IWYTBW - Chapter 10
Chapter 10
Even the Protagonist of Erotic Fiction Should Have a Life to Strive For
[Player, wake up. You’ve rested enough.］
The cold electronic sound echoed in his ears. Yi Zhen felt sore all over, was drenched in sweat, and was collapsed to the ground like a dead dog.
“Give me... just a little more time...” He panted heavily, his tongue hanging out. “I’ve just finished running seven kilometers! Don’t push me too hard!”
Tai’a said, [You’ve also rested for seven minutes. I think it’s enough for now. What do you think?]
Yi Zhen hesitated for a moment before speaking, “I...”
Tai’a: [Forget it, your opinion doesn’t matter. Get up quickly, otherwise the system will truly deduct your rewards.]
After successfully purifying his marrow, Yi Zhen could be considered as officially entering the ranks of the martial arts practitioners. Unlike the cultivation system, the martial arts system does not have clear and distinct levels. At most, there are three levels of masters: third-rate masters, second-rate masters, and first-rate masters, and then there are those who transcend even the first-rate, the super-first-rate masters. Everything depends on intuition, it’s quite subjective, embodying a very idealistic philosophy.
However, according to the evaluation standards, even the worst third-rate expert could travel dozens of li (500 meters, .3 miles) in a day, possesses a set of well-developed martial arts skills, and can carry weights of over a hundred jin (.5 kilogram, 1.1 pounds) on their shoulders and arms. Therefore, even though Yi Zhen has learned superior techniques and undergone marrow-cleansing baths, he still cannot be included in this category. Currently, he remains at the cannon fodder level.
One week ago, on a fateful evening, Yi Zhen received a generous reward from the system which filled him with joy. Unable to contain his excitement, he immersed himself in studying the various herbs and dangerous creatures such as the Peach Blossom Miasma and the Cold Pool Viper, going over them repeatedly until late at night. However, his happiness was short-lived. After two days of rest, the system unexpectedly presented him with a meticulously detailed training schedule, down to the minute, and it was to be strictly supervised by Tai’a, the system’s overseer.
The contents on the list were truly extensive, ranging from daily long-distance loaded runs exceeding ten kilometers, to loaded rock climbing, loaded combat training, and loaded pull-ups. In short, everything had to be done while carrying a heavy load. Every day, Yi Zhen carried a weight of 15 kilograms on his back, crawling and rolling in the mud, feeling as if his entire life was being dragged down infinitely by those 15 kilograms (33 lbs).
In addition to these, Yi Zhen also needed to learn precision sniping, wilderness survival, archery, mechanical contraption building, hidden weapon throwing, the art of disguises, and even blacksmithing and carving. Of course, that wasn’t all. His body had endured torture, and now it was time for his mind: in the first month, he needed to learn how to use his enhanced mental intuition to dodge stray bullets and cold arrows in a simulated battlefield environment.
Yi Zhen had been enduring for seven days, and he was on the verge of collapsing.
“Even the rigorous training at Azoth University probably couldn’t compare to this exhaustion,” Yi Zhen stated, propping himself up with trembling arms. The 《 Jade Alchemy of the Eastern Sea 》 Technique surged wildly within him, sweeping over his sore and aching muscles repeatedly.
[You’re comparing our training program to the Central Star’s First Military Academy, and I think that’s commendable,] Tai’a said. [But in reality, we still have a long way to go, you new recruit.]
In truth, Yi Zhen was well aware that by the year 3680, people piloted mechs, traversed the cosmos, and armed themselves with tangible psychic powers. A single antimatter railgun shot could reduce an asteroid with a radius of three hundred kilometers to a cloud of hydrogen gas. The martial arts system of old, in comparison, seemed ancient, cumbersome, and out of place in such a setting.
He had to start from scratch, learning from the very basics, in order to assimilate two completely different worldviews in his mind and apply them seamlessly.
Tai’a calmly said, [You have received generous rewards, naturally you must also undertake rigorous training in preparation. After all, as the renowned human literary figure Lu Xun[e/n: Lu Xun was a pioneering Chinese writer and intellectual whose works, characterized by critical social commentary and modern vernacular, played a crucial role in shaping modern Chinese literature and addressing the societal issues of early 20th-century China. ] once said, ‘After a feast[e/n: “盛宴过后，泪流满面” >(After the feast, tears flow) With great rewards come significant hardships and emotional costs, a theme commonly found in Lu Xun’s writings about the human condition and societal struggles, BUT, probably not an actual quote hehe], tears flow down one’s face.’ I believe...]
“What bullshit[e/n: Chinese expression (见鬼了, jiàn guǐ le) used to convey surprise, disbelief, or frustration, similar to saying “I’ve seen a ghost” in English.]; Lu Xun never said anything so offbeat, okay!?” Yi Zhen grumbled as he got up, continuing to drag his numb and weak legs forward. The training room of this high-tech era was truly extraordinary, perfectly simulating the sensation of tripping and falling into a muddy pit, as if one’s face was genuinely smeared with sludge.
[Is that so?] Tai’a replied nonchalantly, [ I don’t think I can be blamed for that. It has been too long, and many truths and documents have been lost in the depths of the current of civilization. Now, let’s run.]
The true challenge of endurance running lies in the coordination of footwork and internal energy. If one is a top-notch master, they can effortlessly cover a distance of over a hundred meters in the blink of an eye, relying solely on their luck and agility. However, Yi Zhen was just a novice who had recently started his training. He had no knowledge of lightness skills and could only try his best to circulate his internal energy within the muscles of his legs and the joints of his ankles and toes, attempting to mimic the concept of lightness skills.
Speaking of which, it was largely thanks to the《 Jade Alchemy of the Eastern Sea》Technique that he was even able to contemplate such matters. If he truly found himself in the martial arts world of thousands of years ago, just the storage of inner energy would pose a significant challenge. Tai’a had once calculated for him that for an ordinary disciple specializing in internal martial arts, there were mainly two possibilities: either the disciple had poor aptitude and could not even channel Qi into their body, or they dared not act recklessly. Even if they managed to cultivate some inner strength, they couldn’t expect to achieve instant success. After all, humans are creatures with a keen sense of perception. A slight misstep could cause the painstakingly accumulated Qi to dissipate completely.
Because of this, Yi Zhen dared to challenge a ten-kilometer endurance run right from the start. With the support of his auto-recovering inner strength, he was able to run like the wind for the first third of the distance, taking three steps in one stride. It was only when he reached the last two-thirds of the distance that the pressure from the weight and the prolonged mechanical movement of his muscles truly began to test his physical and mental endurance.
The road beneath his feet was muddy and unbearable. Above, a heavy rain poured down, hitting his skin and causing a stinging sensation. Yi Zhen’s arm, burdened with the weight of a sandbag, trembled with soreness. His legs shook as he struggled to walk through the puddles, one foot sinking deep, the other barely keeping him balanced.
By this point, the aid provided by internal energy was minimal; if one’s physical stamina couldn’t keep up, it simply couldn’t. Virtually every martial arts master boasted extraordinary strength and a robust physique. Yi Zhen, lacking the arms to lift a thousand jin and the legs to travel a thousand li in a day, was inevitably going to suffer quite a bit.
[Only one-fifth of the journey remains,] Tai’a stated. [After completing the weighted long-distance run, the next events will be basic archery and the course on distinguishing poisonous substances. Please, Player, prepare yourself accordingly.]
Yi Zhen stammered, “I... I can’t believe it...”
The long-distance run had come to an end, but the sandbag in his hand couldn’t be put down just yet. It had to remain strapped to his forearm. Yi Zhen could only take a brief rest for half an hour, replenish his fluids, and wait for the scene in the training room to change.
Under the control of Tai’a, the mud gradually dissipated, revealing a smooth floor. The drainage system synchronized and simulated the infiltration of accumulated water from a torrential rain. Soon, a spacious archery training ground appeared before Yi Zhen.
[If you could make use of Rong Hongxue’s private training ground, your progress would accelerate by at least 30%,] Tai’a stated.
“No way,” Yi Zhen sneered as he peeled off his soaked shirt and wiped the mud and sweat off his face and body. He changed into his training uniform and muttered to himself, “His people won’t let me in, and even if I could go in, I don’t want anything to do with him.”
Tai’a pondered, [Compared to what has already transpired between you, the multiple instances of DNA blending that have occurred, utilizing the training room is simply...]
Yi Zhen said, “...Your opinion doesn’t matter, okay! Just start already, I’ve rested enough.”
Tai’a said, [Very well. Now, hold the bow.]
Yi Zhen’s expression was cold and serious as he tightly fastened the quiver of arrows around his waist, lifting up a recurve bow. In order to accommodate beginners, he was currently using a basic 20-pound bow.
[Raise the bow.]
Yi Zhen lifted his recurve bow, his back muscles stretching as he simultaneously sought the accurate center of gravity, preparing to fully draw the bow.
[Pull back the bowstring, release the arrow at the right time.]
Yi Zhen swiftly drew an arrow from his quiver and placed the arrow shaft on the right side of the bow. He pulled back the bowstring, positioning it lightly against the corner of his chin. His pupils, the edge of the bowstring, and the target formed an invisible straight line. This action lasted for 60 seconds before Tai’a spoke up:
[Release the arrow.]
The arrow flew like a shooting star, abruptly embedding itself in the target seventy meters away. The snow-white fletching still trembled slightly.
[7th ring, change target. ]
Yi Zhen breathed a sigh of relief. The first time he attempted archery, he couldn’t even hit the target. Now, being able to hit the 7th ring marked a progress as swift as an arrow in flight.
By the time he had completed the entire process thirty times—raising the bow, drawing it, anchoring, aiming, and releasing—Yi Zhen’s arms began to tremble once again. He paused, circulating his internal energy, and took a short rest.
Archery required minimal physical movement, mainly involving the arms and back muscles. The 《 Jade Alchemy of the Eastern Sea 》 Technique continuously circulated within Yi Zhen, blending his presence seamlessly with the spacious training room. His breathing was almost imperceptible, his expression neither sad nor happy, while his skin emitted a luster as hard as jade.
Tai’a silently calculated, finding that at this moment, Yi Zhen’s body temperature had also dropped to the room’s average of 27.6°C.
After completing the one hundred and twentieth round of static shooting practice, Tai’a said, [Get ready for moving target shooting practice.]
Yi Zhen replaced his quiver and gave a slight nod.
[Countdown—]
[—Three, two, one, begin.]
Suddenly, the targets before him multiplied, erratically moving around at a distance of seventy meters. Yi Zhen rapidly drew and then let loose another arrow. From fifty paces away, his enhanced senses enveloped the surroundings. The tiny dust particles dancing in the air, the shafts of arrows piercing the sky with their fletchings swaying back and forth, and even the targets wandering aimlessly in the distance, were all vividly detailed in his vision.
Time seemed to stretch and expand, doubling in length with each moment. One arrow, then five, followed by ten, then twenty, until all twenty-two arrows contained within the quiver were expended. It was only then that Yi Zhen slowly lowered his bow.
Although the strength in his hands was nearly depleted, the urgency of defeating the moving target made him forget his fatigue. With single-minded focus, he completed the practice session.
[Hits: 16; Misses: 7; Within the 5th ring: 7 arrows; Beyond the 5th ring: 9 arrows.] Tai’a summarized, [For a beginner, the progress is swift.]
Yi Zhen said, “Thank you.”
Tai’a remarked, [I think I need to remind you once again: the initial velocity of an arrow is inversely proportional to the arrow’s mass. The force exerted on the arrow by the bowstring, and the duration of this force’s action, are directly proportional to each other. For the arrow’s shooting speed to be the most stable, aside from the effects of objective conditions like wind direction and gravity, the archer themselves must ensure that the force and the duration of the bowstring’s action remain consistent. Do you understand?]
Yi Zhen said, “It means that every time I draw the bow, the distance and angle must be the same. Understood, thank you.”
Tai’a : [Hmm, very well. After two more rounds of moving target shooting practice, we can proceed to the next item on the agenda.]
Yi Zhen breathed a sigh of relief.
After finishing the archery training, they finally arrived at one of Yi Zhen’s most relaxing and favorite classes: distinguishing the properties of poisons.
Primarily, this course was conducted while seated, and he even possessed the heaven-defying ability to extract ‘concepts’. There was no need for him to take any antidotes. If he accidentally got poisoned, as long as it wasn’t the kind of fierce poison that could dissolve the human body or seal the throat upon contact with blood, he could simply extract it in one motion, which was even faster than taking an antidote.
At that moment, a palm-sized crystal vial sat upon his desk, filled to the brim with swirling mist that shifted continuously. The mist refracted a multitude of delicate and lavish rosy hues, akin to the luxuriant peach blossoms swaying in the spring breeze.
“Peach Blossom Miasma, a moderate, slow-acting poison of a warm and heated nature, emits a sweet fragrance. When its visibility in the air drops below three hundred meters, it can cause those who inhale it to become delirious and experience hallucinations. If one cannot expel the poison using their internal energy and fails to consume the antidote, remaining within the miasma’s embrace, death will follow three days later as blood flows from all seven bodily openings[e/n: In traditional Chinese medicine and folklore, the term “seven bodily orifices” refers to the seven natural openings in the human head. These are: Two eyes Two ears Two nostrils Mouth (you may be wondering about the other ones... sometimes its called the 9... point is, blood everywhere alright >>] amidst frantic hallucinations.”
Yi Zhen, immersed in silent recitation of this information, continued his work from the past six days – the extraction of concepts.
The 《 Book of Poisons 》 classifies the toxicity of poisons into five levels: mild, low, medium, high, and extremely toxic, with the extremely toxic poisons having their own separate ranking. The Cold Lake Viper, rewarded by the system earlier, was famously ranked eighty-fifth on that list. After rigorously studying anatomy and practicing several times with a simulated snake, Yi Zhen finally succeeded in safely extracting the poison gland, and also removed the snake’s gallbladder along the way.
The Cold Lake Viper was notoriously difficult to provoke. According to records in the 《 Book of Poisons 》, anyone bitten by it would suffer a catastrophic fate: within the span of three breaths, their heart and lungs would rupture, leading to death. At the moment of death, their lips would turn a bluish-purple, and their skin would darken, as if they had been frozen in the dead of winter.
Yi Zhen pondered for a long time, struggling to find a suitable container. In the end, left with no choice, he dug out the jade box pendant his late husband had gifted him. Fortunately, its seal was intact, allowing it to perfectly encapsulate the icy, translucent blue-black ‘concept’ crystal[e/n: Can the conceptual poison be condensed into a crystal? If not and this was written in error, I’ll come back and tweak].
Disregarding whether he could hit his target or not, possessing the conceptual entity of snake venom bolstered Yi Zhen’s confidence, even when facing Rong Hongxue. This was truly what Yi sincerely believed.
He removed the stopper from the bottle, and immediately, a cloud-like miasma diffused into the air. His mental energy extended like tentacles, piercing precisely into the center of the mist, pulling out a thread of crimson. This was the conceptual entity known as “Miasmic Poison.” Deprived of its essence, the surrounding peach blossom miasma instantly turned pale and withered, disintegrating into nothingness.
Practice makes perfect, and the use of mental power was no exception. At this moment, Yi Zhen had mastered the simultaneous control of four tendrils, much like a cat’s claws teasing a ball of yarn. In no time at all, the bottle of splendidly toxic miasma had vanished into the air, leaving behind only a ‘concept’ of deeper crimson lines, which obediently flowed into the empty crystal bottle.
By this point, the morning’s lessons had all come to an end.
Yi Zhen stretched lazily and asked Tai’a listlessly, “Why haven’t you commented on my class today?”
[You should know why...] Tai’a said, [You’ve scored an A+ in this class. Even an AI with infinite knowledge couldn’t teach you anything further, or better.]
Yi Zhen laughed out loud.
“Thank you for the compliment. Now, I should go take a bath... and then have a meal.”
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qq remarks3k words and it's a damn training montage...
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