Lu Ren exclaimed in surprise, "Aren't you afraid I'll run away?"
"If you don't repay the loan, you'll be listed as a credit risk. And since you're a key suspect according to the police, I think they'd be happy to step in if you don't repay on time."
The fee-collecting nurse smiled knowingly, evidently used to such situations.
"...Alright, thank you, I'll definitely repay on time!"
The nurse curiously asked, "Did you really not harm those three people?"
Lu Ren looked helplessly at the nurse who frequently administered his IV drips.
"I've stressed countless times that I'm the victim in this matter."
Indeed, he was undoubtedly the victim; they were the ones who turned into monsters to persecute him!
The nurse was even more amazed, "Those three persecuted you, yet you managed to escape?"
"...Maybe people's constitutions can't be compared..."
After leaving the hospital, Lu Ren squinted at the sun, took a bus to the police station, where he calmly checked in amidst the cold stares of Song Jingxian and Chen Wen.
Back home, Lu Ren collapsed on the sofa, completely relaxing.
He lived in an old rundown neighborhood over twenty years old, but its great location was the sole property left by his parents so he wouldn't be homeless.
After a brief rest, Lu Ren got up, sat in front of the computer, and opened a job hunting website.
No choice; he hadn't reported to his previous job in so long he was considered self-resigned. With a case hanging over him, finding a normal job was extremely difficult. Although not convicted, the police record was enough to bar him from good companies.
A penny can stymie a hero!
Lu Ren sighed deeply, opened several job search apps on his old phone, and after drafting his resume, applied to any suitable positions he found.
Not that he lacked skills; at twenty-five or six, he had two or three years of work experience. With careful screening and diligent applications, he should manage.
Though the environment was not thriving, it wasn't unlivable. With earnest efforts, life could be manageable—just differing in how burdensome or tiring it might be.
A week of job searching later, Lu Ren was scratching his head. His resume was optimized well enough; thirty or forty applications landed him around a dozen interview invitations, which was a decent ratio.
Yet, at this moment, Lu Ren felt little passion for these interviews. As his constitution steadily improved, his thoughts had drifted away from normal work.
He needed to leverage his unique strengths in a suitable career.
With this decision, Lu Ren's restless mood settled down. He hesitated a moment, then lightly tapped on the keypad, sending a long-ignored message.
"I'm doing well, thanks for your concern, don't worry."
System: "Ding, you are severing a thread of affection."
Lu Ren: "乀(ˉεˉ乀) Get lost!"
With that, he didn't dwell on how the other would react, pushing the emotions aside, he quickly finished lunch and headed out.
Two hours later, Lu Ren stood outside a place called Power Burning Fighting Club.
"Excuse me, are you hiring sparring partners here?"
Lu Ren asked the front desk of the fighting club politely.
Due to his attributes being tracked in data format, not pursuing this line of work felt like a waste of talent.
Being a sparring partner meant taking hits, but he had tested and found that taking hits allowed him to gain skill level—progressing quite rapidly.
He had long yearned for the horizontal training often seen in martial arts novels.
The receptionist looked up at Lu Ren, her eyes brightening at his appearance, then assessing his physique with a smile, she warmly said, "Yes, please fill out this form, and I'll take you to the interview once completed."
"Thank you!"
After filling out his personal information, the receptionist eagerly led Lu Ren to the ring side, causing him some puzzlement before settling calmly.
It seemed they wanted to test him personally.
The receptionist spoke to a robust man nearby, saying a few words.
This robust man, wearing black tight training clothes and holding dumbbells, moved leisurely, his muscles flexing and contracting between movements.
The man walked over with Lu Ren's completed form, extending his hand with a smile.
"Hello, I'm Zhang Kui!"
"Hello, I'm Lu Ren."
Lu Ren shook hands, then subtly retracted his hand when Zhang Kui surprisingly gripped tightly.
System: "The muscleman holds great curiosity about you and is paying attention to you."
That was a bit weird!
Seemingly noticing Lu Ren's discomfort, Zhang Kui chuckled awkwardly, "Don't misunderstand me. I habitually test to see one's physique; though you're a sparring partner, I understand the reality better than I need to explain. Otherwise, the hourly rate wouldn't be this high."
"Understood."
"Okay, go put on the gear over there and meet me in the ring. Little Li, come here and lend a hand!"
Zhang Kui didn't waste words, calling over a staff member, then donned the fight gloves and began warming up.
Lu Ren efficiently geared up with Little Li's help and stepped into the ring.
"Need to warm up a bit?" Zhang Kui asked.
"Yes."
Lu Ren didn't try to show off, he seriously began stretching. His recent recovery meant if he didn't properly warm up, he risked injury.
Zhang Kui showed approval; young guys like Lu Ren who didn't put on airs were rare now, while those who did often left the ring after a few rounds, supporting themselves with walls.
Five minutes later, warmed up, Lu Ren and Zhang Kui stood facing each other.
"Remember, being a sparring partner here doesn't mean you can't fight back, but your counterattacks are limited. Often those who come for experience demand intense excitement and permit retaliation, understood?"
Zhang Kui seriously clarified that they weren't hiring punching bags; sparring partners could defend but were discouraged from dodging.
"Understood."
"Since it's a test, let's follow the standard procedure."
Lu Ren raised an eyebrow, "Sounds good."
Standard procedure referred to engaging in combat as per official fight methods, without additional restrictions.
Noting Lu Ren's unofficial raised fist stance, Zhang Kui merely nodded slightly, "Start?"
"Start!"
With those words, Zhang Kui lunged forward at astonishing speed, like a highly agile leopard, closing in with a simple rear hand straight punch aimed at Lu Ren.
Remained prepared, Lu Ren promptly stepped back, calmly evading Zhang Kui's punch.
Zhang Kui was somewhat shocked; it was clear Lu Ren hadn't learned combat skills systematically, yet his reactions were quick.