Chapter 32 - A Terrifying Punch
The blazing July afternoon sun poured into the room, enveloping it in stifling heat like a steamer.
"Phew-"
Lu Yuan heaved a sigh, climbing up from the straw mat.
Having just finished ten sets of strength training, his entire body was drenched in sweat, leaving a large wet patch on the straw mat beneath him.
Lu Yuan haphazardly wiped his face with some tissue paper from the desk, then opened his Profession Panel.
【Profession: Fighter lv4 (30/800)】
【Basic Profession Skill: Beginner Body Tempering lv4 (41/800).】
His profession experience had increased by over ten points. As before, with the bonus from [Absolute Focus], every ten minutes of attentive martial arts practice yielded 2 experience points.
Beginner Body Tempering lagged far behind in comparison.
Ten sets of strength training had given him a mere five experience points in total.
"The difficulty of gaining experience for Beginner Body Tempering has really shot up after reaching lv4 without proper equipment," Lu Yuan muttered as he eyed the two black dumbbells by his feet. He had specially purchased these 10kg weights not long ago, yet they had become useless so quickly.
"The output-input ratio of experience versus time and effort is too low. Looks like it's better to just focus on practicing techniques at home from now on."
While waiting for his strength to recover, Lu Yuan decided to have a couple more rounds in the consciousness space.
"【Imaginary Enemy】, activate!"
Two shadows grappled in the downpour of a rainy alley.
Leg whips tore through the curtain of rain, scattering water droplets.
"Bang!"
Collision, heavy blows, separation, retreat.
Lu Yuan stood in the rainy alley, panting heavily as he stared fixedly at his opponent.
The beams of passing car headlights were reflected in his eyes like two ever-burning orange flames.
"Again!"
"Bang!"
"Whoosh-"
Lu Yuan slowly opened his eyes, a hint of lingering excitement on his face.
Though the victorious process had still been quite arduous, he had intentionally engaged his opponent mainly with leg techniques this round. After an entire bout, he felt he had learned and comprehended more of the middle-aged man's signature vicious leg skills.
"One day, I will definitely kick you apart with my leg techniques!"
Recalling the countless kicks he had endured throughout the fight, Lu Yuan secretly made a firm resolution.
After drinking some water and preparing for another round, a thought suddenly popped into Lu Yuan's mind right as he was about to close his eyes -
Since it's an Imaginary Enemy, can I try imagining someone else?
Like...Lin Zhiqin?!
An empty corridor. Lu Yuan stood alone.
Before him was a partially open door.
"It's really possible."
This scene was still fresh in Lu Yuan's memory. It was the martial arts school's second floor, right outside Lin Zhiqin's office door, where he had just been a few hours ago.
"Creak-"
Lu Yuan gently pushed open the door before him.
He saw Lin Zhiqin sitting quietly on the sofa facing the tea table, a cigarette nearly burnt out in his hand as he looked at Lu Yuan.
The two held each other's gaze for a few seconds.
"Phew-"
Suddenly, Lu Yuan took a deep breath. Then he smiled at Lin Zhiqin.
"Coach Lin, smoking is bad for your health!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Yuan darted forward with a burst of speed, launching a flying kick.
"Bang!"
He directly kicked over the glass tea table in front of Lin Zhiqin.
Shattered glass sprayed everywhere.
Seizing the chance, Lu Yuan pivoted and whipped another kick.
The whip kick, now carrying a hint of sharp force, sliced through the air straight towards the left temple of Lin Zhiqin's head.
"Awesome!"
Lu Yuan's face was filled with intense excitement.
Back when he was in the office, he had wanted to do this. Now he had finally put it into action.
The feeling of unrestrainedly unleashing his wicked thoughts, resentment, destructive urges and fighting spirit by smashing all taboos and inhibitions...
It really felt amazing!
Unfortunately, Lu Yuan didn't even get to enjoy it for a second.
The Lin Zhiqin he had locked his sights on suddenly vanished from the sofa.
While Lu Yuan was still looking around for Lin Zhiqin's whereabouts, the disappeared Lin Zhiqin reappeared like a ghost right in front of him.
Before Lu Yuan could make a move, he saw the expressionless Lin Zhiqin, a cigarette still clipped between his fingers, casually raise a hand.
Lu Yuan's pupils constricted as he watched a fist rapidly swell before his eyes until it filled his entire field of vision.
"Huff Huff-"
Lu Yuan abruptly opened his eyes, breathing heavily. His face was slightly pale and his eyes were filled with immense shock and disbelief.
"Lin Zhiqin's strength is actually so powerful?!"
Although Lin Zhiqin had revealed a bit of his skills during the first martial arts class, unleashing crisp whip-like cracks with his air strikes, his perfunctory and negligent teaching attitude had left Lu Yuan with a terrible impression all this time.
Their interaction over lunch, along with Lin Zhiqin's constant smoking habit, his change in attitude after discovering Lu Yuan's talent, and his attempt to recruit Lu Yuan for underground boxing matches at the restaurant, had made him seem more like a washed-up loser and gambler.
So even though Lu Yuan knew Lin Zhiqin was a professional martial artist, he didn't think his skills could be that great.
Yet the Lin Zhiqin that perfectly unleashed his power in the consciousness space had taken Lu Yuan out in one move. The sheer oppressive force he exhibited was simply chilling to Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan unconsciously touched his forehead.
In the consciousness space just now, Lin Zhiqin's punch had landed squarely on his forehead.
If it had happened in the real world, wouldn't that punch have exploded his head directly?
"So this is the difference in strength between an amateur and a professional?
Or is Lin Zhiqin's skill itself just that powerful?!"
Lu Yuan was filled with lingering fear and took a long time to calm down.
Next, he tried again, designating Lin Zhiqin as an【Imaginary Enemy】.
Only this time, instead of kicking over the table as soon as he entered like before, Lu Yuan politely called out "Coach" and asked to spar with Lin Zhiqin.
The result was vastly different.
Lu Yuan exchanged five or six moves with Lin Zhiqin before being "knocked out" of the consciousness space.
"It didn't seem as terrifying this time," Lu Yuan thought, forcing down the intense fatigue. "Is the difference in Lin Zhiqin's strength really so great when I 'invite' him to fight in different ways?"
Lu Yuan spent the entire afternoon repeatedly testing this.
In total, he designated Lin Zhiqin as an【Imaginary Enemy】 five times.
Twice, he kicked over the table upon entering. Once, he flipped Lin Zhiqin off and verbally taunted him. Twice, he politely said - "Coach, I want to practice actual combat."
The result - Lu Yuan had his head exploded by a terrifying punch three times.
The other two times, he exchanged several back-and-forth rounds with Lin Zhiqin, gaining an even more detailed understanding of the vast gap between them.
"Even though it's an Imaginary Enemy, the invoked combat state seems to differ based on how I treat him."
Lu Yuan massaged his temples, trying to alleviate the stabbing headache from repeatedly activating 【Imaginary Enemy】 in a short time.
"That irresistible, head-exploding terrifying punch is probably Lin Zhiqin's killing move against enemies.
It's triggered when he's completely enraged, and he'll immediately go for the kill when he sees me."
Lu Yuan now understood.
So this is what the skill description of 【Imaginary Enemy】 meant by "simulating the progression of a fight."
Different opening moves would naturally lead to different outcomes.
Although the Imaginary Enemy's opponent was fictional, he could still be provoked into unleashing combat power far exceeding his norms by insulting words and deeds.