Chapter 15: Zizhi-ge, Wants a Beating

"A Cheng, want to make a bet?"

Inside the training room, Li Yuan, having removed his guard gear, suddenly spoke.

"Bet on what?"

Xie Yucheng was applying Red Flower Oil to his elbows, shins, and other places that had been bumped.

During actual combat, the intensity of physical confrontation far exceeded normal training.

To ensure effectiveness, both parties would communicate in advance and try to exert their full strength.

They weren't sparring partners specially hired by the gym, just purely taking hits and feeding moves.

But this way, the risk of injury was even greater.

"Guess how long it will take Zizhi-ge to learn the most basic fighting method?"

The two of us integrating basic fist techniques, leg techniques, and footwork took quite a long time."

Li Yuan crossed his arms, glancing sideways at Qin Shi practicing movements with rigid precision, feeling quite uncomfortable in his heart.

In less than two hours, this guy could already look the part, mastering the offensive rhythm.

His physical talent was simply too outstanding!

"As expected of Zizhi-ge, look at this advance and retreat, the offensive and defensive awareness, how well he grasps it!"

Xie Yucheng watched carefully for a while, then shook his head:

"My training volume of over seven hours a day, persisted for three days before I reached his current level.

This guy indeed has talent; I estimate four or five days to learn the basic fighting method.

If you want to actually use it, it's harder; at least seven or eight days of hard work."

Old Martial Arts fighting methods are usually divided into two steps: one is called Brain Knows, and one is called Hands Know.

The meaning of the former is very obvious.

Like fist, leg, and footwork, these three basic moves combined can be broken down into hundreds of actions one by one.

Plus offensive and defensive transitions, linking each other, it's quite complex.

Wanting to remember them completely and master them skillfully is not that easy.

And Brain Knows doesn't mean Hands Know.

"Letting the body remember those movements, and then developing instincts, takes at least 'months' as a unit.

If physical quality is poor, it might even be calculated in 'years'."

Xie Yucheng said with emotion:

"You've seen the fierce boxers Brother Ze recruited before; although their Life Force Development Level isn't high, their offensive momentum is fierce. Us being able to hold on for ten seconds against them counts as success.

The path of a boxer isn't that easy to walk; without bitter training for three to five years, where would the opportunity to stand out come from?"

Li Yuan pouted:

"Not necessarily. After I train for a while, I'm sure to catch up with them.

A Cheng, are you betting or not? The loser treats to a massage, ordering the Package!"

Xie Yucheng teased:

"Brother Yuan, why are you always thinking of going to Jin Se Yin Xiang? Do you have your eye on Number 18?"

"Fine, I bet three days; Zizhi-ge entering the Entry Level of fighting will surely surprise Lao Liang."

Li Yuan shook his head:

"Too optimistic. No matter how good physical quality is, muscles won't grow a brain.

Wanting to enter the Entry Level starts at five days; even if eating Nutrient Paste at every meal, plus Lao Liang giving special guidance!"

The latter sentence, Li Yuan said decisively, extremely certain.

People aren't made of iron; the body gets fatigued, the spirit gets weary.

Even if training desperately to the death, it's impossible to achieve a substantive breakthrough from zero to one in a short time.

Xie Yucheng shrugged:

"Let's wait and see; anyway, it's just one Package, you can't secretly add time, Brother Yuan!"

……

……

The sun shifted westward, the midsummer evening clouds magnificent and fervent, as if shattered gold penetrated the clouds, gilding the low contours of the Jiuzhong Teaching Building.

Qin Shi didn't know someone had made him the subject of a bet; his slightly scattered gaze passed through his wet hair, large sweat drops dripping tick-tock onto the floor.

His chest heaved like a bellows, driving short breaths, expelling heat outside the body, forming a faint white mist like smoke.

The consumption of physical ability by fighting was too great!

The martial arts novels popular in the Old Era, that kind of peerless masters fighting for days and nights.

Placed with Lao Liang, he probably couldn't understand.

Any martial artist, wanting muscles to stay tense, tendons and bones always exerting force.

Would soon be exhausted to the limit, unable to support.

Just like strength training, it's bound to tire more easily than aerobic exercise, same principle!

The burden both cause to the body is not on the same level at all.

"Thinking this way, Ultraman running out of energy after a few minutes is actually quite scientific."

Qin Shi felt his chest was about to light a red light too; two whole hours of high-intensity practice had made his body long exceed its limit.

His lungs felt like they were on fire, every breath faintly stinging; arms, thighs, soles of feet, muscles everywhere red and congested.

This was the limit approached again and again after exhaustion.

The text information on the Stele Panel occasionally floated onto his retina.

Blinking like indicator lights, they told Qin Shi today's training results.

【Completed one set of Exhaustion Training】

【Growth Degree Plus 50】

【Completed one set of Exhaustion Training】

【Growth Degree Plus 50……】

A full seven or eight lines in total.

"Today's training volume is truly maxed out; from now on I'll use sparring to grind the upgrade conditions for the 【Muscle Training】 Achievement. Far more effective than practice methods!"

Qin Shi breathed heavily, doing interval rest by the way.

Cool wind slipped through the open window, blowing on his sweat-soaked young body, unexpectedly refreshing.

"If you find the right power-generating posture and execute the move in one smooth flow, you can use 【Muscle Memory】 to repeat it in cycles until it becomes instinct.

Pity, my practice time is too short; a few hours of investment is nowhere near enough, no way to make greater progress."

Qin Shi silently pondered how to better utilize the Achievements unlocked by the Stela.

He just now kept activating 【Muscle Memory】, optimizing the power delivery line of his punches and the movement postures of advance, retreat, offense, and defense one time after another.

Significant effect!

Proves this method works!

"If only someone would spar with me; then offense and dodging would be more realistic, better for training reaction ability."

Qin Shi thought for a moment, his gaze sharpening, as if making a decision.

Once his heart rate dropped, he walked straight toward the other corner of the training room.

"Two... classmates, could you help me out?"

Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng, who had just finished the second round of practical combat training, stopped in unison.

Neither expected that Talent Bro would actually come over to strike up a conversation.

After all, Xin Yi High School and No. 9 Middle School, the Urban Circle and Old Factory Street — what intersection could they have?

"Bro, what's up? Just say it straight."

Xie Yucheng was more lively, good at socializing, able to chat a couple sentences with anyone, and responded first:

"We're all half classmates anyway; we should help each other out."

Qin Shi paused slightly, organizing his words:

"I want to have a practical bout with you two, practice a bit."

Xie Yucheng froze:

"No way, bro, your striking hasn't even reached Entry Level. We've been following Lao Liang for half a month; if our punches land too heavy later and hurt you, that'd be terrible."

Qin Shi's face showed sincerity as he explained:

"I think we can try. Practicing alone, I can never grasp the offense-defense rhythm well, and my attention can't fully concentrate either. With an opponent, it should be better."

Xie Yucheng frowned tightly, about to say something, but was stopped by Li Yuan, who coldly refused:

"Sorry, can't help you. Want a sparring partner, go to the Gym or the Cultivation Hall.

We paid money to attend Lao Liang's Tutoring Class to improve Qi Life Force, not to do a Part-time Job."

Although Li Yuan didn't much like this new Trainee, especially after learning Qin Shi attended Urban Circle's Xin Yi High School, he still had a clear grasp of the general situation.

This kid was clearly highly valued by Lao Liang; if practical sparring injured the other party, the one bearing responsibility would be himself.

No need to stir up trouble because of a bit of inner displeasure, make a mistake and get punished.

"Classmate Xie just said to help each other out. How about this: I'll treat you two to Liangxiang Ji's Nutrient Paste, you two give me some Guidance on striking, deal?"

Qin Shi didn't get annoyed either, still sincere:

"We'll stop at the point, like Old Era martial hall masters, lend a hand."

Talent Bro gone crazy training?

Brain stuffed full of muscle?

He wants a beating that badly?

The two looked at each other in blank dismay.

"Brother Yuan, Nutrient Paste tastes awful, I'm not interested, you go. Don't hit too hard, take it easy."

Xie Yucheng saw Li Yuan was somewhat tempted, and directly yielded the opportunity.

At the same time he gave a Reminder: don't really hurt Qin Shi and provoke Lao Liang's anger.

"Fine, I know my measure, help him put on the Guard Gear."

Li Yuan nodded.

A box of Nutrient Paste costs several dozen yuan, not cheap.

It counts as a "Luxury Daily Necessity" that No. 9 Middle School students can't Afford.

Enough to move any student in the Tutoring Class.

Qin Shi put on the Guard Gear; head, neck, chest, abdomen, and hand and foot joints were all Wrapped up.

He and Li Yuan pulled apart a distance of a dozen steps, each assuming a Guard Stance.

Xie Yucheng stood outside the arena, acting as Amateur Referee.

"Give him a lesson! Let him know getting into the Urban Circle is nothing special, don't get arrogant just because he has a bit of talent!"

Li Yuan clenched his knuckles, shook his Neck, relaxed his muscles, thinking how many moves to defeat the opponent.

Swish!

Before the thought settled, Qin Shi launched the first attack, footsteps lunging forward, figure flashing before him.

Straight a Left Jab to the face!

Chapter End