Chapter 29: Taking Flight
Chapter 29: Taking Flight
On August 28th, there was only one day left until the final round of the entrance exam.
Chen Chuan hadn't been to the Fist House these past two days; instead, he was at home preparing for the upcoming exam. As soon as he woke up, he began practicing Major Free Fighting in the courtyard, going through the moves again and again.
His movements were smooth and powerful, with a perfect balance of dynamism and tranquility. He performed the highly aggressive Major Free Fighting with a sense of beauty.
Yu Wan, wearing an apron, came out and smiled as she watched him practice. Even though she didn't understand the techniques, she could sense the strength emanating from Chen Chuan's movements, which made her feel comfortable.
In Chen Chuan, she seemed to see a familiar figure, one that was also practicing in the courtyard just like him. She couldn't help but murmur, "Second Sister..."
After a few rounds of practice, Chen Chuan suddenly smelled a fragrant aroma. He stopped his movements and asked, "Auntie, are you making chicken soup?"
Yu Wan was a bit surprised. She had just started making the soup and smiled, "Your nose is really sensitive, just like Second Sister. Aren't you taking the exam tomorrow? I'm making some chicken soup for you to nourish your body."
To be honest, a bowl of chicken soup wouldn't make much difference to Chen Chuan's training, but this was Yu Wan's kind gesture and concern for her younger relative. After eating black meat pumpkin and nutritional paste for so many days, he had almost forgotten what normal food tasted like.
Chen Chuan was in a good mood. He said, "Thank you, Auntie. I've been eating outside these days, and it's been a while since I've tasted your cooking. I've been missing it."
Yu Wan was delighted to hear this. "I'll make more soup. You've been training hard, so do you want to eat some biscuits first to fill your stomach?"
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "I want to save my appetite for your chicken soup, Auntie."
Yu Wan smiled and went inside, saying, "I'll keep an eye on the stove and call you when it's ready."
Chen Chuan practiced alone for a while longer, feeling refreshed and energized. He then returned to the living room.
Today was a day of rest, and everyone was at home, including Nian Fuli, who rarely had free time. He had taken off his belt and was reading the newspaper, with the radio playing a Zhang Mountain folk song in the background.
Chen Chuan entered the room and picked up the thermos cup to pour himself some water. He noticed that the tea in Nian Fuli's cup was half-empty, so he refilled it for him.
Nian Fuli glanced at Chen Chuan and seemed to remember something. He put down the newspaper and said, "Little Chuan, that matter has been taken care of. There are still some related issues, but don't worry about the exam. If there's anything, your uncle will handle it for you."
Chen Chuan realized he was talking about the attack he had experienced. "Thank you, Uncle," he said.
Nian Fuli asked, "How are you feeling? Are you confident?"
"Teacher Yu is a great teacher. I've learned everything I should have," Chen Chuan replied. "And I have you to thank for that."
Nian Fuli could see the confidence in Chen Chuan's eyes. He nodded, picked up the newspaper to cover his face, and continued reading, but his crossed leg began to shake.
Chen Chuan smiled, took his cup back to his room, and opened the window slightly. It had rained the night before, and the air was still fresh, with the sounds of birds coming from outside.
He stood for a while, then turned and took the book The Great Expansion from the bookshelf. It was his favorite book, and he had been reading it for a long time.
The book was set sixty years ago during the Third National Expansion. At that time, Yangzhi City was just a small county, and its development was attributed to its role as a logistics hub for the expansion army.
However, the book didn't focus on military affairs. Instead, it told the story from the perspective of three ordinary members of the expansion troops, describing the bizarre encounters they experienced during their journey. It was more like a fantastical biography and adventure diary, with detailed descriptions of the local customs and cultures, making it an engaging read.
Yangzhi City itself was home to various strange legends, such as the Skull-Splitting Demon, where the victims' skulls were always found split open, and their brains were said to be missing.
Due to its bizarre nature and the fact that the victims were not ordinary people, this legend spread widely.
Similarly, there were other legends, such as the disappearance of an entire village on Zhang Mountain, the Jiaoshan Phantom, and the Face Kite. Chen Chuan had privately asked Nian Fuli about these legends, but Nian Fuli dismissed them, saying that the patrol bureau had investigated these incidents and found that most of them had traces of human involvement, except for a few that were genuinely mysterious.
Nian Fuli also said that even if there were such supernatural things, they would be no match for the patrol bureau.
In the living room, even before mealtime, the aroma of chicken soup filled the air, and two cousins playing nearby smelled it and started shouting.
"It smells so good!"
"I want chicken soup! I want chicken soup!"
"That's for your cousin, not you. You can't have it."
"I want some too! I want some too..."
"No, you can't have it!"
Nian Fuli was getting a headache from the two kids' shouting. He put down the newspaper and called out to the kitchen, "Yu Wan, just make another one."
"I want that one! I want that one..."
"This kid, he never listens..." Yu Wan ran out from the kitchen, grabbed Nian Mo's ear, and smacked his butt twice, causing Nian Mo to howl in pain.
Chen Chuan heard a sound in the room and couldn't help but smile.
That day, the family had lunch and dinner together.
Before dinner, Nian Fuli spoke to Chen Chuan, "Tomorrow, don't be too nervous. When your uncle, my brother-in-law, first went to the battlefield, he didn't even know what fear was."
Yu Wan added, "Your uncle didn't exaggerate. He was very brave back then, but after returning, he always said that if the bullet had been slightly off, it wouldn't have just left a hole in his helmet; he wouldn't have been seen again."
Nian Fuli rubbed his head, feeling the stubble, and sighed, "Before I joined the army, I was a well-fed man with no worries. I didn't have to think too much. But after starting a family, I became more cautious. I always felt that I was too reckless in my youth, but if I hadn't taken a risk back then, I might have regretted it in my old age."
He looked at Chen Chuan and said, "Kid, take the exam seriously. To put it bluntly, it's either drinking and eating meat or eating bran and swallowing vegetables; it all depends on tomorrow."
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Uncle, Auntie, I have confidence."
"Good. I won't say more. Let's eat. Eat more, fill your stomach, rest well, and you'll be more energetic tomorrow." As he spoke, Nian Fuli picked up his chopsticks, and the family began to eat.
After dinner, Chen Chuan took a walk outside, returned to his room, placed the alarm clock on the desk, and with a slight movement of his lips, his second self instantly merged back into his physical body. He began to count silently.
He counted to 16, 19, and then looked at the book, ensuring there were no mistakes.
When he opened his eyes, he saw that two minutes had passed on the second hand. This was the result of his hard work during this phase.
In a life-or-death fight, the outcome is often decided within a few seconds or even ten seconds. So, if it's just about dealing with a one-on-one fight, that's already enough.
Regardless, over the past three months, he had done his best, and now he was waiting for tomorrow's test.
He checked once more the items he needed for tomorrow, feeling relaxed, and returned to his books. When the clock struck ten times, he turned off the lights and went to sleep as usual, quickly falling into a deep slumber.
The night passed, and at around 5 a.m., he woke up feeling refreshed. However, Yu Wan had woken up even earlier and had already prepared breakfast for him, telling him not to be nervous.
Chen Chuan wasn't overly anxious, and this was due to his confidence in his abilities.
Since the re-examination didn't specify an exact exam time, only requiring candidates to arrive before 8 a.m., he decided to arrive at the school a bit earlier to avoid any last-minute rush.
After leaving, he noticed the sky was dimly lit by the newly risen sun, and there weren't many pedestrians on the road yet.
He rode his bike, passing through the city center and smoothly turning onto the main road leading to the Wu Yi Academy. However, he saw that both sides of the road were filled with security personnel maintaining order, all of them carrying short sticks and daggers at their waists.
These were likely dispatched by the Wu Yi Academy to maintain order, as with so many students gathering, all young and passionate, and a group of candidates possessing martial skills, proper arrangements were necessary to prevent potential issues.
As he rode further, he could already see the school gate, but a barrier rope had been set up in the open space in front of the main entrance. An officer standing at the street corner waved him down, indicating that he should park his bike in the designated area.
Chen Chuan dismounted and pushed his bike towards the open space where several rows of cars were already parked. After parking, he walked through the passage left by the barrier rope.
Many early-bird candidates were already lined up ahead. Each candidate had to have their identity verified, and without a student ID, they wouldn't be allowed into the academy. If it was damaged, forgotten, or lost, they would be stopped outside without any explanation accepted.
Two academy teachers and three assistant teachers guarded the entrance, each with a serious expression, and the patrolling security guards added to the tense atmosphere.
Chen Chuan, as usual, entered through the side gate. At the entrance, he checked his number and photo, confirmed his identity, and had his personal items inspected. Except for food, water, toilet paper, and towels, nothing else was allowed inside, and he had to sign before being allowed into the Wu Yi Academy.
As they lined up to enter, a small car slowly approached. A teacher proactively inquired, and the student inside showed his student card, and they were immediately allowed to pass.
The students entering through the side gate didn't think it was unusual, and many even looked on with envious gazes.
Chen Chuan heard a few bird calls above and looked up. In the brightening sunlight, he could see several sparrows soaring high in the clear sky.
"Student, your student ID."
Chen Chuan snapped back to attention, thanked the officer, took his ID, and after securing it, tightened the shoulder bag on his shoulder, and stepped through the gates of the Wu Yi Academy.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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