It was late autumn. The sky was clear and the air was cool. The waves of Zhaoshan Lake were rising and falling.
Lou Cheng wanted to help Yan Zheke onto the boat, but she was as agile as a deer. With a light leap, she stood firmly on the boat, barely causing it to sway further.
"Sure enough, her martial arts level is higher than mine … Not only can't I save the beauty, I don't even have the chance to help her …" Lou Cheng mocked himself. Considering his strength, he boarded the boat according to the rules and sat opposite Yan Zheke, each with an oar.
"I was going to give you a hand." Yan Zheke snickered and made fun of him. The lake breeze blew her black hair that reached her back.
"So a beauty saves a hero?" Lou Cheng pretended to be shocked. Casanova said that when you don't know how to answer, you have to make her laugh.
As expected, Yan Zheke couldn't help but chuckle and ask, "Cheng, do you know how to row a boat?"
"No …" Lou Cheng answered honestly. Before high school, he didn't have the time. During the summer vacation after graduation, he spent more than two months binge-watching highlights of martial arts competitions and all kinds of news. He kept meeting with his childhood friends and gradually immersed himself in the online world. How could he have the time and interest to go boating?
Yan Zheke pursed her lips and blinked her black eyes. She said seriously,
"What a coincidence. I don't know how to …"
Lou Cheng laughed. "Aren't you a Jiangnan girl?"
Cai Zongming, You Fangfang, Zhao Qiang, and Zhuang Xiaojun had already rowed slowly. Qiu Zhigao, Guo Qing, Zhang Jingye, and Pan Xue were circling around.
"But I grew up in Xiushan. Besides, there are many Jiangnan girls who don't know how to swim or row. My two cousins don't know how to do it." Yan Zheke said with anger and amusement.
Lou Cheng knew when to stop and didn't ask about Yan Zheke's family situation. He smiled and said, "It seems that nothing can be generalized. Well, since it's such a coincidence that you don't know how to row, it'll be interesting to learn how to row together."
Yan Zheke nodded slightly. She held the oars with both hands and pointed to Zhao Qiang and Zhuang Xiaojun with her chin. "Look at them. They row well. Let's learn."
"Okay." Lou Cheng looked over and followed Zhao Qiang's movements, moving the oars.
The oars entered the water, creating green waves and ripples. However, the hull of the boat did not move forward. Instead, it swayed in place.
Yan Zheke joined in the paddling. She was like a young girl picking up a chestnut. The sky and the water were like a beautiful painting. However, their boat still didn't move forward. It was spinning in circles. They looked at each other helplessly and found it funny.
Lou Cheng was determined to show that he had long thought about rowing the boat. At this moment, he was not in a hurry. He sank his mind into his Dantian, visualized the Jindan, and entered meditation. Immediately, the surroundings became peaceful. The vast nebula rotated slowly, and the details of every part of his body appeared bit by bit. He could feel the ups and downs of the boat and the surrounding waves through their contact with each other.
As the boat swayed, the oars dropped, stirring up ripples on the water. Lou Cheng saw how the power circulated in his mind. He used this to slightly change his direction and posture to match the boat's movement.
At the same time, he found that Yan Zheke, who was on the opposite side, suddenly became proficient. Every stroke of the oar complemented the boat, the waves, and his side.
Opening his eyes, Lou Cheng met Yan Zheke's eyes.
"You've reached the initial level of Yin-Yang Stance?"
"You've mastered Yin-Yang Stance?"
Both of them opened their mouths at the same time. Each of them was surprised. Then they looked at each other and smiled.
As a boy, Lou Cheng took the initiative to answer before Yan Zheke asked again. "Actually, I'm very talented in meditation. I was able to conceal spirit and qi on my first try of Yin-Yang Stance. Otherwise, how could I survive the three weeks of special training?"
Yan Zheke's expression changed. Her bright black eyes showed obvious surprise. "You entered meditation on your first try?"
"Yes." Lou Cheng nodded sincerely.
Unconsciously, Yan Zheke pouted her lips and exhaled. "I thought it was amazing that I could enter meditation on my first try in ten days."
"Special case, special case. I'm not as good as you in other aspects. And it's really amazing that you could enter meditation on your first try in ten days. Many famous masters only entered meditation on their first try in half a month." Lou Cheng hurriedly comforted her.
The two of them talked about various things that happened during the martial arts training. However, they neglected to ask about each other's progress.
"You don't have to comfort me. Do I look like such a stingy person?" Yan Zheke laughed and dispelled her little depression. She nodded heavily and said, "From now on, you're my idol! It's rare to enter meditation in one day in the history of martial arts. "
"Don't. I can't accept it." Lou Cheng was secretly proud. He modestly changed the topic. "What's your level now? I seem to remember that you didn't have a level when you signed up for the special training. "
It wasn't 'seemed', it was definitely.
The two of them rowed tacitly. The boat slowly set sail. Yan Zheke thought for a while and said, "I learned martial arts from my uncle when I was a child. I should have reached the level of Amateur Ninth Pin when I graduated from junior high school. But I didn't attend the Ranking Event. So I didn't have much time to practice in high school. According to Qing, I should be between Amateur Seventh and Eighth Pin when she first practiced with me. But after I got started with Yin-Yang Stance, I think I've improved a lot. Qing said yesterday that I've reached Amateur Sixth Pin."
At the end of the sentence, her tone was slightly raised, showing a little pride and a little playfulness.
"Awesome. You've improved by at least one Pin in three weeks. I'll make you my idol." Lou Cheng deliberately picked up Yan Zheke's words.
According to Yan Zheke's experience, it was normal for her to reach Amateur Fourth or Fifth Pin when she entered the school if it weren't for the emphasis on learning in high school. The reason why she could improve by one Pin in three weeks was that she had guided the accumulation and potential that she had but hadn't shown yet. It was totally different from Lou Cheng, who had started out as a rookie in three weeks.
Listening to Lou Cheng's half-joking and half-sincere praise, Yan Zheke's cheeks reddened and her smile widened. But then she suddenly thought of something and sighed. Her expression was a little melancholy and gloomy.
"What's wrong?" Lou Cheng asked with concern.
Yan Zheke didn't stop rowing. After a dozen seconds of silence, she said in a low voice,
"According to the ancient saying, I'm congenitally deficient. If I hadn't practiced martial arts since I was a child, I'd probably be a invalid now. But my body is always damaged and can't be made up. I'll never be able to reach the level of Danqi and have a real glimpse of martial arts."
"So every time I see a young genius, I'm very envious and worship. It seems that I've put my expectation of martial arts on them."
Listening to Yan Zheke's words, Lou Cheng felt helpless and sad. His heart was suddenly filled with tenderness and pity. He wanted to say loudly, "Let me carry your dream of martial arts on my back."
But some things were better done than said. Bragging now would only make her think that he was joking about this kind of thing. It was too frivolous.
It wasn't until now that he understood why Yan Zheke worshipped Lin Que like other girls, and why she said, "Everyone has their own future. It doesn't have to be martial arts". She was not only talking about him, but also herself.
"Senior Brother Li Mao, who practiced with me, said that I've reached the level of Amateur Ninth Pin." He looked into Yan Zheke's eyes and said calmly and firmly.
Yan Zheke was stunned. "You've reached the level of Amateur Ninth Pin?"
She knew clearly that three weeks ago, Lou Cheng was just an ordinary person with no martial arts foundation. But after only three weeks, he could become proficient in punching and kicking.
Coupled with his talent of meditation, what level could he reach in three months, a year or a half?
"Senior Brother Li Mao said so." Lou Cheng said concisely.
Yan Zheke stared at him, her eyes as dark as a deep pool. After a while, she said in a low voice,
"You have to do your best."
"Okay." Lou Cheng nodded heavily.
While talking, they didn't stop their movements. They cooperated well and soon caught up with Qiu Zhigao and Guo Qing.
When they were about to pass by each other, Guo Qing suddenly raised the oar and splashed water at Lou Cheng and Yan Zheke, forcing them to try to dodge and slow down the boat.
"Qiu Zhigao, you row the boat. I'll stop them!" Guo Qing said arrogantly.
Yan Zheke was annoyed and amused. She looked at Lou Cheng and asked, "Do you want to fight back?"
Looking at the eagerness in her eyes and actions, Lou Cheng said without hesitation,
"Yes!"
"You row the boat well." Yan Zheke bit her lip with a smile in her eyes. She also used the oar to raise waves.
Lou Cheng put on his jacket and focused on observing the changes of the boat and the waves. He rowed at the right time to offset the shaking caused by Yan Zheke's movements and kept the boat moving forward. As for Old Qiu and Guo Qing, as long as Guo Qing made a big movement, the boat would inevitably shake, so she had to be careful.
Both of them had learned the basics of Yin-Yang Stance, so they had a good grasp of coordination. With a good cooperation, they had an obvious advantage. Soon, they overtook Guo Qing and Old Qiu and caught up with the others, causing screams and splashes. They had a lot of fun, with continuous laughter and "curses".
When they overtook everyone, they were the first to return to the starting point after circling the lake. Lou Cheng and Yan Zheke looked at each other again and smiled.
"Again, again, I, Doraemon, am not satisfied!" Cai Zongming and You Fangfang were the second to arrive and said exaggeratedly in online language.
Round after round, the girls had a lot of fun, but they were also tired. Seeing that the sun was setting, they suggested to go back early so that they wouldn't have to wait in line for the big meal in the evening.
As for the cost, led by Lou Cheng and Cai Zongming, the boys had already collected enough money.
The boat stopped at the shore. Lou Cheng, the "long-distance runner" without any fatigue, got off the boat easily and reached out his hand to Yan Zheke.
At this time, she was exhausted. She shouldn't have the strength to jump off directly, right?
Lou Cheng's heart beat faster, but Yan Zheke didn't feel bashful. She frankly grabbed his hand and got off the boat. At this moment, even though she had the advantage, she was splashed with a lot of water. Her hair was wet, with a few strands sticking to her cheeks, revealing an amazing beauty. It reminded people of the phrase "a hibiscus comes out of clear water".
"What's wrong?" Yan Zheke brushed the messy hair on her cheeks.
Lou Cheng thought for a while and smiled politely. "Every time I see a girl in a TV series with her hair still wet after washing, I think it's very beautiful."
Yan Zheke's eyes were watery. She glanced at him.
"I'm going to change first."
Lou Cheng suddenly understood. "That bag you're carrying is clothes?"
"Yes, it's easy to get wet while rowing. How can I not bring a set of clothes to change?" Yan Zheke smiled. "A rough man like you probably can't think of this."
"I have a leather coat, so I'm not afraid of getting wet." Lou Cheng wiped the water droplets on the short leather coat. "Smart, right?"
Yan Zheke rolled her eyes at him and walked quickly to the storage area.
Seeing her back disappear at the door of the female locker room, Lou Cheng was overflowing with joy. He couldn't help but walk back and forth, unable to stop.
After all the things that happened today, the politeness between him and Yan Zheke had completely disappeared. Her horizontal and white lines were the proof.
Although there was still a long way to go before they could hold hands, at least their relationship had improved.
…
After returning to the school through an online taxi, the group of 10 people went to the famous "Old Li Restaurant" in the nearby town. The most famous dish here was the white kidney beans stewed with pig's feet soup. The soup was milky white and fragrant. The soft white kidney beans were full of all kinds of essences. It was the most delicious and made the girls hungry.
After dinner, Lou Cheng and the others strolled back to Songcheng University. Along the way, they talked about the embarrassing and stupid things they had done in the afternoon, which made them burst into laughter from time to time. When they arrived at the second building of the female dormitory, there was no awkward silence.
Yan Zheke lived in the third building not far away. Lou Cheng sent her off and said goodbye to her in front of the gate.
"See you tomorrow for the special training." Lou Cheng smiled and waved.
Yan Zheke smiled faintly and waved her hand.
"See you tomorrow."
Seeing her enter the dormitory, Lou Cheng knew that she would be busy taking a shower. Instead of chasing after Cai Zongming and the others, Lou Cheng strolled to the lake.
I'm so happy today. If I don't exercise to vent, how can I sleep?
…
In the woods by the lake, Wu Dong, a senior member of the Martial Arts Club, was drinking and smoking with two friends he had met in the society. The new campus of Songcheng University was only free to enter and leave on weekends, except for express delivery.
"Ah, don't mention it recently. It's so damn depressing. Since Lin Que came in, I can't stay in the Martial Arts Club anymore. They don't even look at me." Wu Dong drank a mouthful of beer with a gloomy expression.
A young man with a tattoo on his neck said, "You and Brother Chen can't beat him?"
"I don't dare. We're about to graduate. How can we find a job if we get punished?" Wu Dong flattered himself.
Suddenly, his eyes froze and he snorted.
"What's wrong?" Another young man with a buzz cut followed Wu Dong's gaze and saw Lou Cheng jogging towards them with a smile on his face.
"A bastard from the Martial Arts Club." Wu Dong said grumpily.
The tattooed young man smiled. "Hey, what a coincidence. How about we teach him a lesson?"
"That's not a good idea. You can run away, but what about me?" Wu Dong wanted to vent but didn't dare to.
"Don't worry. We know what we're doing. Just teach him a lesson." The buzz cut young man had nowhere to vent his energy. He was eager to try. "Students fight and don't get hurt. Who will tell the teacher for no reason? How about we go and you don't show up? "
PS: It's Monday again. There's a chapter at midnight. Please recommend it.
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