Chapter 400 - 160: Blessing in Disguise

At half-past ten at night, Ren Zhong finally met the fashionably late Ma Xiaoling in the Fourth Level Virtual Reality training space.

As soon as they met, she repeatedly apologized, explaining that she was delayed because she had called an online meeting with the Guard to discuss countermeasures for the rising cost of military supplies.

Ma Xiaoling concluded, "Believe me, it’s not that I’m too embarrassed to face you, trying to hide and delay purposefully."

Ren Zhong nodded, "Of course."

"Wow, you really trust me that much?"

Ren Zhong turned his head away, particularly not wanting to speak.

That’s because I know you’re just heartless!

If you really felt so ashamed for accidentally hurting your own people to the extent that you wanted to avoid our scheduled training, you wouldn’t be you!

Ren Zhong finally wearily said, "Yes, I totally trust you."

"You’re truly not angry?"

"What’s there to be angry about? Now in town, there’s also the perception that I abandoned you after starting something. You’ve sacrificed a lot. It’s only fair that I let you beat me up once more."

Ma Xiaoling pondered for a moment, "Right! That makes sense!"

"And if it weren’t for this misunderstanding today, you wouldn’t have performed so well. The plan is progressing very smoothly. Overall, Teacher Ma, you did quite well."

"Hmm! I’ll continue to work hard in the future!"

"No need! Until this matter is resolved, if we run into each other outside, let’s just pretend we don’t know each other."

Ma Xiaoling asked doubtfully, "But I already said outside today that I’d hit you every time I see you. I’m afraid my cover will be blown."

Ren Zhong: "Are you trying to get me killed?"

After much tossing around, Ren Zhong even forgot the original plan.

He planned to harshly scold Ma Xiaoling in the name of being the victim to vent his frustration.

But realizing that Ma Xiaoling couldn’t be judged by common sense, Ren Zhong didn’t bring it up again, because she wouldn’t change even if he did.

An entire night of high-intensity combat training, and time unknowingly slipped to 5:50 in the morning.

Once again, Ma Xiaoling dismantled Ren Zhong’s Virtual Armor into pieces, then suddenly slapped her forehead, "You forgot to give me the stock market lesson!"

Ren Zhong righteously said, "Didn’t I look at your account yesterday? I found that you’ve already gotten the hang of it. At this stage, you need to gain real combat experience and learn some lessons. Once you’re more experienced and gain a new understanding of the stock market, I’ll give you another lesson."

Ma Xiaoling had an epiphany, "Just like when I initially received warrior training, I get it. I’ll buy more now to quickly accumulate experience! I actually have another hundred thousand in private savings."

Pow!

All into the stocks at once.

Ren Zhong’s mouth twitched.

Forget it, anyway, the big crash is in two days, she can probably still earn for two days, let her be.

While others follow the trend like pigs at the breeze, she instead is chased by the tornado.

"Speaking of which, you surprised me quite a bit yesterday. I thought I’d have you down in a few minutes, but you held on for so long."

Ren Zhong sighed, "In the end, it was still a crushing defeat."

"That’s just because my equipment was superior."

Ren Zhong: "I boosted my power to 1100."

Ma Xiaoling: "While my power wasn’t as high as yours, the material was far superior to your scrap metal."

Ren Zhong nodded, "Indeed, Third Level exoskeletons are barely sufficient against Ruined Beasts, but facing Fourth Level equipment, the disparity is immense. Although I completely dominated Lin Wang in that battle, my equipment was severely damaged afterward."

Ma Xiaoling: "Haven’t you studied Sid Meier’s insights? Did you know that besides the 688-point basic version, there’s also a 6888-point advanced version exclusively for Citizens?"

Ren Zhong raised an eyebrow, "Oh? I really didn’t know that. Last time, uh, previously when I was a Citizen, I didn’t pay attention to these. Once I become a Citizen, I’ll buy it and take a look."

"You don’t need to buy it. I know its content; it’s just one sentence."

"What?"

"Materials decide everything."

"Just that one sentence?"

"Yep. Nothing else."

Ren Zhong couldn’t help but laugh out loud, "Hahahaha! I knew Sid Meier that old fox was no pushover! So he laid a trap here! Selling a single sentence for 6888, how dumb must someone be to buy it? Haha... uh..."

Seeing Ma Xiaoling’s face grow increasingly unpleasant across from him, Ren Zhong decisively stopped and changed his tone, "Actually, profound insights don’t necessarily require many words. The meaning of this sentence is all-encompassing."

"Assume two Professionals of completely equal skill are in a duel. One has custom equipment that no matter how hard you hit, it doesn’t break. The other only has a standard mass-produced model. Comparing the two, the disparity is immediately apparent."

"Also, take the material of the power supply line as an example. One has more stable superconducting properties, while the other, when encountering heat or cold, develops resistance, losing its superconductivity, then generating heat. Increased energy consumption, reduced power, a higher failure rate, and so on — the differences become very evident."