An Unconventional Challenge

Wang Yi had initially viewed Jiang Zhe with a certain regard, but seeing his hesitant demeanor now, a flicker of disappointment crossed his face. Even though Jiang Zhe possessed talent, his strengths lay more in strategy and intellect.

For Wang Yi, a promising combatant was far more appealing. A master strategist, however, would be better suited for one of his former comrades.

“Alright, Teacher,” Jiang Zhe said. “You asked me to make a move.”

Before Wang Yi’s impression of Jiang Zhe could further decline, Jiang Zhe seemed to have made a decision. He smiled, then nodded at Wang Yi. After that, he didn’t dawdle any longer.

He deftly pulled down the zipper of his tracksuit and swiftly shed his jacket, revealing a black short-sleeved shirt underneath. The stark contrast made his skin appear dazzlingly pale.

Without the loose jacket, Jiang Zhe’s slender frame was even more apparent, making Wang Yi almost reluctant to spar with him.

‘Look at those scrawny arms and legs,’ Wang Yi thought. ‘I’m genuinely afraid I might break a bone.’

He realized his agreement had been too hasty.

No matter how promising such a frail young man seemed, he wouldn’t be able to endure the rigorous training of a special forces soldier, or even that of an ordinary serviceman. At best, he could only practice some rudimentary moves to exercise.

This time, it was Wang Yi’s turn to look at Jiang Zhe, wanting to speak but holding back. His initial excitement rapidly faded.

He regretted it.

“How about it, Jiang Zhe, you…”

“Teacher, you first, or me first?”

Jiang Zhe spoke, seemingly oblivious to Wang Yi’s attempt to retract his offer, as he quickly approached him. Wang Yi’s expression grew even more complex before he finally sighed and waved a hand dismissively, indicating for Jiang Zhe to make the first move.

Despite his low expectations for Jiang Zhe, Wang Yi still wanted to see if this quick-witted young man could replicate the moves he had just demonstrated in such a short time.

In truth, when Wang Yi initially suggested they ‘practice,’ he hadn’t intended a real fight. Instead, he wanted to use the opportunity to feed Jiang Zhe moves, allowing him to practice against Wang Yi as a target.

If Jiang Zhe could display even a hint of genuine momentum, Wang Yi felt he wouldn’t have to give up on him so quickly.

As Wang Yi’s mind wandered, Jiang Zhe seized the initiative. He didn’t hold back, for despite the extreme difficulty of the moves Wang Yi had taught, they posed no challenge to the ‘battle-hardened’ Jiang Zhe.

After all, understanding one principle often leads to understanding many.

Back then, Jiang Dad had initiated a brutal training regimen that included not only grueling physical conditioning but also every other aspect. Although this was merely a game world, Jiang Zhe had noticed that apart from the brain-dead romance plots, it didn’t differ much from reality.

Therefore, Jiang Zhe surmised that the game world might have automatically patched bugs by directly applying a real-world template.

It was similar to how the game plot would automatically adjust after a change occurred.

Speaking of which, after Jiang Zhe altered the game plot where Su Lianlian and Lin Moshu apologized, the subsequent impacts and developments remained unchanged. Lin Moshu still pitied Su Lianlian, and Ning Ran’s wicked reputation for bullying classmates spread.

However, the game’s automatic plot repair was limited. After Ning Ran retaliated, the bullying rumors were dispelled, and a group of students were expelled. This indicated that while the plot could be automatically patched, its effectiveness wasn’t guaranteed.

It was akin to a life-saving elixir losing half its potency, its effects greatly diminished, or even rendered useless due to the loss of medicinal power. Jiang Zhe keenly perceived this, realizing it was excellent news for both him and Ning Ran!

He had no desire to interact with Su Lianlian, the ‘sea king’ protagonist, and become just another fish swimming in her green ocean.

“Jiang Zhe!”

Jiang Zhe didn’t immediately seek victory through risky maneuvers. Given his current physical condition, no matter how many moves he knew, he couldn’t take down Wang Yi, who was as strong as a bear. Thus, he chose not to use the moves Wang Yi had taught him at first, opting instead for a more insidious approach.

A kick to the groin was a move every man dreaded. Even more, he aimed for Wang Yi’s ‘chrysanthemums’ with both hands, causing Wang Yi to laugh in furious disbelief. Wang Yi roared Jiang Zhe’s name, quickly grabbing his collar and kicking towards his calf to better control him.

He had never expected Jiang Zhe to deliver such an unexpected ‘surprise.’

He certainly hadn’t taught such a move.

‘Tsk!’

‘Fortunately, I didn’t take him as a disciple!’

‘Having such a disciple would truly be a misfortune for the sect!’

Wang Yi now wanted to end the fight quickly, to deal with this little rascal Jiang Zhe. However, things didn’t unfold as he anticipated; Jiang Zhe narrowly evaded his attacks.

Jiang Zhe reached out, gripping Wang Yi’s arm and pressing on a nerve point with force, causing Wang Yi’s movements to falter. Simultaneously, he returned a kick with the same move, making Wang Yi’s left leg unsteady.

He disrupted the moves Wang Yi had just demonstrated, using them one by one against Wang Yi himself. This left Wang Yi no time to counterattack, leaving him utterly disorganized and unable to gather his momentum, forced only to passively defend.

While a weak body couldn’t defeat a lion, after crippling it, there was still a chance to turn the tide—especially since this lion wasn’t as strong as it appeared on the surface, harboring an old injury. Furthermore, Wang Yi’s underestimation of him was also a factor; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so passive.

‘So, people shouldn’t be too arrogant, should they?’

Jiang Zhe narrowed his eyes, observing Wang Yi’s left hand. He didn’t feel devious as he launched each strike towards Wang Yi’s injured left hand.

Meeting force with force offered no chance of victory; he needed to use his wits. The physical education teacher had shown some disdain and perfunctoriness towards him. If he didn’t subdue him now, conflicts might arise in the future, so Jiang Zhe held nothing back.

Each move was lethal. Simultaneously, he rapidly searched for an opening, an opportune moment that would allow Wang Yi to be directly knocked down and unable to rise.

As Jiang Zhe eagerly prepared for his next move, Wang Yi grew increasingly alarmed with each exchange. From his initial casual approach, he became serious, and now he felt he had made a grave mistake in ever thinking Jiang Zhe was incapable!

On the contrary, he was incredibly capable!

He had only seen the moves demonstrated once, yet he was now executing them with flawless mastery. He was simply a genius!

Such a talent would be a top prospect even in a special forces unit. Even if his physical condition wasn’t perfect, it could be nurtured later, otherwise, it would be a disservice to his exceptional memory and reaction speed.

‘No!’

‘I cannot miss out on such a promising talent. I must make him my disciple.’

‘When I meet my friends later, I’ll have something to brag about. Even though I, Wang Yi, retired from the military to become a teacher, I’m still ‘old but vigorous.”

At this thought, Wang Yi, who had forgotten his earlier concern about a ‘sect’s misfortune’ should he take on such a disciple, suddenly broke into a wide smile. This abrupt change in demeanor startled Jiang Zhe, causing his attacks to become even more relentless as he sought a swift conclusion to the fight.

However, Wang Yi didn’t continue. Instead, he actively retreated several steps, creating distance. He raised a hand and waved at Jiang Zhe, signaling the end of the match, then excitedly declared, “Jiang Zhe, you’re quite something, kid! Truly impressive.”

Seeing Wang Yi voluntarily announce the end, Jiang Zhe felt a slight regret that he hadn’t managed to knock him down. But on the surface, he maintained appearances, offering a sincere smile.

Noticing this, Wang Yi remembered Jiang Zhe’s initial hesitation. He asked, somewhat puzzled, “You’re clearly very capable, so why were you so unconfident? You kept making excuses when I asked you to practice.”

“It wasn’t a lack of confidence. I was just worried that if I won outright, it might be awkward for you, Teacher.”

“…”