I'll Remember This Grudge

Chapter 47: This Grudge is Noted

"Haha, Old Wang, long time no see, I've missed you so much!"

Captain Gu's "old face," which didn't quite match his age, creased with laughter as he walked forward, his wrinkles deepening, and gave Teacher Wang a big hug.

"You lost the match, and you're still this happy?"

Teacher Wang narrowed his eyes, then suddenly opened them wide, his gaze filled with shock. "You broke through?"

A smile played on Captain Gu's lips as he nodded slightly.

"You rascal, haha!"

Teacher Wang was overjoyed and punched Captain Gu's chest. The two of them burst into laughter.

"I knew it. With your skills, there's no way you wouldn't even make it to the top sixteen."

"Where's Elder Ge?"

Teacher Wang glanced at the team and asked.

"Elder Ge had something come up and stayed in Shangdu."

"Oh, let's go inside and talk!"

With that, Captain Gu led a group of main players grandly into the main hall.

After they left, the other onlookers and remaining team members breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank goodness, thank goodness, it's not all bad news.

In the side hall, He Zhiyan retreated and called all the members of the Sparring Partner Group back. He then said, "Everyone, be mentally prepared. Don't stir up trouble."

After speaking, he walked out of the side hall with a deep frown.

Zhao Rui looked back at the other group members. Even Zhang Kui had a worried expression on his face.

"What's wrong, Brother Zhang?"

He quickly walked up to Zhang Kui and asked.

Zhang Kui shushed him, then took out his phone and typed a string of characters in a WeChat chat window.

"The good news is only for Captain Gu. Not everyone else is necessarily happy."

After typing, Zhang Kui continued, "Don't criticize anything at this time. There's a pervert who will eavesdrop. Someone got unlucky last time and was already ostracized from the Martial Arts Team. Be careful."

After showing Zhao Rui the message, Zhang Kui quickly deleted it completely.

"Holy crap!"

Zhao Rui was genuinely shocked this time. This kind of sneaky move? Is he crazy?

Although Martial Artists' eyesight and hearing were greatly improved compared to ordinary people due to their training, they wouldn't be outrageously enhanced.

However, once a Martial Artist channeled Internal Energy to their eyes or ears, focusing it on the meridians or vital points, their abilities would increase dramatically.

Let alone hearing through walls, someone with profound Internal Energy could detect the slightest rustle of leaves a kilometer away.

From Zhang Kui's words, it was clear he was hinting that a shameless regular team member, who was psychologically twisted, would perk up his ears and eavesdrop on others' conversations if they were scolded later.

And then retaliate!

And it was likely that he had already started eavesdropping from the moment he entered the main hall.

This is unbelievable!

Zhao Rui gave Zhang Kui a sheepish smile, then found a secluded corner and began meditating and practicing his techniques in silence.

No wonder they call it Cicada Courtyard, not Zen Courtyard!

Less than an hour later, He Zhiyan returned. With a blank expression, he told everyone, "Let's go to the training hall. Teacher Wang wants to analyze the match."

He then turned and walked away.

Zhao Rui glanced at the others and followed without a word.

A few minutes later, they arrived in front of an outdoor structure that resembled a sports stadium.

This building occupied a vast area, with high stands surrounding a huge training ground inside.

Various weapons and protective gear were displayed within.

A group of people were already standing in several rows on the field.

When Zhao Rui and his group arrived, people from other teams also came, and they gradually gathered in the center of the field, forming ranks according to their respective groups.

Zhao Rui stood with the Sparring Partner Group, his peripheral vision sweeping over the dozen or so regular team members standing in front.

Their expressions were grim.

It makes sense. Their leader broke through and couldn't participate in the competition, and the rest of you were eliminated in the second round. What does that imply? Doesn't it mean that without Captain Gu, the entire Dongqi Martial Arts Team is useless?

No wonder Teacher Wang is angry.

The Martial Arts Team had a head coach, Elder Ge, whom Teacher Wang had mentioned before. He basically didn't handle day-to-day affairs.

Teacher Wang handles the daily training and mundane affairs.

Teacher Wang's name is Wang Zhanshan. His strength is unknown, but he is at least above the Grandmaster realm.

At this moment, his expression was grim, his gaze sweeping across the faces of the main team members in the front row.

"Zhong Xuan, Ye Jingqiu, you two go first, what happened?"

The male student called Zhong Xuan glanced at the girl beside him and nodded slightly, saying, "Teacher, I know I was wrong, I underestimated the enemy!"

"Underestimated the enemy? How did your leg get injured? You don't repent, you're arrogant and conceited..."

"Ye Jingqiu, what about you?"

"Teacher Wang, I have nothing to say, I admit defeat!"

The senior sister speaking wore a transparent knitted thin shirt, with a black sports vest underneath. The neckline was slanted, revealing her fair and flawless shoulders and the slender straps of her innerwear.

She wore wide-legged pants, the waistband cinched to form a beautiful curve, which under the billowing hem of the knitted shirt, outlined a tempting figure.

The senior sister tilted her fair neck slightly, a proud disdain evident in her eyes, showing no desire to explain.

"Admit defeat? Bullshit! Starting now, you'll have extra basic skill training every day!"

After calling out the two most important members, Wang Zhanshan didn't let anyone else off the hook. Everyone who returned, even Captain Gu, was reprimanded by him for poor organization.

The thirty-odd people in the training ground were as silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to voice any objections, obediently listening to Wang Zhanshan's scolding.

At this moment, he was completely different from his usual flippant demeanor, his eyes actually revealing a fierce intensity.

After scolding for a good while, Wang Zhanshan finally had two team members bring over a projector, and they directly watched the real-time recording of the match in the resting area of the training ground.

This match was the North China Plain Provincial Friendship Match. Although it wasn't an official competition and didn't affect the rankings for provincial teams participating in the national league.

It was still a large-scale regional competition involving nearly a hundred universities.

Zhao Rui watched very intently.

This was a level of competition he had never encountered before.

"Look, this is what you call solid basic skills! If this step was taken firmly, moving from Qian to Xun to Zhen, how could your palm technique not be broken?"

"And this, what is this? Dog shit?"

Listening to Wang Zhanshan's vulgar language, Zhao Rui's face twitched involuntarily. People really can't be judged by their appearance. When he's not serious, this guy is like a second-rate hoodlum, sloppy and unkempt.

But once he gets serious, he's truly like a wildfire or a gale, incredibly fierce!

As if feeling that analysis wasn't enough, Wang Zhanshan directly called out a member of the Sparring Partner Group and a match participant to replicate the scene at that time.

Then, he broke down the opponent's moves and changes on the spot.

Although his temper was bad, his understanding of Martial Way was absolutely top-notch, his judgment keen. With just one look, he could find the flaws in the exchange.

This explanation lasted for a whole afternoon. It wasn't until sunset that Wang Zhanshan let everyone leave, still seemingly unsatisfied.

Perhaps because Zhao Rui's level was too low, or perhaps he was afraid Zhao Rui couldn't cooperate, Zhao Rui was not allowed to participate in this sparring session.

Even so, Zhao Rui felt that he had gained a lot from this afternoon, not only in understanding the match but also in analyzing Martial Arts.

His horizons had also been greatly expanded. Otherwise, why do people say that a platform is important!

After the session ended, Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui walked out of the training ground together when a voice suddenly called out to them.

"Hey, you two up front!"

Zhang Kui's face stiffened upon hearing the voice, and he stopped with a very unpleasant expression. He even gave Zhao Rui a look.

Then, with a slightly fawning smile, he turned around.

"Senior Brother Gongye, do you need something from us?"

"You're Zhang Kui, right? You're getting more and more useless, already relegated to the Sparring Partner Group. I reckon you'll be eliminated in a couple of days."

The speaker was a handsome and tall young man, with the air of a dashing young master.

However, his words were extremely harsh.

"Senior Brother is right!"

Zhang Kui chuckled awkwardly.

Senior Brother Gongye didn't pay attention to Zhang Kui after speaking. Instead, he looked at Zhao Rui and asked curiously, "I haven't seen you before? How did you get in?"

"Senior Brother, I'm a new freshman."

Zhao Rui replied politely. Seeing Zhang Kui's reaction, he knew this Senior Brother was likely difficult to deal with.

"Oh, so you got in through the back door, huh? Let me test your skills. When did the Martial Arts Team start letting people in through the back door?"

After Senior Brother Gongye finished speaking, before Zhao Rui could react, his figure had already moved with ethereal grace. He casually swept his right palm, which seemed to grow as it moved against the wind, rapidly covering Zhao Rui's entire body.

Zhao Rui was greatly alarmed. He stepped back rapidly, evading, but this palm technique was like a maggot gnawing on bone, still pursuing him directly.

"Great Demon Subduing Palm, do you want to copy!"

"Damn it, copy!"

Zhao Rui, facing the palm technique that seemed to cover the sky and obscure the sun, leaving no escape, decisively chose to copy.

Since I can't dodge the movement technique, I won't dodge it at all.

Zhao Rui gathered all the Internal Energy in his body into his hand's Taiyin Lung Meridian, channeling it into the Zhongfu acupoint. He pushed the gentle power of Cloud Hand Plucks Stars to its absolute limit.

Just like how he dealt with Company Commander Hao before, he continuously used his Internal Energy to wear down the opponent's palm strikes.

"Interesting, but not enough!"

Senior Brother Gongye sneered, suddenly retracting his palm. In an instant, he struck again. This time, his palm technique had also become erratic and unpredictable.

Zhao Rui barely managed to block two moves before being struck on the shoulder by the opponent's palm and sent flying ten feet away.

"This is your level? You got in through the back door?"

Senior Brother Gongye scoffed, then turned and left with his companion without even glancing at Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui.

The surrounding team members who hadn't left yet all averted their gazes, as if they hadn't seen anything.

Zhao Rui sat up, clutching his shoulder, and was about to ask Zhang Kui who that person was when Zhang Kui waved him off. Without a word, he helped Zhao Rui up and said, "Let's go! Training is over!"

He didn't say anything else.

Zhao Rui instantly understood. This Senior Brother Gongye, who looked so dashing and elegant, was the same person rumored to be petty and fond of eavesdropping.

What a waste of such a good appearance.

Fortunately, Senior Brother Gongye had some restraint. He only struck Zhao Rui with his palm, not using much Internal Energy. His shoulder was only slightly red and swollen and would be fine by the next day.

Long after they left Mingchan Courtyard, Zhang Kui finally looked around and said, "Gongye Lingchen. He's one of the four great experts of our Martial Arts Team. You should avoid him in the future."

Zhao Rui nodded upon hearing this and didn't ask further. They were still within the Martial Arts Academy's grounds, and who knew if Gongye Lingchen might be lurking nearby.

"Senior Brother Zhang, I'm leaving!"

"Go ahead!"

Zhang Kui's spirit seemed noticeably depleted recently. He waved listlessly and headed in the direction of his own residence.

Like Zhao Rui, he rented a place outside the school, but in a different direction.

Although the Martial Arts Academy had excellent dormitory conditions, most Martial Arts Team members didn't live there.

The outside world was far more exciting than the campus.

After parting ways with Zhang Kui, Zhao Rui went straight to a nearby traditional Chinese medicine shop and bought some ointment for bruises and sprains.

That scoundrel.

I'll remember this grudge!

Zhao Rui opened the System panel in his mind and found that the progress for Great Demon Subduing Palm had only reached 0.1%.

To fully replicate it, he couldn't copy much from such brief exchanges.

It seemed he needed to find a way to get him to spar with him more often.

Zhao Rui frowned, thinking silently.

The autumn night was cool, and stars dotted the night sky, accompanied by moonlight, casting a serene glow.

The next day, with the return of all the official members, the entire Martial Arts Team resumed its usual training schedule.

Basic skills practice in the morning, and combat drills in the afternoon.

Basic skills included Internal Energy refinement and martial arts form practice. The martial arts form practice wasn't as simple as just practicing a few sets of punches as one might imagine.

The main purpose of martial arts forms, besides defeating enemies, was also to condense inner qi and clear the meridians.

Some postures were slightly different from the stances used in actual combat. These postures, combined with mental techniques, were actually used to stretch the meridians and guide the qi.

This allowed the body to adapt to the execution of the moves to the greatest extent possible and generate power.

In the morning, Zhao Rui continued to practice Prajna Palm with Wang Zhe's group.

Wang Zhe naturally noticed his shoulder injury. Many team members had seen Gongye Lingchen "bullying" a newcomer yesterday, and he knew about it.

However, he just shook his head and didn't say much about it.

By a little past 2 PM, the combat drill class officially began.

The drills mainly included analysis of martial arts combat, member combat practice, and specialized training for specific members.

Zhao Rui and the Sparring Partner Group's main job was to assist the Coach and help the members with their combat practice. This also included simulating specific opponents.

For example, for a particular match, they would devise special training plans, with members of the Sparring Partner Group acting as the opposing fighters and executing their martial arts.

This targeted approach made the training more effective, naturally yielding excellent results.

However, the difficulty of this special training lay in simulating the opponent's martial arts. If it were just a superficial imitation, it would be meaningless.

The best results were achieved when the imitation was both in form and spirit, even simulating the Internal Energy circulation.

Perhaps because Zhao Rui was new, he and Zhang Kui were assigned to work with the second-year students.

Their main task was to assist them in improving the practical application of their martial arts.

After all, a sophomore had only been in the Martial Arts Team for half a year, and they might not have even learned the team's foundational martial arts.

According to Wang Zhe's introduction, the Martial Arts Team had four required martial arts. One was the Calming Heart Art, mentioned earlier, which was an auxiliary technique.

Another was the Prajna Palm, which Zhao Rui was currently practicing.

As for the other two, they could only be learned after passing two elimination rounds during the sophomore year.

At this moment, these sophomores were learning the same thing as Zhao Rui: the Prajna Palm.

Seeing how the Coach had assigned them, Zhao Rui was overjoyed.

Mastery-level Prajna Palm, here it comes!