Chapter 58 - Down This Chicken Soup!
The technique Ye Lingchen used was the grappling hold of the Martial Fist!
He easily nullified Wu Yue’s attacks and subdued him.
“This is the result of 11 years of training?!” Ye Lingchen asked Wu Yue, giving him a condescending look.
“I, I...” Wu Yue dejectedly, at a loss for words.
“Anyone else still unconvinced?” Ye Lingchen eyed the crowd. At that moment, those who were on the verge of challenging him went silent, avoiding Ye Lingchen’s gaze.
“With that, you’re already scared? Running away? Turns out it was praise to call you guys trash!” Ye Lingchen’s expression turned serious.
“We are not trash!” shouted someone.
“We are not trash!”
This time, all fifteen roared in unison with a booming voice.
“At least there’s still some fighting spirit!” Ye Lingchen nodded, “However this fighting spirit should not be spent on shouting. It should be used in training, and on the battlefield!”
“You know why I said you’re all trash? That’s because you are lazy!”
Ye Lingchen’s gaze swept across their faces, “You think that just because you start early and end late, training according to plan, it’s considered putting in effort? Wrong! Absolutely wrong!”
“Training needs to show results. Your Martial Fist moves were not meeting standards. Every punch lacked power. Is this what you meant by training? Instead of wasting time like that, you might as well disband and head home early!”
Ye Lingchen was furious. The reason for his rage was due to watching them practice so casually.
Despite having fifteen people practicing, Ye Lingchen’s Martial Fist proficiency only raised to 20 percent. From that, one can tell how bad their mastery over Martial Fist was.
The scene went silent. Some were ashamed, some unconvinced.
“What’s the main objective of your training? Is it the training course? Training Time? Training intensity? None of the above!” Ye Lingchen said coldly, “It’s spirit! It’s a person’s spirit!”
“You were only completing the daily training like a machine. Even if you were given more time, you will not improve an inch. Isn’t that the same as trash?”
Ye Lingchen looked at them, “There are people from the same batch that’s been chosen to enter the four special training camps right?”
Everyone nodded.
“In the same batch, why did they manage to enter while you couldn’t?” Ye Lingchen said ruthlessly, “Compared to them you’re the rejects, failures!”
Some started breathing heavily, some had their eyes reddened, but nobody spoke up.
“You tell me, are rejected failures not trash?”
Nobody answered.
Everyone’s faces were flushed red as blood rushed to their faces.
The humiliation was eating them up inside, making them extremely embarrassed.
‘Why did others manage to do it while we can’t?’
What was once a comrade, would now look down on themselves from a higher place! As for themselves, why could they not stand above others?
“You are too easily content! Are you proud of yourselves for becoming martial artists? Did you think that with such daily training that it’s already sufficient?!”
All of them were silent. Everyone was breathing heavily with reddened eyes.
“I’ll ask you again. What is the purpose of your training?”
“I want to be the king of martial artists!” shouted Wu Yue, his eyes red.
“I want to protect my country!”
“I want my family to be proud of me!”
...
All fifteen people spoke up one after another.
“Wrong! All wrong!” Ye Lingchen shouted. “It’s for yourselves! The more you sweat, the less you bleed! If you don’t train wholeheartedly, entering the battlefield... will cost you your life!”
Everyone, including Lin Ao and Fang Hong felt blood rushing to their faces, turning them red.
It may be due to the surrounding martial artist, or it could be his sudden inspiration. Ye Lingchen could not control himself but to pour forth with this potful of chicken soup for the soul for everyone...
“We understand our mistake!”
Wu Yue’s body trembled, straining his voice and his face reddened as he shouted.
“What’s your mistake?” asked Ye Lingchen.
“Training is for ourselves! It’s not for missions but our lives! We need to pour in all our efforts wholeheartedly!” shouted Wu Yue while standing straight as a plank.
The rest were also showing an expression of utmost dedication, their eyes gleaming when looking at Ye Lingchen.
Ye Lingchen nodded, “Good! Only by raising your spirits will your training show results! Remember your dream to finish! You must always remember your current condition!”
“Affirmative!” Fifteen martial artists shouted in unison, their voice thundering.
Ye Lingchen coughed, then with an awkward expression took a peek at Fang Hong.
‘This is bad. Acting cool was fun, but now it’s a little hard to wrap up.’
Fang Hong threw a glance at Ye Lingchen, his face lit up with a smile, “It’s fine. Morning training is over. Go for your lunch.”
“Chief Fang, we are not tired and wish to continue!” Wu Yue stood still on the spot.
“That’s right, Chief Fang. Earlier I didn’t put in all my effort during training. I wish to have another shot at it!”
The rest were also unmoving.
“What bullshit is this?! How will you have enough energy to train if you don’t eat? All that talk about fighting spirit is nonsense! Food comes first!” Ye Lingchen scolded from the side.
“Hahaha...”
Everyone immediately broke into bouts of laughter.
“What are you laughing about? Go get your food!”
“Yes sir!”
The troop disbanded. This time, the way they looked at Ye Lingchen was filled with the utmost respect.
“Chief Fang, I’ll be getting some food if there’s nothing else.” Ye Lingchen got ready to leave.
Yet at that moment, Fang Hong exclaimed loudly, “Ye Lingchen!”
“Here!”
Fang Hong looked at Ye Lingchen, smiling with satisfaction. “You’re quite good! Your words are even more effective than mine now.”
Ye Lingchen scratched his head, “Chief Fang must be joking. No matter how effective my words are, I’d still have to listen to you, right?”
“Did you ever thought of becoming a martial artist?” Fang Hong looked Ye Lingchen straight in the eye.
“Chief Fang, I’ve just entered university and have no such intentions for now.”
A fleeting look of disappointment flashed across Fang Hong’s eyes. He patted Ye Lingchen on the shoulders, “Alright. Whenever you wish to, just let me know. Go get your food.”
Lin Ao grabbed onto Ye Lingchen, “F*ck, you sure are something. First time I saw you I thought you’re quite the talent, and it is as I predicted! How did you come up with those words?”
“Just voicing out my feelings.”
“Amazing! No wonder you’re the top student of Capital University. Your words brought out the passion within me!” Lin Ao laughed out loud, then dragged him along to have lunch.
Fang Hong stood where he was, muttering away, “The more you sweat, the less you bleed! Remember your dreams to finish! I need to have someone mark this down. This will be our troop’s motto in the future!”