Chapter 4 - Air Strike
"Here are your hand tag and uniform. You can change to a different size if it doesn't fit. The changing room is just ahead, please gather at Training Room 4 after changing."
"Thank you."
Lu Yuan took the things handed to him by the receptionist and said thanks. Then he turned around and entered the room marked "Men's Changing Room".
He had finally become a student at the Yuan Martial Arts School.
He was just an ordinary seventeen-year-old high school student now.
It was really difficult to change his parents' decision after they had already made it.
Just like how he was not confident to persuade his father before registering, after his father Lu Xinghua had paid the tuition fee, he could not ask him to get a refund either.
"Since the money is already paid, just practice well. It would be a waste to ask for a refund."
Lu Yuan stopped thinking about those messy thoughts. According to the number "1002" on his hand tag, he quickly found his locker.
It was Sunday today, so there were quite a lot of people at the martial arts school for training.
Lu Yuan listened to their chatter, lightly brushed his hand tag on the electronic lock of the locker.
"Beep-"
The door opened, revealing an empty interior except for a few white plastic hangers.
The back of the door was fitted with a large mirror that vaguely reflected Lu Yuan's upper body.
He examined himself in the mirror.
He had nice facial features, but his complexion looked a little pale due to lack of outdoor activities over the years.
His slightly long bangs covered half of his eyes, giving off a melancholic pretty boy vibe.
Lu Yuan had self-deprecated many times that he was a "scrawny dog", but how many teenagers his age were actually strong and muscular?
Most were slender like him.
He was quite popular at school. His looks had always been well-received by girls.
After he had a meteoric rise in grades and became a top student, the number of love letters he received each week increased even more.
"My charm stats will definitely go higher after I build up my physique."
Lu Yuan took off his shirt, revealing his fair, slim yet well-defined upper body. He mulled in his mind.
He stuffed his clothes and bag into the locker, swiftly changed into the uniform.
When the brand-new martial arts uniform with the big "Yuan" character was on him, the handsome boy in the mirror looked even more dignified.
Lu Yuan tightened the belt around his waist, closed the locker door, and headed out of the changing room.
He found the gathering room according to the directions.
Training Room 4 was smaller than Lu Yuan had imagined.
About the size of a classroom.
The floor was covered in white mats, and a few people were already inside waiting.
Two were around his age, looking like high school students.
The others seemed older, with an air of having struggled in society for many years.
"Oh, a little hottie is here!"
When Lu Yuan entered the training room, a girl with a bun hairstyle and light makeup, looking to be in her seventies, happily called out.
This attracted the attention of everyone in the room towards him.
Lu Yuan was quite calm, giving a slight nod to everyone, then found a spot in the room to sit down.
"Quite pretentious."
Lu Yuan heard a young man with curly hair sitting next to the bun girl make a mocking remark.
"Oh, come on, he's just a student."
The bun girl slapped him lightly. He immediately grabbed her hand in response.
"You are speaking up for him, are you thirsting for his body?"
"Scram! Let go of my hand!"
The two fooling around with intimate gestures, yet seemingly not a couple.
There were a few other men sitting near them, probably acquaintances, looking jealous and wanting to join in.
"Hey! If we complete a course, does that mean we'll become official disciples of Yuan Martial Arts School?"
Seeing the curly-haired young man continuously having physical contact with the bun girl, a man sitting on her other side couldn't help but speak up loudly to change topics.
"Dream on."
The bun girl didn't reply, but another man with them immediately scoffed in response.
"Even if you complete all the courses, you still may not necessarily become an official disciple.
Yuan Martial Arts School has authentic ancient martial arts heritage, certified by the Martial Arts Association of Xia Country. Its official disciples have to pass assessments, not just pay tuition.
After all, there's a big difference between disciples and students. Disciples not only don't pay tuition, but they also even get a monthly salary.
If you become an official Yuan disciple, you can fire your manager as soon as you get back."
"That powerful?"
The bun girl stopped fooling around with the curly-haired youth, unable to help uttering in surprise.
"That's right."
Seeing he had attracted the bun girl's attention, the latter man quickly added:
"But it's also very difficult to become an official disciple.
Generally speaking, if you can become an official disciple, you could also win prizes in amateur martial arts competitions.
You can fully pursue martial arts as a professional career."
"No problem. Siki, watch me get recruited by Yuan Martial Arts School later."
The curly-haired youth beside chimed in with a laugh.
"Keep bragging!"
The bun girl smiled and rolled her eyes at him.
"Official disciple...salary...prizes..."
Lu Yuan had been listening carefully to their conversation the whole time. Hearing these words, his eyes couldn't help but light up slightly.
Cheng Peng had said before that his biggest goal was to become an official martial arts school disciple, but Lu Yuan didn't think much of it back then.
Only now did he realize that the status of an official disciple was not simple at all.
Not only were tuition fees waived, but they could also get a salary.
If he could become an official disciple, wouldn't it greatly reduce the burden on his family?
Lu Yuan's mind inevitably wandered off.
But he quickly reined it in.
He had just registered and hadn't even started the first class yet. Thinking so far ahead was clearly too early.
His current top priority was still to improve his physical fitness as soon as possible, to not let the tuition fees go to waste.
Just as he was thinking, a man in his forties walked into the training room.
One look and you could tell this person was not an ordinary student like them.
Not only was he wearing a black uniform, but he also exuded an extraordinary aura when walking.
Lu Yuan was clearly not the only one able to guess this man's identity. The noisy room swiftly quieted down.
The middle-aged man scanned the room, seemingly checking the headcount briefly, then smiled and spoke:
"Hello everyone, I'm called Lin Zhiqin. From now on I'll be in charge of teaching you all the first phase of training.
You can call me Coach Lin, or Brother Lin is fine too."
"Coach! What will we mainly practice in the first phase?"
As soon as Lin Zhiqin finished talking, someone from the bun girl's clique immediately asked a question.
Others were not to be outdone. "Yeah, why doesn't our room have a punching bag? When do we get to hit punching bags? I want to hit punching bags!" He even winked at the others and joked: "Let's stick our manager's photo on the punching bag."
"Haha..."
Lin Zhiqin glanced indifferently at this bunch, not angry at all. He just calmly said:
"The foundation of martial arts is strength. The first phase will mainly be strength training. I will teach you some scientific and effective training methods and techniques. In the future, whether here or at home, you'll be able to train by yourselves.
As for punching bags..."
Lin Zhiqin paused, then continued:
"It's not time to hit punching bags yet. Right now, you can only practice air strikes."
As soon as he finished, Lin Zhiqin suddenly raised his hand.
Lu Yuan didn't even see what move he made.
He only heard a crisp "pop!".
The sound was loud and clear, as if someone had set off a firecracker in the room.
"That is an air strike."
Lin Zhiqin's gaze swept the room as he calmly stated.