Martial Arts Genius with Proficiency System Chapter 4: You just experienced a battle...

Su Tu halted abruptly, sweat cascading like a downpour, gasping for air, while he chugged every last drop from his sports bottle.

System alerts popped up right on schedule.

[You finished a vigorous run, Body Strengthening Proficiency +15]

[Strengthen Body (Initial Tier): 175/300]

He plopped down on a nearby bench, steadying his breathing, a faint grin curling his lips.

Tangible progress delivers an unmatched rush of satisfaction.

"Phew, going at this pace, Strengthen Body will hit Middle Tier in no time."

Proficiency climbs fast at Initial Tier, but drags like a snail in Middle Tier, just like Spiritual Wisdom.

His physical gains weren't as striking as that one time he scored a massive 50-point proficiency jump.

Yet he knew full well his body had grown tougher for real.

These skills deliver instant upgrades; each proficiency tick makes him more powerful.

"An hour of running nets just 15 proficiency points, yet a few daytime punches rack up 10."

"Beyond joining events for bonus proficiency, Martial Arts Dao pumps Strengthen Body far better than basic workouts."

Su Tu mused as he caught his breath.

His mind drifted to the business card Lin Feiyang had 'accidentally' let fall during the day.

"Martial Arts might be the fastest path to boost Strengthen Body; I'll head to Tayue Martial Arts Hall over the holiday."

As these ideas swirled in his head, something on the ground nearby caught his side glance.

"Who owns this bag? Good thing it ran into a good Samaritan like me, or it'd be gone for good."

A white makeup bag rested on the ground nearby; rising, he snatched it up and stuffed the spilled cosmetics back in.

His neighborhood had a Public Security Bureau just downstairs; he could hand it over on the way back.

Su Tu had no issue with little good deeds like this, seeing it as a way to keep his honor intact.

However, the moment Su Tu grabbed the makeup bag.

His frame went utterly stiff in an instant.

Thump~ Thump~ Thump!!!

His steady heartbeat surged wildly once more; Su Tu clearly sensed a sinister stare locked onto him.

That stare oozed greed and malice, brimming with savage lust, like icy, slimy tendrils slithering at him from every side.

The area turned eerily barren, murmurs whispering in his ears.

Since Spiritual Wisdom hit Middle Tier, his instincts sharpened to a razor's edge, nearly certain some vile presence was spying on him.

His fist tightened on its own; all muscles tensed fully, primed to explode at the slightest threat.

With Fighting Skills under his belt, his agility, battle sense, and muscle control had leaped forward dramatically.

A chilly spark flashed in the young man's eyes; he gradually lifted the bag from the dirt, acting nonchalant as he rose, eyes darting to scour every nook.

The rundown neighborhood gate stood empty, security post abandoned and crumbling, nearby cameras now spider havens.

Hardly any spots to conceal oneself nearby, still..... that watched sensation clung relentlessly.

Gulp~

It resembled a gulp from some creature; filthy and thick, a repulsive slick dampness suddenly saturated the air.

Su Tu leaped to his feet at once, fist balled in one hand, slipping into his sole known boxing form, the Straight Punch.

Full power fueled this Straight Punch from Su Tu; without even looking where it flew, pure gut drove him ahead, arm lashing out fiercely!

Bam!!!

The blow even cracked a sonic boom; Su Tu had never poured such grave focus into a Straight Punch, giving it everything he had.

All his muscles exploded with power; like a feral beast shattering its bonds, he bellowed inwardly through the strike!!!

Su Tu's Straight Punch targeted the shadow beneath the forward streetlamp, yet the shadows held empty void.

The strike whiffed.

Once the punch landed, the watched feeling vanished.

No further incidents stirred; it felt like pure hallucination all along.

[Completed a wholehearted Straight Punch strike, Fighting Proficiency +10, Body Strengthening Proficiency +5]

[Fighting Skills (Initial Tier): 110/300]

[Strengthen Body (Initial Tier): 180/300]

Night wind whispered softly, streetlamp wavered; merely a typical worn-out neighborhood gateway.

"Am I just overly tense?"

"Martial Arts possibly entering college exams weighs too heavily, sparking my nerves and birthing terror from the dim surroundings."

Su Tu unclenched his fist, eyes dropping, lost in contemplation.

"Beep Beep!!"

Suddenly, a piercing car horn blared right behind him, with dazzling headlights flashing over.

Su Tu whipped around, covering his eyes with one hand as he peered toward the light's origin.

A sleek black hovercar sat there, its high beams blazing fiercely.

"Hey, Su Tu, it's really you! Why are you out here so late at night instead of sleeping? Spill it, are you dating early already!"

"If you're dating early, I'll absolutely tell your aunt!"

A playful voice drifted into Su Tu's ears.

Half a body boasting stunning curves poked out from the car; those enticing shapes could rival certain Japanese teachers, her delicate features spellbinding even barefaced, wearing a skimpy tank top that revealed one shoulder.

"Zhang Jie?" Su Tu stared at the familiar face.

"Don't call me Zhang Jie, say older sister! 'Jie' makes me sound ancient, like I'm seventy or eighty!" The woman exited the vehicle, shooting Su Tu a seductive eye-roll with her foxy gaze.

Black shorts hugged her hips, paired with black stockings edged in red that highlighted her pale thighs, rendering them irresistibly alluring.

Zhang Jie, full name Zhang Meng, shares the same building with Su Tu, childhood friend of his aunt, obviously her peer in age yet demands he call her sister, delights in ribbing Su Tu.

"Zhang Jie, what are you doing here?" Su Tu asked.

"Wrapped up a class reunion, passing through by chance. Haven't quizzed you yet—what's your deal out here?" Zhang Jie queried, arms crossed in a probing stance.

"You're not seriously dating early?"

"Just a pre-bedtime jog, nothing but exercise." Su Tu responded.

Zhang Meng eyed Su Tu curiously before closing in, squeezing his arm in shock: "Whoa, Su Tu, you seem so skinny but pack solid muscle beneath!"

Groping Su Tu's firm arm, Zhang Meng's jaw dropped wide: "Ace student, killer body—if I sat in your class, I'd claim you on the spot!"

Su Tu long grew tolerant of Zhang Meng's flirty jabs, enduring them since their initial encounter when she never held back, and with his increasing maturity and good looks, her teasing ramped up further.

"Women would only hinder my sword drawing!" Su Tu declared gravely.

At those words, Zhang Meng straightened tall, thrusting out her curves boastfully: "What do you even know of women? Swing by tonight, and I'll show you the real meaning of 'drawing a sword'?"

"Cough, cough, cough—no need for that."

"Hahaha, fine, enough teasing. Hop in, I'm driving home anyway."

That prior aura of threat and weirdness had fully faded by now.

After the incident, Su Tu shed all desire to work out, boarding the car alongside Zhang Meng as the engine thundered to life, the hovercraft darting off swiftly.

Su Tu sat in the car, looking somewhat distracted.

Recent events replayed vividly in his thoughts; he dropped his gaze to the makeup bag clutched in his grip.

"Was it really just my imagination?"

While lost in thought.

System alerts abruptly flashed into view.

[You just experienced a battle, Fighting Proficiency +50, Body Strengthening Proficiency +50.]

[Strengthen Body (Initial Tier): 230/300]

[Fighting Skills (Initial Tier): 160/300]

In that instant, as the system panel's messages appeared, Su Tu's profound eyes darkened subtly.

At the same time, near the rundown neighborhood's gate under faint lamplight, a shadow twitched—a colossal form clambered up from beneath the earth, craning its neck toward Su Tu's departure path, raw greed radiating from its stare.

"Damn hairless monkey..." it spat with vicious spite, chest caved in by a enormous fist mark, brownish blood trickling from the gash.