The Way of Restraint

Chapter 5: Resent the Sky Without a Handle, Resent the Earth Without a Loop

On the way, Su Jie chatted animatedly with Odell.  

Odell turned out to be quite knowledgeable about China—well-versed in many aspects, especially martial arts. He was an expert in countless techniques, and there seemed to be nothing he didn’t know. Su Jie found this entirely unsurprising. Through their conversation, he learned that Odell was a combat coach, and not just any coach—he trained world-class professional fighters.  

However, Odell was currently unemployed.  

What made Su Jie both laugh and cry was that Odell’s job had been snatched away by artificial intelligence.  

According to Odell, the top professional fighters today all trained with the assistance of AI. The technology could analyze even the smallest muscle movements, subtle changes in the skin, and even the undulations of internal organs, enabling it to design targeted training regimens every day.  

Moreover, AI could monitor fighters’ physical conditions daily, devising meal plans and recommending specific trace elements for intake.  

With access to massive databases and the most advanced medical analytics, AI far surpassed any human coach.  

Su Jie knew how powerful AI had become. Years ago, it had completely defeated the world’s top Go champions. What’s more, its strategies were entirely different from human techniques, creating a new realm of Go that was not merely an extension of human intelligence but a manifestation of its own innovative capacity.  

He had also read news about AI-assisted training in national sports teams, such as badminton, table tennis, basketball, and soccer. By analyzing videos, AI could correct every action and guide athletes to perfection.  

The same applied to combat sports.  

Su Jie’s elder sister, Su Muchen, was involved in AI computer research at a major company after earning her PhD.  

Su Jie had read novels before where the protagonist acquired a super AI chip that corrected their martial arts movements, merging numerous techniques into an invincible skillset. While fictional, it wasn’t entirely implausible.  

Nowadays, Go players and their coaches had largely been replaced by AI. Every move it made was the most accurate and flawless.  

In ancient times, Go players would exhaust themselves mentally and even spit blood to perfect a single move. In contrast, AI could calculate the optimal solution in just a fraction of a second.  

Years ago, Su Jie had seen the despair of the world’s best Go masters facing AI, describing it as akin to the “God of Go.”  

“Uncle Odell, do you think AI has figured out the ultimate training method for combat or determined the strongest fighting techniques?” Su Jie asked, voicing a question he had long wondered about.  

Which martial art was the strongest in the world?  

“There is no strongest martial art, only the strongest person,” Odell replied. “Training methods are not set in stone. Every individual has different physical and psychological traits. A method that works best for me might not suit you. As coaches, we design personalized training regimens for each person. Unfortunately, AI is superior in tailoring regimens for professional fighters. But I’m not willing to give up. That’s why I’ve come to the mysterious East—to seek the legendary Qi, a supernatural power.”  

“Supernatural power? Is that even possible?” Su Jie was skeptical. However, he could understand Odell’s frustration. Losing his career to AI was undoubtedly disheartening, not to mention the significant financial loss.  

Professional combat coaches at Odell’s level could earn tens of thousands of dollars per hour. Some even received shares of their fighters’ prize money and endorsement earnings, as they often doubled as managers.  

As a diligent student of science, Su Jie didn’t believe in supernatural powers. However, he knew little about the limits of martial arts and couldn’t compare himself to someone like Odell, who stood at the pinnacle of the field. Criticizing or judging Odell would have been as foolish as an elementary school student telling a renowned professor that their research was worthless.  

As they chatted, Su Jie bought the phone Josh had requested. When they returned, he discovered that Odell lived near his school. Odell had rented a small farmhouse, which was quiet and adorned in an antique style. Once the gate was closed, it felt like a world of its own.