Wang Dong stared at Wang Feng for a moment, then took a deep breath. "Alright, I trust you. But if I feel anything weird, I'll back off immediately."
Huo Yuhao nodded in agreement. "Me too. If this can help with our training, I don't mind giving it a try."
Wang Feng smiled, happy with their responses.
Wang Dong looked at Wang Feng and asked, "So, what should we do next?"
Wang Feng thought for a moment. "Maybe... we could try hugging. I read in a book that close physical contact can help strengthen soul resonance during Martial Soul Fusion training," he continued, sounding a bit awkward but still serious. "Besides... don't we have to be completely in sync emotionally and mentally to pull it off?"
Wang Dong looked at Wang Feng with a skeptical expression that turned into surprise at the suggestion. "H-Hugging?!" His voice unintentionally jumped an octave, and he reflexively covered his chest with his arms. "Are you serious?!"
Huo Yuhao, who was drinking at the time, suddenly choked, his face turning red as he tried to suppress his cough. "C-Close physical contact?" he muttered hoarsely, blinking rapidly.
Wang Feng scratched his cheek. "I know it sounds weird, but according to the theory—"
"What theory?!" Wang Dong cut in loudly, his ears now completely red. "Ever since you went to that forest, you've been coming back with weird theories like this?!"
Huo Yuhao, who had calmed down a little, tried to mediate. "M-Maybe he means... we could just hold hands instead?" he offered softly, nervously fidgeting with his fingers.
Wang Feng frowned. "We could just hold hands, but that might not be as effective as full contact like hugging."
Wang Dong stared at Wang Feng in disbelief, his lips twitching between wanting to protest or laugh. "Full... contact?" he repeated in a half-choked voice, wrapping his arms around himself like a shield. "What kind of book did you even read in that forest?!"
Huo Yuhao, who had just stopped coughing, suddenly choked again, this time bending over to hold his breath. When he lifted his now beet-red face, his eyes were watery. "I-I think... maybe we could just start with the basics?" he suggested hoarsely, nervously clutching the edge of his robe.
Wang Feng sighed deeply and rubbed his forehead. "Alright, alright," he said, giving in, though his eyes still sparkled with conviction. "We'll start with holding hands. But…" He suddenly perked up again, "If it doesn't work, you two have to agree to try the full method!"
"NO!" Wang Dong instantly shouted, then quickly lowered his voice, realizing how loud he'd been. "I mean… no need to go that far." His face turned crimson to his ears at the thought of that scenario.
Huo Yuhao nodded quickly in agreement, though his gaze avoided Wang Feng's as the latter still looked persistent. "J-Just holding hands... that's close enough..." he whispered, barely audible.
Wang Feng shrugged casually. "It's fine, right? I mean, we're all guys, so there's nothing to be embarrassed about."
Seeing the two on the verge of exploding again, Wang Feng quickly added, "Alright, let's just get started."
Reluctantly, Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao stepped toward Wang Feng. The three of them stood in a small circle. Wang Feng extended his hands first, looking at them with eager anticipation.
"Okay, let's start with holding hands," he said, full of enthusiasm to see if it would work.
Wang Dong sighed deeply and slowly reached for Wang Feng's hand with one of his own, while his other hand held Huo Yuhao's, who looked just as nervous. The mood turned awkward. Silent. Stiff.
Wang Feng closed his eyes first, taking a slow breath, then began to circulate his soul power gently, sending it through his palms toward Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao.
"Come on... feel the flow of energy," Wang Feng said softly.
Several seconds passed, but they still didn't feel any resonance among them.
They slowly let go of each other's hands. Wang Dong immediately pulled his hand back and took a half-step away, his face still flushed. "I guess... nothing happened," he muttered while avoiding direct eye contact.
Huo Yuhao also nodded slowly, though his expression showed a hint of disappointment. "It seems… it's not enough. But I did feel something… like a warm current, but faint."
"Really…" Even Wang Feng couldn't help but feel suspicious of the system. Was it lying?
He let out a long sigh, his face clearly filled with disappointment. "Hahhhh..." The sigh carried deep frustration. But in an instant, his spirit reignited like a flame caught by the wind.
He looked at Wang Dong and Huo Yuhao, eyes sparkling, a wide grin blooming on his face. "Maybe it's because we were only holding hands. We should try—"
"NO!" Wang Dong cut in loudly, raising his hand as if to physically stop Wang Feng from speaking. His eyes narrowed into sharp slits, like blades ready to strike. "I know where your mind's going, and the answer is NO!"
Huo Yuhao, standing beside them, coughed lightly, both hands gripping the edge of his robe tightly. "M-Maybe we could… try another method first?" he suggested hoarsely, sneaking a glance at Wang Dong, who looked ready to explode at any moment.
Wang Feng blinked, feigning innocence. "Another method? Like standing closer? Hugging from behind? Or—"
"I SAID NO!" Wang Dong practically jumped, his face red as a ripe pomegranate. His finger pointed at Wang Feng, trembling. "You… you're seriously—"
Huo Yuhao had to hold Wang Dong back from lunging at Wang Feng.
Wang Feng kept smiling, though now a little awkwardly. "Hehe… but we have to try it. What if it actually works? Please, Your Majesty Wang Dong~"
He clasped his hands together like he was praying, batting his eyelashes. "C'mon~ Just once! If it fails again, I promise I won't suggest hugging ever again!"
Wang Dong wrinkled his nose, face still flushed. "You really have no shame!" His voice nearly squeaked.
Huo Yuhao, still restraining Wang Dong, suddenly felt something. His eyes blinked rapidly. "W-Wait..." His grip on Wang Dong's arm tightened unconsciously. "I… I felt something just now. When I hugged Wang Dong from behind, my energy suddenly reacted..."
Wang Feng immediately leaped closer, his face glowing. "Really? That's a good sign!" His hand instinctively reached for Huo Yuhao's shoulder.
SLAP!
Wang Dong swiftly slapped Wang Feng's hand away. "DON'T TOUCH RANDOMLY!" he scolded, though his tone sounded more like a pouty kid than genuine anger.
Wang Feng rubbed the back of his stinging hand with a grimace. "Ouch! No need for violence~" he complained while fanning his reddened fingers. But his eyes still sparkled with enthusiasm, like a child discovering a new toy. "But Yuhao's right! That reaction proves my theory!"
Wang Dong crossed his arms in front of his chest, his face still beet red. "That… that was just a coincidence!" he protested, though his voice lacked conviction. His eyes flicked toward Huo Yuhao, who still looked stunned.
Wang Feng said, "Please, Wang Dong~ just this once, and after that, no more hugs or anything like that."
Wang Dong bit his lower lip, clearly hesitant. His eyes shifted between Wang Feng and Huo Yuhao.
"…If it's just once… and really the last time…" he murmured, almost in a whisper.
Wang Feng immediately cheered, "Yeah! I knew you were understanding, Wang Dong~!"
Wang Dong shot him a glare, instantly making Wang Feng tone it down.
"Try anything weird and you're dead," Wang Dong warned flatly, his tone absolutely serious.
Wang Feng raised three fingers with the most innocent face he could muster. "I promise! Seriously. This is for training. Professional." His eyes sparkled like a kid getting permission to play. "No weird thoughts. Focus only on energy synchronization, okay?"
Wang Dong sighed deeply. His face was still red, but his expression softened a little.
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