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Chapter 20: Throwing Techniques
Chapter 20: Throwing Techniques
Throughout July, Chen Chuan diligently followed his training regimen, gradually mastering Major Free Fighting and becoming increasingly adept at employing various techniques.
Even without utilizing his "Second Self" and wearing no protective gear, he could now easily overpower Lu Ke.
This was largely due to the significant advantages of Breath Techniques, which comprehensively enhanced one's physical condition. No wonder Yu Gang referred to it as a shortcut.
Compared to those who had been training since childhood, Chen Chuan was undoubtedly superior. This was only natural, as without the "Second Self," he was trading his own life and depleting his future potential.
Under normal circumstances, such an exchange would be unfair. Once those students also mastered Breath Techniques, this advantage would disappear, and the gap would widen once more.
Towards the end of July, Chen Chuan received a notification from Wu Yi Academy and made another trip there.
This time, he didn't enter the academy but instead collected a small booklet at the entrance, detailing essential information for prospective students and the process for second examination registration.
From then on, in addition to his personal training, Chen Chuan also prepared for his enrollment, returning home a little earlier each day.
On this particular day, as he was jogging back from Fist House to his home, he passed by a shed, and on the third floor of a nearby three-story building, several men stood by an open window, smoking and staring at him with unfriendly eyes.
One of them, a short man with a gold watch and an open-chested plaid shirt, pointed and said, "Qi Ge, it's this kid."
Qi Ge, a man in his late twenties with a shaved head, thick arms, and a bracelet, looked down and asked, "Are you sure? Is it this kid?"
"No mistake, Qi Ge. A few days ago, he went to Wu Yi University. It was him who embarrassed Brother Dan!"
"Have you found a place, Qi Ge?"
The man in the plaid shirt leaned forward and pointed to the intersection ahead, "It's that alley up ahead. We'll block both ends, and he won't escape."
"Will he definitely pass through there? Don't let him slip away."
"Don't worry, big brother. We've been keeping an eye on him for five or six days. This kid passes through here every morning and evening without fail. Big brother, shall we take action tomorrow? How should we teach him a lesson?"
Qi Ge gave a cold laugh, "Tomorrow? Won't that be too easy on him? Isn't he going to Wu Yi University in early August? Let's do it on that day. Since he kicked Lao San in the face, we'll break both his legs. Isn't that fair?"
"That's fair! Absolutely fair!" the man in the plaid shirt exclaimed.
"Then leave it to you," said Qi Ge.
"Don't worry, big brother. I'll handle it properly," he assured.
Time flew, and soon it was the last day of July. Yu Gang seemed to have something going on, as he left after lunch. Chen Chuan, preoccupied with the next day's events, didn't continue his training in the afternoon but instead helped Lu Ke clean up and organize some things.
After they finished, Lu Ke led Chen Chuan to the rooftop terrace, where a table, lounge chairs, and a sunshade were set up. In a nearby beverage basket, several bottles of Sha Zhen soda were chilling.
Lu Ke walked over, picked up two bottles of soda, opened one, and handed it to Chen Chuan, saying, "We should drink less alcohol when training in combat. I'll make do with soda. You're going to Wu Yi University tomorrow, so I'll toast to you."
Chen Chuan clinked his soda bottle with Lu Ke's and took a sip. Only then did they both sit down. Lu Ke let out a sigh, gazing at the leisurely clouds in the sky, and said, "Chen Xiao Ge, I've been targeting you since you arrived. I'm sure you don't like me much."
"It's not that," replied Chen Chuan. "Everyone has their reasons for doing things. But I believe that as long as you don't regret your actions, others' opinions aren't that important."
Lu Ke paused, took a few gulps from the soda bottle, wiped it with the back of his hand, and placed it on the table. Pointing northeast, he said, "Do you see that over there? Jiao Mountain."
Chen Chuan looked in that direction and saw a massive circular gray silhouette—Jiao Mountain. It was said to be a relic from a bygone era, but now it had become an endless expanse of garbage.
Lu Ke stared at it, lost in thought, "I'm from the Jiao Mountain region. We can't compare to those living in the city. I didn't have the qualifications to study in the city, so we could only survive by scavenging garbage in the mountains."
Chen Chuan looked at him and said, "I've heard that most people living on Jiao Mountain suffer from an incurable lung disease?"
Lu Ke spoke softly, "You're right. I have it, and almost everyone in my family does too. My father disappeared when I was very young, and my mother has been bedridden ever since. I started coughing when I was only three or four years old. Only my sister, who is ten years older than me, was spared. Since I can remember, she has been taking care of our family."
"Six years ago, our village found something valuable to a big shot, and someone wanted to keep it and sell it for a high price. But our village was too poor, and those gangs wouldn't negotiate with us. That night, they raided our village, and a conflict broke out. My sister had just returned from scavenging garbage and was disabled in the chaos..."
Wiping his eyes with his arm, Lu Ke continued, "Later, I followed my master and trained in martial arts with him, hoping to earn money and bring my family out of there and give them a better life."
He took another gulp of soda and said, "The other day, I couldn't beat Ding Shuo, not just because I didn't take forbidden drugs, but because I was afraid. I feared for my safety, as my sister and mother are counting on me. That day, my master wanted me to try out Breath Techniques, but I stopped halfway because I was scared."
Turning his head to look at Chen Chuan, his eyes filled with complexity, he said, "I truly envy you. You can study in the city, free of such burdens. You can take the Wu Yi University exam. Seeing you, I can't help but wonder, why can't I have such opportunities? Why can't I be the one who passes Wu Yi University?"
"Chen Chuan!"
His voice suddenly rose, and he forcefully wiped his face, raising the bottle, his eyes slightly red, "I toast to you. I hope you'll stand firm at Wu Yi University. You mustn't let me down!"
Chen Chuan silently picked up the bottle and clinked it forcefully with Lu Ke's. He took a sip.
Lu Ke chugged the entire bottle of soda in one go, then raised his hand as if to smash the bottle against his chest, but reconsidered, thinking of the money he could get from recycling it. He carefully placed the bottle on the table.
After venting, he seemed to regain some composure. After a while, he spoke, "Your progress with the breath technique is impressive. It seems to be effective. I must master it too, but I can't be as reckless as you. I'll have to take it slow."
Chen Chuan encouraged, "Taking it slow is fine. After all, you're already a 'Half-Step Breath' practitioner now."
Lu Ke coughed twice, then laughed. He stood up and said, "Come, I'll teach you something."
Chen Chuan followed him to the rooftop railing, also standing up and walking over. Lu Ke pointed, "Do you see that over there?"
Chen Chuan looked in the direction of two sparrows perched on a power line, about fourteen meters away by his estimation. Lu Ke's wrist twitched, and one of the birds fell, while the other flew away in surprise.
Surprised, Chen Chuan asked, "What just happened?"
Lu Ke opened his palm, revealing two small, finely polished pebbles the size of a fingertip, perfectly rounded.
Chen Chuan's heart skipped a beat at the sight.
"Throwing technique," Lu Ke explained, making a throwing motion. "From a distance of ten to twenty meters, with simple, polished pebbles, you can injure or even kill an opponent. My master said that Wu Yi Academy doesn't teach this, but it's very useful. If you master it, even someone more powerful than you can be disabled from a distance."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement, having experienced its effectiveness firsthand. However, the distance was hard to judge, and it seemed like over a hundred meters, maybe even further.
Lu Ke tossed a pebble, saying, "I can teach you. The key is in the power technique. With your breath technique, it should be easy to learn."
Chen Chuan asked, "Did Mr. Yu teach you this? Can you teach others?"
Lu Ke shrugged, "This is just the basic throwing technique. I haven't mastered the more advanced skills, so I can't teach them."
In the book, the version is correct!
Chen Chuan glanced at him and asked, "How many people know this throwing technique?"
Lu Ke thought for a moment, "My master didn't mention that, but it's not difficult to master with practice. However, reaching a high level is not easy. I'll show you how to throw."
Seeing his enthusiasm, Chen Chuan decided to learn, always useful to have another skill. Plus, he had a reason to understand it.
The throwing technique wasn't complex, focusing on the throwing posture and power technique, making it easy to pick up. But mastering it to a high level would require extensive practice.
The pebbles were also crucial; ideally, they should be polished, not too light or heavy. Lu Ke mentioned that Zhangshan had plenty of such stones, known for its quality stone materials.
Chen Chuan's heart raced at this information, suspecting the pebbles were Zhangshan stones. He decided to visit the area soon, hoping to find clues about the black-handed assailant who killed his past self.
After practicing with Lu Ke for a while, as the next day was the enrollment day and the second examination registration, Chen Chuan bid farewell and left. Before departing, he took two pebbles.
He maintained his routine, running back.
In the long alley he passed daily, a temporary rented room on the third floor housed Qi Ge and the floral shirt man, waiting.
Qi Ge asked, "Everything arranged?"
"Yes, Qi Ge, all set."
Qi Ge looked towards the distance, where a man leaned against the wall at the street corner. Wearing a sweatshirt and work pants, his face was unfamiliar. Qi Ge asked, "Who's that?"
The floral shirt man replied, "He's a skilled outsider we hired, with no criminal record. Brother thought since the kid got into Wu Yi, he must have some skills. Having him ensures things go smoothly."
"Nonsense." Qi Ge took out a cigarette, and the floral shirt man promptly produced a lighter. Qi Ge took a drag, exhaling a smoke ring, "After this, call the lookout brothers, and let's go to Chunlou for a meal."
"Okay, I'll thank Qi Ge on behalf of the brothers." The floral shirt man checked his watch and looked towards the distance, then excitedly said, "Qi Ge, he's here, and early today."
Chen Chuan entered the long alley, following his usual route. This stretch allowed him to slightly increase his speed.
But this time, midway, he sensed something amiss. At the alley's entrance, five or six people with water pipes approached with malicious intent, their faces filled with mockery and cruelty.
Chen Chuan stopped, looking back to see the way he came blocked by numerous figures.
People from both sides advanced, tapping and scraping the walls with pipes, creating an unnerving sound.
Meanwhile, on a rooftop, a teenager practiced handstand push-ups, witnessing the scene. "Huh? This guy offended someone?"
Qi Ge, cigarette in mouth, looked down disdainfully. From his vantage point, he clearly saw both sides closing in.
Chen Chuan looked up; the alley's sides were lined with dilapidated walls, covered in shattered glass. Climbing over would be difficult, and entering the residential area might cause trouble for the residents.
Since he couldn't leave, he wouldn't.
He unbuttoned his chest, revealing a white undershirt. He took it off and tossed it aside.
As it hung in the air, he took a step, and his second self merged with him. Dust rose as he burst forward...
...
(End of Chapter)
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