High Martial Arts: Grinding for the Supreme Talent

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: Only an A-level Contract Can Treat

Lin Qi stood to the side with a strange expression.

He remembered Dr. Li always being stern and humorless with them before, his tone cold.

Completely unlike now, where he was greeting them with a smile and a gentle tone.

’Is it because of the money?’

’Or my status?’

Lin Qi guessed.

Dr. Li picked up a file and placed it on the table in front of them, simultaneously turning on the projector next to his computer.

”BEEP!”

A green screen of light was projected, filled with all sorts of incomprehensible data and images.

”The fatal toxin from the Dark-winged Bat that your wife was poisoned with... Xia Country has been researching this condition for a long time. We’ve had a solution for a while now.”

”The method is called shockwave detoxification therapy.”

”Our hospital has a HERE shockwave therapy machine. It can use shockwaves to thoroughly probe for hidden toxins in every corner of the body, destroy their structure, and flush them out to achieve detoxification.”

Lin Zhen’s and Lin Qi’s eyes lit up as they listened.

”Previously, due to your family’s financial situation, you couldn’t afford this procedure. That’s no longer an issue, which is a cause for celebration,” Dr. Li said with a smile.

”In that case, Dr. Li, how much does this shockwave procedure cost?” Lin Zhen asked, suppressing his excitement.

Dr. Li said, ”The treatment isn’t cheap. It costs three million Xia Country Coins!”

”That...”

Lin Zhen shot up from his seat in shock. Lin Qi, however, breathed a sigh of relief and pulled on his father’s sleeve.

”That’s not a problem!”

Lin Zhen turned to see Lin Qi’s resolute gaze and swallowed the words he was about to say.

Lin Qi also let out a breath of relief. ’Three million... I can still scrape that together. I’ve spent a lot of money this past month, but I still have nearly two million on me.’

’As long as I can upgrade to an A-level Contract or advance to the Bright Moon Rank, I’ll easily be able to gather the three million Xia Country Coins for the surgery.’

”Doctor, when can the surgery begin?” Lin Zhen asked, sitting back down.

Dr. Li hesitated for a moment before speaking.

”The thing is, Celestial Sea City only has one of these HERE shockwave therapy machines, and it’s used for treating various illnesses as well as for Martial Arts cultivation.”

”Even running 24 hours a day, it can’t meet the demand, so there’s a waiting list.”

”If your wife gets on the list now, a conservative estimate would be a year from now.”

At these words, Lin Zhen shot to his feet again, his expression panicked.

”A year? That’s too long! I don’t even know if Huiyi can hold on that long!”

Lin Qi frowned as well.

He pulled on his dad’s shirt and spoke up for the first time.

”Dr. Li, I’m a B-level genius signed with the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo. Can my mom be moved up the list? Or, to put it bluntly, can she cut the line?”

”You said yourself that the shockwave machine is used for treating illnesses and for Martial Arts cultivation. We won’t cut in front of other sick people, but can we cut in front of those using it for Martial Arts cultivation?”

Lin Qi said with a serious expression. Hearing this, Lin Zhen also calmed down and slowly sat down.

After listening, Dr. Li adjusted his glasses and shook his head.

”Student Lin Qi, it’s precisely because you’re a B-level genius that I said it would take a year.”

”Otherwise, you might have had to wait two years, and you’d likely be constantly cut in line by others.”

”Of course, if you were an A-level genius from the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo, that would be a different story. You could naturally cut the line.”

’An A-level Contract?’

Lin Qi’s eyes brightened as he pressed, ”How much sooner could we get it with an A-level Contract?”

Dr. Li thought for a moment before slowly replying.

”Get on the waiting list now. As soon as you get an A-level Contract, we’ll move you to the front of the line. We can arrange the surgery within a month.”

”Okay!” Lin Qi nodded seriously.

...

「Leaving the hospital room」

”Dad, the final assessment is in less than two weeks. I will get that A-level Contract,” Lin Qi said with determination.

”Hooo...”

Lin Zhen let out a breath, a relieved smile spreading across his face.

”I believe in you!”

”You’ve grown up. Our family is counting on you now.”

「Over an hour later」

After his mom, Fang Huiyi, finished her treatment, her complexion looked much better. The family of three prepared to leave the convalescent home.

As they exited the main hall, the smile on Fang Huiyi’s face suddenly vanished. She frowned and said:

”Let’s go, quickly. I see her.”

Lin Zhen jolted at her words. ”Right!”

With that, he quickened his pace.

”Huiyi!”

Behind them, not far away, a lavishly dressed middle-aged woman wearing designer brands raised her hand in greeting.

But she only saw Lin Qi’s family quickly disappear from sight.

The middle-aged woman lowered her hand, a smile also appearing on her face.

’So scared of me? Too bad we’ll have to see each other during the New Year anyway.’

...

「At the hospital entrance」

Lin Zhen frowned as he looked at the crowd. ”I can’t believe we ran into Yan Ying here.”

”In Rongshan District, all the neighbors get along pretty well.”

”She’s the one exception. She’s loved to compare things since she was young. Not just herself, but her kid, too.”

”Ever since her son got into No. 3 Middle School and showed some Talent, she hasn’t missed an opportunity to show off in front of us.”

”She’s gotten more and more arrogant, sharp-tongued, and harsh. No one can stand her.”

”Seeing her every day is as disgusting as swallowing a fly.”

Fang Huiyi nodded. ”She comes back every Spring Festival to show off. I’m sure this year will be no exception.”

”But our Little Qi has grown up, too. We have nothing to be afraid of.”

Lin Qi knew Yan Ying, too. She was a despicable woman. His whole family had suffered no small amount of her ridicule when he was a child.

But things were completely different now.

...

Afterward, his parents went home, while Lin Qi headed to the Red Dome Martial Arts Dojo.

「Martial Arts Room B123」

”BEEP!”

”Good afternoon, Master!”

Little Chan, clad in a blue Combat Suit, was projected and greeted him with a smile.

”Good afternoon!”

Lin Qi replied and went straight into his warm-up, taking a Stimulant Potion, an Energy Potion, and applying Red Blood Ointment.

Once his body was warmed up, he began practicing his Fist Techniques right where he stood.

His face flushed red and his body turned crimson, like a furnace, constantly emitting clouds of white steam.

He started with the most familiar Tiger Form Fist, then moved to the Crane Form Fist, Snake Form, Dragon Form, and Ape Form.

With each switch to a new Fist Technique, Lin Qi’s style would change—from fierce and powerful, to nimble, to defensive, to unpredictable...

As his body moved violently, his fists produced explosive pops from the friction and vibration, like an air cannon!

While his body felt like it was on fire, he practiced his Fist Technique to temper his muscles.

Lin Qi’s mind began to wander.

’An A-level Contract!’

’I have to make huge progress again in the final assessment.’

He desperately needed an A-level Contract.

Whether for himself or for his mom, he needed that A-level Contract.

’My Qi and Blood Value and my Martial Arts... I have to keep improving them.’

”BANG! BANG!!”

With each sharp crack, currents of heat flowed through the endless network of blood vessels, reaching every corner of his body.

Half an hour later, Lin Qi stopped to rest. After chugging a sports drink, he grabbed a Training Lance.

He began to frantically practice the Mountain Shattering Spear Technique.

”SWISH! SWISH!”

Watching the tip of the spear tremble, Lin Qi’s gaze followed it, locking onto a single spot that the spear tip struck with constant, unerring precision.

A sky full of spear-shadows formed a series of afterimages with each thrust of the Long Spear.

’Why haven’t I mastered the third Killing Technique yet?’

Lin Qi thought to himself. It had been nearly a month; a long time had passed since he mastered the second Killing Technique.

His Spear Technique Realm was still improving, but the third Killing Technique remained stubbornly out of reach.

This left him puzzled.

’Maybe, just like with the Five Elements Fist, I can gain new insights by practicing other Spear Techniques.’

The thought suddenly struck Lin Qi, and he immediately stopped his practice.

”Little Chan, search for the Drip Water Spear Skill instructional video!”

”Of course, Master!”

Little Chan waved her fair hand through the air. Light and shadow converged, conjuring a huge green screen out of thin air.

”Now playing: The Drip Water Spear Skill, one of the three great Black Iron Level Spear Technique Secret Manuals, produced by the Xia Country Martial Arts Education Bureau,” Little Chan introduced.

On the screen, a lean, middle-aged man with bulging temples and sharp, brilliant eyes appeared.

He held a white Training Lance and began to swing it rapidly, the spear’s shadow flickering.

As Lin Qi watched, he grabbed his Training Lance and began practicing along with the video.

He had already watched it several times and had fought several opponents who used the Drip Water Spear Skill.

Now, as he practiced, the Techniques of the Drip Water Spear Skill came to him naturally.

”SWISH! SWISH~”

Lin Qi’s style changed completely. His Spear Technique became swift, like a torrential downpour, the most frequent move he made with his Long Spear being the Thrusting Spear.

”HISSS~”

The Long Spear cut through the air, tearing it apart and forming a series of afterimages.

...