Second Take On Romance - The A-List Actor Wants Me
Chapter 70 : Evening Spar (2)

Chapter 70: Chapter 70 : Evening Spar (2)

"Oh."

Shen Jingwei was suddenly overcome with awkwardness.

"I will continue for a little bit more. You can go ahead. I will switch off the lamps later."

Yan Renzhong stared at him for a while before he threw a glance at the clock hanging in the studio.

The silence in the vast space was broken only by the gently ticking sound of the clock.

It was already 10 PM.

Yan Renzhong went to a corner and took a seat on the wooden floor.

"I will wait for you," he said.

Now Shen Jingwei really felt awkward.

"You don’t have to," he said. "I will be fine on my own."

Ignoring Shen Jingwei’s words, Yan Renzhong closed his eyes and leaned his head against the wall.

"Focus on your training," he said. "Don’t talk to me."

"..."

That was what he said, but how could Shen Jingwei concentrate with Yan Renzhong standing guard over him?

Maybe his self-training gradually deteriorated in quality, because then Yan Renzhong left his wall and walked over to him.

"What, exactly, are you practicing?"

He picked up one of the books on the floor and flipped through it.

"Just some fancy movements to fake sword mastery," Shen Jingwei said, embarrassed with his own answer.

To his greatest relief, Yan Renzhong did not burst into laughter. Instead, he squatted on the floor and went through all the other books.

"A sword fight isn’t just about strength and skill," Yan Renzhong began slowly, his voice carrying a hint of wisdom.

"It’s a complex interplay of physical ability, mental acuity, and strategic thinking. Think of it as a dance, but one where the steps can be deadly.

Each movement, each parry, is a calculated response to your opponent’s actions. You need to read their movements, anticipate their intentions, and react accordingly."

Yan Renzhong picked a sword prop from the prop shelf and swung it several times in front of him.

"The key to practicing swordsmanship is not just about delivering powerful strikes; it’s about controlling the pace, managing your energy, and seizing opportunities.

A skilled swordsman can turn a seemingly disadvantageous situation into a tactical advantage through careful planning and execution.

The battlefield is a dynamic environment, and adaptability is key. You must be prepared to adjust your strategy as the fight evolves, always seeking to maintain the upper hand."

Yan Renzhong beckoned Shen Jingwei toward him.

"If you wish to beat me, you need to know my style, and vice versa."

Shen Jingwei gulped.

"I don’t think I am at that level where I can easily predict your next steps."

"Indeed, you aren’t, so let me tell you several things about myself."

"..."

Yan Renzhong pointed at his formerly sprained ankle.

"The ankle has healed, but my physiotherapist emphasized that I needed to protect it at all costs, at least for several more months to come.

Which means that my every movement will be geared toward protecting my ankle."

Shen Jingwei nodded several times.

"Also, I am a right-hander. You might want to aim attacks at my left side."

Shen Jingwei nodded again.

"Understood."

"Also..."

Yan Renzhong kept listing out his weaknesses in front of Shen Jingwei. While Shen Jingwei tried his best to remember, he also could barely believe his own ears.

Yan Renzhong was actually quite a generous guy, wasn’t he? Did he do this for all co-stars with zero sword fighting skills?

"Make no mistake, I do not plan to allow you to attack me all you want."

"..."

Naturally.

"By steering your attacks, I can decide when to defend and when to let you land a blow."

Oh.

"Also..."

Yan Renzhong suddenly inched closer, prompting Shen Jingwei to take a step backward.

"What are you doing?" He asked warily.

"Relax."

Yan Renzhong grabbed Shen Jingwei by his upper arms, turned him around, and slapped him right in the middle of his back.

"Stand up straight."

Shen Jingwei immediately snapped to attention, his posture as rigid as a new army recruit reporting to his commanding supervisor.

Yan Renzhong inexplicably started to probe around Shen Jingwei’s arms and shoulders.

"Have you been to the gym?" He asked.

"Uh, yes. Almost every day before the fourth shooting period starts."

"Hmm."

"What are you... Ackkk!"

Shen Jingwei cried out when Yan Renzhong put distinct pressure at several acupuncture points on his back.

"Stay still. You are too tense here."

"I am sore," Shen Jingwei corrected him.

"And tense," Yan Renzhong quipped. He began kneading into Shen Jingwei’s back and right arm, working to alleviate the tension in his muscles.

"Now try swinging your sword again."

He scooped up the imitation Winter Frost from the floor, feeling its weight in his grasp. "Wow," he breathed, flicking the blade and listening to the satisfying chime. "A real Winter Frost, minus the sharp edge."

"Old Zhu ordered it by custom," Shen Jingwei took the sword from Yan Renzhong.

"So you have been practicing with this sword all along?"

"Yeah."

Yan Renzhong rubbed at his own chin in contemplation.

"Do you know why Xie Jianyu, an omega, can win against Zhang Fengxi, an alpha?"

"Because he is stronger?" Shen Jingwei answered.

Yan Renzhong shook his head.

"Uh, because he was able to predict Zhang Fengxi’s moves?" Shen Jingwei tried again.

Zhang Fengxi scoffed.

"That was not what I meant. Judging from a martial artist’s point of view, a weaker omega should not be stronger than a superior alpha. Xie Jianyu’s strength lay mostly in his speed. He was smaller and slender in nature, so he used that to his advantage when dealing with his opponents."

"I see."

"Attack speed can be crucial to determine victory or loss, depending on the wielder’s skills."

Shen Jingwei nodded again, not knowing what exactly Yan Renzhong was trying to say.

"Which means that since you have been practicing with a sword this heavy from the beginning, you should perform better when we use lighter props tomorrow," Yan Renzhong ended his explanation.

"Oh..."

Shen Jingwei stared at the imitation Winter Frost in his hand. He should treat Zhu Dongyi to a lavish meal later on.

"Okay, enough with the chit-chat."

Yan Renzhong pointed his prop sword at Shen Jingwei.

"Come at me with all you’ve got."

Shen Jingwei raised his sword in front of him. Then he took a deep breath and charged at Yan Renzhong.

The early attacks were tentative and off-beat, but they soon settled into a synchronized pattern. The two men whirled through the studio, their swords meeting in a flurry of clashes as they exchanged one blow after another.

Shen Jingwei was filled with pure joy.

I can do it! He screamed in his own head. I can really do it!

But then, suddenly, his foot skidded on a slippery patch on the floor. His eyes widened in horror as his legs buckled beneath him, and he began to fall.