This is some fucking bullshit, the guy just kicked me out after he said “While you are respectful, unfortunately I do not train men.” What the fuck, that shit can happen? Do you have a complaints department, because that is total bullshit.

[Give me a moment to check something.]

Zhi just sits there for a while fuming over what just happened. Time passes as he slowly calms down, then he hears Buddha say. [Well that was interesting. Congratulations, you are being refunded a new book.]

Really? You aren’t normally that nice. What happened?

[It was found he made an unauthorized deal, to only train females. He was also harassing the female system hosts when training them. His contract is now canceled.]

The female hosts didn’t complain about his actions? No other males complained about him?

[There were complaints about his behavior, but we don’t normally look into them because most master trainers tend to be a little eccentric. Also you were the first male host to visit him. Like I said he was working under an unauthorized contract.]

Alright so you said another book? Third time’s the charm I guess.

Another book appears in his hand, it’s actually slightly different then the other two books. It has a slight golden hue around it, almost shining. Surprised, Zhi inspects the book.

---------------------------------------

System Special “Limited Edition” “Learning to use Qi for dummies”

This is a one time use “Limited Edition” consumable item.

This book will transport your mind to another place to train under the perfect master for you.

Use your time wisely and be respectful, otherwise you might learn nothing.

System comment,

“Limited Edition Foil Book, more rare than your first edition pocket monster cards!”

---------------------------------------

This book seems a lot better than the other two.

[You were gifted the book by the system for your trouble and luck in finding an issue with our services.You didn’t really help, you just lucked into that. It most likely won’t happen again.]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, but at least I know I am lucky.

Zhi exhales and opens the glowing book to the first page. Looking at the first page, it is a lot different than the last two times. The drawings are a lot more detailed and almost feel alive, he begins to go through the book. The edge of his vision blurs slightly again and as he gets further into the book, it is almost like he is watching a movie in slow motion. Till on the last page, where the last drawing explodes out of the book at him and his vision blacks out as he flinches backwards.

Opening his eyes he sees someone standing in front of him, before even taking in details of the person or his surroundings, Zhi immediately does a full 90 degree bow while saying, “This Ming Zhi greets you master, and humbly begs for your wisdom.” Afterwards he just holds the bow and does not say anything. As Zhi is looking down at the floor he can see that the floor is made from unadorned light brown wood. He didn’t hold his bow long before he heard a chuckle, before a soft spoken voice said, “You may stand young Zhi, I will guide you in learning the use of Qi.”

Standing back up, Zhi took in the room quickly before focusing on his instructor. The room itself was really plain, just a wood floor. With an elevated wood deck around the whole area and simple wood paneled walls going to a vaulted wood ceiling. The man standing in front of Zhi, was short with a sleek build. He was wearing black pants and no shirt, which showed off a body with almost no body fat on it. Zhi said nothing for a minute as he stared at the man in shock. He had seen the man before, many times when he was young and throughout his life. He looked slightly older, his short hair almost all grey or white with just a sprinkle of black left in it. Zhi couldn’t stop himself from saying, “Bruce Lee?”

The man smiled at Zhi and replied, “In a former life. Now I am here to train you, so let's get to work.” As he said that he pinched the fabric on his pants and pulled them up just a bit as he bent his knees, lowering his whole body down slightly. His left leg moved forward slightly and his arms moved up. His left hand extended forward and he flipped his hand over palm facing up and then gave Zhi a come here motion. Zhi was a little stunned, but settled into a stance he hadn’t used since basic training in the army which at this point felt like three lifetimes ago.

He started to move forward, but before he could react a right foot was flying towards his face. Moving his left arm up he tried to deflect the blow. Unfortunately the speed was too great and his fist ended up hitting him in the face followed quickly by the foot. Zhi’s world spun as he landed on the floor with a hard thud. He laid there to let his head stop ringing. But after a moment he heard, “Are you dead?”

“No.”

“Then get up, you have no reason to be on the floor.”

Zhi shook his head to clear it and started to get back up. As soon as he was back on his feet, he felt more than saw a fist coming towards his face. He leaned back and the fist barely missed his face, when something slammed into the side of his knee. He could swear he heard a pop as he dropped to the floor screaming in pain. He reached out grabbing his left knee, his leg was twisted to the right at a weird angle. He looked up at the man who was smiling down at him and said, “What the fuck?!”

“This is training, now get up.”

“How can I get up? Look at my leg!” Zhi looks down at the knee he is holding, his leg is perfectly fine now. He also realizes that the pain was only there for a moment really, then was only a dull pain afterwards. Testing his leg he slowly bends it up and down a few times.

“If you are done, stand up and take a stance or this will take years.”

Zhi grits his teeth but stands back up and takes his stance. It’s not long before, before he is back on the ground again. Standing back up he begins to take his stance and is defending a palm strike before he is even finished. The next jab isn’t stopped in time and it hits his throat, as he leans forward from the attack a knee comes flying up and hits him in the face. His nose is broken and he flips backwards onto the ground. The pain is only bad when first hit, but after it’s only a dull ache. Like a day old bruise that is still tender to the touch.

Zhi sit’s up and glares at the man and says, “How is this training going to help me learn to use Qi?”

“Get up and find out.” The man smirks at him and flips his palm upwards and makes a come here motion again. Zhi jumps to his feet and just charges the man, trying to tackle him. The man gently brushes Zhi aside and as he passes him, he brings an ax kick down on the middle of Zhi’s back. Zhi slams into the ground hard as all the air is let out of his lungs and he slides forward on the floor from his charge.

“You will never learn anything if you don’t try. Take your stance, do not rush at me like some wild boar.”

Zhi slowly gets up and takes his stance again as he glares at the man. The man moves forward again to attack and his jab is blocked as well as his follow up. Zhi finally goes to throw a right punch of his own and ends up in a grab before his elbow is snapped the wrong way. As his arm hangs limply for a moment and he screams in pain. An elbow slams into the side of his face and he smashes into the ground again. He puts his right hand on the ground and forces himself back up. Once he is standing another attack is already coming and he just barely catches the right leg, holding it close to his body. Thinking he might be able to do something, he goes to punch the side of the man's right knee.

But it seems like the world goes into slow motion and the man forcefully turns his right leg inwards towards him. His whole body twisting with the motion and then Zhi watches in fascination as he uses the whole motion of movement to jump and spin his left leg backwards. Before Zhi can react, the back of his left foot connects with his temple and he releases the man's leg. As he drops to the floor like a sack of potatoes, then man finishes his rotation and lands back in a fighting stance. He smirks down at Zhi and says, “Get up, you still have much to learn.”

Zhi grinds his teeth. But stands back up taking his stance at the same time that he does it. The man nods and says, “Better, you are learning.” Before almost jumping forward and kicking Zhi in the chest, sending him flying backwards a few yards. Zhi just gets back up into his stance and slowly moves back to the man.

Carefully watching for any sign of movement, a muscle twitch on the man's left arm causes Zhi to try and block a strike from there. But instead he receives a low kick to the calf instead as the man says, “You can’t react to an attack before it happens. At least not with your mediocre skill.” Zhi goes to retort but is struck in the chest with a finger tip jab. But right after the fingers collapse into a fist and strike his chest, sending him flying back a few yards to land on the floor again.

As Zhi stands back up taking his stance, he hears the man say, “You must empty your mind, be formless, shapeless, like water.” Zhi actually smiles at the man’s words and relaxes his stance as he moves forward. It isn’t long before he is getting back up from the floor. But he still has a slight smile on his face. It is a repeating cycle, getting up, meeting the floor with different parts of his body. Zhi can’t even remember how many times he has been beaten into the ground or how much time has passed. But he has noticed over time that his stance and reaction time is improving. He is spending more time standing now, blocking, dodging and deflecting the blows. He hasn’t been able to really attack, but it doesn’t matter as long as he isn’t dropping to the floor.

More time passes and he is no longer sent to the floor, he is even returning blows. Nothing is landing of course, but he is at least trying to trade blows when he sees an opening. He strikes out with a right jab, then the blow is deflected and the man's own attack comes in but is blocked by Zhi. Who uses a chance to do a low kick to his left leg. The man uses his left leg to attack Zhi back, causing him to miss and also have to dodge the incoming kick. Afterwards the man pulls back to disengage for Zhi and says, “Tell me, how do you feel?”

“Sore, and tender all over like my whole body is a giant bruise.”

“Good, now sit in the lotus position and focus on your dantian. Focus on your Qi and cycle it through your body. Then take a small piece of Qi to a sore area and focus on infusing it into the area.”

Zhi sits down, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. He slowly exhales and then begins to focus on his dantian and the Qi within.