The Truth Revealed

Nalan Qing's expression turned serious again as he took the registration form back from Li Congxin. He gave a apologetic smile and said, "I'm sorry, I mistook you earlier. Since you're here to learn martial arts, let's not waste any more time. I'll explain the martial arts taught in our Nalan Martial Arts School's elite class."

Nalan Qing's expression was serious and earnest, appearing to be all business. If Li Congxin hadn't seen his shoulders trembling slightly, he would have truly believed that the "cowardly" incident was in the past.

However, seeing how hard the other person was trying to suppress a smile, Li Congxin decided not to point it out and let him continue holding it in.

While suppressing his laughter, Nalan Qing said, "The martial art taught in our Nalan Martial Arts School's elite class is Tan Tui. As a Chinese person, you must have heard the saying 'Southern Fists, Northern Legs,' and the 'Northern Legs' refers to Tan Tui."

"Like many traditional Chinese martial arts, Tan Tui has evolved into several schools during its transmission. The one taught at our Nalan Martial Arts School is the most authentic Shaolin Twelve Road Tan Leg."

Speaking of serious matters, Nalan Qing finally managed to release the suppressed laughter from before, and Li Congxin listened attentively.

"Tan Tui was first created in the Northern Song Dynasty and is a signature technique of Longtan Temple in Linqing, Shandong, hence the name Tan Tui. Its characteristics are simplicity and orderliness, left-right symmetry, continuous momentum, and powerful force."

"Of course, while Tan Tui was powerful at that time, it wasn't perfect."

"Originally, Tan Tui only had ten routines. During the Song dynasties, Tan Tui remained a martial art with very distinct strengths and weaknesses. It wasn't until the Zhengde Era of the Ming Dynasty that it saw improvement."

At this point, Nalan Qing stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze looking towards the eastern horizon through the window, as if communing with ancient sages, his aura soaring to the heavens.

"During the Zhengde Era of the Ming Dynasty, Zen Master Xiangji of the Shaolin Temple visited Longtan Temple. Together with Grandmaster Yuekong of Longtan Temple, they combined Shaolin Luohan Fist with Longtan Temple's Tan Tui. On the foundation of the original Tan Tui, they incorporated the strengths of Luohan Fist, compensating for the previous instability of the lower body during kicks, and added some hand attack techniques. This is how the current Shaolin Twelve Road Tan Leg came to be."

Recalling his gaze, Nalan Qing continued, "That's all for the origins of Tan Tui. However, to cultivate Tan Tui, you must start by practicing the most basic leg techniques. These include front kicks, side kicks, back kicks, chopping kicks, hook kicks, spinning back kicks, thrust kicks, and other basic kicking techniques. You all, stop for a moment and come over to review the basic knowledge again."

The last sentence was directed by Nalan Qing to the others in the classroom.

Upon hearing this, everyone stopped their practice and gathered around. Nalan Qing then began to meticulously and patiently explain the characteristics and power generation techniques of basic leg movements.

"Calories, calories, calo... Calories are my nemesis! Burn my calories!..."

The BGM was Li Congxin's greatest cheat code, and he couldn't just discard it. As the saying goes, martial arts strengthen the body, so practicing martial arts could also be considered a form of physical exercise, falling within the scope of the 'Calories' buff effect!

After getting Nalan Qing's permission, Li Congxin decisively started practicing martial arts while listening to music, and immediately felt the effects multiply. In just one afternoon of training, he had already completed the most painful part of the beginner's stage, stretching, and could perform all basic kicking movements of the leg techniques with standard form.

"Your basic movements are already very standard. You can practice on your own after going back. Ordinary students usually take about half a month to a month to progress to weighted training to accelerate leg strength development. However, your situation is quite special; you should be able to start weighted training in about three to five days. Prepare yourself mentally."

After the two-hour class ended, Nalan Qing called Li Congxin aside and gave him this advice.

Li Congxin certainly wouldn't refuse such a beneficial suggestion. Just as he was about to agree, someone at the classroom door said, "He can start weighted training now. I just saw from the surveillance that his leg strength is already sufficient for the most basic weighted training."

Turning his head, Li Congxin saw a lean old man, about fifty or sixty years old, also wearing a Tang suit. He was thin but exuded a strong spirit, giving off a very capable impression despite his age, making him unforgettable at first sight.

Upon seeing the old man, Nalan Qing's spirits immediately lifted, and he chuckled, "Dad, you're here."

"Mm!" The old man nodded and then said to Li Congxin, "Your talent is good. Since you want to learn martial arts, don't be afraid of hardship, and don't waste your talent." After speaking, he turned and left.

Received +3 Impression Points from Nalan Long!

After watching the old man disappear from sight, Li Congxin turned to Nalan Qing and asked, "Coach, on the forms at your school, are the names always written vertically?"

Mentioning this again, Nalan Qing's expression became a bit strange. "Actually, normally names are written horizontally. I strongly suspect you offended Xiao Bai and were deliberately tricked by that mischievous spirit."

Li Congxin frowned. "Xiao Bai?"

"That's right!" Nalan Qing said. "There are three siblings in my family. I inherited my father's legacy and teach Tan Tui in the elite class. My second sister, Nalan Hong, studies basic combat techniques and some external martial arts, and is responsible for teaching the regular classes. The one who filled out your registration form is our third sister, Nalan Bai. Her heart isn't in martial arts; she's just helping out with management during the summer vacation."

Li Congxin nodded in understanding and then bid farewell to Nalan Qing.

When he arrived downstairs, he found Nalan Bai still there. The young girl seemed to still be angry with Li Congxin. Seeing Li Congxin pass by, she deliberately turned her head away and grumbled resentfully, "If it weren't for the fact that I thought you were good-looking, I wouldn't have bothered to remind you. You ungrateful fellow."

Li Congxin stopped upon hearing this and turned around. "I want to buy a set of leg weights, the lightest ones will do."

When buying weights, the same items are naturally cheaper at sports goods stores, just like how drinks at restaurants are more expensive than outside.

However, Li Congxin still chose to buy them here.

After all, he was going to learn martial arts here. If he were to haggle over such a small amount of money, why would they teach him genuine skills?

Even if they were teaching the same thing, the difference between a teacher putting in effort and not putting in effort was completely different!

It was an irrational behavior to leave a bad impression on them for a small amount of money, and it was completely unnecessary.

Perhaps it was because those foreigners didn't understand this principle that they couldn't learn the true teachings.

Thinking this, Nalan Bai, with a cold expression, took out a brand new pair of sandbags. "That'll be 10 US dollars."

It really wasn't just a little bit more expensive.

As Li Congxin took out the money, he casually said to the girl, "First, I apologize for my previous rudeness. Also, I have a question I'd like to ask. Would Miss Nalan be willing to enlighten me?"

Nalan Bai turned her head upon hearing this. "Ask away."

"Xiao Bai looks just like her brother. What's a four-character idiom for that?"

Nalan Bai rolled her eyes. She thought it was going to be something important, but it turned out to be a guessing game. However, Li Congxin's question had successfully piqued her interest, and she couldn't help but start guessing. "Qing chou lan yu (meaning 'blue comes from the indigo plant but surpasses it,' implying a student surpassing the teacher)?"

"No!" Li Congxin shook his head. "It's 'Zhen xiang da bai' (meaning 'the truth is revealed')."

Received +6 Impression Points from Nalan Bai!

"Tch, boring!"

Under the girl's disdainful gaze, Li Congxin strode out of the Nalan Martial Arts School, unaware that the girl, while verbally scornful, had a subtle curve forming at the corner of her mouth.

"The truth is revealed? Heh, I didn't realize this pretty boy was quite humorous."

Received +1 Impression Points from Nalan Bai!