Chapter 29: Physical Training Program

Wang Cheng searched for Jiang Hong’s account on Youku and found the videos he had uploaded. He skipped the most recent one, which covered the recent match—some painful memories were better left buried.

He clicked on Jiang Hong’s training videos, but after two minutes, his expression grew strange. He silently dragged the progress bar with his mouse. Right now, only one thought occupied Wang Cheng’s mind: "Is this guy, Jiang Hong, messing with me?"

The training plan was abysmal—the intensity was far too high, and it lacked any focus on specialized areas. Human energy is finite; even if one wanted to train comprehensively, it had to be done progressively. At this rate, Jiang Hong’s body would break down sooner or later.

However, remembering that Jiang Hong had no coach, Wang Cheng felt like someone watching a child playing with a wooden stick, only to realize the child was actually practicing a peerless sword technique—and had somehow mastered it. Wang Cheng was stunned. His gaze hardened; it would be a crime for a genius like Jiang Hong to ruin himself this way. He had to stop him.

He closed the video and immediately sent a message to Jiang Hong.

Back in his dormitory, Jiang Hong was waiting for some useful advice from Wang Cheng. When the QQ notification chimed, he was surprised. "That was fast. I didn't expect Wang Cheng to be so efficient."

He opened the message: "To be honest, I can't make sense of your training plan. It seems quite unprofessional." In reality, Wang Cheng was being polite; Jiang Hong’s plan was nothing short of absurd. "However, since your technical training seems effective, I won't give too many suggestions. But you should reduce the volume. At your current intensity, you are overdrawing your body. Even if you turn pro, your career won't last long."

When "spaghetti code" runs without issues, the best policy is often to leave it alone. After all, training doesn't always guarantee progress just because you work hard. In the early days of domestic sports, when training protocols weren't standardized, many coaches operated on the philosophy: "If it doesn't kill you, train until you die!" The results were predictable—every year, many athletes were trained into burnout.

Jiang Hong wasn't surprised by the advice; he knew the intensity was extreme. But Jiang Hong was a "cheater"—he possessed a bug-like item called the "Training Recovery Potion."

"Thanks for the tip, Lao Wang. I'll consider it based on how I feel!" Jiang Hong couldn't coldly reject such well-meaning advice.

Relieved, Wang Cheng felt that Jiang Hong had taken his words to heart. "I noticed your physical conditioning methods are quite crude. I can offer you some suggestions!"

"Twenty minutes of planks, 200 squats, 100 pull-ups, and a thirty-minute long-distance run!" This was Wang Cheng’s own personal conditioning routine.

[Ding! Suggestion received: 20-minute plank, 200 squats, 100 pull-ups, 30-minute run. Completion reward: Physical Attribute +2, Speed +1, 100 yuan, Training Recovery Potion x1. (Do you wish to record this task? It can be repeated.)]

Sure enough, a new task. Jiang Hong decisively accepted the suggestion, replacing his original five-kilometer run. "Thanks for the advice, Lao Wang. I'm off to train!" After sending the message, he went offline.

Seeing the reply, Wang Cheng couldn't help but sigh. "Talented and hardworking—how is anyone else supposed to compete with that?" Suddenly, lying in bed no longer felt comfortable. He got up and started training.

Coach Li, having finished his meal, saw Wang Cheng on the training ground and nodded in satisfaction. To recognize one's shame and then strive for greatness—perhaps losing this match was a blessing in disguise.

...

The weather was sweltering; training outdoors would surely lead to heatstroke. Fortunately, Wang Cheng’s suggested exercises—planks, squats, and pull-ups—could all be done indoors. Jiang Hong found a blanket and laid it on the floor.

Li Hua, who was wearing headphones while gaming, looked at Jiang Hong’s movements with confusion. "Lao Jiang, what are you doing?"

"Planks. Want to join?"

Li Hua shook his head vigorously. "I'll pass. My teammates need my help; I can't abandon them!" he declared righteously. He felt that compared to tennis, esports were much better suited for him.

Jiang Hong began his physical training, starting with the planks. He lowered himself onto the blanket, holding his body in a straight line. Initially, it was quite easy—he even managed to glance at Li Hua’s game a few times. But as time wore on, fatigue began to wash over him. Despite the fan in the room, the air felt stifling. The mix of burning muscles and thick, stagnant air felt like torture. Sweat poured from his face onto the blanket.

Suddenly, his arms slipped, and he collapsed onto the mat.

[9 minutes 42 seconds / 20 minutes]

Jiang Hong glanced at the task progress on his system panel. Well, he hadn't even finished half. He took a sip of water, rested for about a minute, and resumed. This time, he managed to push through to the end.

As the text on the system panel changed, Jiang Hong’s body instantly relaxed. "Whew!" He lay on the mat, breathing heavily. After a short rest, he moved on to the next item: pull-ups.

This was a standard exercise, one he’d done for physical fitness tests every semester. Li Hua, the short, chubby guy, absolutely loathed them. However, for a tennis player, upper body strength was crucial for both serving and hitting. Jiang Hong’s previous serving style relied on tricky placement, while his ball speed was merely at the level of an average professional. If he could boost his power, a "cannon" serve combined with his precision would make him far more threatening.

Jiang Hong hung from the door frame, performing his pull-ups. It wasn't particularly eye-catching, as many students who were too lazy to go out did the same in their dorms.

About an hour and a half later:
[Plank: Completed]
[Pull-ups: Completed]
[Squats: Completed]

All that remained was the thirty-minute run. Jiang Hong rubbed his sore thighs and arms, pondering. He still hadn't finished his forehand and backhand practice for the day. At this rate, it would take another two hours.

In the late afternoon, when the sun was less intense, Jiang Hong headed out. He called Su Cheng over to help; if he had to pick up the balls himself in his current state, he’d be training until midnight.

Su Cheng looked him up and down. "What have you been doing?"

"I changed my training plan." Jiang Hong explained his new routine. Just listening to it made Su Cheng feel exhausted.

"Jiang Hong, do you really have to push yourself this hard?" Su Cheng hesitated before asking.

"Of course I do. If I don't work hard, when will I ever reach the pro level and face those top experts?" Jiang Hong replied with a smile, his voice tinged with excitement.

Su Cheng had intended to urge him to dial back the intensity, but seeing the glow in his eyes, she ultimately said only two words: "Good luck!"