Chapter 1926 — The Challenge (Part One)
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 2
Although Wang Xinyan still embraced Wei Zhao every morning, and a certain awkwardness lingered around it, that awkwardness had thinned with every passing day until habit made it natural. By now she no longer felt the shyness she once had, for Wei Zhao had never taken advantage of her, and her own gesture had been entirely unintentional; there was no reason the two of them should keep feeling embarrassed about it.
It was just as Wei Zhao said: they were good friends.
Military boxing—most of the students had heard the name, but none had ever practiced it. After all, the martial arts schools outside offered Muay Thai, Sanda, Taekwondo, even Tai Chi, yet almost none taught military boxing in any systematic way.
Everyone was rather curious about this boxing style that every soldier in the army practiced. Only the corner of You Panhu's mouth curled into a trace of disdain.
"Military boxing sounds very ordinary—a set of forms every soldier in the ranks knows, and many people assume it exists merely to build fitness." Chen Yuxuan paused there, then went on: "It is true that military boxing builds fitness, but it is also a style with very real combat value, and in close-quarters fighting against an enemy it produces remarkable results! Never mind ordinary soldiers—even special forces may use military boxing in a fight, so I say this: master military boxing well, and your personal safety hereafter is assured. When you meet an enemy, if you can apply military boxing with fluency, I won't promise you'll detain the villain, but defending yourself will be absolutely no problem!"
These words set a stir of anticipation running through the students present. Yes—if they learned this boxing style well, then when danger came later, surely they would not be left at the mercy of villains? Even Wei Zhao nodded in wholehearted agreement.
Military boxing was a set of forms forged through a thousand blows and a hundred refinements, teased out and summarized by the elite among countless soldiers; Chen Yuxuan's account was not the slightest bit exaggerated.
"Ha—" Just then, someone laughed aloud at a most inopportune moment, as though utterly scornful of Chen Yuxuan's words.
"Who laughed just now? Do you have some objection?" Chen Yuxuan's face darkened. He had not expected a student like this.
"Reporting to the instructor, I've seen it—someone in our class is very formidable too, and your military boxing might not be a match for his!" The one who spoke was none other than Huang Mao, You Panhu's lackey, the one Wei Zhao had taught a lesson.
"Oh? Who are you talking about?" Chen Yuxuan furrowed his brow and glanced at the color of Huang Mao's hair, a flicker of disgust passing through his eyes. This creature was likely some petty thug, throwing his weight around at school on the strength of his family's money!
But this was the army, not the school; naturally Chen Yuxuan would not indulge him.
"It's Wei Zhao—he's a skilled martial artist!" Huang Mao pointed in Wei Zhao's direction.
"Oh, and how do you know he's a skilled martial artist? Don't tell me you are one too?" Chen Yuxuan asked.
"Huh?" Huang Mao had not expected Chen Yuxuan to turn the spearhead directly on him, and it caught him off guard.
You Panhu frowned as well. A moment ago he had been gloating that his scheme had worked—after all, having said what he said, he had left Wei Zhao in a difficult position whether he accepted the challenge or not.
Accept it, and in You Panhu's estimation, bringing down this instructor would be easy as pie for a man of Wei Zhao's strength; but having brought down the instructor, would that not cost the man face? Would Wei Zhao's military training ever go smoothly afterward? Even if the instructor did not hold a grudge, once back at school Wei Zhao would likely be criticized by the school.