The Difference Between Actual Combat and Stance Training

"You know why martial arts get called 'fancy moves'?"

Instructor Qin picked up his short stick again, flicking it at Fang Qingyu's constantly punching arms.

"Because too many people mistake sparring for actual combat."

He then kicked at Fang Qingyu's raised leg.

"You spend your days hitting inanimate objects that don't fight back. You're training muscle memory, not combat instinct."

The short stick suddenly jabbed into Fang Qingyu's armpit. "If you really ran into thugs fighting for territory, who's going to fight you according to the playbook?" The tip of the stick slid down towards his crotch. "They'll kick you in the groin when you're in your horse stance!"

Fang Qingyu, who had previously thought his Stance Training and boxing forms were exceptionally familiar, was like a three-year-old babbling in front of Instructor Qin.

"I told you before, Stance Training is alive. Those fixed forms can be transformed into any other posture at any time."

Instructor Qin flicked his wrist, and the short stick changed from a jab to a twist, wrapping around Fang Qingyu's blocking right arm and pulling it aside.

Fang Qingyu stumbled into the wooden dummy, the protruding wooden arm digging painfully into his lower back.

"Remember this pain!"

The short stick cracked against the back of his knee.

"Who's going to wait for you to strike a standard horse stance?"

Fang Qingyu was about to bend his knees to steady himself when the stick's shadow, like a venomous snake, darted towards the opening under his ribs.

Just as he thought to block, the short stick slid along his jawline, its cold wooden edge pressing against his throat.

"You focus too much on the rigid movements of Stance Training and boxing."

"Again!"

As Fang Qingyu prepared to strike his starting pose, the short stick pierced the air, heading straight for his face.

He instinctively retracted his neck and hid his head.

"Rotate your hips!"

With a bellow, Fang Qingyu almost rolled to dodge the stick's shadow sweeping towards his lower body. But as he rolled, he subconsciously formed his fingers into a blade and chopped diagonally towards Instructor Qin's ankle.

This was a move never seen before in Stance Training.

However, the short stick stopped abruptly half an inch from his temple.

Instructor Qin finally showed his first smile of the day. "Finally learned to use your brain, huh?"

Only now did Fang Qingyu truly understand what Instructor Qin meant by "living Stance Training." He mused, "So… Stance Training and boxing aren't techniques for fighting?"

"I've been emphasizing all along that these are methods to strengthen the body!"

Instructor Qin said irritably.

"Stance Training builds your foundation; boxing trains your power generation."

"As long as your foundation is stable, you can exert full force at any time. Do you think you'd lose to an ordinary person?"

"No."

Fang Qingyu shook his head seriously.

"Then that's right. What's most important for you now is to liberate yourself. Don't let those previous forms restrict your thinking."

"True martial arts are learned in the Formal Class. Those martial arts are the real killing techniques!"

"By laying a solid foundation now, you'll progress faster than others when you join the Formal Class."

"Understood."

Fang Qingyu exhaled.

"Alright, that's it for today. We'll continue tomorrow."

Instructor Qin then checked the time and announced the dismissal.

Just as Fang Qingyu was about to turn to shower and change, he suddenly remembered something.

"Hey, Instructor Qin, I wanted to ask you a question."

"What is it?"

Instructor Qin turned back.

"That Tongyuan Combat Gym in the city, do you know about it?"

"…Sounds a bit familiar. What about it?"

"Nothing, I just wanted to ask if that kind of place is legal?"

Fang Qingyu scratched his head.

Instructor Qin found it a bit baffling. "Legal, of course. It's just a place for boxing matches with betting, right? There are quite a few in the city. Are you planning to fight?"

"Oh, no, I'm going to be a security guard there…"

"..."

Instructor Qin's mouth twitched.

"Then you might as well go boxing. They earn more than you do as a security guard."

Hearing this, Fang Qingyu's eyes suddenly lit up.

Gazing at the professional title above Instructor Qin's head.

Maybe I really can try that?

"Is it okay for people from the Martial Hall to go boxing?"

He still had to ask for clarification first.

"It's fine. If you're not in the Elite Class, you can't participate in the Martial Hall's official competitions. That's why many people go boxing to earn money. Otherwise, how could they afford to go to clubs every day?"

Instructor Qin didn't expect Fang Qingyu to be so naive and patiently explained.

"Okay, I understand. Thank you, Instructor Qin."

Fang Qingyu nodded then, and saw Instructor Qin off.

Although he still wanted to ask why he'd never seen any Elite Class students, he'd already asked too many questions today.

After showering and changing, Fang Qingyu left the Martial Hall, got on his e-bike, and started his delivery driver work.

However, his mind was already focused on the security guard job that evening.

While waiting for food, he also looked up information online about the boxing matches at the combat gym.

It was different from his previous life.

There were no weight classes to divide opponents.

The competition types here were also divided into two categories.

One was where the venue organizers randomly assigned opponents. This type of match was all about randomness, meaning you could face anyone.

The second type was ring matches.

You could go up and become the ring master, waiting for challengers, or you could actively challenge any ring master.

The rules were simple.

And the prize money was not low at all.

For ring matches, the ring master would get a 100,000 reward for ten consecutive wins, and successfully challenging a ring master would earn 20,000.

The randomly assigned events were even more terrifying.

They took a cut based on the amount of money bet.

The largest match, according to the numbers in the news, was over a million.

Indeed, I need to see more of the world.

Fang Qingyu felt a bit emotional after reading.

He used to only think about how to survive and never paid attention to this kind of information.

Things that could be found with a simple search.

He only realized it now.

Fortunately, it wasn't too late.

Or rather, it was just right!

Fang Qingyu was now a little excited to see what the combat gym would be like tonight.

He delivered until past six o'clock.

He glanced at his delivery driver panel.

[Profession: Delivery Driver Lv.1 (59/100)]
[Basic Professional Skill: E-Bike Piloting Lv.2 (33/200)]

Everything was growing steadily.

Afterward, he went home to change into his security guard uniform and stuffed a set of loose clothes into his backpack.

Then he set off for the combat gym.

"Five Mile Street"

Fang Qingyu hadn't paid attention to this address before.

Now he realized that this combat gym was located on the most prosperous street in Qingjian City.

It was jokingly called:

"Five miles hide five cities, every step is prosperous!"

One could imagine the level of luxury here.

Fang Qingyu rode his e-bike onto Five Mile Street and stopped in front of the Tongyuan Combat Gym.

"This is quite luxurious."

Above the twelve-meter-high brass revolving doors hung an array of crystal chandeliers. Flanking the marble staircase stood life-sized bronze statues. They weren't the common bodybuilder poses; instead, they depicted boxers wrapped in bandages, executing punches.

Fang Qingyu parked his e-bike and walked up the steps.

After telling the doorman he was there to report, he was let inside.

"Your job is to prevent any audience members from rushing the stage. If they make a move, you can fight back. Understand?"

The head of security here was named Lu Chen. He looked to be in his thirties and was exceptionally burly.

"Understood."

"Good. Tonight, you'll stand by the fighting stage first to learn how it's done. Tomorrow, I'll arrange for you to be in the audience seating."

"Okay."

After the instructions, Lu Chen led Fang Qingyu through a carpeted staff corridor.

The moment they pushed open the soundproof door, a wave of sound mixed with cigar aromatherapy hit his nostrils.

Seven gilded fighting stages were arranged in a plum blossom pattern. The ropes of each stage were wrapped with gold thread, and Bohemian crystal chandeliers hung from the tops of the octagonal cages. Shards of light flowed across the deep red velvet seats.

Waitresses in fishtail skirts carried chilled champagne, their glasses of floating gold leaf trembling with the cheers.

"Go ahead, find any stage to stand by, but don't get too close."

Lu Chen patted Fang Qingyu on the shoulder.

"Alright."

Fang Qingyu took a deep breath and walked towards the nearest fighting stage.

He focused his gaze on the two people preparing to fight.

One had the professional title of [Muay Thai Fighter], and the other was a [Jujutsu Practitioner].

However, Fang Qingyu wasn't particularly surprised, as this wasn't his first time seeing these professions.

Before signing up at the Martial Hall, he had also visited venues for Sanda, Judo, and other martial arts.

The coaches there all had these titles.

"Ding-dong—"

A bell suddenly rang out in the air above the arena.

It's starting!

Fang Qingyu had already grown slightly accustomed to the stares of those around him, shifting his attention to the two people on the stage.

It was a good opportunity to see.

How the coaches in these venues measured up to Instructor Qin.