Chapter 20

If someone else used this old-fashioned mobile phone, they would be considered a bumpkin, but Wang Tian's extraordinary and refined demeanor, and his incredibly handsome appearance, made using such a phone a matter of individuality.

Wang Tian was given the number, and the girl surnamed Wang left. Si Si walked out of the school gate but did not leave; instead, she waited for her companions.

Don't I have a game system? Why not check Si Si's affection towards me?

Wang Tian cursed himself for being stupid, only now remembering. But it wasn't entirely his fault; he was too deeply in love and was completely immersed in joy, so he only remembered now.

Looking at Si Si's figure, Wang Tian summoned the game system with his mind.

Check NPC information.

Name: Si Si. Gender: Female. Age: 15.

Health: 140—140.

Attack: 10—50.

Skills: None.

Check NPC affection.

NPC Si Si's affection towards the player: 87.

87! It actually reached 87! Wang Tian's heart raced. This meant he could now be certain that Si Si was his girlfriend, and the only thing lacking was a process of getting to know each other better. Excluding the 10 points of affection just added, Si Si's previous affection towards him was 77, indicating that she had always cared about him. If he had confessed earlier, it would have been successful.

"That Wang Tian is still looking at you, how devoted he is," the girl surnamed Wang said to Si Si.

"It's none of your business!" Si Si smiled happily.

"This boy is so handsome, so refined, and so devoted. I envy you, Si Si."

"Why don't you find one for yourself?" Si Si laughed and tickled her, and the two girls playfully walked to a luxury car, where an old man had already opened the door for them.

After the two girls left his sight, Wang Tian did not immediately leave the school gate to go home. Instead, he ran to the playground, jumping, laughing, and doing a few somersaults, followed by some bar exercises. He was so happy he couldn't control himself.

After exhausting his energy, Wang Tian left the playground and prepared to go home.

Just then, a group of people surrounded him, led by 'Hao Ge' from yesterday.

"You were flirting with Si Si just now, and you still dare to talk to her?" Hao Ge said angrily. He had seen the entire process, including Si Si giving Wang Tian her phone number. Li Hao was also one of Si Si's suitors, but Si Si had never given him any chance.

"Idiot," Wang Tian said coldly, not taking such a school thug seriously.

"You're quite brave, aren't you? Do you dare to go to the rooftop with me?" Li Hao's eyes flashed with a sinister light.

The rooftop of Building No. 2 was very secluded, where the school security guards couldn't see, and even small-scale fights couldn't be detected. Therefore, many students with grudges would meet there, and over time, it became an unwritten rule. If someone was invited but didn't dare to go, they would be called a coward.

Wang Tian saw that there were only five of them and was not afraid. He ignored them and walked directly to the rooftop of Building No. 2.

No coward in the presence of martial arts!

"I'll help you achieve your wish since you want to die," Li Hao said viciously, leading his companions to follow closely.

On the rooftop, Li Hao attacked first without a word, lifting his left foot to kick Wang Tian.

Wang Tian smiled coldly. He had learned the Dragon Form of Xingyi Quan and Hard Qi Gong, and Li Hao's random kicks posed no threat to him.

Before Li Hao's foot could hit him, Wang Tian dodged to the side, swept his left leg, and Li Hao, standing on one leg, lost balance and fell to the ground with a thud. The rooftop floor was made of concrete and extremely hard, causing Li Hao's head to swell with a large bump from the pain.

"Damn it!" The other boys, seeing their leader hit, attacked one after another.

But in Wang Tian's eyes, their attacks were like children's fights, not worth mentioning. With a few punches and kicks, the few high school students fell to the ground, not even touching Wang Tian's clothes.

Suddenly, Li Hao pulled out a knife and stabbed at Wang Tian's abdomen. The others, seeing their leader use a knife, quickly ran to a pile of abandoned debris on the rooftop, some picking up bricks, others grabbing wooden sticks.

Wang Tian's face turned cold, and he no longer held back, using the Dragon Form and Hard Qi Gong. He kicked Li Hao, who felt as if his stomach had been hit by a heavy hammer, flying backward. With a "spit," he spat out a mouthful of blood.

The others rushed over, and the one with the wooden stick swung it at Wang Tian's head.

Wang Tian met it with a punch, and with a "crack," the thick wooden stick broke into two pieces. He followed with a knee strike, and the person's body immediately bent like a shrimp, falling to the ground.

Turning his body, he delivered a whip kick with his left foot, and the boy with the brick lost his balance and fell to the side.

The others were terrified. Was this the same person who was beaten to the ground by them yesterday? How had he become so strong in just one day?

"Damn it, I'll kill you!" Li Hao, mouth full of blood, stood up and lunged at Wang Tian with the knife.

Wang Tian didn't take such a reckless attack seriously and slapped him. Li Hao spun around and fell to the ground. With a "clank," the knife dropped from his hand.

"Didn't you say you would beat me every time you saw me? Why don't you come now?" Wang Tian stepped on Li Hao's chest.

"Damn it, I'll kill you one day!" Li Hao's eyes glowed with a fierce light, struggling to get up. Wang Tian pressed down with his right foot, and Li Hao felt as if a huge rock was pressing on him, unable to move.

"You can still talk tough, it seems I haven't beaten you enough," Wang Tian said with a cold smile.

He squatted down and slapped him.

"Do you submit?"

"I'll submit your mother's ass!"

"Slap... slap... slap..." Wang Tian slapped him repeatedly.

"Do you submit?"

"You damn bastard!"

"Slap... slap... slap..." Wang Tian slapped him again, this time without asking, just continuously slapping. You want to be tough? I'll be tougher!

Wang Tian had been raising his sister alone since he was twelve and had often been harassed by thugs. Without a tough spirit, he would have been beaten to death long ago.

The slaps continued, and soon Li Hao's face was swollen like a pig's head.

"Ah! Please, don't hit me anymore, I submit..." Li Hao finally couldn't bear it and begged loudly.

"Do you submit in your heart or just in words?"

"I submit, I submit... please don't hit me anymore..." Li Hao's tears streamed down his face.

"Good, if you dare to provoke me again, I won't hesitate to kill you," Wang Tian said coldly, picking up the knife and thrusting it at Li Hao's chest.

"Ah!" Li Hao screamed, but then felt no pain. Opening his eyes, he saw the knife had only stabbed next to his head. A warm, foul-smelling liquid flowed from his crotch, wetting the rooftop floor.

Wang Tian didn't bother to look at their pathetic state and left the rooftop.

These students, though nominally students, were similar to thugs in society, always eager to fight and bully the weak. To deal with such people, one had to be even tougher, beating them so hard they would never dare to challenge again. Otherwise, they would seek revenge in despicable ways. His past experiences had taught him this lesson well.

As Wang Tian descended Building No. 2, he saw a bespectacled boy rushing towards him, holding a machete.

The boy looked thin and weak, but the aura he exuded while holding the knife was somewhat intimidating. It was Xiao Yong, Wang Tian's desk mate and best friend.

"Xiao Yong, what are you doing?" Wang Tian asked with a smile.

"Brother Tian, are you okay?" Xiao Yong asked, surprised.

"What could happen to me? What's with your appearance?" He was very curious.

"I heard you went to the rooftop of Building No. 2 with Li Hao and his gang. I was afraid you might be at a disadvantage, so I came to check," Xiao Yong said.

Hearing this, Wang Tian felt a surge of emotion. What is a brother? This is a brother. Knowing he was taken to the rooftop by several people, Xiao Yong had come alone with a knife.

Of course, Wang Tian had also helped him a lot in the past. In the arcade near the school, they had fought against over a dozen people, though both were injured that time.

"I'm fine, they've all been beaten to the ground," Wang Tian said.

"Beaten to the ground by you alone? And you don't even have a scratch, Brother Tian, you're amazing," Xiao Yong relaxed when he saw Wang Tian was unharmed.

"Put the knife away, be careful the security guard sees," Wang Tian put Xiao Yong's knife in his backpack.

"I haven't finished eating, let's go back to the cafeteria," Xiao Yong said.

"Let's go out for a drink instead," Wang Tian said.

After eating and drinking a little at a restaurant, Wang Tian said goodbye to Xiao Yong and went home alone. On the way, he checked his emotional experience, which was now 500—1000. Indeed, a confession had added 500 points. It was no surprise that he gained so much, as a person's first confession, especially to their first love, is very significant and often unforgettable even in old age.

Leaving the school, he went to the market to buy groceries and returned home.

His sister had already arrived and was quietly doing her homework in her room.

At the dinner table, "Brother, what's special about today?" Wang Yu asked curiously.

"Nothing special, just a normal day," Wang Tian thought for a moment, indeed, it wasn't a special day.

"Then why did you make so many delicious dishes and look so happy?"

"It's like this, from today, I have a girlfriend, hehe!" Wang Tian said happily.

"Really?" Wang Yu said indifferently.

"Aren't you happy?"

"Of course I'm happy, why wouldn't I be? My brother is so excellent, it's normal for girls to like him."

After clearing the dishes, Wang Tian returned to his room.

He began practicing Hard Qi Gong, completing 36 reverse breaths for one cycle, with each cycle adding one point of experience. To upgrade Hard Qi Gong from level 0 to level 1, 100 points of experience were needed.

Wang Tian's current experience was over 50 points. The system had this advantage; every practice session added experience, unlike ordinary people who wouldn't know if their practice was effective.

Especially with something as mysterious as Qi Gong, many people practiced for a year or even several years without progress, but Wang Tian's progress was visible each time.

He arrived at the park entrance early in the morning.

Master Li Gang was not selling soy milk at the park, so Wang Tian took the bus to Master's house.

In the house in the suburbs, Li Shuang was not at home as usual.

"Why didn't Master go to sell breakfast today?" Wang Tian asked.

"Can't help it, my old leg problem has flared up again," Li Gang limped out and sat on a stool.

"Is Master okay? Should we see a doctor?"

Seeing Wang Tian's concern, Li Gang felt very comforted, "Going to the hospital won't help, it will get better on its own in a few days," Li Gang said calmly.

"What's wrong with Master's leg?" Wang Tian asked, opening his game system and searching the Yuanbao Mall for recovery items to see if there were any medicines to treat NPC ailments. But after a thorough search, he found nothing. The game system was designed for players, and a player would never suffer from conditions like arthritis or bone spurs, so such items were not available.

If there were, Wang Tian would definitely buy them for his master. Although Yuanbao was precious, he would not be stingy when it came to buying things for his master.

"My calf was broken by a leg sweep, and later, it was fixed with a steel plate at the hospital. Although I can walk, it left a hidden problem," Li Gang revealed his secret.

"Master was actually injured by someone?" Wang Tian was surprised.

Li Gang glanced at him, "Do you think I'm Zhao Zilong of Changshan? After a lifetime of battles, I have no scars? Those are just stories. In the world, who can avoid getting hurt? Unless you're a god."

"How did Master get injured?" Wang Tian asked.

"Do you want to hear?"

"Yes."

"Back then, I had fully mastered the 'Tiger Form' of Xingyi Quan and was at my peak. I was full of confidence and eager to show off, so I participated in a boxing tournament organized by the black market in Southeast Asia. I advanced through the rounds and made it to the final.

"In the final, I faced a Thai boxing champion. Knowing that 'knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory,' I studied Muay Thai in advance, so I was very confident. Indeed, in the final, the Thai champion was consistently on the defensive, unable to counterattack.

"But at the last moment, he suddenly delivered a leg sweep. Based on my previous study of Muay Thai, I thought the main attacks were knee strikes and elbow strikes, so I didn't take his leg sweep seriously, planning to block it and deliver a fatal blow. When his foot touched my calf, I realized I was wrong. His strongest skill was leg techniques. My left leg was broken by the sweep, and although I later killed him, my left leg was left with a permanent injury."

Li Gang slowly recounted his experience.

Wang Tian could imagine the brutality of the black market fights. Killing was common, and both fighters leaving unscathed was a miracle. Only such training could produce ruthless killers.

As a player, Wang Tian knew he would have to engage in life-and-death battles to gain experience. Perhaps he should participate in black market fights in the future? Killing there was legal, and he could gain experience! Wang Tian was tempted.

"I'm telling you this to warn you that while experience is important in battle, you can't rely on it completely. Pay attention to every detail, as a small oversight can determine life or death," Li Gang said earnestly, "So in life-and-death battles, you must give it your all and not give your enemy any chance to hurt you, as the saying goes, 'A lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit.'"

"I understand, Master."

Li Gang wanted to warn his disciple with his own experience, which he usually wouldn't mention.

No mercy in battle, mercy means no action. Wang Tian deeply remembered this.

"Alright, you've mastered the Dragon Form very well. Now I'll teach you the Tiger Form, which I'm most skilled at. I will impart my understanding of the Tiger Form to you," Li Gang said.

He held nothing back in teaching Wang Tian.

"No, Master," Wang Tian said, "You're not feeling well today, so I'll practice the Dragon Form. I've become proficient in the 'Form' and want to try understanding the Dragon Form's intent. Master, please watch and see if my approach is correct."

"That's fine, don't try to learn too much at once," Li Gang agreed, taking a stool and sitting under the eaves.

He thought that if he taught Wang Tian the intent too early, it might harm his mastery of the form. Moreover, understanding the general principles of the Dragon Form, even if he failed, would help him understand the Tiger Form's intent later.

He didn't believe Wang Tian could understand the Dragon Form's intent, as no one in the history of Xingyi Quan had ever done so, not even the founder.

Wang Tian walked to the center of the courtyard.

He didn't start immediately but thought silently. The six movements of the Dragon Form flashed through his mind, and finally, he seemed to have a slight understanding.

He began his movements.

"Coiled Dragon in the Abyss!"

His body spun, and he struck with a punch, followed by a series of kicks. The movements were fluid and unobstructed. After completing this move, he didn't move on to the next but stood and repeated the same move, "Coiled Dragon in the Abyss."

He did it again.

...

Half an hour passed, and he was still practicing the same move. Sweat dripped from his forehead as he exerted himself fully.

What is this kid doing? Why is he practicing the same move over and over, and getting slower? Li Gang was confused. Is this how one understands the intent? It seems like nonsense, as when he understood the Tiger Form's intent, he practiced the entire form before starting to understand it. The same applied to future understanding, always practicing the entire form.

But at this moment, Wang Tian didn't care about Li Gang's thoughts and was deeply immersed in his own contemplation.