Chapter 19: Combat Training
Inside a teahouse, Zhao Gang, Su Ke, Wang Zhong, and Lin Ning sat together, quietly drinking tea.
Zhao Gang blew across the surface of his tea, then drained the cup in one gulp.
"So, what you're saying is that you want me to help you train your real combat skills."
Wang Zhong refilled Zhao Gang's cup to about seventy percent.
"Yes, Uncle. Even though we've awakened strong supernatural abilities, our actual combat experience is still lacking. If we really end up fighting people in the future, that weakness will become a fatal flaw. So we wanted to ask you to help us train."
"Fight people?" Zhao Gang raised an eyebrow. "Who exactly are you planning to fight?"
"Uh… not anyone specific," Wang Zhong replied quickly. "I just want to improve myself. After all, our future mission is to eliminate Yao Beasts and reclaim lost territory. Strength is everything, right?"
"These things will naturally be taught once school starts."
"That would be too late."
"How is it late?" Zhao Gang said calmly. "Cultivating your Realm during summer break and training combat after school starts is a perfectly reasonable division. Or are you planning to do something else?"
"No, no, nothing like that. I just want to see the admiring looks on my classmates' faces once school starts."
"Is that really all?"
"That's all."
Looking at Wang Zhong's confident expression, Zhao Gang sneered inwardly.
'Brat, do you really think I don't know what you're plotting.'
On the surface, however, he remained composed.
"It just so happens I don't have much to do this summer. Teaching you some combat isn't impossible."
"I feel like there's a 'but' coming," Su Ke said quietly.
"But—" Zhao Gang continued.
Sure enough.
"I am still a teacher. If word gets out that I'm giving private lessons to just the three of you, it won't sound very good."
"That's fine," Wang Zhong said. "We already discussed this."
At noon that day, a message had suddenly appeared in the Class 4 group chat.
"Students, staying cooped up at home cultivating during summer break can be quite boring. Starting tomorrow, I'll be opening a free combat tutoring class at Qingyang Martial Arts Hall to teach combat techniques in advance. The class will last for half a month. Participation is voluntary, free of charge, and the schedule is flexible. Come and go as you please."
The students who saw the message collectively wailed in despair.
Their parents, who were also in the group chat, were instantly delighted and immediately ordered their children to attend.
At that moment, the students' hearts were filled with only one thought.
My vacation is over.
Back in the teahouse, Zhao Gang rolled his eyes.
"You really know how to dig a hole for me."
"Hehe," Wang Zhong laughed awkwardly. "Teaching three people is teaching, and teaching a group is also teaching. It's all the same. Besides, it's good for them too. Just think of it as doing a good deed."
Zhao Gang sighed. "So what's the plan? Start tomorrow, or start now?"
"Start now!" the three answered in unison.
That afternoon, Su Ke, Wang Zhong, Lin Ning, and Zhao Gang stood facing one another inside Qingyang Martial Arts Hall.
Su Ke transformed into Four Arms. Wang Zhong activated Muscle Reinforcement, and Lin Ning applied buffs to both of them.
"Let's go!" Wang Zhong shouted.
The two charged straight at Zhao Gang.
Zhao Gang rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, and took a combat stance.
But just as Su Ke and Wang Zhong closed in, Zhao Gang made no attempt to engage them head-on. Instead, he slipped past them and dashed straight toward Lin Ning.
By the time they reacted, he was already standing beside her.
"The battle is over," Zhao Gang said flatly. "You've lost a teammate."
"It can be done like that?" Wang Zhong blurted out.
Zhao Gang's expression turned serious.
"In real combat, frontal confrontation is the stupidest approach. When your opponent has a support role, eliminating the support first makes everything much easier. Any experienced enemy will do this."
"You were so focused on fighting me that you completely forgot to protect your support. In an actual battle, that mistake would get her injured—or killed."
Only then did the gravity of the situation sink in.
"I'm sorry," Wang Zhong said immediately.
"You shouldn't apologize to me," Zhao Gang snapped. "You should apologize to your own negligence—and to the 'fallen' Lin Ning."
"A Ning, I'm sorry," Wang Zhong said seriously. "I didn't protect you."
"This one's on me," Su Ke added. "With my versatility, I should've been the one guarding you."
"There's no need to apologize," Lin Ning said calmly. "We asked Uncle Zhao to train us precisely to find our flaws. Since he pointed it out, we just need to make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Alright!" Wang Zhong said, full of renewed energy. "Let's go again!"
"This time, we won't repeat the same mistake," Su Ke said firmly.
Seeing this, Zhao Gang felt a surge of satisfaction.
'Youth really is a wonderful thing.'
His face, however, remained stern.
"Good. Your mindset is adjusting. Let's continue. No slacking."
"Yes!" the three answered together.
Round two.
Su Ke pressed the dial.
"Diamondhead!"
Crystals surged outward, growing rapidly and forming a protective barrier around Lin Ning.
'This kid has quite a few tricks,' Zhao Gang thought.
Even so, his eyes remained locked on the charging Wang Zhong.
Wang Zhong raised his right fist, activating Stone-Shattering Fist.
Zhao Gang didn't meet it head-on. He pivoted slightly, letting the punch graze past him.
Wang Zhong continued attacking, but each strike narrowly missed as Zhao Gang evaded with minimal movement.
After several exchanges, Zhao Gang suddenly seized Wang Zhong's arm and slammed him to the ground with a shoulder throw.
A sharp whistling sound cut through the air.
Zhao Gang instinctively tilted his body.
Countless Diamond Missiles flew past, tearing through the air and grazing his clothes.
Su Ke was providing long-range support.
Zhao Gang grabbed Wang Zhong and hurled him toward Su Ke.
Su Ke formed a massive diamond hand and caught him, but Zhao Gang surged forward like a cannonball. He shattered the diamonds and struck Su Ke squarely in the chest.
Cracks spread across the diamond armor, and Su Ke was slammed into the wall behind him. His transformation was forcibly undone.
Finally, Zhao Gang smashed through the remaining crystal defense protecting Lin Ning.
"That's enough," Zhao Gang said. "I've identified your problems. From tomorrow onward, I'll conduct targeted training to fill in your gaps. I need to prepare a proper plan, so come back tomorrow."
"Yes," the three replied.
After leaving Qingyang Martial Arts Hall, the three walked side by side down the street.
"Once this training's done," Wang Zhong said excitedly, "our strength will skyrocket. Then we can head back to the wilderness or the fighting arena and really make a name for ourselves."
"Just don't complain when you're exhausted," Su Ke replied.
"That won't happen. I've trained since I was a kid. You're the one who might collapse first."
"I'm not that fragile."
"Enough, you two," Lin Ning said. "Go back and rest properly. Tomorrow's training won't be easy."
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