C21 He Had Only Trained for 10000 Hours

"President, how long does it take to master this skill?!" Ren Haoqiu asked with great excitement.

"I started training in martial arts at the age of three. Currently, I can break 12 bricks at my peak, but martial arts effectiveness doesn't necessarily improve the younger you start," Bai Junji pondered for a moment. "If you're truly willing to put in the hard work, you could learn to break four bricks... in about three to four years."

Ren Haoqiu did some quick math. He had just started his freshman year of college two months ago. In four years' time, he could potentially master the skill of breaking four bricks. The thought of being able to take down a group of bad guys single-handedly filled him with such enthusiasm that he wanted to cheer out loud!

"President, I want to train in the Bai Family Fist with you!"

"Sanqiu, don't put the president on the spot," Feng Manlou cautioned, tugging at his clothes. It was already a privilege to witness a demonstration of their ancestral Fist Technique; asking to be taught was another matter entirely and could be imposing.

"Haha, if you're eager to learn, then let's do it. There's no problem," Bai Junji reassured. "My grandfather used to say that the decline of our Martial Inheriting was due to the narrow-mindedness of the old masters. They feared their unique skills would be fully dissected by scientific research, and they worried about the proverb 'teach your disciple and starve your master.' Consequently, they kept their techniques secret, and eventually, their valuable skills became obsolete relics. In contrast, look at Karate, Judo, and Jeet Kune Do. They've welcomed numerous students, even foreigners, and as a result, not only did the masters not starve, but their Fist Techniques were refined and gained international renown. So, if you're serious about learning the genuine Bai Family Fist, I'll teach you everything I know. Don't worry about it."

Jiang Gongyin chuckled and patted Feng Manlou on the shoulder, "Junji isn't just being magnanimous. The three of us have also learned the Bai Family Fist, but we haven't been at it for very long, so it's hard to judge our proficiency. Since Ren is so passionate about the Bai Family Fist, let him learn. Junji won't hold back."

Yang Kuo declared, "Our martial arts are no different; if you're eager to learn, we'll teach you with dedication. Once you've joined the Martial Inheriting Society, we're all brothers, so there's no need for formalities."

Kuan Ping, visibly annoyed, rolled his eyes and muttered to himself, "Damn it, why does he always preempt me? Why can't he leave those impressive lines for me to deliver?"

It seemed to Feng Manlou that the spirit of the new era was upon them, and he chastised himself for being too cynical.

With a sly grin, he exclaimed, "What more is there to discuss? We've hit the jackpot this time! Not only did we receive a bonus, but we also get to learn the formidable art of Martial Inheriting!" Bai Junji and the others burst into hearty laughter.

Shortly thereafter, the group collaborated to return the activity room to its original state. After clearing the carpet of broken bricks, Zhou Zihai pointed to an object shrouded in black cloth in the corner and inquired, "Does anyone in our society still practice Spring Chant?"

Feng Manlou then noticed that, in addition to the assortment of weapons and sandbags, there was a wooden dummy situated in the southwest corner of the Martial Inheriting Society. "We had a Spring Chant practitioner in the club before, but he has since left," he explained.

Bai Junji seemed reluctant to dwell on the subject and quickly shifted the conversation. "Now that we're all brothers, let's drop the formal titles and just use first names. Manlou, I heard from Gongyin that you demonstrated some impressive unarmed defense against a blade yesterday morning. Which school do you belong to?"

"Unarmed defense against a blade?!" Du Xinbo and the others turned to Feng Manlou, looking puzzled. "Really? When did that happen?"

Wasn't this guy with them all of yesterday morning? How could he have possibly faced off against a blade?

Feng Manlou braced himself for the fallout as Jiang Gongyin revealed, "You guys didn't know? Yesterday morning, Manlou rescued Ye Qingling from a knife-wielding lunatic. I also heard they went out for a buffet dinner together last night."

Feng Manlou could only offer a silent, exasperated look.

Jiang Gongyin, the blabbermouth, seemed to forget his role as a martial artist, acting more like a gossip columnist. Why was he so clued into everyone's business?

"Ye Qingling... Ye Qingling... That name sounds familiar; I'm sure I've heard it somewhere before. Give me a moment to think..."

Lee Fann's eyes drifted upwards as he pondered. Suddenly, he exclaimed, "Holy smokes, isn't she one of the four campus beauties elected by the school forum? You actually got involved with a campus beauty?!"

"What, a madman got involved with the campus beauty?!" Everyone inhaled sharply.

Du Xinbo quickly put him in a headlock, "You've been acting strange these past few days!

First, you fought off a thief to save a beauty from another school, and now you've sneakily got involved with a campus belle.

Tell me, what exactly did you do yesterday morning?"

Jiang Gongyin and the others exchanged glances. Feng Manlou had indeed fought a thief, which meant he truly had some training and wasn't just bluffing!

"Let... let go... I can't breathe," Feng Manlou gasped, "If you want me to spill the beans, you've got to release me first!"

"Fine, I'll let you go, but you have to promise to tell us everything that happened yesterday," Du Xinbo demanded.

"Deal!"

Once Feng Manlou was free, he unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks on Du Xinbo, "You jerk, you almost choked me to death!"

Afterwards, Feng Manlou recounted how Lu Feng had tried to confess to Ye Qingling yesterday morning and, upon being rejected, attempted to harm her with a knife, prompting Feng Manlou to step in and save her.

Naturally, he omitted the altercation with Zhao Huaiyuan.

Dealing with someone like Zhao Huaiyuan wasn't a problem that could be solved with the help of roommates. Letting them in on it would only drag them into the mess.

Since learning he was an orphan, Du Xinbo and the others had always looked out for him. Even though it was often just a meal or a small gift, he was deeply appreciative.

He had reciprocated their kindness, but he couldn't let his loyalty to his friends lead them into trouble. That was his principle.

"Oh my God, I was supposed to go for a morning run that day, but I overslept and missed the chance to be a hero for the campus belle!" Lee Nan lamented, beating his chest in regret.

"Brother Amu, you've got a girlfriend already..."

Lee Fann's expression turned grim. "If Sister Yuxin catches you looking like this, you probably won't make it through the night. It's one thing to risk your own neck, but don't drag down my budding relationship with Xiaomeng. We've been getting along so well..."

The room fell silent.

Lee Nan: "..."

"Haha, lighten up, I was only kidding. With Yuxin in my life, why would I care about meeting some school beauty? The whole idea of a school beauty is nothing but a joke!" Lee Nan burst into laughter.

Everyone nodded in agreement. "Indeed, he's a brave soul who knows his own fears."

Lee Nan: "..."

Once the banter subsided, the group began to coax Feng Manlou into demonstrating his expertise. They were all brothers here; a little showing off couldn't hurt.

"Please, bear with me."

Feng Manlou stepped into the center and executed four rounds of the Five-step Fist with a focus and precision that far exceeded his solo practice sessions in the dorm. The Martial Inheriting Society was enveloped in an eerie silence once more.

After a moment, Du Xinbo couldn't help but contort his face as he spoke, "This... Why does this Fist Technique seem so familiar?"

"It looks like the Five-step Fist. I've seen it taught on the children's channel..." Ren Haoqiu admitted, his voice tinged with embarrassment.

The group was at a loss for words, unsure of how to alleviate the awkwardness. Next to the seasoned seniors of the Martial Inheriting Society, Feng Manlou's performance was akin to brandishing a broadsword before Guan Yu—a shameful display for the Six Wolves.

There's a saying: the layman enjoys the show, the expert appreciates the technique. Bai Junji, snapping out of his initial surprise, stroked his chin and turned to Jiang Gongyin and the others, "Do you guys notice something different about Manlou's Five-step Fist? It seems to carry a certain depth, reminiscent of the fist intent that the old masters talk about."

"Now that you mention it... it does seem somewhat distinct," Jiang Gongyin agreed.

"Yes, I sense that each of his moves is imbued with a robust and fluid essence, as if he's been practicing his whole life. His spirit and fist are perfectly aligned," Yang Kuo chimed in. "Kuan Ping, why don't you give the Five-step Fist a try? Let's see how it compares."

"Why should it be me?"

Despite his protest, Kuan Ping made his way to the center and diligently executed the Five-step Fist twice. To his surprise, the second attempt resulted in slightly distorted movements.

Scratching his head in bewilderment, he mused, "Odd. I tried to mirror Manlou perfectly, yet somehow I've gone off track and messed up the rhythm."

"Manlou, can you even guess how many times you've practiced the Five-step Fist?"

Bai Junji posed the question, adding, "Let's put it into perspective. Say you practiced it 50 times a day, that's 18,250 times in a year."

"How many times, exactly?"

Feng Manlou pondered the system's explanation and replied, "I'm not sure of the exact count, but after getting the hang of it, I've logged at least 10,000 hours."

"What's the matter? Is my Five-step Fist some kind of knock-off, different from what you all practice?"

"Pfft!"

Jiang Gongyin, who had just taken a gulp of mineral water, couldn't help but spray it out. Wiping his mouth in haste, he exclaimed, "What? How many hours? 10,000? You can't be serious! After mastering the Five-step Fist, you didn't move on to another Fist Technique but continued to practice it for over 10,000 hours?"

"Yeah, I couldn't decide what Fist Technique to learn next, so I just kept at the Five-step Fist," Feng Manlou admitted, his words slightly muffled.

He believed that the system had not only boosted his combat skills but also his talent for spinning tales and shooting the breeze.

Bai Junji and the others exchanged glances, a shared thought dawning on them: "This guy is hardcore, truly hardcore. To lay such a foundation, practicing the Five-step Fist for over 1,000 hours, he must be out of his mind!"