Chapter 049 – Ominous Signs
Seven days later.
In the afternoon, Li Yuan stood on the training platform wearing specially weighted armor, his entire body curled up like a frog about to pounce. Only the tips of his toes touched the black stone floor. [1]
His heavy breaths came through his nose, and now and then, a low rumble sounded in his abdomen, almost like a wild beast growling.
He could feel the air in his belly becoming more and more compressed. The sensation stirred heat and restlessness through his body.
Time ticked by. It was nearly dusk when Li Yuan finally stopped his training. After returning the manual to Senior Li, he hurried toward the boat mooring area in the south market.
As he walked briskly through the chilly breeze, hands clenched into fists, a hint of excitement glimmered in his eyes. He felt he had finally grasped a crucial insight and was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Just as he was about to board a small boat with a black awning, he noticed another boat pulling in nearby. Standing at the bow was a figure he recognized at once.
“Cai Ze!” Li Yuan called, walking closer.
But Cai Ze didn’t react. He seemed distracted, nothing like the man Li Yuan had seen a few days before. Dark circles clouded his eyes, as if he hadn’t slept in days. It was only when Li Yuan raised his voice that Cai Ze finally noticed him.
“Oh...Li Yuan,” he muttered.
“Hey, you really don’t look well,” Li Yuan said. “Maybe you should rest first. Another day won’t hurt, right?”
“I’m almost there...almost,” Cai Ze mumbled. “This business is nearly wrapped up. Once it’s done, I can rest.”