Testing Moves

Hearing his master Wei Zhongxing's words, Cheng Hu immediately rose to his feet and replied, "Master, he's here to take you as his master and study martial arts."

"Take me as his master? Study martial arts?" Wei Zhongxing repeated as he walked toward the main hall's doorway.

Cheng Hu had already gotten up and carried a chair out from inside, placing it by the entrance.

Wei Zhongxing sat down in the chair and looked at Xiao Wang. "You want to study martial arts?"

"Yes."

"Why do you want to study martial arts? Planning to apply to Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy?"

Xiao Wang nodded. "Yes. The entrance assessment is only a few months away, so I want to improve myself."

By then, Cheng Hu had brewed a pot of tea and brought it to Wei Zhongxing's side. Wei Zhongxing lifted it, took a sip, and continued, "Since you want to apply to Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy but came here to take me as your master, have you looked into my background?"

Xiao Wang looked at Wei Zhongxing without hiding anything and answered honestly, "I've heard a little. I heard you used to be a teacher at Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy."

"Looks like you did your homework. Then do you know I was expelled?" Wei Zhongxing asked, looking at Xiao Wang.

"I've heard that as well."

"Then you still came here to take me as your master? Aren't you afraid the teachers there will make things difficult for you when you take the exam?"

"Will they make things difficult for me if they find out?" Xiao Wang did not answer, instead asking a question of his own.

"Hahahaha, you're an interesting kid. Do you know why I have so few disciples? After all these years, I only have these two. It's because they all think that if they become my disciples, the teachers at Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy will give them trouble when they apply. Of course, there's another reason: my standards are indeed a little high. Are you afraid of them making things difficult for you?"

Xiao Wang looked at Wei Zhongxing. "When choosing a martial arts master, the first thing one should consider is strength."

"Quit flattering me. Are you afraid or not?"

"Afraid... Of course not. But it would be best if they didn't make things difficult for me."

Listening to him, Wei Zhongxing gave Xiao Wang a glance and smiled. "Not looking for trouble, but not needing to fear it either. If you're scared of trouble, then why the hell study martial arts? You might as well be a coward. What's your name?"

Xiao Wang: ...??

"Xiao Wang."

"Since you want to apply to Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy, you must have studied martial arts before?"

"I learned some at school."

"I have requirements for accepting disciples. Let me see how solid your foundation is."

Xiao Wang looked at Wei Zhongxing and replied, "But I've never tested my absolute muscle control."

Wei Zhongxing swallowed the tea in his mouth in one gulp. "Before reaching the first limit, what the hell is the point of testing that? Actual combat strength is what matters most."

"So it's useless?" Xiao Wang asked doubtfully. "But Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy tests it."

"I'm not saying it's completely useless. If you want to break through the first and second limits and keep climbing higher in martial arts, then of course it's useful. Let me ask you: can you break through the first limit?"

"Not yet," Xiao Wang answered.

"What do you mean, not yet? You think you'll definitely be able to break through the first limit in the future? Let me tell you, don't be fooled just because it's only the first martial arts limit. Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy might not produce even one person a year who can break through it. Enough of that. Let me first see how your foundation is."

"How do we test it?" Xiao Wang asked in confusion.

"How else? Through a fight, of course. Cheng Hu, go test his abilities."

After brewing the tea, Cheng Hu had been sitting to the side shelling edamame. Hearing Wei Zhongxing's words, he immediately stood up and walked into the front courtyard. He bowed to Wei Zhongxing. "Master, should I go all out?"

Wei Zhongxing raised the teapot and took a sip. "Use your judgment."

"Oh, all right."

Cheng Hu then turned to Xiao Wang. "Little brother, go all out. I'll hold back."

Hearing Cheng Hu's words, Wei Zhongxing sighed. "How did I end up taking in something like you? Why are you even studying martial arts? You'd be better off becoming a cook."

Cheng Hu was criticized by Wei Zhongxing, yet he showed neither anger nor discouragement, as though he had long since gotten used to it.

Xiao Wang looked at Cheng Hu and cupped his fists. "Senior Brother Cheng, there's no need to hold back. Just attack freely."

"Now that's more like it." Wei Zhongxing became a little more interested as well.

Upon hearing Xiao Wang's words, Linghu Ke, the second disciple who had been sitting silently to the side watching, also cast Xiao Wang an unusual glance.

Cheng Hu cupped his fists toward Xiao Wang as well. "Little brother, are you sure?"

"I'm sure." Xiao Wang glanced at the bead in his mind as he answered. The damage in the bead had just been cleared, and only the damage from the Phase Two drug trial remained, displayed in pale gray. It was still far from turning completely black, so it should be able to absorb plenty more damage.

"Then I really won't hold back."

"Please."

After saying that, Xiao Wang immediately took up his stance.

Cheng Hu stood opposite Xiao Wang, opening up a little distance. Then he drove off his back foot and charged straight at Xiao Wang.

He was incredibly fast and nimble, possessing none of the clumsiness one would expect from someone with a hulking build over six feet three.

Watching him, Xiao Wang knew his opponent was formidable. He pushed off the ground as well and charged forward. Not only was he no slower than Cheng Hu, he was actually a fraction faster.

"Huh? Interesting." Seeing Xiao Wang's speed, Wei Zhongxing let out a surprised sound, even pausing in the middle of lifting his tea.

In the courtyard.

The two quickly clashed.

Cheng Hu threw a heavy hook directly at Xiao Wang's abdomen, while Xiao Wang launched a side hook toward Cheng Hu's face.

Both were extremely fast. As they punched, their bodies also moved to evade. Xiao Wang twisted aside, causing Cheng Hu's punch to miss, while Cheng Hu tilted his head, and Xiao Wang's fist swept past the edge of his ear.

The wind from the punch sent his hair standing on end.

Only then did Cheng Hu understand what Xiao Wang had meant by telling him to go all out.

Cheng Hu then threw two more punches, his speed rising another level from before.

Xiao Wang was startled and realized that Cheng Hu had still been holding back. He could only twist aside again to evade. At the same time, he planted one hand on the ground, kicked both legs upward, and sent his feet straight at Cheng Hu's face.

Rather than dodging, Cheng Hu threw a flying kick and met Xiao Wang's leg attack head-on.

Their legs collided.

Boom!

A dull impact rang out.

Xiao Wang felt as though he had kicked a concrete pillar. It was not only unbelievably hard, but it also carried an immense rebounding force. For a moment, he felt as though his leg were about to snap.

At the same time, the tremendous impact threw his body off balance. He staggered back seven or eight steps before managing to steady himself.

Cheng Hu, on the other hand, remained standing where he was, without retreating even a single step.

"Thanks for letting me win." Cheng Hu cupped his fists and bowed to Xiao Wang.

Xiao Wang returned the gesture. "Thank you for the lesson, Senior Brother."

Only then did Xiao Wang realize just how great the gap between Cheng Hu and himself was.

At the same time, he looked at the bead in his mind. Its color had changed from pale gray to deep red.

Just one kick caused this much damage. That's truly terrifying. With such a huge gap between them, it seemed taking Wei Zhongxing as his master might be difficult.

He stood there looking at Wei Zhongxing. After taking a sip of tea, Wei Zhongxing asked, "Which middle school are you from? What a waste of talent."