Chapter 23

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

For now, Chu Ge had no idea that he had been targeted. He was currently thinking of how to make full use of the system’s cool-down period to enhance his abilities.

He was still not entirely satisfied with his current strength and abilities. His stats were too weak, which meant he couldn’t even learn the Poised to Strike skill.

Hence, his first goal was to increase his strength and endurance stats by training his body.

After all, he was an ordinary person who loved to play games. Although he had tried his best to force himself to train his body whenever he had the time, all he did was spend half an hour each day being active. With his lack of perseverance, and though his body condition wasn’t too bad, he was far from strong. He could already feel the pressure from just challenging the least difficult Instance Dungeon. When he got to the higher-leveled Instance Dungeons, he would be dead for sure.

Besides training his body, Chu Ge felt that it would be good if he had the opportunity to learn melee weapon combat. Although he had won the battles in the Instance Dungeon, it was only because the opponents were so weak. And his battle method was idiot-proof. He relied on the superiority of his armor and the sharpness and lethalness of his weapons to hack and slash the monsters. It was enough to deal with the Kobolds and spiders. But if he encountered a more powerful enemy, such as an orc, ogre, giant, or even a dragon, that would be too dangerous.

Nevertheless, finding a gym to train his body was easy, but it was much harder to find a place that taught melee weapon combat. Chu Ge surfed the net for half a day before finding a place that looked like it fit with what he was looking for.

Thunderbolt Wrestling Sports Comprehensive Training Gym. The name was pretty long, but the information they provided was also extensive.

Looking at the training options available, they not only offered physical training menus like gym and yoga, but they also provided training for judo and MMA. They even had the options of kendo and melee weapon combat. Looking at the options, the gym felt very impressive.

However, despite its impressive page, their prices were rather high. The monthly membership fee was more than ,000. Compared to other gyms, they were a lot more expensive. Most likely, their members were probably the well-to-do and people who lots of time on their hands.

If it were the Chu Ge of the past, forking out over ,000 each month on a gym membership would cause major heartbreak for his wallet. But now, Chu Ge had no worries about money, so he did not care too much about the price anymore.

After getting into a cab, he soon arrived at the gym. The Thunderbolt Wrestling Sports Comprehensive Training Gym, which members simply called Thunderbolt Gym, was located in the western area of Xuange City. It was not in the heart of the city, although it was also not in a rural area, it wasn’t bustling either.

Although the gym was big, the entrance was pretty small. The feeling the gym gave off was as if it was trying to hide its presence within the city.

Walking through the doors into the foyer, Chu Ge made his way towards the gym’s reception desk.

“Hi, I’d like to apply for a gym card. Also, I’d like to find out more about the training options you offer here. Could you introduce them to me?”

Hearing that business had come calling, the receptionist immediately started introducing the training options to Chu Ge.

“We are a comprehensive training gym that caters to all urbanites. Besides the standard training options of gym and yoga, we also have specialized training menus of judo and MMA.

What are you interested in, sir?”

“Melee weapon combat, was that available?”

“Melee weapon combat?” the receptionist’s face changed. “Well, it used to be available. However, because no one was interested in signing up for that training option, the course has been canceled. But the trainer is still around. If you wish to sign up for that course, you can hire the trainer as your personal trainer to teach you. Though, a personal trainer does come with slightly higher fees.”

“Oh? Please elaborate on the details.”

“Well, it’s like this. If you signed up for a standard training course, we have a general teaching course that you could attend. Therefore, you would only have to sign up for a member card to attend the classes. Of course, you could also hire a personal trainer to give you undivided attention, which would include an additional trainer fee.

Because there was only one trainer who could teach melee weapon combat, that means that the training course would fall under the personal trainer category, which would require the additional trainer fee for the course. We seek your understanding on this.”

Chu Ge wasn’t bothered too much about the additional increase in fee. “It doesn’t matter. If the trainer can provide services that ensure my moment was well-spent, I have no problem with the extra fee.”

“So, would you wish to meet the trainer or apply for a member card first?”

In the end, Chu Ge still decided to apply for a member card first. It didn’t matter if he was satisfied with the melee weapon combat trainer since he intended to train his body, and he had already decided to hire a personal trainer to begin with.

Under a service staff’s guidance, Chu Ge met with the trainer he was looking for.”Here is Wei Xinming, Trainer Wei,” the service staff introduced.

“Pleasure to meet you, Trainer Wei,” Chu Ge shook hands with Wei Xinming. He looked somewhat normal and wasn’t too beefed up—vastly different from the macho men he saw while heading to meet the Wei Xinming. However, he had a unique aura and presence, similar to a soldier.

“You wish to learn melee weapon combat?” Wei Xinming looked at Chu Ge in resignation. It appeared as if he wasn’t keen on teaching anyone melee weapon combat.

“That’s right.”

“Alright, first, I have to tell you upfront. I do have some knowledge of melee weapon combat. But there are very few people who are interested in it now. Those wanting to learn defensive combat will only learn unarmed combat and whatnot. They had never given it much thought. You see, no matter how highly skilled you are, you can still be defeated by a brick. In a real fight, those with weapons would definitely be stronger than those unarmed. Besides, it is impossible for normal people who learn such skills as a hobby to become an expert. When they meet someone with a knife, they would still lose.”

Chu Ge began sweating. Wei Xinming looked like he wasn’t entirely happy, and started with a tirade of grumbles.

Then, he continued. “But honestly, you probably won’t get much chance to use the melee weapon combat skills you learned. In normal scenarios, fighting with your fist would probably just injure your opponent, but melee weapon combat could kill someone. If someone died because of your attack, even if you won, you might not have a good end either. So, are you certain you wish to learn?”

Chu Ge was ranting in his heart, no wonder no one wanted to sign up for the course. Most probably, those who were interested were frightened off by Wei Xinming’s words.

But, coincidentally, it was these words that made Chu Ge feel confident in Wei Xinming’s abilities. If he was so frank and straightforward, it made him feel that he could be trusted.”I am interested in melee weapon combat. Of course, I’m not intending to hack others with the skills I learned, but please teach me seriously. Who knows? I might have use for it one day. Killing someone would be better than being killed after all, right? Also, I am going to train my body in the gym too.”

Wei Xinming did not continue to dissuade him otherwise, “Then let’s start. Do you want to start with the gym or melee weapon combat?”

Chu Ge did not think gym training was too necessary for now since he could train his body through melee weapon combat training. “Let’s start with melee weapon combat then.”

Wei Xinming nodded, then led Chu Ge to a private training room.

The training room was very different from the other rooms Chu Ge had seen around the gym. It did not contain any sort of training equipment, sandbags, or a fighting ring. It was a very sparse and wide room, and there were a few wooden weapons placed at the edges of the room for training purposes.

“This was supposed to be the training room for melee weapon combat. Unfortunately, it hadn’t been utilized for so long. Thankfully, our gym area is quite large, and the boss is my buddy, so the room was not taken down. Just as well, we can train in here.”