Falcon Strike

"Senior Brother Chen..."

Only then did Du Feng squeeze out of the crowd, grinning sheepishly as he approached Chen Ping.

At the same time, he cautiously offered Zhou Kai an apologetic smile.

Zhou Kai merely frowned slightly and said nothing.

"You really haven't improved at all."

Chen Ping patted Du Feng lightly on the shoulder. His every word and gesture showed how disappointed he was in him.

Du Feng looked ashamed. Hanging his head, he said, "Then I... I'll keep taking them through the assessment."

"Excuse me, Coach Chen. Can I still get a refund on my membership fee?" someone in the crowd called out softly.

The scene that had just unfolded had made many of the new students reconsider joining. So this was what Falcon Wing Martial Arts Hall was like?

Wang Jinquan's arrogance and the other students' cold indifference had made them feel that if they stayed, they probably wouldn't learn anything worthwhile.

Chen Ping nodded. "Talk to the front desk. You can get a refund."

Du Feng lowered his head even further. The membership refunds only made him feel more ashamed.

"Get back to training!"

Chen Ping looked at the chaotic first-floor training area, his mood at rock bottom.

His words carried great weight. At his command, the students who had still been gathered together scattered with a rush, each heading for a piece of equipment.

As for Wang Jinquan, who had been knocked unconscious with a single slap, Yang Jing and the others hurriedly lifted him up and called an ambulance, preparing to take him to the hospital.

Watching all this, Chen Ping shook his head, then turned to Zhou Kai. "Come with me."

Zhou Kai asked, "So, did I pass the assessment?"

Chen Ping replied matter-of-factly, "When it comes to no-holds-barred fighting, none of those punks can beat you!"

The students who heard him didn't even dare look back. They all lowered their heads and pretended to be busy with their own tasks.

But each of them had their own thoughts.

Some were contemptuous, some jealous, and some unconvinced.

"Chen Ping, this is the talentless kid with the weak constitution you were talking about?"

In a second-floor Martial Arts Practice Room, a middle-aged man with a goatee looked Zhou Kai up and down, then teased Chen Ping with a knowing smile.

Zhou Kai stood to the side, his ears twitching slightly.

So Chen Ping had told this man that he was no good?

And now he'd brought Zhou Kai over in person. Wasn't that just making himself look foolish?

Zhou Kai instinctively looked at Chen Ping.

Their eyes met for a moment. Chen Ping immediately looked away, his expression calm as he said, "Uncle Wu, I misjudged him that day... Now I think he has potential."

The goateed man was Wu De, one of the senior instructors at Falcon Wing Boxing Gym.

When the gym's owner was away, he and a few other senior instructors managed the place and taught their respective students.

Wu De nodded, not doubting Chen Ping's words for a second. He clearly trusted him greatly.

He asked directly, "So, you've come to see me because...?"

"I want to teach him the Falcon Strike Technique. You can teach him yourself."

Chen Ping performed a rather traditional salute. "We still need to go through the proper process."

Wu De chuckled and strolled over to Zhou Kai.

He raised a hand and gave Zhou Kai's chest a few light taps, then used his fingers to feel several acupoints along Zhou Kai's arm.

He narrowed his eyes and considered him for a moment before clicking his tongue.

"His build really is poor, but his comprehension and physical coordination are pretty good... He's got the makings of someone suited to forms training."

"Shame he doesn't have much potential."

Wu De smiled at Zhou Kai. "Kid, you're not offended by that, are you?"

Zhou Kai shook his head, his expression calm. "Thank you for your assessment, Coach Wu."

He was completely unruffled.

Potential?

It didn't matter.

There was no limit to his effort and sweat.

Wu De was rather surprised by Zhou Kai's composure. "Pretty confident, huh? Let's see if you can still keep that confidence two months from now."

He waved a hand at Chen Ping. "Take him to learn."

"I know why you suddenly came to butter me up... I'll give him an extra dose of Secret Medicine."

"As for what you'll tell your master when he gets back, you can figure that out yourself."

"Now get lost. Don't let me see you again for the next few days."

"Yes, Uncle Wu."

Chen Ping saluted.

Zhou Kai followed his example. "Yes, Coach Wu."

"You're lucky Uncle Wu didn't test you himself."

A moment later, Chen Ping brought Zhou Kai to his private Martial Arts Practice Room.

"From now on, you can come three days a week."

"On those days, I'll spar with you like I did last night."

Chen Ping suddenly turned around, his expression serious. "Students take an average of a month to learn the Falcon Strike Technique."

"Those with better talent need two or three months of training before they're qualified to compete for the chance to become an apprentice."

"Only someone who masters it in a month and makes a name for himself in the ring can be called a genius."

"And I'm giving you much less time than that."

"Three days to learn the basics."

"Two weeks to master it!"

Zhou Kai's expression grew solemn. "I'll do my best!"

Honestly, he wouldn't need two weeks... One would be enough.

He glanced at his status panel. There were nearly two hours left before the Clear-Headed state wore off.

He couldn't waste a single second.

Every bit of progress he made in the real world would improve his chances of surviving in the Nightmare.

Zhou Kai lifted his eyes and fixed them on Chen Ping.

"Coach, if possible, let's start now!"

Chen Ping's eyes narrowed slightly as he stared at Zhou Kai for several seconds.

Even if the kid had gone home and taken a nap after dinner, he hadn't slept at all since the middle of the night.

The bloodshot look in his eyes showed just how exhausted he was.

Yet he was still forcing himself onward through sheer determination.

Was he really pushing himself through this on willpower alone?

Chen Ping was secretly startled. This kind of willpower, far beyond that of ordinary people, was a talent in its own right.

"Get ready."

Chen Ping nodded to him.

Then he added, "Oh, right. From now on, call me Senior Brother."

A flicker of surprise crossed Zhou Kai's eyes, then he replied, "Yes, Senior Brother!"

Seeing Zhou Kai quickly get into position, Chen Ping took several deep breaths and composed himself as well.

Then he began demonstrating the Falcon Strike Technique.

He knew the pace was absurdly fast for Zhou Kai... But extraordinary people called for extraordinary measures.

Letting a peerless talent like him gather dust among mediocrities would be a failure of them, his senior brothers, to recognize talent.

Chen Ping slowly assumed a stance, spreading the fingers of both hands like the talons of a falcon.

He grasped, hooked, twisted... A series of movements flowed like water, fluid yet fierce.

As he gathered and released his force, a succession of dull cracks rang through the air.

The technique was a spectacle to behold, and its practical value was beyond question.

Zhou Kai watched with rapt attention.

"The Falcon Strike Technique originated from the Eagle Claw Hand and Iron Wing Fist of ancient martial arts."

"The founder of Falcon Wing Boxing Gym combined the two, keeping their strengths and discarding their weaknesses, to create the Falcon Strike Technique. Later, he built on it to create the even more powerful Broken Wing Style."

"Today, the Falcon Strike Technique is the prerequisite for learning the Broken Wing Style."

"Since you've decided to join Falcon Wing, your ultimate goal should be the Broken Wing Style!"

"Be prepared to devote most of your energy to the Broken Wing Style."

Chen Ping demonstrated the moves as he explained them.

After performing the entire routine once, he began guiding Zhou Kai through it, step by step.

With the Clear-Headed state and Zhou Kai's already impressive comprehension reinforcing each other, he absorbed and digested every detail of the Falcon Strike Technique at astonishing speed.

Without Zhou Kai noticing, a faint silhouette appeared and disappeared in the skill section of his status panel.