That night, Jason Luo was so excited he could hardly sleep. His father was back, he had a new sister, and Dad had even relented about boxing—it all felt like a dream.
Hearing the familiar soft snores from the next room, Jason felt completely at ease. After sharing the good news with Mr. Raul and Tony, he stayed on the phone with Tony until almost one in the morning before finally drifting off.
Six o'clock—time to get up and train!
But when he finished early at 7:30 and rushed home to make breakfast for his father, he discovered his father had already prepared it.
Jason stood in the doorway, staring at the table, speechless.
Henry Luo said quietly, "What are you standing there for? Eat. Whatever you choose to do in the future, your health comes first. Since your mother isn't here, these things are my responsibility. You don't need to lift a finger."
Jason's eyes welled up with tears as he nodded.
It was a simple breakfast, but he devoured it hungrily. In that moment, he felt like a child again...
On the way to the gym, Jason ran faster than ever. Everything felt different—completely different. With the weight lifted from his heart, his whole body felt light, almost as if he could float, yet it brimmed with endless strength.
Looking up, the sky seemed bluer, the sun brighter, and even the people on the street looked as though they were smiling. The whole world felt beautiful...
At the gym, the coach, Raul, and Brown were already waiting. Raul greeted him with a wide smile. "Feeling good, huh? Yeah, you look like a whole new man. Ha! There's no mountain you can't climb. Once you're over it, the road ahead is smooth. Now it's all up to your performance!"
Jason threw a few quick shadow punches. "No problem—I'll make sure my dad has nothing left to say!"
Pedro tapped him lightly with his cane. "Don't get cocky. Think your opponent's made of clay? Confidence is good, but never underestimate anyone. Sit. Let's analyze."
Brown stepped in. "I'll start. Using a technical approach against this opponent won't work—you'll lose out. The only way is to close the distance and fight inside. But with his reach, getting close won't be easy."
Pedro nodded. "For once, I agree. I studied him carefully last night. Against this opponent, we have three options: rush in, weave, or duck."
Brown raised a brow. "Duck?"
"Yes, duck! It's not commonly used, but in this fight it's critical. He's over two meters tall. If Jason ducks down to eighty centimeters, he'll struggle. At seventy centimeters, most of his attacks can be avoided—unless he's willing to squat down and fight you..."
Everyone nodded—it made sense. Pedro went on, "Rushing in won't work here. With his long reach, you'll be kept at a distance, and with him towering over you, the effect won't be good. That leaves weaving as the key. Today, focus on weaving and ducking. Tomorrow, we finish the fight clean and decisive."
Brown pursed his lips but stayed quiet. He knew Pedro was right. The whole fight depended on whether Jason could close the distance. Success or failure would directly affect his future—this wasn't the time to argue.
Ducking drills weren't difficult, but they worked the waist hard. After some effort, Jason met the standard. But weaving relied even more on core strength.
"When you weave, guard your head with both fists, elbows tucked to your ribs. Make your upper body a single unit. Faster!"
"Watch carefully. Watch your Footwork. Don't just weave in place—the goal is to close the distance. Faster, move in faster!"
As Pedro barked instructions, Brown studied Jason, nodding occasionally. But what he was really looking at wasn't technique—it was Jason's physique.
Ever since upgrading his Agile Physique, Jason's body had become stronger and more balanced. His muscles were well-developed and symmetrical. Brown was satisfied, except for one flaw: his sternocleidomastoid muscles—the thick bands along the back of the neck—just wouldn't grow.
During a break, Brown stepped up. He pinched Jason's waist muscles and smiled. "Not bad. Maybe it's time..."
Jason and Pedro both looked confused.
Brown explained, "Weaving isn't just for dodging—it's also a way to generate power. By twisting your body with your core, you can add momentum to your hooks. But remember: your body must move with your punch, and your head must sway with your body. Otherwise, you lose the dodge."
Jason tried it a few times, feeling a spark of familiarity.
"Exactly. The Tyson-style weave-and-strike. Don't underestimate it—you'll see how hard it is once you practice. But take it slow. Even if you master only a fraction of it, it'll be deadly at this stage."
Pedro knew just how powerful the technique could be once mastered, so he didn't object. "Alright, do it his way. Add the punches in. Again, quick! We don't have much time..."
Jason soon realized how difficult it was. He was used to throwing punches with his body steady, but now he had to strike while moving. The hardest part was retracting his fist quickly and swinging back into rhythm.
"Body! Let your body follow through!"
"Too slow on the retraction! Guard your head!"
"Use your core—power comes from the waist!"
"Still too weak. Again!"
One voice became two pairs of eyes drilling into him. Jason was nearly in tears. Even Raul couldn't bear to watch and slipped away quietly...
And so, under the relentless torment of the two coaches, Jason trained frantically. By the end, the muscles on both sides of his waist burned like fire.
Brown grinned as he pulled out two medicated patches. "Don't worry, stick these on and sleep. It won't affect the match. Exclusive formula—not everyone gets it."
He cast a sidelong glance at Pedro.
Pedro snorted and turned away.
That day, for the first time ever, Jason Luo took the bus home. He simply couldn't run anymore. The moment he got home, he collapsed on the bed, unable to move.
Grace had taken the day off to go with Henry Luo to the market. They even stopped by the shops and bought new clothes for father and son.
When Jason collapsed onto the bed, Henry Luo rushed over. "This tired? It's too much!"
At his father's voice, Jason sprang up as if shocked. "No, Dad, I'm fine—really not tired at all!"
Henry Luo shook his head at the sight of his sweat-drenched son. "Sigh, you can't even tell a convincing lie. You'll never win a girl like this. Come on, eat. Grace made soup just for you."
"Really? That's great! Dad, you have to try it too—it's delicious."
In the small room, laughter finally returned. The warmth of family love flowed into Jason Luo's heart like sweet dew...
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / GhostParser