Zhao Rui wasn't aiming for victory. His movements were like a sparrowhawk's. As he rose, fell, and leaped, he would employ the Silk Wrapping Technique as soon as they made contact, using softness to overcome hardness.
The moment their hands met, they would immediately break apart. They exchanged blows like this for eleven rounds, but not once did the two of them have a proper clash of palms.
Cui Jian grumbled in frustration, "Zhao Rui, you're so annoying! How are we supposed to practice anything this way?"
Zhao Rui said nothing. He suddenly dropped low, slapped both palms on the ground, and spun like a top. A gust from his palms swept outward as Powerful Qi radiated in all directions, like a rising fog that threatened to fill the air.
He held the fingers of his right hand together like a sword, hiding it within the "fog," where it flickered in and out of view, concealing a deadly intent.
Cui Jian chuckled and quickly retreated, shouting, "Cloud Moves in All Directions? I was waiting for this!"
While moving back, he leaped into the air, twisted his body, and swung a palm strike straight at Zhao Rui's face.
Zhao Rui raised his hand to block. With a slight sway of his body, he completely dissipated the Force.
The exchange happened in a flash, as swift as a rabbit bolting or a falcon diving.
"That was great! Again!"
Cui Jian was overjoyed. He steadied himself and charged forward again.
'Taihang Thirteen Palms. Replicate?'
'Replicate!'
Zhao Rui didn't say a word. He squared his shoulders and met the charge, and the two clashed once again.
They fought like this for another seven or eight minutes before their teacher finally stepped in and separated them.
"That was exhilarating, Zhao Rui! When can we fight again? You were never willing to go all out before, haha."
Cui Jian stepped off the platform, his thirst for battle still unquenched.
"No problem! We can spar whenever we have time."
A smile spread across Zhao Rui's face. In his mind, the values on the system interface had already changed.
Name: Zhao Rui
Age: 18
Copied Martial Arts: Taihang Thirteen Palms, Progress: 10/100.
Advancement Points: 0.
Zhao Rui walked back to his spot, a slight frown on his face. 'This progress is way too slow, isn't it?'
He had just fought for about ten minutes and used the moves at least seven or eight times, but he'd only made ten percent progress.
'Doesn't that mean that to replicate it completely, I have to fight with him regularly?'
'This system is a little...'
A word from his past life, one that had been with him for over ten years, suddenly popped into Zhao Rui's mind.
'Sparring partner!'
'It seemed... yeah, if I really became a sparring partner, that would solve everything.'
'I just wonder if the progress rate is related to the difficulty of the Martial Arts?'
'Looks like I'll have to experiment a lot more.'
Back in line, watching his other classmates exchange blows on the platform, Zhao Rui felt an unbearable itch to join in.
But in an entire afternoon, each person only got to fight two matches. The rest of the time was spent on the teacher's general commentary and one-on-one guidance.
But since the teacher was responsible for several dozen students, it was impossible to give everyone individual attention, so he could only offer generalized pointers and instruction.
This definitely couldn't satisfy the needs of most students.
Those from rich and powerful families would hire private tutors for their children, or even have their kids become disciples of a famous Martial Dao master.
For someone like Zhao Rui, who had neither money nor influence, it wasn't like there was no way out.
If someone with good talent began to stand out, famous schools or large Sects and organizations would come to recruit them, taking them in as Inner Sect disciples.
They could even have the written portion of the college entrance exam waived and be directly admitted to a corresponding institution of higher learning.
Those with average talent could choose to become disciples at a Martial Arts Hall.
The Martial Arts Halls here were more or less like the ones in wuxia movies about Feihong from the Late Qing Dynasty he'd seen in his past life.
They weren't necessarily incredibly powerful, but they at least had some real skills, a few special tricks up their sleeves, and a signature inherited martial art.
Disciples were also divided into two types: those who were formally initiated, and those who paid for guaranteed lessons.
The initiated ones were core disciples. They had to formally accept the master as their teacher, worship the sect's ancestors, and receive the lineage.
A true master, not just a school teacher.
The other type required money. They taught you real things, and taught you seriously, but it was a bit more secular, and what they taught were more commonplace techniques.
Snakes have their paths, and rats have their tunnels!
No matter how this world changed, human nature never would!
It all came down to two things: fame and fortune!
Zhao Rui had also joined a Martial Arts Hall. A few years ago, he had paid to enter one called Jimin Medicine Hall.
At first, he was just an ordinary, fee-paying student. Later, when his master, Li Da Nao, saw that his talent was decent, he was accepted as a disciple.
'Right, the kind that required an extra two thousand yuan a month.'
There was no other way. If he wanted to get ahead in life, he had to learn some real skills. With just the commonplace techniques, he, Zhao Rui, couldn't even dream of getting into a good university.
Fortunately, Li Da Nao delivered what he was paid for. When it came to teaching martial arts, he didn't hold back much.
In the training hall, Zhao Rui took to the platform for the second time. His opponent was still Cui Jian.
This made Cui Jian, who had been itching for a fight, overjoyed.
Without another word, the two of them got on the platform, took their stances, and began to fight.
This sparring session went on for another ten-odd minutes. Not only were there no signs of them stopping, but they seemed to get more and more excited as they fought.
Their practical combat teacher, Zhao Hengsheng, who was watching from the side, could only roll his eyes.
If he didn't call a stop, those two would probably fight until class was over.
"Stop. What's gotten into you two?"
Zhao Hengsheng said with a frown.
"Teacher, I wasn't done yet!"
Cui Jian chuckled. He knew he got carried away when a good fight came along and figured he was the one forcing Zhao Rui to keep going.
After all, he was usually the reason they went over time.
But he didn't know that this time, it was actually Zhao Rui who wanted to go over.
"Class, the college entrance exam is just around the corner. You need to assess your own situations, identify your weaknesses, and patch up your shortcomings as quickly as possible!"
Zhao Hengsheng glanced at the students and spoke in a heartfelt, serious tone.
The students all nodded with various expressions on their faces. Some looked indifferent, while others were solemn, feeling the immense pressure.
"When you get back, I want you all to review today's practical combat session and write a summary for me by tomorrow."
After speaking, Zhao Hengsheng dismissed the class.
Zhao Rui changed out of his Martial Arts Uniform and was about to leave when he saw the curvaceous girl who had invited him to spar earlier in class standing at the entrance to the changing room, watching him.
"Ahem, Classmate Xuening, can I help you?"
Zhao Rui asked, forcing a smile.
"Yes. I hope you can be my training partner for a few matches before the college entrance exam!"
Bai Xuening stared at him with a burning gaze, as if she were looking at her prey.
"I'm not fighting you. You'll just say I'm taking advantage of you!"
Zhao Rui slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked towards the door without stopping, speaking his mind bluntly.
Bai Xuening's pretty face flushed red. "Can't you just..." she pouted.
The girl's words caught in her throat, and she couldn't seem to finish her sentence.
'If they really fought, how could they possibly avoid that kind of "taking advantage"? It's not like he'd be doing it on purpose. You can't just change a palm strike aimed at the chest to one aimed at the butt, can you?'
'The butt is no good either!'
"Then... then can't you be a little more careful!"
Bai Xuening pouted, her face a mask of conflict. Her skills weren't bad; among the female students, only two could fight on par with her.
Even most of the male students were no match for her.
But she didn't get along with those two girls, and she didn't want to fight them.
So she could only fight against the male students.
She felt awkward fighting against the reckless, charge-straight-in types like Cui Jian, and she worried about getting injured.
Only someone like Zhao Rui, whose style was based on nimble and agile movements, could fight with control.
But even so, physical contact was unavoidable.
'Ugh, and this "physical contact" wasn't just a simple bump of the arms or legs. It was mainly... the chest!'
One time, Zhao Rui hadn't been able to pull back his hand in time and had slapped a palm against her right breast, which had hurt for a long time afterward.
The worst part was, after hitting her, that guy had looked all innocent and said, "There was some cushioning, so it probably didn't hurt that much, right?"
'He was absolutely infuriating!'
"I've got something to do at my Martial Arts Hall. We'll talk some other time, 'kay? Bye, Xuening!"
Zhao Rui gave a perfunctory reply, grabbed his backpack, and practically fled.
Bai Xuening watched Zhao Rui's departing figure with a wronged expression, her beautiful eyes turning slightly red. She could clearly feel him distancing himself from her.
"Zhao Rui!"
"Some other time, some other time! I really do have something today!"
Zhao Rui's loud voice drifted back from the entrance of the training hall.
Hearing the boy's clear voice, a hint of embarrassed anger appeared on Bai Xuening's delicate face. She muttered under her breath, "You're clearly the one who bullied me."
...