Chapter 59: Chapter 44: Prajna Palm

Mingcan Courtyard was a completely different place today compared to yesterday. Not because the surroundings had changed, but because people were now trickling, one after another, through its large, red-copper gate.

It was a far cry from the desolation and quiet of the previous day.

These people were all dressed like ordinary students. Some carried backpacks and water bottles, and wore oversized glasses.

A few of the girls were even wearing shorts, flaunting their fine figures.

Although they looked just like regular students on their way to class.

But Zhao Rui didn’t dare underestimate them in the slightest. If he wasn’t mistaken, they must be the seniors from the Dongqi University Martial Arts Team.

“You look unfamiliar.”

He was walking silently toward the Zen Monastery when two guys beside him called out.

The one who spoke had a side-parted, ear-length hairstyle. His hair was silky and flowing, and his face was handsome, looking like he had stepped right out of an anime.

The other was quite burly, with well-defined muscles. He was wearing a stringer tank top, which made his pectoral muscles look even thicker and more prominent.

“Hello, Seniors. I’m a first-year who just joined the team yesterday.”

Zhao Rui quickly stopped and looked at the two of them as he spoke.

“Just joined?”

The guy with the side-part froze for a moment, then frowned at his companion. Seeing the other was just as baffled, he said, “Oh, that’s pretty strange. Have you reported to Teacher Wang?”

“Yeah! I registered yesterday!”

Zhao Rui replied.

“Oh. We can talk more at the Zen Monastery.”

The guy with the side-part nodded, and the two of them walked straight into the Zen Monastery.

Zhao Rui pursed his lips, then followed a few steps behind them.

「A few minutes later, inside the main hall of the Zen Monastery.」

Under the intentional and unintentional gazes of the crowd, Zhao Rui stood quietly at the very edge of the line, waiting with more than twenty others in the center of the main hall.

After a while, Teacher Wang came over, his slippers making a SLAP SLAP SLAP sound.

He lazily glanced at the group. When he saw Zhao Rui standing somewhat isolated at the end, he paused for a second, then seemed to remember this was the student who had reported yesterday. He cleared his throat and said, “Um, our Martial Arts Team has a new member. Let’s give him a welcome. Right, what was your name again?”

“Teacher Wang, my name is Zhao Rui!”

Zhao Rui quickly said in a clear voice.

“Oh, right, Zhao Rui!”

Teacher Wang muttered, then looked at the lines and said, “Alright, each squad, proceed with your designated training plans. If there’s nothing else, you’re dismissed!”

After speaking, Teacher Wang beckoned to Zhao Rui. After taking the class schedule Zhao Rui handed him, he shouted to a corner of the hall, “Wang Zhe, come over here for a second.”

Hearing his name, the “Mitsui Shou” from before quickly walked over.

“Zhao Rui will be on your squad for now. His situation is a bit special—he’s not from the Martial Arts Academy. You can show him the ropes.”

“Got it, Coach!”

Wang Zhe quickly acknowledged.

Then, Coach Wang looked at Zhao Rui and said, “A master can lead you to the door, but cultivation is up to the individual. Don’t think that just because you’ve joined the Martial Arts Team, you’ll be able to cultivate some profound martial arts. It still comes down to your own hard work and study.”

“Yes, thank you for your guidance, Coach! I’ll take it to heart!”

Zhao Rui quickly and obediently agreed.

“Alright, get to it. For now, you’ll follow Wang Zhe and cultivate our Dongqi University’s Basic Technique!”

With that, he shuffled away in his slippers, lazily heading toward a desk in the corner of the hall.

“Let’s go, Junior Brother. I’ll get you familiar with our Martial Arts Team!”

After speaking, Wang Zhe motioned for Zhao Rui to follow him out of the main hall.

He explained the situation with the Martial Arts Team as they walked.

The Dongqi Martial Arts Team, which you could also call the Dongqi Martial Arts Academy, was founded in 1935. It was established at the request of the university’s founders by Zen Master Wen Hui, a great master from the Buddhist Family.

Later, it endured numerous hardships, including wars and invasions from the Outer Domain. It has continued on, step by bloody step, for nearly a hundred years.

Its martial arts inheritance includes Buddhist martial arts passed down from Zen Master Wen Hui, as well as many cultivation techniques from other schools collected by successive instructors.

Later on, the authorities relaxed restrictions on low and mid-tier martial arts, allowing universities to form corresponding research teams. This led to even greater and more rapid development of the academy’s martial arts.

“Our academy won a national second-place award last year, but we were ranked thirteenth. The result can only be considered decent.”

“I heard you’re not from the Martial Arts Academy? Your practical combat skills must be pretty strong, huh? But the further you progress, the higher the requirement for Inner Strength…”

Wang Zhe was surprisingly patient in his explanation, which didn’t quite match his “long, flowing hair” image.

“Senior Brother, does our team need sparring partners? My foundation is shallow right now, so I could be a sparring partner for everyone and get polished up a bit!”

Zhao Rui said thoughtfully.

“A sparring partner? You?”

Wang Zhe paused, then said with pleasant surprise, “No problem! You’ve got the right idea, kid. Don’t worry, I’m not an irresponsible person.”

“Uh…”

’What does he mean by “irresponsible”? What is he even talking about?’

’Zhao Rui wasn’t sure if he’d understood him correctly, but as long as he could be a sparring partner, that was all that mattered.’

’As for the academy’s martial arts, with his level of talent, it would be a real struggle to learn them without being a sparring partner.’

Chatting idly, Wang Zhe led Zhao Rui over to his squad’s circle.

There were seven people in total, five men and two women.

Besides the burly guy from the morning and Wang Zhe, there were three other senior brothers with unremarkable features who would disappear in a crowd of students.

The two senior sisters, on the other hand, were quite good-looking. While not stunningly beautiful, they had great dispositions and amazing bodies.

Their figures, honed by the Acquired Martial Dao, were truly graceful, with firm, toned muscles that were full of elasticity.

It was completely different from the flabby, soft bodies of those who didn’t practice martial arts.

’No wonder those lechers in ancient times had such a thing for female martial artists!’

After brief introductions, Zhao Rui learned the names of the two senior sisters: Peng Xinnan and Li Shuwen.

’As for the other seniors’ names… well, I’ll just remember them for now and figure them out if something comes up.’

“To be honest, our Martial Arts Team has never had someone from an Outer Courtyard join before. It’s not that they can’t pass the entrance test, but even if they do, they don’t last long. They can’t pass the review.”

“The team holds a review every year, and anyone who doesn’t meet the standards is cut. Our squad originally had twelve people, but five were eliminated. The ratio is pretty high.”

After speaking, Wang Zhe looked at the others and continued, “Don’t get cocky just because you passed once. If you don’t meet the standard next year, you’ll be eliminated all the same.”

“Yes, Senior Brother!”

The group roared in agreement.

’Zhao Rui hadn’t expected the Martial Arts Team’s elimination rate to be so high. And these were the elites among the elites of the Martial Arts Academy.’

’Tsk, tsk. Looks like I have a long way to go!’

After a bit more small talk, Wang Zhe pulled Zhao Rui aside. After they added each other on WeChat, he sent him a file.

“This is our academy’s Martial Arts Team’s Prajna Palm. You can start practicing it. If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can ask me!”

“Huh? Senior Brother, I’m supposed to practice on my own?”

Zhao Rui said in surprise. Although self-studying martial arts wasn’t anything strange, having to do it yourself when you were part of a “school” felt a bit…

“We all practice it on our own. This palm is also called the Wheel of Wisdom and Enlightenment. The principle is to cultivate Zen through the Martial Dao and find your true nature through the palm. You’ll understand once you start practicing.”

Wang Zhe said with a smile.

Zhao Rui didn’t understand, but since his senior brother had said so, he could only do as he was told.

“Our Martial Arts Team doesn’t have many rules. The biggest one is no infighting. Violators will be directly expelled from the team.”

“Of course, internal sparring isn’t forbidden. If there’s a conflict, settle it in the ring. Simple and clear.”

Zhao Rui nodded quickly in agreement. ’That’s a good rule,’ he thought. ’People of the Martial Dao are used to overpowering others with their presence.’

’Trying to reason too much would actually be the inferior path.’

’But then again, with a teacher around, you still have to be reasonable when the time calls for it.’

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep