"That day was the eve of my departure abroad to participate in the world championship."
"The family held a farewell banquet for me, everyone was happy and proud of me."
"My cousin got drunk and blurted out a sentence tinged with jealousy."
"For some reason, I suddenly became very angry, as if I was ignited by rage."
"My heartbeat accelerated, my blood pressure soared, and bumps throbbed on both sides of my forehead, as if a monster hidden deep within my body was about to break out!"
"Then, I truly became one with that monster..."
Fang Cheng sat on a stool, his expression solemn, listening to Shijima Gorou recount his past.
This was also the first time Shijima Gorou had displayed his so-called "transformation."
A Frenzy State would completely rob one of reason, leaving nothing but a beast’s desire for destruction.
During this incident, he accidentally inflicted life-threatening injuries on his cousin and harmed several relatives and friends who tried to intervene.
Fang Cheng could imagine how chaotic and brutal the scene must have been.
He subdued "Berserk Shijima Gorou" after an intense struggle lasting an hour, gradually wearing down his stamina.
Then, by using a choking technique to suffocate and render him unconscious, he managed to subdue him.
"How did you eventually regain your senses?"
Curious, Fang Cheng asked.
"It was thanks to a distinguished guest my grandfather invited to help."
Shijima Gorou answered.
"At that time, my mind was in chaos, and I couldn’t remember how I was taken down."
"When I came to, I was lying in the hospital bed like now, unable to move..."
Saying this, Shijima Gorou let out a bitter, self-deprecating laugh.
"Being incapacitated for over two months also gave me the peace I hadn’t had in a long while, and I thought of a way to alleviate the symptoms."
"As long as I’m forcibly restrained or physically exhausted during the transformation and fall into unconsciousness, the monster would lie dormant for a long time."
"That way, I can catch my breath and be a normal person for a while..."
Listening to Shijima Gorou’s words that carried a humor amidst suffering, Fang Cheng’s eyes flickered slightly before he asked:
"Didn’t you seek help from pharmaceutical companies?"
Shijima Gorou paused for a moment, then explained:
"I can’t even be sure if that company truly exists, and the medicine is regularly sent to me from different addresses."
His expression grew complicated as he spoke.
Was it mixed with regret, hatred, fear, or timidity?
Cui Xiuying finished translating for her fiancé and added:
"Mr. Fang, those people come from a mysterious background and are not from the same social stratum as us. Taking some matters too seriously might only bring more trouble."
Fang Cheng nodded, holding back his questions.
Unable to stay in Japan anymore, Shijima Gorou took his grandfather’s advice and decided to go to Xia Country to seek a complete cure for his chronic ailment.
This was because Xia Country’s Martial Arts philosophy, compared to other fighting styles, places more emphasis on self-cultivation, disease removal, life extension, and the pursuit of inner peace and tranquility.
Unfortunately, despite traveling far and wide and consulting various masters, he had not found a true expert.
Instead, as time passed, his condition began to recur and worsen.
Shijima Gorou could feel that the monster had returned.
Seeing himself unable to hold on much longer, he thus approached the Global Elite Fighting Club.
There, he vents his irritable moods and releases the pressure in his heart by beating up sparring partners.
While waiting for Zheng Haokang to arrive, hoping to utilize the fists of this world-class Boxing King to brutally beat himself, in order to repel the monster in his heart once again.
Subsequently, after witnessing Fang Cheng’s extraordinarily remarkable performance, he shifted his focus onto him.
"Mr. Fang, I’m sorry, it’s my fault that I put you in danger."
Shijima Gorou struggled, attempting to get up.
Cui Xiuying saw this and quickly pressed him down with both hands.
Seeing that the opponent’s spirit seemed to have fully returned to normal, listening to his sincere apology.
Fang Cheng hesitated for a moment, weighing his words, and replied:
"Mr. Shijima, actually, to restrain the monster inside your heart, it’s not necessarily to look for an external opponent. Maybe you can try to see yourself as your real opponent."
"I have also been filled with various negative emotions in my heart. However, each time I am challenging my physical limits, these negative emotions instead become the nutrients that help me overcome difficulties and reach another peak..."
"This is the wonderful thing about humans; when your mental willpower is strong enough, you can often exhibit potential beyond your own imagination. But when you give up in your mind first, you might not even be able to exert 10% of your strength in normal times..."
Fang Cheng spoke slowly, trying to articulate the spiritual insights he gained while doing pull-ups in the torrential rain.
Upon hearing this, Shijima Gorou couldn’t help but frown in thought, as if enlightened:
"My grandfather also told me that practicing martial arts is not only for refining muscles and bones, strengthening oneself, but also a form of spiritual self-shaping."
"The spiritual state you’ve entered, based on the Martial Arts concepts known to me from Xia Country, would be considered an accidental touch on the realm of Unity of Heaven and Man."
Fang Cheng laughed upon hearing this, remembering the martial arts novels he read in his past life, and played along:
"This frenzied state of yours, if described using Xia Country terms, is also called going into a devilish trance. It requires even more effort to forge your willpower."
The two exchanged a smile.
As former opponents, after talking about martial arts, they found common interests, and their relationship became much friendlier.
Shijima Gorou even had Cui Xiuying take out a photo hidden in his wallet and pass it to Fang Cheng to see.
It was a picture of a fair-faced, slender young man.
According to Shijima Gorou, this was his photo at fifteen, the first time he participated in a competition.
Fang Cheng commented that aside from not being handsome enough, he looked pretty normal in other aspects.
Upon hearing this, Shijima Gorou’s face squeezed into an even more unsightly wry smile.
Although they had not known each other for long and needed a translator to communicate, under their shared interests, they ended up chatting for nearly an hour without realizing it.
Cui Xiuying couldn’t help it and forcefully ordered her fiancé to rest properly, finally ending the conversation.
Fang Cheng looked out the window; it wasn’t early anymore, and soon stood up to say goodbye.
He wished Shijima Gorou a speedy recovery, promised to visit him in a few days, and continue discussing Martial Arts issues together.
Stepping out of the hospital’s main entrance.
Reflecting on the secrets Shijima Gorou had shared, Fang Cheng’s thoughts surged continuously.
Able to slightly dispel the fog that shrouded this world but unable to completely see into its scene.
Looking at the slightly hazy sky, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
If he could learn Japanese, communication would be smoother and more convenient, and he would likely be able to obtain more useful information.
Perhaps, he could also master a new skill.
With this thought, Fang Cheng opened the panel.
Looking at the "Cooking Skill" enhancement reward that had just been upgraded this morning.
[Knife Flower, can enhance finger dexterity, proficient in various intricate blade techniques]
What kind of special enhancement effects would it have if exchanged for a foreign language skill?
While lost in this reverie, Fang Cheng suddenly felt an inexplicable touch.
As if at this very moment, a pair of eyes were covertly observing him.
He couldn’t help but look back.
Out of the corner of his eye, he only caught a glimpse of a figure flitting past in front of the hospital’s window.