Chapter 21

"A Shi, why did Brother Ze take you for Lao Liang's disciple? What's the difference between a disciple and a student??"

At exactly eleven at night, Qin Shi changed back into his original short-sleeved shirt and long pants, and got off the night shift together with Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng.

They still went out the back door, and on the way ran into the bear-type tough guy A Hua Jie, and said goodbye.

Facing Xie Yucheng's confusion, Li Yuan scratched his head:

"Master-disciple is the Old Era Martial Arts World's terminology. This kind of relationship is more formal; supposedly entering the door requires offering tea, being accepted still requires inviting fellow practitioners, hosting a banquet to celebrate, anyway lots of rules.

My maternal grandpa liked listening to storytelling, and that's how they told it in there."

Xie Yucheng touched his chin, turned his head and stared at the calm Qin Shi:

"A Shi, come clean! Are you Lao Liang's personal disciple? Have you already mastered divine skills, ready for your Qi Life Force to surge and soar at any moment?"

Qin Shi nodded, saying with a straight face:

"Didn't expect to be discovered by you. That's right, Lao Liang is actually a peerless master hiding in plain sight, the kind who can fight the current Martial God for three hundred rounds.

And because of my outstanding talent, plus a heart of childlike sincerity, he secretly passed down his Yi Ban to me, and I mastered invincible divine skills.

You two each sponsor me five hundred now, wait till I pass the Ranking Examination and go pro, claim the Martial Artist Title, make a name for myself winning the Star Cup, and I'll reward you both with permanent Imperial Capital residency!"

Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng listened in a daze, then each hooked an arm around Qin Shi's neck from left and right:

"You, a factory worker's kid from Old Factory Street, becoming a Tai'an Citizen would already be a huge success, yet you're still thinking of becoming a Capital Master! Treason!

Come on, let us see what invincible divine skill Lao Liang taught you — is it Yan Haishan's 'Unlimited Soldier Forging Art', or Ning Yuanhai's 'Ancient and Modern True Classic'?!"

Very obviously, they thought this talk was too absurd, and didn't take it seriously.

If Lao Liang really were some peerless master, he wouldn't have ended up as a Physical Education Teacher at Zi Fu No. 9 Middle School.

Anyone with a bit of ambition would be gunning for a tenured position in the Tai'an Metropolitan Area, who could look up to a rundown Old Factory Street.

Qin Shi hurriedly fished out the "Meeting Gift" Cheng Ze gave him, held up several bills like waving a white flag:

"War God, spare my life! I'll treat you to a night snack!"

……

……

At eleven twenty-seven, Qin Shi returned to the shed house; his youngest brother Qin Lan was already asleep.

He forced down his fatigue, continued doing several sets of Exhaustion Training, fulfilling the upgrade condition for the 【Muscle Memory】 Achievement.

Only then did he tiptoe through a perfunctory wash, and threw his exhausted body from high-intensity training onto the bed.

"A new job, nightclub waiter, monthly salary two thousand, plus tips, hours relatively flexible.

That Brother Ze gave six hundred, spent eighty-seven treating Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng to a night snack, five hundred thirteen left.

Didn't eat enough Nutrient Paste today, tomorrow pay out of pocket to supplement one portion.

Afternoon remember to go to the Youth Palace, new teacher coming over……"

Qin Shi habitually tallied today's gains and losses, running through the scattered trivial matters in his head once.

Then simply made a schedule, and his heart immediately felt at ease.

He liked a planned life, a planned future.

That way every day upon waking, he could clear tasks one by one in order like a player grinding quests.

So satisfying!

In his past life, Qin Shi had experienced the harm of indulgence and laziness, that kind of agony watching helplessly as his physical shell rotted like decayed wood, bit by bit putrefying and stinking, yet powerless to stop it.

Truly made him remember, unforgettable for a lifetime!

So in this life, Qin Shi who regained the opportunity craved progress extremely, wishing he could seize every single trace of harvest and growth beneficial to himself.

"Sure to pass the Ranking Examination, get the Hongzhi Class Scholarship, then continue developing Qi Life Force, sprint for Heng University and Ke University's score lines……"

Thinking of each and every "mission" waiting to be completed, Qin Shi's mouth corner hooked up, revealing a smile.

Closed his eyes, relaxed body and mind.

Due to the 【Deep Sleep】 Achievement's effect, he soon entered deep dreamland.

Before his consciousness completely blurred, he murmured in his heart:

"Combat Retrospection! Activate!"

……

……

In the training room, dim yellow light shone in; Qin Shi opened his eyes, calmly gazing at Li Yuan across from him posing in the Eight-Arm Embrace Frame.

"As expected, the scene of the skill retrospection should be a battle I have the deepest impression of.

This feeling is so wonderful; clearly the body is asleep, yet the consciousness is very clear."

The surrounding world was like a crystal-clear paused video; the touch of the soft mat underfoot, the dust motes floating in the air — details incomparably real.

But as his gaze shifted to the side, the image of Xie Yucheng standing against the wall was a complete blur, like it had been mosaicked.

"At the time my attention was entirely on the actual combat, I completely ignored A Cheng, so in the subconscious retrospection scene, he has zero presence."

Qin Shi didn't rush to review; he quietly stayed in place pondering for a moment.

After a dozen seconds, he suddenly took large strides toward the sandbag, five fingers clenched tight and threw a punch with force.

Bang!

Amid the dull sound, the full hundred-jin heavy black sandbag violently shook, blasting up a large clump of attached dust.

The genuine feedback of striking a physical object made a smile bloom in Qin Shi's eyes.

"The best use of the Combat Replay Skill isn't just finding the opponent's flaws; it can also serve as a Mental Space training ground!

The legendary most powerful 'Meditation Training Method', I've figured out without a teacher!"

He no longer paid attention to Li Yuan, who was like a clay sculpture or wooden carving maintaining his pose unchanged, and turned to start practicing striking methods.

"Training in the Mental Space seems even more focused, completely free of distracting thoughts."

Qin Shi broke down each basic movement — throwing a punch, lunging forward, retreating — one by one, repeating them over and over until he gradually grew familiar with them.

He demonstrated every technique a hundred times, turning each into a Spiritual Field Imprint carved deep into his Consciousness.

"Done!"

After who knows how long, Qin Shi's swinging fists, shifting footsteps, and gently swaying shoulders fell into a coordinated rhythm with each other; his whole body moved as one seamless unit, able to advance to attack and retreat to defend.

"Time to test the results! Brother Yuan, sorry about this!"

He returned to the "Zhan Chang," and with a flash of thought, the Mental Space that had been held on pause resumed normal operation.

Swish!

The sound of tearing wind suddenly rang out — a High Sweep Kick aimed straight at his face!

Qin Shi's Gaze was steady, not the slightest panic.

The High Sweep Kick generates power through a wide lateral arc, twisting at the waist and hips to drive the Big Hand and whip the lower leg — wide attack range, and ferocious!

Veterans crushing novices love this move most: a rapid chain of kicks in one continuous burst, easily smashing through the opponent's defensive Stance.

"Brother Yuan's Qi Life Force is still lacking a bit; his Physical Ability isn't enough to sustain a rapid chain of kicks."

Qin Shi's body shuddered violently; his hands guarding his head ached, but the Hug Frame remained Stable, unbroken!

His feet sank deep into the Floor, every Large Tendon snapping and springing; borrowing the opening when Li Yuan kicked again, he countered with even greater speed!

"Brother Yuan uses the High Sweep Kick — his Center of Gravity is relatively weak, his offense not sharp enough; instead it lets him expose a Poli."

Qin Shi drove his toes forward, stomping into the crook of Li Yuan's Knees!

Crack!

The latter thudded to his knees; perhaps due to the replay, the figure moved stiffly, face still expressionless.

"Take an Elbow Strike!"

Having pinned Li Yuan down, Qin Shi pressed his advantage without mercy; his elbow slammed like a hammer, smashing that dead man's face until fresh blood streamed!

In fighting, the most vicious weapons are the legs.

As the saying goes: an inch longer, an inch stronger; fists strike three parts, feet strike seven.

But the most savage of all is the Elbow Strike.

The older generation of Martial Artists would rather take ten punches than eat one elbow.

Such is the principle!

"So satisfying! Again!"

In the blink of an eye he took the round, yet Qin Shi was not satisfied.

He needed repeated tempering to sharpen his reactive Consciousness and grasp the rhythm of offense and defense.

Only by constantly refining every Detail can his fighting skill Progress day by day increasingly!

"Brother Yuan lacks punch; if it were Lao Liang instead… now that would be satisfying!"

Once more he dragged the Progress bar back to before the duel; Qin Shi's eyes burned with fervor as he looked at Li Yuan.

However many beatings he took in the training chamber this afternoon, tonight he would return them all doubled!

"Hehehehe, Brother Yuan! Feel my storming onslaught!"

(Chapter End)