On a late autumn night, a chill had already settled in. Jason Luo and Grace rode their bikes side by side, sharing the hardships of their lives along the way, quickly drawing closer to each other.
When they reached a block near Chinatown, Grace braked and pointed at an old apartment building.
"We're here, Jason. That's where I live. It's getting late. Let's meet again tomorrow—you should hurry back and get some rest."
Jason Luo parked his bike, walked over, and pressed the remaining two hundred-plus dollars into her hand.
"Grace, listen to me. Pay your rent first. If it's not enough, I'll bring you more tomorrow. I don't want you working at the cargo yard anymore—that's not work you should be doing. Take your time and find a proper job. I'll help you ask around too. Please, do as I say, okay?"
Grace flinched back as if burned.
"No, Jason Luo, I can't. Your family needs money too. I've almost saved enough for rent already…"
"Take it anyway! Buy a few clothes. A girl needs to look presentable to land a job."
When she tried to refuse again, Jason Luo's face hardened.
"Don't argue! I can't just treat you as my friend in name only. Besides, if I ever run into trouble in the future, I might need your help too. That's what friends are for—helping each other out…"
Moved by his words, Grace accepted the money with tears in her eyes. Jason Luo continued,
"Keep it safe. And tomorrow, don't let me see you at the cargo yard again, understand? Also, give me your phone number. If I find a good job, I'll let you know."
Jason Luo's big-brother demeanor made Grace nod repeatedly. After exchanging numbers, he finally let her go.
Watching her disappear into the stairwell, Jason Luo turned and left, his heart unusually warm. After being alone for so long, suddenly having someone to care for and be cared by—it was a feeling beyond words...
...
The next morning in the gym, Coach Pedro adjusted the training regimen.
"Since you've started building physical strength, your techniques must keep up. If the essence of a technical fighter lies in control and evasion, then for a power-based style, it's about organizing attacks and applying pressure. And the key to that is the Advance!"
"Today we'll focus on advancing. Advancing helps you close in fast to land close-range strikes. Common methods are the Pendulum Advance, the Cover Advance, and the Shift Advance. The Pendulum Advance—Tyson's signature—requires lowering your stance, feinting rapidly left and right, then surging forward…"
"A Cover Advance uses a series of jabs or big swings to mask your movement, confuse your opponent, and step in fast. The Shift Advance relies on timing—after retreating, changing direction, or pivoting, you suddenly charge forward to catch the opponent off guard…"
"Remember, advancing demands precise timing, strong Footwork, and explosive lower-body power. You need to drill it constantly, but use it sparingly in the ring. The payoff is big, but so is the risk. If you're not proficient, your opponent will read it and the consequences could be severe."
As he explained, Pedro personally demonstrated each move, showing the essentials clearly and explaining which type of Advance fit different situations.
Jason Luo studied intently but couldn't help worrying about the old coach's health. Pedro scolded him harshly, ordering him to focus and stop being distracted…
Advancing proved extremely difficult. Jason Luo's Footwork lagged, his explosiveness fell short, and his advances lacked the speed and suddenness Pedro demanded. The gym echoed with the coach's angry shouts.
"What's wrong? Lower your stance! Lower it! Faster! At this speed, your opponent reacts easily…"
"Keep your Footwork tight! Guard up! Never relax! Focus on your opponent, adapt to his Reaction…"
"Better—slightly better. Again! Faster, faster!"
The entire morning passed under this relentless pace. It was exhausting, no doubt about it.
But thinking of the old coach's wishes, Jason Luo clenched his teeth and pushed through. He wanted to grow stronger quickly—for the coach and for himself. He had to break fate's chains and change this life of hardship.
What surprised him was that after such grueling technical training in the morning, the evening's physical conditioning with Brown felt almost light in comparison.
Besides adjusting his muscles, Brown used equipment and high-tech methods to boost his conditioning. For certain hard-to-train muscles, he employed an electronic stimulator.
After inserting electrodes, pulses forced the muscles to contract and stretch. It looked easy, but the process left his body aching and tingling, and afterward, he felt drained for hours.
Thankfully, only a few muscle groups required this. Brown also told him that, along with the devices, small doses of synthetic steroids during training could help improve muscle fibers and boost cross strength.
After the day's training, Jason Luo hurried to the cargo yard, worried Grace might sneak back to work.
But when he got there, she wasn't around. Jason Luo nodded in satisfaction—at least she was listening.
Since she hadn't come, he focused on his work—or rather, turned it into a new kind of training. To push his Stamina and work every muscle, he invented endless variations.
He used the cargo as equipment—lifting while walking, balancing, carrying on his shoulder, hauling on his back… practically a circus act. The others shook their heads. Such a strong young man—shame his brain seemed broken.
Even so, Jason Luo was faster than most. Training the body, at its core, meant exerting effort, draining energy, and building endurance by repetition.
In the middle of his workout, a familiar figure appeared. Grace rode up on her bike again. Jason Luo's mouth twisted in frustration.
"Why are you here again? Didn't we agree you'd listen?"
Grace smiled softly.
"Don't be mad, friend. I just came to check on you. Here—this is rib soup I simmered at home. Try some, it'll help you recover."
Jason Luo blinked.
"You came all this way just to bring me soup?"
"Of course. Why not? Drink it while it's hot—it won't taste good cold. You train so hard and still work after. This will help, even add some calcium…" Grace said warmly.
Jason Luo sniffed it. It smelled incredible.
Since his mother passed, neither of the men at home had made such time-consuming dishes. He hadn't tasted a proper bowl of soup in years…
Urged by Grace, he accepted. After the first sip, he couldn't stop. It was too good.
Watching him gulp it down, Grace beamed.
"Hehe, slow down. Here, take these chopsticks—don't just drink the broth. How is it? Tastes okay, right?"
Draining the bowl in one go, Jason Luo deliberately frowned.
"Terrible. Absolutely terrible. Don't bring me this again. And what are you doing wandering out at night?"
Grace's eyes widened.
"No way! I tasted it before—it was delicious! You're lying! Oh, I get it—you just don't want me bringing it, so you're pretending…"
Seeing her panic, Jason Luo finally burst out laughing.
"Didn't know you had this skill. Whoever marries you someday will be lucky."
Grace blushed instantly.
"Stop it! I'm still young. Say that again and I won't talk to you anymore…"
"Alright, alright, I'll stop. Honestly, running all this way for a bowl of soup in this cold… Stay put. I'll take you home once I'm done."
That bowl of soup made Jason Luo truly accept her as his friend. In the chilly autumn breeze, his heart felt warm—hot, even...
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser