Chapter 3

This time, Wang Ge finally felt that it was about right, and once again, he regained the sensation of pressing his hands. So, Wang Ge confirmed and began the warm-up exercises for his upper limbs.

Was it a qualitative change brought about by quantitative changes?

Or was it that his unambitious life level finally broke through?

Wang Ge felt a surge of joy as he exercised, knowing that the hard work he had put in far exceeded that of others, but his innate limitations had restricted him, preventing his life level from advancing beyond level five.

However, he, who had been tempered by life at a young age and possessed a resilient spirit, persisted with unwavering determination. This time, he finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Just as he put down the dumbbell and was about to do other warm-up exercises, he subconsciously glanced at the wall clock.

Oh no, only ten minutes left! Wang Ge couldn't afford to do any more warm-ups; time was running out, and he still needed to check his protective gear.

Wang Ge hurried back to the changing room, opened his dedicated locker, and took out his specialized training gear.

This gear was provided by the underground boxing ring. Although it was all old and outdated, it was still very practical.

While checking the gear, Wang Ge quickly put it on, moving swiftly but methodically. He couldn't afford to let his guard down due to the urgency; this was a matter of life and death.

Many people had paid the price of disability or even death due to carelessness, negligence, or a "good enough" attitude.

Wang Ge, however, had a bit of an obsessive-compulsive personality. Some people would say, "It's good enough," or "It's fine, it won't be that unlucky," but Wang Ge insisted on doing everything to the best of his ability within his range, which was why he had survived the longest.

First, he tied on a soft gel vest. This specially made soft gel material was very light but provided significant cushioning, reducing the impact.

The soft gel vest, which covered most of the front and back of the torso, effectively protected the internal organs.

A head guard made of the same material was securely fastened to his head, protecting vital areas like the temples and the back of the head. It was designed to fit the human head perfectly, allowing for free movement and clear vision.

The soft gel arm guards, which extended from the back of the hand to the elbow, were also crucial. When the boxer threw a heavy punch or an elbow strike, Wang Ge had to block with his forearm. If the arm guards were loose or worn out, a heavy punch could break his arm!

Finally, the soft gel knee guards, which extended from the knees to the ankles, were essential. The boxer's heavy kicks and knee strikes were powerful, and as a training partner, it was impossible to avoid all attacks, so this protection was necessary.

Of course, that was all there was. No high-end, comprehensive protective gear would be provided to a training partner, as its value would exceed the pay for the job.

By the time he finished checking and putting on the gear, only one minute remained. Wang Ge took a blood-activating herb from his collection bag. The core of the blood-activating herb had the effects of strengthening the body, promoting blood circulation, and rapidly restoring energy. It was also a critical medicine for emergency treatment of injuries.

Wang Ge was a training partner. Although he had protective gear, injuries were inevitable. So, he always carried a blood-activating herb for treating external injuries, which he could use if he got hurt. If he didn't get hurt, he could sell the herb the next day.

If he took the core of the blood-activating herb in time, most external injuries could be treated promptly. Although the boxing ring had medical facilities, they were expensive. Using the blood-activating herb core in time saved money, which was very practical for a hardworking training partner like Wang Ge.

Wang Ge didn't run over due to the time pressure. His low life level and poor physical condition would make him pant and panic, increasing the risk of injury during training.

So, Wang Ge preferred to arrive a bit late and apologize, walking at his usual pace. This pace helped him adjust his mental and physical state.

By the time he reached Training Room 22, Wang Ge had already adjusted himself. He pushed the door open and smiled apologetically at the boxer waiting there, saying, "I'm sorry for keeping you waiting."

The boxer was a tall, thin man, almost like a bamboo stick. He was naked except for a pair of shorts, and his hands were already wrapped in black boxing tape. He was hopping around like a long-legged mantis.

This was an abandoned building, and the training room floor was unrenovated concrete, rough and hard.

But the bamboo stick man hopped around on the rough floor, sometimes even rubbing his feet against it, without leaving any blood marks. His feet were incredibly strong.

After a quick glance at the boxer, Wang Ge made his judgment. Although he didn't know the boxer, he knew his nickname was "Blade."

From the boxer's habitual movements, Wang Ge could tell that Blade was a mixed martial artist, primarily trained in Muay Thai and secondarily in Sanda.

Although Blade looked skinny, his dark skin revealed well-defined muscles. The muscles weren't large but were packed with explosive power, and his footwork was very agile. Wang Ge believed that his strength and speed were both impressive.

Blade grinned carelessly and pointed at Wang Ge with his tightly wrapped fist, signaling to start immediately.

Seeing that Blade wasn't going to hold his lateness against him, Wang Ge breathed a sigh of relief. A complaint from a boxer would result in a deduction of pay.

Wang Ge turned to close the door, then habitually bent his knees slightly, pushed off with his back foot, and slid forward with his front foot. His fists were held back, and his soft gel arm guards faced Blade, like two half-open doors, as he approached.

Blade's eyes flashed with disdain: Putting on a show, a mishmash!

This sliding step didn't belong to any particular style. How could such a poor training partner provide good training for a boxer? It seemed that today's sparring session would be a disappointment...

But it was also understandable. If the training partners were all highly skilled, why would they be training partners?

Blade snorted, bent his right leg slightly, and the muscles in his calf were as clearly defined as if they were carved. The tendons on his feet seemed ready to burst through the skin.

"Whoosh—"

His leg, after sufficient preparation, sprang from the ground like a spring, and his body shot forward like an arrow. His left knee feinted forward, and then, with his powerful waist strength, he completed a twist in mid-air, his right knee, though bony, stabbed straight at Wang Ge's face!

This "flying knee strike" was both powerful and unexpected. Blade was a level seven life, and the force of this knee strike was at least 350 kilograms. If it hit someone directly, it would break bones!

Even with his protective gear, Wang Ge would still feel the impact, but he didn't panic. His bright eyes, peering through the gap between his arms, were fixed on Blade's attack. His legs were slightly bent, ready to spring into action at any moment.

"Bang—"

Blade's sharp knee bone hit Wang Ge's soft gel arm guard. Blade felt the impact, but it seemed a bit different.

With his extensive combat experience, it felt like he had broken someone's ribs but ran out of force just before hitting the internal organs, a weak and ineffective blow.

What's going on?

Blade was slightly stunned. He then saw that Wang Ge was still in the same position, maintaining the same distance, but with a strange step, his front foot slowly pushing forward, and his back foot slowly following.

Blade frowned, sensing that this training partner wasn't as simple as he appeared.

Did I misjudge him? Haha, good! Very good! I want to see just how good you are, little training partner!

Blade relaxed, stretched his shoulders, and casually shook his hands. Then, with a sudden sprint, he was in front of Wang Ge.

He supported himself with his left leg, pushing off with his foot and rotating his body like a spiral. His entire body, like a tightly wound spring, released all its power into his right knee.

The force reached the tip of his knee, and with a whirlwind-like twist, his right knee shot up and slammed into Wang Ge's chest!

This "right knee thrust" was not as explosive as the "flying knee strike," but it was incredibly fast, even producing a "whoosh" sound!

Wang Ge remained calm. As Blade's knee hit the protective gear on his arms, Wang Ge's arms retracted to absorb the force, and he pushed off with his front foot, moving backward. The force of Blade's knee strike was thus neutralized.

Or rather, Blade's knee strike turned into a force pushing Wang Ge backward, and Wang Ge instinctively slid back, maintaining a distance from Blade.

Of course, this distance wasn't a safe distance but the optimal distance for Blade's next move, a perfect setup.

Although Wang Ge's actions seemed simple when broken down, they were the result of years of training and countless sessions with thousands of boxers, learning and summarizing.

He might not be able to explain the theory, but how to respond to various attacks had become instinctive, requiring no thought.

This was the other reason why he, with his seemingly weak constitution, had managed to stay in the training partner business for so long.

Blade was stunned. This time, he felt it more clearly, but he only sensed that Wang Ge's body reacted quickly, so his attack didn't fully take effect.

This wasn't necessarily bad. Although it lacked the satisfying impact, it allowed him to maintain the continuity and fluidity of his attacks.

Blade wasn't a deep thinker, but he felt that Wang Ge made for a very comfortable training partner.

Blade had no grudge against Wang Ge. After acknowledging him, he focused on the sparring session, which was one-sided.

For a full hour of uninterrupted training, Blade was drenched in sweat, feeling more exhilarated than ever!

In the past, other training partners would often run out of energy after a few minutes, needing to rest or taking a long time to get back up, which was frustrating for the boxers.

At the end of the hour, Blade took off his boxing tape and gave Wang Ge a thumbs-up, saying, "You're great! I used to pick training partners randomly, but from now on, I'll buy your time regularly!"