After being busy for half an hour organizing and sending off Teacher Liu's books via SF Express, Zhang Beixing returned to his dorm with the book *Yue Family's Continuous Fist*.
He wasn't particularly interested in Martial Arts. But, as the saying goes, 'When it rains, you beat the kids—idle hands and all that.' He had nothing else to do right now, so he figured he might as well check it out for fun.Besides, judging by Teacher Liu's earlier reaction, this *Yue Family's Continuous Fist* might actually be the real deal.Zhang Beixing also wanted to see what real-world Martial Arts training was actually like!
With this thought in mind, Zhang Beixing put on a mask and opened the book. The first thing that met his eyes were four large characters: Loyalty to the Country!
Following that was the history of *Yue Family's Continuous Fist*.
*Yue Family's Continuous Fist*, also known as Yue Family Eagle Hand.
It originated during the Song Dynasty. It was a fist technique created by Yue Fei, a national hero of the Song Dynasty. The technique originally consisted of only nine moves, used for the daily training of soldiers and for combat on the battlefield. It later spread among the common people. After numerous Martial Arts masters extensively optimized and improved it, the repertoire of *Yue Family's Continuous Fist* gradually expanded.
According to the table of contents, this tattered copy of *Yue Family's Continuous Fist* contained thirty-two routines, totaling one hundred and seventy-three moves. The essential points of each move within the routines were recorded in detail with text. Furthermore, to prevent misinterpretation by those who might be completely illiterate, the author had even included illustrations next to the text—and damn, they were in color!
"???"
Looking at the illustration, Zhang Beixing was dumbfounded. This is clearly a product of modern printing techniques!But damn it, how could modern printing techniques appear in a Martial Arts Secret Manual?Could this book be a fake?
The thought that he had foolishly treated a fake book as a Martial Arts Secret Manual made Zhang Beixing's expression darken. He flipped the book over, looking for the publisher's information on the back, intending to file a complaint. However, after searching for a moment, he didn't find a publisher. Instead, he found the name of a martial arts school. *Yue Family's Continuous Fist* had apparently originated from there.
Capital City Yue Family's Continuous Fist? he wondered. Martial arts schools are publishing books these days?
Muttering to himself, Zhang Beixing took out his phone and began searching. He initially assumed it was just a small martial arts school. To his surprise, it actually boasted a history of a hundred years!
In the 1940s, its disciples had represented the Chinese Martial Arts community, traveling to Japan for a competition where they defeated all opponents to claim first place. They were even given the titles 'Tiger of East Asia' and 'Asia's Strongest Martial Arts Master' by the Japanese!
Later, in 1986, the school participated in a national Martial Arts observation and exchange conference, winning the Gold Lion Award.
And then… And then there was nothing else!
That's it?! Looking at the brief introduction of the martial arts school, Zhang Beixing was once again dumbfounded. Seriously, what was this all about?You're a martial arts school with a century of history, and your only notable achievements are these two events?!No wonder he had no impression of *Yue Family's Continuous Fist* before today.He'd never even seen it in movies or TV shows.So, you guys are really that low-profile?
The corners of his mouth twitched; Zhang Beixing was utterly speechless. Speechless or not, after this investigation, he was almost certain that the *Yue Family's Continuous Fist* manual he held was genuine! After all, if it were a fake, word getting out would only damage their own reputation.
「Half an hour later.」
Zhang Beixing finished reading *Yue Family's Continuous Fist*.
Although the book was riddled with wormholes and many parts were damaged, the illustrations were thankfully large enough. Even if portions were missing, it didn't affect the overall comprehension of the forms.
After finishing the book, Zhang Beixing's sole impression was one word: vicious!
Too ruthless!This fist technique was undoubtedly created for warfare.It's not just the strong continuity; the key is that every single move is exceedingly cunning and brutal.If you get caught by a move and can't break free, you'd be relentlessly chain-attacked to death.No wonder disciples of Yue Family's Continuous Fist could represent the Chinese Martial Arts community in 'exchanges' in Japan back in the 1940s.What exchange? That was clearly about going to silence enemies and exact revenge!
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Beixing mused. At this moment, he suddenly understood why Yue Family's Continuous Fist was so powerful, yet not famous at all!It wasn't that they didn't want to be famous, but that they didn't dare to be!We're in a peaceful society now, one that advocates truth, goodness, beauty, and good fortune.This martial arts school of yours doesn't follow the prevailing trend; it actively goes against it.What are you trying to imply by doing that?Not to mention, your school is located right at the feet of the Son of Heaven.The fact that they haven't shut your martial arts school down is purely out of consideration for the contributions you've made in the past.If you were to be ungrateful, still seeking the limelight and promoting yourselves everywhere......then you'd just be asking for trouble!
"SNIFF, SNIFF. Wait, what's that smell?"
"Who the hell took a dump in here? Didn't I tell you guys no shitting in the room?"
Just as Zhang Beixing was lost in thought, a voice from the side interrupted his musings. It was Jin Linyu. He was from out of town, unlike Zhang Beixing and the other two, who were all genuine Northern River locals and born with chronic rhinitis. Moreover, he didn't smoke, making his sense of smell the sharpest in the dormitory.
However, having a keen sense of smell wasn't always a good thing. Take the current situation, for example. Dong Guoning and Zheng Jituo, with their chronic rhinitis, were sleeping like dead logs. Jin Linyu, however, had been jolted awake by the musty odor. Of course, this was also because Jin Linyu himself wasn't a particularly deep sleeper.
"Screw you! You're the one who shat in here! This is the fragrance of knowledge, understand? The fragrance of knowledge!" Zhang Beixing retorted irritably, shaking the book in his hand.
Jin Linyu had a sudden realization. "OH! So that's what knowledge smells like! No wonder I get a headache every time I try to read. I must be getting light-headed from the fumes!"
Then, his gaze fell on the book in Zhang Beixing's hand. Recognizing the title, he grinned and said, "YO! *Yue Family's Continuous Fist*, huh? Didn't peg you for a Martial Hero fan, Lao Zhang! So, what do you think? Figured it out yet? How about you show us a few moves someday so we can feast our eyes?"
"Get outta here! I'm just looking at this for kicks, not actually planning to practice it. I haven't even figured out my regular workout routine yet!"
"HEY! Your workout routine is your workout routine. What's that got to do with Martial Arts Training? You've got the Secret Manual right here. Why not give it a shot? What if Martial Arts Training works out better than just exercising?"
"Nah, I still think..." Zhang Beixing began, about to say that Martial Arts aren't as fragrant as beautiful women...
However, before the words could leave his mouth,
[System Notification: Suggestion detected. Suggestion recorded.]
[Suggestion: Martial Arts Training. Difficulty: B. Each completed practice of *Yue Family's Continuous Fist* awards 0.5 Ability Points.]
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