“If you don’t carry the pole properly, it’s very easy to twist your spine, strain your lower back muscles, suffer a herniated disc, or even injure your knees and ankles. But if you master the technique, you can exercise many parts of your body—far more than with weighted squats, barbells, deadlifts, or bench presses. Plus, as you walk, you also develop balance. If you can carry a pole and walk as if you’re flying, what do you think will happen when you put the pole down and fight someone?” William Clark continued teaching the class: “Don’t think that just because you eat well, have good nutrition, and rest well, you’re better at farm work or carrying loads than the farmers of old. You’re far behind them.”

When they got to the countryside and delivered the grain and oil to the elderly, everyone was exhausted, including Scott Miller. Only James Carter, having fully mastered the rhythm of relaxation and tension, and the up-and-down jostling, was still holding up. Though he was also extremely tired and his shoulders were rubbed raw, he hadn’t reached the point of total exhaustion.

He seemed to have grasped the trick that William Clark had mentioned.

“Everyone, tidy up these vegetables and carry them back as well.”

William Clark and the group went to the countryside, distributing rice, salt, vinegar, tea, and other essentials to the elderly in need, and at the same time, collecting the vegetables they had grown—purchased on behalf of the school cafeteria.

The elderly were deeply grateful.

If they wanted to sell their vegetables, they’d have to carry them to town themselves. Now that the students came to collect them, it saved them a lot of trouble.

James Carter looked at the grateful, thankful faces of the elderly and felt very satisfied, thinking he had done a good deed, his heart warm.

On the way back, as everyone carried the heavy vegetables, suddenly a tall Black man couldn’t take it anymore.

He cursed and said in English, “What the hell are we learning here? I came to learn kung fu—Chinese kung fu—not to do farm work! You made us dig for seven days, and now you want us to carry poles for another seven days?”

This Black man was called Brian Reed, an American.

He was tall and powerfully built, like a tower—bigger even than Scott Miller in reach and size, looking like a giant. He had also come to learn Chinese kung fu, signing up for this martial arts class, but after nine days of training, he had completely lost his patience and finally exploded today.

Brian Reed cursed and walked up to William Clark, looking fierce: “Give me my money back. I quit.”

James Carter hurried over to intervene, but Scott Miller pulled him back.

All the students were watching. It seemed they all had complaints—after all, they came to learn kung fu, but were being forced to do farm work. Those who didn’t understand naturally felt angry.

Even James Carter himself had some doubts at first, but after meeting Richard Grant, all his suspicions were dispelled. He now believed that William Clark’s training was truly the highest level of kung fu—just a pity that ordinary people didn’t understand it.

“Fine. When we get back, go to the school’s finance office and they can refund you.” William Clark actually understood Brian Reed’s English, and when he spoke, it was fluent English with a British accent, different from American English, as if he were a native Brit.

Brian Reed seemed surprised, but still put on a fierce fighting stance: “You wasted ten days of my time. I want ten times compensation. I paid five thousand dollars in tuition, so you owe me fifty thousand dollars in compensation, and then I’ll forgive you. Or, I can just beat you up—that’s your punishment for deceiving me.”

Swish!

As Brian Reed kept bouncing and took up a boxing stance, William Clark moved.

He darted forward, seemingly aiming to strike Brian Reed in the groin from below. Brian Reed was startled and immediately retreated. But at that moment, William Clark lunged forward, his hands already at Brian Reed’s face and chest.

Thud!

The tower-like Brian Reed was knocked to the ground, rolling several times, then struggled for a while before slowly getting up, sitting on the ground in a daze.

Chapter 9: Time Flies, Rapid Progress and Great Achievement

Almost no one saw clearly how William Clark made his move.

All they saw was William Clark dart forward, appear in front of Brian Reed, tear through his defense, and push him away.

“Amazing, so that’s how this move is used.” James Carter was excited. He had already realized that what William Clark just used was the same move as digging and hoeing, and the footwork was the same as carrying the pole. With the strength gained from carrying the pole, the digging and hoeing move could have real penetrating power and send someone flying.

In fact, both moves were essentially the same thing.

Brian Reed was stunned by the blow. It took him five minutes to get up from the ground, all his previous fierceness gone, and he didn’t mention compensation again. He obediently started carrying the pole.

William Clark also acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to carry the pole back to school.

“Incredible, just incredible!” After returning to school and having dinner as usual, Scott Miller wolfed down his food while discussing with James Carter, but James Carter looked calm and composed, eating slowly and silently, fully immersed in enjoying his meal, which made Scott Miller lose interest.

After a long while, James Carter finished eating, sat massaging his stomach, swallowed, and only stood up to speak when he no longer felt full.

“Where did you learn this way of eating?” Scott Miller asked curiously.