I Like Sparring Too

Yinghai was a chain brand with three Gyms in Luoying City.

The largest Flagship Store was located near the downtown plaza. It covered nearly ten thousand square meters and was every bit as imposing as the commercial plaza beside it.

At that moment, Li Qingshan and Zhao Hongzhou were inside the Flagship Store.

"Qingshan, I knew from the start that you were no fish trapped in a pond."

"Sure enough, the moment you entered the Martial Arts Class, you soared straight into the sky."

The balding middle-aged manager smiled warmly, acting as though they were old acquaintances.

"Manager Zhou, you are too kind. I still have to thank you for looking after me back then."

Li Qingshan smiled and reached out to shake his hand.

Zhao Hongzhou stood frozen in place, his gaze shifting back and forth between their smiling faces.

Manager Zhou was the Flagship Store's HR manager.

Back when he and Li Qingshan had worked part-time jobs, they had only run into each other a few times. They did not know each other at all.

While Zhao Hongzhou was spacing out, a bottle of low-grade Nutrient Solution was stuffed into his hands.

"Zhao Hongzhou, you did well this time. You can introduce more outstanding classmates to us in the future." Manager Zhou patted Zhao Hongzhou on the shoulder. "We at Yinghai are more than willing to provide a platform for these rising martial arts talents and add bricks and tiles to their martial paths."

"Manager, I..."

Zhao Hongzhou's face immediately flushed red. He nervously glanced at Li Qingshan and was about to refuse.

He had not brought Li Qingshan here for a reward.

Seeing Zhao Hongzhou about to push the Nutrient Solution back, Li Qingshan quickly interrupted him.

"What are you looking at me for? Hurry up and thank Manager Zhou."

"No need, no need."

Manager Zhou waved his hand and got to the point.

"Qingshan, as First in the new intake of this Martial Arts Class, how about I set your class fee at 1,500?"

"1,500?" Li Qingshan was taken aback.

Were there really that many suckers these days?

"If you think it's too low, I can raise it some more!"

"No, no, it's not that I think it's too low."

Li Qingshan hurriedly waved his hands and asked, "Manager Zhou, I just entered the Martial Arts Class. Will anyone actually buy my classes?"

With a class fee of 1,500 for two hours a day, he could afford a bottle of Nutrient Solution.

Of course, that was only if someone bought his classes.

"Hehe, you underestimate the weight of 'First in the Martial Arts Class.'"

Manager Zhou waved his hand, brimming with confidence. "Don't worry. Your classes will definitely be in short supply, and we at Yinghai won't take a single cut."

These days, truly gifted Martial Artists were all on the New Continent.

As for the Martial Artists who remained on the Old Continent—

To put it bluntly, aside from Martial Arts Teachers in various places, the rest were all trash.

Under such circumstances, a promotional gimmick mattered far more than actual strength.

Li Qingshan did not know how the other man intended to make money, but a win-win arrangement was naturally for the best.

"Pleasure doing business!"

Just then, a burst of noise came from the front desk.

"I don't care! You have to change my coach!"

"I bought classes to learn martial arts, not to switch locations and practice Broadcast Gymnastics!"

Someone causing trouble?

Li Qingshan turned his head to look.

He saw a chubby child with a backpack, around twelve or thirteen years old, clinging to the front desk counter and refusing to let the matter go.

Manager Zhou's expression changed, and he hurried toward the front desk.

Li Qingshan nudged Zhao Hongzhou with his elbow and asked, "How's your 'client'? Don't tell me they're all as hard to deal with as this Little Fatty?"

"My client is a little girl. She's very obedient."

Zhao Hongzhou looked toward the front desk and said helplessly, "And this Little Fatty is one of a kind in the store."

Li Qingshan raised a brow, intrigued.

"How so?"

"His name is Cao Shaoyu. He just started First Year of Middle School this year. He loves dreaming about being a great hero and gets into fights every day."

"He's already changed coaches several times and hasn't been satisfied with any of them."

Clearly, what was happening before them was not the first time.

"That's pretty interesting."

Li Qingshan shrugged, folded his arms over his chest, and watched the show.

Whether it was because the chubby kid Cao Shaoyu had an impressive background, or because Manager Zhou simply had excellent professional conduct—

Manager Zhou kept bowing and scraping, smiling apologetically the whole time.

But Cao Shaoyu was not having it.

"A refund? Did I come here for money? I came here to train in martial arts!"

Cao Shaoyu's face reddened with fury as he raised a plump finger and pointed at the sign on the wall.

"This is how you do business at Yinghai? You don't even have a decent coach?"

"I don't want a refund. I'll pay more! If a class fee of 1,000 won't do, then make it 1,500... no, 2,000!"

"Find me a coach worthy of a 2,000 class fee to teach me martial arts!"

Zhao Hongzhou shook his head as he watched, speechless.

"What martial arts? This little brat just wants to fight!"

He was tempted by the 2,000 class fee too, but he did not have the ability to teach him.

"Well, isn't that convenient?"

A soft laugh rang out.

Before Zhao Hongzhou could react, Li Qingshan had already walked straight toward the front desk.

"I'll take this job."

"Qingshan, this..."

Manager Zhou rubbed his hands together, seeming to want to speak but hesitating.

"Don't talk!"

Cao Shaoyu impatiently cut him off. Looking up at Li Qingshan, he asked suspiciously, "Can you really teach me martial arts? The real kind of martial arts!"

As he spoke, Cao Shaoyu gestured with both hands, making a rather comical sight.

"Whether it's real martial arts or not, I don't know."

Li Qingshan smiled, reached out, and lightly tapped Cao Shaoyu's forehead, where a bluish-purple bruise sat.

"But at the very least, I can teach you how to fight."

"Hiss!"

Cao Shaoyu covered his forehead and shrank his neck back, but his face split into a delighted grin.

"Alright, alright, alright! Coach, I'll train martial arts with you from now on."

The deal had been reached, and the problem was solved, yet Manager Zhou did not look particularly pleased.

After hesitating for a moment, he moved closer to Li Qingshan and said in a low voice, "Qingshan, do you want to reconsider? Cao Shaoyu's case is a bit troublesome."

"Teaching a little brat is nothing." Li Qingshan shook his head casually. "If he's still dissatisfied, we can just refund him."

"The trouble I mean isn't this little brat!" Manager Zhou's expression tightened, and his voice rose considerably.

"Who are you calling a little brat, Zhou!"

Cao Shaoyu immediately jumped up, saying unhappily, "It was hard enough to find a coach. Don't ruin it for me."

Manager Zhou ignored Cao Shaoyu and looked at Li Qingshan seriously.

"The coach Cao Shaoyu wants to replace is named Yu Zhuo. He's a Martial Arts Class Second Year student—your senior."

The Martial Arts Class lasted three years.

During the first year, all senior high school students could apply, so their strength varied greatly.

But to remain for the Second Year, one needed at least Body Tempering Third Level strength.

"A senior?" Li Qingshan raised his brows, his expression turning much more serious.

"Yu Zhuo is strong? But it's not like I'm stealing his client, right?"

"Yu Zhuo is at Body Tempering Third Level. As for whether he's strong..."

Manager Zhou glanced at Li Qingshan, leaving the rest unsaid.

Although Body Tempering Third Level was merely the threshold for the Second Year, it was not something Li Qingshan, a newcomer who had joined the Martial Arts Class only a month ago, could compare to.

At the end of the day, First in the new intake was merely a gimmick.

Yet Manager Zhou discovered that Li Qingshan seemed not to have grasped his meaning at all. There was not the slightest trace of nervousness on his face.

"Although it doesn't count as stealing his client, Yu Zhuo has always been rather overbearing. Once he finds out, he'll probably come looking to 'spar' with you." Manager Zhou spoke earnestly. "Our store has no authority to interfere with private 'sparring' between Martial Artists. Even the Patrol Bureau won't meddle so long as no one is seriously injured."

"You're both in the Martial Arts Class too. When the time comes, you won't even be able to hide."

He had decided earlier to refund Cao Shaoyu, not only because the Little Fatty was difficult to handle, but also because of Yu Zhuo.

There were only so many personal coaches in the store. No one else would provoke Yu Zhuo over a single client.

"Coach Yu is a little fierce..."

After hearing this, Cao Shaoyu shrank his neck back. But this time, he was determined to change coaches.

"At worst, I won't ask for a refund on the remaining classes with Coach Yu."

Cao Shaoyu shouted loudly, while his eyes swept toward Li Qingshan. He was afraid this new coach would be intimidated by Yu Zhuo and refuse to take his classes.

"Is this about whether you get a refund?" Manager Zhou shook his head helplessly. "You're still young. You don't understand the adult world. This is about pride."

Cao Shaoyu had paid Yu Zhuo a class fee of 1,000. Not only was he changing coaches, but the class fee was rising to 2,000.

To Yu Zhuo, wouldn't that be a resounding slap across the face?

Cao Shaoyu did not understand. He irritably ruffled his hair.

"I just want to change coaches. Why is it so troublesome?"

"Actually, it's not troublesome at all. Manager Zhou is just overthinking it."

Li Qingshan found it amusing and reached out to smooth Cao Shaoyu's hair.

"I'm not Yu Zhuo's father. Do I need to protect his pride just to take a job?"

Li Qingshan turned to Manager Zhou and casually asked, "Is Yu Zhuo in the store right now?"

"He is." Manager Zhou nodded blankly, not understanding why.

"Lead the way. As it happens, I like 'sparring' too."