Chapter 165: Training
Chapter 165: Training
Chen Chuan let go of the door handle and glanced at the man. He appeared to be in his late twenties, with a slender build and wearing a tight-fitting outfit. His entire body resembled a bamboo pole, and his eyes were relatively large. But what stood out the most was his nose, which dominated almost half of his face, drawing one's attention.
Feeling scrutinized, the man suddenly spoke up, annoyed. "Hey, have you had enough? It's impolite to stare like that, young man."
Chen Chuan looked out the open window beside him and replied, "You suddenly showed up in someone else's room; isn't that impolite of you?"
The man nonchalantly crossed his arms and said, "If it weren't for Uncle He asking me to pick someone up, I wouldn't have bothered coming. I just wanted to see what kind of student Uncle He was looking for. Now that I've seen you, you don't seem that special."
Chen Chuan guessed that the man was probably sent by He Xiaoxing, as he didn't seem hostile. When he turned around, his expression shifted to one of pride and showing off.
Chen Chuan asked, "Does learning from Teacher He require something special?"
The man became excited. He straightened up in his seat but then seemed to remember something and sat back, grumbling, "Uncle He rarely teaches others."
"What should I call you?" Chen Chuan inquired.
The man proudly puffed out his chest and said, "Chang Ba!"
Chen Chuan silently thought to himself that his father probably didn't give him that name.
Chang Ba, seeing that Chen Chuan wasn't speaking, assumed he was stunned by his name. He huffed a few times, stood up, and said, "Let's go; Uncle He is waiting for you."
"I'll get my things," Chen Chuan said.
He had estimated that he wouldn't be staying long, as there were many people around, and it was noisy, making it an unsuitable place for cultivation. So, after arriving, he hadn't unpacked much. Now, he picked up his luggage, slung the Snow Lady Sword over his shoulder, and followed Chang Ba.
The two went downstairs and got into an old-style off-road vehicle. After the car started, it turned onto a smooth road and headed in a certain direction. The view ahead was expansive, with blue skies and white clouds above and a gray mountain range on the horizon.
"Mr. Chang, are you and Teacher He close?" Chen Chuan asked.
Chang Ba boasted, "Of course. My father and Uncle He are old friends. Uncle He lives in the lakeside inn my family runs. We're going there now. Since you'll be learning from Uncle He, you should stay there too." He glanced at Chen Chuan and added, "Uncle He taught me a lot of things."
Chen Chuan seemed not to hear his last sentence and looked out the window. He noticed vehicles passing by from time to time and asked, "Are all these people going to Lorea Ancient City?"
Chang Ba scoffed, "It's only July. The crowds come during spring and autumn. Camels line up in a queue so long you can't see the end. Our family's business relies on these people for half of our income."
"Mr. Chang, since you're a local, have you been to Lorea Ancient City?" Chen Chuan asked.
"That place..." Chang Ba shook his head. "Before I became an adult, my elders didn't let me go there. That place was once famous for losing children, and after it became famous, it started losing adults instead. Later, when I learned martial arts, I lost interest in that place." He clicked his tongue, "It's just some winding underground passages. What's so great about that? How can it compare to martial arts?"
"I heard there's treasure there. Aren't you interested in treasure, Mr. Chang?" Chen Chuan asked.
"Treasure?" Chang Ba chuckled. "Others hope the treasure will be unearthed soon, but I don't. Because my family has been making money from that treasure all along."
Chen Chuan smiled. It made sense; since Chang Ba's family ran an inn, they must have attracted so many tourists by advertising the treasure's fame.
After driving for a while, Chang Ba finally couldn't resist turning around and asking, "Aren't you going to ask how I got into your room earlier?"
Chen Chuan smiled. He could tell that Chang Ba was proud of this technique, and he kept steering the conversation in that direction, but Chen Chuan didn't ask. Instead, he changed the subject, and it was clear that Chang Ba was holding back his excitement. Chen Chuan was grateful that Chang Ba had come all this way to pick him up, so he decided to play along. "What was that?" he asked.
Hearing that Chen Chuan was finally asking, Chang Ba relaxed and chuckled. With a gleeful expression, he said, "I'll tell you. It's a technique Uncle He taught me called Snake Sparrow Stance. It allows me to fly across with agility and move silently. Once I master it, no terrain in the city will be able to restrict me."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment. It was probably more than that. From the way he had moved silently earlier, it seemed like a technique for hiding and concealment. But this technique probably required a body type like Chang Ba's to master, as He Xiaoxing's body type was different. So, was this technique tailored for Chang Ba?
That was possible. Cheng Zitong had said that a good teacher could teach according to the student's strengths, creating different combat systems for students with different characteristics. He Xiaoxing seemed to be such a teacher, and Chen Chuan was looking forward to the upcoming intensive training.
After about two hours, the car arrived at a lake with a reddish hue. The sky above was boundless, incredibly clear and clean. Along the lake, there were large buildings that extended all the way to a small mountain on the opposite side.
"We're here," Chang Ba said.
As the car drove into the town, Chen Chuan noticed that buildings with the Chang Family Inn sign occupied at least a third of the town. He asked Chang Ba, and indeed, in addition to the buildings in town, the land they were on and the mountain across from it also belonged to the Chang family. This guy turned out to be quite wealthy.
The car turned and headed directly up the mountain. A few minutes later, it stopped in front of a building that resembled a martial arts training hall.
At that moment, Chen Chuan saw a robust figure standing on the open ground in front of the hall. Like the mane of a lion, his hair was loose and scattered on his shoulders, and he seemed to be waiting for their arrival.
As the car came to a stop, Chang Ba swiftly removed the key and hopped out, announcing, "Uncle He, I've brought the person you asked for."
After Chen Chuan exited the vehicle, he approached He Xiaoxing, performing a fist salute and addressing him as "Teacher He."
He Xiaoxing glanced at him and proceeded into the training hall, saying, "Follow me."
Chen Chuan entered, finding a spacious area filled with various training equipment for daily use. Several soft mats were placed in the center, and He Xiaoxing sat cross-legged on one, indicating for Chen Chuan to do the same.
Once Chen Chuan settled on the adjacent mat, He Xiaoxing spoke, "Old Cheng has informed me about your situation. However, what I teach you will only involve martial power. While martial power can resolve certain issues, dealing with the Mutual Aid Society requires far more than just martial power. You must understand this."
Chen Chuan replied, "Teacher He, I understand."
He Xiaoxing said, "Since you understand, I won't waste words. From now on, I'll be conducting intensive training with you. How much you gain and how long you can endure will depend on whether you can keep up with my training pace."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "I understand, Teacher He. When do we start?"
"Have you brought enough training medicine?" He Xiaoxing asked.
"Teacher Cheng told me to bring enough for two months," Chen Chuan answered.
Although he mentioned two months, he felt it might not even last a month, as he always consumed a multiple of the standard dosage. Fortunately, the Mountain Ghost's influence on him hadn't faded yet, so he wouldn't need it for a while.
"It's getting late today," He Xiaoxing said. "For now, follow Xiao Chang to find a place to settle down. Tomorrow morning at five, come find me, and remember to bring daily necessities. This time, we're heading into the wilderness."
"Okay, Teacher He," Chen Chuan replied. "Then, with your permission, I'll take my leave." He stood up, performed a fist salute to He Xiaoxing, and exited the training hall.
Upon seeing Chen Chuan outside, Chang Ba greeted him, "Let's go. I'll take you to find accommodation. There are plenty of vacant houses during this season; you can choose whichever you like."
After Chen Chuan got into the car, Chang Ba drove him down the mountain. They circled around a few times before finding a spacious two-story house with a great view, ample sunlight, and excellent ventilation. The upper level was for living, while the lower level provided ample space for his training.
Since it wasn't the peak season and he was here to learn from He Xiaoxing, Chang Ba only charged a nominal fee. He also gave Chen Chuan a phone number, saying he could contact this person whenever needed.
After Chang Ba left, Chen Chuan placed his suitcase, unpacked his belongings, and tidied up the room. Even though it was already past four in the afternoon, he didn't waste any time. He arranged his things and then went downstairs to make up for the daily training he had missed earlier.
The small town was bustling with people, yet it had a serene atmosphere, as if detached from the secular world, making it especially conducive to immersion. This was probably why He Xiaoxing chose to practice here.
At six o'clock, a staff member from the inn asked if he needed to order food. They also informed him about a campfire party that evening, open to everyone, and presented him with a small gift, explaining that all first-time guests received one.
Chen Chuan took the gift and examined it. It was a bracelet made from tiny colored stones, threaded together with a thin rope. After some thought, he decided to remove the rope and thread it with a strand of Flying Head Monster hair, making it less conspicuous.
As night fell, a campfire indeed lit up by the lakeside, accompanied by about ten barbecue grills. Around a hundred people sang and danced together, creating a lively atmosphere.
After finishing his training and taking a shower, Chen Chuan went to the window, enjoying the cool night breeze for a while. At nine o'clock, he retired for the night.
The next day, at four in the morning, he woke up, washed up, and had a quick breakfast. Carrying a backpack and the Snow Lady Sword, he made his way up the mountain alone. To his surprise, He Xiaoxing was already waiting at the summit, his towering figure standing tall as if the surrounding landscape was beneath his feet.
Upon reaching the summit, Chen Chuan placed his backpack and the sword on the ground and performed a fist salute, saying, "Teacher He, I'm here."
He Xiaoxing nodded and said, "Old Cheng has informed me of your specific situation. He didn't teach you any special techniques before. These things are unnecessary for you, even if you've learned about them through other means. Forget everything you might have known."
Chen Chuan nodded seriously, indicating his understanding.
He Xiaoxing spoke in a solemn tone, "When you enter the Second Limit, you should learn about the term 'Guard Vitality' from the old era. It emphasizes the word 'guard.'"
His words were true; this limit was a crucial period, like the middle section of a wooden beam, where being too heavy or too fragile was unacceptable. Thus, extra caution was required.
"However, this emphasis on 'guard' was limited to the old era. Back then, the medicines they needed, whether to counter transformations or to nourish themselves, were incredibly difficult to obtain. Often, it took a lifetime for elders within the sect to gather enough for the younger generation to use, and this tradition continued for generations."
"Due to the scarcity of medicine, they had to adopt the most conservative approach. In that era, this method proved to be effective and reliable."
"Nevertheless, each era has its own practices, and people are not only limited by their efforts but also by their environment. This calls for collective effort to bring about change."
"Nowadays, medicine is no longer an issue, so there's no need to be overly conservative. The focus of this phase is to 'activate the Six Viscera and nurture the Five Organs.' Therefore, the next step is to find a way to 'activate' your transformed organs."
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(End of Chapter)
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