The Failed "Muscle-Flexing"

Captain Hoang Nam's provocative comment sent a chilling silence through class 10A1. The students, especially Lam Minh's fans, were incredibly indignant. They could say he was lucky, but they couldn't accept their hero being publicly humiliated like this.

Hung 'Map' turned red with anger and was about to protest when Lam Minh signaled for him to stop.

Lam Minh looked at Hoang Nam, not with anger, but with a hint of... sympathy. He spoke slowly.

"You're right, sir. This is all the strength I have. Compared to the soldiers of Blacklight, it's truly insignificant."

Lam Minh's "humility" caught Hoang Nam by surprise. He had expected Lam Minh to get angry and retort, which would have given him an excuse to "teach" this kid a lesson.

"It's good to know your place," Hoang Nam said, his voice still patronizing. "But your attitude in training is also a problem. You don't look like you're trying at all. Let's do this: to set an example for the class, today you will run 20 laps around this stadium. When you're done, you can rest."

20 laps around the stadium! That was an extremely heavy physical punishment, even for a professional athlete. It was clear Hoang Nam was deliberately making things difficult for him.

"Yes, sir," Lam Minh replied curtly, without a single word of complaint.

He started running. But he didn't run fast. He ran at a very normal, steady pace, like someone on a morning health jog.

Hoang Nam frowned. "Are you taking a stroll? Faster!"

Lam Minh just smiled, didn't reply, and maintained his pace.

Hoang Nam was furious but could do nothing. He turned back to continue training the class. But in his mind, he kept an eye on Lam Minh. He wanted to see how long this kid could endure.

Time passed. The other students had finished their exercises and were resting, all of them exhausted, sitting on the ground panting.

Only one figure was still running on the track.

Lam Minh.

He had run 10 laps, 15 laps... His face was still calm, his breathing was still even, his speed hadn't changed at all. It seemed he didn't know what fatigue was.

Hoang Nam started to feel that something was wrong. No matter how good one's stamina was, running 15 laps at that speed should be tiring. But Lam Minh still looked completely at ease.

When Lam Minh completed the 20th lap, he didn't stop. He continued to run lap 21, 22...

"Hey! You! That's enough!" Hoang Nam had to shout. "I told you to run 20 laps!"

Only then did Lam Minh stop and walk towards Hoang Nam, his face not red, his breathing not heavy. He used a towel to wipe a few "symbolic" drops of sweat from his forehead and said with an innocent voice.

"Sir? I'm sorry. I was so engrossed in running that I lost track. Would you like me to run a few more laps? I still feel pretty energetic."

This statement was like an invisible slap straight across Hoang Nam's face.

The rest of the class, now recovered, stared at this scene with wide eyes. Running more than 20 laps around the stadium and still "feeling pretty energetic"? Was this a human or a monster?

Hoang Nam's face became extremely ugly. His attempt to "flex his muscle" had completely backfired. Not only did he fail to make things difficult for Lam Minh, but he had also made himself a laughingstock.

"Fine... very fine," Hoang Nam gritted his teeth. "Your stamina is not bad. But the battlefield doesn't just require stamina. It requires combat skills."

He decided he had to regain his face.

"Now, I will test your combat skills. Lam Minh, you had the best results, come up here and be my demonstration partner."

He stepped into the middle of the field, took off his outer jacket, revealing the toned, muscular physique of a special forces officer. He wanted to use Blacklight's true combat skills to completely overwhelm Lam Minh.

"Come on," he beckoned.

Lam Minh sighed. "Sir, I'm tired. Can another student go up instead?"

He started "acting" again.

"No more talk! This is an order!" Hoang Nam snapped.

"Alright, alright," Lam Minh wearily walked forward, looking as if he were about to collapse.

The "sparring" match began.

Hoang Nam attacked immediately. He used his signature Blacklight close-quarters combat skills—fast, powerful, and extremely deadly.

But facing him, Lam Minh reverted to his old trick from the semi-finals. He "tanked" the hits.

Hoang Nam punched, he stood still and took the punch.

Hoang Nam kicked, he stood still and took the kick.

Every one of Hoang Nam's blows landed, but Lam Minh would only stagger a few steps before standing firm again, his face nonchalant. The nano-suit underneath absorbed almost all the force, and the little that remained was like a mosquito biting stainless steel to his Foundation Establishment body.

The more Hoang Nam fought, the more horrified he became. It was the exact same feeling Quynh Nhu had. He felt like he was punching a steel-wrapped cotton bag. His hands began to ache, while his opponent seemed completely unaffected.

"You... you..." Hoang Nam panted, unable to believe it.

"Sir... are you done hitting me yet?" Lam Minh yawned. "I'm getting sleepy. Maybe we should take a break?"

Hoang Nam was so angry his face turned beet red. He let out a roar, pouring all his strength into one final kick, intending to knock Lam Minh down to vent his frustration.

Seeing this, Lam Minh let out a long sigh. He "unintentionally" raised his hand to scratch his ear.

At that exact moment, Hoang Nam's kick arrived.

Lam Minh's elbow, in the middle of "scratching his ear," "accidentally" connected with Hoang Nam's ankle.

CRACK!

The crisp sound of a breaking bone echoed.

"AAAAAAAAAAH!"

Captain Hoang Nam, elite officer of Blacklight, let out a scream of agony and collapsed to the ground, clutching his ankle, which was now dislocated at an odd angle.

Lam Minh feigned a startled look and quickly bent down, his face full of "remorse."

"Oh, sir! I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to! Your kick was too fast, I couldn't pull my hand back in time! Are you okay?"

The entire stadium fell silent.

The new PE teacher, a Blacklight captain, on his very first day of teaching, had his leg broken "accidentally" by a student.

This story would probably become the new legend of Tran Hung Dao High School.

Lam Minh looked at the writhing, pained Hoang Nam and thought to himself.

"I told you. Don't bother someone when they're trying to sleep."