The Greatest Showman #698 – Rookie Learning

Andrew stared, stunned, at Renly standing before him. Dressed in a simple white T-shirt and gray sweatpants, his short curly hair damp and his face adorned with a relaxed, natural smile, Renly looked completely different from the imposing figure seen on screen. Gone was the aura of stardom, replaced by a down-to-earth demeanor, the look of a friendly neighbor. His dark brown eyes seemed to gleam with a kind of quiet brilliance.

"Uh...I...um..." Andrew stumbled over his words, blinking rapidly as his mind struggled to catch up. He couldn't believe it—Renly Hall? The Renly Hall who had recently dominated headlines and media buzz? The same Renly Hall who had been the center of attention, even amid the hustle of filming The Amazing Spider-Man? But why was he here?

Renly stretched out his right hand and waited a moment, but Andrew, still frozen, didn't react. Renly chuckled, withdrew his hand, and folded his arms mischievously. "We learn from each other, right? Please advise," he said with a playful grin. He then turned and walked toward the center of the room, casually positioning his left hand behind his back and raising his right hand in a classic martial arts stance.

Today marked Renly's fifteenth day at "Liu's Martial Arts Hall."

During the filming of Fast & Furious 5, Renly had realized just how much he lacked when it came to martial arts. Despite his good motor skills, he was still just an amateur with basic knowledge—his limited moves couldn't match up to Fan's precision and skill. His ability to keep up had mostly been the result of breaking the traditional American fighting patterns. Now, after spending months reflecting on the experience, Renly was determined to learn martial arts in a more structured way. At his core, he was still deeply connected to Chinese culture, which fueled his desire.

The timing for training couldn't have been better. Killing Reincarnation was on the horizon, and although the movie didn't feature any intense fight scenes—being more focused on actor-computer effects interaction—Renly knew that martial arts agility would still benefit him. Moreover, with pre-production just beginning, there would be ample time before filming to dedicate to his training.

While Renly had never formally studied martial arts, he could easily strike a Tai Chi starting position or mimic the graceful moves from Once Upon a Time. However, he regretted not having a long coat—if he did, he imagined how much cooler he would look with the coat sweeping behind him, his movements creating an unforgettable aura.

Everyone had a martial arts fantasy deep down, particularly those who had grown up watching the works of Jin Yong and Gu Long. Renly was no different.

As Renly showcased his start-up pose, a young cleaner rolled his eyes and muttered something in Chinese under his breath, assuming that no one else could understand. "Another one bitten by the movie bug," he grumbled. Though his words were soft and unassuming, they still reached the ears of Andrew and Armando, who exchanged surprised glances.

Armando quickly recovered and nudged Andrew. "He's a newbie," he whispered.

Renly had forgotten that, at the moment, he wasn't in China. To the others, seeing a Westerner practicing Eastern martial arts in a T-shirt and sweatpants looked less like a warrior's grace and more like an awkward performance.

Andrew, now starting to process what was happening, walked up cautiously. He coughed nervously, unsure of how to approach the situation. He bent slightly and clasped his hands together, then threw a light punch at his own fist before realizing he wasn't wearing gloves or wraps. Instead, he positioned his hands into a classic boxing guard.

"I'm Andrew Garfield. Good morning," he stammered, the self-introduction coming a bit late and sounding somewhat awkward. He forced a shy smile, then squared his stance, bouncing lightly on his feet, ready to engage.

A fight could reveal much about a person's personality: whether they choose to attack or defend, whether they strike at vulnerable points or hold back. Andrew's defensive stance, constantly shifting his weight, showed that he wasn't ready to be the aggressor.

Renly observed closely, noting Andrew's guarded movements. Andrew's defensive posture didn't break the circle he had drawn around himself, and his constant footwork indicated he was ready to react but not initiate.

Sensing an opening, Renly shifted his weight and executed a precise, fluid motion. His left foot pivoted, and with a swift, calculated punch, his fist grazed Andrew's cheek. Andrew's muscles tightened as he swiftly stepped back, leaning away from the blow, but didn't anticipate what happened next: Renly's punch was a feint, and as he dropped into a squat, his leg swept Andrew's left foot, knocking him off balance.

Andrew stumbled back, caught off guard, and before he could recover, Renly pushed off the ground like a spring, knocking into Andrew's shoulder with ease. Andrew flew backward, falling onto his bottom with a loud thud.

Andrew stared up at Renly in disbelief. He hadn't seen what hit him, and the attack seemed so effortless, so smooth. Renly's movements had been seamless—precise, but without unnecessary flourish.

Armando, equally stunned, was the first to react, clenching his fist in an encouraging gesture to Andrew, who shakily got to his feet. This time, Andrew chose to take a more aggressive approach, moving forward with clenched fists. But Renly didn't engage directly. He simply sidestepped and pushed Andrew's back with a gentle but forceful touch. Andrew's body seemed to glide through the air, landing with a comic "plop" on the floor, his face turning crimson with embarrassment.

Once again, Renly offered a hand to help him up, his smile kind and warm. As Andrew stood, brushing himself off and trying to regain composure, he couldn't help but wonder what had just happened. The fight had felt real, but he still couldn't understand how Renly had done it.

The young cleaner's voice interrupted his thoughts, muttering something about the martial arts "master" and the state of those learning. Andrew and Armando didn't understand the words, but Renly's soft chuckle was enough to indicate that the cleaner's opinion wasn't too kind.

Armando, clearly curious, approached Renly. "Do we have to start with the basic stance here?" he asked, gesturing to Renly's previous movements.

Renly nodded. "Yes, first, you must practice walking the horse stance for at least 30 minutes each day for five days before you can move on to advanced techniques," he said calmly, moving to the side to demonstrate.

Andrew and Armando exchanged a glance, both uncertain but intrigued.