Chapter 40: A Very Thick Health Bar

December 10th, Thursday.

Jiangdong District, Global Elite Combat Club.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!

Two figures chased each other across the ring, their movements agile and swift.

Fang Cheng held a chicken-shaped pad, weaving flexibly around the perimeter of the fence.

Goro Majima swung his palms and launched kicks, pursuing Fang Cheng in short, rapid bursts to strike the pads continuously.

The scene looked lively and appeared quite harmonious.

For this sparring session, Fang Cheng no longer had to act as a stationary target. Instead, he was conducting mobile target training with Goro Majima.

The two training methods were vastly different.

During stationary target training, one needs to hold larger pads with both hands. The change in target position relies primarily on the technique and footwork of the person holding the pads. Consequently, the fighter can kick and strike freely, exerting their maximum offensive power.

Mobile target training, however, requires the practitioner to strike according to the movement rhythm and direction of the pad holder. Since both parties are in motion and the pads are smaller, the focus is more on training the fighter's dynamic reaction capabilities. It also consumes significantly more stamina than striking a stationary target.

Goro Majima exhaled heavily, his movements as fast as lightning during his bursts of explosive power. Punches, kicks, palm strikes, and finger jabs—almost every move hit the target.

Karate has many complex techniques. The core components are hand techniques (*te-waza*), foot techniques (*ashi-waza*), and grappling techniques (*nage-waza*), which is quite similar to Sanda.

Hand techniques are a general term for punching and palm strikes, including straight punches, reverse punches, knife-hand strikes, back-hand strikes, thrusting hands, hook punches, ape arms, palm heel strikes, and hammer fists.

Fang Cheng’s body rose and fell as he constantly shifted the target's position. His feet pivoted and shuffled, making the rubber flooring creak and squeak. He was performing his duties as a sparring partner with utmost cooperation.

Perhaps the opponent was in a relatively good mental state. He didn't launch an immediate, overwhelming assault like before, nor did he become increasingly manic. Overall, he was within the range of a normal person.

Swish!

A high kick swept in with the sound of breaking air.

With the fence right behind him, Fang Cheng’s shoulders twitched slightly before he slid into a side step and ducked low to evade. The kick struck the black leather-wrapped pillar. The entire ring of ropes shook and vibrated instantly.

"OK."

Goro Majima did not continue the pursuit. After retracting his leg, he raised his gloved hand to signal Fang Cheng to stop.

Two assistants quickly rushed onto the ring, solicitously handing him towels and sports drinks. Covered in sweat, Majima took a towel to wipe himself down before gulping down water. It was evident he had thoroughly enjoyed today's sparring service.

Fang Cheng stepped down from the ring and took out a bottle of mineral water he had prepared. He unscrewed the cap and tilted his head back, drinking while watching the notification on his panel.

【Sanda Experience +5】 【Boxing Experience +2】 【Focus Experience +3】

Just after taking a small sip, he saw one of Majima's assistants walking quickly toward him. The man's attitude was very respectful; he presented a business card with both hands and spoke in Chinese

"Mr. Majima thinks very highly of you, Mr. Fang. He invites you to visit his home this weekend without fail."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng couldn't help but freeze for a moment. He had merely sparred with the man a few times on the ring. Their relationship didn't seem that intimate, did it?

Despite his surprise, Fang Cheng accepted the card out of politeness and glanced at it. It contained a detailed address in Wenchuan District, Dongdu City, and a contact number. Being appreciated by an employer was naturally a good thing.

Fang Cheng didn't overthink it and temporarily pushed the matter to the back of his mind. Next, the Sanda department had other work for him to do. After that, there was another new sparring session; the client was a free fighter specializing in Jiu-Jitsu.

His schedule today was packed, leaving him almost no time to rest. Ever since he started sparring for Goro Majima, Fang Cheng's reputation for being "tanky and durable" had spread rapidly among the elite students and professional fighters.

Over the past two days, he had received seven or eight invitations for sparring sessions. The classes were already scheduled through next week. If all went smoothly, his minimum income would exceed 5,000 yuan, which was higher than his previous monthly salary. Of course, this was net income after deducting club insurance fees and relevant commissions.

Fang Cheng had originally intended to balance his work in the logistics department, only taking sparring jobs when he had no classes. Now, he was truly overwhelmed and had already turned down many invitations.

Regarding Fang Cheng's approach, Xu Maocai had no complaints. On the contrary, he looked after him more often, allowing Fang Cheng to focus on his sparring work with peace of mind. He even reassured Fang Cheng that if his surgery fees were insufficient, he had the financial capacity to lend him fifty or sixty thousand yuan.

However, the Human Resources department had already begun recruiting new employees. Feeling somewhat apologetic, Fang Cheng decided to work harder before he completely left his post.

As he walked out of Training Hall No. 2 toward Hall No. 1, several professional fighters—faces he recognized but whose names he couldn't recall—actively greeted him. Their words all revolved around asking when he would be free to train with them.

Sparring work is billed hourly based on different tiers. Those with good stamina who can act as "human targets" belong to the first tier, with hourly rates mostly between 500 and 700 yuan. Those with good stamina, rich experience, and proficiency in a specific combat technique belong to the second tier, with hourly rates starting at 800 yuan. As for retired champions, they are on an entirely different, priceless level.

Although Goro Majima paid Fang Cheng a high hourly rate of 1,000 yuan, Fang Cheng did not demand exorbitant prices from other fighters. He set a median hourly rate of 700 yuan.

A low price had its advantages. Just like now, wherever Fang Cheng went, people tried to get close to him. Even some familiar elite students from the boxing and Sanda departments approached him, wanting to have a high-intensity special training session before participating in professional competitions.

Fang Cheng estimated that with his current physique of 20 points, he was fully capable of taking three or four classes a day. In that case... a monthly income exceeding 50,000 yuan would likely no longer be a dream.

While lost in thought, a cough sounded.

"Ah Cheng."

Coach Shen, who was preparing for a class, walked out from the opposite office and greeted him proactively. With a smile on his face, he looked at Fang Cheng and asked with concern, "How was the training today? Are you adjusting well?"

"It's alright," Fang Cheng nodded calmly, responding politely.

The two chatted awkwardly for a few moments before parting ways. Shen Haoming looked back at Fang Cheng's retreating figure, his eyes flickering slightly.

The reason his attitude had changed so drastically was that the trouble brought by Goro Majima had been giving him a headache and sleepless nights for a long time. Not to mention the fact that Majima repeatedly injured sparring partners, he often made Shen lose face in front of students and other coaches.

But the man was, after all, the club's "God of Wealth," a student personally introduced by the owner. Even if he took a beating, one could only swallow the bitterness. Now that a "tank" who could take hits and draw aggro had finally appeared, shouldn't they win him over and treat him like a prince? As for those previous minor disputes, they were completely insignificant.

………………………………

The club work was busy and fulfilling. Soon, the sky outside turned dark, but the venue remained brightly lit. Evening classes were scheduled, requiring overtime.

The employees of the logistics department gathered in the locker room, eating boxed meals and chatting, enjoying a moment of relaxation. Fang Cheng also held a boxed meal, chewing on greasy vegetables and minced meat.

As he moved his chopsticks, he suddenly looked up. A notification floated in the air.

【Gourmet Experience +1】

Fang Cheng shook his head and set the empty, clean lunch box aside. If he told anyone that he could gain experience just by eating a boxed meal, no one would believe him.

After two days of exploration, combined with his own observations and some conjectures, Fang Cheng roughly understood the specific function of this skill. The so-called "Gourmet" skill likely improved food digestion speed and nutrient absorption rates by training the gastrointestinal functions. If it leveled up to Lv1, perhaps one meal would be equivalent to two. Even if the food was of poor quality, he could still extract the necessary nutrients for the body. It could truly be called a hardcore foodie skill.

Fang Cheng withdrew his thoughts and turned his gaze toward two other unopened chicken leg rice boxes.

The three secrets of fitness: exercise, rest, and diet. To get stronger, eating more could never go wrong. Since it could be displayed on the panel and increase experience points, he might as well keep grinding!

(End of Chapter)