Chapter 2, All beginnings are difficult

The style of this name is simply too amusing, Yan Zheke's online persona is very different from their real-life demeanor

Her voice is soft and delicate, yet it does not come across as introverted or shy, as if her throat were naturally like this

Yan Zheke's eyes sparkled with amusement: "Isn't it interesting?"

Can we still have a proper conversation

There have long been rumors within the school that a genius martial artist has joined this cohort, who, at the age of only eighteen, has already successfully attained the rank of Ninth Grade in his profession, having entered the realm of martial arts, surpassing the vast majority of disciples from various sects and students from different martial arts schools

Alright. Lou Cheng was overjoyed, almost unable to contain himself. While silently reciting the number, he took out his phone from the left pocket of his jeans, logged onto QQ, selected the search option, and nearly burst into laughter upon seeing it. "Is it 'Dantai Cuihua'?"

"Orange, in fact, we should not join the martial arts club; we should go to the crosstalk club. I can make you laugh, and we will definitely become popular!"

It is quite fun; should I change my QQ name to 'Zhuge Er Gou'? Lou Cheng felt that he was having a delightful conversation with Yan Zheke and almost wanted to continue chatting like this indefinitely, but suddenly a cough came from behind, and classmate Cai Zongming had already arrived beside them

As soon as he finished speaking, a sudden commotion erupted at the door

The statement made afterwards was merely a casual excuse; the true reason is to obtain the QQ number

Isn't that the joke about the prestigious compound surnames? Although Lou Cheng is unaware, the style is too obvious; one can roughly guess it just by speculation

The former refers to the currently popular "Professional Martial Arts Competition," which is divided into four tiers, with the highest tier being dominated by the twelve major forces in the domestic martial arts scene. For them, the greatest humiliation is to rank last in the competitions among themselves, resulting in a demotion to a lower tier, which can be considered a profound disgrace.

"Not bad, I thought you would stutter when you spoke, but you actually have potential." Cai Zongming took a few steps and entered the door, the noisy voices rushed towards him, and he was not afraid of being overheard, nor did he lower his voice.

Lou Cheng turned around and, pretending to be decisive, walked over to Cai Zongming's side, his face unable to conceal his joy

Within the entire university circle, there is not just one individual who has entered the school with a professional rank of nine, but they are all concentrated in traditional martial arts strongholds. This is the first occurrence at Songcheng University.

Luo Cheng's heart raced like a drum, his face beaming with a smile, still catching his breath: "I am from Class 4, and I have always been in the row next to you during the broadcast exercises between classes, um, a few seats behind you, hehe, I didn't expect you to also get into Songda."

The softly smiling Yan Zheke became increasingly beautiful and captivating, making it difficult for him to look away

I can't believe it, I really spoke without thinking. Fortunately, Yan Zheke came to Songda not because of a mistake in the college entrance examination. Lou Cheng was startled and felt a bit of lingering fear. He almost said, "Not only is she beautiful, but she also studies well and has a good personality," but he held back, thinking that praising her like this during their first conversation would seem too frivolous.

Do you have a QQ number? Lou Cheng couldn't help but curl the corners of his mouth up

Currently, there are five national-level personal arena competitions, also known as "title" battles, because once one secures first place in the arena competition, they can obtain the corresponding title, which is recognized as one of the strongest in the nation. For example, after winning the championship in the "Martial Saint Battle," one can hold the title of "Martial Saint" for the following year. Hence, there is a saying that above the first rank, there are "titles"

Yan Zheke's eyes curved up, carrying a distinct smile as she said: "Yes, don't you think this name is very down-to-earth?"

Of course! Casanova, what should we do next

Amidst the clamor, the crowd surged towards the door

It was said to be far away, but in fact, it was not that far. After running for a short while, I arrived in front of the martial arts venue, climbed the nine steps, my heart pounding and my cheeks flushed. I could not tell whether it was due to running such a distance or the impending approach to strike up a conversation.

Are you from Xiushan No. 1 High School?

The central area of the martial arts arena is divided into two halves. One half is arranged as a ring, the size of a basketball court, with tiered seating in layers at the front and back. The other half connects directly to the ring, measuring approximately four to five basketball courts in size, surrounded by various equipment, clearly a place for martial arts practice. Today, it is being used for a welcome event, bustling with people, far more crowded than one could imagine.

Alright, Yan Zheke replied cheerfully

He had already rehearsed various developments in his mind, and at this moment, while gasping for breath, he silently clenched his fist, encouraging himself inwardly

Such a genius martial artist actually rejected the invitations and training from sects, martial arts associations, and martial arts clubs, choosing instead to enter university

If I had made a mistake in the college entrance examination and only managed to get into Matsumoto University by a margin of more than ten points, your words would have deeply offended me

"Cheng Tao, you always borrow my homework to copy. I am Lou Cheng, and you probably haven't heard of me, just an unknown nobody." Lou Cheng made a humorous remark on purpose, then, driven by instinct, chuckled and said, "But I know your name, Yan Zheke. You are quite famous in our grade and school, well, you excel in your studies and have a great personality. Everyone thought you would get into a prestigious university in the capital or Huahai, but you ended up in Songcheng."

The compound surnames such as Murong, Huangfu, Shangguan, Zhuge, and Dantai are quite unique and give an impression of grandeur. When paired with a good name, they are often used for either the main character or a significant supporting character in romance novels and television dramas. However, if they are matched with a rural-sounding name, it becomes laughable. Even names that are not rural but have a somewhat outdated feel can have the same effect, such as Murong Jianjun, Huangfu Sufen, Shangguan Weiguo, and so on.

Such competitions generate substantial commercial revenue, allowing various factions and martial arts experts to reap significant rewards, providing not only honor but also immense wealth, along with the adoration of fans. The impact is equally profound, extending even to universities, which cannot escape its influence. The emergence of events like the "National University Martial Arts Championship" has led to the flourishing of martial arts societies in various schools.

No wonder the love guru advised me not to talk too much, truly deserving of the title of love guru

Indeed, martial arts competitions are the most popular events worldwide, and martial arts masters are the most beloved figures globally. Consequently, martial arts clubs at various universities are also the largest organizations. Cai Zongming straightened his back, showcasing the demeanor of a hidden expert, and finally asked casually, "Do you have a QQ number?"

Cai Zongming's expression suddenly stiffened, and then he said irritably

"Goodbye." Yan Zheke waved her hand, drawing the attention of others.

What else can be done? Start a conversation to bridge the distance between each other, understand each other's preferences, and then find an opportunity to meet up. You are classmates, so finding topics to discuss shouldn't be difficult. Cai Zongming glanced at Lou Cheng with disdain and joked, "If you don't know how, give me your QQ number, and I'll help you chat!"

He casually explained, "There are pen pals and online friends, who can become close quickly and also grow distant just as fast. If something comes up and we lose contact for a while, we drift apart. Some have transferred schools, and there's nothing I can do about that. Others simply don't get along due to incompatible personalities. Isn't there a song that goes, 'Falling in love is always easy, but getting along is too hard'? In any case, I am not a fickle person; I have settled down and am nurturing my character now. If you happen to meet my girlfriend in the future, please refrain from calling me fickle or a love saint or anything like that. Speaking of which, can't you come up with a nicer nickname? 'Love saint' sounds so unpleasant; please stop using it."

Receiving such compliments in person and so naturally, Yan Zheke pursed her lips and turned her head to the side, her dimples deepening even more

Luo Cheng and Cai Zongming exchanged a glance, filled with excitement, agitation, and curiosity, and pushed their way through the crowd.

Lou Cheng took a deep breath and then spoke, seemingly casually: "By the way, what is your QQ number? It seems that there are a few classmates from our grade who also got into Songcheng. Perhaps we might have a chance to get together."

Lou Cheng had been "suppressed" for quite a while today. At this moment, his thoughts raced, and he glanced at him, curling his lip and saying, "How old are you?"

Yan Zheke was taken aback; although it was clear that she did not know Lou Cheng, she seemed to have let down her guard to some extent, and two shallow dimples appeared on her cheeks: "I hadn't heard of anyone else taking the entrance exam for Song University before, I thought I was the only one."

Cai Zongming was taken aback, sighed, and said: "Let's still call him the Saint of Love"

Of course, I am someone who has had many girlfriends before" Cai Zongming said with a proud smile

"Get lost!" The building was succinctly described, and then there was a remark, "The guidance from experienced individuals is indeed different"

And this genius martial artist is Lin Que

Recalling Cai Zongming's admonition, Lou Cheng quickly said: "If a celebrity like you were to make a mistake in the college entrance examination, it would surely spread throughout our grade. Uh, there are more and more people, I will go in first so as not to disturb your work"

Lin Que has arrived

She paused and then said: "You don't know that meme?"

Yan Zheke did not hesitate, and with a faint smile, pointed to the red string around her neck: "It is inconvenient for me to use my phone while wearing this outfit. Please note down my QQ number first, and I will add you later. Remember to label it as Class 1, Building 4, Lou Cheng. I do not add unfamiliar numbers. My QQ number is XXXXXX"

After a few seconds of inner contemplation, Lou Cheng slowed his pace, his gaze subtly making contact with Yan Zheke, who appeared graceful and dignified in her red and white Hanfu. It seemed as if all the trivial people he had passed before had faded away. Just as he was about to brush past her, he suddenly halted, his voice filled with surprise as he said

Lou Cheng restrained his impulse and waved to Yan Zheke, saying: "My friend has arrived, I will go in first, goodbye"

After saying this, he held his breath, and it seemed as if his heartbeat had come to a standstill

Yan Zheke was momentarily taken aback, as if she had not heard clearly at first, but soon regained her composure, her two delicate and smooth black eyebrows relaxing as she said: "Yes, who are you?"

Lin Que

Yan Zheke maintained a smile, showing no hint of reluctance, as if genuinely feeling happy: "What is your name? Perhaps I have heard of you. Cheng Tao and the others from Class 4 often come to our class."

There is no first in literature, and no second in martial arts. After years of peace, competitions among martial artists have become increasingly frequent, and their extraordinary abilities that surpass human limits have stirred the adrenaline of the audience, igniting their passion and making them imagine themselves as heroes, as powerful as these warriors. They no longer fear the petty or worry about their own weaknesses. As this situation evolved, it eventually led to the involvement of the media and the entertainment industry, resulting in formal martial arts competitions.

Eighteen? What’s wrong? Can’t I have had many girlfriends? I had my first love in the third grade! Cai Zongming had a look on his face as if to say, how dare you question my strengths.

Cai Zongming laughed in extreme anger

"Yes, Xiaoming." Lou Cheng managed to turn the tide, and his mood brightened.

Lou Cheng thought of Cai Zongming's teachings, suppressing the impulse to scratch the back of his head, and self-deprecatingly said: "I am relatively low-key and not very familiar with the students from other classes"

It is uncertain whether it is a case of one thing restraining another, but Xiao Ming places considerable importance on his current long-distance girlfriend, much like his feelings for Yan Zheke

This martial arts competition is divided into two types: one is derived from the original rivalry between sects, involving various sects, martial arts associations, and martial arts clubs participating in a collective format to determine the strongest force and the most powerful legacy; the other is a contest of individuals vying for the title of number one

What is there to be afraid of? If you are a man, do not be timid

"Alright, Xiaoming," Lou Cheng replied with a smile.

Isn't this just putting on a brave face?" Lou Cheng said with a beaming smile, "There are indeed quite a few people from the Martial Arts Society.

No, what I mean is, you have had so many girlfriends and have experienced breakups, um, the problem must be with you..." Lou Cheng said while deliberately looking up and down at the other person, his expression revealing a sense of "realization".