"Good, good!"
Looking at Shen Hex, who had taken off his shirt to reveal his upper body, Zhong Qin stood in a daze for a moment before regaining her composure. She quickly corrected her posture and observed attentively.
She knew that Shen Hex taking off his shirt wasn't some kind of indecent service, but rather to help her better understand the Xingyi Essence and the Dragon Subduing True Skill. Many martial arts instructors preferred to teach this way.
Of course, there were also some unscrupulous martial arts halls or illegal private tutors who included such services as add-ons, charging fees, and even making shady deals to entice customers.
Zhong Qin had always kept her distance from such practices.
Yet now, it didn't seem so unappealing...
"Don't get distracted!"
Watching Shen Hex initiate his fist movements and remind her once more, Zhong Qin's heart skipped a beat, and she immediately corrected her posture.
Though his appearance was nothing special and his physique not particularly robust, why was it that his fist movements carried such extraordinary charm, deeply attracting her gaze and causing her to lose focus? Could it be that his profession had some kind of mesmerizing capability?
Unwittingly, her mind became distracted again.
But Shen Hex didn't remind her again and continued practicing his fist techniques, taking this opportunity to accumulate Professional Experience as a Martial Artist.
After several rounds of practice, Zhong Qin finally entered the right state, and Shen Hex officially began the instruction.
A dream of the Martial Dynasty, spanning over 170 years. Although he only broke through to Tier Three at the last moment, his hundred-plus years of refining, experiencing, and immersing himself gave him a profound understanding and mastery of the Xingyi Fist and the entire Martial Dao.
Therefore, even though he only reached Tier Three at the end, his comprehension and mastery of Xingyi Fist Skill were beyond reach for some Tier Three Martial Artists and even Tier Four Martial Artists.
Moreover, he excelled in teaching. Ever since managing Liang Mountain, he had continuously recruited disciples and taught martial arts, until the last twenty years when he disappeared from public view to live in seclusion. This extensive teaching experience was a rich resource for instruction.
Thus...
"Your breathing technique is wrong!"
"It's about subduing the dragon, not killing it; don't use so much force."
"Use your mind to control your body, use your will to harness your strength."
"Lift heavy as if it's light, and light as if it's heavy; control your power, do not let power control you."
"Open your mind, feel every life within your body, treat them as your hands and feet, your fingers and palms. Control them as you control your muscles, then refine your blood and energy, circulate True Qi, and gather it into your Dantian, trying to compress it..."
In the training room, the one performing martial practices became Zhong Qin, with Shen Hex constantly pointing out her mistakes and helping her correct them.
After an unknown span of time, Zhong Qin's eyes suddenly changed as her internal energy surged into her Dantian, even generating extra True Qi. That was the power she had before but had never mastered.
Subduing the dragon, she finally subdued her internal dragon, refining her True Qi with unprecedented control, transforming it entirely...
"Boom!!"
A sound shook the surroundings, and Zhong Qin's long hair fluttered wildly, all due to the air currents.
The transformation of True Qi into Gang Qi was finally complete.
Having already stepped to the side, Shen Hex clapped in congratulation: "Not bad, not bad. Congratulations, congratulations."
"Huff!"
Zhong Qin exhaled deeply, retracting her Dragon Subduing Skill, and came before Shen Hex to bow deeply: "Thank you, Coach."
"Take money to solve trouble for others."
Shen Hex chuckled softly, then glanced at his watch: "As per our agreement, our session is over. Consolidate your foundation; if you have any questions, feel free to find me. I should be here for a few more days."
With that, he turned and headed out.
"Wait!"
Seeing this, Zhong Qin hurriedly called out to him.
Shen Hex turned back: "Is there anything else?"
"No, nothing really!"
Only then did Zhong Qin realize she had no reason to detain him, so she merely said, "I don't know your name yet."
Shen Hex smiled: "My surname is Shen, and I go by Shen Hex!"
"Shen Hex?"
Zhong Qin murmured, then nodded and said, "I remember now, thank you!"
"Mm!"
Shen Hex nodded, then walked out of the room towards the hotel restaurant.
After busying himself in the training room for most of the day, he was also a bit hungry.
Zhong Qin was his carefully chosen target. Her Dantian was already filled with True Qi, and as long as she understood the True Meaning of Subduing the Dragon, she could easily refine Gang Qi.
So, earning this 500,000 was, no, 450,000 was very easy.
Why only 450,000?
Because he had to pay taxes!
That's right, even in private transactions, taxes must be paid.
"Only taxes are inevitable," is a famous saying in the Empire.
What about death?
For High-tier Professionals, death is not an unavoidable force.
Only taxes cannot be avoided, even Ultimate Professionals have to pay taxes to the Empire.
Because this is the system constructed by the entire Empire, by countless professionals. Even Ultimate Professionals cannot trample it, at most they enjoy certain privileges.
Shen Hex, having just changed his profession, was still a rookie without any tax privileges, so he was directly deducted ten percent in taxes.
This is just the personal income tax for a "private instructor." If you formally establish a martial arts school, the commercial tax might even reach fifty percent.
This is also the reason why Shen Martial Arts Hall has struggled since his parents disappeared. Without a martial artist to oversee the place, it couldn't attract many customers. The hall also supported a batch of direct disciples who didn't pay but still needed to be paid wages, plus the high taxes and various fixed expenses...
Shen Hex was even thankful that he sold the martial arts hall in time; otherwise, he might have been chased by debt collectors by now.
Shen Hex shook his head, went to the restaurant, and ordered a table full of sumptuous dishes.
He didn't have the habit of "suffering without necessity." As long as conditions allowed, he would never treat himself poorly.
After thoroughly enjoying his meal, Shen Hex returned to the training area to continue seeking his goals.
The Human Empire is a huge treasure trove, but it requires the key of money to unlock it. Therefore, Shen Hex's next plan is to accumulate funds while simultaneously advancing his martial arts cultivation and professional level.
So work can't stop; it even needs to be intensified.
With this in mind...
A few days later, at Yunlan Hotel's public training area.
Shen Hex approached the front desk, and the receptionist handed him a key card without a second thought.
Holding the card, Shen Hex proceeded to a training room, swiped the card to open it, and was immediately surrounded by over a dozen young, beautiful girls.
"Teacher!"
"You're finally here!"
"Why so late today?"
"Have you had breakfast yet? Why don't we go sit in the restaurant for a while first?"
"I have a bottle of nutrient solution here..."
Surrounded by the chattering teens, the scene made the group of young men behind them gnash their teeth in resentment.
"This little bastard!"
"He's getting more popular."
"He's only been here a few days, and he's already daring to compete with us for business?"
"I just don't get it, why him?"
"Exactly, when it comes to looks and physique, what does he have over us?"
"They say he really knows how to teach. A woman trained with him just a few days ago and managed to cultivate Gang Qi in less than half a day."
"Teach, my ass. It's just luck. Given his appearance, he probably doesn't even know how to wipe his nose properly, yet he dares to come out and teach martial arts? What gives him the right?"
"Yeah, True Qi transforming into Gang in half a day; who does he think he is, a Tier Four Martial Arts Grandmaster?"
"I think he's put some spell on them, or else he has some mind-bending professional ability. He might even be a lurking Evil God Cultist. These people have all been tricked by him."
"Even if he does have the skills, he shouldn't undercut the price like this. Guaranteeing True Qi transformation to Gang for five million is disrupting the market."
"Bastard, you're screwing the market over!"
"This can't go on. I'm going to report him!"
"..."
A few young men gathered together, watching as Shen Hex was ushered into the training room by the crowd of girls, each gritting their teeth in anger.
They were all young and good-looking, either tall and brawny or fit and balanced, and had always been the popular private instructors in this training area.
Indeed, they were all private instructors!
Although Yunlan Hotel is a hotel and not a martial arts school, it doesn't stop people from posing as guests to use the training area as a side gig. After all, those who can afford to stay here must have some means or even great wealth. If you're skilled, making money can be very easy.
So, there are often "professionals" who come here, either to seek beauty or wealth. Over time, this has even formed a resident group, and Yunlan Hotel has turned a blind eye, seemingly intent on making it a hidden feature of the hotel.
Many have thrived from this, some even meeting benefactors who let them rise swiftly by clinging to their "golden thighs."
This has also made the competition among private instructors fiercer, with some even resorting to underhanded tactics to snatch business.
It was at this time that Shen Hex arrived and immediately caused a stir.
Nobody knows what method he used, but within a few days, he had siphoned away most of the female clientele from the first layer, with some even coming from the second and third layers just to seek him out, causing his business to boom.
With his business booming, what were the others to do?
They could only stand by and watch.
In the most cliché terms, if looks could kill, Shen Hex would have been killed a thousand times over by those male instructors.
The crowd behind clenched their teeth in anger.
Shen Hex, however, didn't pay them any attention. He entered the training room, faced the youthful and beautiful female clients, and began today's instructions.
Why were they all female clients?
Because dealing with males was too much trouble!
It's not that he was throwing punches; it was more like opposites attract, while like charges repel. Given his current appearance, professional level, and martial arts strength, it was hard to gain the trust of male clients.
Put yourself in their shoes—imagine you're a martial arts professional, practicing in the training zone, and a kid who looks about seventeen or eighteen says to you, "That's not how you throw a punch."
What would your reaction be?
Would you punch him? Punch him again? Or punch him yet again?
Females are different, although there's still some risk, it's generally less than with males. Plus, considering some characteristics of females, earning money this way isn't too difficult.
Though it does draw some hate.
But Shen Hex was used to it and didn't care at all. After all, this was the Upper City District and at Yunlan Hotel. As long as no high-tier professionals came around to disguise themselves as weaker opponents, his small operations would carry no significant risk.