Yinghai was a chain brand with three gyms in Luoying City.
Its largest flagship store stood near the downtown plaza, covering nearly ten thousand square meters and looking no less imposing than the commercial complex beside it.
At that moment, Li Qingshan and Zhao Hongzhou were inside the flagship store.
"Qingshan, I always knew you were no mere fish in a shallow pond."
"Sure enough, the moment you entered the Martial Arts Class, you soared into the sky."
The balding middle-aged manager smiled warmly, acting as though they were old acquaintances.
"Manager Zhou, you're too kind. I still have to thank you for looking after me back then."
Li Qingshan smiled and reached out to shake his hand.
Zhao Hongzhou stood frozen in place, his gaze shifting back and forth between their smiling faces.
Manager Zhou was the flagship store's HR manager.
When he and Li Qingshan had worked part-time jobs before, they had only run into each other a few times. They did not know each other at all.
While Zhao Hongzhou was still stunned, a bottle of low-grade Nutrient Solution was shoved into his hand.
"Zhao Hongzhou, you did well this time. You can bring more outstanding classmates over in the future," Manager Zhou said, patting Zhao Hongzhou on the shoulder.
"Yinghai is more than willing to provide a platform for these rising martial arts talents and add bricks and tiles to their martial paths."
"Manager, I..."
Zhao Hongzhou's face immediately flushed red. He nervously glanced at Li Qingshan and was about to refuse.
He had not brought Li Qingshan here for a reward.
Seeing Zhao Hongzhou about to push the Nutrient Solution back, Li Qingshan quickly interrupted him.
"What are you looking at me for? Thank Manager Zhou."
"No need, no need."
Manager Zhou waved his hand and got to the point.
"Qingshan, as the top student of this year's Martial Arts Class, how about I set your hourly rate at 1,500?"
"1,500?" Li Qingshan was taken aback.
Were there really that many suckers these days?
"If you think it's too low, I can raise it some more!"
"No, no, I'm not saying it's too low."
Li Qingshan hurriedly waved his hands and asked,
"Manager Zhou, I only just entered the Martial Arts Class. Will anyone actually buy my classes?"
At 1,500 per hour, two hours a day would be enough for him to buy a bottle of Nutrient Solution.
Of course, that was only if someone bought his classes.
"Hehe, you're underestimating the value of being first in the Martial Arts Class."
Manager Zhou waved a hand, full of confidence.
"Don't worry. Your classes will definitely be in short supply, and Yinghai won't take a single cent in commission."
These days, truly talented martial artists were all on the New Continent.
As for the martial artists who remained on the Old Continent—
To put it bluntly, aside from martial arts instructors scattered across the region, the rest were all trash.
Under such circumstances, a publicity gimmick mattered far more than actual strength.
Li Qingshan did not know how the other man intended to make money, but a win-win arrangement was naturally best.
"Pleasure doing business!"
Just then, a burst of commotion came from the front desk.
"I don't care! You have to change my coach!"
"I bought classes to learn martial arts, not to practice radio calisthenics somewhere else!"
Someone making trouble?
Li Qingshan turned to look.
He saw a chubby little boy with a backpack, around twelve or thirteen years old, clinging to the front desk counter and refusing to let the matter go.
Manager Zhou's expression changed, and he hurried toward the front desk.
Li Qingshan nudged Zhao Hongzhou's arm and asked,
"How's your 'client'? He's not going to be as hard to deal with as that little fatty, is he?"
"My client is a little girl. She's very obedient."
Zhao Hongzhou looked toward the front desk and said helplessly,
"Besides, that little fatty is one of a kind in this store."
Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"How so?"
"His name is Cao Shaoyu. He just started middle school this year, and he loves dreaming of becoming a great hero. He gets into fights every day."
"He's already changed coaches several times and hasn't been satisfied with any of them."
Clearly, this was not the first time such a scene had played out.
"That's pretty interesting."
Li Qingshan shrugged, folded his arms, and watched the show.
Whether Cao Shaoyu's background was powerful enough, or Manager Zhou simply had exceptional professional standards—
Manager Zhou kept bowing and scraping, wearing a placating smile.
But Cao Shaoyu would not buy it.
"A refund? Did I come here for money? I came here to learn martial arts!"
Cao Shaoyu's face reddened with fury as he stretched out a chubby finger and pointed at the sign on the wall.
"Is this how Yinghai does business? You don't even have a decent coach?"
"I don't want a refund. I'll pay more. If a 1,000 hourly rate won't do, then change it to 1,500... no, 2,000!"
"Find me a coach worth 2,000 per hour and teach me martial arts!"
Zhao Hongzhou shook his head repeatedly, speechless.
"What martial arts? This little brat just wants to fight!"
He was tempted by the 2,000 hourly rate too, but he did not have the ability to teach.
"Isn't this perfect?"
A light laugh rang out.
Before Zhao Hongzhou could react, Li Qingshan had already walked straight toward the front desk.
"I'll take this job."
"Qingshan, this..."
Manager Zhou rubbed his hands together, hesitating to speak.
"Don't talk!"
Cao Shaoyu impatiently cut him off. Tilting his head up at Li Qingshan, he asked suspiciously,
"Can you really teach me martial arts? The real kind of martial arts!"
As he spoke, Cao Shaoyu gestured with both hands, looking rather comical.
"Whether it's real martial arts, I don't know."
Li Qingshan smiled and extended a hand, lightly tapping Cao Shaoyu's forehead, where a blue-purple bruise lay.
"But at the very least, I can teach you how to fight."
"Ah!"
Cao Shaoyu covered his forehead and shrank back, but his face broke into a delighted grin.
"Good, good, good! Coach, I'll learn martial arts from you from now on."
The deal was made and the trouble resolved, yet Manager Zhou did not look particularly pleased.
After hesitating slightly, he moved close to Li Qingshan and lowered his voice.
"Qingshan, do you want to reconsider? Cao Shaoyu's job is a bit troublesome."
"Teaching a little brat is nothing." Li Qingshan shook his head casually.
"If he's still not satisfied, we can just refund him."
"The trouble I mean isn't this little brat!" Manager Zhou's face tightened, and his voice rose considerably.
"Zhou, who are you calling a little brat!"
Cao Shaoyu immediately jumped up in anger and said unhappily,
"I finally found a coach. Don't ruin it for me."
Manager Zhou ignored Cao Shaoyu. Looking at Li Qingshan, he said seriously,
"The coach Cao Shaoyu wants to replace is named Yu Zhuo. He's a second-year student in the Martial Arts Class—your senior."
The Martial Arts Class lasted three years per cohort.
In the first year, every senior high school student could apply, and their strength varied wildly.
But to remain for the second year, one needed at least Body Tempering Level Three.
"A senior?" Li Qingshan raised an eyebrow, becoming much more serious.
"Is Yu Zhuo very strong? But this doesn't count as stealing his job, does it?"
"Yu Zhuo is at Body Tempering Level Three. As for whether he's strong..."
Manager Zhou glanced at Li Qingshan, leaving the implication unspoken.
Although Body Tempering Level Three was merely the threshold for the second year, it was still not something Li Qingshan, a freshman who had only entered the Martial Arts Class a month ago, could compare to.
At the end of the day, being first among freshmen was merely a gimmick.
However, Manager Zhou realized that Li Qingshan seemed not to have understood what he meant. There was not the slightest hint of nervousness on his face.
"Although it doesn't count as stealing his job, Yu Zhuo has always been rather overbearing. Once he finds out, he'll probably come looking for a 'sparring match,'" Manager Zhou said earnestly.
"Our store has no authority to interfere in private 'sparring matches' between martial artists. Even the Patrol Bureau won't meddle as long as no one is seriously injured."
"And you're both in the Martial Arts Class. When the time comes, you won't even be able to hide."
His earlier decision to refund Cao Shaoyu had not been solely because the little fatty was difficult to handle. Yu Zhuo had also been a factor.
There were only so many personal trainers in the store. No one else would provoke Yu Zhuo over a single job.
"Coach Yu is a little fierce..."
After hearing this, Cao Shaoyu shrank his neck, but this time he was determined to switch coaches.
"At worst, I just won't refund the remaining classes I have with Coach Yu."
Cao Shaoyu shouted loudly, while his eyes swept toward Li Qingshan. He was afraid this new coach would be frightened by Yu Zhuo and refuse to take his classes.
"Is this about whether you refund the classes or not?" Manager Zhou shook his head helplessly.
"You're still young. You don't understand the adult world. This is a matter of face."
Cao Shaoyu had paid Yu Zhuo 1,000 per hour, only to turn around and switch coaches while raising the hourly rate to 2,000.
To Yu Zhuo, was that not a resounding slap in the face?
Cao Shaoyu did not understand. He irritably ruffled his hair.
"I just want to change coaches. Why is it so troublesome?"
"Actually, it's not troublesome at all. Manager Zhou is just overthinking it."
Li Qingshan found it amusing and reached out to smooth Cao Shaoyu's hair.
"I'm not Yu Zhuo's father. Do I have to protect his pride just to take a job?"
Li Qingshan turned to Manager Zhou and said casually,
"Is Yu Zhuo in the store now?"
"He is." Manager Zhou nodded blankly, not understanding why.
"Lead the way. I happen to like 'sparring' too."
Before you continue