Pursuit of the Martial Way

"Brother Yu, you were pretty busy today, huh? You didn't get to class until it was almost time to start again." Wang Lin asked curiously. This adolescent boy, flashy on the outside and even more flamboyant inside, had nothing but beauties' pale thighs on his mind aside from studying.

"I'll tell you when I have time. Class is starting now."

Yang Yu did not respond further and simply took out his physics textbook.

The physics teacher arrived at the classroom right on time as well. He did not waste any words, merely saying, "You're already in Grade 12. Time for the final push," before taking out his textbook and calmly beginning the lesson.

Clearly, this elderly physics teacher, who was nearing retirement, had taught too many Grade 12 classes and was long accustomed to it.

As for classroom discipline, the old physics teacher simply let things take their natural course and did not deliberately interfere.

However, there was no need to worry about discipline in the Key Class of this Key High School where Yang Yu studied.

Everyone was very self-disciplined.

Even students who did not want to study would not disrupt others.

And so, the afternoon classes quickly ended. Yang Yu still pretended to study diligently, when in fact he was sketching and scribbling in his notebook.

No one else noticed this, but Yang Yu's deskmate and best friend had seen it all.

The next three days continued in the same fashion.

Over those three days, Yang Yu's daily training load kept increasing along with his improved Physical Fitness.

His Neijiaquan practice was no longer limited to the Siming Internal Martial Arts, which was better for nourishing the body. He had begun practicing Xingyiquan as well.

He picked up the Xingyi Five Elements Fist and Twelve Animal Forms that he had already mastered in his previous life.

Moreover, because the Cosmic Energy here was denser and the training results were better, Yang Yu had basically recovered the Martial Way level of his previous life after just two days of practice. His Physical Fitness also improved at Extreme Speed, and the frail Boy he had once been was gone for good.

On Thursday afternoon, as Yang Yu packed his bag as usual and prepared to leave,

his best friend Wang Lin stopped him. "Brother Yu, something's been off with you lately. You used to love studying so much, but I've noticed that you haven't been seriously reading these past few days. Didn't you say you were planning to get into Jing University? If this keeps up, then even with your strong foundation, you can't say you're guaranteed to get in."

It was clear that his best friend truly cared about him. Yang Yu smiled faintly. "Xiao Linzi, don't worry. I know what I'm doing."

"Brother Yu! I know you're smart and talented, but with studying, if you don't advance, you fall behind! Even Su Yu, whose grades are about the same as yours, can't say she's guaranteed to get into Jing University. You can't keep going like this."

Seeing Yang Yu remain so unconcerned, Wang Lin finally grew anxious. Faced with his closest friend and brother, the seventeen-year-old did not beat around the bush and chose to say it directly.

"Xiao Linzi, I know. Thank you for caring about me. Come with me."

With that, Yang Yu gestured for Wang Lin to follow him.

Although Wang Lin did not know why Yang Yu had changed so much, deep down, he knew there had to be a reason.

After the two arrived at a secluded spot outside Xingfu Park, where Yang Yu often exercised, Yang Yu looked at Wang Lin's still-anxious face and felt warmth in his heart.

Only someone who truly cared for you would react like that.

"Xiao Linzi, what is your dream?"

"Uh, Brother Yu, why are we suddenly talking about dreams?" Wang Lin looked at Yang Yu's serious expression and knew he was asking in earnest.

"My dream... honestly, aside from when I was little and knew nothing, when I decided I wanted to become a scientist, once I got into high school, I realized I simply wasn't cut out to be a scientist. Gradually, I stopped having any dreams."

By the end, Wang Lin sounded somewhat ashamed.

"But Brother Yu, with your intelligence and your talent for learning, you definitely have the potential to become a scientist or mathematician!"

"Haha, Xiao Linzi, you think too highly of me. This is only high school. Becoming a scientist or mathematician isn't that easy, and besides, that isn't really my dream."

Yang Yu gazed at the bustling traffic ahead and sighed softly. "I've had a Chronic Headache Condition since I was little. You know that too. In order to cure me, my Grandfather took me everywhere to seek treatment during every school break. Only in the past year or two did he slow down a little after doctors truly could not find the cause."

"But that condition never went away. It comes out now and then to torment me, so eventually I came to terms with it. Maybe one day I won't be able to endure it anymore and will just die. When that happens, what use would even the best grades be?"

"Brother Yu..." Not many people knew about Yang Yu's Chronic Headache Condition. That was precisely why the two were so close.

"Xiao Linzi, you probably don't know what my true dream is, do you?"

Without waiting for Wang Lin to answer, Yang Yu said directly, "I want true freedom!"

"Freedom without fearing the Death God!"

"Freedom without fearing life and death!"

As he said this, Yang Yu seemed full of spirit.

"The freedom to hold my fate in my own hands!"

"Good grades? The best university? Compared to what I truly seek in my heart, all of that is nothing but an illusion."

Wang Lin stared blankly at Yang Yu, who was brimming with confidence and vigor. "So..."

"So I started studying what truly interests me—the Martial Way!"

"The Martial Way?"

"That's right!"

"Only when I practice martial arts can I truly feel alive and understand what freedom really is."

"Xiao Linzi, practice martial arts with me too! I know your family circumstances. You don't actually need to struggle so hard. You only need the ability to inherit what your family has. And with your current grades, even if you studied nothing at all, getting into an ordinary 985 University would be no problem. That would be enough for you to answer to your family."

"But!"

Yang Yu's gaze was sharp as lightning as he looked at Wang Lin. "Only your own strength is your greatest support. Only a powerful body can make you feel the reality of the world. Wealth is ultimately just something outside yourself! When danger arrives, only your own strength is truly dependable!"

"Even if you possess immense wealth, if your body is frail and weak, what use is it when disaster strikes?"

"Brother Yu, you're absolutely right. I actually had a Wuxia Dream when I was little too!" Wang Lin, stirred into excitement, nodded fiercely in agreement. "But unfortunately, when I worked out at the gym my family runs, my Father shattered that Wuxia Dream with two slaps."

"Two slaps?"

"Ahem, yes. I collapsed before he could deliver the third."

"Uh, Uncle was wrong to do that. But it's not too late to start practicing martial arts now!"

"Because of my Chronic Headache Condition, I've actually always paid attention to knowledge about martial arts, but I never put it into practice. Then, one late night some time ago, my condition flared up again. I almost didn't make it through, and that was when I realized I didn't have much time left."

Yang Yu had calmed down by then. Watching the streams of passing cars, he said lightly, "Rather than waste my time on dull knowledge I don't enjoy, I'd rather pursue the Martial Way that truly interests me in the final years of my life."

"Brother Yu, your health?" Wang Lin looked worriedly at his best brother.

"Haha, I'm only preparing for the worst. Only after experiencing true life and death can you see your own heart clearly."

This was also Yang Yu's true thought. Having been reborn in his own body in a parallel world, and in the vast and magnificent world of Swallowed Star at that, he naturally could not let Heaven's favor go to waste.

Besides, deep in his heart, he had long grown tired of his old, unchanging life and yearned for more thrilling and dangerous challenges!

To constantly surpass himself through challenges!

To keep walking down the path of becoming stronger.

"Brother Yu, that was so well said. I've decided—starting today, I'll practice martial arts with you!"

Having rekindled his old Wuxia Dream, Wang Lin now vaguely understood what he truly wanted to pursue.

He had never lacked food or clothing since childhood, and he too found life rather boring. It was only because of pressure from his family and those around him that he had followed along and studied hard.

In truth, there were not many people who genuinely loved studying from the bottom of their hearts.

At the very least, Yang Yu was not one of them.

It was obvious that the secretly flamboyant Wang Lin was not either.

The two like-minded friends exchanged a glance.

Then they silently smiled.

Before bursting into hearty laughter.

"You two seem pretty happy, huh? What, is something making you happy? If you can't say it, then let us have some fun too."

A voice suddenly rang out. Yang Yu and Wang Lin turned to look. At the front was none other than the Yellow-Haired Punk whom Yang Yu had frightened away a few days ago. Beside him stood a Green-Haired Punk, a little older than him and seemingly around twenty.

Behind the two were another seven or eight little punks of varying ages, all looking like street thugs.