I'm unable to afford going to college, thus I'm left with no option bu

At the City Children's Palace, Musashi Kendo Training Center. In the center of the arena, two people wearing kendo protective gear and holding bamboo swords are facing each other. The tips of the two bamboo swords are intertwined, and the bamboo sword on the left is trembling slightly. It's not because the sword wielder is timid. This is a probe and also a concealment of the possible attack that may be launched in the next second, which has the similar effect as the碎步 (quick short steps) in Taekwondo, Sanda, and Jeet Kune Do. However, the person holding the sword on the right doesn't move, doesn't move in every sense. The bamboo sword in his hand is very steady, and his breathing is long and slow. Only his feet are making slight shifts within a short distance to adjust to the best position for parrying and counterattacking. It is very quiet inside the arena, and countless pairs of eyes are staring intently at this duel in the arena. The competition in kendo is not like the back-and-forth exchanges in boxing. The victory or defeat is often decided in an instant like a clap of spring thunder. If it were in the era when ronin were prevalent, what would follow the sound of thunder wouldn't be applause, but a silent red rain that moistens everything. It has been quiet in the arena for a full two minutes. The two people holding the swords haven't made a move. They are just constantly shifting, advancing and retreating. Still, no one has swung the first sword. In the third minute, the person on the left who had been probing finally couldn't bear it anymore. There was a loud shout from under the mask of the protective gear, and the shout made the venue buzz - but he still didn't draw his sword. The person on the right wasn't disturbed by this sudden shout of "kiai" and didn't move at all. Not even the bamboo sword in his hand trembled a bit. At three minutes and twenty seconds, the person on the left finally launched an attack without any warning. The bamboo sword was raised high, and a downward chop that had been practiced tens of thousands of times in daily training came crashing down. The sword wielder on the right drew his sword at the moment his opponent raised his arm. The bamboo sword was lifted and struck hard at the attack falling towards his face. This deadly downward chop was deflected. He took a step forward and, while his opponent hadn't sorted out his stance yet, delivered a clean and neat downward chop. Striking the face. A duel that had been deadlocked for three minutes ended in less than three seconds. There was thunderous applause outside the arena, as well as... cheers from children. This is the largest children's palace in the city, so of course there are many children here. Therefore, the duel that is taking place now is not a world-renowned duel between sword masters, but an exhibition match in the kendo training class of the children's palace. The original intention of holding it is to show the charm of kendo to the children and their accompanying parents, so as to recruit students for the new season of the kendo class in the children's palace in spring. "If my face wasn't still a little numb from the shock, I would surely think I was dreaming just now." The person on the left side of the arena took off his mask, revealing the face of a middle-aged man, probably over forty years old, with an expression of emotion and incredulity on his face. The person who won the duel on the right side also took off his mask, but underneath was a ridiculously young boy. With black hair and black pupils, his face was full of calmness, without any joy brought by the victory. He saluted the middle-aged man and then stood up and said, "The young and strong are feared in boxing, and it's the same in kendo." "It's all about reaction and speed. However, you've got to change the habit of only counterattacking without probing at all. It's quite a disadvantage if you don't take the initiative to attack first." The middle-aged man held the mask against his right waist and looked at the boy, who was probably only sixteen or seventeen years old, with amazement in his eyes. "If I hadn't laid the foundation for you in kendo, I would really think you started learning swordsmanship from the womb. That sudden 'kiai' in that situation didn't even make you take a wrong step." In kendo, "kiai" refers to the sudden shout by the middle-aged man during the duel just now. It has the effect of refreshing one's spirit and intimidating the opponent. Nowadays, more people call it a "battle cry". As long as you have a loud voice and suddenly shout out to shock the enemy and make them show their flaws, you can seize the opportunity and defeat them in one go. "Coach, you're overthinking it." Finally, a helpless smile appeared on the boy's face. "I'm really just quick in reaction. When you did the 'kiai' just now, there was no sign of your fingers gripping the sword getting stronger. How could I possibly fall for it?" "You still remember to call me coach." The middle-aged man glanced at the excited children on the sidelines and the parents who were touching their wallets with pained expressions on their faces and sighed. "After all, I passed the sixth dan test last year. But now I've lost to you. Where's my dignity?" "A disciple doesn't necessarily lag behind his teacher." The boy shook his head. "Moreover, I was taught by you. Doesn't this mean that your teaching skills are far better than your own kendo skills?" "That makes sense." The middle-aged man seemed to be deep in thought. But after a few seconds, he came to his senses and immediately spat and said, "You've only beaten me a few times, and you dare to say you've surpassed me. Have you taken the dan grading test yet? Have you practiced the stances and postures to the standard?" "Okay, okay, okay." The boy wisely chose to avoid the topic. "But why didn't you invite Senior Chu Zihang, Coach? Why did you ask me to come back for this exhibition match?" "Isn't he taking the college entrance examination this year?" The coach shook his head and said. "Besides, I'm not very familiar with him. If it weren't for you, that kid wouldn't have had any connection with me at all. After all, he stopped coming to learn after graduating from primary school. He's only invited back occasionally as an honorary graduate for performances. And why would I invite him? Isn't it better to use you, a readily available laborer?" "Is he the only one taking the college entrance examination? Don't I have to take it too?" The boy sighed. "Besides, I think Chu Zihang is more handsome than me. He would be more appealing in the exhibition match and could make your kendo hall more balanced in terms of male and female students." "Nonsense. You're also very handsome, no worse than him. But speaking of which, do you have any plans for which university you'll go to in the future?" The coach smiled, showing his snow-white teeth, and with his left hand, he pulled the boy over. Facing the parents and students on the sidelines, he took several photos with a click. Among the crowd, there was even a pretty blond foreign girl holding a camera and taking pictures of the two of them vigorously. "Soon." In front of the camera, the boy also smiled. After the photos were taken, he immediately put away the fake smile and said calmly, "Whatever. I'll leave it to fate." "How can you leave it to fate?" The coach patted the boy on the shoulder. "You still need to study. It broadens your horizons. And you're naturally quick in reaction and your body coordination is alsoexcellent. If you're interested in the future, you can develop yourself in kendo. I can introduce you to some opportunities. After all, your coach here is a sixth dan." "A sixth dan at the age of forty-three." The boy stabbed him right in the face. "When are you going to take the seventh dan test?" "It'll be five years from now. There are the rules. It's a pity that the rules are too rigid. Otherwise, I reckon that with your abilities, if you practiced more before you're thirty, there would be no problem for you to become a kendo master." The coach rubbed the boy's hair vigorously and laughed. "Don't flatter me too much. After all, kendo is just a hobby for me now." In the face of the coach's high expectations, the boy clearly wasn't very enthusiastic. "Make good use of your youth. Fall in love in high school and gain some experience so that you won't be completely clueless when you go to college." The coach said with emotion. "I've heard that on rainy days, there are so many luxury cars at the entrance of Shilan High School that it looks like a car show. There are tons of young ladies from noble families in the school. Hurry up and hook up with one or two of them, and then your college tuition will be taken care of." "What vulgar words are these? I didn't expect that you, Coach, are such a scumbag who sponges off women and plays with their feelings." The boy looked at the coach in surprise. "If I could, I definitely would. It's a pity that time waits for no man. But with your looks, it's really a pity if you don't take advantage of it." The coach said seriously. "My stomach is fine. I prefer plain cooked rice. Besides, I'm not interested in that aspect, and no one will like me anyway." The boy shook his head. "All right, all right. Stop being so modest. Do you think I don't know how popular you are at school? There are plenty of people who like you. Young people should fill their minds less with the sour words and writings full of dissatisfaction towards the world and more with the butterflies among the spring flowers." The coach gave the boy a push and then kicked him on the butt. "Go and do what you should do. You can go to the front desk to get your pay later." "There's pay to get? Didn't you say it was a voluntary exhibition match?" The boy was stunned for a moment and turned around to say. "Have you saved enough for your tuition when school starts next year?" The coach raised his eyebrows. "It's still early." The boy smiled helplessly. "It's not early. In your sophomore year of high school, focus on your studies and go after girls. Don't waste your good years on part-time jobs." The coach waved his hand and walked towards the children on the sidelines who could hardly wait any longer. "Go on. Study hard and make progress every day. I'll look for you again when there's another exhibition match. Remember to go easy on me then." The boy was stunned for a moment. Without saying anything, he just smiled and turned around to leave. "Oh, right, Lin Nian." The coach suddenly called out to the boy. "What?" The boy turned around and asked. "Nothing. I just wanted to tell you that my daughter said she saw your sister in a newly opened coffee shop in the High-tech Zone a few days ago." The coach said. "Was she working there?" The boy was stunned for a moment. "Yes, just thought I'd let you know." The coach nodded. "Got it." The boy said, "I'm leaving now." "Okay." After that, the boy left the venue with the mask in his arms and the bamboo sword in his hand. However, his back somehow seemed a lot heavier.