Zhao Hongzhou

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhao Hongzhou (赵洪洲)
Gender	Male
Affiliation	First High School Martial Arts Class; Fallen Blossom City team
Occupation/Role	Martial Arts Class student; part-time personal trainer at Yinghai Gym
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Background

Zhao Hongzhou was one of the few classmates with whom Li Qingshan had a good relationship before joining the Martial Arts Class. The two occasionally worked part-time jobs together, and Zhao Hongzhou encouraged Li Qingshan to submit his Martial Arts Class application despite their classmates' objections. 1

He and Li Qingshan had previously worked at Yinghai Gym but left because the pay was too low. After entering the Martial Arts Class, Zhao Hongzhou returned to Yinghai as a personal trainer, earning 500 Star Coins per session for two sessions daily. 18

Appearance

Zhao Hongzhou is tall and sturdy, though he retains an innocent, youthful appearance. After nearly two months apart from Li Qingshan, he is described as having grown noticeably bulkier. 1 18 41

• Tall, burly build. 1 43
• Boyish, innocent-looking face. 1 18
• Wears a martial arts uniform during class training. 12

Martial Arts

Attribute	Recorded Result
Speed	8.9 meters per second 4
Punching force	210 kilograms 4
First-year class standing	Third by test results 41
Rookie Tournament role	Selected as one of three additional first-year representatives from Fallen Blossom City 41

Zhao Hongzhou initially worried that poor baseline-test results could get students removed from the Martial Arts Class. His own results placed him around the upper-middle range of the class. 4

Although he had not reached the Body Tempering Second Stage before the Rookie Tournament, Wan Keshan selected him to broaden his horizons because his testing results ranked third among the first-years. 41

Personality

Zhao Hongzhou is outspoken, excitable, and deeply loyal to Li Qingshan. He consistently celebrates Li Qingshan's achievements, trusts his judgment even when he cannot understand it, and quickly defends him when others distort events. 5 20 43 44

He is also prone to nervousness and intimidation. During the baseline test, he feared being eliminated from the class; when confronted by senior Zhong Xian, his confidence visibly faltered. 4 41

His enthusiasm often shows through in his interest in martial arts, part-time work, travel, and virtual combat. He was particularly eager to attend the Rookie Tournament and to experience its Virtual Pod battles. 18 43 48 50

Relationships

• Li Qingshan — Close friend and former part-time coworker. Zhao Hongzhou supports Li Qingshan's decision to join the Martial Arts Class, praises his combat achievements, and trusts him during confrontations. 1 5 20 43 44
• Yu Lei — Fellow Martial Arts Class student. They discuss Li Qingshan's imagination-based combat training and travel together to Wuyi City for the Rookie Tournament. 12 16 43
• Hong Qian — Fellow Martial Arts Class student and Rookie Tournament teammate. 16 41 43
• Wan Keshan — Martial Arts Class teacher. Wan Keshan gives Zhao Hongzhou special training and chooses him as a first-year representative for the Rookie Tournament. 41
• Zhong Xian — Senior student whose stern manner makes Zhao Hongzhou apprehensive; she lectures him about the Rookie Tournament. 41
• Cao Shaoyu — A prospective client Zhao Hongzhou refuses to coach because the boy wants to fight and is too difficult to handle. 19

Story Role

Martial Arts Class Enrollment

Zhao Hongzhou submits his own application for the Martial Arts Class and urges Li Qingshan not to be discouraged by classmates questioning his background. 1

During the baseline assessment, he records 8.9 meters per second in speed and 210 kilograms in punching force. Though initially anxious, he is relieved after completing the test. 4

He immediately recognizes Li Qingshan's superior performance and loudly celebrates him as the strongest student in the class. 5

Early Training

After Li Qingshan kills Wolf Venom, Zhao Hongzhou waits outside the shower room for him and delivers the scabbard Wan Keshan requested be given to him. 9

He nearly triggers Li Qingshan's sharpened reflexes by approaching from behind, then listens closely when Li explains his visualization-based training method. Zhao Hongzhou quickly grasps the idea of imagining a life-or-death opponent to stimulate improvement. 12

When Li Qingshan's excessive training leaves him exhausted, Zhao Hongzhou notices his bloodshot eyes and asks whether he has resumed staying up late. 16

Yinghai Gym

Zhao Hongzhou becomes a personal trainer at Yinghai Gym and introduces Li Qingshan to the flagship store when Li begins considering part-time work again. 18 19

He provides Li with background on Cao Shaoyu, explaining that the troublesome middle-schooler repeatedly changes coaches because he wants practical fighting instruction. 19

When Li challenges the Body Tempering Third Stage Yu Zhuo, Zhao Hongzhou worries about the gap in cultivation but ultimately accepts Li's confidence that combat strength is not determined solely by realm. 20

Rookie Tournament

After nearly two months without seeing Li Qingshan, Zhao Hongzhou informs him that the Rookie Tournament is about to begin and proudly reveals his own selection for the trip. 41

He travels with Li Qingshan, Yu Lei, and Hong Qian to Wuyi City. Though he considers himself mainly there to gain experience, he remains enthusiastic and openly places his trust in Li during the station confrontation with Liu Haibing's group. 43

At the tournament dormitory, he is excited by the temporary Virtual Pods and later asks Li Qingshan for advice on which weapon to choose for the first-year competition. 48 50

Trivia

• Zhao Hongzhou snores loudly enough to be compared to thunder. 50
• He received a bottle of low-grade Nutrient Solution from Manager Zhou after bringing Li Qingshan to Yinghai, but he initially tried to refuse it because he had not sought a reward. 19
• He accurately identified martial skill as the reason Li Qingshan defeated Yu Zhuo despite the latter's higher cultivation stage. 21