Chương 53: Eastern Qi Arts and Sports, Arriving as Promised

Ye Jingqiu stood tall and proud, like a plum blossom, her snow-white skin glowing with a shimmering luster in the lamplight of the night.

She is indeed beautiful, just as her name suggests.

She is the undisputed number one beauty in the entire Dongqi University martial arts team.

Of course, these are all private comments. If anyone dares to comment on her beauty to her face, they'd better consider how sharp Senior Sister Jingqiu's sword is.

"I'll use the Prajna Palm, you'll use the Five Ancestors Fist!"

Ye Jingqiu said calmly.

"Okay, senior sister."

Zhao Rui was slightly disappointed. He only used the Prajna Palm, so he felt he hadn't gotten the job as a sparring partner.

Seeing that Zhao Rui agreed and assumed the stance of the Five Ancestors Fist, Ye Jingqiu didn't waste any words and attacked Zhao Rui with the move "Compassionate Salvation".

Undeterred, Zhao Rui stepped forward and engaged her in combat.

Ye Jingqiu was exceptionally intelligent and one of the four top martial arts experts in the team. His moves were swift and fierce. His Prajna Palm technique was devoid of any Buddhist compassion; instead, it resembled that of a swordsman who could kill with a single blow.

Every move he made revealed his sharpness.

Hmm, besides the sword-like moves, her fair arms are quite similar too. They are not only smooth and straight, but also plump and well-proportioned, and even her body temperature is icy cold.

Just like Bai Xuening, Zhao Rui couldn't help but think that it had been a long time since he had heard from Bai Xuening, and he wondered what she had been busy with.

"You dare to be distracted when you're competing with me?"

Ye Jingqiu's pretty face turned cold, with a hint of unfriendly anger. She looked for an opening in Zhao Rui's moves and struck his Tanzhong acupoint.

If it were any other martial art, Zhao Rui would have been sure to hit him, but the Prajna Palm was all too familiar to him.

The moves and techniques were all decided in a single thought. Neither of them possessed internal energy, so the speed of their moves was naturally slow. Zhao Rui easily deflected the killing move with a simple block.

Ye Jingqiu's expression froze; he never expected him to react so quickly.

Since her first attack missed, she abandoned her plan to teach him a lesson and instead continued sparring with him.

After another thirty rounds of fighting, having just finished two sets of combos, Ye Jingqiu forced Zhao Rui's palm strike back with a single palm strike and broke away from the confrontation.

"Your Five Ancestors Fist technique is quite fluid, and your adaptability is also strong... but you are ultimately not him."

Ye Jingqiu shook his head, turned around and jumped off the stage, then continued walking away.

"Autumn's Startling Appearance!"

Gongye Lingchen hurriedly asked from behind.

"You practice, I don't need it."

As she spoke, Ye Jingqiu's figure had already drifted away, her flowing skirt swaying in the autumn wind, leaving behind a white, ethereal silhouette.

"Depend on!"

Gongye Ling Chen spat on the ground with slight displeasure, then looked at Zhao Rui, frowned, and said, "Get lost!"

Zhao Rui's face twitched.

That bastard is a real piece of work. He wanted to pursue a girl, but she ignored him, so he's now trying to disgust me, isn't he?

Zhao Rui was too lazy to argue with him. He was currently too weak to fight back, and arguing would only delay his cultivation.

"Then I'll take my leave, junior brother."

After saying that, he turned around, jumped off the stage, and then used his lightness skill to walk towards the edge of the arena. His speed didn't seem fast, but he disappeared from Gongye Lingchen's sight in the blink of an eye.

"ah……!"

After everyone left, Gongye Lingchen angrily shouted at the empty training ground to vent his frustration.

On the other side, Zhao Rui, feeling aggrieved, quickened his pace and, in just a few minutes, caught up with Ye Jingqiu, who was squatting by the roadside, her long skirt fluttering, gently smelling wildflowers.

At this moment, the senior sister no longer had the cold and aloof demeanor; instead, she possessed the innocence and charm of a little girl.

However, Zhao Rui didn't look at it for long, just glanced at it, and then prepared to walk past it.

Unexpectedly, Ye Jingqiu heard his footsteps and the sound of something cutting through the air. He turned around and saw Zhao Rui. He asked in surprise, "Aren't you guys training anymore?"

"Greetings, Senior Sister. Perhaps Senior Brother Gongye no longer needs my sparring partner?"

Zhao Rui stopped, Chong Ye Jingqiu smiled, and then walked straight out.

After a moment's thought, Ye Jingqiu understood the gist of it and couldn't help but feel ashamed and annoyed.

Just as I was about to say something, I saw Zhao Rui had already slipped away.

……

In the following days, the entire martial arts team remained immersed in this intense and busy special training.

According to Wang Zhanshan, although it was a forced situation, it was better to cram at the last minute than to lose miserably.

The Dongqi University Martial Arts Team is in its current state because of the problematic guidance from its former leader, which is a disgrace to him as the second headmaster.

I don't even want to do it anymore.

Fortunately, in the first half of the year, a new leader who was more pragmatic and more focused on martial arts achievements was appointed, which changed the situation.

Even so, because of this incident, Wang Zhanshan still went to the principal's office and complained to the new principal, even suggesting that freshmen should join the team as soon as possible.

The principal was aware of the situation and offered him some words of comfort, saying that he would carefully consider the matter and put it on the agenda as soon as possible.

Hearing this news, Zhao Rui was quite surprised. Although it wasn't his fault, by a twist of fate, it was very possible that this year's freshmen martial arts students had entered the martial arts team for training last semester.

I'm about to meet my "classmates" again.

Soon it was the end of October, and the long-awaited exchange meeting finally arrived.

Zhao Rui and other members of the martial arts team were already waiting inside Mingchan Temple.

At this moment, the Mingchan Temple was spotless and clean, and the "broken" desk and recliner in the corner had long since disappeared.

Instead, various calligraphy, paintings, and decorations with a Zen aesthetic were hung in the main areas of the hall.

At the same time, a calming incense was burning inside the incense burner, its wisps of smoke rising upwards, adding to the solemn atmosphere.

It looks quite professional.

This was all done yesterday by these informal team members who worked overtime to tidy it up.

In the past, these tasks would definitely have required hiring someone to do them, but now, with a group of martial arts students who can "fly and disappear," it's too easy for them to handle.

Outside Mingchan Temple, two buses slowly drove along the asphalt road in front of the temple.

The words "Dongqi Arts and Sports University" were prominently displayed on the side of the bus.

This is the exchange school we've been "looking forward to" these past few days.

Outside Mingchan Temple, besides the members of the Dongqi University Martial Arts Team, there were also the main leaders and teachers of the Martial Arts Academy.

The specifications are quite high.

After all, it was a "friendly" school exchange visit.

As the bus stopped in the empty parking space in front of the campus, a group of people got off the bus one after another. First, there were several middle-aged leaders, followed by student team members who were about the same age as Zhao Rui and his group.

After the leader who arrived first shook hands with the leader of the Martial Arts Academy of Dongqi University, everyone walked together towards the reception area of Mingchan Academy.

Zhao Rui and his group of students had finished their reception duties and gradually gathered together before entering the courtyard.

"Did you see that tall, muscular guy?"

Zhang Kui, standing beside him, pointed to a martial arts student at the Arts and Sports University and turned to Zhao Rui, saying...

"Um."

Zhao Rui nodded.

"That's their martial arts team captain. He reached the Grandmaster realm even earlier than Captain Gu. And that woman over there is also exceptionally powerful."

After saying that, he leaned close to Zhao Rui's ear and whispered, "She hates it when people say she's not pretty. I heard that Senior Sister Ye Jingqiu was once beaten and suffered internal injuries because she was too beautiful."

"Moreover, she likes to keep gigolos."

"Hey, you over there, see him? I heard he committed a crime, but the school bailed him out. I think he... you know, he... with a girl."

"besides……"

"Oh, there are other things too."

Zhang Kui nodded earnestly, clearly indicating that these reports were true. He had inherited these insights from the previous team members.

Hearing this, I realized how kind and easygoing the teammates from the Dongqi University martial arts team were.

The exchange activities certainly won't start with a lively competition; all the necessary exchange procedures will be included.

Zhao Rui and the other team members would stay for a while and then disperse, waiting for the school's call to action.

However, they couldn't go far; they had to wait within the martial arts academy's grounds.

Zhao Rui and Zhang Kui, along with their fellow sophomores, gathered together.

With nowhere else to go, the group entered the dense forest in front of the Mingchan Courtyard, found a grassy area near the lake, and leisurely sat down to watch the waterfowl frolicking on the lake.

Putting everything else aside, the environment of the Martial Arts Academy is truly wonderful. There is a mountain, a rocky mountain tens of meters high, with strange rocks and vegetation such as pines and cypresses. Standing on the top of the mountain, you can overlook the entire campus.

There is a pavilion on the mountain with the words "Cicada Molting" written on it in an ancient style and in gilded gold. A stream flows through the pavilion and trickles into the lake below the mountain.

There is a lake at the foot of the mountain. The lake is quite large, about the size of two or three football fields. Many water birds live in the lake, sometimes frolicking on the surface, sometimes hopping in the reeds along the shore.

A scene of natural peace and tranquility.

Besides the mountains and rivers, there is also a large, dense forest in the courtyard, which is where Zhao Rui used to practice his skills.

Such a beautiful view is truly remarkable.

No wonder, students say that Dongqi University is just a comprehensive university that is an extension of the Martial Arts Academy.

Several people sat or lay down by the lake, but no one spoke.

They all seemed to be thinking about something.

After a long period of silence, Zhao Rui looked at the lake, picked up a pebble from the shore with great interest, and then, with a whoosh, threw the pebble across the water.

The pebble, imbued with internal energy, transformed into a shooting star, swiftly striking the lake surface before bouncing up and falling back down repeatedly.

It bounced all the way to the other side of the lake before disappearing into the mud.

Seeing this, Zhang Kui also found a stone and threw it, just like the other way around.

The stone continued to glide across the lake, bouncing several times before disappearing on the opposite shore.

"You two have quite the refined taste!"

Cao Guannan snorted coldly, with a disdainful expression.

Zhao Rui reached out and picked up a stone from the ground, then threw it with a whoosh.

"Give it a try!"

Cao Guannan reached out and pinched the stone in mid-air, lazily stood up, a contemptuous smile on his lips, and then with a whoosh, threw the stone away as well.

"We'll join in too!"

Seeing this, Li Xinran and her two daughters quickly joined in the game they used to play as children.

Do you think you can get a ranking in the future?

After throwing the toss twice, Zhang Kui finally spoke slowly and in a deep voice.

"I used to think I was pretty good, but since joining the martial arts team, I've realized there are just too many amazing people out there."

His words immediately plunged everyone into deep thought.

Their graduating class of sophomores was the least talented and lowest-ranked class ever admitted to the Martial Arts Academy of Dongqi University.

When they were selected for the martial arts team, they were chosen from among the shortest of the short, and they were just recruited as best they could. As a result, two-thirds of them were eliminated after one semester.

They are even worse than the previous year's juniors, who were widely considered the worst graduating class in history.

Just like Zhang Kui said, do they have any hope of winning a prize?

If you can't get a ranking, even a ranking in a provincial competition, then what's the point of joining the martial arts team?

Instead of wasting time, it's better to honestly study for the postgraduate entrance exam or the civil service exam.

Although they will certainly not progress as quickly as those in martial arts teams in the future, it is at least a safe and good path.

"Just because you can't do it doesn't mean we can't. You can't make bricks from rotten wood!"

After saying this, Cao Guannan's eyes darted away slightly, and then he left the lakeside without looking back.

Li Xinran and Qin Rui exchanged a glance and laughed, "We'll see how long we can hold out. At least it'll be a good life experience."

After saying that, Li Xinran added in a relaxed tone, "Why think so much? Staying in the martial arts team won't interfere with your studies."

Zhang Kui smiled upon hearing this, but said nothing more.

"Alright, Kui-ge, I'm still a little unaccustomed to you doing this all at once. Why don't you go downstairs and take a shower before coming back up?"

Zhao Rui chuckled and shoved Zhang Kui aside.

Caught off guard, Zhang Kui swayed and was about to fall into the river.

"Wa Cao, Zhao Rui."

Zhao Rui chuckled, and just as he was about to fall into the water, he suddenly grabbed one end of his jacket and threw it over.

Zhang Kui reacted quickly, grabbing the coat and stopping his fall.

"You two go downstairs together!"

Just as Zhao Rui was about to pull Zhang Kui up, he saw Li Xinran and Qin Rui chuckling and suddenly push him from behind.

"Damn it, a woman's heart is the most poisonous!"

Fortunately, Zhao Rui was prepared and dodged the attack with a quick sidestep.

Li Xinran laughed heartily, then quickly led Qin Rui, giggling, and ran towards the hillside.

Before Zhao Rui could exert any force, Zhang Kui had already used the momentum to his advantage, flicking his wrist and flipping his body over from the lake surface.

"Go for her!"

Zhang Kui and Zhao Rui shared the same goal and immediately chased after them up the mountain.

Before long, the sounds of several people laughing and joking could be heard from the top of the hill.

Perhaps Li Xinran and the others don't want to face reality now, or perhaps they already know the reality but still don't want to admit it.

Regardless of the circumstances, Zhao Rui could understand their mindset at this moment.

After a short while of this commotion, Cao Guannan called.

Tell them to gather at the training ground; the exchange competition is about to begin.

Zhao Rui and the others then calmed down and hurriedly rushed towards the training ground.

In just a dozen breaths, the four arrived at the training ground and saw Cao Guannan waiting at the entrance.

Upon their arrival, Cao Guannan gave them a cold look, then turned and entered the training ground, as if he wasn't the one waiting for them at the entrance.

Zhao Rui and his three companions followed closely behind and quickly entered the martial arts arena. Inside, a fighting ring had already been set up, and many chairs for spectators were placed below the ring.

(End of this chapter)