When Lou Cheng was about to fetch his clothes and take a shower, Qi Fang knocked his door and came inside. "Cheng, you just won the Tournament. It's a big thing in Xiushan. What about throwing a party? Let's celebrate your victory!" She said with a smile.
"Mom, no need to make a fuss." Lou Cheng got frustrated upon hearing this.
Qi Fang stared at him, "Why not? I do not want people to talk behind us. Like saying our eyes are above our head because we do not want to look at them. Even saying we do not contact friends and family because we look down our nose at them after you got this championship…"
Just let them talk, why should I care… Lou Cheng thought to himself. Suddenly an idea occurred to him. He put on a big smile and replied, "Mom, if you decide to hold a party, people might gossip more about us. Just think of it, if you are invited, will you go empty-handed? Help them avoid such expenditure. They would be happier, after all, it's their hard-earned money… Plus I just threw a party last year for getting into the college, and now this?Who knows how many champions will I get in the future? Should I throw a party every time I get a title? People would hate our entire family for this. It’s not like wedding ceremonies, all the gifts and money will return to you one day…"
He tried his best to make up an excuse meanwhile held his mum in his arm and went outside together.
He knew he was talking nonsense but it did not matter. He had made his point and his mom wouldn't feel so embarrassed as being refused.
Qi Fang did not quite get what his son was saying. She glanced at him, took a breath and said,
"Well, that makes sense… We will not throw a party then. But I will ask your dad to order some champion cakes and share with our friends and families."
As a special custom in Xiushan, special cakes were made for each celebration so that guests could take them back home as gifts. There were all kinds of cakes, specially-made in celebration of longevity, marriage, getting into college, having a daughter or a twin.
"Fine. Let's do it in this way." Lou Cheng grinned.
The next morning, in Back Water Lake Park.
"That's how you talk your mom out of this?" Yan Zheke asked curiously.
She was wearing a female martial suit with a sign that represented Longhu Club, also a couple outfit with Lou Cheng.
Lou Cheng was smiling, "Actually, I did not talk her out of this... Ever since I made more achievements in martial arts and made more money, I became more confident in front of my mom. When we disagree with each other, I still insist my opinion. Now my mom thinks I am not a kid anymore. I am all grown up. I am a mature man now. So she will ask my advice and see what's my attitude toward certain events. But in the old day, by no means would my mom ask advice from me. She would just say, 'Cheng, we will throw a celebration party in a couple days, remember act properly. Greetings always matter.'"
His mom celebrated his college administration exactly in this way last year.
Yan Zheke laughed out loud, "Do you think you can make your own decisions now? I hate man acting like a baby without weaning. A grown man still asks for help from his seniors and fails to decide on his own. Funny!"
She secretly thought to herself, if so, his mom and I might not get along well. Luckily Cheng is not a mama’s boy.
OMG, what am I thinking? Pooh, get along with his mom? I am not his wife yet!
Taking note of his fairy 's attitude upon this event, Lou Cheng put on a shocking expression and asked,"What should I do now? I think you may stop loving me."
"Ahh?" Yan Zheke blinked in bewilderment.
"I do everything you ask. I never have my own opinion…" As speaking, Lou Cheng could not help but laugh.
"Gee, you are so funny!" His words amused yan Zheke. She kept laughing until she gasped for breath. She continued with a blushing face, "Haha, remember your word. You must remember what you just said now!"
After a few seconds, her facial expression finally became normal. She looked up a bit and cast a quick glance at his boyfriend. Her lips were moving as if she wished to speak but stopped on a second thought.
"What's wrong?" Worry clenched Lou Cheng's heart as he asked anxiously.
Yan Zheke pursed her lip and confessed, "I worried about you just now. I did not want you to become unhappy because what happened to Geezer Shi. But I see you are still joking, still being so funny, I am so relieved and I almost mentioned it again in front of you, so I stop myself before making you feel bad again."
Lou Cheng held the girl in his arm and sighed with a gentle smile, "Actually I was feeling under the weather today, but I do not want my mood to affect other people around me. I will try my best not to influence my current state and manage to turn these worries into my motivation, making myself better."
This is the meaning of being a guardian.
"I can feel your changes. Back then, if we haven't seen each other in a few days, you definitely will kiss me before the morning practice…" Yan Zheke comforted Lou Cheng jokingly.
"So I am not a qualified pervert right now?" Lou Cheng adjusted his mood and chuckled. He lowered his head, ready to make his move, but the girl pushed him away.
"Nah, do I say yes? Just focus on your practice, work harder!" Yan Zheke ran away with laughter.
Lou Cheng did not force her. After several minutes talking with Ke, he had already felt better now.
Yan Zheke positioned herself and suddenly remembered something when she suddenly looked up. "Cheng, Song Li has been asking us for a treat. So I am thinking about inviting Sister Jing, Shuang Shuang and your friends like Fatty Jiang. Without their covering up, our relationship won’t go so well. We should give them a nice treat."
"Okay, I will call Fatty Jiang and other guys at noon. Fix a date. Gee, he has been bugging me for a treat." Lou Cheng had no problem with this kind of social activities.
Actually, it was not a social activity, it should be the reinforcement of friendship.
After their discussion, Lou Cheng and Yan Zheke started their practice separately. Yan Zheke was exercising Meteor Force from inside and outside while Lou Cheng just repeated his daily practice. He could feel his inner changes when his body was about to make a breakthrough. Upon finishing his last step, he finally understood Prairie Fire Diagram and Zhu Rong Diagram.
Without the help of Jindan, he undoubtedly made no progress on his second try.
Yet he did not feel frustrated or sad at all. That was the normal speed he should have. He could not rely on Jindan in doing everything. Plus his master had also told him to slow down and worked on his foundation. Do not rush for those practices in Dan stage. As long as he roughly mastered these two visualizing blueprints, that’s enough.
When he withdrew his thought, Lou Cheng submerged his spirit into the diagram again.
The fire was burning furiously that Zhu Rong came to press the force. It looked a lot like his current mood. He wanted to improve himself as fast as possible and help his master treat his Burning Flame, but his sense and determination acted like Zhu Rong, telling to step down.
The burning that grew out of control would only hurt himself.
Though he did not know the exact date, he felt he might master Zhu Rong Force in less than a month.
After trying that sweet noodles in Sichuan style with Yan Zheke, Lou Cheng hurried to his home, took a shower, grabbed an outfit and took a cab to Gushan Martial Arts Club.
When he stepped into the entrance, the reception girl at the front desk suddenly stood up and gave him her brightest smile. Her eyes became brighter as well.
"Coach Lou, you come back to work! Why not take more days to relax?"
She was smiling but looked timid. Instead of being energetic as she used to be, her look was full of awe.
"My school starts soon." Lou Cheng answered casually. He was so mild that nobody would think he was condescending.
While speaking, he passed the front desk and walked to the training field for VIP students.
"Hello, Coach Yan!"
"Morning, Coach Yan!"
Students in the summer class and disciple class stood in two separate lines and gave their warmest greetings.
There must be an organizer… Lou Cheng shook his head while smiling. He saw Chu Weicai, Dai Linfeng, and Qin Rui were there as well, standing in front of Wu Ting, Zhang Qiufan, and other students.
When Wu Ting noticed his sight, she guided people around. Everyone lined up quickly and greeted together.
"Sir Lou!"
They were so excited and pride that their voice became loud and sharp.
"Do not assume you guys welcoming me like this, I will cut you a break. Who took a break in the last couple of days, I will find out immediately when the practice begins." Lou Cheng stood in front of the team and talked smilingly.
"Sir Lou, with you as our model, everyone works harder! Sir Lou, Sir Lou, now you are the top.1 youth fighter in our province, can you teach us some impressive movements?" Wu Ting asked with a smile.
She had already learned to talk like an adult.
"Impressive movements? You guys are too young for that. If I teach you now, em… you might develop a stocky build. Do you want to look like a bear or a tiger?" Lou Cheng chucked.
"Ah…" Wu Ting, Zhang Qiufan, and other girls hesitated upon hearing this. Wearing an awkward look, they continued, "Then, then just forget it."
Imagining themselves strong as a bear and with a back supple as a tiger’s, they could not stand it!
Lou Cheng corrected their moves separately so each could complete their stance well. When he finished the guidance, he turned to three guys standing beside and asked, "Master Chu, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Nothing important." Chu Weicai laughed meanwhile changed the topic, "Luckily you live in our days. Back then, if one got a championship and the news went out, people needed to queue up for a battle."
Nowadays, it was the age of information. Through videos, people saw fighters’ performance, also had a pretty good grasp of his level, thus knowing whether they had a chance defeating that fighter or not.
Moreover, among all fighters in Xing Province, those who were able to challenge Lou Cheng all participated the Youth Tournament. That’s to say, nobody would do such thing again within a short time after the youth tournament.
Lou Cheng’s sight swept across Dai Linfeng and Qin Rui. Suddenly, he let out a laugh.
"Master Chu, what are you trying to say? Somebody came for a challenge?"
"How dare they challenge you? It is about my disciple. He wants some guidance." Chu Weicai was smiling at Dai Linfeng.
Dai Linfeng continued with a bitter smile, "I want to know how big is the difference between us, so I can set a goal for myself."
Instead of watching videos, he’d rather have a real battle with Lou Cheng.
Dai Linfeng had a strong ego. When other disciples paid for a solo training, he never got involved. However, after the Youth Tournament, his pride was already gone.
Lou Cheng looked at Qin Rui and other guys and laughed,
"Fine, but only for learning. That’s all."
"Okay, thank you for your guidance." Dai Linfeng postured with great respect.
When he just finished his stance, Lou Cheng suddenly strode forward, united all qi, blood, spirits, and force and got ready to explode all at once.
Pop!
His right arm was like an iron whip, striking directly at his opponent.
Dai Linfeng had no time to escape now. He blocked the attack by lifting both arms, trying to minimize the damages to his body.
But when they actually got in touch with each other, he felt a ferocious force coming toward him. The bones in his arms cracked as if they were about to break the next minute.
It might break for real.
Not only his bone might break, the lasting momentum of that force might even break open his chest.
One move would severely wound him.
Is that our difference?
In a flash, Dai Linfeng suddenly felt the weight in his hand was gone. That Ferocious force disappeared out of nowhere as if nothing happened before.
Lou Cheng drew back his right arm with ease, put both hands on his back and then gave a gentle smile.
"With the help of inner practice from special training, you are likely to become a Professional Ninth Pin."
Dai Linfeng was both in shock and astonishment. He looked at Lou Cheng in a trance, as if standing in front of him was a stranger.
Before this battle, he only thought Lou Cheng was an impressive young man.