Lu Chenzhou took Li Xianghua's cellphone and looked at it.
In the video, a high school student in a uniform neatly took down a fierce-looking tattooed man twice. It was indeed himself... It must have been filmed by one of the onlookers and posted online. Lu Chenzhou hadn't shared the video on his phone.
Everyone in the comments section was applauding and cheering.
Some even complimented Lu Chenzhou on being handsome with a promising future.
There were even a few calling him their future husband, which was absurd.
Lu Chenzhou handed the cellphone to his mother.
"Son, you must be careful."
Li Xianghua was afraid her son's heroism might get him hurt.
"Mom, don't worry, it won't happen again."
Lu Chenzhou reassured her.
After getting Lu Chenzhou's assurance, Li Xianghua smiled and said,
"Son, how are you so impressive? I read in the comments that the guy is an entry-level martial artist and looked to be over thirty, yet you subdued him with one move."
"It's not that I'm great, it's that the guy was too weak."
Li Xianghua's eyes sparkled as she said,
"You'll definitely become a Martial Artist!"
After she left, he opened the family's close-knit group chat.
[Li Xianghua: Chenzhou acted heroically and made the hot topics list. (Thumbs up)]
[Uncle: Impressive! My nephew is doing well! (Thumbs up)]
[Lu Guoping: Not bad, he's got the demeanor of a Martial Artist! (Thumbs up)]
Lu Chenzhou reluctantly watched the elders' praises in the group.
After finishing his studies, he realized that the news had also spread in the small Martial Arts Society group.
[Qin Zheng: Awesome, Chenzhou, you're a little celebrity now.]
[Li Linling: Younger brother, you're even stronger than me now.]
[Qin Zheng: Elder sister, don't be modest, you're still the best among us.]
Lu Chenzhou sighed, "Nowadays, big data pushes are really incredible."
...
The next day.
Wanhua High School, during class.
Thanks to Qin Zheng's big mouth, the entire class and teachers were aware of Lu Chenzhou's act of heroism, and they discussed Chenzhou in the staff room.
"Old Cui, your student is impressive."
The math teacher said with a smile:
"This kid is upright... it's just that he doesn't devote himself completely to his studies."
He had also seen Lu Chenzhou's video. Seeing how absorbed Lu Chenzhou was in Martial Arts, his opinion had greatly improved. Regardless, he was proud to have such a student.
...
In the evening, at Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall.
"The heroic young man has arrived."
Shi Ruyu joked as he looked at Lu Chenzhou.
Lu Chenzhou was at a loss for words:
"..."
Shi Ruyu laughed and said,
"There's no need to be shy, it is a matter of honor. A martial artist should shout out against injustices he encounters... of course, only within what he can handle. Plus, this must have been your first real combat, right? You did quite well. You used everything I taught you, though you're not yet fluent, your comprehension is good, young man!"
By the time he left the Martial Arts Academy, Lu Chenzhou's Black Tiger Fist proficiency had reached 63%, gaining a lot from sparring with Shi Ruyu.
...
Time flew by.
Lu Chenzhou led a simple and fulfilling life. The hot topic video soon became old news. These days, acts of heroism were common.
Soon, it was January 1, 2221.
Lu Chenzhou turned another year older, now sixteen.
Wanhua High School.
"This time someone from our class made it into the top fifteen in the school, let's congratulate Chenzhou," the math teacher said, holding the freshly printed report card, in a great mood.
Having such a ranking in a regular class was already quite good.
Among the students he had taught, fewer than ten had made it into the top fifteen. The others all worked their hardest, only Chenzhou was obsessed with boxing, if this kid...
Well, let him be.
Qin Zheng was really envious, "It's not like it's easy, how exactly do you study? I even drink brain supplements every day...and they're completely useless."
Chenzhou himself didn't know.
Compared to practicing boxing, learning was indeed much simpler.
Although Qin Zheng didn't perform very well, he was cheerful today.
"Chenzhou, I won't go to the Martial Arts Hall tonight."
"Okay."
"Aren't you going to ask me why I'm not going?"
"Why?"
"I'm going to the movies with Sister Li."
"Oh."
Chenzhou naturally knew why Qin Zheng was happy.
But at this stage, he only wanted to practice boxing, not interested in romantic relationships. Once he became a Martial Artist, there would be plenty of time for love; first, he had to get into Martial Arts University.
...
As night fell at the Flying Swallow Martial Arts Hall.
Shi Ruyu watched Chenzhou, sweating profusely.
"The secret of 'Soft Power' you have quickly grasped, imagine your body as a spider web, no matter how the prey struggles, whatever the web shakes, it won't break."
"Sister, your teaching is excellent."
Shi Ruyu said,
"Don't be modest... you have improved rapidly these past three months, your fist technique becoming smoother. You should test your qi-blood later to see your progress. The Black Tiger Fist isn't urgent, first perfect the Basic Boxing, learning any advanced boxing technique will be much easier!"
Chenzhou went to the Qi Blood Measurement Room.
After regulating his breath for a moment, he first looked at the Martial Arts Tree.
[Basic Boxing: Great Success (99%)]
[Black Tiger Fist: Proficient (50%)]
"Three months from Great Success to Perfection, this speed is completely beyond my imagination, without the Martial Arts Tree, perfecting it would have taken at least a year. Of course, the martial arts academy's teaching and the Martial Arts Supplements also played a significant role."
The Black Tiger Fist was also progressing quickly, already quite skilled. The next stage would be Mastery; once Basic Boxing was perfected, Black Tiger Fist would be the main technique to focus on.
Then, Chenzhou tested his qi-blood.
[1.43].
It didn't reach the Second Rank standard of 1.44. However, gaining 0.1 in three months was also impressive. Once he perfected the Basic Boxing, entry into the Second Rank was certain.
He returned home.
Lu Guoping saw Chenzhou's monthly test results, smiling broadly.
"Very good, that's enough... just maintain this ranking, spend the rest of your time pursuing Martial Arts. Becoming a Martial Artist is better than anything!"
Li Xianghua huffed discontentedly.
"You didn't say that before."
Lu Guoping coughed and went to read a book.
He was also self-studying lately, planning to take a professional title exam in prosthetics.
Chenzhou's studies and martial arts results were both improving.
Now, the family was truly happy. Lu Guoping had decided to withdraw the saved money and continue to register Chenzhou for the Martial Arts Academy, making up for past shortcomings.
For the following days, Chenzhou tirelessly practiced the Basic Boxing, aiming to break through the last barrier, until one overcast early morning a week later, after consuming the last half of the Martial Arts Supplement, using all of its medicinal power in his boxing training.
The feeling of achieving a milestone breakthrough surged through him.
[Basic Boxing: Great Success (100%)→Perfection]
"I've broken through!"
Chenzhou looked at the blossom, now fully bloomed, containing a white fruit inside, radiating a gem-like splendor, dazzling and eternal.
It floated up, transforming into a speck of light before Chenzhou, then surged into the tip of his right middle finger, hiding within.
Chenzhou concentrated, and could see the inscription.
[Divine Seed·No Regrets (Not Rated), stored in the Middle Strike Acupoint. Effects: Resistant to heat and cold, strengthens the body, slightly enhances comprehension of fist techniques.]