The students did not realize the agony they were about to suffer. Shi Lang said, “Call your parents and tell them that you will be spending the next month in the academy. You will stay in in-house accommodation. Two people in one room. Your training will begin now.”
The students were energetic when they heard this, but well, when has a newborn calf been afraid of a tiger? They quickly contacted their parents and guardians and told them about the training session. The parents knew the identity of the teacher, so they willingly allowed them to stay back at school and even asked them to pay attention to their studies.
This was done and Shi Lang said, “Let’s go, follow me.”
The man got down the podium and the class followed after him in neat queues. They passed many other classrooms and were seen by a lot of students. The news circulated immediately. Many were curious but they did not make a move as the teachers forbade them.
Shi Lang was not worried about the things that were going on around him, he was simply going to treat his class with extreme care and teach them a good lesson today. His intention was to let these guys understand the disparity they have to face when they pursue strength and the dedication they will need to climb the obstacles in front of them. Some students were like him, who had yet to consume any gene serum and had a very faint chance to unlock the star levels.
He wanted these students to realize that luck only favored the strong. They arrived at the special hall on the campus. This place was where the students were sent to serve detention. Theseus asked, “Teacher, why are we here?”
Shi Lang smiled and said, “This place is big enough, and has better sound isolation technology installed, at the same time, it has sixty med bays installed in it.”
Chou asked, “Sixty Med Bays? What for?”
Shi Lang smiled and said, “They are to provide support to the city or the students in case of emergency. Now, come on.”
The students found that something was odd about this whole explanation but they still followed him inside the room. They were not very clear about the intention of their ‘kind’ teacher.
Soon they all stood in a big hall. Shi Lang said, “Go, stand in a circle, Quo Lina, come with me.”
The circle was formed quickly and two figures stood in the center of the circle. Shi Lang smiled, “From now to the next 30 days, I will teach you all combat. I will guide you all one by one. Daily, till you are completely exhausted. Now your homework is to learn from each other’s mistakes, observe the fights, and break them down. Okay?”
The class nodded. Shi Lang said, “Lina, take positions and come at me.”
Quo Lina nodded and she rushed forward to attack Shi Lang, however, the moment her fearless eyes matched with Shi Lang, she froze, and then fainted. Shi Lang did not use any ocular technique to subdue this girl this time. The class was shocked, this was too fast for them to even observe, let alone break it down. Almost everyone cast their gazes at Theseus, who was stunned at this moment.
He could not comprehend what just happened. Shi Lang picked up the girl in his arms and then sent her to the corner to recuperate. He looked at the people and said, “I forgot to mention it earlier, but when you come to strike at me, come with the intention to kill.”
His voice was calm and the people felt a chill running down their spines. They did not expect the teacher to say such a thing. Theseus asked, “Teacher, why must we come with the intention to kill?”
Shi Lang smiled faintly and said, “Only when you have thoughts imbued in your actions do you have a chance to reach me. The soldiers on the frontline are all battle-hardened and they know that if they did not kill the person or creature in front of them, they will be the ones who die.
The reason I ask you to come at me with the intent to kill is for you to develop sharper senses. On the battlefield, when you can sense the killing intent, you will be able to counter it. So, to understand what the power of thoughts is, you need to develop your own thoughts.”
The students nodded in understanding. Theseus said, “So, just now, you targeted Quo Lina with your intention to kill?”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Yes.”
…
The class continued, and by the time Quo Lina woke up, almost the entire class had taken a trip to the land of darkness. What they did not understand was how can a gaze be so terrifying. Shi Lang was standing in front of Theseus, who has been observing and was the last to get in the ring.
Quo Lina sat up and looked at the two people standing, facing each other. The battle was yet to begin. There were a lot of other students watching the scene. Theseus was gazing at Shi Lang, or precisely over his shoulder.
Shi Lang said, “Come.”
Theseus looked at the man’s face and then he charged ahead. He managed to take two steps when Shi Lang said, “Do you think staring at me is the intention to kill?”
His voice was low, but enough to make Theseus freeze in his steps. The rest of the class also shivered, they had been through with this and knew what was going on. Quo Lina said, “This is the power of thoughts.”
The people beside her also understood, they could tell that the power of thoughts was incredible, and could even sense it vaguely, but they did not understand how to incorporate it with their thoughts.
On the other side, Theseus thought about killing Shi Lang, but it was just an idea, he did not really believe it. The next moment, his gaze matched with Shi Lang and he fainted. Shi Lang carried him to the side and sat down on the ground. He waved to the people who were already awake to sit down.
They all sat down with their legs crossed, they heard a calm voice, “Meditate.”
The students followed the instruction and began to meditate. Their breathing was in sync with each other. If anyone paid attention, one could hear a light whooshing sound. Shi Lang waited for everyone to wake up.
When Theseus woke up after half an hour, Shi Lang opened his eyes as well. He gestured for him to sit down and meditate. The student sat down and the teacher stood up with his hands behind his back as he moved around the room leisurely.
When he detected that Theseus and the rest were in deep meditation, he said in a soft voice, “Now imagine, if someone or something that you love or care about deeply is placed in front of you.”
After a few minutes, he said, “Now, imagine someone or something that you do not like, in the same frame with the object you hold close.”
The breathing of the students flickered for a moment. Shi Lang faintly smiled as he walked around, and said, “Now imagine what you will do, if that person, killed or destroyed your object of likeness?”
The people were enraged, and their breathing changed. Shi Lang nodded and said, “What you are feeling now is anger, this is not the intention to kill.”
The people were enlightened. Shi Lang did not give them the time to calm down and said, “Now you imagine yourself in the frame, and then imagine that person doing the same destruction in front of you.”
The breathing changed again, and this time even the fists of the people were clenched. Shi Lang smiled and said, “You wish to do the same to that person, you wish to kill that person standing in front of you for harming what you love, that is, killing intention. Remember this feeling, remember what it feels like to have your loved ones suffer.
If you are to die on the battlefield then your loved ones will suffer. So get stronger. Strong enough to stop this imagination from turning real. Strength is falling down, getting humiliated, but then standing up one more time and charging forward. Avenge yourself, and your loved ones, and slay whatever stands in your way. Even if it is the heavens, the gods, or the devil. Do not back down, and slay what troubles you.”
He was instilling something that will change the mindset of the students for their entire life. After he was done preaching he did not plan to stay behind and said, “I want to you all to comprehend this feeling you experience just now, recall that scene when you charged at me, and recall my reaction. Sit here till you have some idea. Also, do not share your thoughts with each other.”