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    Starry Sky Professional Directory 6

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    Chapter 6: Sparring (Please collect!)

    June 29, 2024

    Chapter 6: Sparring (Please collect!)

    Although Fang Xing never missed a Martial Dao class, he didn’t always receive guidance from Xia Long, especially when it came to practicing martial arts techniques. He seized every opportunity to carefully understand the differences.

    After a half-hour session of the Great Dragon Stake, it was time for the twelve forms of military boxing.

    Fang Xing meticulously performed each movement, hoping to receive Xia Long’s guidance.

    Unfortunately, this time Xia Long only glanced at him, nodding and then shaking his head: “Everyone has improved, which is good, but the ultimate application of martial arts lies in actual combat… If it works in combat, anything you say is valid; if it doesn’t, it’s all nonsense. Now, form pairs and begin sparring exercises…”

    He tapped his wristwatch, and a bright blue screen instantly appeared in front of him. Names flickered across the screen until they finally settled.

    “First group, Bai Lang versus Qian Xun!”

    Xia Long announced impassively: “Other students, clear the area.”

    “Please instruct me!”

    Bai Lang, tall and slender with a crew cut, politely bowed first.

    “Please instruct me!”

    Qian Xun, wearing a light green training uniform and sporting a bob haircut, bowed in return.

    *啪!*

    In an instant, Bai Lang moved like an arrow, shooting several meters to stand before Qian Xun. He brought his five fingers together, and a cannon fist followed.

    A crisp sound echoed through the air, indicating his proficiency in the Bow Stance Cannon Fist.

    *碰!*

    The cannon fist missed its mark. Qian Xun assumed a pose similar to an iron bridge, defying belief that her slender waist could bend to a ninety-degree angle. Then, she pressed her hands to the ground, her long legs wrapping around Bai Lang like boneless vines, resembling two pythons strangling their prey.

    The ‘Double Serpent Legs’ from the twelve forms of military boxing!

    The next second, Bai Lang was tightly bound, falling to the ground like a victim caught in a giant python’s embrace.

    A naked choke!

    “I give up!”

    Bai Lang’s face was flushed, whether from lack of oxygen or excitement, Fang Xing couldn’t tell, but he didn’t seem particularly disheartened.

    “Oh man… this kid hit the jackpot,”

    Liu Wei beside him slapped his thigh in regret: “Why wasn’t it me?”

    “Next group, Yi An versus Cole!”

    Xia Long remained expressionless, signaling the next pair to come forward. Yi An was small and thin with dark skin, while Cole was a typical Caucasian, nearly two heads taller than Yi An. Hearing the instruction, a cruel smile spread across Cole’s face. His right fist drew back, then shot out like an arrow.

    *碰!*

    The punch was too fast; Yi An had no chance to dodge and was sent flying backward, the sound of bone cracking echoing from his hastily raised arms.

    “One punch…”

    The surrounding students were shocked: “Cole’s punch… is incredibly close to the ‘priceless cannon shot’…”

    The Bow Stance Cannon Fist, the ‘cannon’ is the true essence!

    “So amazing… this big guy, with his strength and stamina, has a huge advantage in the early stages of martial arts training, like those naturally gifted individuals in ancient times…”

    Liu Wei muttered.

    “Although the twelve forms of military boxing are only C-level martial arts, reaching this level in the first year of high school is still quite commendable.”

    Xia Long folded his arms, secretly nodding to himself, adding Cole to his observation list, but without much outward expression, he simply said: “Two students, take Yi An to the infirmary. Next group… Liu Wei versus Bai Liany!”

    “Huh?”

    Hearing this, Fang Xing immediately looked to his side.

    Liu Wei, suppressing his excitement, calmly stepped onto the mat: “Bai, please instruct me!”

    Bai Liany nodded gently. She looked like a white lotus flower, her voice soft and delicate, bringing to mind the water lilies of southern China: “Be careful, Liu.”

    Before she finished speaking, she had already moved to Liu Wei’s side!

    “So fast!”

    Fang Xing watched coldly, marveling inwardly.

    This Bai’s speed was probably the fastest in the class!

    As a bio-engineered human, she surpassed many natural-born classmates in martial arts progress. It was truly unbelievable.

    Even more unbelievable was the terrifying whistling wind that followed!

    *刺啦!*

    Bai Liany raised her right leg high, her white training uniform rustling.

    The air seemed to be torn apart by a giant axe, the axe being Bai Liany’s leg!

    The twelve forms of military boxing – War Axe Leg!

    *咯咧!*

    Fang Xing heard a sharp crack of bone, then saw Liu Wei flung backward as if hit by a speeding train, screaming in mid-air: “My hand…”

    “It’s nothing, just a broken hand. Someone, take him to the infirmary!”

    Xia Long frowned.

    He didn’t know that even the cheapest school infirmary still charged fees.

    “Next group… Fang Xing, versus Ouyang Qianqian!”

    Fang Xing, intending to take his deskmate and friend to the infirmary, heard his name called and could only give Liu Wei an apologetic look before stepping onto the sparring mat.

    Liu Wei, refusing the offers of help to get to the infirmary, watched from the side.

    After all, one was his best friend, and the other was his crush.

    He thought for a moment, then shouted: “Fang Xing, go for it!”

    After all, Ouyang Qianqian, a natural-born student, always ranked among the top in the class and surely wouldn’t lose. Cheering for a friend was only natural.

    Despite his encouragement, he didn’t believe Fang Xing had a chance of winning.

    “Please instruct me!”

    Fang Xing, however, remained calm, giving Ouyang Qianqian a casual smile, assuming a military boxing stance, and simultaneously disabling the defensive functions of his nanomaterial suit.

    After all, it was just a class exercise; there was no need to cheat.

    “Please!”

    Ouyang Qianqian’s hands moved like orchids, graceful and fleeting, her movements not following the twelve forms of military boxing.

    This was her family’s martial art – Flying Orchid Finger!

    It was a C-level martial art that specialized in training finger flexibility and suppleness.

    ‘Hmm, much weaker than Gu Yun… As natural-born students from different backgrounds, if Gu Yun is from a middle-class family, Ouyang Qianqian comes from a poor family… Of course, either way, they’re stronger than bio-engineered humans; we’re born into debt.’

    Fang Xing dodged Ouyang Qianqian’s finger, then brought his fingers together, forming his most familiar punch.

    The Bow Stance Cannon Fist!

    Man like a pine, steps like a bow, fist like a cannon!

    *轰隆!*

    A dull thud resonated through the air as Fang Xing’s punch landed forcefully.

    However, Ouyang Qianqian, like a willow catkin, moved backward with the wind, narrowly avoiding the punch.

    Willow Catkin Bodywork!

    Then, she twisted, appearing at Fang Xing’s right side, her right fingers like jade, lightly tapping, generating a gust of wind.

    Although the technique was fierce and ruthless, it was still graceful, giving a feeling of refreshing spring breeze.

    Fang Xing twisted his waist, advancing instead of retreating.

    *啪!*

    He felt a sharp pain in his back, but without hesitation, he opened his arms and embraced her in a bear hug.

    “Ah!”

    With Liu Wei’s startled cry, he and Ouyang Qianqian fell to the ground together.

    ‘It doesn’t matter if she’s stronger, I can bring her to my area of expertise, then use my experience to defeat her.’

    Fang Xing smiled inwardly; the current situation was very advantageous for him.

    After all, in close-quarters ground combat, girls were always at a disadvantage.

    Liu Wei would be envious enough to bleed from the nose.

    But, looking at Ouyang Qianqian’s defiant eyes, he patted the ground: “I give up!”

    Although he had reached a similar level, even gaining a slight advantage, this girl’s progress in refining her flesh and skin was definitely higher, her basic physical condition much stronger!

    Although she might be somewhat restrained in ground combat due to gender, winning would still require considerable effort.

    Ending up injured and embarrassed would be pointless.

    After all, this was just harmless class sparring.

    “Good, stop!”

    Xia Long nodded, saying to Ouyang Qianqian, who got up with a look of displeasure: “I’ve told everyone before not to rely too much on so-called family martial arts. No matter how good your family’s martial arts are, can they compare to the school? Or even the Federation? Ouyang’s family martial arts clearly bear the mark of ancient martial arts. The movements still prioritize grace, which gave Fang Xing an opportunity… The twelve forms of military boxing are designed specifically for battlefield combat, without a single superfluous movement. Even if the posture is unsightly, winning and surviving is paramount… For example, Fang Xing, if he had continued with the ‘Sow Dragon Roll’, his chances of winning would have been much higher…”

    His comments on strategy and response were insightful for Fang Xing. Indeed, if Ouyang Qianqian hadn’t made an initial mistake, he wouldn’t have been able to take her down.

    “Next group…”

    Xia Long, after giving guidance, continued to bring the next pair forward.

    Inwardly, he was slightly moved: ‘This Fang Xing is not bad…’

    To him, Ouyang Qianqian, as a student from a natural-born family with family resources invested in her martial arts training, had a faster pace in refining her flesh and skin than bio-engineered humans, yet she was pushed to this point, clearly lacking practical combat experience. There was nothing more to say.

    But Fang Xing was interesting. His combat awareness was excellent, clearly having undergone some actual combat, and he was able to decisively give up when necessary, showing understanding, knowing when to advance and retreat, and knowing what to take and what to leave behind.

    Moreover, it seemed that every class, he showed a little improvement, however small!

    That was unusual.

    Xia Long recalled the previous classes. Even excellent students like Bai Liany and Cole didn’t improve every class.

    They might even be affected by various trivial matters occasionally.

    But Fang Xing was different. Although his level was low and his techniques were not proficient, he was taking it step by step, walking steadily.

    ‘Maybe Fang Xing is in particularly good shape lately. Let’s wait and see…’

    It was just a small matter, so Xia Long quickly set aside Fang Xing’s case and decided to observe him for a longer period.

    “Fang Xing…”

    Fang Xing approached Liu Wei, receiving a resentful look from his deskmate: “You actually tackled Qianqian…”

    “Ahem, didn’t I give up? Otherwise, the situation would have become very awkward…”

    Fang Xing coughed, actually mainly wanting to make a good impression on Xia Long.

    “Our friendship of so many years, the little boat is about to capsize… But you should take me to the infirmary first.”

    Liu Wei quickly dropped the matter, and the two headed towards the school infirmary.

    After passing a flower bed, Fang Xing stopped.

    A girl stood ahead, in a snow-white training uniform, with a demeanor like a water lily from southern China, it was Bai Liany!

    (End of chapter)

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