The undead have descended upon the world? I possess a sword that can cleave the heavens once more!

I still get up at six o'clock sharp every morning.

Wu You opened his eyes; it was already daylight outside the window. In the early summer morning, sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting a thin ribbon of light on the floor. He rolled out of bed, picked up the sword leaning against the headboard, and tiptoed out the door.

The small park downstairs, the usual spot.

I practiced for over an hour. I went through the footwork, breathing, and thirteen stances, as well as the three sword moves, several times each. Although I was covered in sweat, I felt refreshed.

I went home at 7:20.

Wu's mother was already busy in the kitchen, the range hood was humming, and eggs were frying in the pan, while Wu's father was sitting in the living room looking at his phone, waiting for dinner.

"Mom, I'm going out this morning." Wu You sat down and took the chopsticks that his mother handed him.

"Where to?" Aunt Wu brought over the fried eggs.

"Let's go for a stroll in the city," Wu You said, picking up a piece of pickled vegetables with his chopsticks.

Aunt Wu glanced at him but didn't ask any further questions: "Be careful and come back soon."

"Know."

Mr. and Mrs. Wu left home promptly at 7:30 a.m. They worked in a garment factory and only had two days off a month; there was no such thing as a weekend.

After finishing breakfast, Wu You washed the dishes, changed into clean clothes, and went out.

. . .

Take the bus for forty minutes and get off in the city center.

In front of me was a building over twenty stories high, its glass curtain wall reflecting the sunlight so bright it hurt my eyes.

There is a sign at the entrance of the building with white background and red lettering: "Welcome to White Fish Martial Arts School (12th Floor)" and an arrow below it.

Wu You followed the arrow and went inside.

There weren't many people in the elevator. I pressed the button for the 12th floor, the doors closed, and it slowly went up.

Ding.

We've reached the 12rd floor.

The elevator doors opened, and there was a wooden plaque in front of you with yellow background and black characters that read "Baiyu Martial Arts School".

Wu You walked over.

There was a large bar counter near the entrance, its white surface gleaming. Inside the counter sat a girl with her hair in a bun, wearing a white martial arts uniform, looking down at her phone.

The screen was colorful, and it looked like some kind of game.

Wu You glanced inside along the bar counter and paused, stunned.

The space inside was quite large, at least two or three hundred square meters. The floor was covered with gray soft mats, and various equipment was placed against the walls—sandbags, wooden dummy, dumbbell racks, resistance bands, and some other things I couldn't name. It looked like a gym, but more organized.

Several people were practicing inside; some were boxing, some were practicing standing meditation, and some were practicing their movements in front of a mirror.

"Young man, would you like to learn martial arts?"

The girl with the bun hairstyle looked up at some point and saw Wu You peering inside. She put her phone aside, stood up abruptly, and put on a standard business smile.

"Our martial arts school is having a half-price promotion right now!" She held up three fingers. "A semester is three months long, and it normally costs 100,000 jade coins, but now it's only 50,000!"

To seize the young?

Wu You almost thought he had misheard.

fifty thousand?

He weighs just over a hundred pounds.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat, trying to make his expression look natural. "I'm just looking into it first."

The girl with the bun hairstyle had a bright look in her eyes.

Want to learn more? Sure! If you're interested, that means you're a potential customer!

She immediately emerged from behind the bar and began her enthusiastic introduction: "Our White Fish Martial Arts School is one of the three best martial arts schools in Lanhe City!"

Wu You was taken aback, and a subtle expression appeared on his face.

There are only three martial arts schools in Lanhe City, aren't there?

But the girl with the bun hairstyle clearly didn't notice his expression and continued her rambling: "Our master is even a martial arts expert who participated in the national finals of the martial arts league!"

Wu You nodded in agreement.

He knew about the martial arts league, which was divided into three levels: city-level selection competition, provincial semi-finals, and national finals.

Anyone who makes it to the finals will receive a ranking and prize money, regardless of how many matches they win later. But to reach the finals, you first have to fight your way through the city's competitions, and then defeat a bunch of top players in the province.

The owner of this venue is really something, making it to the national finals.

"Our martial arts school mainly teaches three types of martial arts—" the girl with the bun hairstyle counted on her fingers, "fist techniques, palm techniques, and sword techniques!"

Wu You's eyelids twitched.

fencing.

"Among them, our master's specialty is palm techniques!" The girl with the bun hairstyle became more and more excited as she spoke. "Back then, our master relied on the 'Swimming Dragon Palm,' a technique that could both attack and defend, to defeat many martial arts masters from Xilin Province and successfully advance to the finals!"

Xilin Province, located in the southern part of Dongling Kingdom, is economically developed and ranks among the top in the entire Dongling Kingdom.

Lanhe City, where Wu You lives, is an inconspicuous small city in Xilin Province.

"Learning martial arts isn't just about improving your health!" the girl with the bun continued, "It can also give you a chance to show off your prowess sometimes! If you learn it well, you can even participate in martial arts leagues and win prizes—"

Wu You already knew what he wanted to know.

The White Fish Martial Arts School specializes in swordsmanship. The school master is skilled in palm techniques.

He doesn't care much about anything else.

Besides, there are still two martial arts schools I haven't visited.

"Hmm." He nodded. "I'll think about it."

The girl with the bun hairstyle was stunned: "Huh?"

She might be a bit slow-witted, but she wasn't stupid. She'd heard "I'll think about it" far too many times; it was basically equivalent to "No, thank you."

"Thank you for the introduction." Wu Youchong nodded. "I'll come again when I have the chance."

After saying that, he turned and left.

"Wait, wait, wait—" came a hurried voice from behind.

Wu You paused in his steps.

"We still have trial classes available for registration!" The girl with the bun hairstyle chased after them, "The trial class includes three free lessons. You can decide whether to continue after you've finished!"

free?

Wu You stopped and turned around.

"How would you describe this trial class?"

The girl with the bun hairstyle brightened up again: "A trial class means you can attend classes with other students! You can choose the classes you're interested in—for example, if you're interested in palm techniques, you can come and listen when other students are taking a beginner palm technique class!"

"However, you can only choose three introductory classes to attend, and you have to follow the schedule of other students."

Wu You understood.

It's the same trick as those trial classes that sold courses in my past life: give you a free taste, and if you like it, you can pay for it later.

How do I register?

"Just leave your name and contact information!" The girl with the bun darted back to the bar, pulled out a registration form, and added, "Then add us on WeChat!"

She pointed to a QR code posted on the bar counter.

"The official WeChat account will update the course schedule for the next day the day before. If there is a course you want to attend, just come over at the designated time."

Wu You left his name and phone number, took out his phone to scan the QR code, and added the official account.

"Thank you." He nodded to his bun hairstyle. "Come again if you have the chance."

This time, he's really gone.

. . .

Around 11 a.m., the sun was already quite strong.

After leaving the last martial arts school, Wu You randomly found a noodle shop to sit down.

I visited all three martial arts schools in one morning.

White Fish Martial Arts School: Offers swordsmanship; the headmaster is skilled in palm techniques. 50,000 jade coins per semester; free trial classes are available.

Giant Elephant Martial Arts School: Does not teach swordsmanship; the headmaster is skilled in fist techniques. 45,000 per semester; no trial classes.

Fengxiang Martial Arts School: Offers swordsmanship; the school master is skilled in swordsmanship; 100,000 jade coins per semester; no trial classes.

Wu You went through it in his mind.

Logically speaking, Fengxiang Martial Arts School would be the most suitable—the school master specializes in swordsmanship, so his teaching would definitely be more appropriate, but 100,000 jade coins…

Giant Elephant Martial Arts School is a no-go; what's the point of not teaching swordsmanship?

White Fish Martial Arts School... Let's try a trial class first, it's free anyway.

The owner brought over a bowl of beef noodles. The broth was clear, with a few slices of beef on top and some chopped green onions sprinkled on top. Wu You picked up his chopsticks and began to eat.

My mind is still racing.

The trial class only includes three beginner lessons. What can you learn in three days? Probably not much.

But at least we can see what level those martial arts practitioners are at, and how their sword techniques differ from our own basic sword techniques.

Besides, you might get to know some people and ask around for information.

This world is too complicated; corpses, black mist, martial artists, ability users—he knew nothing about it.

We need to learn more.

After finishing his noodles, Wu You paid and left the noodle shop.

The sun was making him a little dizzy. He walked to the bus stop and waited for the bus.

The bus has arrived. Get on and find a seat by the window.

The street scene outside the window slowly receded into the distance—pedestrians, shops, traffic lights, zebra crossings—seemingly no different from those ordinary weekend afternoons in my previous life.

Wu You leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

He went over those three sword moves in his mind again.

Straight thrust sword, top-splitting sword, door-blocking sword.

As he thought about it, Wu You's hands seemed to itch a little.

Okay, I'll practice my sword when I get back.