Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 4 - 3: Prisoner’s Six Arts, Liberating Oneself (Seeking Follow-up Readings)

Previously on Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups...

Fang Cheng receives paper offerings from a neighbor for the Cold Clothes Festival to honor his deceased father, then returns to his modest, tidy home maintained by his overworked mother. He lights incense before his family's photo and burns the offerings, stirring memories of his father's mysterious death revealed in an old newspaper. Settling into study, he activates his Concentration and Speed Reading skills to rapidly absorb legal texts, gaining experience points but suffering a headache from overexertion. Reflecting on his growing abilities and potential paths—from law to physical prowess—he recalls his father's enigmatic warning and resolves to pursue a rigorous fitness plan called Prisoner's Training.

The urban landscape at five in the morning.

Stars glimmering faintly, street lamps dotted sparingly.

Save for the sporadic sound of tires from vehicles rolling by, silence reigns.

Within a cramped, shadowy rented space.

Neon glows flicker through the glass, projecting shifting silhouettes across the walls.

"Shh... Huh..."

Fang Cheng rests flat on the ground, aligning his back rigidly and joining his legs as one.

His elbows repeatedly flex downward, bringing his torso near the floor.

He draws in a sharp inhale of the cold, biting atmosphere.

Next, his limbs drive him upward with power, expanding his ribcage while gazing ahead.

Releasing a steamy puff of heated vapor.

For every action, he mutters the tally inwardly, aiming to keep a consistent pace.

Indeed.

The activity he's engaged in right now goes by the name of the Equipment-Free Workout Essential Technique, part of the trio of foundational urban exercises, Push-ups.

Following thorough deliberation, Fang Cheng chose to focus on "Physical Training" first.

Desiring to acquire fresh abilities akin to "Fitness" and "Training" via fundamental drills, much like with "Boxing".

During his prior existence as a shut-in, Fang Cheng had devoured numerous movies and perused materials on combat and conditioning.

In particular, a hit publication titled "Prisoner Fitness, Mastering Potent Survival Power" etched itself firmly in his memory.

The writer of that volume endured 19 years within the most grim correctional facilities.

Life behind bars proved savage, filled with assaults and mistreatment as norms, where mishaps frequently led to grave wounds or fatalities.

Amid such unforgiving surroundings, frailty counted as a grave fault, and building might served only for mere continuance.

Over the years, the writer honed his methods, absorbing diverse classic techniques from cellmates and integrating them with contemporary exercise knowledge.

In the end, enlightenment struck, yielding a system of Prisoner Fitness built on Six Arts, straightforward yet deeply insightful.

Its core idea remains uncomplicated: bypass the requirement for fitness centers.

Dispense with chilly apparatuses or performance-boosting substances.

Shun the pursuit of massive extremities or enormous chest slabs, instead aiming to command one's frame with agility and liberty, turning into its ruler.

Everybody holds the potential for burst-like power and a feral build.

Shunning gear and enhancements aligns perfectly with Fang Cheng's present circumstances.

Right now, funds elude him for gym fees, coaches, or aids such as protein shakes, nitric oxide boosters, and creatine supplements.

Thus, merging his requirements with the tome's teachings, Fang Cheng crafted an equipment-less regimen for bodily conditioning.

Encompassing Push-ups, Deep Squats, Pull-ups, Leg Raises, Back Bridges, and Handstand Pushups.

The volume dubs these six disciplines the "Prisoner's Six Arts."

And "Push-ups," positioned as the inaugural of the Six Arts, offer a basic yet potent method for building strength.

This routine strengthens the forearms, biceps, pectorals, and midsection while improving heart-lung capacity and elevating endurance.

Fang Cheng commences with classic dual-arm Push-ups.

Naturally, tougher adaptations exist as well.

Like Diamond Push-ups, jackknife Push-ups, Archer Push-ups, one-armed Push-ups, and Superman Push-ups serving as elevated training approaches.

"13."

"14."

"15."

"Huff... Huff..."

Once Push-ups surpass the ten-mark, Fang Cheng's breaths quicken sharply.

The flexing and straightening of his limbs also starts to waver, fighting to uphold proper posture.

Yet Fang Cheng refuses to yield just yet.

This serves as a trial for his bodily resilience and a deeper probe into the Golden Finger's practicality in reality.

Distinct from expert aptitudes like "Boxing" and "Cooking Skill,"

the notion of "Fitness" spans too widely, covering immense varieties that resist precise classification.

Marking his initial workout, Fang Cheng yearns to witness.

Whether repeating the identical motion can truly activate and reveal a novel ability on the interface.

"18."

"19."

"20..."

Scarcely reaching 20, his vigor appears to hit its peak.

Fang Cheng's torso rises and falls fiercely, while his limbs quiver without restraint.

He inevitably pauses to regain his wind.

"My frailty persists..."

Per the regimen outline, this sequence ought to hit 25 counts.

Evidently, he gauged his capacity too highly.

This frame, starved of routine activity, has dwindled in potency long ago.

Thrusting into intense drills abruptly, such a showing merits praise already.

Furthermore...

With the display showing no response, doubt creeps in unavoidably.

Fang Cheng furrows his brow, panting deeply.

Skeptical notions flicker in his thoughts only to be banished swiftly.

As an ordinary soul before, he might wallow in discontent, lament his lot, and rue former failings.

But now, bestowed an opportunity by destiny to transform his mundane and base existence,

how could he surrender lightly and spin soothing deceptions and justifications for his shortcomings?

A briny droplet of perspiration trails from his lip's edge to his jawline.

Fang Cheng grits his teeth.

The challenge commences.

Should he falter at the outset, he'll linger eternally as a failure!

Whether triumph awaits or not, if he craves it, he must strive utterly to seize it!

At minimum, he seeks to uncover his boundaries!

"Concentration Skill—activate!"

[You have employed Concentration Skill, intensely concentrating your awareness, and amplifying physical command]

[Sustain for more than 30 minutes to accrue Experience Points]

"21."

"22."

"23."

Though his sinews keep shaking, Fang Cheng's gaze turns resolute and steady.

Resembling his return to the testing hall in the gaokao, confronting a tough and intricate exam sheet, devoid of any urge to withdraw.

Every descent toward the earth feels like dialogue with his former frail and powerless being.

Every expansion of his chest and lift of his chin acts like evidence of his self-transcendence.

"24."

"25."

Shattering through one more key threshold.

Perspiration droplets have thoroughly blanketed Fang Cheng's brow.