Brian Young said irritably, "It's nothing." Then, shamelessly, he added, "This time I gave you the chance, and you didn't take it. Next time it won't be so cheap. I mean you! Show off some of your best moves too!"

Ethan Bennett finally understood—someone trained in martial arts really was different from ordinary people. He clenched his fists and said, "Can I?"

Brian Young was on full alert. "Go ahead!"

Ethan Bennett gathered his energy, focused his mind, and shouted, "Here it comes, Meteor Fist!"

Brian Young burst out laughing. "You don't have to shout it out, you read too many comics..."

Before he could finish, he was interrupted by a wave of pain. Just a moment ago, Ethan Bennett was still two meters away, but in the blink of an eye, he was right in front of him, his right fist firmly planted in Brian Young's abdomen. He felt a chill shoot through his stomach and out his back. Yet everything around them still seemed so calm.

Brian Young's eyes widened. He hadn't seen how the move was made or how his opponent rushed over; all he knew was that he was in a lot of pain.

Ethan Bennett straightened up, staring at his own fist in disbelief. "No way? Still nothing." He couldn't help but marvel again—someone trained in martial arts really was different. With a thud, Brian Young collapsed to the ground.

Ethan Bennett was shocked and hurried over to help him up. He saw Brian Young foaming at the mouth, barely able to breathe. "Damn you! We're classmates, did you have to hit so hard?"

Ethan Bennett panicked. "I'll take you to the hospital."

Brian Young waved him off. "No need for a hospital, I'll just regulate my breathing and energy for a bit." With that, he closed his eyes as if he had fallen asleep. Ethan Bennett was familiar with this scene; he sometimes looked the same way when practicing.

A moment later, Brian Young opened his eyes. Although he hadn't fully recovered his previous vigor, he was clearly much better.

With Ethan Bennett's help, he stood up, moved his arms and legs a bit, and looked at Ethan Bennett as if he were a national treasure.

"How long have you been practicing martial arts?" Brian Young asked.

"Thirteen years," Ethan Bennett answered truthfully, counting from the first day he started learning "Star Killing Technique."

"No wonder," Brian Young muttered. "You've practiced three years more than me. What I practice is called 'Flowing Shadow Kick.' What is it that you practice?"

Ethan Bennett hesitated for a moment, but still remembered his father's instructions. "Well, it's not convenient to say."

Brian Young seemed to understand the rules and didn't press further, but asked, "That move just now, was it called Meteor Fist?"

Ethan Bennett nodded. That was the move he used at age eleven to nearly beat someone half to death with a single punch. Now, seven years later, someone hit by it could stand up and chat with him in no time. Someone trained in martial arts really was different, Ethan Bennett couldn't help but marvel again.

Brian Young shook his head. "How could Meteor Fist be like that?"

Ethan Bennett was startled. Ever since he developed his internal energy, he had more and more questions about martial arts, but his father was no longer around to answer them. Take this "Meteor Fist" for example—its power had surged since he developed his energy, but he still felt something was off. Was it because he didn't know how to use his energy properly?

So Ethan Bennett, not ashamed to ask, sought advice from the seemingly knowledgeable Brian Young: "Then what should Meteor Fist be like?"

While supporting Ethan Bennett, Brian Young suddenly kicked out. "It should be like this!"

To an ordinary person, it looked like a single kick, but Ethan Bennett could see clearly that Brian Young had actually kicked four times in an instant. Brian Young continued explaining, "I'm injured right now, otherwise I could do seven or eight kicks. Meteor, you know, should be like this. Ever heard of 'Pegasus Meteor Fist'? Over eighty punches in a second—now that's a real meteor."

Ethan Bennett asked in confusion, "Isn't a meteor supposed to flash by in an instant? That many strikes would be more like a meteor shower!"

Brian Young was momentarily speechless. Suddenly, Ethan Bennett waved his hand and struck ten times in an instant, then asked Brian Young, "Is this what you mean?"

Brian Young nodded.

Ethan Bennett said, "But this move is different from the punch just now. That one was called Meteor Fist, this one is called Star Rain Fist."

Brian Young knew his own limits well enough, and seeing Ethan Bennett getting more and more serious, he quickly said, "Maybe it's just that we practice different styles, so the names are different too."

Ethan Bennett also noticed Brian Young's embarrassment and figured all that meteor talk was just him making things up, so he didn't bother anymore. He went to pick up his things and asked, "Can you walk?"

Brian Young scoffed, "Don't overestimate yourself, I'm fine." After a moment of regulating his breath, Brian Young had fully regained his usual arrogant swagger.

The two walked side by side. Brian Young was still limping a bit, but his mouth didn't stop: "If I'd known you were this strong, I wouldn't have challenged you. Not only did it crush my confidence, but I lost face too. What a disgrace."

Ethan Bennett smiled faintly. "Actually, now I'm full of confidence, all thanks to you."

Brian Young muttered, "I can tell you rarely spar with others."

Ethan Bennett grinned, "Honestly, this is my first time fighting someone like you. What a great debut!"

Brian Young's eyes widened even more, and he shook his head in disbelief. "Disaster, this is a real disaster. Why did I ever challenge a menace like you?"

Volume One, Chapter Eight: The First Day