Chapter 17: 017 Time Flies
In Hall 1, many students were slightly surprised.
Although Bai Xiao's 84 kg result wasn't as shockingly exaggerated as the previous two, compared to most students, it was already a significant gap.
Amid the crowd, Kang Li and Zhou Bing also turned to look over, deeply observing Bai Xiao. The two of them, familiar with each other, had already practiced fighting for a long time before entering the White Bird Martial Arts Hall's training class.
Joining the training class at White Bird Martial Arts Hall wasn't really about learning fighting; it was about joining that elite class at the hall. According to some rumors within the Huaisui City fight scene, White Bird Martial Arts had even more formidable martial arts, ones even better suited for combat and skirmishes than boxing or Sandboxing!
So, when they saw how outstanding Bai Xiao's fist strength was,
they both doubted whether he was the same as them,
an old hand in the fighting scene, specially coming for White Bird Martial Arts Hall.
Five minutes later, the students in the training hall dispersed, heading home.
Bai Xiao was just about to head to the locker room to change out of his training clothes when a tall, sturdy man approached him, his conspicuous bald head giving him a somewhat simple yet fierce appearance—Zhou Bing.
"Friend, let's get acquainted. I'm Zhou Bing."
The newcomer stretched out his right hand, hovering in mid-air.
Bai Xiao hesitated slightly, then extended his hand and shook with the other.
"Bai Xiao."
He could feel that the other's hand was full of calluses, rough and powerful. This man must have practiced fists for many years to have such hands.
"Are you also here for the elite class of White Bird Martial Arts Hall?"
Zhou Bing was a straightforward man, speaking concisely and to the point.
Bai Xiao immediately recalled the conversation he had with Coach Zhang Hongtao the day before.
Elite class, mentorship, core circle…
"Sort of," he responded.
"Then after a while, we'll not only be classmates but also opponents," Zhou Bing withdrew his hand, smiled, and then turned and walked away.
At the spot, Bai Xiao watched his broad back, murmuring to himself.
"Elite class, huh? What exactly will be inside it?"
Leaving White Bird Martial Arts Hall, he took a bus back to his rental room.
He didn't forget the coach's suggestion and ordered a reflex boxing ball online, and incidentally, a black cap, dual-purpose.
Then, he opened the chat interface with Coach Zhang Hongtao.
He found the boxing tutorial videos he had viewed before.
One after another, he watched them all the way through, gaining much insight. Many things that were blurry in his memory before were now answered more clearly and precisely.
The chief disciple in the video was very high in his teaching standards.
…
Meticulously imitating, practicing bit by bit.
In his solitary rented room, quiet and boring, Bai Xiao punched and retracted his punches, stepped, and slid, enjoying the power slowly seeping out from his body until he felt utterly drained.
Becoming stronger was a lonely and painful affair.
Even with the help of the professional panel, he had to give it his all!
Heaven won't give you perfectly sculpted muscles, but it gives you a sculpting knife! To some extent, that knife isn't even given by heaven, but by Bai Xiao himself—held tightly in his own hands!
What kind of person he wanted to be in the future…
He might as well slowly carve it out with the knife, even if it meant bleeding.
After who knows how long.
Snap!
In the open space of the room, Bai Xiao lay on the floor drenched in sweat, sprawled out with his body forming a large 'X,' his chest heaving.
He was panting heavily, physically drained, completely exhausted.
Yet a smile appeared on his face.
The reason was the panel information that suddenly popped up before his eyes.
[You have obtained a new professional skill "Boxing"!]
[Profession: Fighter LV.1 (16/100)]
[Talent: Pure Heart]
[Skill 1: Basic Sandboxing (51/200)]
[Skill 2: Introductory Boxing (1/100)]
…
Starting from June 24th, every aspect of Bai Xiao's life had thoroughly gotten back on track. He felt exceptionally fulfilled, completely immersed in gaining experience in various professions, steadily improving.
June 25th, practicing fists.
After the initiation into fist skills, the experience gain as a fighter indeed became quicker.
From the original +2, +2, it had changed to +4, +4...
June 26, practiced fist skill.
In the White Bird Martial Arts Hall Fight Class, Guo Hao and his subordinate He Hao seemed to have some prejudice against Bai Xiao, implying a sense of confrontation. Right before leaving for the locker room after class, He Hao spoke ill of him.
June 27, practiced fist skill.
Practiced Jujutsu and finally got the hang of it!
His physique was gradually getting stronger, and his muscles and strength were slowly increasing.
June 28, practiced fist skill.
That day was exhausting for Bai Xiao; he was tired both physically and mentally, as a strong feeling of laziness stealthily played on his mind, wanting to indulge himself just for that day. After a struggle of thoughts, Bai Xiao still stood up and continued his extra fight practice for the day until he was drenched in sweat, draining his last bit of energy.
Resisting desires proved to be more admirable than indulging them.
Every act of indulgent procrastination harmed the future self.
Every act of restraining instinct saved the future self.
Bai Xiao gradually understood this principle.
June 29, 2:30 AM, Sunshine District rental house.
Bai Xiao took a refreshing cold shower in the bathroom.
He stayed for about fifteen minutes before coming out while rubbing his hair with a dry towel.
"Huuh..."
He sat on the edge of the bed, his body relaxed, eyes staring straight ahead.
[Character Panel]
[Character: Bai Xiao]
[Power: 11.0→11.2]
[Speed: 10.1→10.2]
[Physique: 10.5→10.7]
[Will: 11.0→11.1]
Without using potential points, just this week's efforts, desperate training, and coordinated nutrition had all attributes increased.
Although not as exaggerated as adding points, it was very stable.
Persistently accumulated progress added up to a lot.
After checking the character panel, Bai Xiao looked at his professional panels.
His gaze carried a touch of the joy found in a farmer's bountiful harvest.
1. Delivery man
[Profession: Delivery man LV.2 (66/200)]
[Skill 1: Electric Scooter Driving LV.2 (162/200)]
[Skill 2: City Route Expertise LV.2 (154/200)]
2. Security Guard
[Profession: Security guard LV.1 (88/100)]
[Skill: Patrolling LV.2 (13/200)]
3. Fighter
[Profession: Fighter LV.1 (34/100)]
[Talent: Pure Heart]
[Skill 1: Basic Sandboxing (91/200)]
[Skill 2: Basic Boxing (41/100)]
[Skill 3: Beginner Jujutsu (9/100)]
The proficiency of each profession had greatly improved. The security guard's professional skill of patrolling had broken through to level 2 and Bai Xiao had extracted potential points from it.
Plus the two points accumulated earlier.
[Dark Red Modifier]
[Potential Points: 3]
With three potential points, Bai Xiao had already decided how to use them.
[Skill 1: Basic Sandboxing (91/200)]
[Skill 2: Basic Boxing (41/100)]
Today, both skills of the Fighter would have crossed the halfway mark of the experience threshold. Just nicely allocating two potential points to one and one to the other for enhancement, something he had long anticipated.
Additionally, it was almost the day after tomorrow.
The Security Guard profession would break through to LV.2, and he would gain two more potential points. He just had to carefully consider how to use these two potential points.
This was, in a way, a happy dilemma…