https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-4-The-Enemy-Within-The-Obstacle-in-the-Mind/12979028/
Chapter 3: Past and Present, Both Are Me
Chapter 3: Past and Present, Both Are Me
Solon, despite his poor character, had not wasted his year at Wu Yi Academy. His hidden and agile kick caught Chen Chuan off guard, striking his ear with force.
Upon seeing this, the teaching assistants prepared to have someone carry Chen Chuan away.
Solon's kick was powerful enough to knock down an untrained examinee, and even a strictly trained Wu University student might have ended up on the ground, possibly with severe consequences.
However, what happened next surprised everyone. Although Chen Chuan was kicked, his head only tilted slightly to the side, and his leg took a half-step forward. Then, he slowly turned back and stood upright again.
In a spot hidden from the crowd, when Chen Chuan was struck, the boy who looked identical to him seemed to fade away for a moment.
Solon was taken aback, aware of the force behind his kick. But Chen Chuan's eyes were clear, and he appeared unharmed.
Seated at the long table was a middle-aged teacher with thick arms and muscles that strained the seams of his shirt. He had been silent, but now he spoke up, "What's your name?"
"Huh? Oh!" The teaching assistant beside him snapped out of his daze, picked up the list on the table, glanced at it, and said, "Chen Chuan."
"What's your background?"
"A local from Yangzhi City, just graduated from elementary school. There's no indication of any involvement with a Fist Society or prior training..."
The teacher looked at Chen Chuan and said, "I see."
Solon's kick failed to knock Chen Chuan down, but he heard whispers and light laughter around the Training Ground. He felt they were mocking him, and his blood boiled. He roared and spun around, delivering a powerful back kick!
Chen Chuan, not accustomed to holding back, didn't hesitate due to Solon being a Wu University student. He responded with a kick of his own!
The move resembled Solon's previous Whip Kick, and it was clear he was imitating him. His imperfect form resulted in reduced speed and power.
Both kicked simultaneously, but the observing teaching assistants and students were certain Chen Chuan was the one kicked first! As they predicted, Solon's kick landed on Chen Chuan's head, but like before, he remained standing, and this time, Chen Chuan didn't even flinch.
Meanwhile, Chen Chuan's kick landed on Solon's neck!
At that moment, the shadow behind Chen Chuan suddenly appeared where he had been standing, and the two figures merged into one!
His speed and strength surged, and a loud thud echoed across the Training Ground, followed by a faint reverberation, indicating the immense power of the kick.
Solon's eyes lost focus, and his body fell to the side. He rolled over, sprawled on the ground.
Liu Cai's mouth hung open in disbelief as she witnessed the scene.
The other students and teaching assistants were equally stunned. Their minds raced with confusion. What just happened? Solon, a second-year Wu University student, was knocked out by a seemingly inexperienced examinee?
The middle-aged teacher at the long table took the admission form from the teaching assistant, signed it, and stamped it. "This student has passed."
Chen Chuan, hearing this, looked at the teacher, seeking confirmation.
The teacher said, "Your endurance is impressive. I'm Lecturer Bian Feng. You've passed the entrance exam, but remember, this is just the first step. Your ability to stay at Wu Yi University will depend on the second round of exams in two months."
Chen Chuan smiled and bowed to Lecturer Bian Feng, "Thank you, Teacher!"
"Clap, clap..."
The teaching assistants and students clapped softly, intrigued by the unusual exam. They looked forward to this student's future performances and remembered his name. As for Solon, who lay dazed on the ground, he seemed to be intentionally ignored.
As Chen Chuan left the Training Ground, he faced the dazzling sunlight outside. Looking at the road stretching before him, he felt a surge of excitement and joy.
"Chen Chuan!" A crisp voice called from behind.
Chen Chuan turned to see the senior female student he had met during registration. He politely approached her and asked, "Senior, is there something I can help with?"
The female student walked over and extended her hand, "Chen Chuan, congratulations on passing the exam. I'm Zhen Ping, a second-year student at Wu University."
Chen Chuan shook her hand, "Chen Chuan, nice to meet you, Senior."
He noticed Zhen Ping's soft and smooth hands, free of calluses. It felt like her skin concealed a hidden strength, as if she could crush his palm with a simple squeeze.
Zhen Ping said, "Chen Chuan, be careful. Solon is very petty and knows some unsavory people outside the school. There are school regulations within the campus, but outside, it's hard to say. So, be cautious."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment. Solon was probably the tall student from earlier, but he didn't understand why he had targeted him, as if they had a grudge. However, many things in the world don't require a reason. People often cause trouble just because they don't like someone.
He sincerely thanked her, "Thank you, Senior. I'll be careful..."
"Zhen Zhen!"
As they spoke, a girl waved at them from a distance. Zhen Ping waved back and said to Chen Chuan, "Chen Chuan, I hope you get in. Work hard, and goodbye." She waved and walked away.
Chen Chuan bid her farewell and stood for a moment before turning to leave the old teaching building. This time, he didn't take the same route back; instead, he followed the signs and took a different path, avoiding the crowds still arriving for the exams.
When he reached the Sunshade Shelter to retrieve his bike, he found numerous advertisements stuffed behind the seat. He unfolded and skimmed through them—promotions for various Fist Societies, arenas, and training gyms. He folded them neatly, put them in his bag, and pushed his bike out of the school gate, heading home.
On his way, he also thought about how Wu Yi Academy provides free room and board for official students. After moving out of his aunt's house, his food and lodging issues would be temporarily resolved.
As long as he achieved excellent results, he could also have his tuition fees waived in part, or even receive a scholarship. The latter was uncertain, but he was confident about the former because...
He looked ahead to the street corner, where a figure identical to himself stood, silently staring back at him. After walking a few dozen meters and reaching the next intersection, the figure appeared again in the distance, like a ghost he couldn't shake off.
But if he had to describe it, aside from lacking self-awareness, this figure seemed like another self existing in a fantasy, so he named it "Second Self."
The "Second Self" appeared when he occupied this body, and interestingly, his original self was also named Chen Chuan. Aside from age and experiences, their appearances were almost identical. So he guessed that the appearance of the "Second Self" might be due to a connection established between his "Parallel Self" and "Alternate Self."
The "Second Self" could actively or passively take on part or all of the pain he suffered, depending on his needs. So Solon's kick wasn't ineffective; it was just borne by the "Second Self."
Usually, the "Second Self" and he were separate, but once they overlapped, his strength, reaction speed, endurance, and other abilities would significantly improve. It was as if, in that moment, another "Self" truly merged with him.
However, he thought that if the "Second Self" was indeed himself, then all of this made sense. After all, whether enduring harm or exerting strength, ultimately, it was still him, wasn't it?
With the existence of the "Second Self," even though he had never undergone martial arts training, he still had the confidence to apply for Wu University.
But the "Second Self" also had an undeniable flaw: it couldn't be used without limits.
Currently, the longest time he and the "Second Self" could overlap each day was no more than thirty seconds. Of course, he could split up the time, but once the total time limit was exceeded, the "Second Self's" power couldn't be borrowed anymore.
Additionally, although the "Second Self" could take on harm for him, it also had a tolerance limit. Once this limit was exceeded, time was needed for recovery. The manifestation of enduring harm was usually a partial state of etherealization. If the harm reached an unbearable level, he would disappear like dissipating mist, and it would take two to three days to reappear.
Based on his previous experience, after enduring such heavy kicks today, it might take...
Huh?
He suddenly realized that there were no signs of etherealization on the "Second Self," and the injuries from this encounter seemed to have healed. Moreover, the connection with himself seemed to have strengthened?
He was surprised and recalled something, a guess forming in his mind. Was this the reason he had knocked down Solon earlier?
No, it wasn't the act of knocking down the opponent itself, but the sense of satisfaction and contentment he felt after defeating Solon.
Satisfying himself was equivalent to satisfying the "Second Self." This spiritual resonance deepened their connection, bringing the "Second Self" one step closer to reality.
The more he thought about it, the more he believed this to be true.
It seemed that the time limit for their daily overlap might also increase, and he could test this once he returned. The thought excited him, and he quickened his pace.
The return journey was smooth, and it took less than half an hour to reach home. At this time, no one was in the house; Aunt Yu should have taken the younger cousins to the Patrol Bureau's orphanage.
He washed his face outside, tidied up a bit, and then returned to his room. He hung up his bag, changed out of his outerwear, and sat on the edge of the bed. He took a clock, checked the time, closed his eyes, and overlapped with his "Second Self," counting silently.
Soon, he opened his eyes and looked at the clock, his gaze filled with joy and excitement.
As he had guessed, the time spent overlapping with the "Second Self" had increased, approximately twelve seconds longer than before, a significant improvement.
But was it simply defeating an opponent that increased the time? Upon further reflection, it might also be because Solon was much stronger than him. If he defeated an opponent of the same level, he might not gain as much pleasure and, consequently, not increase the time as much.
Of course, he could verify if this was truly the case in the future.
He calmed himself, went outside to pour a glass of water, took a few sips, and then rolled up his shirt sleeves. He bent down and, from under the bed, pulled out a brown leather suitcase.
He carried the suitcase to the table, entered the password, and finally pressed the lock button. Inside were several notebooks, a stack of credentials, a stack of photos, and a black metal card resembling an invitation.
He picked up the metal card. The items in the suitcase were left by his previous parents, and he had no idea what the metal card was for. But today, after visiting Wu University, he discovered that it looked similar to the admission recommendation card he had seen, except for the color.
In that case, should he take it out? After all, there was still an admission re-examination, just as important as the entrance exam. The recommendation card could grant him an exemption from the exam and might have other benefits. But after further thought, he decided to wait.
Since his aunt's husband's family was secretive about the cause of his parents' deaths, bringing it might cause trouble alongside convenience. Moreover, the recommendation card was black, not silver like the one he had seen earlier, suggesting it might have another use. If he wanted to use it, he needed to clarify the details first.
He had to be cautious because this world wasn't as safe as it seemed on the surface.
He put down the metal card and reached under the suitcase, pulling out a smooth, lustrous pebble. He stared at it, his eyes distant.
His previous parents had an old mansion in the suburbs. On the day his predecessor returned to tidy up, he saw a luxurious blue sedan pass by on his way back and then lost consciousness.
Later, he confirmed that his predecessor had been accurately hit in the heart by this tiny pebble and died on the spot. When he woke up again, it was him occupying the body, and the "Second Self" also appeared at that time.
But who was the murderer, and why did they target his predecessor?
"Ring, ring, ring..."
Just as he was deep in thought, the phone in the living room suddenly rang.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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