Morning.
Fang Qingyu was pulled from his dream by a 7 AM alarm, the sky still steeped in inky blue.
After brushing his teeth, he splashed his face with cold water, put on his clothes, grabbed his backpack, and headed out.
He rode his electric bike to a street stall.
The fried dough stick stall on the street had already set up its oil wok.
Fang Qingyu habitually chose the plastic stool closest to the intersection, eating his breakfast and enjoying a rare moment of peace alone.
Counting it up, except for breakfast, his entire day was spent busy.
Martial arts training, delivering food, working as a security guard, working out...
Lunch and dinner were always quick meals grabbed while delivering food.
Speaking of which...
This was his first time experiencing such a fulfilling life in this world.
Fang Qingyu genuinely enjoyed this kind of life.
Like before, when he had his headaches, confusion, unease, and fear always held him back.
His current life wasn't just a change in appearance; it was a rebirth of his spirit.
7:50 AM.
Fang Qingyu arrived at Chenfeng Martial Arts Hall.
Mr. Qin also happened to walk over from the side of the training ground.
The training area for Basic Fist Technique was divided into several sections.
First, there was the area for teaching Stance Training basics.
Second, after mastering Stance Training, students would begin practicing their fists.
When the instructor deemed you met the standard, you could enter the formal student class.
Fang Qingyu was here today to practice his fists in the punching area, in front of his designated punching post!
"Those who know it can practice on their own now; I'll come find you later."
Mr. Qin stood in front of the punching posts, leaving that instruction before having everyone who had just joined the second stage come forward.
"Mastering Stance Training means you now know how to use your body, at least I won't tell you to punch and you'll insist on kicking."
Everyone chuckled at that.
There was still a sense of accomplishment unique to them.
After all, there was still a group of people over there who hadn't even mastered Stance Training yet.
"The fist technique I'm teaching you today has no name. All major martial arts halls use this set of techniques."
"If you absolutely must give it a name, just call it Basic Fist Technique."
"Because this set of punches isn't primarily for combat or injuring opponents, but for building a foundation!"
"Only by combining Stance Training with this set of fist techniques can you maximize your physical conditioning."
With that, Mr. Qin bent his knees and sank his hips, his Hidden Dragon Stance as steady as a stone lock.
His right fist shot out from beneath his ribs, his forearm muscles like twisted cables, accelerating abruptly three inches from the punching post.
Bang—
The muffled thud of leather and the sound of his instruction exploded simultaneously: "Hold back three parts of your punch, don't let your stance leak power."
His left fist followed closely, sweeping up in a semicircle, his knuckles brushing the wooden post before suddenly transforming into a palm, his five fingers gripping the post to push and pull, making the post hum and vibrate.
"The spine is the bowstring, the stance is the bow's back."
He stepped back half a pace to demonstrate the retraction, sweat dripping from his chin onto the indentations of the punching post.
"With every punch, imagine cracking the floor tiles, tearing the air, but when you hit the target..."
His fist gently touched the leather.
"It should be like sheathing a sword."
"Remember, the fist is an extension of the stance."
He tapped his own lower abdomen with a bent finger.
"Power rises from the ground, passes through the Dantian, travels up the spine, and finally exits through the fist's edge."
Fang Qingyu watched, his brow slightly furrowed.
This set of Basic Fist Technique felt even simpler than the Hidden Dragon Stance.
There weren't many flashy movements.
Those who weren't paying attention would only think Mr. Qin was slowly throwing a few punches.
But if one paid even a little attention to his muscles, they would discover there was a lot to it.
"Begin. If you don't understand anything, you can ask me."
Just like with Stance Training, Mr. Qin only demonstrated once before letting the students practice on their own.
Fang Qingyu stood in front of the punching post, not rushing to start.
Instead, he first reviewed Mr. Qin's posture before punching, noting where he applied force.
Only then did he begin to punch.
Others needed to continuously punch, expending physical energy to find the correct direction forward.
But Fang Qingyu had his own diagram to illuminate his path.
When the first new line of text appeared:
【Basic Fist Technique skill activating (1/100)】
【Activation experience +1】
Fang Qingyu knew he had found the right direction.
Now, he just needed to punch with all his might!
The constantly dripping sweat bore witness to the activation progress bar, and the surrounding shouts continuously played a solo dedicated to the romance of men.
"That's enough for now. Take a half-hour break."
He hadn't even realized how time had slipped away with his punches until Mr. Qin's voice sounded.
Only then did Fang Qingyu lower his aching arms.
His fists were already numb.
The slight increase in physique from last night hadn't made his body any tougher.
However, he could clearly feel that he lasted longer.
"Did you go yesterday?"
Sitting on the ground, Mr. Qin quietly walked up to Fang Qingyu and asked.
"Mr. Qin."
Fang Qingyu first stood up to greet him, then hesitated for a second... and nodded.
"I went."
If he said he hadn't gone, it would be difficult to explain.
Mr. Qin probably wouldn't be bored enough to check whether he had actually gone or not.
"Not bad..."
Fang Qingyu had lost count of how many times Mr. Qin had said "not bad."
"If you don't have anything urgent, then starting today, add two hours of practice every day."
After praising him, Mr. Qin frowned in thought for a moment and said.
Although he said "if," his tone implied he wanted Fang Qingyu to agree immediately.
"Okay."
Fang Qingyu had no objections.
Sacrificing two hours of delivery time wouldn't cost him much money.
Martial arts training was currently his most important path.
All other occupations served the purpose of martial arts training.
"Keep it up."
Before leaving, Mr. Qin gave Fang Qingyu an encouraging look for the first time.
After spending a few days together, Fang Qingyu's impression of the martial arts hall and Mr. Qin had already changed significantly.
Before understanding, he thought instructors were at most a little better than ordinary people.
But now.
Only after he had gotten started did he truly realize Mr. Qin's prowess.
Although he hadn't truly fought in real combat.
Fang Qingyu now felt that he could easily take on a normal adult male one-on-one.
It wasn't due to attributes, nor was it because he had learned any fighting techniques.
It was because he had learned how to exert force.
Just as Mr. Qin had said, mastering Stance Training meant learning how to use one's body.
But even so, Fang Qingyu felt like a child in front of Mr. Qin.
This wasn't the 'momentum' that Qi Hao spoke of.
It was a man's sixth sense.
“Bang... bang... bang...”
But all his shortcomings would now transform into motivation for Fang Qingyu to move forward.
An hour passed.
The new students were already starting to lose strength.
Two hours passed.
The older students were also shaking their arms, sweating profusely.
Three hours passed.
All the students were wailing that class was finally over.
Only Fang Qingyu remained, tirelessly punching the punching post, the sound of his punches unusually jarring as most people were leaving the hall.
"Hello..."
However, a clear voice by his ear interrupted Fang Qingyu's thoughts.
"Hello?"
Fang Qingyu, panting, turned to look at the person who spoke.
A young woman in her twenties.
She had already changed back into casual clothes, and the bulge on her chest was at least enough to ensure several children wouldn't starve.
"Class is over now, aren't you leaving?"
The woman pointed to the surroundings, smiling, her eyes fixed on Fang Qingyu without any hint of evasion.
"I still need to practice for a while longer. You can go first, thank you."
Although Fang Qingyu was looking forward, he didn't meet her gaze, and his words were a completely unconscious refusal at that moment.
In his eyes, the words flickering on the diagram were far more beautiful than any woman.
【Activation experience +1】
【Activation experience +1】
【......】
【Basic Fist Technique skill activating (72/100)】
Guided by the lighthouse of the diagram, Fang Qingyu took almost no detours, and combined with his harder work than anyone else, this progress was not surprising.
"Then I'll go first..."
The brief encounter between two strangers, with Fang Qingyu's unhesitating rejection, ended before it even began.
By the time most people had left the hall, Qi Hao came from the other side, shaking his head and tutting in wonder.
"Tsk tsk, Qing Zi, you can even reject such a beautiful girl, huh?"
"No women in my heart, punches naturally divine!"
Fang Qingyu didn't even turn his head.
“......”
Qi Hao's mouth twitched.
This was martial arts training, not becoming a monk.
There were no requirements for abstinence.
"Aren't you leaving? The martial arts hall is closing soon."
Seeing that Fang Qingyu had no intention of stopping, Qi Hao asked, puzzled.
"Mr. Qin told me to stay and do extra practice. You go first."
Only then did Fang Qingyu stop, shaking his completely numb fists.
Qi Hao's eyes lit up when he heard this, but he didn't say anything, only leaving with a "Then train well" before exiting the martial arts hall.
By now, there was no one left in the martial arts hall.
Mr. Qin was also nowhere to be found.
Fang Qingyu didn't think too much about it; since he said he would do extra practice, he had to practice until the time was up.
So he endured the pain again and threw punches at the punching post.
In a corner he couldn't see, Mr. Qin had actually been standing there the whole time, watching him from afar.
It wasn't until almost two in the afternoon.
"Hiss..."
Mr. Qin, who had been standing still, finally couldn't help but gasp, touching his thinning hair.
"Did this kid take drugs???"