"Towel and hot water bottle," Coach Luo slowly stood up, stretching his muscles, "Getting ready for a run."
"What the hell?" Huai Shi gaped.
"Running, don't you know 'a day's plan lies in the morning'?" Coach Luo spoke, pulling a sweaty note from his pocket, showing Huai Shi the long list of exercises, "Also today's aerobic and anaerobic sessions... all seventeen types, right here."
God damn running!
"Does your trial class include this as well?"
"Didn't you get a membership card?" Coach Luo scooped up some protein powder, flexing his biceps, "Our muscle gain package is quite famous here. I've picked out the pure men's level for you—just half a month, even the skinniest yardbird can turn into a ripped tough guy!"
Huai Shi was nearly going insane, "Can I not learn this?"
Coach Luo shrugged, "Then I might as well not teach."
"Fine…"
Huai Shi looked down at the hot water bottle and towel in his hands, his expression twitching, then, clinging to his last hope, asked, "Can I brush my teeth first?"
"No time for teeth, let's go!"
Coach Luo grabbed Huai Shi by the neck as if grabbing a kitten, hauled him up, and swayed out the door. Reaching the hotel entrance, they ran into Ai Qing who was up early, to whom he enthusiastically waved.
"Do you know each other?" Huai Shi asked curiously.
"Ah, quite a kind-hearted girl," Luo Lao said, carrying Huai Shi on his back as he walked outside. Upon hearing the question, he smiled, "Heard I was looking for you, and she even helped me swipe your room card!"
"..."
Huai Shi was filled with grief and indignation, staring silently with tears streaming down as Ai Qing waved goodbye at the door.
Do you hate me that much!
.
.
It could only be described as a nightmare of a day.
From early in the morning until four in the afternoon, Huai Shi numbly followed Luo Lao and tried almost every piece of equipment in the gym.
As for warming up, that was passable, but there was definitely no muscle-building effect.
The physique of Sublimators was fixed after the growth period. No matter how much they ate or drank to gain weight, they would revert to their original appearance after slimming down.
Especially some Stigmata, which could even affect the user's appearance.
Just like the Mountain Ghost.
Even though he had mostly adapted now, and no longer looked as effeminate as when he started, there was still an eerie air about him.
Whether you call it gentleness or coldness, these were characteristics rooted deep in one's temperament—a ghost that wanders in the mountains, even when given life, remains an essence wandering outside the mundane world, a patrol in the dark dense forest.
As for getting in shape making a difference, not to mention becoming a muscular hunk, even if Huai Shi could look a bit more sunny, he would have done it long ago.
But it was all in vain.
His hair was still waist-length. Cutting it many times was useless, and after exhausting his life force, he could only nibble on some potted plants and greenery from the hotel nearby to recover his health.
"So, are these exercises of any real use?"
"Are you kidding? Of course they're useless."
Luo Lao looked at him astounded, as if staring at a fool, "Why would you think they're useful?"
Huai Shi immediately became angry and frustrated, "Then why are you doing all this!"
"Because I like it."
Luo Lao said seriously, "Exercising is great, everyone should do it. You know dopamine? As long as..."
"...Seriously, let's not mess around with these fancy tricks," Huai Shi waved his hand to interrupt him, "Can we get to the point and start today's lesson?"
"Looks like you're full of confidence."
The muscle-bound old man raised an eyebrow and gave a strangely amused smile, "Seems like the shadow I cast yesterday wasn't enough... Since you're so eager, I don't mind thrashing a newbie."
"Don't boast too much when you're old. Be careful not to throw out your back."
Huai Shi twisted his neck, tossed the bothersome towel onto the rack beside him, stepped back a few paces, and struck a standard defensive posture.
"I've been preparing for today's lesson for a long time." His eyes narrowed as he studied the muscle-bound old man stretching before him. "But be careful, you might capsize in the gutter."
Luo Lao remained relaxed, strolling casually in his own gym, examining Huai Shi's position, and nodded slightly, "That's a pretty standard Rome Style. Who did you learn it from?"
"Self-taught."
"Is that so? It doesn't seem likely. This kind of old Tribunal ready stance is known by no more than twenty people in the whole world now."
"Doesn't that mean it's very impressive?"
"Impressive, not necessarily, but outdated it certainly is."
Luo Lao slowly bent down, assuming a sprinting position. His bones rubbed against each other, producing a sharp sound akin to a snapping string, and his exaggerated muscles swelled up, causing his face to redden, revealing a fierce grin, "Little Brag, this world is... constantly progressing!"
BOOM!
A thunderous Space Break.
The monster roared towards him.
Yu Step, it was still the Yu Step!
With one step, he leaped over a distance of several meters, almost without warning or process, leaving only the outcome—the outcome was, Luo Lao was already standing in front of Huai Shi.
Pulsating muscles rippled like water, and as he raised his arms, the intense heat of his body and the strong smell of sweat spread.
His right hand was raised high.
The fingers were slightly curled into a claw, as if tugging on a heavy weight, pulling the exploding wind down over Huai Shi's face with a thunderous roar.
Drummer.
It was the Drummer again!
Huai Shi chose to retreat quickly. This time, his actions caused a flicker of surprise in the old man's eyes—it was the Yu Step, identical to his own, if a bit immature, but indeed the Yu Step with no mistake.
But this kind of retreat under pressure to gather strength for a counterattack, he definitely hadn't taught him that!
Regardless, in the blink of an eye, Huai Shi had retreated ten meters away, as if pulled by an invisible string, extremely fast.
Below his feet where he had passed, his running shoes and rubber mats had rubbed, leaving three dark scorch marks.
But it was of no use!
It's exactly the same as yesterday, Little Brag!
Even if you've got a hint of aptitude, do you not even remember a thing?
Luo Lao sneered, his descending palm clenched into a fist and yanked—Whirlwind of Fire swept through, instantly engulfing Huai Shi, pulling him like a straw in the wind, towards himself.
But in that instant, he saw it.
The young man, using the energy from the Yu Step's retreat and his own pulling force, actually leaped into the air, soaring towards him instead.
From his hands, an invisible Axe Blade emerged, chopping towards that bald head!
That was the counter-strategy and unique move that Huai Shi had come up with after pondering for a whole night!
To commemorate this vitally important breakthrough and innovation, he decided to name it after the person who had the most influence on him.
"Take this move—"
The youth roared, "—Crow Sits on the Airplane!!!!!"