C21 Only Now Did I Remember Me

With a loud thud, Ning Xiaoshu felt as if his vision was filled with swirling stars. "Damn," he thought, "I was standing right in the middle of the room. Even if my room is small, I shouldn't have hit the wall after just one step, right?"

Ning Xiaoshu was well aware that the slide over the water technique was to blame. Yet, that single step had nearly sapped all his strength. It was a frightening experience. He rubbed his head, took a deep breath, and tried to step out once more, following the method of the slide over the water.

This time, there was a crash as he knocked a flower pot off the windowsill. The slide over the water was incredibly fast—so fast that Ning Xiaoshu couldn't get a handle on the technique.

But Ning Xiaoshu was determined. The more he struggled, the more he pushed himself to keep trying. However, the slide over the water was extremely draining on his internal energy. When Duan Yu learned it, he had the Abyssal Devouring Art to draw on others' energy to fuel his own needs.

Ning Xiaoshu, on the other hand, didn't possess the Abyssal Devouring Art. And even if he did, from whom would he absorb energy? Among those practicing martial arts today, who had such internal strength? Ninety-nine percent didn't even understand the basics of Qi, strength, or force.

Yet, the Tendon Change Classic within Ning Xiaoshu's body began to activate. The Meridian Cleansing Scripture and the Tendon Change Classic, both legacies of the Ancestral Master Da Mo, combined the secret wisdom of Buddhism with the essence of Taoism.

As Ning Xiaoshu's body reached the brink of exhaustion, the Tendon Change Classic automatically kicked in. A mysterious energy started coursing through his meridians. With each step he took using the slide over the water, the energy flow grew from a trickle to a raging river.

By evening, hunger pangs brought Ning Xiaoshu back to his senses. As clarity returned, he was stunned by what he saw. His room resembled a junkyard in the aftermath of a hurricane—utter chaos. Shattered pieces littered the floor, including flower pots and glass cups, and even his only multi-purpose table, used for dining and writing, was reduced to fragments.

Just as Ning Xiaoshu was on the verge of tears, a sudden knock on his door startled him.

Instinctively, Ning Xiaoshu opened the door and recognized the middle-aged man standing there—it was Liu Cunzhi. A wave of joy washed over Ning Xiaoshu, and he nearly called out "Master" in his excitement. But he quickly remembered his place as an apprentice who had been expelled from Premium Fitness. “Hello, Headmaster. Please come in.”

Liu Cunzhi could see the flicker of happiness in Ning Xiaoshu's eyes before it faded. With a quiet sigh, Liu Cunzhi stepped inside.

Upon entering, Liu Cunzhi was taken aback. “Xiaoshu, what’s going on here? Did the Wu family come to make trouble? Why didn’t you call the police?”

Ning Xiaoshu didn’t delve into details; explaining his situation would be too complicated. “No, Headmaster, no one came looking for trouble. I did this myself after having too much to drink yesterday.”

Liu Cunzhi sighed again, then turned his attention to Ning Xiaoshu. “Xiaoshu, you must understand that a person, especially an adult, is often compelled to do things in society.”

Ning Xiaoshu nodded. “Headmaster, there’s no need to say more. I get it.”

Liu Cunzhi sighed once more. “When you truly understand what I mean, that’s when you’ll have matured. By the way, Xiaoshu, I heard you had a confrontation with Wu Fei?”

Ning Xiaoshu nodded again. “Wu Fei went too far, and I was left with no choice.”

Liu Cunzhi dismissed the topic with a wave of his hand. “Let’s not dwell on that. Xiaoshu, come back to Premium Fitness. You’re still our representative disciple. I know the last incident hit you hard. There’s a hundred thousand in this card as compensation. I hope you can put the past behind you—I’m practically begging you.”

Ning Xiaoshu was taken aback and looked at the middle-aged man before him, feeling a sense of disappointment. Was this the same man who had always been so upright and honorable?

He vividly remembered his first day at Premium Fitness, with Liu Cunzhi standing before them all. “Let me tell you, Taekwondo is not just about fighting. It embodies its own spirit, principles of respect, integrity, perseverance, self-control, and resilience.”

Suddenly, Ning Xiaoshu felt an overwhelming urge to cry, his heart aching with emptiness. Noticing Ning Xiaoshu's forlorn look, Liu Cunzhi quickly added, "Wu Fei also stopped coming out of the blue. Our martial club is lacking decent disciples, and Xiaoyun is adamant about competing. But as you know, Xiaoyun's injuries haven't fully healed. I'm worried that if she competes, she might end up with even more serious injuries."

Liu Xiaoyun? The girl who always called him Xiaoshu. The girl who had thrown herself in front of him to block a knife. Ning Xiaoshu owed her his life.

"Director, there's no need to say more. I'll be there tomorrow. But please, take this card back. I won't be using the money," Ning Xiaoshu said with resolve in his eyes. Despite his disappointment in the director, he wouldn't let Liu Xiaoyun suffer any further harm.

Liu Cunzhi quickly gestured with his hands, "No, you've earned this money. Everyone has seen the work you've put into the martial club over the years. So this 100,000 is rightfully yours. Besides, you could use the money right now. I must go, but I'll wait for you at the martial club tomorrow morning."

With those final words, Liu Cunzhi opened the door and left swiftly, as if fleeing from something.

Watching Liu Cunzhi descend the stairs, Ning Xiaoshu let out a long sigh. But then, he wondered if he should visit Liu Xiaoyun.

After all, she was the only one who had believed in him during the last ordeal, and she had taken a knife wound for him. His family matters could wait; they would be there when he returned.

Descending the stairs, Ning Xiaoshu hailed a taxi to the First Eastern Sea Hospital. He had been taken from there by the police, without getting a chance to see if Liu Xiaoyun had regained consciousness.

He had managed not to dwell on it, but now that he did, the taxi couldn't seem to move fast enough.

Upon reaching Liu Xiaoyun's hospital room, he saw her mother feeding her porridge. Ning Xiaoshu paused at the door for a moment before finally knocking.

Ning Xiaoshu was feeling incredibly conflicted. It had been several days since he last saw Liu Xiaoyun, and he was unsure of what she might think of him. "Come in," called Liu Xiaoyun's mother, her voice indicating that Xiaoyun was not yet strong enough to exert such force.

As Ning Xiaoshu pushed the door open, his face was etched with remorse. "Auntie, I've come to visit Xiaoyun," he said.

Liu Xiaoyun's mother greeted him with a warm smile and a nod. "Good, good, I'm glad you're here."

In contrast, Liu Xiaoyun let out a heavy snort. "So, you've finally remembered to come see me?"