Love in the Depths of Time (GL) - Chapter 2

After a year, Lin Xi had truly adapted to her new environment. Sunlight filtered through the trees on the school campus, casting dappled shadows on the playground. The whistle for gym class blew, and the students, like a flock of cheerful birds, rushed out of the classroom and onto the field. Lin Xi followed the group, dressed in simple sportswear: black sweatpants paired with a white T-shirt. Her high ponytail made her look especially energetic.

The gym teacher was a middle-aged man with a strong build and a serious expression that rarely changed. Standing in the center of the field, he shouted, “Today, we’re going to do something special!”

The students immediately quieted down, their curiosity piqued.

“Lin Xi, I heard you know martial arts?” The teacher’s gaze landed on her, his tone filled with anticipation.

Lin Xi was momentarily surprised but then smiled slightly and nodded.

“Great! Show everyone a demonstration!” As soon as the teacher finished speaking, murmurs spread across the field. Jia Le and Yang Sheng stood in the crowd, their eyes wide with excitement.

Lin Xi walked to the center of the field, took a deep breath, and steadied her breathing. She stood firm, clasped her hands together in a traditional martial arts salute, and bowed slightly—a gesture of respect before beginning. The students fell silent, their eyes fixed on her.

Lin Xi slowly lifted her right foot and stepped forward. She lowered her stance slightly, drawing a circular arc with her hands before thrusting a punch forward. Her movements were sharp and precise, exuding strength. Without hesitation, she withdrew her fist, stepped forward with her left foot, followed by her right, and swiftly turned her body. Her right leg shot out in a powerful kick, her movements flowing seamlessly like water.

The energy on the field seemed to shift with her momentum. The surrounding students held their breath, captivated. Lin Xi’s movements grew faster, her fists and kicks slicing through the air. Her gaze was focused and unwavering, as if nothing else existed in the world but her and her martial arts.

When she completed the sequence, she steadied herself and saluted once more. The field erupted into thunderous applause and cheers. Jia Le and Yang Sheng even jumped up in excitement, clapping and shouting.

“Wow! Lin Xi is amazing! I’ve never seen such cool martial arts!” Jia Le’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

“Yeah! I really want to learn too!” Yang Sheng eagerly agreed, looking at Lin Xi with eager anticipation.

The gym teacher nodded in approval and said, “Well done, Lin Xi! Your martial arts skills are impressive. Maybe you could teach the others sometime.”

Lin Xi gave a small nod and smiled.

As the bell rang, the students began packing up to head back to class, but Jia Le and Yang Sheng stuck to Lin Xi like glue, refusing to leave.

“Lin Xi, can you teach us?” Jia Le asked eagerly, his eyes full of anticipation.

“Yeah! I want to learn too!” Yang Sheng chimed in excitedly.

Lin Xi looked at their eager faces and smiled. “Alright, but you have to be serious about it.”

“Of course!” Jia Le and Yang Sheng answered in unison, their faces beaming with excitement.

From that day on, Lin Xi had a new task during her free time—teaching Jia Le and Yang Sheng martial arts. Though it was sometimes tiring, seeing their dedication and effort filled her with a sense of accomplishment. As time passed, word of her martial arts skills spread through the school, and more and more students began mimicking her movements on the field.

Sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Lin Xi stood at the edge of the field, watching Jia Le and Yang Sheng pack up their things to leave. A hint of helplessness crossed her face. A month ago, they had been full of passion for martial arts, their eyes shining with excitement. But now, their enthusiasm seemed to have faded under the weight of reality.

“Lin Xi, we’re really sorry,” Jia Le said with an apologetic look and exhaustion in his eyes. “It’s too tiring. We have to practice for so long every day and remember so many complicated moves. It’s just too much.”

Yang Sheng nodded in agreement. “Yeah, it’s not that we don’t want to learn, but it’s really hard. We think it’s best if we give up.”

Lin Xi was silent. She knew that martial arts weren’t easy. Every move required endless repetition, and every bit of progress came from sweat and effort. She had persevered because of her love for martial arts. But Jia Le and Yang Sheng… they were just kids. Maybe their passion had only been sparked by curiosity, and when the novelty faded, the hard work and exhaustion led them to quit.

“Alright, then take a break for now,” Lin Xi said softly, her voice tinged with disappointment. She watched as Jia Le and Yang Sheng walked away, their backs retreating into the distance. She knew she couldn’t force them to continue. Everyone had their own choices to make, and she couldn’t make them do something they weren’t willing to do.

From that day on, Lin Xi never taught anyone martial arts again. She practiced alone on the field, her figure bathed in the golden sunlight. Her movements remained precise and sharp, each strike and kick carrying her unwavering passion and dedication. But no one gathered around her anymore. No one excitedly asked, “Lin Xi, how do you do that move?”

Sometimes, Lin Xi wondered—if she had taught them in a simpler way, would they have stuck with it longer? If she had encouraged them more, would they have found the practice less exhausting? But “if” was just that—an illusion. The reality was that Jia Le and Yang Sheng had chosen to leave, and all she could do was continue on her own.

During gym class, Lin Xi still stood in the center of the field, but now, she was alone. The gym teacher noticed the change. One day during break, he patted her shoulder and said, “Lin Xi, don’t take it too hard. They’re still young. Their interest in new things comes quickly and fades just as fast. You’ve already done great—just getting them interested in martial arts was an achievement.”

Lin Xi nodded, though she couldn’t help but feel a little regretful. She knew she wasn’t practicing martial arts to gain approval, but deep down, she had hoped more people would share her passion.

Days passed, and Lin Xi continued practicing diligently. She knew that no matter who stood beside her or who left, she would never give up. Because she loved martial arts—it was a passion that would stay in her heart forever.