Chapter 42 Heavenly Fortune: Reaching Level 5 Without Lifting a Finger

Heaven-sent fortune?

Zhang Chu glanced at the excited Zhao Wuming and couldn't help but think this might really be true.

Zhao Wuming was a researcher, always serious and rarely smiled. If he was showing such envy, it probably wasn't fake.

Zhang Chu grew curious. He'd only met Qin Zaiye once—what kind of wealth could Qin possibly grant him? Could it be shares in the institute?

...

Not long after, the sound of a shattered cup came from the director's office. It wasn't a sign of negotiations breaking down and turning violent. Zhang Chu had simply been so shocked that he lost control and crushed the cup in his hand.

"Is it really shares?"

Staring at the equity transfer agreement personally delivered by Qin Zaiye, Zhang Chu began to wonder if his own words were somehow enchanted.

According to Qin's explanation, the Kewei Research Institute was founded as a collaborative effort between himself and the Martial Management Bureau. They had signed a performance agreement: if, within ten years, they failed to develop a pill to replace the Qi-Blood Pill, Kewei would be shut down. Qin, as a bureau committee member, would also be forced to resign.

This year was the final year.

Thanks to Zhang Chu's appearance, Essence-Blood Pill had passed the bureau's drug assessment and was now moving through the approval process for market release.

Not only that, but the Martial Management Bureau had dispatched an inspector to Kewei for a site visit, added five hundred million in research funding, and handed their most important research project over to Qin Zaiye.

"Teacher Chu, if you're not satisfied with the share percentage, we can still negotiate!"

Initially, Qin Zaiye wanted to offer Zhang Chu a pay raise to retain him. But the morning's forum headlines had revealed Zhang Chu's new identity: a teacher at the Martial Arts Institute.

By status, that surpassed Kewei's staff. In terms of benefits, having access to the Martial Arts Institute's library of martial techniques was already superior.

To ensure Zhang Chu stayed and continued working on the latest grade-four pill project, Qin went all-in and offered a transfer of thirty percent of the institute's shares.

At this moment, Zhang Chu was utterly stunned.

According to the contract's valuation, thirty percent of the shares were worth two hundred million.

"Director Qin, it's not that I'm refusing, but I feel uneasy," Zhang Chu said after a moment's thought. He quickly signed the contract. "But let me be clear: for future drug trials, I have to personally oversee them. Since I'm taking these shares, I have to shoulder the responsibility."

Qin Zaiye didn't waste words. He swiftly stamped the contract, completing the process.

His entire purpose in keeping Zhang Chu was to ensure his hands-on involvement.

Such dedication was worthy of two hundred million in shares.

Next came the all-staff meeting.

...

Thunderous applause filled the conference room.

Zhang Chu made a dazzling entrance.

Qin Zaiye had arranged his titles meticulously, sparking the interest of female staff across all age groups:

The most inspirational patient with ALS.

The most gifted martial artist.

Binhai University's finest student.

The first social talent at the Martial Arts Institute.

Kewei Research Institute's core team member.

Lost amidst introductions and applause, Zhang Chu eventually became numb.

In short, it was to tell Kewei's staff: Zhang Chu is exceptional. From now on, address him as Director Zhang.

It was much like the corporate world of his previous life.

Tonight, Zhang Chu was hosting dinner, booking ten VIP rooms at Binzhou Grand Hotel.

He hadn't received a single dividend yet, but spent twenty thousand on the meal.

After paying, Zhang Chu planned to slip away.

Once the boozy crowd finished fawning over their leaders, there would surely be an afterparty.

"Chu, wait."

Just as he was about to leave, a tipsy Qin Zaiye caught up with him.

"Director Qin, I'm heading out. I sleep early for health," Zhang Chu joked.

"Take a look at this."

Qin Zaiye handed Zhang Chu a file.

Glancing at it, Zhang Chu saw it was an internal document from the Martial Management Bureau, assigning Kewei full responsibility for developing a new grade-four Coagulation Pill, stamped "Strictly Confidential."

"This project was officially granted to Kewei today, and I have to leave Binzhou tomorrow on business," Qin said. "I'll have Zhao Wuming handle the handover, but the bureau has already developed three hundred semi-finished Coagulation Pills. I think it's safest to entrust them to you."

Qin's meaning was clear.

Since Zhang Chu would personally oversee drug trials, he should start by researching these semi-finished pills.

Zhang Chu was more than eager, immediately agreeing.

Three hundred semi-finished Coagulation Pills would surely outperform the Essence-Blood Pill.

He still had ongoing responsibilities with the Martial Arts Institute's exam follow-up and couldn't leave Binzhou for now.

His plan to hunt grade-four beasts in the Exotic Beast Forest and quickly break through to grade five had to be postponed.

But with these three hundred pills, breaking through to grade five shouldn't be a problem.

...

He slept until he woke naturally at home.

As soon as he got up, the property manager arrived at his door. "Mr. Zhang Chu, on behalf of our management, I want to apologize. Yesterday's troublemakers have been handed over to the inspection team. If you wish to pursue charges, Martial Artist Home Property Group will fully cooperate."

"Just keep the mad dog locked up so it doesn't bite anyone," Zhang Chu replied, then drove off.

He'd just seen a message from Zhao Wuming.

The Martial Management Bureau's staff had arrived at Kewei, and the three hundred semi-finished Coagulation Pills had been placed in Zhang Chu's office.

As a shareholder, Qin Zaiye had assigned Zhang Chu a dedicated office.

On the way, his phone was bombarded with messages.

Zhang Chu glanced at it—a strange number, seemingly part of the group that had threatened him yesterday.

At a traffic light, he picked up his phone to check.

At first, nothing seemed amiss.

But when he opened it, Zhang Chu almost slammed his knee into the steering wheel in shock.

Photo after photo of Su Mingyue posing seductively under duress, over a dozen shots, plus a ten-second dance video.

Although the sensitive parts were censored, Su Mingyue's figure was on full display.

Just as Zhang Chu was enjoying the view, a message arrived: "Bro, tell Su Mingyue that even if she turns off her phone, we can find her. Next time, we'll upload even more."

"Next time, send it in high definition, idiot," Zhang Chu replied, blocked the number, and stepped hard on the accelerator toward Kewei.

...

These days, news of Su Mingyue scoring zero on her interview had spread across Binzhou's universities, even drawing attention from the Martial Management Bureau.

Never before had the martial exam interview yielded such a result.

Yet Su Mingyue had vanished without a trace.

Out of caution, her assessment was postponed.

The bureau ordered Binzhou University to find her within three days.

Because of this delay, Zhang Chu didn't have to report to the Martial Arts Institute yet.

He was delighted.

Every day, he left early and returned late, hiding in the deputy director's office at Kewei.

Even Zhao Wuming felt sorry for Zhang Chu, thinking he was too dedicated.

"Ding. Detected host has consumed one grade-four semi-finished Coagulation Pill. Vitality +500."

"Ding. Detected host has consumed four grade-four semi-finished Coagulation Pills. Vitality +2000!"

"Ding. Martial technique proficiency module activated. Please select the technique to upgrade!"

Two days later.

Zhang Chu lounged on the office sofa, legs crossed, crunching Essence-Blood Pills like candy.

"Mm..."

After a while, he stretched and stood, summoning his personal info panel with a thought, feeling uninterested. "Hunting beasts and devouring their cores is still more fun. Reaching grade five just by lying here is pretty dull!"

He grabbed his car keys from the desk and walked out.

Now a grade-five martial artist, he would need to update his certification and get new gear.