Meng Chuan realized this was a rare opportunity. It would cost ten thousand to take an hour class with Luo Guanyun, so he needed to seize it, quickly raise the questions he had, and save some money for his uncle.
"I feel like I'm just a step away. Hall Master, I'd like to ask, how can I perform the National Obligation Boxing with a sense of dynamic and static combination, thereby breaking through to the master level?"
"You're asking me? My National Obligation Boxing isn't better than yours. Study on your own when you have more experience."
"Kid, don't be so stubborn. I have time from 5 to 6 this afternoon, follow me and learn something else first,
I'll teach you 'Cannon Fist'. Cannon Fist belongs to the Fire Attribute boxing of the Xingyi Sect's Five Elements, focusing on real combat explosiveness, much more powerful than Child's Fist."
Luo Guanyun didn't want to argue with him more. The 'National Obligation Basic Boxing' is something everyone in Great Chu practices. How could one easily become a master and modify it?
There's a touch of master demeanor in Meng Chuan's performance, but he's still a bit short. As the saying goes, missing by a tiny bit can lead to huge failure. This kid might still be stuck at this step as time passes.
Luo Guanyun didn't want to help him; helping Meng Chuan would mean harming him.
Meng Chuan shook his head in refusal repeatedly:
"No, I'll save the member lessons first, not practicing Cannon Fist for now, I'll wait until I complete the last step of National Obligation Boxing."
"Hmm? Why are you so stubborn, kid?"
"Alright then, since that's the case, I'll teach you this National Obligation Boxing today, but before teaching boxing, I must first explain its principles."
Meng Chuan listened carefully, hoping that the teaching of a Martial Arts Master might enlighten him.
"Let me tell you—having a big fist is the law!"
Before passing out, Meng Chuan vaguely saw a swing punch coming towards him, and then he lost consciousness.
"Come on, carry him aside first. Liu Ru, he will probably wake up around three or four, tell the kitchen to save some food. After he wakes up and finishes eating, bring him to my training room."
"Not practicing? I'll make you practice today no matter what."
...
At four-thirty in the afternoon, Meng Chuan slowly woke up, the first thing he did was touch the back of his head, and found it wasn't very painful.
"The Hall Master controlled his strength, or he'd break you with more force. Stop touching it, get up and eat first, quickly go find the Hall Master after eating, or you'll get beaten again."
Liu Ru, seeing Meng Chuan wake up, reminded him according to Luo Guanyun's request.
Meng Chuan saw Liu Ru in front of him, supported his body to stand up and asked:
"Instructor Liu, is the Hall Master always like this, starting without a frame, giving no time to prepare?"
"I just came to be a teacher, not too clear, but from my observation these days, you're the only one in the whole martial arts hall who dares talk back."
"..."
"But that might not be a bad thing, the Hall Master is a top expert in all Yong'an City. He saw your courage today and remembers you, which is also a skill."
Liu Ru covered her mouth and giggled.
Meng Chuan shook his head dejectedly, got up to eat; martial arts is very energy-consuming, you can't go without eating well.
After meals, Meng Chuan asked Le Ping for directions.
"You have some skills, Xiaomeng, your Child's Fist is quite good, a promising future! You've got guts; you're our martial arts hall's first to dare defy the Hall Master."
"It's over there, just walk to the end, the Hall Master said five o'clock, and it's time now, don't knock, just go in."
Le Ping gave Meng Chuan directions with schadenfreude.
Inside the training room, Luo Guanyun was still in his purple-black training outfit, muscles bulging, sitting cross-legged on the ground drinking tea.
The scene of a muscular man sipping tea was somewhat incongruous.
"You're here? Sit there."
Meng Chuan, following the Hall Master's direction, sat cross-legged facing him.
Luo Guanyun said nothing, just sipped his tea.
Seeing the Hall Master silent, Meng Chuan hastily spoke:
"Hall Master, let's start, every second is money, don't waste it."
"Pfft."
Luo Guanyun almost spat out his tea.
"I'm giving you an hour today, you kid, don't you have any respect being with a Martial Arts Family?"
Luo Guanyun asked curiously because Meng Chuan was the boldest student he had ever taught, never showing fear, but also made Luo Guanyun appreciate him.
A martial artist should be like this, fearless of fleeting clouds, bravely climbing high mountains.
"Hall Master Luo, you are indeed strong. Though I haven't even passed the first Qi and Blood Gate yet, compared to you, it's like the clouds and mud, but I only admire you, not fear you."
In Meng Chuan's eyes, there was only respect, no fear, sitting upright and looking directly at him.
Luo Guanyun's aura gradually escalated, the room became humid and hot, with signs of mist forming.
Meng Chuan fearlessly maintained eye contact with Luo Guanyun, the atmosphere in the room becoming strange and turbulent.
Beads of sweat rolled down from his forehead, even soaking wet, Meng Chuan continued to hold himself and maintain eye contact.
Luo Guanyun's sharp gaze gradually shifted to one of amusement, seeing Meng Chuan struggling to hold on, he immediately retracted his aura:
"You kid, you're something else."
"Many people think they have guts, dare to kill, have killed before, yet when faced with a stronger expert, act like mice seeing cats, only daring to scurry away with their tails between their legs."
"I think only someone like you has real guts, you're a born martial artist.
Meng Chuan, right? I'll remember you. You're quite solid, kid!"
Hearing the praise, Meng Chuan smiled shyly, scratching his head bashfully, the tightly strung chord within him finally slackening.
Meng Chuan, having lived two lives, was generally poised in speech and behavior, yet receiving praise from a Martial Arts Master was a first, causing him to feel a bit light-headed.
"We are all men, smile openly, don't be embarrassed!"
"By the way, how's your innate talent?"
Luo Guanyun had always wanted to find a disciple to pass down his Thunder Method tradition, but unfortunately had never found a suitable one.
"Below average."
"A little lacking, oh well, let's start teaching, don't say I'm inconsiderate, time starts now, including the gift of an hour."
"Thank you, Hall Master."
Meng Chuan felt that although Luo Guanyun spoke sharply and even hit him, he was oddly nice.
"I heard from Liu Ru, you haven't yet mastered the Three Talents Posture, so you can't practice 'Cannon Fist' yet, today I'll mainly teach you the Pile Skill, striving for an early breakthrough."
"During the teaching process, if you have any questions, ask immediately, don't pretend to understand."
Inside Luo Guanyun's private training room.
After two hours, Meng Chuan gained a lot, Luo Guanyun worthy as a Martial Arts Master, despite speaking in a Western Lu dialect, explained the complex and profound Pile Skill in a simple manner, the dialect wasn't hard to catch.
However, Luo Guanyun was a bit frustrated, multiple times during teaching wanting to hit him, as Meng Chuan kept interrupting about this and that regarding National Obligation Boxing, even though it was explained, still being so stubborn, really was a rascal!
By the time he came out of the training room, it was already seven o'clock. Remembering what his uncle said about the recent unrest outside, he quickly went to the canteen to eat and hurried home.