn’t do anything, would you believe me?”

To Le Kai’s surprise, Li Yan nodded without hesitation. “I believe you. I believe you would never deceive me.”

Le Kai smiled happily and explained the whole chain of events.

Li Yan knitted her lovely brows. “Of course you have to seek the consent of the person involved. Forcing two people who have no feelings for each other together can only end in tragedy. Le Kai, are you certain of Sister Wu’s feelings now?”

“I’m not entirely sure what Sister Wu feels,” Le Kai replied uncertainly, “but she definitely has more affection for Lambo than for me.” Thinking of that made him slightly depressed. The fact that his standing in Wu Meitian’s heart was actually inferior to Lambo’s was a devastating blow.

Li Yan blinked. “If she has some affection for him, then we should support them. Didn’t you say that once two people begin dual cultivation, they will love each other more and more until they become inseparable?”

At those words, Li Yan’s little face flushed red, as delicate and radiant as a ripe apple. Le Kai stared at her for a moment, dazed.

“So you support it?”

“Of course I do. We should begin training immediately. The sooner, the better. It’s settled!” Unexpectedly, Li Yan was even more enthusiastic than Le Kai. Not only did she wholeheartedly approve, she immediately volunteered. “Leave this to me. I’ll go talk to Sister Wu.”

Without waiting to see whether Le Kai agreed, she ran off.

Watching Li Yan’s retreating figure, Le Kai muttered to himself, “She’s far too enthusiastic. This doesn’t seem like Yan’er’s style. Why is she so eager for Wu Meitian and Lambo to get together?”

Unable to figure it out, Le Kai stopped dwelling on it and instead began considering how to put his ten reckless subordinates through hellish training.

Breaking through within two months would be extremely difficult. However, if he used the Ten Thousand Spirits Pill, it would be child’s play. Still, Le Kai did not want to give them such an outrageously powerful pill from the outset. Strength was most stable when earned through gradual, painstaking effort. Besides, enduring hardship in the early stages would benefit their future development.

Success required only ten percent talent, thirty percent circumstances, and sixty percent effort.

Talent was certainly crucial, as it set the limits of a person’s ultimate development. Yet environment and outside factors were equally important. Even if a poor child and an imperial noble possessed the same aptitude, their achievements would never be the same. The noble would have far better conditions and might even have access to heaven-defying aids such as pills, whereas the poor child could rely only on personal effort.

With Professor—the master of human-potential development—as his teacher, Le Kai had learned knowledge that was both astonishingly advanced and extraordinarily extensive. He knew at least a hundred ways to make people experience the sensation of hovering between life and death, thereby completely stimulating their potential.

What Le Kai was considering now was how to train everyone through a relatively gentle and safe method. He was not a lunatic like Professor and naturally would not casually gamble his friends’ lives.

While everyone outside was celebrating, a somewhat terrifying yet triumphant laugh suddenly drifted from inside the stone house. They all froze in astonishment.

Lambo was especially enraged. He sprang to his feet. The boss really had forsaken his friends for a beauty! Was he arranging some unspoken deal? He had even sent his own little girlfriend to comfort Sister Wu while he stayed inside enjoying the aftertaste.

The Gun God glared at the team member wearing a lecherous grin and took a bite of an instant biscuit. “Keep it down. Can’t you see Young Master Lambo is about to breathe fire?”

The Skinny Bamboo Pole chuckled obscenely. “The boss may be young, but he’s definitely a real man.”

Lambo roared, “What does this have to do with me? Believe it or not, I’ll have the boss teach you all a proper lesson.”

Remembering Le Kai’s methods of disciplining people, Lambo could not help shivering. He had no desire to experience them a second time.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Le Kai emerged as well. His immature face was solemn, and with one hand clasped behind his back, he looked like a general making an inspection, his bearing calm and imposing.

Although everyone present was older than him, no one dared regard him as a child. He had already conquered this group of battle-hardened soldiers completely through his own strength. The moment he looked their way, they all straightened their backs and thrust out their chests. Even the most shamelessly lecherous Skinny Bamboo Pole suppressed his grin and tried his best to look formidable.

“I have one piece of good news and one piece of bad news. Which would you like to hear?” Le Kai raised the corner of his mouth, deliberately keeping them in suspense.

“We’d like to hear the bad news first. That way, we’ll be mentally prepared.” After some thought, the Gun God spoke on behalf of everyone.

“The good news is that I can now refine an upgraded life-saving pill. As long as you still have a breath left, it can bring you back to life.” Le Kai grinned, but instead of revealing the bad news first, he announced the good news. Everyone was immediately covered in black lines. If that was the case, why had he made them choose? He could simply have said it outright.

Seeing their astonished expressions, Le Kai chuckled. “The bad news is that I have already designed a specific training program tailored to each of you. It is called the Human Potential Stimulation Program. You may also call it the Devil Program, because once it begins, your lives will no longer belong to you. Even dying will become difficult. This is your final chance. If you withdraw now, it will absolutely be the wisest choice, because I cannot guarantee that you will pass the trials.”

Everyone fell silent.

They had not expected Le Kai’s bad news to be this. Soon, however, they all relaxed. To be selected for the Blue Shark Unit, they had already undergone rigorous special training. They were immune to the psychological intimidation instructors employed before starting a new regimen.

After all, the unit’s instructor was the cold-faced god, a figure renowned throughout the entire Shark Fleet as the Devil Instructor. No matter how formidable Le Kai was, a mere child could not possibly be more terrifying than the cold-faced god, could he?

Only Lambo, who knew Le Kai’s true nature, shuddered when he heard this. If the boss called it a Devil Program, then it would certainly be a Devil Program.

They were doomed.

Le Kai offered no explanation. He continued smiling sweetly. “Everyone, now is the time to make your decision. If you change your mind tomorrow morning, don’t blame me for showing no mercy.”

His kindly gaze swept over them one by one as he continued threateningly, “This concerns the course of your entire lives. Think carefully before you answer. Once you decide, there will be no changing your minds. Let me repeat myself: my training program is extremely brutal and extremely terrifying.”

The Skinny Bamboo Pole laughed. “Boss Le Kai, stop with that routine. As the elite of the Blue Shark Unit, what kind of training haven’t we been through? Bring out whatever tricks you have. We won’t complain.”

The big man also spoke in his deep voice. “Boss, members of the special operations unit possess wills of steel. You absolutely cannot break us. Bring it on!”

The rest of the team nodded one after another, looking completely relaxed.

Only the bespectacled man adjusted his glasses and said solemnly, “Boss Le Kai, although we have no idea how terrifying your so-called Devil Program is, we chose to follow you, so we will certainly keep our promise. No matter how difficult or exhausting it becomes, we will never give up. If we lack even this much confidence and determination, how can we help you achieve success in the future?”

Le Kai gave the bespectacled man a deep look. “Save that speech for a few days from now. Since none of you objects, I hereby announce that the Devil Training Program is officially underway. From this moment onward, I am your instructor. Everything I say must be carried out unconditionally. Should anyone disobey...”

His adorable smile froze as if warm water had suddenly encountered absolute cold. In an instant, it became chillingly sinister. A trace of killing intent flickered in his eyes as he stared at them.

For a moment, everyone was seized by terror and unease, as though Le Kai might strike them down in the very next instant. The Gun God and the other six, in particular, were more sensitive to killing intent. All of them swallowed with difficulty.

Lambo asked in shock, “Boss, does that mean anyone who disobeys an order will be killed without mercy?”

Le Kai gave an evil smile. “We’re all brothers and sisters. Killing people at the slightest provocation would hurt our feelings too much. Your boss would never do such a thing, so put your minds at ease.”

Everyone let out a tremendous sigh of relief. Judging by Le Kai’s expression just now, if he had said that disobedience would be punished by death, they would absolutely have believed him.

“However...” Le Kai changed tack and sneered. “Although I won’t kill my own brothers, I can still beat you half to death, feed you a pill, and continue beating you afterward. Consider your options carefully. Lambo, you’re coming with me.”

With that, he calmly walked back into the central stone house, leaving everyone frozen in place.