Chapter 50: Chapter 39: Aren’t They All Students From Our School?

“Are you interested in being the class president?”

Seeing the bashful, humble expression on Zhao Rui’s youthful face, Liu Jie couldn’t help but smile and ask.

“Class president?”

Zhao Rui paused, then shook his head. “Professor, I’d rather not.”

“Why not? It’ll look great on your student record and will help you find a job or join organizations in the future!”

Liu Jie asked, puzzled. Her face was petite, fair, and flawless, and her slender eyelashes fluttered over her bright eyes.

“Professor, I… I actually want to pursue a path in the Martial Dao…”

Zhao Rui decided to be honest. After all, he would need her, his counselor, to be aware of and help coordinate things like joining the Martial Arts Team in the future.

Hearing Zhao Rui’s words, Liu Jie fell silent for a moment before saying, “I support you. If you need anything, just let me know, and I’ll handle the arrangements for you.”

“Thank you, Professor!”

“Don’t mention it. I’m your counselor; of course I’m going to look out for your futures.”

Liu Jie smiled and reached out to pat Zhao Rui’s shoulder, but finding herself too petite, she had to rise up slightly on her toes.

Only then could she manage to give his shoulder two proper, adult-like pats.

“Keep working hard. I have high hopes for you!”

“Professor, I could have bent down a little, you know!”

“You’re asking for it, making fun of your professor!”

Liu Jie feigned a slap. Zhao Rui laughed and quickly dodged, rejoining the other students.

The military base activities, besides target practice, included a Military Boxing demonstration and a bonfire party. After the base activities concluded, the students had to march back to the academy at night.

Hearing they had to march back that night, the students complained bitterly, wishing they could drag the school administrators over and give them twenty lashes.

With a “Combat Skills” whip, no less!

But their complaints were just that. The moment the garrisoned soldiers lined up in neat formation to demonstrate Military Boxing, the students’ fatigue vanished.

Their eyes widened in excitement, glued to the soldiers’ every move.

’This world’s Military Boxing isn’t the same as in my past life,’ he thought. It was divided into two types. One was the Hard Qi Skill, a martial art with a low barrier to entry that any ordinary soldier could practice.

The other was true military Martial Arts which, like the legacies of universities and Sects, had established roots and deep historical origins.

Those who mastered it to the stage of Great Success became formidable generals in the army, capable of slaughtering enemies and protecting their own territory. In terms of power, they were on par with Grandmasters, if not superior.

When paired with modern weaponry, they were a force that no mere “Loose Cultivator” could hope to challenge.

This was one of the reasons why the country could maintain long-term peace and stability even while the Martial Dao flourished.

“Zhao Rui, what do you think? Could a Martial Arts Student from our academy beat a soldier of the same level?”

Jian Congsheng asked with curiosity, his eyes fixed on the incredible display of martial arts on the field.

“That’s hard to say. It would depend on the rules and their individual temperaments.”

Zhao Rui replied casually.

“Oh. I’m so jealous of you guys with a foundation in the Martial Dao. I guess we’ll be counting on you to look after our dorm from now on!”

Jian Congsheng said, a hint of envy in his voice.

“Don’t say that. I’m no genius from the Martial Arts Academy. I just stuck with it longer than most people and didn’t give up, that’s all.”

As Zhao Rui was speaking, a commotion erupted in the ranks. He listened closely and realized the demonstration was over; the soldiers were going to hold a competition with the students.

Although many of the boys didn’t know any Martial Arts, they were full of youthful bravado. Who wouldn’t want a chance to get in the ring and show off in front of the girls?

“Each company will choose two student representatives for a little friendly competition. Students will be allowed to wear protective gear…”

As the battalion commander’s voice faded, each company immediately erupted into bustling discussion.

“I’m Martial Arts Level 3! I’ll go!”

“Wow, you’re Level 3? That’s too bad. If you were Level 4, you could’ve qualified for a proper Martial Dao university program.”

“I’m Level 2, but I’ll give it a shot. We’ve got gear, anyway! Any of you ladies want to cheer me on? I’d be fighting for our company’s honor, you know!”

“Go, go! You can do it!”

The atmosphere instantly heated up, with waves of cheers rising from the girls. Soon, two contestants from each company stood up and walked onto the field.

As for Zhao Rui’s group, there was no need for discussion. Zhao Rui was the obvious choice.

Before he left, one of the girls Zhao Rui had helped earlier—a particularly bold one—shouted out, “Zhao Rui, if you win, I’ll be your girlfriend!”

The words were barely out of her mouth when a boy yelled, “Zhao Rui, if you win, I’ll be your boyfriend!”

The budding romantic atmosphere was instantly shattered, and everyone burst out laughing.

Zhao Rui just smiled and walked onto the field with another male student, a Level 2 in Martial Arts.

Due to the large number of students in military training, only a portion of them were present today; the company from the Martial Arts Academy was not included.

Therefore, the battalion commander didn’t have any High Level soldiers participate, sending out only four Third-level Martial Artist soldiers and one Fourth-level Martial Artist soldier to make an appearance.

He didn’t even bother checking the students’ Martial Arts Levels.

After all, for students not specializing in the Martial Dao, Level 4 was already the absolute peak of their abilities.

After a brief explanation of the rules, the competition officially began.

Forty students would compete in total, fighting in five groups simultaneously per round.

The time limit was three minutes. A knockdown was an automatic loss. Simply lasting the full three minutes was considered a win.

The students changed into the protective gear provided by the base, all of them cracking their knuckles, eager to get started.

With a shrill blast of the whistle, the competition began.

The soldiers’ eyes narrowed like cheetahs spotting tasty prey. They lunged forward with sudden, precise, and ruthless attacks.

Even the students who had reached Level 2 had done so back in middle school. After realizing they had little talent and transferring to regular high school classes, who among them would have continued to train so hard?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep