Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1157 - 563

Fang Cheng entered the room silently at first.

He headed directly toward the Eight Immortals Table, drew out the bamboo chair, and seated himself with firm resolve.

Once he was seated, the intense waves of heat filling the space appeared to originate from him, surging in his direction.

The atmosphere started to move once more, but the scorching temperature remained undiminished.

Fang Cheng held himself straight, his eyes steadily evaluating the trio before him.

The Professor and Lin Chuqiao positioned themselves on both sides, resembling reliable guardians.

This quiet stare proved more intolerable than the harshest questioning.

Bean shrank into a ball, tucking her head down further, even holding her breath with care.

Much like a tiny creature encountering a supreme hunter, she yielded and quivered on instinct.

Xu Kuan shifted sideways, attempting to protect Jiang Yun with his somewhat narrow shoulders.

However, his balled-up fists shook without control, his entire frame felt as if it were baking, and his shirt became drenched in moments.

Jiang Yun dropped her eyes, her fingers gripped so tightly they turned pale, nails nearly piercing her skin.

Overwhelmed by profound dread, she reflexively triggered her power.

As before, she sought comfort by sensing the foe's feelings.

In the past, confronting others—even those savage Bloodthorn offenders—she could detect the murky yellow of avarice or the crimson hue of killing intent.

Yet now, as her sensing tendrils tentatively approached that individual.

She stiffened.

Absolutely nothing.

No hostility, no warmth, not a trace of any emotional shade present.

It was like teetering on the brink of an endless chasm, with only an inky emptiness ahead that swallowed all.

This inscrutable mystery and dominating aura filled her with even greater helplessness than open threats of death.

In a daze, she began to imagine things.

Deep in that shadowy void, a blazing sun seemed to emerge gradually.

Dazzling, fierce, commanding, it pierced her mind with agonizing torment, causing sweat to stream down her features.

Right when their psychological barriers were on the verge of breaking.

"My surname is Fang."

Fang Cheng broke the silence abruptly.

With just those four straightforward words, the stifling warmth blanketing the area vanished swiftly like an ebbing wave, as though the prior burden had been nothing but an illusion.

A faint grin appeared on his face, his voice steady like casual conversation:

"I’m the Chairman of the Illuminati. I believe you should have met me last night on the Roof Terrace of Silver Wing Building."

He motioned toward the seats across from him:

"Don’t be so tense, sit down and let’s talk."

Xu Kuan and Jiang Yun immediately loosened up, their strained looks softening without warning.

They muttered "Thank you, Chairman Fang," over and over with faltering voices, then carefully edged onto the bed's side.

Perspiration still dampened their clothing, yet their thoughts escaped the utter panic of earlier, replaced by a sense of bewilderment.

It seemed the fearsome entity from moments ago and the composed figure speaking now were entirely different beings.

Observing the three shift from peak anxiety to sudden calm, their feelings wholly directed by Fang Cheng’s slightest gesture or phrase.

The Professor, positioned close by, pushed up his glasses, a spark flickering in the glass.

This was the skill of influencing others.

Begin by crushing their resolve with overwhelming force, then ease their nerves softly like a mild wind.

Without first dismantling their mental walls, any later discussion would have them holding onto false expectations, concealing facts.

True mastery came only from letting them grasp the immense divide in their positions.

"Everyone, relax a bit, you’re safe here."

Lin Chuqiao interjected at the perfect moment, her tone soft and crisp, her expression beaming like a gentle breeze.

Her eyes turned to the youngster cowering in the corner, resembling a ragged urchin.

She retrieved two elegantly packaged chocolates from her purse and approached on her heels.

"Here."

She knelt slightly, offering the treat to Bean.

Bean darted a quick look at Lin Chuqiao, then at the tempting confection.

Her throat bobbed subtly as she gulped.

Still, she hesitated to take it, huddling even smaller out of fright.

Lin Chuqiao displayed no frustration or scorn; she simply grasped those grimy small hands and set the chocolates there.

She softly ruffled the tangled locks, saying warmly:

"Eat it, it’s very sweet."

After this, she rose and went back to Fang Cheng’s position.

This small but sincere act of care acted like a soothing flow, melting away the stiff tension that had gripped the room.

Xu Kuan inhaled deeply, as if summoning bravery, before inquiring:

"What do you want from us? If it’s money, we don’t have it, if it’s our lives, I, I..."

From anxiety, his speech quivered, his sentences breaking.

Fang Cheng reclined in his chair, eyeing him, replying casually:

"What good would your lives do me?"

Xu Kuan paused in shock, his lips parting but words failing him, leaving him rooted, cheeks burning.

Next to him, Jiang Yun noticed, pushed aside her inner questions, and ventured forth:

"Chairman Fang, we are very grateful to your organization for rescuing us from Bloodthorn."

"If there’s anything we can help with, please let us know, we’ll cooperate fully, promising not to slack."

With her background as a nurse and exposure to life, she expressed herself more smoothly than Xu Kuan, knowing how to seize the opportunity.