High Martial Arts: Enlightenment after Practices

She stopped mid-sentence. She had probably remembered Xu Wuyi’s current status and the rumors surrounding him. Her outstretched hand hesitated.

Xu Wuyi naturally shook her hand. "Just call me Wuyi. This guy, Zhou Heng, has he been talking trash about me behind my back?"

"No way!" Zhou Heng’s eyes went wide. "I only ever sing your praises, okay!"

Lu Weiwei laughed, and her initial nervousness dissipated. "He really hasn’t said anything bad. He’s always talking about how hard you used to train in Martial Arts, even climbing the wall at midnight to get to the training hall."

Xu Wuyi glanced at Zhou Heng. "You sure remember the wall-climbing part clearly."

"Of course! I even kept watch for you!" Zhou Heng chuckled, sitting back down and pouring Xu Wuyi a beer. "Come on, let’s have one! To celebrate the triumphant return of our Martial Artist Xu... no, our Hero Xu!"

The glass mugs clinked together with a crisp sound.

The cold beer went down his throat, carrying a slight bitterness, followed by the sweet aftertaste of malt.

It had been a long time since Xu Wuyi had drunk beer from a street stall like this. In Xingjing, in the military, the drinks he had were all specially supplied—either to replenish Energy or to aid his training.

But this taste, with its touch of the common world, felt more real to him.

"How have you been these past few years?" Xu Wuyi asked, setting down his mug and looking at Zhou Heng.

Zhou Heng smacked his lips. "How else? Just so-so. I did a regular business degree in college, then joined a local trading company after graduation. I deal with data and reports all day."

"Nine to five, occasional overtime. The pay is enough to get by, and if I save up for a few years, I can probably make a down payment."

He said it nonchalantly, but Xu Wuyi could hear the contentment in his voice.

"What about Martial Arts?" Xu Wuyi asked. "I remember you used to be pretty diligent about your training."

"Gave that up long ago." Zhou Heng waved his hand, his tone frank. "I messed around in the Martial Arts club for the first two years of college, but then I realized I just wasn’t cut out for it."

"My Life Energy Level got stuck at 9.5 and wouldn’t go any higher. No matter how much I trained, it was useless. So I just turned it into a hobby. Sparring with colleagues on the weekend to break a sweat is enough for me."

As he spoke, he pulled a piece of grilled meat off a skewer and added, his words muffled, "You know, a man’s gotta know his limits. I don’t have your talent or your perseverance. The path of Martial Arts wasn’t for me. Switching tracks early was a good move; life’s pretty good."

Xu Wuyi listened quietly, not saying a word.

He could feel that Zhou Heng was being completely sincere, with no resentment or regret.

It was just like three years ago in the high school cafeteria when Zhou Heng had said, "Just getting into a decent university is good enough for me." He had accepted reality early on and was now moving steadily forward on his own track.

’Perhaps that, too, is a kind of wisdom.’

"What about you?" Zhou Heng asked in turn. "Practicing Martial Arts... it must be tough, right?"

His gaze fell on Xu Wuyi. Even though he was in casual clothes, the disposition honed over years of relentless training couldn’t be hidden.

His posture seemed relaxed, but his back was naturally straight and upright. His eyes were calm, yet a sharp glint would occasionally flash through them—a mark left by countless life-and-death battles.

Xu Wuyi smiled. "It’s alright. I’m used to it."

He didn’t elaborate, and Zhou Heng didn’t press for details.

They tacitly avoided the topics of blood and fire.

Some things were better left unsaid.

The grilled skewers arrived one after another: sizzling lamb generously sprinkled with cumin and chili powder, grilled chives, grilled eggplant, and steaming slices of grilled mantou.

Zhou Heng skillfully passed out the skewers while Lu Weiwei went to the cooler to grab a few more beers.

"By the way, you and Weiwei..." Xu Wuyi looked at the two of them.

Zhou Heng grinned and wrapped an arm around Lu Weiwei’s shoulder. "We’re planning to get married next year. We’ve already picked out an apartment over in the new district. It’s a two-bedroom, not big, but enough for us. As for the wedding, we’ll keep it simple—just invite some relatives and friends for a meal."

Lu Weiwei’s face flushed slightly. She gave him a playful tap, but her eyes were full of happy smiles.

Xu Wuyi raised his mug. "Congratulations."

"Thanks!" Zhou Heng clinked mugs with him, downed his drink in one go, and wiped his mouth. "You have to be there! I know you’re a big shot now, but our friendship..."

"I’ll definitely be there," Xu Wuyi said seriously.

Zhou Heng broke into a wide grin, a heartfelt smile that warmed Xu Wuyi’s heart.

As the night deepened, the crowd at the barbecue stall turned over.

But their table only grew more lively, their conversation drifting from embarrassing high school stories to their different college experiences, and then to the trivialities of working life.

Most of the time, Zhou Heng talked while Xu Wuyi listened, with Lu Weiwei occasionally chiming in. The atmosphere was as relaxed as any other ordinary night.

"By the way, how long are you back for this time?" Zhou Heng asked.

"I’ll be staying for a while," Xu Wuyi said. "I just bought a house in East City and I’m planning to have my parents move in. Once it’s ready in a few days, I’ll invite your family over for dinner. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Uncle Zhou and Aunt Zhou."

"You bought a house? Where in East City?" Zhou Heng asked, curious.

"Shanshui Manor."

The skewer in Zhou Heng’s hand almost fell. "Holy crap! A place there must cost tens of millions, right? You’ve really become a tycoon!"

"I have some savings from the front lines," Xu Wuyi said vaguely.

Zhou Heng clicked his tongue a few times but didn’t ask any more questions. He knew what level Xu Wuyi was on now; for people like him, money was probably just a number.

"Alright, we’ll definitely come!" Zhou Heng readily agreed. "It’ll be a good chance for my parents to see what a real mansion looks like."

The three of them chatted for a while longer. Seeing it was almost eleven and Lu Weiwei had work the next day, she suggested they call it a night.

Zhou Heng insisted on paying the bill, and the three of them got up and left the barbecue stall.

Under the streetlights, Zhou Heng put his arm around Lu Weiwei and waved to Xu Wuyi. "We’re heading out! Once you have a date for the move, you have to let me know in advance!"

"Okay," Xu Wuyi nodded. "Get home safe."

Zhou Heng waved, then turned and walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Lu Weiwei toward the bus stop. Their shadows were close together under the streetlights, and they murmured to each other, Lu Weiwei’s laughter occasionally drifting back.

Xu Wuyi stood watching until their figures disappeared around the street corner.

The night wind blew past, carrying a hint of autumn.

He slowly started walking back, their earlier conversation still echoing in his mind.

Zhou Heng was content with his ordinary life. He had a stable job, a girlfriend he loved, and a future he could see. A life like that was perhaps what most people longed for.

’And what about me?’

Xu Wuyi looked up at the night sky.

You could see the stars in Red River City’s night sky, unlike in Xingjing where they were hidden by light pollution. They were countless, silent, and distant.

He remembered the deep purple sky of the N-33 Star Domain, the fires of war burning on the Crystal Plain, the sound of a halberd tearing through the air, and the look of disbelief in the eyes of a peak Sub-King as it fell.

That was his path.

Completely different. A path he couldn’t turn back from, nor wanted to.

But he didn’t feel lonely.

His family was safe, his old friend was the same as ever, and this city still had its lively, everyday charm. These ordinary yet solid things were one of the reasons he could stand and fight on the front lines.

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