"How... is that possible!"
Li Yuan had never imagined he would lose. Qin Shi had shown incredible resilience, stamina, and a body that could take a beating.
But that was only because he had "extraordinary talent," mastered the Old Martial Arts Cultivation Method, and improved by leaps and bounds.
In a real fight, outstanding brute strength and thick skin alone weren't enough to guarantee victory.
Awareness of offense and defense, control over the pace of a fight, and mastery of one's own body—that was the secret to defeating an opponent!
Li Yuan was certain that even if Qin Shi had a slight edge in the last of those areas, he lagged far behind in the first two. The gap between them was obvious.
"Brother Yuan, your advice really worked!"
Qin Shi took off his protective gear and gloves, then helped Li Yuan up from the padded floor, speaking excitedly:
"Watch your opponent's shoulders, read the direction of his attack, and improve your reaction speed! It's incredibly effective!"
His delight wasn't all an act to help Li Yuan save face.
After being thrown to the ground again and again and tasting defeat, suddenly winning through his own ability—
The rush was like clearing a game level. The thrill surged through him in an instant, bringing a satisfaction much like a burst of dopamine.
"You... learn fast."
The pain in Li Yuan's chest from the punch was nothing compared to the sting of a crushing defeat. He gritted his teeth and forced out the compliment.
As he looked at Qin Shi, he couldn't help feeling a little admiration and respect.
No wonder Old Liang had taken such an interest in the kid and gave him private lessons every day.
In just a few hours, he'd gone from having no foundation to getting the hang of the techniques, learning to judge an opponent's feints and the trajectory of their attacks.
He'd even seized his chances to counter with razor-sharp precision!
This was a top student with genuine fighting talent!
"Holy crap!"
Xie Yucheng seemed to have short-circuited. It looked like those were the only words left in his mouth.
"Talent Bro, you've got way too much talent! How'd you remember all those basic moves?
This is an eye-opener. Is New No. 1 Middle School full of geniuses like you?"
Qin Shi took a breath and steadied his heartbeat.
Nearly thirteen sets of training to exhaustion, combined with the physical awakening brought on by [Muscle Memory], had drastically cut down the time it took him to learn.
With the same lessons, he could rely on the stamina recovery from [Deep Sleep] and the rapid learning provided by [Muscle Memory].
He could probably get four or five body lengths ahead of trainees who started at the same line as him!
"Most of all, Brother Yuan's advice was spot-on. I should be thanking you guys for agreeing to spar with me. I wouldn't have improved this fast otherwise!"
That was nice to hear!
Li Yuan had been worried he'd lose face and become a laughingstock, but his expression brightened at once.
He waved a hand.
"What are you talking about? Students should help each other out. In the end, it's because you're quick-witted and in great shape, Qin Shi.
Are all the students from the Metropolitan Area as impressive as you?"
Qin Shi smiled.
"There are top students and slackers everywhere. It's just that educational resources are concentrated in the Metropolitan Area, so they produce more top students.
Brother Yuan, Brother Cheng, I honestly don't think we're any less capable of learning than they are. We work even harder. We were just born on Old Factory Street, where things are rough and we don't have the same opportunities."
With a few deft words, he'd subtly placed himself in the same camp as Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng, drawing them closer.
"Qin Shi, so you think that too! If Old Factory Street hadn't fallen into decline, we'd definitely be better than those top students from the Tai'an Metropolitan Area!"
Sure enough, Li Yuan, who resented the Metropolitan Area, agreed wholeheartedly.
Especially the words "we don't have the same opportunities"—they'd hit home.
He immediately saw Qin Shi as one of his own, and his attitude grew friendlier.
"Ah, Brother Yuan, what can we do when fate's unfair? These days, your birth decides everything. I study at New No. 1 Middle School, and the Elite Class kids look down on me all the time!"
Qin Shi shook his head and sighed, giving Li Yuan all the emotional validation he could want.
He understood the complicated feelings most Worker's Children who'd grown up in the Old City District had toward the Tai'an Metropolitan Area.
They felt hostility, dissatisfaction, and resentment, yet couldn't help revealing a little longing, yearning, and hope.
They disliked the citizens of the Metropolitan Area, but at the same time hoped to become one of the people granted the right to settle there.
"Elite? Bah! They just think they're better than everyone else!"
As if he'd found an ally, Li Yuan slapped Qin Shi on the shoulder.
"Once you've mastered the Old Martial Arts techniques and cultivation method, your Life Force is gonna shoot through the roof. You'll show those rich kids who look down on us just how wrong they are!"
Xie Yucheng scratched his head, feeling like an outsider.
How had Brother Yuan suddenly gotten so chummy with Student Qin?
Was this what they called becoming friends through a fight in the Martial Arts World of the Old Era?
With the mood just right, Qin Shi spoke with hearty enthusiasm:
"Brother Yuan, Brother Cheng, I got two boxes of Nutritional Paste today, and I haven't eaten them yet. Let's split them."
For a newcomer, the best way to turn an unfamiliar place into somewhere comfortable was to fit in with a small clique.
There was a saying that sheep and cattle gathered in herds while beasts of prey walked alone.
But unless people were deliberately ostracizing, targeting, or bullying you, getting along with your classmates wasn't a bad thing.
More friends meant more options. Someday, you might need them.
That was a life lesson Qin Shi had learned in his previous life, delivering goods by car.
"Thanks, Student Qin! I didn't do anything, so I'm just getting a share thanks to Brother Yuan!"
"A Shi, no need for formalities. If anything comes up, come straight to me!"
Among peers in their school days, relationships mostly fell into two categories: "people you like" and "people you can't stand."
Clearly, Qin Shi had just moved from the latter category to the former in Li Yuan's eyes.
The last rays of the setting sun slowly faded, leaving only a few dim streaks of afterglow.
They each pulled on sweat-soaked T-shirts, cleaned the training room, locked the door, and left together.
Old Liang always taught this way: he told you what you needed to learn, then left you to it.
How much you mastered depended entirely on your own effort and persistence.
"It's this late. Old Liang's definitely found somewhere to drink."
Looking down the empty, quiet hallway, Li Yuan muttered a couple of words, then turned to Qin Shi.
"A Shi, we ate your Nutritional Paste, so now you'll have to eat another meal tonight. I feel kind of bad about it.
How about this? We'll take you somewhere! You can meet some even more impressive people!"
Xie Yucheng slung his military-green bag over one shoulder and grinned.
"Brother Yuan, have you thought this through? Student Qin's a good kid, a model student at New No. 1 Middle School. Don't lead him astray."
Li Yuan scoffed.
"What are you talking about? I'm not taking A Shi to a video parlor to watch porn. We're training hard, learning our punches and techniques. Isn't the point to get stronger and stop people from picking on us?
Once you know Brother Ze from North Pass Street, A Shi, you won't have to worry about having no one to help you if you run into trouble!"
Listening to them, Qin Shi raised his eyebrows slightly.
"Brother Yuan, Brother Cheng, where's this North Pass Street you're talking about?"
Li Yuan lifted his chin.
"That night market on Xingshun Road, where lots of people set up street stalls to sell clothes. They recently built a flashy bathhouse there... Brother Ze's in charge of it now."
It sounded a little like "Chan Ho-nam of Causeway Bay."
Qin Shi didn't refuse. Li Yuan and Xie Yucheng didn't seem like the type to drop out of school and head for hard labor at a mine on the outskirts.
In their conversations, they'd occasionally mentioned "Brother Ze" and "fighters."
That made Qin Shi curious.
"Then I'll come along and see what it's like."
Qin Shi smiled gently.
"Let's go."
Only after the three boys had disappeared down the stairwell did Old Liang limp out from the side.
He'd watched the afternoon's sparring practice, his gaze fixed on Qin Shi as he moved.
"If this kid's cultivation method is exceptional, then his fighting style is downright genius-level!"
Old Liang licked his cracked lips. The fingers holding his cigarette trembled slightly, and an uncontrollable fervor crept across his face.
If Qin Shi had seen him then, he might have thought of a familiar type of person from his previous life, when he'd driven cargo around Northern Myanmar: gamblers who bet their entire fortunes on buying uncut jade stones!
"My luck's finally turned. My luck... has finally come! He really is a natural-born promising talent in Old Martial Arts!"
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