Chapter 8: Encountering an Old Friend - Dawn Epoch

In the following lessons, the beautiful instructor broke down the movements, from the muscles of the soles to the calves and thighs, covering every detail meticulously and demonstrating tirelessly.

For the rest of the lesson, the beautiful coach broke down each movement, from the muscles of the foot to the calf and thigh, demonstrating every detail tirelessly and without skipping a thing.

For students who struggled to grasp the techniques, she offered patient guidance.

For students who couldn't grasp the key points, she would patiently correct them.

Compared to the martial arts teachers at school, her instruction was noticeably more thorough.

Compared to the Martial Arts Teacher at school, her instruction was clearly more meticulous.

Unfortunately, even so, by the end of the class, only two or three out of ten students could replicate fifty to sixty percent of the moves. These people clearly had a solid foundation, at least already having a basic grasp of swordsmanship.

Unfortunately, even so, by the end of the lesson, only two or three out of the ten students could mimic the moves with fifty to sixty percent accuracy—and these were people who clearly had a solid foundation, at least already initiated into swordsmanship.

After the class ended, the students gradually said their goodbyes and left.

After the lesson, as the students gradually said their goodbyes and left, The beautiful teacher then walked over, bringing a waft of fragrant breeze.

the beautiful teacher walked over, bringing a waft of fragrant breeze.

Her skin was fair, her features soft. Though beautiful, she didn't come across as aggressive, instead exuding a gentle, serene charm.

Her skin was fair, her features soft; though beautiful, she didn't come across as aggressive, but rather gentle and serene.

Her body displayed the graceful and alluring curves of a mature woman, making Chen Shouyi's heart race and his face flush red.

Compared to the shy schoolgirls at school, this kind of mature, beautiful allure made him blush and his heart pound even more.

Compared to the green schoolgirls at the academy, this kind of mature, beautiful charm made his heart pound even more.

He scrambled to his feet and said respectfully, "Hello, teacher!"

He scrambled to his feet and said respectfully, "Hello, Teacher!"

"My surname is Wang. Just call me Teacher Wang. I'd like to know—how's your swordsmanship foundation?" She didn't mind the young man's flustered demeanor, just smiled with pursed lips and spoke.

"My surname is Wang, just call me Teacher Wang. I'd like to know—how's your swordsmanship foundation?" She didn't mind the young man's flustered awkwardness, just smiled with her lips pressed together.

"I've only learned the lunge thrust."

"I only learned the Forward Lunge Stab."

The beautiful teacher handed him the wooden sword in her hand. "Could you practice it? I want to see your progress so I can place you in the right class."

The beautiful teacher handed him the wooden sword in her hand. "Could you practice it for me? I want to see your progress so I can arrange your class."

"Oh, okay, okay!" Chen Shouyi said, looking nervous.

Yesterday, he could face his classmates with confidence, but now, facing this beautiful teacher, he seemed to have become timid again.

Yesterday, he could face his classmates with confidence, but now, facing this beautiful teacher, he seemed to shrink back into timidity.

Chen Shouyi took the sword, took a deep breath, and quickly thrust it out.

Chen Shouyi took the sword, drew a deep breath, and quickly thrust out.

As soon as he did, he felt annoyed that his performance in front of the beautiful teacher wasn't perfect.

The moment he thrust, he felt annoyed that his performance before the beautiful teacher wasn't perfect.

If he had relaxed a bit more, not been so nervous, and taken a little longer to prepare, he was sure he could have done better.

If he had relaxed a bit, not been so tense, and taken more time to prepare, he was sure he could have done better.

"Very standard. It's just that your strength is a bit lacking, and your step is a little stiff, not smooth enough. How long have you been practicing?" The beautiful teacher looked slightly surprised.

"Very standard. Just a bit lacking in power, and your step was a little stiff, not smooth enough. How long have you been practicing?" The beautiful teacher was slightly surprised.

"Ha!" Chen Shouyi hadn't expected his poor performance to earn praise at all. He instinctively humbled himself: "Actually, I'm not that skilled yet. I've only practiced for a few... months?"

"Ha!" Chen Shouyi hadn't expected his poor performance to earn praise at all. He instinctively said modestly, "Actually, I'm not that skilled yet. I've only practiced for a few... months?"

He had meant to say a few days, but in the end, he said a few months. After all, a few days was too exaggerated and clearly didn't make sense.

He had meant to say a few days, but in the end, he said months—after all, a few days was just too exaggerated, clearly not plausible.

"You have good talent for swordsmanship. Since you have a decent foundation, let's do this—there's a new advanced swordsmanship class starting tomorrow at one in the afternoon. You should come too." The beautiful teacher didn't suspect anything and said after a moment's thought.

"You have good talent for swordsmanship. Since you have a decent foundation, let's do this: there's a new Advanced Swordsmanship Class starting tomorrow at one in the afternoon. Come along." The beautiful teacher didn't suspect anything, thought for a moment, and said.

"Thank you, Teacher Wang. By the way, how much is the fee?" Chen Shouyi remembered to ask.

"Thank you, Teacher Wang. Oh, right, how much is the fee?" Chen Shouyi remembered to ask.

"My fees might be a bit higher here. About eight thousand per session, twenty lessons, once a week."

"My fees might be a bit higher—about eight thousand per session, twenty lessons, once a week."

Not bad, I have enough money, Chen Shouyi thought to himself.

Good, I have enough money, Chen Shouyi thought to himself.

Having grown up under his mother's strict pressure, he hadn't developed many bad habits. His monthly allowance, aside from necessary meals, left him with a decent surplus. Plus, the seven thousand his mother had sent this morning brought him to over nine thousand, enough for the tutoring fee.

Having grown up under Mother Chen's strict pressure, he hadn't picked up many bad habits. Every month, after necessary food expenses, he had a fair amount left over from his living allowance. Plus, the seven thousand Mother Chen had sent him this morning, he had over nine thousand in total—enough for the tutoring fee.

After paying, Chen Shouyi walked out of the martial arts training center. He checked the time—it was only ten o'clock.

Chen Shouyi paid the fee and walked out of the Martial Arts Training Center. He checked the time—it was only ten o'clock.

Maybe I should just go home?

The thought crossed his mind. Just as he was about to head to the parking lot to get his bike, he heard someone call out to him.

"Chen Shouyi!?"

He turned around at the sound and saw a vaguely familiar figure. She had neat short hair, and under the not-too-harsh morning sun, she looked fresh and striking.

He turned around at the voice. It was a vaguely familiar figure—a girl with neat short hair, looking fresh and lovely under the not-too-harsh morning sun.

Beside her stood an unfamiliar handsome guy, who seemed to be her boyfriend.

Beside her stood a handsome, unfamiliar guy, who seemed to be her boyfriend.

He looked at the girl and said hesitantly, "Are you... Guo Qianqian?"

"Yeah, I didn't expect to see you here. You haven't changed a bit—still looking all honest and obedient." Guo Qianqian seemed a bit excited to see Chen Shouyi.

"Yeah! Didn't expect to see you here. You haven't changed a bit—still look like a goody-two-shoes." Guo Qianqian's mood perked up at seeing Chen Shouyi.

Chen Shouyi was also a little stirred.

Chen Shouyi was a bit excited too.

They had been classmates in elementary school, even deskmates, and she was one of his few friends back then. Unfortunately, they drifted apart after middle school when she went to study elsewhere. It had saddened him for a long time, but now she was back.

They had been classmates in elementary school, even deskmates—one of the few friends Chen Shouyi had back then. Unfortunately, after middle school, they'd drifted apart. He'd heard she went to study in another city, which had made him sad for a long time. He hadn't expected she was back.

"Oh, let me introduce you—this is my boyfriend, Lin Feng!" Guo Qianqian said with a bright smile.

Chen Shouyi suppressed his complicated feelings, looked at the guy, and quickly greeted him.

Chen Shouyi suppressed his mixed feelings, looked at the guy, and quickly greeted him.

Her boyfriend, tall and thin, with ordinary clothes and appearance, and looking like a well-behaved student, didn't pay Chen Shouyi any mind. He just nodded faintly and started scrolling through his phone.

Her boyfriend, faced with Chen Shouyi—tall and thin, dressed and looking ordinary, with the air of a well-behaved student—paid him no mind at all. He just nodded indifferently and started scrolling through his phone.

"It's been so long! Are you here for martial arts training too?"

"It's been so long! Are you taking martial arts training here too?"

"No, I just signed up today."

"What a coincidence! My boyfriend did too. He just signed up for an advanced swordsmanship class. Are you planning to take the martial arts academy exam too?" Guo Qianqian asked warmly.

"What a coincidence! My boyfriend did too—he just signed up for an Advanced Swordsmanship Class. Are you planning to take the Martial Arts Academy exam too?" Guo Qianqian asked enthusiastically.

Chen Shouyi gradually calmed down, no longer as excited as before. He smiled faintly and said, "That's impossible. My physical fitness is still way off. I'm just taking it one step at a time."

Chen Shouyi gradually calmed down, no longer as excited as before. He smiled faintly and said, "How could that be? My physical fitness is way too lacking. I'm just taking it one step at a time."

Just then, her boyfriend seemed to grow impatient. He stuffed his phone into his pocket and made a show of checking his watch: "It's getting late. Let's stop chatting. We said we'd go get pizza, remember?"

At that point, her boyfriend seemed to grow impatient. He shoved his phone into his pocket and made a show of checking his watch. "It's getting late. Let's stop chatting. We said we were going for pizza, remember?"

"Alright. Chen Shouyi, why don't you come too? Lin Feng has a few discount coupons," Guo Qianqian said with polite courtesy, seeming quite concerned about her boyfriend.

"Alright. Chen Shouyi, you should come too. Lin Feng has a few discount coupons," Guo Qianqian said, with a polite formality that made it clear she was quite concerned about her boyfriend.

"No need, I have to hurry home!" Noticing the boyfriend's sour expression, Chen Shouyi smiled and said.

"No thanks, I need to get home!" Noticing the boyfriend's sour expression, Chen Shouyi said with a smile.

Watching Guo Qianqian and her boyfriend walk away, Chen Shouyi felt a little hollow inside. Not quite loss, not quite pain—like something he'd never had, so there was nothing to lose.

Watching Guo Qianqian and her boyfriend walk away, Chen Shouyi felt a little hollow inside—not quite disappointment, not quite pain, like something he'd never had, so there was nothing to lose.

He quickly pulled himself together, found his bike in the parking shed, and sped home.

When he got home, he found his sister was already gone. He wasn't surprised—she was always busy with activities. Compared to the unnoticed Chen Shouyi, she was a star at school and among her classmates, hardly ever around on weekends.

When he got home, he found his sister was already gone. He wasn't surprised—she was always busy with activities. Compared to the low-profile Chen Shouyi, she was a star at school and among her classmates. On weekends, she was basically nowhere to be found.

"Did you sign up? If you're hungry, go eat out." His mother set a plate of rice with toppings in front of a customer, wiped her hands, and said.

"Did you sign up? If you're hungry, go eat out." Mother Chen placed a plate of rice with toppings in front of a customer, wiped her hands, and said.

It was the weekend, and before even half past ten, the family restaurant was already packed with customers, bustling with nonstop activity.

"I've signed up—class starts at one tomorrow afternoon." Chen Shouyi didn't want to bring up the extra thousand-plus yuan, lest Mother Chen start nagging again. "I'll just eat out, then."

"Go on, go on. Seeing you standing there like a lump just annoys me." Mother Chen's face was full of disdain.

"Oh, right, do you have enough money?" she added as he was about to reach the door.

"Enough!"

After a quick lunch at a small shop outside, Chen Shouyi couldn't wait to get back to his bedroom. He locked the door, lay down on the bed, and entered the Gray Mist Space.

Today's Memory Leaf had already sprouted tender new growth. He focused on it for a moment, and his mind was immediately drawn in.

Under the memory's fast-forward, he soon reached the scene from that morning at the Youth Martial Arts Training Center.

"Today, I'll be teaching the 'slash' in swordsmanship. When broken down further, the slash can be divided into the Immovable Slash, the Small Step Slash, and the Large Step Slash..."

Inside the training room, the beautiful instructor was explaining.

Chen Shouyi's heart stirred, and his mind immediately zoomed in on this beauty who had earlier made his face flush and his nerves fray. Boldly and carefully, he looked her over from head to toe, not missing a single detail.

In this world, he was like an exalted God, with no constraints on his actions.

Gradually, he realized that was all there was to it.

Two eyes, one nose, one mouth—no different from the other girls in the class. If there was any difference, it was that she was more mature, carrying an enchanting charm.

Chen Shouyi watched for a long time, until he felt that the next time he faced her, he should be able to treat her with a normal mindset. Only then did he stop.

By now, the beautiful instructor's demonstration had long since ended, but for him, it was just a matter of replaying the memory again.

Once Chen Shouyi rewound the memory image back to the start, he didn't waste any time this time. His mind quickly entered her body.

He had to complain—a woman's body always felt very uncomfortable to him. Not only was his chest heavy with two lumps of flesh, but something seemed to be missing down below, leaving it feeling empty and hollow.

Fortunately, Chen Shouyi had already experienced this quite a few times, and he quickly reined in his focus.

The slash was more complex than the thrust. It involved more muscles and had a larger range of motion. Not only did the waist have to twist at a considerable angle, but the feet and body also underwent strong shifts in center of gravity.

And that was just the Immovable Slash. The Small Step Slash and Large Step Slash that followed were even more complicated. The Large Step Slash in particular—even the Basic Footwork, which seemed like shrinking the ground to an inch, involved countless intricate muscle movements.

Fortunately, his Forward Lunge Stab was already quite proficient. He had gotten his foot in the door with swordsmanship and had developed his own understanding of controlling certain muscles. It was like going from zero to one being the hardest, while going from one to two, or even three, was relatively simpler.

For an entire afternoon, he would sometimes jump out of bed, pick up his wooden sword, and practice for half an hour. Other times, he would enter the memory space to personally experience the various muscle exertions of the body. When practicing the Large Step Slash, the bedroom was no longer enough space, so he moved to the living room.

His feet seemed to glide through the air, sliding east one moment and west the next. By the time evening approached, he had finally managed to barely grasp the swordsmanship technique of the "slash."

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Encountering an Old Friend