The Way of Restraint

Chapter 39: Shooting Practice – A Glimpse of Mastery

‘I have no idea how to get into the Typhon Training Camp. I’d love to see what kind of training they offer to produce experts like Feng Hengyi.’  

Su Jie kept pondering this thought. Even if he prepared in advance, he was certain he wouldn’t be a match for Feng Hengyi. Whether it was physical fitness, mental fortitude, or technical skills, his opponent surpassed him in every way.  

However, the most crucial aspect was the explosive power in Feng Hengyi’s punches—they struck like bullets.  

Su Jie attempted to mimic that force, but no matter what he tried, he couldn’t capture its essence.  

He pulled out his phone and searched for shooting ranges.  

“Su Jie, what are you looking up?”  

Zhang Manman had just finished her practice session and walked over. She seemed to have heard about what had happened and came to comfort him.  

“Nothing much, just searching for a shooting range. I want to experience real gunfire firsthand,” Su Jie replied, looking up.  

“Oh, so that’s what you’re looking for.” Zhang Manman chuckled. “You should’ve asked me. I’m quite familiar with shooting ranges in the U.S., and my dad has a friend here who runs a large shooting club in the city. If you want to give it a try, I can take you there.”  

“Really?” Su Jie was delighted. “Then I’ll have to trouble you. I owe you one.”  

“Come on, no need to be so formal. I need to practice too—if you don’t train for a day, your skills get rusty.” Zhang Manman responded cheerfully. “Let’s go. I’ll ask the coach for leave.”  

Before long, Zhang Manman led Su Jie out of campus, where a black Mercedes sedan was already waiting at the entrance. The two got in, and the car sped off.  

After about two hours, they arrived in front of a place resembling a resort.  

A man was already waiting for them—a middle-aged gentleman with silver-white hair and an air of sophistication. When he saw Zhang Manman, he immediately broke into a warm smile.  

“Manman, what brings you here today? And you even brought a friend?”  

“This is my classmate from the martial arts academy. He wants to practice shooting.” Zhang Manman walked up and hugged the man. “Uncle Fu, my dad keeps mentioning you in the States.”  

“I just spoke with him on the phone yesterday.” Uncle Fu chuckled. “Your friend wants to practice shooting? I’ll have someone guide him. Xiao Li, come over.”  

At his command, a young man in a black suit jogged over, followed by an electric sightseeing cart. The three of them boarded the vehicle and entered the estate.  

The estate was vast, with picturesque scenery. Su Jie saw a golf course nestled between the mountains and lakes—a leisure club fit for the wealthy elite.  

A sign at the entrance read: “Heart-Cleansing Manor.”  

Bang! Bang! Bang!  

Gunshots echoed from a massive hall. As they entered, they saw many people wearing noise-canceling earmuffs, firing at targets. The deafening shots sent chills down one’s spine, yet also ignited an exhilarating rush.  

“This must be your first time shooting, right?” Uncle Fu asked.  

“Nice to meet you, Uncle Fu. I’m Su Jie,” he introduced himself. “Yes, this is my first time.”  

“Xiao Li, teach him,” Uncle Fu instructed. “Manman, let’s find a place to catch up.”  

“Alright.” Zhang Manman raised an eyebrow. “Su Jie, have fun on your own.”  

“Got it.”  

Su Jie walked up to a shooting stall as Xiao Li approached, picking up a handgun and fluently explaining how to load and grip it.  

“You’re learning really fast. Have you practiced before?” Xiao Li was astonished. Su Jie had fully grasped the technique after just one explanation.  

“I held a rifle during high school military training, but we only practiced marching drills. I’ve never fired live rounds before.”  

After getting a good grip, Su Jie aimed. His mind quieted as he focused.  

Bang!  

The bullet was fired.  

At the moment of the shot, Su Jie’s mind was utterly calm. He seemed to “feel” the firing pin striking the primer in an instant, igniting a powerful burst of energy. The gunpowder explosion propelled the bullet down the rifled barrel, accelerating it to its maximum velocity—launched in a single, irreversible motion.  

‘A heart like gunpowder, fists like bullets—when inspiration strikes, even a bird cannot escape.’  

‘This is the true essence of the martial arts manual’s teachings. Without personally experiencing shooting, one can never grasp its true meaning.’  

Su Jie’s mind grew even more serene.  

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!  

He fired consecutive shots, each one hitting the bullseye.  

“Holy crap!” Xiao Li was stunned. “Are you sure this is your first time shooting? Even though this is a beginner’s target designed for newcomers, landing a perfect score on the first try is unheard of!”

“It was just luck,” Su Jie quickly replied. “I’ll keep practicing on my own, so I won’t trouble you, Brother Li.”

“Alright, if anything comes up, let me know right away.” As Xiao Li walked away, he couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “This can’t be his first time shooting. Every beginner struggles with stability on their first attempt, unable to control the recoil. But he’s steadier than me.”

Su Jie was completely immersed in shooting practice.

For him, practicing shooting wasn’t just about improving accuracy—it was about understanding its essence.

The gunpowder ignited, propelling the bullet in a spiraling trajectory out of the barrel.

This instantaneous change and explosive force had many similarities to martial arts.

Martial arts were about continuously learning from everything, integrating their essence into one’s practice.

Gradually, Su Jie felt as if he himself had become a gun. With the slightest movement, his heart ignited, and his fists followed. This wasn’t about exerting force or perfecting posture; it was purely about the connection between mind and intent.

After half an hour of live-fire practice, Su Jie set down the gun, having fully grasped its rhythm and essence.

He called out to Xiao Li and asked if there were any sandbags available.

“Sandbags? You mean a place for combat training and fitness? Yes, we have one. I’ll take you there.” Xiao Li wasn’t sure what Su Jie intended to do, but he knew Su Jie was an important guest and had to be served with utmost care.

Soon, he led Su Jie to another facility filled with various fitness equipment. Several people were training, with instructors guiding them.

To Su Jie’s surprise, this place also offered modern combat disciplines like boxing, judo, taekwondo, karate, aikido, and Muay Thai. However, there was no sign of traditional martial arts, such as the ever-popular Tai Chi.

“This is a resort, primarily focused on relaxation, entertainment, and wellness,” Xiao Li explained. “If you want to work on fitness, muscle-building, or body sculpting, we have top-tier bodybuilding coaches. If you want to learn other disciplines, we have professional instructors for one-on-one training. We also offer specialized massage therapists and nutritionists. Here’s the information.”

As he spoke, Xiao Li gestured for a nearby attendant, who quickly brought over an exquisitely crafted card.

Surprisingly, the card was made of metal, listing various available services, all offered around the clock.

“Having money is really something…” 

Su Jie sighed inwardly as he examined the card. He could tell that the resort’s services were indeed top-notch. Many of the instructors were highly skilled, and the one-on-one coaching was a huge advantage.

It was nothing like Minglun Martial Arts Academy. Although Coach Gu Yang was excellent, he had to train dozens of students at once, making it impossible to give everyone individual attention. Only Odell had ever provided Su Jie with true one-on-one instruction.

Additionally, students at Minglun Martial Arts Academy had to do their own laundry, line up at the cafeteria, and handle chores like cleaning. But here, the service staff acted like personal attendants, taking care of everything in the most comfortable and considerate way.

For instance, a wealthy person coming here for a retreat and wellness training wouldn’t have to worry about anything—just daily exercise and relaxation.

Of course, the cost was extremely high. First, entry required an annual membership, with a base fee of over a million. On top of that, there were numerous additional charges. Spending a few million a year here was completely normal.

Yet, when Su Jie looked around, he noticed that the place was packed.

He couldn’t help but wonder, “Are there really that many rich people in the country? Spending millions a year like it’s nothing? Do they just pick money off the wind?”

One thing was certain—he couldn’t afford this.

“What kind of coach do you need?” Xiao Li asked. “I can arrange one for you immediately.”

“No need, no need,” Su Jie quickly waved his hand. “I’ll just do some punching practice on my own.”

He headed straight for the boxing area, looking for a hanging sandbag.

The sandbags came in several weight categories: 30 kg, 50 kg, 100 kg, and 200 kg. The 100 kg and 200 kg bags were professional-grade and extremely difficult to move.

He walked up to the heaviest sandbag and began warming up.

There were several people training in the boxing area. Strangely, they were all women, dressed in form-fitting athletic wear that accentuated their curves.

Generally speaking, boxing was considered a man’s sport—brutal and intense. Women usually preferred slower-paced aerobic exercises like yoga or dance. However, recently, women’s boxing had been gaining popularity.

Su Jie had seen news reports about female celebrities training in boxing daily, which had sparked a trend among elite women in society.

For women, boxing had two main benefits. First, it helped with body sculpting and maintaining an ideal physique. Second, it provided a means of self-defense. Su Jie found it to be a great choice.

Although professional boxing matches were harsh, women learning the sport weren’t training for competition. They were simply practicing for fitness and vitality.

“That sandbag is for professional training. Most people can barely make it budge. Does he really think he can punch it?” one of the women boxing trainees paused to watch.

“Maybe he’s just trying to show off. Ignore him, let’s keep training.”

Boom!

At that moment, Su Jie finished his warm-up. In a split second, he imagined an explosion igniting deep within his heart, propelling his entire body forward.

Instead of using his fists, he executed a move called “Hoe Strike.”

With an upward thrust and a downward chop, he struck like a tiger pouncing from a mountain.

With a single hit, the massive sandbag—normally difficult for an average person to even shake—began to sway.

But Su Jie didn’t stop there. He sidestepped, shifted his weight, and launched another strike in rapid succession.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! 

Dozens of consecutive “Hoe Strikes” followed, pushing his speed and power to their peak. His movements embodied the sensation of a bullet leaving a gun barrel, the rhythm of gunpowder igniting.

It was as if he had grown extra arms.

Rip!

A sharp tearing sound echoed through the hall. 

The enormous sandbag suddenly burst open, spilling its filling all over the floor.

“This…”

The three women training in boxing were utterly stunned.

Even their coach—a retired national-level professional boxer—was visibly shocked. With his trained eye, he could tell that Su Jie’s strikes were more terrifying than those of many professional fighters.

“Not bad.”

Su Jie, however, paid no attention to the onlookers. He had just realized that his explosive power and striking technique had advanced significantly, as if he had taken a major step forward.

And it was all thanks to being “instantly defeated” by Feng Hengyi’s two punches. That experience had given him invaluable insights and had “awakened” something deep within him—something he hadn’t even realized was growing arrogant.

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