Returning to the Mysterious Era

[Martial Stance (Part One): 0.1%]

Two blank bars, approximately as long as one knuckle, were stacked atop each other next to the writing. A red dot, so small it was practically negligible, filled up approximately 0.1% of the top bar.

I can see how much progress I’ve made in my martial arts?! Are there any other functions?

Shocked by this revelation, Cassius began to explore further.

Unfortunately, it didn’t look like it did much else. The bars were truly there just to show his progress on their martial arts. They didn’t have any other strange abilities like adding points. Other than that, Cassius learned that 0.1% was the smallest unit of progress displayed.

Since he got the hang of the martial stance the fastest, naturally, the progress bar for that move was displayed. As for the Combat Techniques and Explosive Techniques of the Wind Elephant Sect’s Basic Combat Arts, Cassius hadn't even crossed the threshold.

"And here I was thinking I could cheat my way up the levels, but it looks like I still have to put in the work." Cassius shook his head, frustrated, and sighed. Regardless, having the progress bar was going to be really handy.

The scariest thing about routine basic training was not having a goal. Confusion and worry about making progress were common; who knew how many martial artists had thrown in the towel halfway into this seemingly endless path? The daily grind of routine exercises would inevitably bore them to death.

That was why perseverance and diligence were so important in martial arts training. Some would even say these traits were no less valuable than natural talent.

Cassius considered his own perseverance to be above average, and his willpower fairly strong. But now that he had the progress bar, he might be able to outlast even those who ranked at the top in perseverance.

With a tangible goal in mind, any sign of progress would bring joy. One’s motivation to train would also increase significantly.

Indeed, the progress bar was very useful for Cassius.

"Hu..." He let out a long breath. His previously sore and numb muscles seemed to be filled with strength again. "Well then, time to continue training..."

***

Whoosh!

Several blue magpies with red bills flew across the azure sky. Cassius's gaze followed them, unbidden.

"Li Wei... Li Wei... Li Wei!"

"Huh? Yes!" Cassius snapped back to reality and took a step forward.

Instructor Lisa stood in front of him, hands casually placed behind her back, as she said, "First things first, I want to introduce this person." She reached out and patted Li Wei on the shoulder, her gaze sweeping over the Group Four trainees.

"Most of you probably already know him. That's right; this is the Madman Li Wei, the one who sent someone to the hospital on his second day in the youth training camp."

The trainees below immediately burst into laughter.

"What's so funny? He can take on three people by himself. Can any of you?" Lisa paused for a moment before continuing, "Don’t get the wrong idea; I'm not praising him. My point is that if you join the Wind Elephant Sect’s youth training camp, camp rules must be strictly followed!

"Anyone who fights, regardless of the reason, will be training double for a week as punishment! And if you don't complete all your training for the day, you’ll get no food!" Lisa's volume rose up a notch as she spoke.

She looked down at Li Wei. "Do you have any complaints?"

"No, ma’am!" Li Wei shouted.

If there were no rules, there would be no boundaries. Cassius knew that Lisa was merely enforcing the rules, and it had nothing to do with whether she liked him or not. РâℕƟᛒÊș

"Very well. I’ll be supervising you, starting from today!" She patted Li Wei on the shoulder again. "You can return to your team."

"Yes!" Li Wei took two steps back.

As soon as he stood with his teammates, he sensed a worried gaze coming from his left, seemingly from the girls’ team where Li Chu was.

"Now, on to the physical training!" Lisa walked over to stand beside the team and then said to Li Wei, "You don't get any rest time. After the team finishes running, you have another set of laps to do."

"Yes, ma'am."

"Very good. You can start now."

It was early in the morning. A faint mist wrapped around the distant mountain peaks. The sunlight seemed to draw arcs through the air, casting its rays on the training ground.

The training ground of the youth camp was evenly divided into five sections, each with a group of twenty people. From a bird's-eye view of the training ground, twenty small black dots, resembling a long snake-like train, ran along the edge of the five pale yellow grid blocks that were allocated to each section.

After a while, nineteen of them stopped and gathered under the shade of trees beside the training ground. Only one black dot continued to run around the edge of the block.

"Huff... huff... huff..."

Sweat gradually formed on Cassius's forehead and back. After a few more laps, his cheeks were burning.

Breathing like this saves more energy...

Strange thoughts began popping into his mind, unbidden. His brain had a strange way of finding humor in pain.

Five minutes later, Cassius completed the double distance.

"Not bad. You can have a two-minute break as a reward." Instructor Lisa glanced at her pocket watch, her chin dipping in a slight nod.

Two minutes later, the next phase of physical training began.

Whatever the Group Four trainees did, Cassius had to do it twice. Honestly, he found it a little overwhelming, mainly because of his physical condition. Li Wei’s body was simply too weak.

The morning came and went. The other trainees had already gone to eat. Only Cassius remained, still struggling, on the training ground. He had fallen behind on the last two training exercises, halfway into his punishment.

Lisa watched quietly as she stood under the tree beside him, occasionally shooting a glance at her pocket watch. Lunchtime was almost over. Most of the trainees would have already returned to their dorms for an afternoon nap.

"Ha...!"

Cassius dragged himself up from the ground with difficulty. He looked drenched, as if he had just been fished out after a long soak in the water. Sweat not only soaked his clothes but also matted his black hair in thick locks.

Eyes squinted against the bright sun, Cassius looked over to where Instructor Lisa appeared to be waiting for him by the tree. He slowly staggered over.

"How are you? Need a hand?"

"No, no need." Cassius shook his head, flinging three or four drops of sweat from his forehead. His voice was slightly hoarse.

"You’ve got spirit, I’ll give you that! Let's go. We’re heading to the canteen to eat. I asked Assistant Yapon to leave some food for you." Lisa started walking, leaving Cassius to follow silently behind her.

Ten minutes later, they were seated in the corner of the canteen by the window. Lisa leaned back in her chair, quietly staring straight ahead.

Cassius ate and drank as if he’d spent his past life starving.[1] He didn’t come up for air once as he shoveled food into his mouth, nonstop. As he ate heartily, a fork with a palm-sized piece of meat was offered to him. Cassius looked up and met Lisa's gaze.

"Thank you, Instructor," he said after swallowing his bite of food.

Lisa shook her head lightly. "No need to thank me. I’m only letting you eat your fill now for lunch because I'm worried you won't have anything to eat for dinner. Given your build and current progress, it’ll be very late at night by the time you finish this evening’s training."

"I'll try to finish earlier..." Cassius mumbled. He lowered his head and did not say another word.

When he eventually returned to the dormitory after lunch, half of the afternoon break was already gone. There were five trainees in his room spread out across two beds, all of whom were snoring like dying pigs. The whole room stank, filled with the foul stench of sweat.

Cassius glanced at his own bed, where two people were already sleeping. There was an empty spot at the edge of the bed that was the perfect fit for one person.

He looked down at the chubby face sleeping soundly, silently thanked him, and lay down as well. He fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.

1. The original here is “reincarnated hungry ghost.” The hungry ghost is one of the six paths of reincarnation, specifically one of the three lower paths (animal, hungry ghost, and hell) that are considered punishments. The name is pretty self-explanatory. ☜

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