Chapter 6

Xu Jingming had no idea that his master, Liu Hai, had recommended his name. He had just finished handing over his work at the martial arts gym and, once the Jiangnan Province team training ended, he could return to his hometown, Mingyue City.

In the afternoon, Xu Jingming was training in the gym's exclusive room, gripping a solid steel rod that was four centimeters in diameter and 3.2 meters long. The rod's tip traced arcs—upper, lower, left, and right—each movement forming only a part of a circle.

This steel rod was a common stainless steel solid rod used in industry, weighing 64 kilograms. It was unsuitable for combat but perfect for strength training, enhancing the power throughout the body.

“Ding...” A sound suddenly rang out.

Xu Jingming put down the steel rod, wiped the sweat from his forehead with a towel, glanced at the name on the screen, and said, "Xiao Bai, answer the video call."

A holographic image formed in the air, showing a young man.

"Ah Shuo!" Xu Jingming smiled happily, "It's rare for you to call me."

The young man in the image was named Yang Qingshuo, Xu Jingming's best brother.

They attended the same university and were both on the school's martial arts team. Back then, their teammates were assigned to the same dormitory, and Xu Jingming and Yang Qingshuo were bunkmates.

In their freshman year, Xu Jingming won first place in the National College Martial Arts League, while Yang Qingshuo placed seventh!

Xu Jingming joined the national team in his freshman year, and Yang Qingshuo joined in his sophomore year.

The two of them, bunkmates, entered the national team together and stayed there for several years, training and living in the same dormitory. Their brotherhood was undeniable, closer than blood.

"Can't I call just because I want to?" Yang Qingshuo smiled, a bit shy.

Yang Qingshuo was a reserved and shy person, and those who knew him well understood this.

"Ah Shuo, why do you look like you've gained some weight?" Xu Jingming asked in surprise. Yang Qingshuo used to be slender and handsome, but now he looked a bit chubby, and his eyes weren't as sharp as before.

"My child is starting elementary school this year, so it's normal for me to gain some weight," Yang Qingshuo said.

"Right, your child can already buy soy sauce, and I'm still not married. You got married right after reaching the legal age, making us all feel awkward," Xu Jingming teased, thinking about how the youngest and shyest member of the national team, Yang Qingshuo, was the first to get married.

Yang Qingshuo smiled but didn't say much.

"So, what's up? Why are you calling me today?" Xu Jingming asked with a smile. After their time at university and the national team, many of their good brothers were scattered across the country, and it was normal to only contact each other once or twice a year.

"There is something," Yang Qingshuo hesitated, "Xu Ge, I've run into some trouble and need to borrow some money."

"Borrow money?" Xu Jingming felt a knot in his stomach.

It wasn't that he cared about the money, but he was worried about Ah Shuo. Ah Shuo used to be a main player in the national team and worked at the Jibei Province Sports Bureau after retiring, with a good income. Why would he need to borrow money?

"What happened?" Xu Jingming asked.

"My mother is in the hospital, and the cost of the special medication not covered by insurance is quite high," Yang Qingshuo explained.

"How much do you need?" Xu Jingming asked.

"One million," Yang Qingshuo said, "I might need a year to pay you back."

Xu Jingming nodded, "Alright, I'll transfer it to you right away."

He thought to himself that Ah Shuo used to be a main player in the national team and had even participated in the World Martial Arts Championship. Although he was eliminated in the group stage, the prize money was still one million. Even with a low appearance fee, he had saved a few million over the years. For him to borrow money now, it must be a significant issue.

Xu Jingming was prepared to lend money without expecting repayment, especially to his best brother, Yang Qingshuo.

While on the call, Xu Jingming operated the holographic screen, opening his financial platform. He quickly transferred the money.

"Did you receive it?" Xu Jingming asked.

"Received it," Yang Qingshuo said, feeling a bit relieved. Money was a source of confidence, and being extremely short of it was indeed tough. "Xu Ge, thanks."

"Ah Shuo, I have a business trip to the capital today. I'll pass by Jinmen and visit you. Give me your address, and I'll come find you," Xu Jingming said.

"Today?" Yang Qingshuo was surprised, "When will you arrive?"

"Probably around five," Xu Jingming calculated.

"I'm still at work. I'll give you the address of my company," Yang Qingshuo provided an address.

Xu Jingming looked at it and was surprised: "Jiaxin Fitness Club? Did you leave the Jibei Sports Bureau?"

"Yes, I did," Yang Qingshuo nodded, "Xu Ge, I have a class to teach now. We'll talk when we meet."

"Alright, we'll have a good chat when we meet," Xu Jingming said, swiping the screen to dismiss the holographic image.

Xu Jingming's smile faded, and he stood silently: "Ah Shuo doesn't seem right. He left the Sports Bureau and went to a fitness club, not even a famous martial arts gym. A former national team main player, going to a fitness club?"

They were all professional martial artists. How much of their skills could they use in a fitness club?

"I'll go to Jinmen and see for myself," Xu Jingming immediately bought a high-speed train ticket. The train traveled at 600 kilometers per hour, and it would take only two hours to reach Jinmen.

The business trip to the capital was a lie. Xu Jingming was worried about his good brother and decided to visit Jinmen to see Yang Qingshuo.

...

A ride-sharing car arrived at the high-speed train station fifteen minutes later.

Soon, Xu Jingming boarded the high-speed train, heading straight for Jinmen City in the north.

At 4:53 PM, Xu Jingming arrived at the entrance of Jiaxin Fitness Club in Jinmen City.

"Here we are."

Xu Jingming looked up at the fitness club, which was relatively large. He walked in, and a female receptionist greeted him with a smile, "Welcome."

"My name is Xu, and I'm looking for Yang Qingshuo. We have an appointment," Xu Jingming said.

"Are you looking for Coach Yang? Please wait here for a moment." The receptionist was very friendly, leading Xu Jingming to the waiting area and offering him a glass of water.

...

At that moment, on the third floor of Jiaxin Fitness Club, Yang Qingshuo was teaching a fitness class to a group of female members.

After a set of boxing exercises, the female members were panting.

"Alright, rest for two minutes," Yang Qingshuo said.

"Coach Yang, I heard you participated in the World Martial Arts Championship?" one of the female members asked curiously. They had enrolled in his class because of his participation in the championship.

"Martial arts competitions are divided into C, B, A levels, and the highest, the World Martial Arts Championship. Only the top 32 in the world martial arts rankings qualify to participate!"

"Every year, only the strongest 32 martial artists in the world can participate. Coach Yang, did you participate?" The female members were all curious.

"I participated in the 26th World Martial Arts Championship," Yang Qingshuo nodded and smiled. This was his strongest credential when looking for a job.

"Wow."

"Coach Yang, can you teach us some self-defense techniques?"

"Right, Coach Yang, we are weak women. We have very little resistance against men with ill intentions. Do you have any easy-to-learn techniques that can help us defend ourselves?" the female members asked.

"Easy to learn? Techniques for weak women to defend against strong men?" Yang Qingshuo thought for a moment and smiled, "Alright, I'll teach you a practical technique."

The female members listened attentively.

"First, lift one leg and stand on one foot," Yang Qingshuo said.

All the female members stood on one foot, which was quite easy, though occasionally they would lose balance and put the other foot down.

"Jump on one foot," Yang Qingshuo demonstrated, lightly jumping on one foot.

The female members, wearing soft-soled fitness shoes, easily jumped on one foot.

"Is it easy?" Yang Qingshuo asked.

"I jump rope a thousand times a day, so jumping on one foot is easy," the female members said, including the heavier ones who found it easy.

Who can't hop a few times?

"Your average weight is around 100 pounds," Yang Qingshuo said.

"I weigh more than 100 pounds," a heavier woman laughed.

"So, your one leg can easily support over 100 pounds and still jump. When you jump, the force can easily reach 200 pounds," Yang Qingshuo explained.

The female members nodded.

"Now, kick forward," Yang Qingshuo said, "When you jump, you push down. When you kick, you push forward. It's the same muscle movement."

Yang Qingshu instructed.

"Push forward like you're jumping?" The female members lifted their legs and kicked the punching bag, making it sway.

They were amazed.

"I used to hit the bag and hurt my hands and wrists. Kicking the bag hurt my feet, and the bag didn't move. This time, it moved?"

"Kicking like jumping?"

"Such a strong force?"

The female members discovered that kicking the bag was easy and powerful.

"This is called a front kick. Practice 20 times a day. After a month, the force will be smooth, and even women can easily kick with 200 to 300 pounds of force," Yang Qingshuo said, "But this isn't what I want to teach you."

"Watch carefully. When you kick, don't use the whole foot, use the ball of your foot, near the toes!"

Yang Qingshu kicked the bag casually, and the ball of his foot hit the bag like a steel rod, making a deep thud.

"Usually, you wear sports shoes or high heels. You can use the tip of your foot, which can transmit 200 to 300 pounds of force, with much greater penetration," Yang Qingshuo explained.

"I understand. The same force, but with a smaller contact area, the pressure is much greater," a female member said, "Compared to the whole foot, the tip of the foot can increase the pressure by ten times."

"Right, much greater pressure," Yang Qingshuo smiled, "This technique has the essence of traditional martial arts. Even though your feet aren't as hard as professional athletes, the shoe sole is harder. With 200 to 300 pounds of force, a kick with the tip of your foot can be very painful, even if it hits the thigh."

"If you kick a man's groin..." a female member's eyes lit up.

Yang Qingshuo said, "Only in real danger should you use this for self-defense. This isn't a regular groin kick. Even if it doesn't hit the vital area, just hitting the abdomen can be unbearable for a normal man."

This was a simplified version of the traditional martial arts technique.

"Legs are used every day. People can walk for hours, but no one can do a handstand for hours. The leg strength of a normal person is much greater than arm strength. Even women can have leg strength comparable to a strongman's arm strength," Yang Qingshuo explained.

"Comparable to a strongman's arm strength? Their arms are thicker than my thighs," a female member said.

"You can stand on one foot for minutes and even hop. How many strongmen can lift 100 pounds with one hand for minutes?" Yang Qingshuo asked.

"Don't underestimate your leg strength. Strongmen have thick arms, but in terms of muscle efficiency, they can't match the legs of women," Yang Qingshuo said confidently.

As a professional martial artist, he knew the potential of leg strength. Humans are bipedal, and legs are naturally much stronger than arms.

Women, using their leg strength, can easily handle men who don't know martial arts.

"Coach Yang, a guest surnamed Xu is looking for you," a staff member called out.

Yang Qingshuo immediately understood that Xu Jingming had arrived.