Chapter 173: Departure
Chapter 173: Departure
Chen Chuan did not attempt to dive immediately. He had just learned the Forge Breathing Method and could only say he remembered it, but he couldn't claim to have mastered it before even starting to practice.
Even with great effort today, there was no way to surpass the limit without using his second self.
After saying this, he and He Xiaoxing walked back together.
Chang Ba knew that He Xiaoxing must have taught Chen Chuan something, and he couldn't help but sigh. He also wanted to learn, but there was no way if he didn't meet the standard.
He looked at the pit not far away and shuddered at the thought of that environment. He decided it was better to let others strive while he enjoyed the food and drinks.
He was quite confident in this regard.
After the two returned, they got into the car and headed back to the town.
As the formal training had concluded, Chen Chuan planned to take a break for himself. Moreover, during his time in the town, he had only visited Crimson Lake and nowhere else.
According to Chang Ba, there were many fun places around, such as the sand dune fields over a hundred kilometers south, where one could enjoy sandboarding.
Or, to the north, there were the Ten Thousand Image Caves, about a day's journey away. If one didn't feel like going that far, just over sixty miles away was the Sweet Water Oasis, known for its sweet fruits and delicious grilled meat.
However, Chang Ba assured him that the grilled meat at his place was just as good, if not better. His family was renowned for their cooking, and many customers were repeat visitors.
Of course, the most famous attraction was the ancient city of Loya, which attracted over half of the guests. But Chen Chuan had no intention of going there. From what he had learned in recent days, the city was surrounded by wind-eroded rock pillars, and even locals needed a guide to navigate the area.
Just exploring the surface architecture of the ancient city would take several days, let alone the underground maze. He didn't have the time to explore it thoroughly, so he decided to wander around the nearby area instead. If he wanted to visit the ancient city, he would have to wait for a future opportunity.
In the end, he decided to follow Chang Ba to the sand dunes for sandboarding. This balance-focused sport wasn't particularly challenging for him, and he found it easier than skiing.
But it wasn't without its pleasures. If one could find the right route between the sand dunes, they could glide almost non-stop, requiring judgment, skill, and a bit of luck. Sometimes, a gust of wind might disrupt everything, but it could also become a helpful boost.
After a day of relaxation, as night fell, Chen Chuan and Chang Ba returned to the town. Upon entering the inn, an employee handed him a small booklet, saying it was from He Xiaoxing.
This must be the booklet He Xiaoxing had mentioned, as it contained no specific breathing secrets and would be useless to others.
Chen Chuan thanked the employee and returned to his room. After freshening up and changing into comfortable clothes, he brewed a cup of the town's specialty grape tea and slowly opened the booklet.
The text inside was handwritten, and he recognized He Xiaoxing's writing, but this was different—more mature and ancient, as if written by an elder.
However, this was irrelevant to him. He skimmed the content and found it mainly reminded practitioners of additional points to pay attention to.
For example, once the breathing method was activated, one should always remain vigilant because if the stored energy was exhausted, and the practitioner didn't stop actively, it would continue burning, using the transformed tissue as fuel, eventually consuming the practitioner.
Therefore, the first lesson of this secret art was restraint and control.
Reading this, Chen Chuan understood why He Xiaoxing had emphasized controlling one's emotions. One must be able to give and take, or else an emotional outburst might lead to a mutual destruction with an opponent.
Regarding energy accumulation, the booklet also stated that storing more energy wasn't necessarily better, as it could also burden the body beyond a certain limit.
However, this limit could be trained and raised. The more transformed tissue one had, the stronger and more energy they could store. Over time, as one adapted, the capacity to hold energy could also be increased.
There were also various ways to utilize this energy. Even without releasing it all at once, it could be used to sustain longer combat, but the control methods required practice and mastery.
After reading through the booklet, Chen Chuan had a general understanding. He placed it in his luggage and sat down to start practicing the breathing method from memory.
This breathing technique was complex, and in his unfamiliarity, it took him nearly an hour to complete the routine. By the end, despite sitting still, he felt a surge of heat and a faint sense of power stored in his transformed tissue.
It wasn't surprising, though, as energy required long-term accumulation, and he had only just begun practicing the breathing method, far from reaching proficiency.
With over a month until September, Chen Chuan aimed to familiarize himself with the Forge Breathing Method during these days and store as much energy as possible, as he might need it at any time.
In the following days, in addition to his daily training, he added the practice of the Forge Breathing Method.
With his relentless efforts, his consumption of drugs was faster than ever before. In less than half a month, he had nearly exhausted his remaining supply.
On July 30th, Chen Chuan returned to the testing site, this time intending to rely solely on speed to overcome the challenges below.
After two attempts, he realized that as long as his speed and reactions were sharp enough, he could avoid most of the pitfalls.
He Xiaoxing and Chang Ba stood at a distance, awaiting his performance.
Chen Chuan took a deep breath, jumped into the pit, and with a slight splash, he shot forward like an arrow released from its bow.
Ten days of training, combined with the aid of the Forge Breathing Method, had sharpened his reactions and increased his speed.
He swiftly weaved through the pits, touching the markers one after another. Although he didn't count, he knew he had surpassed the limit of twelve.
Chen Chuan closed his eyes and crossed his arms, taking a deep breath using the Internal Breathing Technique. As more oxygen entered his body, the Forge Breathing Method took effect, warming his body. The rapid exchange of gases created countless tiny bubbles around him, floating upwards.
Suddenly, his second self merged, and he opened his eyes. This time, he would utilize the power of his second self to venture deeper, swimming with all his might. He wanted to test his abilities after the merging and experience the freedom of swimming without restraint.
With a powerful kick, he propelled himself forward, leaving a trail of ripples behind. He dove deeper into the pit, continuously moving inward.
Initially, he had relied solely on speed and reflexes to avoid obstacles, but now, as he traversed the underwater channel, he didn't bother altering his course.
When he encountered turbulent currents, he inserted and withdrew his fingers from the cave walls while kicking with his feet, fighting against the current. Once the obstructing force subsided, he swiftly swam past.
He didn't yield to the schools of fish in his path but collided with them directly. The fish that blocked his way instantly shattered, leaving behind a scattered group of panicked fish swimming in all directions.
Throughout the journey, Chen Chuan felt an exhilarating sense of freedom. The feeling of disregarding everything and forging ahead was incredibly satisfying. The transformed tissue within his body became fully active, propelling him faster.
Even amidst this exhilarating sensation, he didn't succumb to emotional indulgence. After an hour, he wisely reined in his enthusiasm and ascended towards the surface.
Time passed, and as he approached the surface, he saw the light above. With a powerful kick, he accelerated, and just before reaching the surface, his muscles tensed, breaking through the water with a splash. He emerged, stretching his body, and flipped in mid-air before landing firmly on the ground, knees slightly bent.
After some time, Chen Chuan looked towards He Xiaoxing. This underwater crossing was his final exam for the training and a gift to He Xiaoxing.
He Xiaoxing observed Chen Chuan's still-heated body and nodded slowly.
Chang Ba glanced at them, refraining from asking Chen Chuan how many markers he had touched. He had a feeling that it no longer mattered.
After changing into dry clothes, Chen Chuan approached He Xiaoxing and said, "Teacher He, I've been out for almost a month. Tomorrow, I plan to return."
He Xiaoxing replied, "Go back. Old Cheng must be delighted to have you as a student. You'll go even further."
Chen Chuan solemnly responded, "I will, Teacher."
After leaving the testing site, Chen Chuan returned to the hostel, where he purchased some items and greeted the people he had met during his stay, informing them of his imminent departure. He then returned to his room to pack his belongings.
The next morning, Chen Chuan checked out of his room, picked up his luggage, and carried the box containing the Xuejun Blade on his back as he left the hostel. He headed to the martial arts pavilion to bid farewell to He Xiaoxing.
As the two of them exited the pavilion, an off-road vehicle drove up. Chang Ba jumped out, holding a camera, and exclaimed, "I made it! I made it!" He raised his hand and said, "Chen, Brother He, let's take a photo together."
Neither of them refused. Chang Ba handed the camera to the photographer in the car and ran over to them. He Xiaoxing was significantly taller than Chen Chuan, so he stood in the middle, slightly towards the back, while Chen Chuan and He Xiaoxing stood on either side. The photographer pressed the shutter, and with a click, the moment was captured.
Chang Ba patted Chen Chuan on the shoulder and said, "Chen, Brother, I'll take you to the station."
Chen Chuan didn't refuse. He turned to He Xiaoxing, bowed, and said, "Teacher He, thank you for your guidance these past days. I bid you farewell." After straightening up, he tightened the straps of the box on his back and stepped into the car.
He Xiaoxing remained standing on the mountain, watching the vehicle slowly descend and drive away into the distance.
After leaving the town, Chang Ba handed Chen Chuan a hardcover book. "Chen, Brother, I have something for you."
Chen Chuan took the book and flipped through it. It contained Chang Ba's drawings of their training sessions, including the moment Chen Chuan entered the water and a scene of the three of them enjoying a barbecue.
Chang Ba's sketches were simple yet effective, capturing the essence of their movements. Despite Chang Ba's depiction of himself as an important figure, his artistic license was understandable.
Chang Ba explained, "When I was young, I wanted to learn combat arts, but my father wouldn't let me, saying it wasn't the right time. So, I drew pictures of them fighting. Turns out, I had a talent for drawing. I never mastered the combat arts, but I learned to draw." He laughed and added, "My drawings are simple, but please don't dismiss them."
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "I think they're great. Thank you, Chang Ba. I appreciate the gift. It's a wonderful memento."
Chang Ba's laughter filled the air. He rarely had an audience for his drawings, and it was a relief to have Chen Chuan appreciate his talent.
Meanwhile, at the martial arts pavilion, He Xiaoxing received the developed photos a few hours later. The photographer had even framed one of the pictures.
He Xiaoxing took the framed photo and entered the room, placing it on the desk. His gaze shifted to the corner, where another framed photograph stood open. It was a picture of him with a young man.
The young man was tall and handsome, almost as tall as He Xiaoxing, and he was beaming with a radiant smile. The photo was taken in front of the martial arts pavilion in Nian Fu Li, with sunlight shining from the side and the leaves of the nearby tree rustling in the wind.
He Xiaoxing stared at the photo for a while before turning and leaving the room.
(End of Chapter)
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