You're a Martial Arts Student

Because of what had happened to Zhao Ke, Xue Wenhui took a week off to stay home and keep her son company.

After going through such an ordeal, Zhao Ke had taken a heavy emotional blow and remained quiet and withdrawn. Naturally, his family avoided bringing up what had happened.

Zhao Rui could do nothing to help him through this psychological hurdle. Besides, he had been the "spark" that had started it all, so it was probably best not to show his face too much around his younger brother.

After returning home, Zhao Rui ate a quick meal, then went to his room to practice his forms and meditate.

Although he had a system panel he could use to cheat and directly raise his internal cultivation, his kung fu still depended on his own body. No matter how powerful his Internal Energy was, if he neglected his training, it would grow sluggish and be harder to wield effectively.

After circulating his energy through two Lesser Celestial Circuits, he opened his eyes and saw that he had two missed calls on his phone.

Zhao Rui got out of bed and picked up the phone he had silenced while practicing. One call was from his second senior brother, and the other was from Yang Fan.

He called his second senior brother back first.

"Did you need something, Senior Brother?"

"Zhao Rui, when do you start school?"

His second senior brother didn't answer Zhao Rui's question right away. Instead, he asked him one of his own.

"I haven't gotten any notice yet. I figure I'll have to report in about twenty days!"

Zhao Rui replied.

"Oh, then there's still time. Here's the thing: I have a friend whose daughter goes to your school. Her grades are average, and he's looking for a tutor who's just finished the Gaokao and did well..."

His second senior brother briefly explained the situation, then asked Zhao Rui whether he had time to tutor the girl for a while.

The pay was good—two hundred an hour—and the lessons could be in the morning, afternoon, or evening.

How could Zhao Rui refuse? He barely had anything to do with his morning training partner.

He could easily take on another job!

They agreed to visit the employer's home together the next morning. Zhao Rui ended the call with his second senior brother and dialed Yang Fan.

"Brother Rui, I've got good news! I got into Jizhou Vocational College of Engineering. We'll be able to hang out together again!"

Yang Fan's voice brimmed with excitement!

He wasn't like those idlers who had no interest in studying. He actually liked school—as long as nobody cared whether he was any good at it.

"Really? Great. That'll save me a huge expense!"

Zhao Rui chuckled.

"Damn you!"

The two joked around for quite a while before finally hanging up.

The next morning, faint rays of light slipped through the gaps in the leaves overhead, like ribbons of colored silk, and shone directly on Zhao Rui's face.

The soft fuzz on his still-youthful cheeks stood out clearly.

He exhaled and finished his practice, then picked up his backpack from the ground and straightened his clothes. He got on his bicycle, which was leaning against a tree, and rode to the residential complex they had arranged to meet at the night before.

Half an hour later, outside an upscale residential complex, Zhao Rui spotted his second senior brother sitting in the driver's seat, leaning out to smoke.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhao Rui pushed his bicycle over and greeted him.

"You're here! Let's go!"

His second senior brother tossed his cigarette butt on the ground, crushed it underfoot, then got out of the car and shut the door. He led Zhao Rui toward the complex.

Security was strict. The two of them were only allowed through after the employer received a call and came to meet them.

The employer was a woman in her thirties named Song. She had delicate features and long, glossy black hair twisted into a bun.

She and Zhao Rui's second senior brother clearly knew each other well. After they exchanged greetings, Ms. Song looked at Zhao Rui and said with a hint of approval, "Your junior brother is quite handsome!"

"How could I recommend anyone lacking? He's not just handsome—he's a good student, too!" his second senior brother said, lavishing praise on him.

"Senior Brother!"

Zhao Rui blushed. Who praised their own people like that?

"Haha, I've known your senior brother for years. Come on, let's go inside first!"

The woman smiled and led the way, guiding them across a plaza surrounded by lush greenery and water features, toward a row of attached villas.

"Sure is good to be rich!"

Zhao Rui couldn't help but marvel to himself.

He followed the woman through the villa's courtyard gate and up the steps into the house. A spacious entry hall greeted him. Beyond it, a vast living room opened up before them.

A crystal chandelier glittered like a wall of stars, looking down upon the world below.

"Have a seat. I'll go get Yaru. Mama Wang, please bring our guests some tea!"

After speaking, the woman left the living room.

"Pretty impressive, huh? Jealous?"

Looking at the enormous living room and its exquisite furnishings, Zhao Rui's second senior brother smiled and asked him.

"Jealous!"

Zhao Rui nodded without hesitation.

"Haha, then practice your martial arts hard. Once you break through to the tenth level, people will be lining up to bring you money!"

His second senior brother laughed.

"Mm. When that happens, I'll save a sofa for you, Senior Brother!"

Zhao Rui replied.

His second senior brother laughed and teased him, then said, "Your Ms. Song's daughter might not be easy to get along with. Let's give it a try, anyway!"

Zhao Rui nodded and took a sip of the tea a servant had brought over.

A moment later, Ms. Song came back, dragging along a girl who clearly didn't want to be there.

"You're about to be assigned to your classes, and you haven't given it a thought at all!" Ms. Song chided her, then brought her daughter into the living room.

"This is my daughter, Yaru. You've met Uncle Li before. This is his junior brother. Mom wants him to come and—"

She was interrupted when the girl's bright eyes widened slightly as she looked at Zhao Rui. "Are you Zhao Ke's older brother?"

Zhao Rui was taken aback. Looking closer, he realized the girl did look familiar. "I do have a younger brother named Zhao Ke."

"That's right, that's right! I saw you when school started. We even talked!" The girl giggled. She seemed quite lively.

"So you already know each other. That's even better. Yaru, how would you like Zhao Rui to tutor you?" Ms. Song smiled at her daughter.

Yaru's brows knitted together for a moment, then smoothed out. She nodded. "Sure!"

Her daughter's agreement brought an immediate smile to Ms. Song's face. She motioned for Yaru to show Zhao Rui around the study.

"Fine!"

Yaru shrugged and led Zhao Rui farther into the villa.

"Actually, I don't want a tutor, but my mom definitely won't agree to that. So, Brother Zhao, how about we make a deal?"

A crafty, scheming smile appeared on Yaru's slightly chubby cheeks.

"A deal?"

"Yeah. You can be my tutor, but don't try to make me study. You'll still get paid! We know each other already, right?"

"Well..."

"Don't worry. My grades aren't that bad. I just don't want to study!"

"Let's see how it goes."

Zhao Rui didn't agree right away. He didn't know what the girl was up to. Besides, he was being paid, so he had to do his job properly.

"Honestly, you're nothing like your brother. Zhao Ke always listens to me!"

"Cough, cough!"

Zhao Rui felt as if he had just learned a secret about his younger brother that he wasn't supposed to know.

As they spoke, they entered a study even larger than the master bedroom in Zhao Rui's home.

A massive desk stood in the study. Behind it was a rosewood-colored bookcase, packed with all kinds of books.

There was another door behind the right side of the bookcase. Zhao Rui had no idea what was in there.

"This is my dad's study. I usually study here, too. I'm not taking you to my own study."

"Oh."

Zhao Rui nodded.

"Just play on your phone. Don't bother me, and we'll be fine!"

After saying that, Yaru went to the desk and turned on the computer.

Zhao Rui watched her in astonishment, unable to help finding it funny.

Yaru booted up the computer and flew over the keyboard, her fingers tapping away. He had no idea what game she was playing.

The tension in her expression and the focus in her eyes showed just how absorbed she was.

"Ah! I lost, I lost!"

After barely ten minutes, Yaru slumped and slapped the keyboard, groaning.

"What are you playing?" Zhao Rui asked.

"Tale of the War God! I've been stuck on this level for two days. I just can't beat it."

Seeing that Zhao Rui wasn't going to bother her and had instead asked about the game, Yaru answered.

"Let me see!"

Zhao Rui smiled and stood up. A faint fragrance drifted from the girl as he approached.

"You play this, too?"

"Mm."

Zhao Rui nodded.

"You take over!"

Just as Zhao Rui was about to sit down, he suddenly paused. "Your mom and the others are coming."

As he spoke, he grabbed a book as fast as lightning and placed it on the desk.

He also opened a rough-work notebook, picked up a pen, and scribbled down a few calculations.

The entire movement flowed seamlessly; in the blink of an eye, it was done.

Yaru stared, dumbfounded, at the book that had appeared out of nowhere. Before she could react, she heard the door opening. Ms. Song and Zhao Rui's second senior brother walked in.

"Junior Brother, I'm heading back. Call me if anything comes up!"

"Okay, Senior Brother!"

"Don't worry. I'm not going to bully your junior brother!" Ms. Song said with a smile.

His second senior brother nodded at Zhao Rui, then turned and left the study.

Ms. Song glanced at the desk and nodded with satisfaction. She turned and closed the door, then went to see Zhao Rui's second senior brother out.

"Whoa, you're a Martial Arts Student?"

Yaru looked at Zhao Rui in delight, then added with excitement, "That move you just pulled was so cool!"

"Actually, I'm even better at studying."

Zhao Rui smiled. "Let's look at the game first."

"Mm, mm!"

Yaru hurriedly stood up and moved out of the way.

Zhao Rui took the keyboard and mouse, operated them expertly for a moment, then hammered away at the keys. His fingers flew across them, leaving a series of dazzling afterimages.

"Wow, you're amazing!"

Yaru watched, thrilled, and began clapping without even realizing it.

Just a few minutes later, Zhao Rui drew back his hands and looked at Yaru. "I beat it!"

"Th-that's amazing! How are your hands so nimble?"

"It might have something to do with the martial arts I practice!"

"Well..."

Yaru was momentarily at a loss. Pouting, she said, "You beat the game. What am I supposed to do now?"

"Study!"

Zhao Rui slid the book over in front of her, a smile playing across his handsome face.

"Hmph!"

When Yaru heard that Zhao Rui was going to tell her to study, too, she folded her arms and sat down on the sofa across from him.

Her slender arms pressed against her still-developing chest, making it look all the fuller.

"Actually, we can negotiate about studying. You should respect my work, too," Zhao Rui said.

Yaru's mischievous eyes darted around before she said, "Then you have to teach me some martial arts moves that don't need Internal Energy!"

"Without Internal Energy?"

"Sure!"

Zhao Rui thought it over briefly and agreed. He already had Wing Chun Inquiry, so he could teach her a few moves from it.

"Great. It's a deal!"

Yaru got up, walked over to Zhao Rui, and sealed their promise with a high five.

"Actually, it's not that I don't want to study. It's just too boring. My mom keeps me on a tight leash all day and never lets me go anywhere. I just don't want to do what she says!"

Perhaps because they already knew each other, Yaru soon opened up to him.

"By the way, why don't you and Zhao Ke know martial arts? Are you real brothers?"

"Of course we are. You don't know martial arts, either!"

"Yeah, I can't either."

The girl's pretty face immediately fell. She let out a faint sigh.

"Classes are about to be divided, and Martial Arts Students will be assigned to their own class. I'm so jealous of the students who can fly around."

"Maybe they're jealous of how pretty you are!"

Zhao Rui said casually.

"Actually, I'm doing fine! Oh, by the way, why hasn't Zhao Ke been going to school lately...?"

"He's feeling a little under the weather. He'll be back in a couple of days."

"Oh. Could it be...?"

Yaru raised a fine eyebrow and couldn't help speaking up.

"What is it?"

Zhao Rui narrowed his eyes. "Do you know something?"

His sharp gaze made Yaru's heart race. She hurriedly said, "Your eyes just now were so scary!"

"Sorry!"

"He used to hang around with some unsavory Martial Arts Students. I heard they bought those Qi Guiding Pills!"

"That's just what I heard from someone else, though. It might not be true!"

At her words, Zhao Rui narrowed his eyes, anger already rising in his heart.

This stuff was hard to get in the first place. If no one had put Zhao Ke up to it, where could a high school student like him have gotten it?

"Thanks. I understand."

Zhao Rui answered, then said, "Let's study. Once we're done, I can teach you a few self-defense moves!"

"Mm-hmm, all right!"

Perhaps Zhao Rui's eyes had been so intense that they'd startled her. Yaru didn't object to his suggestion.

Instead, she sighed and obediently sat down at the desk.

An hour later, after reviewing a chapter, Yaru stretched lazily. Her petite chest spread out freely beneath her clothes.

"Is Zhao Ke better?"

Lowering her arms, Yaru asked casually.

"He's fine. The medicine didn't do much. How many of your classmates know about this?"

"Actually, several people in our class have already stopped coming to school. Everyone knows what's going on. The class assignments are just around the corner, and a lot of people are getting anxious!"

Yaru's voice carried a hint of helplessness.

"Do you know those people?"

"I do, but I'm not close with them. They're all Martial Arts Students, and they often bully people. We stay far away from them."

Yaru told him everything she knew.

Zhao Rui nodded. "Study hard for a few days, and I can ask to take you out for a walk!"

"Really?"

"Of course!"

"That's great! Don't worry, I can secretly tell you who they are!"

Yaru was quick-witted and had guessed Zhao Rui's intentions right away. She wanted to get out and clear her head, too, so they were in perfect agreement.