Gao Wu: Ten years of sparring experience, one move and the world knows him.

Chapter 62 The Vanishing Figure (Skip)
With Peng Yuhui, who was familiar with the situation, Zhao Rui quickly found the place where the martial arts history series of books were stored.

"Take your time reading, I'm going to study."

Peng Yuhui greeted them and then walked off to the study room on his own.

As Zhao Rui watched his departing figure, he felt a sense of loneliness.

Martial arts is ultimately a competitive industry, and anyone who embarks on this path wants to dominate the world and reign supreme.

But the harshness of reality gradually wears down the boy's edges, leaving only compromise with reality and a re-examination of his dreams.

From elementary school to university, from grassroots to government departments, at every stage, some former geniuses or outstanding individuals will be eliminated. Ultimately, only a minority can break through social classes and move upward.

Zhao Rui clenched his fist secretly. He was going to make this life a freebie, and even if he failed, he would fail on the road to the peak.

At worst, I'll just pretend I never lived this life!
With a slight pause in his gaze, Zhao Rui turned and walked towards the rows of towering, enormous bookshelves.

Each bookshelf is filled with a large number of books, not only of various kinds but also in considerable quantity.

Zhao Rui followed the search index and searched for the book information he wanted, categorizing them by type.

"The extraordinary General Zhao and his ten concubines!"

"The Amusing Stories of Yizhimei in the Martial World!"

"A Few Stories About the Charming Heroine Huo San Niang!"

"The past and present of 'absorbing yin to replenish yang'".

Looking at these names, Zhao Rui felt his face burning and couldn't help but glance around.

Is this shameful name the same as those little books that were sealed away a thousand times in my previous life?
What a vibrant martial arts academy library!

Zhao Rui quickly skipped over these obviously improper names and continued searching downwards.

Finally, I found some legitimate literature.

"A True Record of Chinese Martial Arts!"

A Brief Analysis of the Origins of Martial Arts!

"The historic upheaval at the end of the Qing Dynasty!"

Looking at these names, Zhao Rui followed the clues and quickly found the bookshelf where the books were located.

I picked up a book at random about the sudden change that changed history at the end of the Qing Dynasty and started reading it.

"During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, the people suffered from poverty and social unrest. Western powers, relying on the power of guns and cannons, bombarded our country's gates..."

Zhao Rui quickly flipped through the pages, and after reading for a while, he realized that the sudden change mentioned referred to a certain incident, which was somewhat related to martial arts, but not significantly.

He put the book down and turned to look at other books.

Before him lay a vast collection of books, which Zhao Rui examined with great care.

When he turned to the "Martial Arts Records," the contents of which invigorated Zhao Rui.

"Since the year of Jiawu in the Guangxu reign, the celestial bodies have been in disarray, and the earth's veins have been surging. The inner energy has suddenly manifested in the mortal world."

A commoner, by chance, discovers the secret of breathing techniques and gains the ability to lift heavy objects and split rocks; a wandering knight in the marketplace, upon glimpsing the mysteries of meridians, develops the extraordinary ability to walk on snow without leaving a trace.

However, in this degenerate age, the social order has collapsed, dragons and snakes have risen up in the mud, and heroes are vying for the throne.

The rise of internal power is not an auspicious sign, but rather a harbinger of the impending destruction of divine weapons and the ruthlessness of Heaven and Earth!

Zhao Rui read it word by word. The celestial bodies were in disarray, and the earth's veins were surging. Could it be that a huge disaster had occurred back then?
"In the past, Han Fei wrote that 'knights-errant use martial arts to break the law,' and this is indeed true! The common people of the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) often use their blood and courage to lightly violate the laws of the country. They rely on the power of their swords and even want to act as the emperor to punish evil. This is truly a great scourge on the social order."

There may be commoners wielding swords, looking down on the government offices, ready to fight to the death at the slightest disagreement, with blood splattering five steps away from ten;
They might gather their personal grudges in the alleys, carry out private punishments in the dark of night, slaughter people like cutting grass, staining the long streets with blood, and still boast that they "enjoy their grudges and avenge their wrongs..."

As I continued reading, I discovered that the later content focused more on the social upheavals and historical processes following the rise of martial arts.

There is no description of the origin of martial arts.

Zhao Rui was slightly disappointed, but the chaotic situation described in the article made him think a lot.

What a chaotic and tumultuous period of chivalry that must have been!

Although the book describes that period of history in detail, it has nothing to do with what Zhao Rui wants to know.

He had no choice but to put down the book and continue browsing other books.

He read on until after noon, when his stomach started rumbling, before reluctantly putting down the book.

The book is filled with historical stories that are not only bizarre, dramatic, and epic, but also imbued with patriotism and national righteousness, making it impossible to put down.

It was no less than reading martial arts novels in my previous life.

Unfortunately, descriptions of the mutation process are only touched upon in a few words, and those words are rather ambiguous, obscure and profound.

If the imperial court intended to conceal it, how could it possibly let you see it?

This kind of open-access library is definitely not available, right?

Zhao Rui was somewhat disheartened.

However, there's no rush. Once we have the strength, all problems will be solved.

After leaving the martial arts academy library, Zhao Rui made a phone call to Zhang Kui.

"Where are you? Have you eaten? I'll bring you the card."

"What should we eat? We're waiting for you to treat us!"

Zhang Kui chuckled.

"Alright, let's go to the martial arts academy's cafeteria."

"Alright, it's Mr. Zhao's treat. I'll be there shortly."

After hanging up the phone, Zhao Rui headed towards the martial arts cafeteria. In the past, when he came here, almost no one recognized him.

But since the freshmen joined the team, more and more people have started to greet them.

The sense of unfamiliarity Zhao Rui felt towards the martial arts academy gradually began to dissipate.

"Zhao Rui, come eat! Want to join us?"

"No, I'm waiting for someone. Let's do it another day!"

Zhao Rui's performance on the training ground changed the attitude of some freshmen towards him. At least on the surface, they no longer looked down on him as a pseudo-martial arts student from the outer academy.

What are you looking for at the library?

After a short while, Zhang Kui jogged over.

Upon meeting, he asked curiously.

"Some martial arts history stuff. You're still not eating so late? You're not really waiting for my meal, are you?"

Zhao Rui said with disdain.

"Am I that kind of person? Sigh, it's just that the teacher is going overtime. We're in college now, and they're still going overtime."

After Zhang Kui finished speaking, he suddenly raised an eyebrow at him and said, "Is it because of what I said yesterday?"

Zhao Rui shook his head.

Zhang Kui smiled slightly and said, "Let's eat first. After we eat, I'll take you to my dorm. I have something nice to show you."

Do I have it?

"Damn, that's disgusting. You think you're a girl, but I'm a real man."

Zhao Rui smiled, and the two of them went into the restaurant together to have lunch.

More than half an hour later, the two, having eaten and drunk their fill, arrived at the martial arts academy's dormitory building.

This is a place Zhao Rui has always wanted to visit, but has never been to.

Upon entering, it was indeed very luxurious, just like a five-star hotel.

Each dormitory is designed and built to star-rated hotel standards. Not only is the decoration luxurious and pleasing to the eye, but it is also equipped with a variety of practical home appliances.

The kitchen and bathroom furniture and appliances, including a TV, refrigerator, and washing machine, are all provided. "With these amenities, why would you need to live off-campus?"

Looking at the neat and comfortable dormitory, Zhao Rui couldn't help but speak up.

"You'll get tired of living there after a while. It's nothing like the freedom off campus. You can eat whatever you want and go back whenever you want. Here, let me show you something."

After Zhang Kui finished speaking, he picked up a laptop from his bookshelf, quickly turned it on, and mysteriously fiddled with it for a while.

Then a screenshot appeared out of nowhere on the screen.

"This was given to me by a friend. Don't worry, it's not an AI image."

Zhao Rui lowered his head slightly and stared intently.

The image was a slanted photograph of a dark cave.

The cave was filled with an eerie, deep blue light, like a gaping maw ready to devour its inhabitants.

"This is the cave that appeared on the top of Mount Tai, and it has now been sealed off,"

"Isn't Mount Tai still open to the public?"

Zhao Rui asked curiously, explaining that he had checked online and found that the Mount Tai tourist area was operating as usual.

"It's not one place; it's another part of the Taishan mountain range, not the tourist area."

"Doesn't this light resemble radiation? I suspect it contains high-energy minerals."

Zhang Kui said thoughtfully.

Zhao Rui was taken aback. He hadn't expected Zhang Kui to consider this aspect, but what he said seemed to make a lot of sense.

"Would you be interested in taking a look? It's located at Sunset Peak."

Zhang Kui asked.

Does stillness breed restlessness?
Zhao Rui shook his head. He didn't want to get involved. High returns from any risky behavior are often accompanied by high risks.

With the system panel at his disposal, a steady and methodical approach is the most suitable.

Seeing that Zhao Rui didn't want to go, Zhang Kui said with a hint of boredom, "You're just too rigid, so boring."

"I think so."

Zhao Rui chuckled self-deprecatingly. It wasn't that he didn't want to go, but rather that there was no reason for him to be interested.

"Next month, our practical course is to go to Mount Tai to experience nature. Even if you want to go, I won't take you."

Zhang Kui lay down on the bed, bored out of his mind, and ignored Zhao Rui.

"Alright, you can rest now, I'm going back!"

After Zhao Rui finished speaking, he ignored Zhang Kui's surprised look and went straight out of the dormitory.

"If you're not going, I'll go with someone else!"

Zhang Kui rolled over, took out his phone, and started scrolling through his contacts.

……

As the twelfth lunar month approaches, the weather is getting colder and colder. Only a few lonely leaves remain on the branches of trees outdoors, struggling in the cold wind.

Zhang Kui has taken two days off!
Zhao Rui only learned about this after he joined the martial arts team.

"Why is this guy so obsessed with this kind of thing? It's not like him at all!"

Zhao Rui knew perfectly well that Zhang Kui must have taken leave to go to Mount Tai.

No one cared about this, and Zhao Rui didn't care either. His training was the same as usual: he practiced on his own in the morning and dutifully served as a sparring partner in the afternoon.

Without Zhang Kui's witty banter, the day's training was a bit dull, prompting Li Xinran to mutter about him many times.

By the afternoon of the third day, Zhao Rui still hadn't seen Zhang Kui, so he realized something was wrong and called him.

But the phone kept showing that the call could not be connected.

Zhao Rui's heart skipped a beat. He quickly found Zeng Hongyi and briefly explained Zhang Kui's trip to Mount Tai.

Upon hearing this, Zeng Hongyi immediately realized the seriousness of the situation and rushed to the main hall with Zhao Rui, where he explained the whole story to Wang Zhanshan.

"This guy is just ridiculous."

Wang Zhanshan was furious after hearing this. As a university named after a province, Dongqi University held a very special position in Dongqi Province.

In addition to shouldering the responsibility of cultivating college students, they also have another task: to participate in some decision-making and planning in Dongqi Province.

Wang Zhanshan might not be aware of the unusual phenomena occurring at Mount Tai, but certain personnel movements and the direction of the academy's high-level combat forces indicated that something strange had happened.

Mount Tai is that central point.

Wang Zhanshan cursed a couple of times and then quickly took out his phone to make a call.

"Master Ge, one of our martial arts team members went to Mount Tai. Yes, it's been three days. Okay, okay, I understand."

After hanging up the phone, Wang Zhanshan instructed Zeng Hongyi to keep an eye on things at home, as he was going to Taishan to contact the local police station.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rui hurriedly requested to go with Wang Zhanshan, but Wang Zhanshan refused.

"Greed knows no bounds, like a snake trying to swallow an elephant. You all better stay put."

After Wang Zhanshan finished speaking, he strode away from the main hall in a menacing manner.

Zhao Rui looked at Zeng Hongyi and said anxiously, "Teacher Zeng, what should we do?"

"I don't know either. I hope this kid is lucky and survives."

Zeng Hongyi didn't know much either. He quietly watched the autumn wind rise outside the window, and couldn't help but feel a little worried.

The following afternoon, not only did Zhang Kui not return, but Wang Zhanshan also disappeared without a trace.

It wasn't until the afternoon of the following day that Wang Zhanshan sent back a message, instructing Zeng Hongyi to contact the counselor of Zhang Kui's class and have the counselor contact Zhang Kui's family.

Upon hearing this news, Zhao Rui's heart sank to the bottom of a lake; he knew that Zhang Kui must have run into trouble.

The next morning, Wang Zhanshan rushed back, covered in dust. As soon as he entered the main hall of Mingchan Temple, he called the two assistant coaches and Zhao Rui to his office.

"Zhang Kui went hiking with others without permission, and it is highly likely that he fell off a cliff. Everyone should take this as a warning. The specific arrangements for the aftermath still need to be discussed..."

Upon hearing Wang Zhanshan's words, Zhao Rui was visibly stunned. Falling off a cliff?

"What if he didn't even go hiking?"

"The local police have been able to find some information; he did go up the mountain, but no one knows whether he is alive or dead."

Zhao Rui felt a mix of emotions, and the image of Zhang Kui joking around kept flashing through his mind.

"Zhao Rui, what Zhang Kui said to you is not important. What's important is that you're not allowed to go near Mount Tai..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Rui quickly nodded in agreement.

In the following days, Zhang Kui's parents also arrived, but they were adamant about the matter and insisted on compensation.

This caused quite a commotion, but the Martial Arts Academy is not a place where ordinary people can cause trouble at will.

The school didn't want to escalate the situation, so after using both soft and hard tactics, they quickly took the person away.

As for what happened next, Zhao Rui didn't know. In short, Zhang Kui's sudden disappearance completely disrupted Zhao Rui's understanding of the world.

"Keep practicing! Learn from your mistakes,"

Seeing that everyone was listless and seemed dejected, Wang Zhanshan couldn't help but speak loudly.

Then, everyone found their places in the training ground according to the previously designated team order.

Even without anyone, the Earth will still revolve around the sun.

Within a day or two, no one paid any attention to or mentioned Zhang Kui's presence in the martial arts team.

　You can skip this chapter and the next. It won't affect the plot.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)