Chapter 112: Learning a Move
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 112: Learning a Move
"So, why do you suddenly want to learn the Fierce Tiger Piercing Spear?"
I scratched my cheek at Li Meiling's question and answered honestly.
"To be honest, I've never professionally learned martial arts, so in a situation like the one earlier, I had no idea how to react."
At best, all I had was some Taekwondo I learned in the military in my past life.
That's why I was all the more curious about the principles behind the technique she used.
But upon hearing my words, Li Meiling looked slightly shocked.
"You've never learned martial arts?"
"No. Beating Ivan back then was, in a way, just a series of lucky breaks."
I told her what Fuma-senpai had once explained to me about the Extreme Yang Body.
After listening to my explanation, Li Meiling asked me with a serious expression.
"Are you telling me the absolute truth?"
"Huh? Ah, yes."
Li Meiling then spoke with a grave look.
"First, let me correct one misunderstanding you have. The man named Ivan Romanov is not someone you can beat with mere luck. He may be older now and past his prime, but in his youth, he defeated my master and one of the Seven Fist Masters, Li Senshun, and held the title of the world's strongest for a long ten years. If he hadn't lost interest in competing after his defeat to Japan's Black Yaksha, he might still be active today."
From her description, he sounded like someone who had retired quite a long time ago, yet he was held in high regard.
I guess that meant he was an incredibly big deal.
From my perspective, having met him in person, he was just a Russian guy with anger management issues.
"In any case, even if you won because your yang energy momentarily went berserk thanks to that Ghost Pill you mentioned, that is still undeniably your own strength. If you start training now, you can certainly reach that level."
"How can you be so sure?"
Li Meiling stared at me with serious eyes.
"You possess a greater talent than anyone I have ever seen. You're a natural-born warrior—a true martial bone."
As she spoke, she reached out and touched the muscles on my arm and chest.
"The very fact that you've developed this level of external conditioning without learning any martial arts is a testament to your talent."
Being acknowledged by someone who was one of the strongest fighters of the current generation for my two years of hard work gave me a strange, ticklish feeling inside.
It was then.
"Son, dinner's ready, what should we… Oh, my."
Just like before, my mother, who only ever barges in at the worst possible moments, froze when she saw Li Meiling touching my muscles in the living room.
"Did I interrupt again?"
"It's a misunderstanding!"
I've lost count of how many times I've shouted that line.
*
After eating together in the kitchen, my family and I listened to her story.
At first, I had only asked what she did for a living to break the awkward atmosphere, but judging by the post titled 'Strong Woman, Distorted Libido.jpg' making the rounds on community forums, she really was a famous person.
Her real name was Li Meiling (李 美鈴).
She was twenty-two this year.
A university student five years my senior.
Originally from Hebei Province in China, she was known as a prodigy from a young age. She caught the eye of Li Senshun, also known as 'Dongfang Bubai' and a master of countless Chinese martial arts, and became his disciple. It seemed she had been taught his exclusive martial art, 'Pacheonyukhapdaeseungpalgeukgwon'.
While traditional Chinese martial arts were generally considered less practical than modern ones, she had entered the UFC at a young age and performed the incredible feat of conquering three weight classes using only Chinese boxing.
As if that wasn't enough, she competed in GOF, an open-weight tournament with no gender or age restrictions, and became its first-ever female champion. She was, for all intents and purposes, a legendary figure among female fighters.
"That's an impressive list of titles."
"So you finally recognize how amazing I am."
She puffed out her chest proudly as she spoke.
This emphasized her not-so-small chest, and my father's gaze instinctively drifted in that direction.
Of course, he quickly looked away before my mother could notice.
"And yet such a person lost her wallet."
"Hmph."
Apparently having nothing to say to that, Li Meiling made a small noise and avoided my mother's gaze.
My father, who was sitting around the table eating fruit, asked curiously.
"So, Miss Meiling, could you show us some of your martial arts?"
"Of course, sir."
At my father's request, she shot up from her seat and immediately took a stance.
If it weren't for the oversized T-shirt that exposed one of her shoulders and the apple she was holding in her mouth, the atmosphere would have been quite impressive.
She straightened her palms, took a deep breath, and began to swing her arms like whips.
I realized the style she was demonstrating was one of the techniques she had used at Yaguchi's dojo.
Her arms, swaying as gracefully as a willow tree, moved with a fluid motion that would occasionally turn fierce and powerful. Watching her, it almost looked like she was dancing.
For about five minutes.
After completely captivating my parents by showcasing a variety of flashy techniques in the limited space, she ended her demonstration with a cupped-hand salute.
My parents, who had been watching blankly, burst into applause, full of admiration.
"Th-that style you just showed us, Miss Meiling, what's it called?"
"It's a style called Biguazhang."
"Amazing for such a young lady. It was like watching a martial arts movie."
"You're too kind."
Although she'd done it at my parents' request, she seemed embarrassed now that it was over. Li Meiling's stoic face flushed as she waved her hands dismissively.
We chatted a little longer in the living room, but as it was getting late, we decided to turn in for the night.
My parents, unlike me, had to open the shop the next day.
*
The next day.
Waking up at dawn as usual, I went into my room to grab my jogging clothes and froze when I saw Li Meiling sleeping on the floor.
She must have been exhausted from walking all day yesterday, as she seemed to be in a deep sleep.
And her unguarded, sleeping face was simply that of a beautiful woman.
I tiptoed quietly, careful not to disturb her on the floor futon, and opened my closet.
Three sets of similar-looking tracksuits were hanging there.
I usually wear one for three or four days before switching, so my closet was rarely empty.
I took out the tracksuit I would wear today and was about to tiptoe out and close the door when I heard a voice that sounded like it had just woken up.
"…Where are you going?"
"You're awake?"
I asked, glancing back.
Unlike a moment ago when she was lying under the covers, she had propped herself up slightly and was looking at me with narrowed eyes.
"I go jogging every morning."
Li Meiling let out a small yawn, still half-asleep, and said.
"I'll go too."
"Jogging?"
She gave a small nod and got out from under the covers.
"Just because I'm in a foreign land doesn't mean I can neglect my personal training."
"If that's the case, I won't stop you."
As I said that and turned to leave the room, a thought occurred to me and I asked.
"Do you have a tracksuit?"
Li Meiling paused for a moment, then nodded.
"I have one."
"Then I'll wait for you outside. Take your time."
I decided to wait in the living room until she was ready.
*
Generally, it takes a long time for a woman to get ready to go out.
But Li Meiling, as if such common sense had nothing to do with her, simply washed her face and came out.
Her very long hair was tied in a ponytail, swaying gently.
I gestured for her to follow me so we could take my usual route.
Li Meiling nodded and started power-walking beside me, matching my pace.
Leaving the house, we ran for about thirty minutes and arrived at a public park near the riverbank.
There was never anyone here at this hour, so the dawn park was quiet all around.
Perhaps the jog had cleared her head, because as she was doing some light stretching, she said to me.
"That thing you asked for yesterday, I'd like to do it now."
"You mean the Fierce Tiger Piercing Spear?"
"That's right."
She nodded in response.
Perhaps because we had talked a lot last night, she seemed much more comfortable around me than before.
She strode up to me and, just like yesterday, touched my arm muscles as she spoke.
"The technique I used yesterday, the Fierce Tiger Piercing Spear, is originally a derivative of the Fierce Tiger Shaking Mountain, one of the eight great forms of Baji Quan."
She pulled on my right arm with both hands.
"And Baji Quan is a martial art derived from spearmanship."
I moved my arm as she guided it.
The joint of my outstretched right arm rotated midway.
"The most important part of the Fierce Tiger Piercing Spear is this: to treat your arm like a spear. If you learn this, you'll have a spear that can pierce any shield."
As she said this, Li Meiling assumed the same stance as yesterday.
Her right arm, trained to its physical limit, thrust into the air.
The thrust, with its added rotation, looked simple, but it truly felt like it could pierce through anything.
"I think you'll be able to follow along quickly, so I'll just teach you the basic martial theory for now."
She said this with a look that was, for some reason, joyful.