Chapter 4

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As cherry blossoms danced in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

Hao Qi’s teasing left the long-haired beauty momentarily speechless. After a long while, she said strangely, "Martial arts are just martial arts; what does this have to do with cooking? I do know of a school that specializes in cooking various exotic ingredients to absorb their components to strengthen the body and even break through to the internal energy side. But this is a minority school, far away in the distant Green Sea. I haven’t learned their techniques. I just wanted to teach you martial arts."

This made Hao Qi feel a bit awkward. This must be what they call a generation gap, he thought. But he quickly adjusted his attitude and said with a bow, "I am Hao Qi. Thank you for the meat soup, miss."

"I am Su Shiyun. This bowl of meat soup can be considered a return gift for watching you practice martial arts," Su Shiyun also politely bowed.

"That’s not really practicing martial arts," Hao Qi laughed, eating his steamed bun as he spoke. "It’s just some random farming techniques, very ordinary."

Su Shiyun, however, said seriously, "The techniques may be ordinary, but the person is not. Did you just perfect that set of boxing techniques? Do you know how many people today can still endure the loneliness to perfect a skill? Everyone is rushing straight for internal energy, but they don’t think about it. If they haven’t perfected the basic skills, how can their bodies be honed to the limit? I’ve seen thousands of such people, and not a single one of them has managed to cultivate internal energy. As the saying goes, it’s better to be specialized than to be a jack-of-all-trades. They practice one skill, train a part of their body, and then move on to another skill, repeating this for decades. At most, they become quasi-internal energy martial artists, capable of fighting a hundred people, but they still struggle in this mundane world. Such people are not worth mentioning, but you are different. From your bone structure and age, you are at most eighteen or nineteen, yet you have already perfected a set of boxing techniques. I don’t know if it’s your talent or your diligence, but I can see one thing: your character is absolutely suitable for martial arts. As long as you find the right path, you have a seventy percent chance of cultivating internal energy! So, learn martial arts from me!"

Hao Qi touched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed. He didn’t have the character Su Shiyun described. To be honest, if the system hadn’t locked him in, and with his boxing coefficient, he would have long planned to switch to a more powerful boxing technique. If the martial arts in this world were just as likely to cultivate internal energy as the system’s, he might not have even practiced the world’s martial arts.

Su Shiyun, however, didn’t know any of this. She just didn’t want a true martial artist to waste his life. She immediately added, "I just watched you practice. The boxing techniques you used are really ordinary. Although you have perfected them, in terms of combat, they are only about as good as a third-rate martial art, and might even be inferior to the few third-rate martial arts given to freshmen at school. I also noticed that your boxing techniques mainly focus on the waist, legs, and forearms. The rest of your body is not trained enough. This way, you will never cultivate internal energy. It’s a pity, but since you have spent so much time perfecting this set of boxing techniques, you can definitely perfect other martial arts. The path to success is right in front of you. You can start practicing the martial arts given by the school from tomorrow and then decide based on your progress."

Hao Qi’s face turned red, but fortunately, his skin was dark from the sun and wind, so it wasn’t noticeable. He could only struggle to say, "But..."

"I know, I know," Su Shiyun immediately said, as if confirming something. "You don’t have enough money. I can see that. Poverty is no fault of yours. But you should know that banks now offer martial arts loans. You just need to go to the bank and verify that you have perfected this set of boxing techniques, and you can easily get a substantial loan. I’m not very familiar with the Blue Shadow Republic, but I’m sure it’s not much different. These loans have few restrictions and a large amount. You just need to confirm your martial arts progress at the bank every month. Whether you cultivate internal energy in the future or become a quasi-internal energy martial artist, you can easily pay off the loan."

Hao Qi’s face was still awkward. In fact, he had long known about these bank loans and had even considered them. However, the loans required monthly checks on the borrower’s martial arts progress. Given that he couldn’t abandon the Luohan Fist, he couldn’t be verified, so the loan was out of the question.

Seeing Hao Qi’s expression, Su Shiyun said understandingly, "I understand, I understand. It’s about face, right? It’s not like being in prison, but having to be checked every month is indeed unbearable. After all, martial arts are personal matters, and being inspected is too much. It completely restricts a martial artist’s free spirit. I understand... But besides banks, some large companies, many martial arts schools, or martial arts families also have similar contracts. They won’t check your martial arts progress, just as long as you don’t disappear. Sign a contract, and when you achieve success in martial arts, work for these forces for a period. Although the money is less than a loan, it’s still an income. If you’re interested, I can help you choose some reputable companies or martial arts families."

Hao Qi had thought about this too, but such contracts had a significant issue: you had to practice the martial arts issued by these companies, organizations, or schools.

In this world, although there are guns and cannons, the main force is still internal energy practitioners. Although Hao Qi had never seen an internal energy practitioner and couldn’t imagine how they could stand against modern military weapons, this didn’t stop people from believing it. As a result, about seventy percent of the martial resources in this world are concentrated on internal energy practitioners. All martial artists who haven’t cultivated internal energy, if they want to participate in battles, their main role is to support internal energy practitioners. Techniques for cooperation, combined attacks, and formations all exist, with the sole purpose of enhancing the combat and survival capabilities of internal energy practitioners. After signing a contract with these companies or organizations, practicing such martial arts is an absolute requirement. Unless you can become an internal energy practitioner, your role will be a cog in society.

This was something Hao Qi couldn’t tolerate. He focused all his energy on the Luohan Fist every day and had no energy left to practice any martial arts in this world. Practicing the martial arts issued by these companies or organizations would take up the time for the Luohan Fist, which he absolutely couldn’t accept!

So this path to earning money was also blocked. As for other options, like underground boxing, joining dojos, or schools, each had its drawbacks. These were all situations Hao Qi avoided. After spending nine years, the only path he chose with almost no side effects was studying, passing exams, getting into college, and winning scholarships. Although the money was less, there were no other restrictions or side effects.

Rejecting Su Shiyun’s two suggestions, even though Hao Qi had his plans, still made him feel a bit awkward. So he stood up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, miss, but I have my own plans. I need to keep moving forward to see how things go. I’ll be nineteen in a year. I’ll decide everything after I turn nineteen."

Around his nineteenth birthday, Hao Qi would practice the Yi Jin Jing. Whether he lived or died, whether he would eat porridge or meat in the future, or whether he could achieve his goal of exploring the vast world, it all depended on whether he could cultivate internal energy. If he couldn’t, he would decisively give up all the benefits of the system and live quietly in this world.

Su Shiyun was a bit disappointed but also understood. As a true martial artist, she understood the mindset of martial artists. Every true martial artist has a firm belief and an unshakable character. If they were so easily swayed, the young man in front of her wouldn’t have perfected an external martial art at this age.

Seeing Hao Qi pick up the remaining steamed buns and prepare to leave, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of recognition and sympathy for true martial artists. She finally said, "Since you have your own plans, I won’t say more. But practicing martial arts this way, without proper nutrition, is not good. It can damage your body’s foundation and narrow your future path. How about this... I will be in this cafeteria every morning at eight o’clock, and in the evening at five thirty. If you can meet me at these times, I will order an extra bowl of meat soup and a portion of ribs. This isn’t charity; it’s a good deed. If you can cultivate internal energy in the future, you might need to guide me. What do you think?"

Hao Qi looked at Su Shiyun carefully, at the clear-eyed girl, and smiled. "I dare not refuse... Thank you for your kindness, miss. I will definitely come every day. As for the future... I will definitely repay your kindness, as long as I have the ability."

Don’t underestimate the promise of a穿越者 (穿越者 means "穿越者" in Chinese, which can be translated as "time traveler" or "穿越者" in this context).

Hao Qi turned and left. He had his pride, even though the pressure of reality had made him a freeloader for a long time. This pride still lingered in his heart. Repay kindness and avenge enmity, ten years...

Ten years!

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