A few minutes after the receptionist made the call,
a sturdy man in his thirties hurried over.
He sported a crew cut and had plain features.
However, his eyes held a keen look.
When he arrived at the front desk and saw Lin Yi,
he first looked him up and down.
Then, a flicker of disappointnt crossed his eyes.
"Hello, you must be the sparring partner Teacher Liu recomnded, right? I’m the coach here, Yang Yong. You can just call Coach Yang!" the man said, introducing himself first.
Lin Yi nodded. "Hello, Coach Yang. My na is Lin Yi, I’m from Third Middle School..."
Before Lin Yi could finish, Yang Yong nodded and cut him off.
"Teacher Liu told all about your situation before you ca. You’re looking to earn so money, right? But being a sparring partner is tough work. Are you sure you can handle it?" Yang Yong asked, seeking confirmation.
Lin Yi smiled. "I think I can handle it!"
At his words, Yang Yong stared at him intently for a mont.
After a long mont, he said, "Alright, follow for now."
With that, he turned and walked back the way he ca, and Lin Yi followed.
To the left of the front desk, there were three elevators.
Yang Yong pressed a button. The elevator doors slowly opened, and he glanced back at Lin Yi.
The two of them entered, one after the other.
The elevator arrived at the second floor, stopping with a DING!
"Let’s go!" Yang Yong said to Lin Yi over his shoulder, stepping out of the elevator first.
When Lin Yi also stepped out of the elevator,
an expansive view opened up before him.
Stepping out of the elevator led directly into a training area.
Nurous students were engaged in various types of training.
So were hitting practice dummies, so were shadowboxing, so were dripping with sweat on treadmills, and so were doing strength training.
And in the very center of the training area was a fighting ring.
At that mont, two people were sparring in the ring.
One looked to be in his twenties, his fighting style seasoned and vicious.
Every punch was fast, accurate, and ruthless, making his opponent suffer greatly.
In less than two rounds, his opponent was beaten into a steady retreat, having lost all his initial montum.
Yang Yong led Lin Yi straight toward the ring.
"Hold on, Zhou Qi, Liu Yang, you two stop for a mont!"
CLAP CLAP CLAP—
Yang Yong then clapped his hands again, drawing everyone else’s attention.
Instantly, everyone in the Martial Arts Hall began to walk toward Yang Yong.
"I have an announcent. This student is Lin Yi from Third Middle School.
"He’s the new sparring partner. I won’t say more than necessary. The purpose of a sparring partner is to help you identify your own shortcomings during live practice!
"Of course, pull your punches. He’s still a student, after all. Understood?"
After Yang Yong finished speaking, everyone’s gaze fell on Lin Yi.
And in their eyes, Lin Yi could see disdain, confusion, contempt, and bewildernt.
This wasn’t strange at all.
The youngest of these students in the training hall were already in high school.
And it looked like they had been training here for a long ti.
Their fundantal boxing and kicking techniques were all very solid.
They even had ample combat experience.
When they saw a high schooler like Lin Yi co to be their sparring partner,
it would have been strange if they weren’t surprised.
"Alright, Tong Ye, take Lin Yi to the locker room to get changed first. The rest of you, don’t stop. Keep training.
"You don’t have much ti left. The Martial Arts competition starts next week!
"If you want to get a good ranking in the Martial Arts competition, then you’d better train with everything you’ve got! You hear ?"
"Yes..."
Spurred on by Yang Yong’s words,
the other students all scattered.
Those hitting the practice dummies went back to hitting them, those running went back to running...
After Lin Yi left with the student nad Tong Ye,
Zhou Qi jumped down from the ring. "Coach Yang, what’s the deal? You found a high school kid to be a sparring partner? More like a living punching bag, right?"
His eyes held a look of contempt and disdain.
Clearly, he didn’t take Lin Yi seriously.
Yang Yong sighed softly. "There’s nothing I can do. I owe Teacher Liu a favor. That kid just now, Lin Yi, is his student. He said his talent is pretty good and he was supposed to take the martial arts exam!
"It’s just that the registration fee is too expensive, and he can’t afford it. Teacher Liu values talent, so he ca to and asked for a favor... When you guys spar with him later, just go easy. Don’t take it too seriously!
"Just consider it helping repay my favor to Teacher Liu!"
After Yang Yong finished, Zhou Qi chuckled and nodded.
"Fine, but Coach Yang, isn’t this a waste of our ti?
"The competition is next week. I was hoping to get so good training in over the weekend, and you bring a kid like this over..."
"It won’t be a waste. Stay late tonight, and I’ll be the sparring partner for you few who are competing. How’s that?"
"Really? If you’re our sparring partner, Brother Yang, then it’s definitely not a loss!"
Seeing Zhou Qi’s excited expression, Yang Yong sighed softly.
Just as they were talking,
Lin Yi ca out, having changed into a Martial Arts Uniform.
"Hm, not bad, the size is a perfect fit... Let first explain the duties of a sparring partner. You don’t just passively take hits; you’re allowed to fight back. To put it plainly, you’ll be sparring with them, and during that process, you need to find their weaknesses and openings!
"I’ll be observing from below the ring. Leave the rest to !
"If you get tired, you can call for a break. If you get injured, don’t try to tough it out.
"Even though it’s just sparring, fists and feet have no eyes. You understand what I’m saying, right?"
After Yang Yong finished, Lin Yi nodded.
"Coach Yang, I understand completely!"
"Good, as long as you understand. Get in the ring. Rember to call a stop if you can’t take it. Don’t try to be a hero!"
Yang Yong added a few more words of caution.
As Lin Yi stepped into the ring, Yang Yong turned and scanned the students.
Finally, he said, "You there... Sun Tao, you go up first and spar with Lin Yi!"
"Yes, Coach Yang!"
The student nad Sun Tao was about the sa age as Lin Yi.
He was also a high school student, and his build seed a bit slight.
However, his gaze held a hidden ruthlessness.
Zhou Qi crossed his arms, stroking his chin with one hand as he watched Sun Tao climb into the ring.
"Brother Yang, that kid Sun Tao... his cultivation has already reached the 4th stage, and he fights dirty. Aren’t you afraid that..."
Before Zhou Qi could finish, Yang Yong understood what he ant.
"Sun Tao’s aggression is too intense. He looks fierce, but he actually has many openings.
"In the upcoming competition, he’s in the high school division. I want to take this opportunity to observe him carefully!
"Keep an eye on them for . If it looks like that Lin Yi kid can’t hold on, shout for a stop imdiately and get up there to restrain Sun Tao!" Yang Yong reminded him again.
Hearing this, Zhou Qi couldn’t help but laugh.
"Brother Yang, I really don’t get it. Did you hire a sparring partner or a little emperor?
"Why not just have him sit on the sidelines, collect his money when the ti’s up, and leave? How about I pay for it?"
As soon as the words were out, Yang Yong shot him a glare. "Cut the crap. Teacher Liu asked to give him so pointers on the side. But that last suggestion of yours isn’t bad. You’re paying his fee. That settles it!"
Zhou Qi: "..."
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