A Small Test

Zhou Qing was the kind of person whose energy was terrifyingly abundant.

Once she set her mind on something, she would not feel tired even if she went a day or two without sleep.

Back in high school, she had run away from home with Zhou Kai, who was still in middle school at the time, and somehow pedaled a beat-up bicycle for 130 kilometers in a single night.

In college, she had dragged her entire dorm along on a seven-hour hard-seat train ride just to climb a mountain and watch the sunrise.

After she started working, Zhou Kai had also seen similar feats of hers on social media.

Zhou Kai rarely admired anyone from the bottom of his heart. If he had to name one person, it could only be his sister.

"Xiao Kai, how does the boxing gym feel? You've looked much better lately."

"Yan Zi even called me in the middle of the night yesterday and praised you for a full half hour."

Because Zhou Kai was there, Zhou Qing and Sui Die's conversation always drifted toward him, intentionally or otherwise.

She asked with concern, "How about I renew it for another month? Take some more time to adjust your body and your mindset. Don't rush into going out on your own."

Zhou Kai shook his head. "No need, Sis."

Zhou Qing shot him a glare. "As long as you know what you're doing. Don't let all that nonsense... I'm your actual sister, you know."

Zhou Kai immediately raised a hand and patted his chest, replying dramatically, "I guarantee it!"

That made Zhou Qing burst into loud laughter.

Meanwhile, Sui Die's expression occasionally became somewhat subtle.

She seemed to care a great deal about Zhou Qing and Zhou Kai...

After breakfast, Zhou Qing wanted to take Zhou Kai to look around the newly built mall in Xishan City.

But Zhou Kai tactfully spoke up. "Sis, Sister Sui."

"I may need to head to the boxing gym first..."

At that, the smile on Zhou Qing's face stiffened, and her gaze dimmed slightly.

"Ah... then, then go ahead."

Sui Die suddenly reached out and stopped Zhou Kai. "Leave your contact information."

"Sure."

It took Zhou Kai a little over ten minutes to reach the boxing gym. The members' area had already finished a round of warm-ups with the coach.

After changing into training clothes and joining the group, Zhou Kai immediately heard people whispering that Coach Chen Ping might be in a bad mood later.

But when Chen Ping saw Zhou Kai, his expression was quite mild.

"Lu Yan told me all about it... It's good that you came."

"This morning, keep training with me."

This was preferential treatment only the exceptionally talented could enjoy.

"Thank you, Coach Chen."

Zhou Kai thanked him again. He did not dislike this kind of special treatment.

Though envious and jealous gazes occasionally swept over him, in his Clear-Headed state, he absorbed every bit of those emotions...

But who cared?

Keep a low profile when it was time to do so, but when it was not, he could not shortchange himself.

[Comprehensive Combat Experience +2]

[Light Footwork Experience +1]

During the half-hour sparring session at noon, Zhou Kai's progress was obvious to the naked eye.

The two of them grew increasingly adept as they fought, their movements carrying an aesthetically pleasing fluidity that inevitably drew the attention of many people in the trainee area.

A short, stocky man coming down from the second floor stopped Du Feng and lifted his chin toward Zhou Kai. "What's that kid's background?"

A trace of disgust flashed through Du Feng's eyes, but he still answered truthfully. "He's a newcomer who came last week, maybe the week before... or perhaps even earlier. Feels like he comes and goes whenever he wants."

"Since when did Senior Brother Wang start caring about members who come here just to work out?"

Wang Jinquan's face instantly darkened. He swung a slap at him. "Fuck off. Can't you speak properly?"

"You've got some nerve now, huh? Taking shots at me with every word!"

Du Feng easily dodged and replied perfunctorily, "I wouldn't dare. I'm leaving, Senior Brother Wang. I'm in a hurry to eat lunch."

With that, he walked away without looking back.

The lackeys following Wang Jinquan did not dare stop him either.

Among the boxing gym's basic disciples, who did not know that Du Feng was under Chen Ping's wing?

"Fuck, what a bunch of filthy trash!"

Wang Jinquan already had a violent temper. After Du Feng provoked him like that, his neck turned red with rage.

The way he looked at Chen Ping... and Zhou Kai, became even more hostile.

"That bastard Chen Ping really thinks this boxing gym is his Home?"

"And he's running private lessons like this?"

"Who knows how many membership fees he's skimmed behind the scenes..."

The people around him immediately chimed in with a chorus of agreement.

That afternoon, Chen Ping had Du Feng come over to substitute for him again.

Meanwhile, he led Zhou Kai into the elevator and up to the second floor.

When the elevator doors opened, there was a small training room exclusively for Chen Ping.

He asked, "The small test is tomorrow. Confident?"

Zhou Kai's heart was as still as water. "I'll do my best."

Chen Ping laughed. He stood by the window with his arms crossed, his back to Zhou Kai.

"Don't joke around, kid."

"Though I don't know how you did it, a mere small test won't stop you."

"Six days. Your technique, physical condition, and combat awareness have all surged threefold... You're very unusual."

Zhou Kai's heart tightened.

Even though he had deliberately concealed it, he had sparred with Chen Ping every day these past two days. In the end, Chen Ping had still noticed.

"But I'm neither surprised nor curious."

Chen Ping turned around, his gaze blazing as he looked at Zhou Kai. "I've seen people with talent more frightening than yours, people who awakened even earlier."

Zhou Kai lowered his guard and asked sincerely, "Then, Coach Chen... what do you mean?"

Chen Ping thrust his hand into a bucket of sand nearby. His fingertips rubbed against the iron sand, producing a rustling sound that made one feel strangely agitated.

He pondered for a moment before speaking. "Do you truly want to learn martial arts?"

"The small test is only the most basic screening. Even if you pass, you'll still have to remain on the first floor with those members just killing time, building up your foundations for at least a month. Only after becoming familiar with the basics can you truly take a master."

"One month is too long."

"I can take you directly to compete for the qualifications to take a master."

Zhou Kai lowered his gaze. "There's no such thing as a free lunch. Coach Chen, what do you need me to do?"

Chen Ping smiled. "It's still too early to talk about that."

After saying that, he widened the distance between them and assumed a standard fighting stance.

"If you can hold up, then from now until tomorrow morning's small test—"

"You can come spar with me anytime."

Hearing that, Zhou Kai gave him a deep bow.

"Coach Chen, I'll gladly accept your offer!"

Whoosh!

Zhou Kai bent forward, and before his words had even faded—

A savage wind was already rushing toward his face!

The moment Zhou Kai raised his head, Chen Ping's figure blurred and swelled in his vision. Without any warning, a hook came smashing straight at him!

Before the fist arrived, the wind did.

Chen Ping's fist tore through the air, producing not the sound of wind breaking, but a piercing shriek that stabbed at Zhou Kai's eardrums.

In Zhou Kai's vision, that fist seemed to drain every trace of light and sound along its path as it ruthlessly smashed toward his face.

Fast.

So fast that even a neural response was a luxury.

Zhou Kai's heart abruptly stopped.

Old bastard, are you training me or trying to kill me?

In that flash of lightning, the thought exploded in his mind.

No... this was not personal resentment.

He was forcing me.

Forcing me to unleash that madness buried in my instincts... the madness I had fought my way through Nightmare with.

He could already smell that familiar scent, mixed with blood and death.

It was the scent of a body being squeezed to its absolute limit at the edge of life and death.

Step!

The instinct to survive overwhelmed every thought.

Instead of retreating, Zhou Kai suddenly took a step forward.

His center of gravity poured forward like mercury, and in a posture that defied common sense, his body slid sideways by a hair's breadth.

He avoided the vital point.

But he was still too slow.

Rip—