Chapter Six: The Spar

Fang Xing stood in the center of the training hall, gazing up at the wide ceiling, his heart gradually racing. Despite never missing a single martial arts class, he had rarely gotten the chance to spar with Xia Long directly. He knew that this real combat session was a crucial opportunity—only when facing a true opponent could he truly hone his skills.

Xia Long stood off to the side, his expression as rigid as stone. He raised his wrist, and a blue holographic screen projected from his wristwatch, slowly rotating in the air. "Today's lesson is real combat sparring," he announced in a calm, clear voice. "Each pair will form a group and engage in combat drills. Remember, the ultimate test of martial arts is in actual battle, not in flashy moves."

Fang Xing's name quickly appeared on the screen, and his opponent was the agile Ouyang Qianqian from the class.

"Fang Xing versus Ouyang Qianqian!" Xia Long declared. Fang Xing's heart tightened slightly. He had heard much about Ouyang Qianqian's family-inherited martial art—*Feilan Finger*, a style that excelled in speed and technique. It was not easy to deal with. Fang Xing took a deep breath, clenching his fists gently, and turned to face Ouyang Qianqian.

"Please guide me!" Ouyang Qianqian smiled softly. Her tone was gentle, but her gaze carried a sharpness. Her movements were light, almost weightless, as she swiftly created some distance between them.

Fang Xing steadied his breath, knowing that her speed was the key factor. He adopted a fighting stance and began to adjust his nanosuit, lowering its defense settings. Since this was a sparring match, relying on the enhanced defense of the nanosuit would be unfair. "Let's do this," he thought. "I won't go down that easily."

Ouyang Qianqian wasted no time. With a light tap of her toes, she drifted forward like a wisp of cotton. Her fingers moved gracefully, like orchids, aiming directly at Fang Xing's shoulder.

*Feilan Finger!* Fang Xing's thoughts raced. Though this move appeared soft, it hid lethal intent. He quickly sidestepped, his stance rooted like a pine tree, and prepared to unleash a powerful punch with his forward momentum. He knew he had to strike before she got too close.

Bang! His fist launched with strong force, targeting Ouyang Qianqian's abdomen. However, her reaction was swift, and her slender figure danced like a wind-blown willow, retreating just far enough to dodge his attack.

"So fast!" Fang Xing marveled internally, realizing her speed was beyond his current ability to match. He knew that following the conventional approach, his chances of winning were slim.

Ouyang Qianqian smiled again and dashed toward him, but this time, she didn't evade. Her hands, as delicate as floating orchids, aimed straight for Fang Xing's chest. He felt a wave of pressure but remained calm, ready to respond.

In a sudden move, Fang Xing changed his tactic. Using the momentum of his forward stance, he lunged closer, intending to grapple at close range. "I might not be able to match your speed, but when it comes to ground fighting, I'm not bad either," he thought to himself.

Ouyang Qianqian didn't expect Fang Xing to go for such a desperate tactic, and she was forced to step back a few paces, losing her initial advantage. Fang Xing seized the opportunity, locking her in a chokehold and preparing to engage in ground combat.

From the sidelines, Liu Wei excitedly shouted, "Fang Xing, go for it! Take her down!"

However, Ouyang Qianqian was not so easily subdued. She quickly adjusted her breathing. Despite being caught in Fang Xing's grip, she remained calm. Just as Fang Xing was about to tighten his hold, Ouyang Qianqian twisted her body with incredible flexibility, slipping out of the choke.

"You're not bad at all," Ouyang Qianqian said with a slight breath, though her eyes were shining with the thrill of battle. Her fingers danced again, targeting Fang Xing's neck.

"Let's go again!" Fang Xing wasn't fazed. He knew that while Ouyang Qianqian's moves were fast, they weren't flawless. He lowered his stance once more, channeling the strength of his nanosuit-enhanced body, and threw a punch toward Ouyang Qianqian.

But just as his fist was about to land, Ouyang Qianqian floated away once more, like a piece of drifting cotton. His punch hit nothing but air, almost causing him to lose his balance.

"I concede!" Fang Xing suddenly raised his hand, a helpless smile tugging at his lips. He could tell that, despite giving his best effort, Ouyang Qianqian's family-inherited martial arts clearly had the upper hand. If they continued, his chances of winning were slim.

Ouyang Qianqian blinked in surprise, clearly not expecting Fang Xing to admit defeat so readily. But she quickly recovered and nodded, showing her respect with a gentle smile.

On the sidelines, Xia Long gave a nod of approval, his gaze briefly landing on Fang Xing, as if silently acknowledging his decision. "Combat is not just about brute strength. Knowing your limits and choosing to retreat when necessary is also a form of wisdom."