Chapter 15: The Penthouse
Chapter 15: The Penthouse
On his way back, Chen Chuan tried clenching his fist while running, even though he couldn't test it with an alarm clock at the moment. But he was certain that after the battle with Ding Shuo, the synchronization between his second self and himself had definitely increased.
Furthermore, he had a feeling that this increase was significant and might even surpass the time when he defeated Solon.
However, the reason wasn't just as simple as defeating Ding Shuo.
When he synchronized with his second self and unleashed his full strength against Ding Shuo, his opponent could only parry his attacks. The sheer joy of unleashing his power without restraint and executing moves with abandon was what truly ignited his emotions and drove his second self to further synchronization.
But he couldn't help but consider one problem. Ding Shuo's background was unknown, yet he possessed a force more profound than the Holding Breath Technique and exhibited exceptional resilience. If he encountered someone like that during the university entrance exams, how could he possibly surpass them?
Countering force with force should be the most effective method, but from the information revealed by Master Yu, the layers of force seemed far more advanced than the Holding Breath Technique, and it was likely beyond his current grasp.
How should he deal with this?
He thought for a moment and decided to seek advice from Master Yu again tomorrow, believing that there must be a solution.
"Forty-one, forty-two, forty-three..."
On a residential building somewhere, Wei Dong, a teenager, was doing handstand push-ups on the balcony railing. He kept counting as he spoke, and when he saw Chen Chuan running below, he muttered, "Is it early for you to be back today?"
These days, he had been exercising on the balcony in the morning and evening, and he could always see Chen Chuan passing by in the alley below. He had already gotten used to it, and when he saw Chen Chuan's figure disappear, he snapped out of his thoughts, "Oh yeah, how many did I count just now..."
"Forget it, I'll start counting again..."
Chen Chuan ran all the way back home, and since it was still early, he took a quick shower, changed into clean clothes, and put on the same student uniform he wore on the day of the entrance exam.
He had spent his pocket money on books and movies, and the clothes he usually wore were mostly durable and practical, with very old-fashioned styles. Only this outfit was somewhat decent and suitable for his current identity.
He left a note for Aunt Yu Wan and then pushed his cart out of the door.
After riding onto the main road, he pedaled forward in the gentle evening breeze. The utility poles on both sides of the road kept moving backward, and in the deep blue gradient sky, the golden-red, fluffy, burning clouds floated at the horizon, captivating and dazzling.
The graduation party was held at the Duyi Hotel, located near the city center square. It was twenty-seven stories high and was the second tallest building in Yangzhi City.
Although it wasn't quite dinner time yet, there were already quite a few vehicles parked in the hotel's parking lot when he arrived.
He turned the handlebar of his bike, made a turn, and parked it in the bicycle shed across the road from the hotel's main entrance. Then, he crossed the street on foot.
As he approached the hotel's main entrance, he looked up. Today's graduation party was held on the rooftop terrace, and booking this venue required not only a substantial amount of money but also connections.
However, not all students at the First Municipal High School came from ordinary families. Some had exceptional family backgrounds and connections. These students were the ones organizing the graduation party.
He entered the revolving door and, guided by a beautiful female receptionist's smile, walked through the lobby with a few others into the elevator with a grid door.
The hotel was clearly doing well, as the elevator stopped and opened on several floors. Brightly dressed men and women came and went, and most of them couldn't help but give him a few extra glances when they saw him in the elevator.
Even though he was just wearing a student uniform, he was not short in stature. After over a month of continuous high-intensity training, he looked full of energy. Additionally, his facial features were well-proportioned, his eyes were clear, and his physique was well-balanced, making him visually pleasing.
After passing the twentieth floor, the number of people gradually decreased, and the elevator continued to rise. He watched the floor numbers on the roller display flip upwards, and when it reached the twenty-seventh floor, the elevator vibrated and finally stopped. The grid door slowly moved to the sides with a creaking sound.
Stepping out of the elevator, he entered a spacious security corridor with several elevator doors lined up on both sides. Two female receptionists stood in front of the door directly across from him, and when they saw him approach, they smiled and handed him a register to sign. Then, they opened the corridor door for him.
Chen Chuan stepped over the slightly elevated cement threshold and onto the rooftop terrace, where he was immediately greeted by a gust of evening breeze that ruffled his hair.
This area spanned several thousand square meters and was filled with rows of open-air sunshade shelters, inside which tables and chairs were neatly arranged. The graduation party was a buffet-style event, and the waiters were setting up the tableware and preparing drinks and food.
He was among the earlier arrivals, and there were already some students from the First Municipal High School who had arrived before him, chatting in small groups.
This gathering wasn't just for his class; the students from the other five classes were also having their parties here. He recalled his past memories and recognized some familiar faces, but he couldn't recall their names.
He walked a few steps to the side, towards the edge of the terrace, and looked out. The view from the top floor was undoubtedly expansive, and standing there, he could take in most of the city's buildings.
Not far to the north was the tallest building in Yangzhi City, the Mo Lan Corporation's Gaoling Tower, with its deep blue glass curtain wall. The towering, streamlined building stood alone, contrasting sharply with the surrounding architecture.
Behind the tower, a little to the north, one could see the distant Zhangshan Mountain, and the shadow of Jiaoshan Mountain to the east was also clearly visible.
At that moment, the magnificent sunset glowed through the scattered clouds, casting rich gradients of color on the various buildings. Below, the vehicles and pedestrians were bathed in a blend of light and shadow in the evening glow.
At this moment, he heard a series of exclamations and applause coming from behind him. He turned towards the source of the sounds and saw a group of classmates gathered, with one of them demonstrating martial arts moves, accompanied by jumps and dodges.
A student caught his interest as he walked by, practicing his moves in a training uniform with a slender build. The student's routine primarily consisted of kicks, occasionally spinning, leaping, and sweeping with a vocal accompaniment, creating an impressive display.
A fellow student proudly introduced the practitioner, "Senior Brother Sheng Hai is a member of the Show General Martial Arts Society. He started training in his first year of middle school, and it's been four years now."
Chen Chuan had previously researched local Fist Societies and training gyms in Yangzhi City for an exam. The Show General Fist originated from a foreign style, later enhanced by domestic martial artists who added new techniques, making it a more comprehensive and popular style. The society's marketing prowess had made it famous nationwide, especially among students, who were drawn to its dynamic and stylish moves.
Chen Chuan had seen students practicing this style at school before, finding it visually appealing. But now, observing it again, he felt a different impression.
Most of these consecutive moves were designed for visual impact, and actual combat rarely occurred unless there was a significant skill disparity between opponents.
Chen Chuan understood a fundamental principle: all martial arts were rooted in the practitioner, and techniques were just tools. Thus, in normal circumstances, strength lay in the individual rather than the style or technique.
He watched closely for a while. Sheng Hai had decent strength, good coordination, and his movements were rhythmic. While he couldn't comment on his actual combat skills, it was evident that he had trained for a considerable time and put in the effort.
After another round of practice, Sheng Hai stopped. Despite the lengthy session, he showed no signs of breathlessness, and his sweat was minimal.
With a smile, Sheng Hai said, "Every year, the city and the prefecture select suitable fighters from our society to participate in combat competitions and martial arts tournaments. Even film companies often come to choose action actors. Have you heard of Xi Mubing? He's a famous action star who came from our society. Joining us opens up many opportunities."
"Yeah," the student next to him chimed in, "If you're good enough, you can even open your own gym. Our gym owner started as a student who joined the society and then became the owner."
As he spoke, he took out some promotional flyers from his bag and distributed them to the surrounding students. "Take a look, classmates. If you're interested, you can come find us or directly visit the gym. The first week of training is free."
A student suddenly asked, "How does the Show General Fist Society compare to Wu University?"
The student beside him could only force a dry laugh.
"How can you compare?" another student exclaimed. "My dad said that the security advisor in their bureau is from Wu University, and the city's security equipment is all from there. How can a Fist Society compete with that?"
A female student added, "My mom said that many gang members and troublemakers hang out at Fist Societies. It's better to learn martial arts at a proper gym. You can even hire a trainer to come to your home. A course doesn't cost much."
With these comments, the other students felt embarrassed to take the flyers, and even those who took them out of politeness secretly discarded them later.
As the crowd dispersed, Sheng Hai and the male student walked a few steps when a gust of wind blew, and a flyer drifted out, only to be stepped on by someone.
The male student, visibly annoyed, said, "How can they do that?"
Sheng Hai, having witnessed such incidents before, remained calm. He patted the student's shoulder and said, "Never mind, let's go."
"Oh," the student thought for a moment and then walked over to pick up the flyer. As he straightened up, he was startled by the tall and dignified figure of Chen Chuan standing before him.
Chen Chuan extended his hand and asked, "May I have a flyer, classmate?"
"Huh? Sure, sure!" The student happily handed over a flyer. "I'm Liang Tong. If you're interested in joining the gym, feel free to ask me."
Chen Chuan took the flyer and asked, "I heard the first week of training is free. What do you teach during that time?"
"Mainly basic moves," Liang Tong replied.
"What if someone already has some foundation?" Chen Chuan asked.
"That's fine too," Liang Tong answered without hesitation. "Many of our students come with some basic skills, and some have even learned from other Fist Societies. We arrange for our students to spar with them so they can experience the Show General Fist firsthand." After a moment's thought, he added, "Of course, if you just want a sparring partner, that's possible too."
"As long as you pay the fee, right?" Chen Chuan inquired.
Liang Tong let out a chuckle.
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Thanks, Liang."
"Oh, and one more thing," Liang Tong added, "The address on the flyer is different for each district. If you plan to visit our district's gym, bring the flyer, and you'll get a discount."
Chen Chuan acknowledged with a nod and a wave, parting ways with the two students.
Sheng Hai, who had been quiet, asked, "Is that classmate also from our First High School?"
"Probably," Liang Tong replied. "I've seen him before, but I can't recall his name. He's just being rude."
Sheng Hai confidently asserted, "That classmate must have trained before."
"Really? I didn't notice anything unusual," Liang Tong said. "It's not uncommon for students to train in martial arts. Didn't you and I start the same way?"
Sheng Hai disagreed, "It's not that simple. When Chen Chuan was standing before us, I felt something indescribable, an aura I've only experienced from veteran fighters and a few coaches at the gym."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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