“This is an ancient health regimen I learned online. Do you want to learn it with me? It’s said to help fully digest food and boost physical strength.” James Carter strictly followed Richard Grant’s warning not to talk about his affairs.

“Is it really that amazing? But it’s too much trouble. My digestion is good, I don’t need all that.” Scott Miller wasn’t interested and shook his head. “Come on, let’s take a break, then do our usual sandbag training.”

Scott Miller treated James Carter like a moving sandbag every day, and found it more and more enjoyable—especially since lately he could clearly feel that James Carter’s speed and strength had improved, making this moving sandbag even more valuable.

Back in the dorm, James Carter wrote in his diary as usual.

“July 9th. I learned so much today. Besides a set of joint exercises for warm-up, Coach Richard Grant gave me horizontal training, helping me control the relaxation and tension of all my muscles and skin at any time. Then William Clark taught us how to carry a shoulder pole—this move can actually be used in real combat. That tall Brian Reed couldn’t fight back at all. It seems Chinese kung fu really exists and isn’t just hype. After all, with thousands of years of war and self-defense techniques passed down among the people, it can’t all be fake. The eating and sleeping method Coach Richard Grant taught me—I must follow it strictly, without the slightest slack. As the saying goes, true skill is shown in the details. James Carter, you will definitely become a master! Believe in yourself!”

At night, he trained with Scott Miller as usual. During sparring, he looked for a chance to use the “Hoe Head” move, but found he couldn’t use it at all. After several tries, it was actually Scott Miller who seized the opportunity and landed quite a few punches. Fortunately, he was still wearing three layers of protective gear, so there was no real problem.

“This move definitely has real combat value, just like a sweep kick, straight punch, or hook. The pity is that you have to seize the right moment, explode with precision, and increase your speed—all things I still lack. After all, it’s only my ninth day practicing martial arts. To have made this much progress is already a miracle.”

After training, James Carter still insisted on recording his insights in his diary before going to bed, satisfied. He continued to use the “corpse spread” sleeping method and quickly entered a state of deep tranquility.

“William Clark is a good coach.”

On July 10th, James Carter got up at three in the morning as usual and went to Coach Richard Grant’s small courtyard outside the school. While doing joint exercises similar to Tai Chi, he reported yesterday’s training with William Clark to Richard Grant.

Richard Grant listened and nodded continuously.

“Rising like lifting a shoulder pole—this is the most important starting point in Chinese kung fu. Carrying a pole isn’t easy. It takes not only strength, but also full-body coordination. On flat ground it’s fine, but on rugged mountain paths or muddy ground, that’s where the skill really shows. If you apply this technique in combat, it’s truly terrifying. In traditional martial arts, this is called ‘integrated force’; in modern combat, it’s called full-body coordination. Whether it’s judo, Muay Thai, MMA, or kickboxing, they all emphasize this. But Chinese kung fu can integrate it into farm work, making every move in daily life a form of training—that’s profound philosophy.” Richard Grant said, “The initial drilling motion of the ‘Hoe Head’ move is just like lifting a shoulder pole. You can experience it in detail later. But for now, start warming up, then we’ll do body conditioning!”

Smack!

The rubber stick struck James Carter’s back, burning with pain—he almost wanted to die.

But James Carter didn’t move, using his mind to sense the area being struck, training his muscles to tense and relax.

While striking, Richard Grant explained, “The most basic part of body conditioning is making you feel the sensitivity of all your muscles, skin, and fascia. With a single thought, every part of your skin must respond—that’s the feeling of energy flowing through your whole body. Then you can train on your own without me. This is very helpful for improving your physical fitness.” Richard Grant said, “All over the world, in every sport—whether it’s ancient yoga, Chinese kung fu, or even church prayer and practice—this is the hardest stage. In Chinese Daoist kung fu, it’s called opening the microcosmic and macrocosmic orbits. In yoga, it’s called chakra activation. In the church, it’s called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In modern sports, it’s called the brain’s absolute control over all body neurons. There’s nothing magical about it. But in practice, it’s extremely difficult. Without a super coach, it’s impossible to do alone.”

James Carter listened quietly, memorizing everything to write in his diary and research later that night.

The biggest benefit of learning with Richard Grant was that all the mysterious, seemingly magical aspects of traditional martial arts and Chinese kung fu could be clearly explained using modern neuroscience, psychology, kinesiology, and anatomy.

Holding a heavy hoe, James Carter stood in stance while Richard Grant used a rubber stick to strike various parts of his body.

Richard Grant’s technique was skillful—he made James Carter feel excruciating pain, but caused no serious internal injuries. On the contrary, it greatly increased James Carter’s vitality in his muscles and bones. Combined with medicine and dietary therapy, James Carter recovered quickly.

In terms of diet, Richard Grant also prepared very well for James Carter.

He seemed determined to train a world-class athlete to prove he was no worse than artificial intelligence.

The whole morning passed just like that.