One's school days are some of the most wonderful times in a person's life, and not just because they hold our youth.
It's also because the relationships formed during this time are purer, with less worldliness and fewer ulterior motives.
With the memories of two lifetimes fused together, Zhao Rui cherished this rare time in school all the more.
After school let out in the afternoon, Zhao Rui left and rode his bicycle to Jimin Medicine Hall.
Li Cunxin was sitting primly at the eight immortals table in the Medicine Hall, taking the pulse of a visitor.
The visitor was a young woman in an opulent cheongsam. Her features were delicate, and her long hair was coiled high, held in place by a jade-green hairpin.
A few strings of crystalline jade dangled from the hairpin, making her look like a lady from an ancient imperial court.
The young woman had a graceful figure. As the evening light slanted across her navy-blue cheongsam, it cast a splendid, lustrous sheen.
The brocade over her chest was thick and full, like a hint of spring beneath an ink-wash landscape, following the winding curves of her waist.
The slit of the cheongsam was like a sandalwood folded fan suddenly snapping open, revealing a glimpse of her full legs as she leaned to the side—a shade like the undried glaze on white porcelain.
She was a woman with a captivating, mature allure.
Beside them stood First Senior Brother and Fifth Senior Brother, both of whom were studying medicine under their master.
As for how skilled they were, Zhao Rui had no idea. He didn't even know his own master's skill level, let alone his two senior brothers'.
'It's more likely that Master is a fraud.'
"Ms. Zhao, you are in good health. Just take the two doses of medicine I've prescribed and rest peacefully for a few days, and you'll be fine!"
Li Cunxin removed his fingers from the young woman's fair wrist, stroked his long beard, and spoke with a steady voice.
"It's good to hear I'm fine. I've been feeling anxious and increasingly unwell these past few days. I suppose it's because my daughter's college entrance exams are coming up, and I've been too stressed!"
The young woman's face broke into a smile. Her bright eyes and white teeth were like fresh flowers in early spring, enough to brighten anyone's mood.
"Mm, children have their own fortunes. You should try not to worry, Ms. Zhao!"
"Thank you, Doctor Li!"
The young woman rose slightly, her exquisite, jade-like curves unfurling in an instant. The shapely arc of her figure didn't disappear; instead, it seemed to grow even longer and tauter.
"You're too kind. That will be 600 yuan!"
Li Cunxin said without even looking up.
The young woman didn't seem to think anything was amiss. On the contrary, she bowed respectfully and left.
Zhao Rui recognized the woman. She was one of his master's regular clients who often came to have her pulse read and get diagnosed.
The old Zhao Rui had just been a kid who didn't understand the beauty of a woman like her. Now, with the memories of his past life, he realized she was an absolute top-grade beauty.
'No wonder Master looks so serious while taking her pulse.'
After a quick greeting to his master and senior brothers, Zhao Rui went straight to the Martial Arts Hall and found his Third Senior Brother.
He had called ahead, so his Third Senior Brother was already waiting for him.
"I've noticed your understanding of Cloud Hand Star-Picking has deepened lately. You must be close to breaking through to the Minor Circulation, right?"
Third Senior Brother said as soon as he saw him.
"You have a sharp eye, Senior Brother. I should be close. And thank you for going through all this trouble to help me!"
"Don't be so formal. We're martial brothers!"
Third Senior Brother smiled, and then the two of them changed into Martial Arts Uniforms and began to spar.
The way of Martial Arts is vast and profound.
In terms of Cultivation alone, there's a distinction between Static Skills and Active Skills.
Static Skills involve cultivating alone, opening up one's Inner Qi, and practicing Cultivation Techniques. With time and accumulation, the body will naturally move as the mind wills, and the techniques become second nature.
Active Skills are the opposite, focusing more on real combat. One improves their body's reactions through fighting, integrating the Martial Peak into muscle memory. It's a process from the outside in, but both paths ultimately lead to the same destination: the fusion of internal and external!
The division between Static and Active Skills isn't clear-cut; most Martial Artists practice both.
Therefore, it wasn't strange for Zhao Rui to seek out his senior brother for more combat experience. On the contrary, it was a sign of his diligence.
Among his martial brothers, he had the best relationship with his Third Senior Brother, which was why Zhao Rui sought him out.
"Junior Brother, the Second Level of our Cloud Hand Star-Picking emphasizes 'enlightenment.' Watch my Starry Array! What do you think?"
"Then I won't hold back, Senior Brother. Cry of the Crane in the Clouds!"
The two martial brothers' Martial Arts came from the same master, so they were very familiar with each other's styles. Technique for technique, they countered each other's moves, their actions incredibly swift.
"Whoa, Third Junior Brother, Little Junior Brother, you two are really fired up!"
Just then, a man and a woman walked into the Martial Arts Hall. Upon seeing Zhao Rui and his brother sparring, they called out.
"The more the merrier! Come and join us!"
Third Senior Brother laughed heartily. With a sharp, lunging step, his body soared as if riding the clouds, and he pounced through the air, enveloping the two newcomers in his attack as well.
Zhao Rui was speechless. 'This Third Senior Brother of mine... we were having a perfectly good match, but he just had to find it not exciting enough.'
'Just wait until I reach Level 8, then we'll see how I thrash you!'
The newcomers were Second Senior Brother and Fourth Senior Sister. The Power of these three was far greater than Zhao Rui's, and once they started fighting, he no longer had a chance to get involved.
He could only stand there resentfully and wait for their fight to end.
The three of them exchanged fists and feet. Their True Qi surged and clashed, creating violent collisions that filled the entire Martial Arts Hall with a series of thunderous booms.
"Now this is a rush! Little Junior Brother, don't just stand there, come join in!"
Second Senior Brother and the others laughed, leaping into the air and pulling Zhao Rui, who had been standing on the side, into the fray.
Zhao Rui's scalp went numb. But since it had come to this, he could only brace himself, focus his mind, and do his best to cope.
He managed to hold on like this for about ten minutes, by which time he had already taken several palm strikes from his senior brother and sister.
If the three of them hadn't been holding back, he would have been coughing up blood with internal injuries by now.
Although he took quite a beating, it wasn't without its rewards. After the four of them had been fighting for a quarter of an hour, a new change finally appeared on Zhao Rui's system panel.
"Cloud Hand Star-Picking progress: 100%!"
Zhao Rui used a "Sweeping Away a Thousand Troops," forcing the three back. He leaped out of the battle circle, panting heavily as he said, "I'm done, I'm done!"
Hearing this, the three of them withdrew their techniques and laughed. "Little Junior Brother, you have to keep it up! All of us martial brothers are counting on you to bring honor to our master."
Hearing this, Zhao Rui quickly waved his hands. "No, no, I can't take on that responsibility! Senior Brother, Senior Sister, please don't tease me!"
"Who else would we look to? You're Master's youngest disciple."
Fourth Senior Sister flashed a beautiful smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes as if enjoying the show.
"Wait until you get into college and train for a few more years. By then, you should probably be able to win!"
Second Senior Brother chimed in to agree.
Hearing their words, a bitter expression appeared on Zhao Rui's handsome face, as if he were badly constipated.
His master had a "rival." The two had been at odds for the better part of their lives. Then, for some unknown reason, they stopped fighting each other and had their disciples fight instead.
A competition between the disciples was held every three years.
The winning disciple would receive an electric scooter. Of course, that wasn't the main point. The main thing was the honor of their school and their master's reputation.
Unfortunately, for the past few years—for two competitions in a row—Jimin Medicine Hall had lost.
For no other reason than that their skills were inferior.
For the past two years, at every level, Li Cunxin's disciples couldn't measure up to the other side. It would have been a miracle if they hadn't lost.
Li Cunxin had often lost his temper over this, but learning Martial Arts wasn't child's play; you couldn't just become good on a whim.
And as the newest disciple, Zhao Rui had initially been the focus of much of Li Cunxin's effort and hope.
But after two fights, Li Cunxin couldn't be bothered to have any more high expectations for Zhao Rui.
'My talent is lacking, and I don't work any harder than my opponents. How could I possibly win?'