Chapter 15: A Simple Spar

Chapter 15: Chapter 15: A Simple Spar

[You practiced martial arts with your classmate Xia Shuran for over an hour]

[Martial Arts Techniques +1]

[Physical Strength +1]

[Accumulate 100 points in Physical Strength to obtain the Attribute—Muscle Knots]

[Current points obtained: 22]

He practiced with the Red Tassel Spear for another hour.

Only then did Gu Qing put his spear away to rest, sitting on the steps with Xia Shuran, sipping tea and chatting idly.

In truth, he could have kept practicing without any issue, thrusting his spear until sunset.

The problem was, Xia Shuran couldn’t take it.

After two straight hours of Red Tassel Spear practice, this junior from the sports program, who had just turned eighteen, was already drenched in sweat, her bangs plastered to her forehead.

If they continued, she would probably collapse from dehydration.

"Senior, you’re obviously not a sports major, so how is your stamina so good?"

Xia Shuran, looking completely drained, turned to Gu Qing with a puzzled expression.

She felt that Gu Qing’s stamina was like a cybernetic ox with a fusion engine for a heart; he’d never get tired of plowing, he’d just plow the field to ruin.

Gu Qing smiled. "Maybe it’s just a natural talent."

"Talent?"

Xia Shuran blinked her glistening eyes, a look of pity on her face. "Senior, you have so much athletic talent. It’s a real shame you didn’t pursue sports."

"Otherwise, you’d be a national-level athlete by now, at the very least."

"You might even have been able to represent the country in the Olympics, break world records, win gold medals, and become the number one athlete in the nation."

’Alright, alright. She really knows how to sweet-talk someone.’

Gu Qing, who was usually unfazed by praise or criticism, felt a surge of satisfaction from the sports junior’s flattery.

The corners of his mouth turned up unconsciously.

It was a massive ego boost.

He felt very comfortable around Xia Shuran.

They rested for about half an hour.

Xia Shuran got up from the steps, dusted off her pants, and looked at Gu Qing to ask:

"Senior, I’m going to the parallel bars for some strength training. Are you coming?"

"I am."

Gu Qing stood up as well.

...

They arrived at the parallel bar area on the side of the athletic field.

The two of them were quick to action.

They soon began basic strength training exercises like squats, push-ups, sit-ups, and pull-ups.

Gu Qing did set after set, but his muscles didn’t feel a thing.

His Physical Strength was too immense.

These simple bodyweight exercises couldn’t provide any effective stimulation for his muscles.

Doing more would just be a waste of time.

The only reason he was willing to train with Xia Shuran was to see if he could gain Attributes from her [Martial Arts Grandmaster] tag after working out with her.

Strictly speaking, fitness training isn’t the Martial Dao.

But what martial artist doesn’t do strength training?

Otherwise, if they weren’t strong enough, they probably couldn’t even lift a Red Tassel Spear.

Based on this point,

Gu Qing figured that doing strength training with Xia Shuran should also allow him to gain Physical Strength Attributes.

An hour later.

Several notification prompts popped up before his eyes.

[You practiced martial arts with your classmate Xia Shuran for over an hour]

[Martial Arts Techniques +1]

[Physical Strength +1]

[Accumulate 100 points in Physical Strength to obtain the Attribute—Muscle Knots]

[Current points obtained: 23]

’It worked!’

Strength training was also considered a part of martial arts practice.

He could gain Attributes from his junior’s [Martial Arts Grandmaster] tag by doing strength training with her, too.

From now on, he could play three hours of basketball with Gao Fei every day.

Then practice the Red Tassel Spear with his junior for two hours, followed by an hour of basic strength training.

In one day, he could gain 6 points of Physical Strength.

His accumulated Physical Strength was now +23.

He was just 77 points away from the 100-point goal.

’Which means...’

’In just half a month, I’ll be able to get my hands on the Muscle Knots Attribute and become a muscle-bound behemoth!’

At this thought,

Gu Qing couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

Just then,

A boy with the [Street Fitness Champion] tag floating above his head walked over from the 100-meter track, calling out to Xia Shuran from a distance:

"Xiaoxia, long time no see."

"Oh, Senior Hu, long time no see."

Xia Shuran paused her squats and responded with a polite smile.

The boy walked up to Xia Shuran and stopped, his gaze sweeping over Gu Qing who stood beside her.

Then he looked back at her and asked, "Xiaoxia, is this your boyfriend?"

"Ah? No, he’s not..."

Xia Shuran’s cheeks flushed instantly. Her eyelashes fluttered as she hurriedly waved her hands in denial.

As she spoke, she snuck a glance at Gu Qing, her heart pounding with a bit of nervousness, wanting to see his reaction to being mistaken for her boyfriend.

But Gu Qing just stood there, his expression placid.

Not a ripple of emotion showed on his face.

His gaze didn’t even shift in the slightest.

’Senior is so calm...’

Xia Shuran felt a pang of disappointment.

But she quickly composed herself and, with a smile, began to introduce them to each other.

"Senior Hu, this is a third-year senior from the School of Foreign Languages I met recently. We’re both very interested in traditional martial arts and often practice together on the field in the afternoons."

"Senior, this is a senior from my department. He’s a 100-meter sprinter and has won provincial awards. Like you, he’s also a street fitness expert."

While she was making the introductions,

The two men were sizing each other up.

Gu Qing observed the boy:

About 1.7 meters tall.

Dark-skinned.

Average-looking.

The classic image of a dark-skinned, 1.8-meter-tall male sports student. Only, he was the budget version, missing ten centimeters.

The dark-skinned sports student sized up Gu Qing:

’Hmph, so tall and so handsome? He’s definitely a no-good heartbreaker.’

’Saying he likes traditional martial arts is just an excuse to hit on Xiaoxia because she’s pretty.’

’And he’ll probably just love her and leave her once he gets tired of her.’

’Otherwise, how could someone so good-looking still be single and hitting on girls in his third year?’

’The worst part is, with all the girls in the School of Foreign Languages, he has to come and prey on one of the few girls in our Sports College. Is he even human?!’

The dark-skinned sports student was full of prejudice against Gu Qing.

It wasn’t personal against Gu Qing.

It was against all handsome men.

"Senior, I heard from Xiaoxia that you’re supposedly a street fitness expert too?"

"Is that for real?"

"You don’t really look the part."

The dark-skinned sports student said with a smile.

He was smiling as he spoke, but his words were clearly filled with hostility.

Xia Shuran was the undisputed beauty of the Sports College.

She was pretty and had a great personality.

The dark-skinned sports student had always had a crush on her, even putting her on a pedestal and pursuing her intensely.

But he ultimately failed and got hit with the "nice guy" card.

And Gu Qing, whose good looks were already an offense in his eyes, was now trying to hit on the junior he liked?

How could he tolerate that?

With this double whammy, his hostility toward Gu Qing shot through the roof.

Gu Qing sensed the dark-skinned sports student’s hostility.

He also guessed the reason for it.

But he didn’t take it seriously, just smiling as he said, "I wouldn’t call myself a street fitness expert. I’m just an amateur, at best."

"You’re being too modest, Senior."

The dark-skinned sports student gave a wry smile. "If you really weren’t a street fitness expert, Xiaoxia wouldn’t have introduced you like that."

As he spoke, his expression turned serious. "Senior, since we’ve got nothing better to do, why don’t we have a little competition?"

’I can’t compare to you in looks, but don’t tell me I can’t beat you in athletics too!’

’I refuse to believe you’re better at street fitness than me.’

’I’m going to have to show off my incredible core strength and crush that wicked heartbreaker charm of yours in front of Xiaoxia.’

Seeing that the other guy was insisting on getting his ass kicked, Gu Qing decided not to hold back and granted his wish.

"Alright, let’s have a simple competition then."

...

PS: My bowl is out, asking for monthly tickets and recommendation votes!