Bright-Winged Swallow

Training ground.

Under Shi Ruyu's increasingly fierce attacks, Lu Chenzhou swayed like duckweed adrift on the water. He knew his teacher had not used her true skill.

Though he was only fifteen, he had practiced boxing and worked out for years, with his nutrition keeping up as well. At 1.8 meters tall, most adults who had not trained in martial arts were no match for him.

Shi Ruyu was only 1.7 meters tall.

Logically speaking, the physical gap between men and women was vast.

Yet before her, such differences were not worth mentioning.

This was the gap between an ordinary person and an Entry Stage Martial Warrior.

What was more, his teacher ranked in the upper-middle tier even among those at the Entry Stage.

"Bang."

When he used his elbow to strike aside the arm Shi Ruyu had thrown at him, Lu Chenzhou's expression changed. He only felt an indescribable trembling force blast him straight beyond the nine heavens.

He staggered back more than ten steps before finally steadying himself.

Shi Ruyu temporarily withdrew her stance and smiled. "This is Eight Attributes: Tremor, a technique for generating force when striking someone. Like a cat shaking off water, like a dog shaking off fleas. Of course, I used a tiny bit of Hidden Force, so there's no need to be discouraged that you couldn't defend against it. It would be strange if you could have... Can you still go on? If not, we'll call it a day."

Lu Chenzhou said:

"Teacher, again."

Next, Shi Ruyu broke through his defense in all kinds of unexpected ways. He was spun around like a top in her hands, whirled round and round until he could not tell north from south.

"This is Lift—find the point in the enemy's form where force is applied and received, then use four ounces to move a thousand pounds! This is Intercept—predict the enemy's offensive and cut off their rhythm! This is Hook—release force in a short burst, hook and disengage at once. Train it to a profound level, and striking someone will be like hanging a painting..."

That day.

Shi Ruyu revealed just the tip of the iceberg of martial arts to Lu Chenzhou. It left him utterly captivated, tireless, feeling only that the hours spent learning martial arts passed far too quickly.

They were both boxing teachers.

But Shi Ruyu was far better than some of the teachers he had encountered in elementary and middle school. Those people left the moment their time was up, and if too few students showed up, they would not even come teach.

First, they were not conscientious. Second, their skill level was poor.

They could only muddle through when teaching children.

If he had met a teacher like Shi Ruyu earlier.

His Basic Fist Art might already have reached Perfection.

The sky grew brighter and brighter.

Students gradually began passing by the field on their way to morning self-study. When they saw Lu Chenzhou sparring with Shi Ruyu, some stopped to watch and cried out in surprise.

"Who's that?"

"Lu Chenzhou from Class Nine, First Year. You don't even know the big name who placed in the top twenty in the grade on the last monthly exam? Class Nine isn't even a key class."

"No... He can actually exchange moves with a teacher?"

"The teacher isn't using much strength. I forgot the exact figure, but Sixth Stage blood vitality is definitely several times the standard of an ordinary person. The absolute gap is far too great."

"Even so, that's amazing. Could Lu Chenzhou's Basic Fist Art have reached Major Accomplishment? What a freak. I've only barely reached Proficiency even now. Is this the gap in comprehension?"

"If you could persist like him and train for nine years, you could too... Sometimes, self-discipline is a skill in itself. I can't do it. I'm a lazybones."

This student understood himself very clearly.

Among the watching students, some were envious, and some were admiring.

Of course, even more were unimpressed.

Most students at academic schools had no particular aspirations toward martial arts.

Their innate talent was what it was. Aside from the very few whose exceptional comprehension could defy fate and change their destiny, ordinary people had a very low ceiling in martial arts, and it also required wasting vast amounts of money and time.

The losses outweighed the gains.

They were more envious of Lu Chenzhou's ability to casually study academic subjects and still rank in the top twenty of the grade. If he saved the time he spent training martial arts and went all out on studying, would he not make the top ten?

Learning martial arts truly wasted his talent for studying.

The students watching the excitement gradually dispersed.

Six o'clock arrived. Shi Ruyu did not get off work on time as usual. Today was her final class at Wanhua High School. Her contract would expire tomorrow, and a new teacher would replace her. Looking at Lu Chenzhou, who greedily absorbed martial arts knowledge before her, she could not help feeling some regret for him. She glanced at the sun; it was already six-thirty.

By then, Lu Chenzhou was drenched in sweat and breathing like a bull.

Shi Ruyu could not help furrowing her lovely brows again as she said:

"What did I teach you? Don't gasp for air. Ordinary people are used to using the Acquired Breathing Method, but those of us who practice martial arts must learn to progress from coarse to fine. Try breathing with your abdomen and dantian. This is Innate Breath, and it is more helpful for cultivation and restoring stamina.

If one day you become a Martial Artist, you may even comprehend the mysteries of Body Breathing. Breathing no longer comes through the mouth and nose, but through all eighty-four thousand pores of the body, with clouds steaming and mist rising. When trained to that point, it becomes Circulatory Breath. When learning martial arts, you must constantly fight the body's instinctive laziness, cultivate good martial habits, and never slack off! Do you remember?"

Once Shi Ruyu finished speaking, she saw Lu Chenzhou taking notes again.

She sighed softly and said:

"Today is my last lesson teaching you."

Lu Chenzhou raised his head, somewhat reluctant to part. "Teacher, you won't be teaching us anymore?"

"That's right. My contract has expired."

"Can't it be renewed?"

"The school thinks my asking price is too high, and they also feel that not many people come to class. They have probably found a boxing teacher who charges less. Still, they'll definitely be more than enough to teach you."

"Alright."

Shi Ruyu turned and left.

Lu Chenzhou asked:

"Teacher, pardon me for asking, but how much would it cost to hire you as a private coach?"

Shi Ruyu turned back, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"I don't work as a private coach. Even if I did, you couldn't afford me right now."

After all, she had graduated from Pingjiang Martial University. Though she had failed the assessment four years later and could not remain at the university for further study, she still had some pride. Over the years, the reputation of private boxing coaches had been ruined by certain people who had gone down crooked paths.

Lu Chenzhou knew he could not afford it either.

Shi Ruyu said:

"I may go to Flying Swallow Martial Hall next to study under Bright-Winged Swallow, Ji Xuantong, and work part-time as an assistant instructor. If you want to learn real skills, I suggest you find a martial hall too. Even if you cannot attend a martial arts university, you can still have martial skill to rely on... Besides, you have your teacher's MicroChat. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask me."

Shi Ruyu's back disappeared from view.

On his way to the school cafeteria, Lu Chenzhou murmured inwardly.

"Flying Swallow Martial Hall..."

He had heard of Ji Xuantong. He was a renowned Martial Artist in the outer city, and "Bright-Winged Swallow" was his martial title, the kind certified by the association.

Only Martial Artists who had broken through the First Shackles could possess an official title.

When traveling outside, a title was as good as a name.

He could not go to Flying Swallow Martial Hall. It was too expensive.

The three thousand he had previously spent to sign up for the combat gym had also come from pocket money and Lunar New Year gift money he had saved. He was a high school student and could not earn money, nor did he want to make things difficult for his family.

With a thought, he opened the Martial Dao Tree. "Sweat," representing diligent cultivation, watered the newborn sapling like spring rain, and a line of text quietly emerged.

Basic Fist Art: Major Accomplishment (1%) → Major Accomplishment (2%)

"After sparring with Teacher for an hour, it rose by another 1% without me even realizing it. This feeling of steadily becoming stronger is so good. I need to find a way to make money."

All at once, Lu Chenzhou thought:

"I have the Martial Dao Tree. Maybe I don't need to enroll in too many classes. As long as it is enough to get a martial art to Initiation, I can slowly practice by myself afterward. The results may not be as good as receiving a teacher's personal guidance, but I can make up for it with time and sweat."

With martial halls on his mind.

Lu Chenzhou finished a day of school by himself. His heart was set on martial arts, and he did not share the same path or goals as his classmates. He did not have many friends, but no one disturbed him either.

The Golden Crow set in the west.

Building Three, Room 2802, Shihu Garden.

Lu Chenzhou returned home. He planned to practice Black Tiger Fist properly that evening, then visit the Martial Arts Youth Palace in the city tomorrow to test his blood vitality.

There were free testing machines there.

Every citizen of Great Xia had one free testing opportunity per year.

After dinner, just as he was about to return to his room to practice boxing, Li Xianghua called out to him.

"Chenzhou, I need to tell you something."

She handed him a black card, patterned with an image of Flying Swallow Skimming the Sea.

"This is a card for Flying Swallow Martial Hall. It has thirty core student classes on it. Go practice boxing on Sunday. If the results are good, we'll keep renewing it."

For a moment, Lu Chenzhou's feelings were indescribably complicated.

"What about Dad...?"

Li Xianghua stuffed the card into Lu Chenzhou's hand.

"He's the one who got it. Just focus on training properly. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Our family isn't poor; we can still afford this money."

"Mom, I'll definitely become a Martial Artist!"

He had not had the confidence before.

He worked hard, but his talent truly was average.

But with the Martial Dao Tree, things were no longer what they used to be.

Li Xianghua smiled. "That would be wonderful. If you really become a Martial Artist, what would this little money we spent amount to? Your mother is still counting on you to make a fortune and move us into the inner city."

She comforted Lu Chenzhou.

Naturally, she knew that with Lu Chenzhou's talent.

Becoming a Martial Artist would be difficult.

Neither she nor her husband expected Lu Chenzhou to earn this money back anytime soon.

It was simply that if they did not let their child give it a try, there would always be some regret.

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