Chapter 33. Dimensionality reduction strike

Translator: 549690339

“Everyone, train seriously!”

“Don’t slack off!”

“There are only four spots left for the competition, and those who perform well will represent the school in the contest!”

In the gymnasium, Guo Xiangyuan had abandoned his usual laissez-faire attitude and was sternly urging the team members to train.

Having just finished their final exams, the Martial Arts Team was gearing up for the most important martial arts competition of the year, which would take place in mid-summer.

This martial arts competition was jointly organized by eight middle schools in the district.

The event was scheduled for August 1.

Therefore, in the month leading up to the competition, Guo Xiangyuan gathered the team members back in school for a training camp.

Afterward, based on their performance in the training camp, four members would be selected to represent the school.

While Guo Xiangyuan was pushing the seven members to train hard, Lin Zichen had already secured a spot in the competition and wasn’t training with the others. Instead, he was on the side coaching Shen Qinghan.

Ever since Shen Qinghan had decided to continue in the Martial Arts Class during high school, Lin Zichen had devised a summer training plan for her to improve her physical conditioning.

So as not to impact her physical development, the intensity of this training plan was not high. The daily content was only as follows:

One: Jog 3000 meters to increase stamina.

Two: Practice martial arts techniques for an hour to improve hand and foot skills.

Three: Push-ups, sit-ups, squats, pull-ups, and other muscle training exercises, done just enough to get by, to increase some physical strength.

Beyond that, there were no other exercises.

But even so, the somewhat frail Shen Qinghan still found it a bit too much.

Right after exercising, she was so tired that she collapsed on the ground, panting nonstop, drenched in sweat.

“Han Han, you can do it. You also completed the training tasks smoothly today.”

Lin Zichen unscrewed the cap and handed the sports drink in his hand to Shen Qinghan, affirming her training attitude.

Shen Qinghan took a few sips of the sports drink, her breathing still uneven as she said, “Zi Chen, exercising is really tiring, much more so than studying.”

“Of course, it involves sweating,” Lin Zichen replied as he took a yoga mat from the side to spread out, and then knelt down on it, saying, “Come on, lie down on the yoga mat and spread your legs. I’ll help you relax your muscles.”

Obediently, Shen Qinghan lay down on the yoga mat and opened her slender, straight legs slightly.

Seeing this, Lin Zichen quickly began to massage her skillfully.

Perhaps the massage was too forceful, or the stimulation on the sore muscles was too intense.

Shen Qinghan occasionally let out a shy, stifled moan. Her hands instinctively grasped the yoga mat tightly, and her expression seemed to be in pain.

Sometimes she couldn’t stand it any longer and couldn’t help but cry out that it hurt and to go lighter.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t an option.

To quickly dispel the lactic acid accumulated in the muscles, one had to apply some pressure during the massage; otherwise, it would have no effect.

First, he massaged her calves, then her thighs, and finally her arms. In just a short fifteen minutes, Lin Zichen had massaged almost her entire body.

Feeling that the massage was sufficient, he took out a set of clean clothes from his backpack and handed them to Shen Qinghan, saying, “Go take a shower. After that, we’ll head home.”

“Okay, I’ll be quick,” Shen Qinghan replied, refreshed as she rose from the yoga mat, took the clothes from Lin Zichen, and headed to the dressing room.

Every time after training, she enjoyed being massaged firmly by Lin Zichen’s hands.

Although the process was a bit uncomfortable, she would feel her whole body relax afterward, which was exceptionally pleasant.

One month later.

The training camp concluded.

The five competitors had been determined.

Among them, the very lively Zhang Kai was not selected.

Feeling dispirited, he left the Martial Arts Team after learning the result and didn’t even attend the competition as a spectator.

However, nobody paid much attention to that, and life went on as usual.

The next morning.

Guo Xiangyuan drove the school’s bus, ferrying the team members to the city gymnasium for the competition.

Shen Qinghan also went along, saying she wanted to be Lin Zichen’s little fan in the audience, cheering him on.

Lin Yansheng and Zhang Wanxin also made time to attend the event, wanting to support their son.

As for Xu Meng and Shen Jianye, the couple was busy with their work, leading classes for the senior year students at the school and couldn’t find the time to attend the competition.

Nevertheless, they asked Shen Qinghan to record a video of Lin Zichen’s competition to bring back for them to watch.

City Gymnasium, players’ rest area.

The competitors from all eight schools lined up, waiting to draw lots to match up with their opponents.

The rules of the competition were simple: it was school against school, and it only took three rounds of matches to determine the champion.

One round a day, three days to finish.

Soon, the results of the draw were out.

Lin Zichen’s Shanhai High School unfortunately drew Shanhai No.1 Middle School, the strongest school.

Guo Xiangyuan saw it and his face immediately changed.

The faces of the other four team members were also unsightly, all feeling that they were going to be eliminated in the first round.

Among them, a team member named Li Shutong conceded defeat before the battle, saying, “It’s over. I heard that No.1 Middle School this year has a tough guy who can run the 100 meters in under 9 seconds. We’re definitely going to get blown away!”

“What nonsense are you spouting? We have Zi Chen here, and who wins or loses is not yet certain.” Guo Xiangyuan glared at Li Shutong as he spoke.

Though he said this, in his heart, as a coach, he also had no confidence.

In his eyes, Lin Zichen was indeed powerful, but after all, he was still just a first-year student and hadn’t fully grown yet. Up against someone who could sprint 100 meters in under 9 seconds, he was mostly going to get blown away.

Alas, he only hoped that his mentality wouldn’t get crushed.

Otherwise, it would affect his confidence, and that would be a great loss.

The future flag bearer of the Martial Arts Team for the next two years still had to be carried by him… Guo Xiangyuan fretted in his heart.

As for Lin Zichen himself, his face was calm at this moment, his heart undisturbed.

Running 100 meters in 9 seconds was strong, but in front of him who could do it in 4.61 seconds, it was like an ant, easily crushed with a single press.

Before long, the first round of the competition began.

The first match was between Shanhai High School and Shanhai No.1 Middle School.

“Which one of you four is going first?”

Guo Xiangyuan asked the other four team members besides Lin Zichen.

All four were silent, chickened out, not wanting to be the first to confront the opponent.

Shanhai No.1 Middle School was last year’s champion, and this year they were even stronger than last; the one going up first to face the opponent was essentially the first to get beaten up.

Junior high students are at the age where they care most about face, and no one would want to be the first to embarrass themselves.

“No one wants to go first?”

Guo Xiangyuan frowned and, seeing that still no one wanted to play first, he finally had to say, “Since none of you want to go first, let’s decide by drawing lots.”

Having said that, he was about to grab a pen and paper.

However, before he had taken two steps, Lin Zichen spoke up, “Coach, I’ll go.”

Guo Xiangyuan immediately responded, “No, you’re our ace. You have to go last to maximize your advantage.”

The advantage of going last was the ability to observe the opponent’s habits from the sidelines, thus knowing oneself and the enemy and winning every battle.

However, Lin Zichen, who completely overwhelmed everyone with his strength, didn’t need this at all.

What he needed was to defeat as many opponents as possible himself to complete the achievement task and get the rewards sooner.

Therefore, he said earnestly, “Coach, I want to go first.”

Guo Xiangyuan fell silent and did not immediately answer.

But seeing the seriousness in Lin Zichen’s eyes and that the other four really didn’t want to go up, in the end, he could only compromise, “Alright then, Zi Chen, you’ll go first.”

After both sides had decided on the players to go first.

The first round’s opening match soon arrived.

The first to step up for the other side was a big boy over 1.9 meters tall, all muscle, seated on the Martial Stage like a mountain, exerting an immense pressure.

Lin Zichen, whose body hadn’t developed as quickly and was less than 1.7 meters tall, stood in front of the other like a just-hatched chick, easily crushed with a simple pinch.

“Little junior from Shanhai, I’ve seen your information on the list. Being able to stand on this Martial Stage of the Eight-School Tournament as a first-year is impressive—you have great talent,” the brawny boy said with a naïve smile on the Martial Stage.

Seeing his naïve smile, Lin Zichen thought the big guy seemed pretty nice.

But just as he was about to respond politely, the other’s tone suddenly shifted, his gaze becoming extremely disdainful as he said, “However, what I want to say is, this is not a place for a first-year like you, especially not for a shorty first-year who isn’t even 1.7 meters tall.”

Speaking, the other violently tensed up his entire body, showing off his massive pectorals with a chuunibyou look on his face, “Soon, I will let you feel what the gap in body size is, what the gap in strength is!”

PS: Holding out my bowl, asking for monthly and recommendation tickets!