Chapter 11 – Skill Points

“Today, we will learn the movements of basic leg techniques.”

Just as he did when teaching basic fist techniques, Lin Zhiqin first demonstrated the moves, then broke them down for detailed instruction.

However, unlike the previous class, he didn’t go around teaching each student individually.

Only Lu Yuan and two other students received this special attention.

These two students, like Lu Yuan, were more attentive during class and practiced diligently afterward.

In fact, the basic leg techniques were much more challenging than the fist techniques.

“You can practice on your own now. I need to step out for a bit.”

After teaching all the movements, Lin Zhiqin, as usual, “had something to attend to” and left.

The students responded sparsely, and many unconsciously stopped their movements.

Lu Yuan ignored the others. As soon as Lin Zhiqin disappeared from sight, he activated his skill.

“Absolute concentration, activate!”

In an instant, he entered a state of absolute concentration, fully immersed in practicing the basic leg techniques.

“Lu Yuan! Lu Yuan!”

A voice called out from a distance, gradually growing louder and pulling Lu Yuan back to reality.

It felt like surfacing from underwater, with all the surrounding noise rushing in.

“Huff, huff•”

Lu Yuan stopped his movements and shook his sore, stiff legs. This time, he didn’t collapse into a heap.

“Do you need some water?”

Liu Yue stood beside him, offering a bottle of water.

“Thanks.”

As usual, Lu Yuan didn’t refuse, taking the bottle and gulping it down.

He drank the entire bottle, then wiped his mouth and asked Liu Yue.

“How many minutes until the end of class?”

“One minute.”

Liu Yue glanced at her digital watch, then corrected herself: “Oh wait, it’s already time to finish.”

Lu Yuan was slightly surprised.

Class is already over?

Today’s practice time was much longer than the last class.

He exited the state of absolute concentration later than the previous class, yet his energy wasn’t completely drained.

It seemed his physical condition had indeed improved significantly. Those constitution attribute increases weren’t for nothing.

Lu Yuan immediately checked his professional panel.

[You have focused on martial arts training for ten minutes, professional experience +1]

[Your skill in basic leg techniques has improved, experience points +3]

[You have focused on martial arts training for ten minutes, professional experience +1]

[Congratulations, your [Martial Artist] professional level has increased!]

Even though he had anticipated it, Lu Yuan couldn’t help but feel a surge of joy at the sight of the level-up notification.

[Martial Artist Level 2 (6/200)]

[Basic Professional Skills: Basic Body Training Level 2 (123/200)

Basic Fist Technique Level 2 (57/200)

Basic Leg Techniques Level 1 (34/100)]

The professional panel showed one additional free attribute point and one skill point.

After a brief hesitation, Lu Yuan allocated the new attribute point to his constitution attribute.

His previously increased constitution attribute went from 8 to 9.

It was as if a crumpled piece of paper was being smoothed out by some magical force, erasing all the creases.

In just a few seconds, Lu Yuan felt all the fatigue from his previous practice vanish, and he became energized.

The soreness and stiffness in his limbs rapidly faded. It was almost like he had taken some miraculous elixir.

“I didn’t expect adding points to have such an effect. It’s truly amazing.”

Next to him, Liu Yue seemed oblivious to the changes happening to Lu Yuan and continued talking.

“You’re incredible, Lu Yuan. You practiced the entire class without stopping. Everyone else stopped half an hour ago.”

At that moment, someone wearing martial arts gym attire ran in from outside and loudly announced, “Class is over! Tomorrow morning at 8 AM, please don’t be late.”

After making the announcement, the person turned and left without looking back.

“Whoosh—”

The students let out a collective sigh of relief, some standing up, others gathering their belongings.

A few started voicing their complaints.

“What’s the deal? Every class only lasts half the time, and the rest is just free practice.”

“Exactly. Today, only a few people got any instruction. I didn’t even get to practice half the moves.”

“Complaint! If this happens again, I’m definitely filing a complaint!”

Lu Yuan glanced at the group, noticing it was the same guys who had come with the guy sporting a hair bun.

They looked quite dissatisfied and were loudly talking about complaining to Lin Zhiqin.

Ignoring them, Lu Yuan said goodbye to Liu Yue and left the training room.

After taking a shower and changing his clothes, he waited in the hall of the martial arts gym. Soon, Cheng Peng appeared with wet hair.

“Why didn’t you dry your hair?” Lu Yuan frowned, worried that Cheng Peng might shake his head and splash water everywhere.

“It’s refreshing!” Cheng Peng replied nonchalantly, ruffling his hair, then asked, “How do you feel today?”

“Not bad. I don’t feel as exhausted as last week,” Lu Yuan said.

“Your physique has improved after a week of training. The initial progress is always the most noticeable. I was the same way,” Cheng Peng said. He glanced at the stairs leading to the second floor and suggested with a grin, “Want to go up for a massage? I still have two sessions left on my card. We could use them together.”

“No, thanks,” Lu Yuan quickly declined. “You should save those for when you really need them.”

Lu Yuan had only learned afterward that the massages on the second floor of the Yuan Martial Arts Gym were incredibly expensive. A single session cost four figures if paid out of pocket!

Cheng Peng, as a premium member, had three free massage sessions, which was why he could invite Lu Yuan before.

Although the massage was indeed effective—almost miraculous—Lu Yuan felt uncomfortable taking advantage of Cheng Peng’s generosity again.

Cheng Peng might not mind, but Cheng Peng’s parents might have opinions if they found out.

No matter how close they were, Lu Yuan didn’t want to take such a significant favor for granted.

“Premium membership requires spending over a hundred thousand at the gym. That’s out of my reach for now. But official disciples also get free massage sessions. That’s something I can work toward.”

The benefits and perks of being an official disciple at Yuan Martial Arts Gym were excellent, something Lu Yuan had considered from the start.

With his [Martial Artist] panel active, his progress in martial arts had accelerated. Now, his desire to become an official disciple was even stronger.

“Want to go to the Internet Cafe later? I’ll treat you to some fried chicken for lunch,” Cheng Peng, as usual, tried to entice Lu Yuan to go to the Internet Cafe.

Lu Yuan immediately declined.

“No, thanks. I want to go home and practice the leg techniques our coach taught us today.”

“You can practice anytime. Why the rush? Come on, go online with me!”

“I still have to do my homework this afternoon. There’s a lot this week, and I might not finish it all with the time taken up by martial arts training over the weekend.”

“Alright, go home early then. Homework is more important. If you don’t finish, I won’t have anything to copy either.”

“…”

The midday sun blazed fiercely.

Coincidentally, the air conditioning on the bus had broken down.

Lu Yuan arrived home with sweat dripping from his forehead and immediately grabbed two bottles of ice water from the fridge in the small shop his family owned. He gulped them down quickly.

He was eating lunch alone.

The food was prepared by his mom, and his dad, Lu Xinghua, had just left, hastily packing some food before heading to the hospital.

Lu Yuan went upstairs, fetched a large bowl used for soup, filled it with rice and dishes, and then brought it downstairs to eat while keeping his mom company in front of the TV.

Of course, his main focus wasn’t on the TV but on his professional panel, contemplating where to allocate the newly acquired skill point.