Chapter 15: Top Floor
Chapter 15: Top Floor
On the way back, Chen Chuan tried clenching his fists while running. Although he couldn't verify it with an alarm clock, he was certain that after the fight with Ding Shuo, the duration of the overlap with his Second Self had definitely increased.
And he had a feeling that this increase was significant, possibly surpassing the one after defeating Dan Xiong.
However, the reason wasn't just winning against Ding Shuo.
When he overlapped with his Second Self and punched Ding Shuo with all his might, his opponent could only defend. The exhilaration of unleashing his full power without any reservations was what truly ignited his emotions and further enhanced the overlap with his Second Self.
But he also had to consider a problem. Ding Shuo, whose background was unknown, possessed a more advanced Power Force than Breath Technique and had an extremely strong resistance to strikes. If he encountered someone like that in the second examination, how could he win?
Using Power Force to counter Power Force was probably the right approach, but from the information Yu Gang had shared, the level of Power Force was far higher than that of Breath Technique, likely beyond his current capabilities.
How could he deal with it?
He thought for a moment and decided to ask Yu Gang again tomorrow. There must be a way.
"Forty-one, forty-two, forty-three..."
On a balcony of a residential building, Wei Dong was doing handstand push-ups on the railing. He kept counting, and when he saw Chen Chuan running past below, he muttered, "Back early today, huh?"
He had been exercising on the balcony every morning and evening for the past few days, and he was used to seeing Chen Chuan passing by the long alley below. Watching Chen Chuan's figure disappear, he snapped back to reality, "Right, what number was I at just now..."
"..."
"Forget it, I'll start over..."
Chen Chuan ran all the way back home. Since it was still early, he took a quick shower and changed into a clean set of clothes, the same student uniform he wore during the entrance exam.
His previous self had spent most of his pocket money on books and movies, so the clothes he wore most often were sturdy and durable, but quite old-fashioned. This was the only one that was still presentable and matched his current identity.
He left a note for Yu Wan and pushed his bike out the door.
Riding on the main road, he pedaled forward in the gentle evening breeze. The utility poles on both sides of the road passed by one after another, and in the deep blue sky, golden-red, cotton-like clouds floated at the horizon, magnificent and stunning.
The venue for the graduation party was chosen to be the Capital Inn, located near the central square. It was a 27-story building, the second tallest in Yangzhi City.
Although it wasn't yet dinner time, when he arrived, the hotel's parking lot was already filled with many vehicles.
He turned the handlebars, made a turn, and parked his bike in the Sunshade Shelter opposite the hotel on the central square, then crossed the street on foot.
As he approached the hotel entrance, he glanced up. The graduation party was on the rooftop terrace, and reserving a spot there was not only expensive but also required some connections.
However, not all students at the City No. 1 High School were from humble backgrounds; some had powerful family backgrounds. The students responsible for organizing this party were among them.
Entering through the revolving door, he followed the smile of a beautiful female receptionist through the lobby and joined a few others in the elevator.
The hotel was clearly doing good business, and the elevator stopped and started at several floors, with well-dressed men and women continuously getting in and out. Most of them couldn't help but look at him a few times when they entered the elevator.
Although he was only wearing a student uniform, his height was not short, and after more than a month of intense training, he looked very spirited. His features were regular, his eyes clear, and his build well-proportioned, making him visually pleasing.
After the 20th floor, the elevator gradually emptied as it continued to ascend. He watched the floor numbers on the display scroll up, finally stopping at the 27th floor. The elevator jolted and the grille doors slowly slid open.
Stepping out of the elevator, he entered a spacious safety corridor with several elevator doors on either side. At the door directly opposite, two female receptionists were waiting. They smiled as he approached, handed him a name register to sign, and then pushed open the corridor door for him.
Chen Chuan stepped over the high cement threshold and onto the rooftop terrace. Immediately, a gentle evening breeze blew, stirring his hair.
This area was about several thousand square meters, with rows of open Sunshade Shelters where tables and chairs were neatly arranged. The party was in a buffet style, and waiters were pushing trolleys, setting up tableware, and preparing drinks and food.
He arrived relatively early, but many students from City No. 1 High School had already arrived and were gathered in small groups, chatting.
Not only his class but the students from five other classes were also having their party here. He compared the faces with his previous memories; some were familiar, but he couldn't recall their names.
He took a few steps to the edge and looked out. The view from the rooftop was undoubtedly vast, and from here, he could see most of the city's buildings.
To the north, just a short distance away, stood Yangzhi City's tallest building, the Gao Ling Tower of Ink Orchid Group. Its dark blue glass facade and tall, streamlined structure stood out among the surrounding buildings.
Behind the tower, slightly to the north, the distant Zhang Mountain was visible, and the silhouette of Jiao Mountain to the east was also clear.
At that moment, the magnificent evening glow spread from the broken clouds, casting a rich gradient of colors across the buildings. The vehicles and people below were bathed in the soft, warm light of dusk.
At that moment, he heard a series of gasps and applause behind him. Turning to the source of the noise, he saw a group of students gathered around, with one person demonstrating martial arts moves, accompanied by jumps and movements.
A tall and slender male student in a martial arts uniform caught his attention, practicing a routine with a focus on kicking techniques. He spun, jumped, and swept with graceful movements, vocalizing powerful shouts to accompany his strikes.
A fellow student proudly introduced him, "Senior Brother Sheng Hai is a member of the Show General Martial Arts Club. He started training in his first year of middle school, so it's been four years now."
Chen Chuan had previously researched local martial arts clubs and training halls in Yangzhi City for an exam. The Show General Kung Fu style originated from abroad but was enhanced by domestic combat experts who added new techniques, making it a thriving and popular style.
The club's marketing efforts had paid off, with branches across the nation and high visibility. Its striking and stylish moves attracted many students.
Chen Chuan had seen this style practiced at school before, but now, observing it again, he felt a different impression. These fluid movements were primarily designed for visual impact, and genuine combat application was rare unless there was a significant skill disparity between opponents.
Chen Chuan understood that the essence of any martial art lies in the body, with techniques being specific applications. Normally, it's the practitioner who matters, not the style or school.
He watched for a while, noticing that Sheng Hai had decent strength, coordination, and a rhythmic flow to his movements. Regardless of his actual combat skills, it was clear that he had dedicated a significant amount of time to his training.
After another round of practice, Sheng Hai paused, showing no signs of breathlessness despite the prolonged activity.
"Every year, the city and the prefecture select suitable fighters from our club for combat and arena tournaments. Even film companies often scout for action stars. Have you heard of Xi Mu Bing? He's a famous action star who graduated from our club. Joining us opens up numerous opportunities."
"Yeah," a nearby student chimed in, apparently with the first speaker, "If you're good, you can even open your own club. Our club owner started as a student who joined and then became the owner."
The student quickly retrieved promotional flyers from his bag, distributing them to those around him. "Take a look, classmates. If you're interested, come find us, or you can go to the club for a free trial week."
A student suddenly asked, "How does the Show General Martial Arts Club compare to Wu Yi University?"
The student could only offer an awkward laugh in response.
A student snorted, "How can they compare? My dad said that the security consultants at their bureau are all from Wu Yi, and the city's annual security equipment is purchased from there. What's a martial arts club compared to that?"
A female student added, "My mom said that many hooligans and gang members hang out at those clubs. It's better to avoid those places. If you want to learn combat, it's better to go to a proper training hall and hire a private instructor. A full course only costs a few hundred."
Their comments made the other students hesitant to take the flyers. Some, unable to refuse directly, took them only to secretly discard them later.
As the crowd dispersed, Sheng Hai and the male student walked a few steps before a gust of wind blew a flyer, which was then stepped on.
The male student was upset. "How could they do that?"
Sheng Hai, having likely witnessed this before, remained calm. He patted the student's shoulder and said, "Never mind, let's go."
"Oh," the male student thought for a moment before bending down to pick up the crumpled flyer. As he did, he felt a sudden darkness and looked up to see a tall and dignified figure standing before him, causing him to pause in surprise.
Chen Chuan extended his hand and asked, "May I have a flyer, classmate?"
"Hmm? Sure, of course!" The male student was delighted and handed over the flyer. "I'm Liang Tong. If you're interested in the club, feel free to ask me."
Chen Chuan examined the flyer and asked, "I heard there's a free trial week. What do they teach during that time?"
Liang Tong replied without hesitation, "Mainly some basic techniques. Many who come to the club have some foundation in martial arts, and those who've trained elsewhere are arranged to spar with our club members to get a firsthand experience of Show General Kung Fu." He paused, then added, "Of course, if you just want a sparring partner, that's possible too."
Chen Chuan asked, "As long as the fee is paid, right?"
Liang Tong chuckled.
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Thanks, Liang."
"No problem." Liang Tong added, "The flyer has the address. Each district's club is different, so if you come to our district with the flyer, there might be some benefits."
Chen Chuan acknowledged with a nod and waved goodbye to the two.
Sheng Hai, who had been quiet until now, asked, "Is that classmate also from our school?"
Liang Tong replied, "Probably. I've seen him before, I think he's from Class 4, but I can't recall his name."
Sheng Hai observed Chen Chuan's departing figure and said with certainty, "That classmate has definitely trained before."
Liang Tong responded, "Is that so? I'm not sure, but it's not unusual for a student to have trained in martial arts. It's quite common in the Great Republic era, right? You and I both trained in martial arts, didn't we?"
Sheng Hai's heart skipped a beat as he realized his earlier statement about 'training' wasn't as simple as it seemed. The feeling he got from Chen Chuan standing before him was something he had only experienced with the club's senior fighters and a few instructors.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
