They kept working with short breaks until 6:00 a.m. Jason only made it through by taking three or four rests before finally finishing his shift.
After tallying up, he had earned 312 USD that night—a decent income. In contrast, Tony Huo made a little over 180 USD and was so exhausted he could barely speak.
On the way home, Tony groaned, "Jason, are you really coming back tomorrow? I can't do this anymore. This job is killing me…"
Jason Luo was also worn out. "Of course! Maybe we're just not used to it yet. Didn't you see how fast the others worked? I have to keep coming no matter how hard it is. I need that money."
Rubbing his sore shoulders, Tony reluctantly said, "Alright, I'll try again with you. Damn… maybe I should just focus on reviewing for the makeup exam instead…"
By the time they got home, it was nearly 6:30—Jason's usual wake-up time. But training was out of the question today. As soon as he stepped inside, he collapsed onto the bed. An hour and a half of sleep was nowhere near enough, yet at exactly 8:00 he forced himself up to make breakfast for his father and help him wash up...
Jason showed up at the gym in terrible shape. Sparring with Reches, he struggled to match the rhythm, made constant mistakes, and absorbed several rear heavy punches.
Seeing his poor condition, Reches stopped. "Jason, don't tell me you went to a nightclub last night? Why are you in such bad shape today?"
Jason Luo shook his head helplessly. "No… I'm sorry, Reches. I'll get it together. Let's continue."
He forced himself through the session, but ended up taking at least three times as many punches as usual. His head was swollen and slightly deformed from the blows.
Raul, passing by, noticed the scene and walked over to inspect Jason's injuries. "What's going on with you today? Reches said your condition is terrible. This won't do!"
Raul's tone was sharp. Jason knew this affected Reches' training, and naturally Reches wouldn't be happy. With no other choice, he explained his father's illness and his night job.
Raul was taken aback. "Oh, my God… you mean you were moving cargo all night and then came to train?"
Jason Luo nodded.
Raul frowned. "Jason, I sympathize with your father's situation, but this can't continue. Reches' training can't be compromised. You're being paid, so you have to do your job properly. Otherwise, I'll have to replace you. Do you understand?"
Jason nodded bitterly. "I understand, Mr. Raul. I'll find a solution soon."
Raul patted his shoulder. "Good. Go get some rest. Remember this—if you want to be a boxer, your body is your greatest asset. Don't be shortsighted."
Raul was right, but Jason couldn't give up his night job.
His father needed treatment as soon as possible. As long as he could raise the money, any sacrifice was worth it. Even if he lost his sparring job, Jason wouldn't regret it.
That afternoon, Jason cut his Boxing Technique training short and went home early to catch up on sleep, hoping to be in better shape tomorrow. After all, the sparring income was crucial to raising the money quickly.
That night, Tony Huo showed up again, which lifted Jason's spirits. With a friend to joke around with, the work felt much lighter.
But for Tony, this night was even harder. The soreness from yesterday hadn't gone away, and after just a short while, his body felt drained. He slumped down, unwilling to move.
Jason grinned. "Come on, Tony. You're always chasing after girls, but without a good body, you won't get anywhere. This job isn't bad—treat it like training at the gym. Plus, you're making money. It's a win-win!"
Tony rolled his eyes. "How's that the same? You've never been to a gym. There are beautiful women there—of course you feel motivated. But here? Nothing. If a beauty were watching, I'd outwork you in no time!"
"Hah, as if! If a woman showed up here in the middle of the night, you'd probably die of fright…"
They pushed on until after 4:00 a.m., when Tony completely gave out. Jason also started to worry. If this went on, he'd be in no condition to spar today. Well, forget it. Once his father was settled, he could always find another job.
Just then, the system prompt chimed:
"Ding! After rigorous training, your stamina has improved. stamina +1. Keep it up!"
A familiar refreshing sensation surged through his body. The fatigue vanished instantly, his mind was clear, and his energy returned as if he had slept the whole night.
Unbelievable—this rush was intoxicating!
It looked like today's sparring was saved. With his strength restored, working felt effortless, leaving Tony staring in shock. "Jason, did you take some kind of power pill? How did you suddenly get so strong?"
Jason teased him. "Stick with it and you'll get there too. That's how it works—you keep going until you find the rhythm, then it doesn't feel tiring anymore."
Skeptical, Tony tried again, but soon collapsed. "No way… I'm done. Even if a supermodel showed up right now, I couldn't move…"
By 6:00 a.m., their earnings were tallied again. Tony had only made a little over 160 USD, while Jason Luo had earned over 370 USD—almost a week's worth of sparring pay. More importantly, he felt refreshed and full of energy, ready for training with no problem.
In good spirits, Jason treated Tony to breakfast and brought another portion home for his father. After a cold shower, he felt incredible.
At this pace, in just over ten days, he could barely scrape together enough money for treatment. Watching his father sleeping on the sofa, Jason felt a wave of mixed emotions. Maybe his life really was about to change.
He jogged to the gym, brimming with energy. Training with Reches felt effortless today. During a break, Jason joked, "Reches, do you think I'd stand a chance if I challenged those sparring partners now?"
Reches laughed. "Kid, you've only been training for a few days, and you want to be a sparring partner already? Sure, your toughness isn't bad, but in terms of boxing technique, speed, strength, and rhythm, you're way behind. Those guys have years of fight experience—you can't compare to that. Take my advice: train steadily for a year or two. You're young. What's the rush?"
"Haha, I was just kidding. But tell me, Reches, what exactly is rhythm?"
"Well… how do I put it? Every boxer has a unique offensive rhythm. When they fight in their natural rhythm, they can bring out their full potential—just like music follows a beat. Close your eyes and feel it. I'll show you."
Jason quickly closed his eyes. Reches lightened his strikes and tapped him in quick succession.
"Pop… pop… pop-pop-pop! … Pop… pop… pop-pop-pop!"
After a few rounds, Jason understood. Rhythm was a habitual punching pattern, a style built through years of training. So this was rhythm!
Seeing his realization, Reches continued, "Don't underestimate rhythm. If you get used to fighting at a slow pace, you'll fall behind against fast-paced opponents and suffer. On the other hand, a fast fighter can be thrown off if his rhythm is broken. Choosing and adapting depends on the fighter—and it's best learned under professional guidance."
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