Gymnasium, Room C.

As soon as school ended in the afternoon, Lin Zichen brought Shen Qinghan here.

When they first entered, only Guo Xiangyuan was inside, leisurely drinking tea and watching short videos.

“Coach Guo.”

Lin Zichen called out, changing the title from “teacher” to “coach.”

Guo Xiangyuan looked up with a smile, “You came so early. None of the kids on the team arrive faster than you. Their attitude still needs work. Come, sit and have some tea first. Once everyone arrives, I’ll show you around.” Guo Xiangyuan poured two cups of tea for them.

* * *

As time passed, more people came in.

All of them were boys, not a single girl.

When they entered, each looked curiously at Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan sitting by the tea table, most of their eyes landing on Lin Zichen.

Lin Zichen was already famous at Shanhai Middle School. There wasn’t a student in the school who didn’t know him, having all heard of his prodigy-like academic feats.

But none expected that this top student, whose learning ability was monstrous, also had outstanding athletic talent.

“It’s you?”

At that moment, a boy hurried in. Seeing Lin Zichen at the table, his reaction was a bit dramatic.

It was none other than the boy who had been overshadowed by Lin Zichen at the school sports meet, forced to settle with tears for second place.

Lin Zichen looked at him and smiled politely, “Hello.”

“My name is Zhang Kai. Remember it.” The boy responded coldly, then walked off with his schoolbag, ignoring Lin Zichen further.

Lin Zichen only smiled to himself, thinking Zhang Kai was rather arrogant. But then again, all middle school boys at this age were like that.

It was understandable.

When everyone had arrived, Guo Xiangyuan stood up, smiling as he looked around.

“This handsome young man is Lin Zichen. I’m sure you all know him already, so I won’t waste time on introductions. From today on, Zichen is a member of our Martial Arts Team. Let’s give him a round of applause!”

Clap clap clap…

Guo Xiangyuan started clapping himself and the team followed along in unison, all cooperating with their coach.

All except for Zhang Kai.

Once the applause ended, Guo Xiangyuan added, “Now, let’s all introduce ourselves so Zichen can get to know you.”

“My name is Huang Tianxing, Class 3 of ninth grade. Just call me Ah Xing.”

“My name is Li Shutong, Class 6 of ninth grade. Call me Xiao Li. Everyone does and I like it.”

“My name is Han Yisuo, just call me Brother Suo…”

The teammates seemed easygoing, introducing themselves one after another with smiles.

Lin Zichen responded with smiles as well, replying politely after each introduction.

The Martial Arts Team wasn’t large. Excluding Lin Zichen and Guo Xiangyuan, there were only seven members, so introductions finished quickly.

During this time, Shen Qinghan stood quietly beside Lin Zichen, holding both of their lunch boxes in her hands. She remained silent the entire time.

Only in front of Lin Zichen would she talk more, lively and cheerful.

In front of strangers, she was usually shy.

Especially around boys she didn’t know, she seemed socially anxious.

“By the way, what’s your name, classmate?”

Guo Xiangyuan always saw Shen Qinghan with Lin Zichen, the two inseparable, so he figured he should get to know her as well.

“M-my name is Shen Qinghan. You can just call me Xiao Shen or Qinghan.”

She introduced herself nervously.

Guo Xiangyuan smiled, “Then Xiao Shen it is.”

After that, he let the senior team members continue their practice while he gave Lin Zichen a brief tour of the training equipment.

But they were just sandbags, weighted bags, wooden stakes — all very ordinary equipment, nothing impressive.

“Zichen, five of the team are in ninth grade, two in eighth grade and you’re the only one in seventh. I have high hopes for you. Follow me closely and I guarantee within a year, you’ll be the ace of the team.”

It sounded a bit like empty promises, but it wasn’t.

“Thank you for believing in me, coach.”

“By the way, Zichen, have you ever trained in martial arts before?”

“No.”

Guo Xiangyuan nodded and then said, “Alright, then today I’ll teach you a basic set of punches and kicks, so you can experience martial arts firsthand.”

“Okay.”

Soon, Guo Xiangyuan moved to an open space and demonstrated the basic punches and kicks slowly and carefully.

Lin Zichen watched intently, memorizing every move.

* * *

About ten minutes later, the demonstration ended.

Guo Xiangyuan withdrew his stance like a martial arts master and smiled, “Don’t let its simplicity fool you. This set is actually quite difficult. The fastest learner so far, Xiao Li, still needed a week to master it. But words only go so far. You’ll only know once you try. Go ahead, give it a try.”

He stepped aside to let Lin Zichen take the spot.

Lin Zichen walked up and relying on his memory from watching earlier, quickly reproduced the punches and kicks perfectly, move for move.

Innate Wisdom allowed him to grasp all the essentials in just one viewing.

Use It or Lose It made each repetition more explosive than the last.

As his movements grew faster, familiar system messages appeared in the air.

[You are practicing punches: Vitality +1, Hand Muscle Strength +1, Hand Flexibility +1, Punch Proficiency +1]

[You are practicing kicks: Vitality +1, Leg Muscle Strength +1, Leg Flexibility +1, Kick Proficiency +1]

At the side, Guo Xiangyuan was dumbfounded.

‘His first time training martial arts? Seriously? Was this a joke?’

The other teammates, occasionally glancing over while training, were equally stunned when they saw Lin Zichen instantly mastering the basics.

“Zichen, is this really your first time training in martial arts?”

After snapping out of his shock, Guo Xiangyuan asked skeptically.

Realizing he may have shown too much, Lin Zichen improvised, “It’s not exactly my first time. Back in elementary school, I joined a hobby class and practiced punches and kicks for a while.”

“No wonder. I was shocked you could do it so perfectly on your first try.”

Guo Xiangyuan chuckled, shaking his head at his own overthinking.

How could anyone master martial arts just by looking once?

If humans had such learning ability, they wouldn’t be living under constant threat from the aberrant beasts outside human territory.

By now, countless geniuses would have wiped them out already.

* * *

Time passed quickly and before they knew it, it was 6:30 p.m.

Normally, the Martial Arts Team trained until 7:30.

But Lin Zichen didn’t want to stay that late, so he asked to leave an hour early.

Guo Xiangyuan didn’t mind. He had always been a laid-back coach, leaving training mostly to the students’ self-discipline.

As for staying until 7:30, that was just because he himself would be in the gym until then.

“Zichen, remember to bring a clean change of clothes in your bag tomorrow. Otherwise, you’ll catch a cold going home all sweaty.” Guo Xiangyuan reminded him.

Lin Zichen nodded, “Got it. Thanks for the reminder, coach.”

With that, he and Shen Qinghan left the gym.

* * *

When they reached the bike shed, Shen Qinghan noticed Lin Zichen was still sweating. She pulled out a tissue, “Xiao Chen, your sweat hasn’t dried yet. Let me wipe it for you.”

She carefully wiped the sweat from his face and neck. As for under his shirt, she couldn’t help there.

Once she finished, Lin Zichen had her sit on the back seat and under the warm setting sun, he pedaled leisurely toward home.