Chapter 39: Going Through the Motions
Chapter 39: Going Through the Motions
As Chen Chuan entered the dormitory, the dorm security guard approached him, saying, "Student, please show your student ID."
He took out his student card from his pocket and handed it to the guard.
The security guard took the card and inserted it into the slot of the punch card machine. The display above lit up, and after a few clicks corresponding to the color codes, a printed slip with Chen Chuan's name on it emerged.
The guard returned the name card and slip to Chen Chuan, saying, "Student Chen, this is your entry/exit slip for today. Please keep it safe. Your dormitory is located in Zone 1, Room 4 on the seventh floor."
Chen Chuan thanked him and headed towards the stairs. To his surprise, he noticed an elevator in the dormitory building, and at this time, it seemed rather deserted. He approached and pressed the button, and the mesh door slid open with a distinct metallic grinding sound. He stepped inside and pressed the button for the seventh floor. The elevator shook slightly and began its ascent.
After a short wait, the number seven appeared on the display, and the elevator doors opened to the side. Chen Chuan stepped out.
Before him was a large space of several hundred square meters. Above, there were zone signs, with Zones 3 and 4 on the left and Zones 1 and 2 on the right. He turned right and located Zone 1. Ahead was a spacious corridor, carpeted and wide, with four doors on each side facing each other.
At the end of the corridor, he found his Room 4. He took out his key and opened the door. As he entered, he immediately noticed a floor-to-ceiling window with the curtains drawn, allowing the midday sun to stream in.
Chen Chuan set down his luggage and walked towards the window, slightly adjusting the curtains.
From this vantage point, he could see the scenery outside. Below was a verdant lake with willow trees along its banks. He recalled seeing this lake on the school map; it was the famous Spring and Autumn Lake within the school grounds. Across the lake stood the Wu Yi Academy Administration Building, and surrounding it was a lakeside running track where numerous students could be seen strolling.
After observing for a while, he turned his attention to the interior of the room.
This was a single-occupancy dormitory of approximately ninety square meters, consisting of a bedroom, a living room, a drying room, a bathroom, and a personal training room. The room provided twenty-four-hour water and electricity supply. Outside, there were a lost-and-found board, a public telephone, and an internal delivery box.
On his desk, he also found a booklet of dormitory rules. The room would be cleaned daily by dedicated staff, and bed linens would be changed regularly. Laundry could be done by the laundry room below the dormitory, but food was not allowed in the dorm. Drinking alcohol, smoking, and pasting posters or similar items on the walls were strictly prohibited...
There were many more rules listed.
After reading for a while and getting a general understanding, Chen Chuan decided to head to the cafeteria for a meal, leaving other matters for when he returned.
"Knock, knock, knock..."
At that moment, he heard a knocking sound from outside. The door was not fully closed, and as he turned back, he saw a student a few years older than him, also wearing the upper-class uniform, standing there with an unfriendly gaze.
Chen Chuan asked, "Senior, is there something I can help you with?"
The student stood there, his tone somewhat impolite, and asked, "Are you Chen Chuan?"
The student waved a slip of paper in front of Chen Chuan, it's important to note that the student had a grudge. He said, "I'm Senior Shu Han, the senior assigned to pair up with you. I've been waiting for you all morning, standing here like a fool. The other students are laughing at me. I'm in my third year, and I've never seen a newbie as cocky as you."
Chen Chuan apologized, "My apologies, Senior Shu. This morning, I had some school matters to attend to, and I wasn't able to communicate with you in advance."
He speculated that perhaps the school hadn't conveyed the message to those below, or maybe it was an oversight, or perhaps it was intentional. However, the matter was now concluded, so Chen Chuan prepared to take out his travel order to clear up the misunderstanding.
Senior Shu, however, looked him up and down, flexing his wrist, and said, "Well, now that you're here, there's no point in saying more. As the senior assigned to pair up with you, I need to assess your level to understand your situation. That way, the report I submit later will be more comprehensive."
Chen Chuan asked, "Oh? Is there a procedure for this pairing?"
Shu Han rolled his eyes impatiently, but his gaze seemed a bit unfocused. "What nonsense are you talking about? I'm a senior student, do you think I wouldn't know better?"
Chen Chuan smiled and glanced at him a few times before saying, "Sure." Whether there was an official procedure or not, he was also curious about the abilities of the senior students.
Wei Chang'an had been observing Shu Han closely, and from his subtle expressions, he seemed truly formidable. As a third-year student, he was likely to have mastered the power of combat, as Yu Gang had put it. Even within Wu Yi Academy, such individuals were considered elite.
Unfortunately, there was neither time nor opportunity for a friendly spar, but he could learn a thing or two from the senior student standing before him.
Shu Han looked around and said, "We can't do it here, let's go outside."
Chen Chuan readily agreed and followed him to an open area on the same floor. This was essentially a training ground, spanning over five hundred square meters, ample space for spectators and combat.
As they stepped outside, a senior student leaned against the wall, looking bored. Upon seeing the two of them, he smiled and asked, "Are you going through the procedure?"
Shu Han gave a slight hum in response.
It was common knowledge that those who practiced combat often had a temper. Some younger students, without a proper beating, acted like they owned the world. Shu Han knew that in such situations, harsh words were useless, and only fists could speak louder.
This was a procedure of sorts, an unwritten rule established by the students. Typically, a good beating was enough to make them compliant, and then they could calmly discuss the matter.
However, Chen Chuan's case was special. He had a good attitude, and there might be other reasons. Shu Han felt a bit annoyed that he had been kept waiting all morning with no guarantee of a fight, so he wanted to go through the procedure.
"Let's go to the 16th floor, room 19, and check the book in the library!"
At the same time, he had also heard about Chen Chuan defeating Zhong Wu, a formidable opponent, after his enrollment. Some even compared Chen Chuan to one of his idols, which made Shu Han even more eager to measure up against him.
The senior student was also intrigued and took the initiative to walk up to Chen Chuan, extending his hand for a handshake.
"You must be Chen, right? I'm Shen Shao, I've heard of you. You have no idea how famous you've become. Even a third-year student like me has heard about you taking down Zhong Wu, that monster. I'm truly impressed, but go easy on me later, don't hurt Shu, my senior. He's actually a good guy, just that he didn't get to meet you today, and he's a bit hot-tempered, especially after being rejected a few days ago. You should take it easy on him."
Shu Han couldn't help but feel a bit annoyed. "What are you talking about? Can you stop bringing that up? Do I need a junior student to let me win? And I told you, I wasn't rejected, we just rejected each other."
"Okay, okay, I get it. She rejected you first, and then you rejected her."
Shu Han felt a mix of embarrassment and annoyance. "Are you saying we should go through the procedure here first?"
Shen Shao said, "Alright, I won't say more. Just be careful, it's the start of the semester, no need to get injured."
Chen Chuan could tell that Shen Shao enjoyed watching the spectacle, but he didn't mind. Usually, he could only find Lu Ke to spar with, and later had to go to a boxing gyms to find worthy opponents. Now, he had someone willing to spar with him for free, which he greatly appreciated.
If he lost, he could identify his weaknesses, and if he won, it might even advance his second self. Why not give it a try?
He went to the side to stretch a bit and when he turned back, he saw that Shu Han was already waiting there.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
