Chapter 24: The Temptation of Nude Photos

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During the first few days after arriving at the Capital Star, many reporters wanted to interview Lei Bin and Lou Lan, but the military refused to allow it. So Lei Bin and the others remained cooped up in the hotel.

The military intended to hold a single interview at an appropriate time, one that would be sensational, grand, and prestigious. They wanted the entire Federation to be profoundly shaken, Lei Bin and the others to become universally celebrated heroes, and every citizen of the Federation to know that such magnificent soldiers served their nation. The war between the Federation and the Empire would surely end in victory.

Thus, Lei Bin and the others were forced to remain in the hotel, forbidden to take even a single step outside.

Of course, the service they received there was excellent. Apart from certain special services, everything was of the highest standard, practically on the level reserved for generals. The rooms they occupied were all presidential suites.

It was the first time in his life that Lei Bin had stayed in one, so he indulged himself shamelessly, making the most of every luxury. An opportunity like this did not come often.

Unfortunately, he enjoyed very little of it, because most of his time was spent being tormented by Xingmeng.

"Damn it, what kind of difficulty level is this? Isn't it a little too extreme? I've already died hundreds of times!"

Xingmeng was still training him in combat. Although Lei Bin's fighting skills were fairly good, he was still far inferior to a true practitioner of ancient martial arts.

Against someone like Lou Lan, for instance, Lei Bin would not have the slightest chance of victory. Xingmeng had gathered information on various ancient martial arts training methods, breathing techniques, and related disciplines for him to study at will. She even used virtual simulations to attach his consciousness to a virtual body, allowing him to experience the breathing methods of ancient martial artists and become familiar with them.

By now, Lei Bin even breathed that way while sleeping.

After completing the breathing exercises, Xingmeng continued to improve him through actual combat simulations, pitting him against virtual fighters. As a result, he had been beaten to death hundreds of times.

"With your current strength, you are fully capable of defeating this virtual fighter. You simply have not grasped the essentials of ancient martial arts, nor have you learned how to unleash the potential within your body," Xingmeng replied.

"Of course I haven't! Ancient martial arts require guidance from a master, with someone explaining everything to you face-to-face. You just cram a mountain of information into my head and expect me to master it quickly. Do you think I'm a god? The fact that I've achieved this much already proves that I'm extraordinarily gifted and brilliant!"

Lei Bin launched into a shameless bout of self-praise. In truth, he was not entirely wrong. With ancient martial arts, insight was the most important thing.

"Rigidly forcing information into you is indeed inferior to the guidance of a master. Although I possess vast amounts of data, I cannot comprehend the subtle insights required by ancient martial arts. I can only give you the information and let you understand it for yourself. Once this interview is over and you are assigned to your next post, you can request admission to an advanced military academy. Your progress will then be much faster. Given your achievements, your request to study at an advanced military academy would certainly be approved." Xingmeng was frank about her own shortcomings.

"Tch. Why would I need to attend some school just to track down traitors in the Federation? If you ask me, the best method would be to visit places of pleasure. That is where information is concentrated. Whenever men discuss important matters, they often go there. If we could spend a few months in places like that, we would definitely make some valuable discoveries."

Lei Bin was naturally unwilling to track down Federation traitors simply because Xingmeng told him to. He used his own twisted logic to seek personal benefits. The perfect opportunity he had once had to lose his virginity had been wasted, and he still regretted it. Daisy did not live on the Capital Star, so he could not count on her for the time being. He would have to find another way.

"Places of pleasure are indeed good for gathering information, but you cannot go to one now. You are currently a great hero of the Federation, so you must be careful about your image. Every move you make is being monitored, and you have no opportunity to leave. If you get the chance later, you can go investigate there."

"True. Now that I'm saddled with this damn title of Federation hero, I can't go anywhere conveniently. Hell, if I'd known, I would never have taken on this ridiculous hero title. I should have handed all the credit to Lou Lan. Unfortunately, that girl is too stubborn. She refused to take even a bit of my credit. Honestly, why does she have to be so rigid?"

At the mention of Lou Lan, drool once again trickled from the corner of Lei Bin's mouth.

Given the chance, he was determined to have her.

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"All right. If you defeat this fighter, I will give you a three-dimensional nude image of Lou Lan as she is now. If you perform well, I might even give you some videos of her bathing."

Seeing Lei Bin's lecherous expression, Xingmeng immediately switched to another round of temptation.

"Wait, what? A three-dimensional nude image?"

Lei Bin sprang excitedly from the bed.

"That's right. She is also staying in the hotel, and the hotel has holographic communication equipment. Using special methods, I can synthesize images of her through the device. Only a supercomputer could accomplish something like that."

There was unmistakable pride in Xingmeng's voice.

"Damn! You can really do that? Xingmeng, you're incredible! Fine, I'll give it everything I've got. Bring that bastard out. I'll pound him into mincemeat!"

Lei Bin's blood surged instantly, and he resembled an enraged bull.

With a flash, the scene changed. Lei Bin found himself in the combat arena. The scar-faced virtual fighter inside was making provocative gestures at him.

"Damn it! For my Lou Lan, let's do this!"

His eyes were bloodshot. He kicked up a cloud of sand, then lunged forward with a vicious kick.

Five minutes later, the virtual fighter had beaten him into mincemeat. Every bone in his body had been shattered.

"Damn, I was too reckless. I should have held back a little on that punch. If I had, I could have put more power into it."

Lying sprawled on the ground, Lei Bin reviewed his mistakes, then shouted at Xingmeng, "Again! Damn it, today I have to see Lou Lan's nude picture!"

Lei Bin had truly gone berserk.

"Damn, that kick just now was wrong."

The virtual fighter beat him so badly that his internal organs burst out, and the system declared him dead.

"Shit, I should have slowed that punch by three-tenths."

This time, Lei Bin was kicked so hard that his manhood exploded.

"Damn it! If I had drawn out just a little more internal energy, I would definitely have pulled it off!"

Half of Lei Bin's head was knocked away.

After being killed another eight or nine times, Lei Bin suddenly sensed a hidden force stirring inside his body. During one punch, that power erupted violently. The virtual fighter before him was blasted backward, hurled dozens of yards through the air, and killed instantly.

"What the hell? I'm actually this powerful? Hahaha! I'm a genius! Damn, that punch was incredible! Even if I were facing that little vixen Lou Lan, I could probably kill her with one blow! Hahaha..."

That punch had been utterly domineering and terrifyingly powerful. Lei Bin felt as though the strength within him could destroy everything in its path, unstoppable and overwhelming. He was so excited that he nearly lost his head.

"That was nothing more than a flash of inspiration. Reproducing it next time will be difficult. You must train much harder. Only when you can unleash that kind of power with every punch will you have reached the first level of ancient martial arts."

Xingmeng poured cold water over his enthusiasm.

"What? That was only the first level? You're kidding! A punch with that much power, and it only counts as the first level?"

Lei Bin planted his hands on his hips, deeply dissatisfied.

"Correct. The most important ability of an ancient martial artist is to draw upon the potential within the body. You have only just begun to sense it and cannot yet control it proficiently. Naturally, you have not even reached the first level."

Xingmeng showed no consideration whatsoever for Lei Bin's feelings.

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"You're kidding me. Ancient martial arts are that difficult? Then why should I bother learning them? To catch Federation traitors, all I need is intelligence. My intelligence is among the best in the entire Federation. Teach me some other skills instead, like secret techniques for seducing women. You have to understand, a lot of information has to be obtained from women. If I master the art of charming women and conquer all the wealthy ladies in the upper circles of the Federation, I can definitely track down the traitors."

Lei Bin once again produced a stream of crooked logic, while his mind ran wild with fantasies.

"Winning a woman's affection is indeed one of the skills you need to master. However, it comes later. Ancient martial arts are the foundation, and you must pass that stage first."

Xingmeng was stubborn. She insisted on making Lei Bin study ancient martial arts.

"Damn it, sooner or later you'll get me killed. Enough of this. Hurry up and show me Lou Lan's nude picture. I'm waiting."

Lei Bin could hardly contain his impatience, drooling shamelessly.

With another flash, the scene before him changed. It became Lou Lan's hotel room. She had just finished bathing and stood before Lei Bin, her entire body glistening with moisture. She remained motionless, a completely three-dimensional projection.

"Wow... I really underestimated her figure. Her breasts are unbelievably full, and that butt... damn, it's huge. It looks so springy. If I could have my way with her, it would feel incredible."

Lei Bin immediately circled the projection, admiring it from every angle. He reached out to touch her, only for his hand to pass straight through. There was no physical sensation at all.

"How stingy. Couldn't you at least simulate her body so I could touch her and satisfy myself a little?"

Lei Bin grumbled.

"If you reach the first level of ancient martial arts, I will let you touch her once," Xingmeng tempted him again.

"Really? They say it is worth dying beneath the peonies, for even as a ghost one would die happy. Fine, I'll give it everything I've got! I refuse to believe I can't reach the first level!"

Lei Bin's motivation instantly soared, and he began training as though his life depended on it.

On the fourth day, someone knocked on Lei Bin's door. Xingmeng immediately interrupted his training.

"Someone is looking for you outside. Two of them are major generals."

As she spoke, Xingmeng transmitted the camera feed into Lei Bin's mind.

"Two major generals? Damn, isn't that a little excessive? Even if I'm a great hero of the Federation, two major generals shouldn't have to come personally to pick me up at the door."

Lei Bin curled his lip. The situation was far too strange.

"It is indeed unusual. Judging by their expressions, they seem extremely reverent. That kind of reverence is normally reserved for senior commanders. However, even with achievements like yours, it would be impossible for you to be promoted beyond the rank of major general."

For once, Xingmeng could not figure out what was happening either.

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