Evolving infinitely from ground zero

Gymnasium, Room C.

Right after school in the afternoon, Lin Zichen took Shen Qinghan here.

When they first entered, Guo Xiangyuan was the only one inside, leisurely sipping tea and scrolling through short videos.

"Coach Guo."

Lin Zichen called out, his reference changing from the previous 'teacher' to the now 'coach'.

Guo Xiangyuan, hearing the voice, immediately looked up with a smile, "You're here early. None of those kids on the team arrive earlier than you. They need to improve their attitude."

"Come in, sit down and have some tea first. Once everyone arrives, I'll take you for a tour," Guo Xiangyuan said as he fetched two cups and poured tea for both of them.

...

As time passed, people began to trickle into the room from outside.

All of them were boys; not a single girl was present.

Upon entering, each of them curiously glanced at Lin Zichen and Shen Qinghan sitting beside the tea table, with most of their gazes landing on Lin Zichen.

Lin Zichen had a big reputation in Shanhai High School; there wasn't a student who didn't know him, most had heard of his various extraordinary tales as a study prodigy.

However, none had expected this academically exceptional prodigy to possess equally outstanding athletic talent.

"Is it you?"

Right then, a boy hurried into the room and upon seeing Lin Zichen sitting in front of the table, his reaction seemed a bit exaggerated.

It was none other than the boy who had been previously defeated by Lin Zichen at the school sports meet, forced to tearfully take silver instead of gold.

Lin Zichen, hearing him, turned towards the boy and politely smiled, saying, "Hello."

"My name is Zhang Kai, remember my name," the boy replied indifferently. After saying so, he walked off to one side with his backpack, paying no further attention to Lin Zichen.

Lin Zichen just smiled and said nothing, thinking that this Zhang Kai was quite arrogant. He could only think that it was normal for middle school boys in the throes of adolescence to act this way and found it understandable.

Seeing all team members had arrived, Guo Xiangyuan stood up and, looking around with a smile, said:

"This handsome boy here is Lin Zichen. I believe everyone is familiar with him, so I won't waste time introducing him."

"From today onwards, Zi Chen will be part of our Martial Arts Team. Let's welcome him with a round of applause!"

"Clap clap clap..."

Guo Xiangyuan began clapping first as soon as he finished speaking.

Seeing this, the team members also followed suit and clapped along, very much in sync with their coach.

Except for one person, the boy named Zhang Kai.

After the applause subsided, Guo Xiangyuan addressed the team members again, "Right, everyone, introduce yourselves one by one so Zi Chen can get to know you."

"My name is Huang Tianxing, from class 9-3. You can just call me Ah Xing."

"I am Li Shutong, from class 9-6. You can call me Little Li, that's what everyone calls me, and I really like the nickname."

"My name is Han Yisuo; just call me Brother Suo..."

The team members seemed quite easygoing, introducing themselves one after another with smiles on their faces.

Lin Zichen responded with a smile too, cordially replying with a 'please guide me' after each introduction.

The Martial Arts Team didn't have many members. Aside from Lin Zichen and Guo Xiangyuan, there were only seven others, so the introductions were concluded quickly.

During this time, Shen Qinghan stood silently beside Lin Zichen, holding both of their lunch boxes, and remained quiet throughout.

She only became talkative and lively in front of Lin Zichen.

In the presence of strangers, especially unfamiliar boys, she seemed quite introverted, almost socially anxious.

"By the way, this classmate, what's your name?"

Guo Xiangyuan, always seeing Shen Qinghan accompanying Lin Zichen, knew they were inseparable and thought he should get to know her better.

"I, I'm Shen Qinghan; you can call me Xiao Shen or Qinghan," Shen Qinghan introduced herself somewhat nervously.

Guo Xiangyuan smiled and said, "Then I'll call you Xiao Shen from now on."

With that, he told the veteran team members to practice on their own. Then, he took Lin Zichen around the room for a quick tour to get familiar with the martial training equipment.

But it was all very ordinary equipment like punching bags, weighted sandbags, and wooden dummies, nothing special to look at.

"Zi Chen, there are five team members in ninth grade and two in eighth grade, and you're the only one in seventh. I have high hopes for you. Follow me closely, and within a year, I guarantee you'll become the ace of the team."

After making a round, Guo Xiangyuan suddenly told Lin Zichen this, sounding a bit like he was giving false promises, but in reality, he was not.

Lin Zichen: "Thank you, Coach, for valuing me."

Guo Xiangyuan: "By the way, Zi Chen, have you ever practiced martial arts before?"

Lin Zichen: "No."

Guo Xiangyuan nodded after listening and then said to Lin Zichen, "Well, today I'll teach you a set of the most basic boxing and kicking techniques, so you can get a feel for what martial arts training is like."

Lin Zichen responded, "Okay."

Soon after, Guo Xiangyuan walked to an open space ahead, stopped, and started demonstrating the basic boxing and kicking techniques at a leisurely pace for Lin Zichen.

Lin Zichen watched very closely, etching every movement enacted by Guo Xiangyuan into his mind.

...

About ten minutes later.

The demonstration ended.

Guo Xiangyuan, like a martial arts grandmaster, slowly withdrew from his stance and then smiled at Lin Zichen, saying, "You might think these moves are simple, but they actually are quite difficult. Even little Li, who is the fastest in the team to master it, spent a week's time initially."

"However, no matter how much I say, it's hard to really understand without trying it out."

"Come on, give it a try."

Guo Xiangyuan said and stepped aside to let Lin Zichen have a go.

Lin Zichen walked over, stopped, and based on the memory of just observing from the sidelines, he quickly replicated the set of boxing and kicking techniques demonstrated by Guo Xiangyuan—and replicated them perfectly, one to one.

His talented nature allowed him to master all the movements after watching just once.

Use reinforced the learning, making each replication of the movements more explosive than the last.

As his movements got faster and faster, familiar textual information soon appeared in the void.

[You are practicing boxing, Qi-Blood +1, muscular strength in hands +1, agility in hands +1, boxing proficiency +1]

[You are practicing kicking, Qi-Blood +1, muscular strength in legs +1, agility in legs +1, kicking proficiency +1]

At the side, Guo Xiangyuan was completely stunned.

This is his first time practicing martial arts?

Really?

Are you sure he's not lying?

The other team members, who were practicing on their own and glancing over from time to time, all had incredulous expressions when they saw Lin Zichen instantly grasp the basic boxing and kicking techniques.

"Zi Chen, is this really your first time practicing martial arts?" Guo Xiangyuan asked somewhat skeptically after a moment of collecting himself.

Realizing that he might have been showing off too much supernatural prowess, Lin Zichen made up a quick excuse, "It's not really my first time. I took some interest classes in martial arts during elementary school, practicing boxing and kicking for a while."

"No wonder," Guo Xiangyuan said with relief, touching his forehead with a smile. "I wondered how you could perfect it on the first try, you gave me quite a scare."

Guo Xiangyuan laughed at himself for overthinking it.

How could someone, who had never practiced martial arts, just watch once and get it?

If humans had such strong learning abilities, would they be in the current predicament, constantly living under the threat from Exotic Beasts from outside the human realm?

By now there would likely be countless geniuses born, beating those Exotic Beasts from outside the human realm into submission.

...

Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was already 6:30 PM.

The Martial Arts Team generally practiced until 7:30 PM.

However, Lin Zichen didn't want to train that late and applied to go home an hour early.

Guo Xiangyuan didn't mind these things as he was quite laid-back in leading the team, with most of the time relying on the team members' self-discipline.

As for training until 7:30 PM, it only meant that he, as a coach, would stay in the gym until that time.

"Zi Chen, remember to bring a clean set of clothes to put in your backpack tomorrow. Otherwise, after practicing and sweating, you might catch a cold on your way home," Guo Xiangyuan reminded Lin Zichen as he was about to leave.

Lin Zichen nodded, saying, "I know, thanks for the reminder, Coach."

After saying that, he left the gym with Shen Qinghan.

...

When they arrived at the bicycle shed.

Seeing Lin Zichen still sweating, Shen Qinghan took out a tissue and said, "Xiao Chen, you're still wet from sweat, let me wipe it off for you."

Saying so, she carefully used the tissue to wipe the sweat off Lin Zichen's face and neck.

As for the sweat under his clothes, that was beyond her help.

Lin Zichen felt it was wiped enough, so he let her sit in the rear seat of the bicycle, and under the pleasant evening sun, he rode home leisurely with her on board.

...

PS: Begging bowl out, seeking monthly and recommendation tickets!