3: Chapter 3: What does it mean to send a first-grade martial artist flying with a punch?

Third High School was not far from Chenguang Orphanage and was the only martial arts high school in the Old District.

At this moment, in Class 16 of the third year at Third High School, the homeroom teacher, Old Gao, stood on the podium and tapped it forcefully with his ruler.

"Today, we have a transfer student joining us."

"His family background isn't very good, so everyone, please take good care of our new classmate."

"Come on in."

With that, Old Gao waved toward the classroom door.

Amidst the expectant and curious gazes of the students, a figure at least 2.4 meters tall, with arms thicker than the average person's thighs, slowly walked in.

"..."

"His family background isn't good? Who?"

"Is this big guy who looks like he could punch a silverback gorilla to death really from a poor family?"

The students were stunned, staring blankly at Chen Mo standing on the podium.

Old Gao adjusted his glasses; why did he feel like the podium was sinking?

"Hello everyone, my name is Chen Mo, and I come from Chenguang Orphanage in the Old District."

"I will be studying with you all for the next two months, and I hope you will take care of me."

Chen Mo flashed a sunny smile. After a moment of stunned silence, the students below broke into applause to welcome him.

"Um, classmate Chen Mo, why don't you sit at the desk in the last row by the classroom door?"

"The principal specifically prepared those cast-concrete desk and chair for you; regular furniture would be destroyed if you even touched it."

Old Gao didn't know much about this newcomer, Chen Mo, only that he was a genius who had awakened a talent.

"Alright, let's cut the chatter. Now that we've introduced our new classmate, let's start the lesson."

"Instructor Liu will still be leading the combat class this afternoon, so make sure you eat your fill at lunch before you go!"

Just as Old Gao turned to walk away, he stumbled and nearly fell to the ground.

"Hmm?"

He looked at the sheet-metal podium, which now had two footprints pressed into it, then looked back at Chen Mo, who wore an innocent expression, and beads of cold sweat began to form on his forehead.

"Ahem, as everyone knows, martial artists are divided into Talent-based Martial Artists and Ascetic Martial Artists."

"Everyone here, except for Chen Mo, is an Ascetic Martial Artist."

"But even if you don't have a unique talent, don't feel inferior. Remember this one sentence!"

"Talent is just the icing on the cake; diligent training and fighting spirit are the paths to your peak..."

The morning passed in the blink of an eye. Compared to the dull and tedious classes of his past life, the martial arts high school, which taught martial arts knowledge, was much more interesting.

"Your name is Chen Mo, right?"

In the cafeteria, a few teenage boys walked up to Chen Mo, carrying their trays, and sat down.

Chen Mo narrowed his eyes; it seemed like trouble had come looking for him.

"Something up?"

"I heard your family background isn't great? You're from an Orphanage?"

The leading boy raised an eyebrow and looked up at Chen Mo in front of him.

"I asked you, is there something you need?"

Chen Mo's brow furrowed deeper. If they were looking for trouble, just look for trouble; why all the buildup?

"Nothing much."

"The guys and I pooled some money to buy you some chicken drumsticks. We couldn't afford anything expensive."

The boy smiled and pushed a full, large plate of braised chicken drumsticks in front of Chen Mo.

"Brother, the food at the Orphanage probably isn't very good. Our school has student loans; do you want us to help you apply for one with the director?"

Chen Mo stared at the mountain of chicken drumsticks in front of him, stunned, feeling somewhat at a loss.

He had prepared himself for these people to be looking for trouble, but he really hadn't expected them to be here to give him chicken drumsticks.

"No need. As soon as I pass the First-Grade Martial Artist test, I'll get a martial artist subsidy, which is enough to support the Orphanage and myself."

Chen Mo shook his head, declining the boy's kind offer.

"Alright, if you ever have any trouble in the future, you can come find us. Everyone is willing to help you out."

"By the way, my name is Gao Ziqi, and the homeroom teacher, Old Gao, is my dad."

Gao Ziqi smiled at Chen Mo, didn't say anything more, and left with the other boys after leaving the chicken drumsticks behind.

Feeling this simple kindness, Chen Mo couldn't help but laugh.

"Not bad. It's a lot better than the transfer student life I imagined."

Life in the third year of high school is always busy, and martial arts high school is no exception.

After eating lunch and resting for half an hour, the entire third-year class was taken to the comprehensive sports building.

Chen Mo stood at the back of the line; even standing in the back, he was the most conspicuous one.

Many people cast curious glances at him, and even the instructor standing on the ring was no exception.

"You there, young man, come up to the stage."

Instructor Liu waved at Chen Mo. A bit confused but not thinking much of it, Chen Mo lifted his feet and walked onto the ring.

"Not bad. It would be a real shame if someone with this physique didn't become a martial artist."

Instructor Liu patted Chen Mo's arm; the sensation was as if he were patting a piece of solid, hard rubber.

"Students, after more than two years of physical training, many of you have developed Qi and blood within your bodies."

"However, developing Qi and blood is just the first step to becoming a martial artist. If you don't have any actual combat ability, you're just a lump of meat rich in Qi and blood."

"Today, I am going to teach you the most basic boxing techniques and footwork."

"Although the City-level Joint Exam only screens for martial artists with high talent, you all still need to work hard."

"Starting today, for the next two months, all physical training classes are suspended. The only thing you need to do is engage in combat training."

Watching the children below get excited, Instructor Liu nodded in satisfaction.

Young martial artists should be full of such vigor.

"In combat, the most important thing is to learn how to take a hit."

"You need to know where on your body to let an attack land to minimize damage when you can't avoid it."

"Come on, young man, throw a punch at me."

Instructor Liu patted his chest, signaling that Chen Mo could throw his punch.

Chen Mo was a bit hesitant; what if he hurt Instructor Liu with this punch?

"Don't worry, I am a First-Grade Martial Artist. You're just a kid with a bit of extra strength; you can't hurt me."

Instructor Liu's words put Chen Mo slightly at ease. He was right; he was just an ordinary person with a bit of strength, how could he possibly be a match for a First-Grade Martial Artist?

Then... he would throw his punch with full force!

Boom!

The school uniform on Chen Mo's right arm was instantly shredded by his bulging muscles, and he swung a hook punch without holding anything back.

The moment Instructor Liu saw Chen Mo's clothes burst, he regretted it. He stomped on the ground without hesitation, which was the only reason he avoided Chen Mo's heavy, forceful punch landing on him.

However...

Boom!

The violent wind from the punch blew Instructor Liu away, and he rolled several times on the ground before coming to a stop.

"?"

A question mark appeared over the head of the disheveled Instructor Liu. He looked at his clothes, which had been shredded by the wind of the punch, and froze in place.

He had just... seemingly seen a fully loaded semi-truck crashing toward him?

And sitting in the truck was his grandmother who had passed away many years ago?

No, that wasn't right!

That wasn't a hallucination; that was his damn life flashing before his eyes!

If he had actually been hit by that punch just now, he might really have gone to meet his grandmother by now.