“Brother Das, it has been a week since you and the Young Master moved in.” “Hmm.” offering a simple hum of acknowledgment, Das continued taking slow sips of his tea.
“You should know by now that I do not speak empty words,” Zani continued, his tone earnest.
“Everything I told you when we first met has been the absolute truth.” gently setting his teacup down, Das spoke.
“That is true, I suppose.” “Then believe in this brother of yours.
If you accept the mantle of Instructor at my establishment, there will come a day when you look back and feel pride in this decision.” “Oh?
Truly?” Das raised an eyebrow.
nodding Zani continued as his expression turned solemn and deadly serious.
“Although the beginning will be arduous, in a year or two, you will witness a heaven-shaking transformation within these walls.” “Hehehe.” Das chuckled, though his eyes remained sharp.
“Brother Zani, hearing you speak so grandly…
one might think you intend to operate a true sect in the future.” Caught up in his own ambition, Zani maintained his serious expression and gave a slight nod.
But, The moment his chin dipped, his heart skipped a beat.
Damn it.
I shouldn’t have nodded.
Although Zani possessed the Sect System and fully intended to stand at the apex of the martial world, he absolutely could not disclose such heaven-defying ambitions.
In this world, a mortal daring to declare the founding of a sect without profound strength or backing was a crime punishable by having one’s courtyard smashed and tendons severed.
Laughably, He couldn’t even safely call his gym a ‘Dojo’ for the next few years!
To mask his panic, Zani forced a calm smile, though his heart bled as he gazed at the servant sitting across from him.
Floating faintly above Das’s head was the translucent system prompt that Zani had discovered days ago.
[Talented] Every time he saw it, Zani’s chest tightened with intense, silent longing.
A mere servant also bore the mark of a true genius, and was the only person the System had accepted as a valid Instructor candidate, this made Zani’s chest tighten with intense longing.
Alas…
we are simply not fated, Zani thought bitterly as Das was bound to a young master and he a mere mortal, could not force him to stay.
Acting surprised to seamlessly cover his earlier blunder, Zani forced a laugh.
“A sect?
What are you saying, Brother Das?
I am merely a mortal trying to make a living.” Perhaps Das noticed the slight shift in Zani’s aura, because he gracefully allowed the topic to change.
“Of course.
So, as I was asking, what are your future plans for this gym?” “Well, to tell you the truth…” Zani guided the conversation in circles for a while.
Before their tea grew cold, he shamelessly threw out one final lure, revealing a carefully crafted cover story.
“I have already commissioned craftsmen to forge new, profound equipment.
Tools that will temper the entire body, not just the arms and chest.” Hearing this, a flash of genuine astonishment crossed Das’s eyes, but true to his discipline, the servant merely postponed his decision again.
Days began to pass once more.
It had been a full month since the esteemed Young Master secluded himself in the martial hall.
In all that time, Zani had not caught a single glimpse of the boy’s shadow, nor heard a single whisper from behind the heavy curtains, save for Das’s steady voice.
As for Das, although they continued to share afternoon tea, the topic of the Instructor position was mutually laid to rest.
Meanwhile, the reputation of the Iron Core Gym had exploded.
Now, Youths from neighboring villages, and even commoners from Grains City, traveled to Big Wheat Village to join.
However, lately, Zani had been forced to turn away silver.
It wasn’t that he lacked ambition; the heavenly laws of the System simply restricted him.
[Disciples: 40/40] Even though several opportunistic merchants in the city had tried to copy his business model after the Mayor’s decree, none possessed perfectly graduated, pure iron weights and Because Zani’s dumbbells were smooth, balanced, and incrementally scaled, his disciples could lift more with less effort and thus, gained strength at a terrifying pace.
His most senior disciple could already lift 140 kg, a mere week away from completing the foundation required to enter a true dojo.
As for Zani himself, the self-proclaimed genius, his physical prowess had reached a monstrous level.
He could now casually lift 200 kg.
There was a profound difference between straining to deadlift a weight once, and casually lifting it.
Zani realized that the martial world was truly not a place for the weak.
Even though he had not yet learned a Breathing Manual or officially stepped into the Skin Tempering realm, with his current raw, unadulterated strength, he could cave in an ordinary mortal’s chest with a single punch.
Yet, a glaring flaw remained: the dumbbells only tempered the upper body.
Although one can do squats and other exercises.
Imbalance still remains.
This imbalance was the exact reason why the Swift Leg Dojo was so against his gym or the whole idea about early foundation because their breathing techniques heavily relied on leg strength, something Zani’s current equipment could not provide.
As many where after quick gain and does not follow exercises that he taught.
Today was just another ordinary day.
Zani entered the gym carrying fresh lunches purchased from the village tavern.
Ever since Elisi had agreed to his strict terms, Zani had begun fully sponsoring her training.
Buying her highly nutritious meat and medicinal herbs had become a daily routine and Seeing this, several other disciples from impoverished families had approached him, begging for the same grace.
But, Zani was no fool.
He rigorously tested their character and loyalty, eventually selecting only two more, a girl and a boy.
He had no intention of wasting resources on ungrateful white-eyed wolves who would abandon him the moment their wings hardened.
Currently, all three youths practically lived at the gym and Zani gave special treatment to them by making customized training plans for them, including all the exercises he knows with weights he led them to work 4 sessions.
Even though Zani strictly enforced a two-hour maximum per session to prevent their muscles from snapping, the regimen was brutally intense.
So much that even mad demon Elisi has her hands full nowadays.
“Come here, I brought the lunch.
Let us eat together,” Zani called out.
After sharing a hearty meal and inspecting their progress, Zani sent them to rest while he personally prepared their medicinal herbal baths and deep-tissue massages.
Such luxurious treatment made even the few wealthy merchant scions attending his gym green with envy.
Yet, for Zani, burning this much copper was now a minor expense.
His monthly income from forty disciples and Das’s VIP fee was more than enough to sustain them.
Just as he was finishing his duties as the sun began to set, a voice called out from the shadows.
“Master Zani.” Turning around, Zani saw Das standing near the VIP curtains.
“Brother Das.
What is the matter?” Das stepped forward and, to Zani’s shock, offered a deep, formal bow.
“Master Zani, please accept this bow as Thanks for accommodating us for so long.” Zani’s heart sank.
“Brother Das…
are you leaving?” “Yes.
The Young Master has already perfected his foundation.
It is time for us to depart.” “So fast?!” Zani blurted out.
His mind reeled.
So this is the terrifying reality of innate talent.
A twelve-year-old boy, lifting 150 kg with ease, and it only took him a single month!
The old saying was true: the difference between a genius and a mortal was greater than the difference between a mortal and a dog.
“We will leave tonight, when the village is asleep, to avoid unwanted eyes,” Das explained smoothly.
“Understood.” That very night, under the cover of darkness, the heavy iron gates of the Iron Core Gym opened, and the unassuming horse carriage steadily rolled out into the moonlight.
Standing by the gates, Das turned to Zani one last time.
“Master Zani, this is farewell.” Saying so, Das reached into his robes and handed over a heavy pouch.
“Please, accept this.” and Before Zani could even process the weight of the bag, Das spoke his final words.
“And regarding the Instructor position…
I have spoken with the Young Master.
In coming days, a man will come looking for you.” Giving a final, respectful salute, Das turned and hurried after the carriage, leaving Zani standing alone under the starry sky.
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