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Chapter 1

It was a hot autumn afternoon. The sun was still blazing at 3 o’clock, dressing the black exterior walls of a large gymnasium in gold.

Large black letters were glimmering above the front entrance of the gymnasium, stating its name:

“Songcheng University Martial Arts Club!”

Looking from afar at the letters and the youths full of vigor and vitality streaming inside the gymnasium, Lou Cheng felt the vibrancy but hesitated to join them. He swallowed a lump of saliva down his throat and seemed to be bothered by the feeling that one would experience when returning home, though sure enough martial arts and the club had never been his home.

He could not help but turn to look at his roommate, Cai Zongming, who was standing nearby, seeking some psychological comfort.

They met upon entering the university and soon became close friends, as birds of a feather. After the military training and course selection, they developed a friendship where they could comfortably exchange good-natured banters with each other.

Cai Zongming was over 1.8 meter in height and topped Lou Cheng by half a head. Lou Cheng had to admit that the tall and handsome Cai Zongming had the figure of some appealing heroes in Wuxia novels. Also, he was born in an affluent family and had good taste in clothing, adding points to his charm. His only problem would be his gift of the gab!

“Cheng, why are you so nervous?” Cai Zongming noticed Lou Cheng’s abnormal emotions and asked, still keeping his hands in the pockets of his cream-colored slacks. “It’s just an orientation of the Martial Arts Club, and many students, like Old Qiu, won’t come to the orientation of Martial Arts Club. He just signed up but didn’t show up, instead, he went for self-study. It is not an examination, so why are you so concerned?”

Lou Cheng thought about it and found himself in need of advice. He carefully selected his words and asked his friend, this time using his nickname:

“Casanova, do you remember the girl we met when we signed up?”

Claiming to have dated many girls, Cai Zongming was experienced and good at fabricating wild tales, which earned him the title “Casanova” among his roommates. Lou Cheng considered him a good consultant on love-related problems…

“Yes! How could I forget? Over one month here, I’ve only met two or three girls of her league. I would have accosted her, had I no true love!” Cai Zongming took a glance at Lou Cheng and smiled. “So what’s the story? Having a crush on her? Longing to pursue her? You seemed like an honest and ponderous guy when I first met you. Cheng, I didn’t expect this from you!”

Lou Cheng hurried to clear himself. “Actually, I’ve known her since high school. We were in adjoining classes and we would stand right next to each other during the setting-up exercise to music. Day after day… You know?”

“Sure! Wait, does she know you?” Cai Zongming could barely keep a straight face.

Lou Cheng shook at the mouth and glowered at Cai Zongming. Finally, he gave in and said in a low voice, “Not really…”

“I see… An unrequited love… Perfectly normal,” Cai Zongming stopped teasing him. “No wonder you dragged me to join the Martial Arts Club. I thought you had somehow found out my hidden martial skills!”

“Bah! You are mere an Amateur Fifth Pin! What hidden martial skills are you talking about?” counterattacked Lou Cheng.

Until today, martial arts had run a long course of thousands of years. Neither a tale nor a myth, it carried on and on through decades of confrontation against science and technology until it had to change its tradition to integrate into the modern society. Even the ranking system of martial arts had adapted to this era. A special Ranking Event would be held by the Martial Arts Association to assess martial artists with the First Pin being the highest rank, and Ninth Pin the entry level. Below the entry level was nine amateur Pins for martial enthusiasts who were more than sufficient to defeat the common mass.

Cai Zongming tut-tutted. “Someone is not even of Amateur Ninth Pin. Comparing to you, I’m certainly a master, right? Let’s fight, and I’ll use only one hand.”

“Get lost,” Lou Cheng cut him up and slowly walked forward after a deep breath. “She was very popular in my high school. I knew she was a fan of martial arts but I didn’t know she had also entered Songcheng University. I saw it as some kind of destiny and was thrilled. So I dragged you into this to have more contact with her.”

“Good. Reasonable enough,” Cai Zongming took a few steps and suddenly burst into laughter. “Look, Cheng! Isn’t that your goddess?”

With his heart thumping, Lou Cheng looked ahead following the direction Cai Zongming was pointing. Outside the main entrance of the Martial Arts Club gym there was a set of stairs with nine steps, on which he saw a girl in red and white traditional Han costume standing. Her small face was delicate and beautiful with exquisite features—a classic beauty from the south of the Yangtze River. She was Yan Zheke, the perfect girl Lou Cheng had constantly been thinking about. Her mother was from the south of the Yangtze River.

Lou Cheng was stunned. It was the first time he saw Yan Zheke in a Han costume. How gorgeous!

“How come she is working for the Martial Arts Club as a ceremonial usherette?” asked Lou Cheng with a confused look after he recovered from the shock.

She was also a freshman and the orientation was to take place today!

Cai Zongming laughed. “Simple. A girl of her league must have been contacted in advance by those senior members. Even if they can’t win her heart, they can at least use her to promote the Martial Arts Club! Not like you, loser!”

“Aren’t you the same…” Lou Cheng struck back.

“Well, actually, I’m not. I’m an Amateur-Fifth-Pin master, a future backbone for the Martial Arts Club…” Next, Cai seemed disturbed by some thought, “They should have contacted me in advance as well. An Amateur Fifth Pin is quite rare in Songcheng University Martial Arts Club. This year’s freshmen are of this high quality? Besides that legendary Lin Que, would there be many of Amateur Third or Fourth Pin?”

While listening to Cai Zongming, Lou Cheng stared calmly at Yan Zheke standing on the steps like a star in the spotlight, outstanding and gorgeous, attracting all the attention. Many were probably ashamed of their appearance in front of her.

“Well, back to business. Cheng, here is a chance for you,” Cai stopped talking to himself.

Lou Cheng turned and looked at him with dazed eyes. “What chance?”

“A chance to accost her! A chance to draw her attention.” Cai Zongming heartily sympathized with this low-EQ pal.

“Accost her…” Looking at Yan Zheke from afar, Lou Cheng stammered, “Me?”

He had never accosted anyone before and was never thinking about it. Would it be a good idea?

Cai Zongming shook his head and tut-tutted, “Though it mainly depends on your appearance and eloquence, you will never succeed if you don’t dare to give it a try. On most occasions, girls may condemn cowards. Don’t you adore her? What kind of adoration is it if you don’t even dare to pursue? Besides, you are very likely to succeed according to my analysis. She might not even consider it as accosting.”

“Why?” Lou Cheng became interested.

“Has the crush reduced your IQ? You two were schoolmates from the same city. What a perfect start! Being in this strange land, far away from acquaintances, she will certainly regard you as her first choice when it comes to boys,” Cai began to give an eloquent speech. “Imagine a young girl who has gone so far away from home for further education. Surrounded by strangers, how insecure she must be feeling now. Anyone with some common ground would be ideal for her to make friends with. As the saying goes, when two fellow townsmen meet each other, tears run down from four eyes. Not to mention you were once in the same grade of the same school! There are too many things for you guys to talk about, and the gap between you two is narrow.

“Just pretend to run into her and recognize her by chance. There is a ninety percent probability that you will get her QQ number or mobile number. Well, don’t go too deep with her on your first encounter. Get her QQ number and retreat.”

Lou Cheng carefully listened with a pounding heart. He was very tempted, as what Casanova just said made perfect sense.

However, he soon sank into another hesitation. “But a man average as me doesn’t deserve her. I don’t know if I can provide her the life she wants. Err… I’d better not…”

That was what would be called as diffidence.

Cai Zongming was shocked for quite a while.

“Cheng, isn’t that too much at this moment? You don’t even know each other yet, and you are already thinking about your married life with her? Your imagination impresses me…”

Giving Lou Cheng no chance to ponder further, Cai continued to persuade him. “Cheng, your intention to show responsibility and self-knowledge is good, but don’t be a coward like this. We are in our first year in a pretty damn good university doing an okay major. Four years of hard study should easily get us a decent job after graduation. Don’t you have this confidence? Or you are just going to be a quitter? Improve yourself and push yourself for her. Making yourself a better man for the one you love is true responsibility. Otherwise, your love for her will only move yourself. What counts is conscientiousness!”

Lou Cheng was amazed by Cai’s words.

Cai Zongming waved his fist and jumped to another topic. “Nothing is set yet. It remains unknown whether you can win her heart or not. Your chance is pretty small… Err… Come on! Cheng, no regret. We try and try. The aspiring youth express no anxiety!”

Cai’s speech turned Lou Cheng into an aggressive young man. His blood was boiling as he tried to suppress all the hesitation and concerns. Lou heavily nodded.

“I’ll have a try!”

“Yes! Youth knows no failure!”

Looking at Yan Zheke’s beautiful figure in red and white, Lou Cheng plucked up courage and was about to approach.

All of a sudden, Cai Zongming held him back.

“What’s the matter?” Lou Cheng could feel his blood boiling.

Cai Zongming grinned. “Cheng, calm down. Your face is red like a monkey bum. She would be able to tell your attempt easily. Buy yourself a bottle of ice water to cool down first.”

“Wow, Casanova, you are so experienced,” Lou Cheng felt the heat on his face and almost stammered.

How exciting and frightening!

A good idea flashed across his mind. He took the opposite direction, ran away from the grand venue for a hundred meters and returned. By the time he passed Cai Zongming on his way back, he could barely catch his breath.

“You…” Cai Zongming was lost for a second before he got the point. He gave a thumbs-up, “Smart!”

A red face from running should be enough to cover his blush.

While Lou Cheng’s heart was racing, his pace slowed down out of timidity. Soon, he picked up his pace and moved away from Cai. He clenched his hands and talked to himself, “Umm, at least I’ll give it a try!”

He kept motivating himself while running toward the gymnasium and the beautiful figure in red and white.

Looking at his back, Cai Zongming hurriedly said, “Keep it short. You just met each other. Don’t make it awkward. Leave a good impression for the future.”

Lou Cheng waved to acknowledge his understanding and kept his pace up to get it done in one vigorous effort.

“This is youth…” A man with gray hair in his 70s or 80s was watching Lou Cheng from under a street tree by the pavement and got a bit sentimental. “I was once a young man just like him…”

Everyone has their youth!

Comments 45

  1. Online Offline
    Son Of Chaos
    + 00 -
    I hate the bastard Casanova from the start.
    Read more
  2. Offline
    WebnovelSlave
    + 00 -
    Rereading after 2 months of rereading the novel kekw
    Read more
  3. Offline
    control.esc
    + 30 -
    Rereading after 2 years of finishing this novel. I forgot how it was last time, but now I imagine Lord Cai is a silly, fun, humorous and loyal friend who always supports Lou Cheng. joy
    Read more
  4. Offline
    Meelemage
    + 60 -
    Rereading.
    Everybody should have a friend like this Casanova boast
    Read more
  5. Offline
    Sigh_2912
    + 119 -
    Man... This mc is a bitch.
    Read more
    1. Offline
      Nargeon
      + 120 -
      Imagine having character development in a CN novel. The horror.
      Read more
      1. Offline
        Sigh_2912
        + 014 -
        I doubt he had any worthwhile character development moving forward.
        That bitch element will not go away.
        Read more
        1. Offline
          floki
          + 100 -
          He did you should give it a try
          Read more
          1. Offline
            Nargeon
            + 130 -
            It doesn't matter, he'll just call mc a simp because he treats his girlfriend well
            Read more
  6. Offline
    IzuChukwu
    + 10 -
    Just finished The Perfect Run, I hope this one is good.
    Read more
    1. Offline
      kalengkerupuk
      kalengkerupuk
      + 10 -
      The Perfect Run good?
      Read more
      1. Offline
        IzuChukwu
        + 20 -
        Yes. 5 out 5.
        Read more
        1. Offline
          kalengkerupuk
          kalengkerupuk
          + 10 -
          Thanks will search for it
          Read more
    2. Offline
      Sonic
      + 30 -
      I doubt anything can live up to perfect run but hey Its Cuttlefish... Besides Klein has been my fav MC and this one looks quite promising!!
      Read more
  7. Offline
    Jkz91
    + 310 -
    For the first time, I've read a novel that has a proper friend. Not a useless friend that's brainless and either too fat or too tall.
    Read more
    1. Online Offline
      Natnato
      + 100 -
      Yeah, CNs... Most mc has a fatty friend who wud die for mc lol
      Read more
      1. Offline
        Jkz91
        + 91 -
        Well,
        Read more
        1. Offline
          gdvndr
          + 70 -
          why am I not surprised
          Read more
  8. Offline
    Dhestr
    Dhestr
    + 00 -
    good friend
    Read more
  9. Offline
    Ranobesaccount
    + 71 -
    3rd time rereading it, still can't find any better alternative in action-romance genre.(no-harem)
    Read more
    1. Offline
      Tridec13
      + 10 -
      I'm just starting this one, so I don't know if these recommendations will hold up, but...

      Rise of the Undead Legion - Finished
      Supreme Magus - Ongoing
      Complete Martial Arts Attributes - Ongoing
      Read more
      1. Offline
        Ranobesaccount
        + 21 -
        you will know...why this one is one of a kind...anyways thnx for recs, though I have read supreme magus.
        Read more
        1. Offline
          Bellaluin
          + 10 -
          Ending Maker seems fine enough

          Read more
          1. Offline
            Ranobesaccount
            + 10 -
            Thanks bro, but I have read that already two times :)
            Read more
            1. Offline
              Bellaluin
              + 00 -
              No probs bro. I would suggest more heartwarming series, but you said no harems, so eh. Got no action-romance genre that is not harem
              Read more
              1. Offline
                Ranobesaccount
                + 00 -
                Aish...bro, suggest them also...will see if I could take a liking of them :)
                Read more
                1. Offline
                  Bellaluin
                  + 00 -
                  Try Reaper of the Martial World, maybe you'll like it, maybe not, but its a fine one. Not really the top of the pack, but still better than average.
                  Read more
                2. Offline
                  Ranobesaccount
                  + 00 -
                  ...I have read it oready want
                  Read more
                3. Offline
                  Bellaluin
                  + 00 -
                  ... I'm sorry...

                  Try Returning from the Immortal World, though I do not know if you will like it, cause for me it was fine, but you might have different tastes than me.
                  Read more
                4. Offline
                  Ranobesaccount
                  + 00 -
                  ...Man, why say sorry? Our taste is quite similar cause I have read this one too :)
                  Read more
                5. Offline
                  Bellaluin
                  + 10 -
                  Son of a...
                  I surrender, the only things I have left are either P*rn with plot, without plot, near P*rn with plot, fanfics, and P*rn fanfics...

                  I GIVE UP!!!

                  suggest some novels bro need some things to shave boredom while waiting for my main ones.

                  Try True Endgame, though it does have some seggs scenes it does go inside your requirements.
                  Read more
                6. Offline
                  Ranobesaccount
                  + 00 -
                  Have u read divine emperor of death, Rise of anti-god, sss suicide hunter class... constraint
                  Read more
                7. Offline
                  Bellaluin
                  + 01 -
                  DEOD, yes
                  Anti-God, I dropped a log time ago, like 3 years ago or longer, might read again.
                  Suicide Hunter, didn't read yet.
                  Read more
                8. Offline
                  Ranobesaccount
                  + 00 -
                  Try Suicide hunter...it is very good :)
                  Read more
                9. Offline
                  Bellaluin
                  + 00 -
                  Just remembered, Try Alchemy Emperor of the Divine Dao, And Guild Wars, though GW has a lot of r-18
                  Read more
                10. Offline
                  Ranobesaccount
                  + 00 -
                  I have read Alchemy emperor one...but never managed to complete....and I dropped Guild wars :(
                  Read more
                11. Offline
                  Nargeon
                  + 00 -
                  "complete" the translation isn't even half done lmao
                  Read more
                12. Offline
                  Bellaluin
                  + 00 -
                  How 'bout Rise of the White Dragon?
                  Read more
                13. Offline
                  Blackfyreheir
                  + 00 -
                  M 2 years late but any new recommendations bro? I enjoy harem so no worries in that regard
                  Read more
  10. Offline
    Omnis Ra
    + 14 -
    Why are they talking about accosting a female
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    1. Offline
      Homie_Reader
      + 10 -
      I think they used a wrong word. They probably mean "ask her out". Idk why they used that word tho lol
      Read more
      1. Offline
        Bellaluin
        + 51 -
        approach and address (someone) boldly or aggressively.
        That's what accost is, so yeah, they used it properly.
        Read more
        1. Offline
          Homie_Reader
          + 00 -
          Oh ok.
          Read more