The ultimate purpose of practicing fighting is actual combat.
Lu Yuan asked Cheng Peng to spar with him. Besides telling Cheng Peng he wanted to better master the three basic fighting skills through this method, he also wanted to verify an idea through this sparring session.
In the dojo, two teenagers, once again dressed in martial arts uniforms, stood facing each other. It was almost an hour before lunch. Most of the students had gone home after their lessons, but some stayed behind for extra practice. The training area had quite a few people, so Lu Yuan and Cheng Peng, occupying a small section, were hardly noticeable.
Cheng Peng was a few centimeters taller than Lu Yuan. Having practiced martial arts year-round, he appeared quite sturdy. His naturally curly short hair and bronze skin made him seem more robust than the average high school student.
"You asked for this, okay? Don't flip out if you end up crying," Cheng Peng said, rubbing his hands together in anticipation.
"You talk too much," Lu Yuan said casually.
"Heh. I'll make you kneel and call me Dad!" Cheng Peng shouted, then quickly charged at Lu Yuan.
Lu Yuan took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on Cheng Peng's movements. The moves from the three basic combat skills flashed rapidly through his mind...
He attempted to dodge Cheng Peng's charge with a left slide, then seized the opportunity to punch at Cheng Peng's head. Since it was actual combat, both wore protective gear. Without the worry of accidental injury, Lu Yuan attacked without reservation.
"Heh heh—"
The moment Lu Yuan threw his punch, he heard Cheng Peng chuckle. Before he could react, he felt his right fist tightly locked by Cheng Peng's hands. Cheng Peng spun around, his back to Lu Yuan, then exerted immense force.
"Fly!"
Lu Yuan's body flew uncontrollably, as if soaring through clouds. Cheng Peng slammed him to the ground with a powerful shoulder throw.
"BANG—"
The fight ended in less than a minute.
"How about that? Convinced? Aren't you going to call me Dad?" Cheng Peng stood with his hands on his hips, looking down at Lu Yuan with a smugly triumphant expression.
But when Lu Yuan didn't get up from the ground after several seconds, Cheng Peng immediately grew anxious.
"Damn, Lu Yuan, are you okay?! I didn't even use much force, don't tell me you're actually hurt!" Cheng Peng hurriedly went to help Lu Yuan up.
"I'm fine." Lu Yuan shook his head, a peculiar expression on his face. There was no frustration, unwillingness, or shame that usually followed a defeat. Instead, his eyes shone brightly, and he seemed even more excited.
[Your Skill: Basic Fist has improved, Experience Points +3]
[Your Skill: Basic Stepping has improved, Experience Points +4]
[You have experienced a combat, Profession Experience +5]
My guess was correct! For the 'Student' Profession, every exam yields far more basic subject experience and Profession Experience than usual classroom exercises. This applies to the 'Fighter' Profession as well. Gaining experience from actual combat is much faster than practicing by myself!
The Basic Fist Skill and Basic Step Skill he used in the fight showed a significant increase in Experience Points immediately after the battle ended. His Profession Experience also instantly increased by 5 points, almost as much as he would gain from half an hour of solitary arduous training.
Although he had been thrown hard and his body ached, this bit of humiliation and pain was nothing compared to the experience gained.
"Again!" Lu Yuan scrambled up from the ground, his fighting spirit soaring, and beckoned Cheng Peng to continue.
"Again?" Cheng Peng hesitated. "The gap between us is too large. Fighting me is just pure masochism for you..."
"It's not as big as you imagine!" Lu Yuan wasted no more words and threw a punch straight at Cheng Peng's face.
"Damn, a sneak attack?" Cheng Peng yelped, forced back into the fight.
「More than half an hour later.」
Lu Yuan limped out of the locker room. His arms and legs, exposed by his short-sleeved T-shirt, had faint bruises and abrasions, and one of his eyes was red.
"Lu Yuan..." Cheng Peng carefully supported him, looking at his state with some worry. "You can't blame me for this; you asked for it. When you get home, if your parents ask, you absolutely must not say I bullied you on purpose..."
"Don't worry, I'll just say I accidentally got hit while training by myself," Lu Yuan patted Cheng Peng's shoulder reassuringly.
At this moment, Lu Yuan was ecstatic. Over half an hour of actual combat practice. He had gained a full forty Profession Experience Points. Basic Fist Skill had reached Lv. 3, and Basic Step Skill, which he had just learned today, had also risen to Lv. 2. This efficiency was equivalent to half a day of his usual arduous training.
"Tomorrow, we continue. From now on, you'll practice with me for half an hour every day," Lu Yuan said to Cheng Peng.
"Still? Again?" Cheng Peng shook his head like a pellet drum. "No, no, I can't bear to keep abusing you."
"Just say I'm asking for it, okay?" Lu Yuan glared at him. "Or else, I'm taking back every time I called you 'Dad' today."
"This..." Cheng Peng hesitated, then reluctantly agreed.
Only then did Lu Yuan nod with satisfaction.
This sparring session had also given him some understanding of Cheng Peng's strength. That kid's speed and physique are probably similar to mine. His strength is a bit higher, but likely around 8-point-something, not yet 9. The main difference between us lies in basic fighting skills and actual combat experience. As long as I can bridge these two gaps, I might be able to defeat Cheng Peng. I still haven't used [Absolute Focus] yet.
Being knocked down over a dozen times in just over half an hour, Lu Yuan appeared unfazed, but secretly, he was nursing a grudge. He was determined to make Cheng Peng wholeheartedly concede defeat and call him "Dad" too.
Besides, even losing every match yielded an average of three to four Profession Experience Points.
If I won... how much experience would I get? Lu Yuan couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
「...…」
June passed swiftly, and July quietly arrived. The weather in Burnt Rock City had grown much hotter.
「The Fourth High School of Burnt Rock City.」
The shrill sound of cicadas was disrupted by a harsh bell. The previously quiet campus also grew lively as students surged out of their classrooms.
"One last check to make sure your class, name, and student ID are written down..." From the podium, the invigilating teacher reminded them loudly while collecting the exam papers.
Lu Yuan laid his exam paper flat on the desk, packed his ruler and pen, and calmly walked out of the examination room.
Today was the July monthly test at The Fourth High School. The last subject was History.
[Your Skill: History has improved, Experience Points +18]
[You've experienced an examination, Profession Experience +8]
Lu Yuan glanced at his [Student] Profession panel.
[Profession: Student Lv. 4 (122/800)]
[Basic Profession Skills:
Language Lv. 4 (23/400)
Mathematics Lv. 4 (33/800)
Physics Lv. 4 (80/800)
Chemistry Lv. 4 (12/800)
Biology Lv. 4 (2/800)
History Lv. 3 (377/400)
Geography Lv. 3 (389/400)
Information Technology Lv. 4 (12/800)]
[Core Profession Skill: Absolute Focus Lv. 2 (Active)]
After this examination, even History, his weakest subject, was close to reaching Lv. 4. Of the eight basic subjects under the [Student] Profession panel, only History and Geography had not yet reached Lv. 4.
"Lu Yuan." A soft voice, tinged with shyness, sounded beside him.
Lu Yuan turned to see a girl standing daintily before him. She had long, waist-length black hair secured with a pink hairpin. Her skin was fair, her features exquisite. Beneath her blue school skirt, two slender, pale legs made her appear even more pure and charming.
"Want to go back to class together? I wanted to compare answers with you for yesterday afternoon's math test." As she spoke, the girl kept fiddling with her hair, unable to meet Lu Yuan's eyes.
"I have something to do this afternoon, so I'm not planning on returning to class." Lu Yuan thought for a moment and eventually declined her invitation. "Why don't you compare with someone else?"
"Alright." The girl seemed a little disappointed by Lu Yuan's response. By the time she thought of something else to say, Lu Yuan had already turned and walked away.