Chapter 40: Longde Foods
Chapter 40: Longde Foods
Shu Han glanced at Chen Chuan, who stood there, tall and handsome with clear eyes. He muttered to himself, "This guy has a good appearance."
Shu Han warned, "Junior Chen, be careful. I excel in close-quarters combat, and I've mastered techniques that you haven't yet."
Chen Chuan nodded. This was their first meeting, and he didn't know what Shu Han was thinking. So, the information he revealed was intended to confuse Chen Chuan, but he couldn't be sure. Regardless of his opponent's tactics, Chen Chuan was determined to fight at his own pace.
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "I don't have any particular specialty; I guess I just have a slightly better physical condition."
"Physical condition?" Shu Han nodded seriously.
Chen Chuan believed this. According to the information he received, Zhong Wu was rumored to have his brain beaten into a pulp. He was only alive thanks to medical support, and the school was keeping him alive for appearances. But he was essentially a vegetable with no hope of waking up.
Given Zhong Wu's physique, for Chen Chuan to have inflicted such damage with his bare hands, it would have required considerable strength and skill.
After their introductions, they exchanged a fist bump and stepped back a few paces to begin.
Shu Han, as the senior, was mindful of his reputation and didn't initiate the attack. He extended his hand, offering a respectful greeting and waiting in place.
Chen Chuan didn't hesitate; if his opponent wouldn't come to him, he'd go to his opponent. He strode forward.
Although Shu Han wasn't tall, as Chen Chuan approached directly, he felt a sense of oppression. If he dodged now, his opponent could easily follow up. The arena was spacious enough for dodging, but doing so would be unsightly, and Shu Han was also concerned about his reputation. So, instead of retreating, he spun and advanced a step.
Chen Chuan saw Shu Han's movement and suddenly found himself face-to-face with him. It felt abrupt and disjointed, as if no force was needed, and his opponent was simply there. Chen Chuan realized that his opponent must have used some kind of technique.
When people engage in combat, they anticipate the landing point of their opponent's moves and their position. If their opponent isn't where they expect, the rhythm of the fight can be disrupted.
In this situation, Shu Han was likely to attempt a grappling move. The best counter would be to backflip and shift his center of gravity, but this might also be what his opponent wanted.
So, Chen Chuan did the opposite. Instead of retreating, he advanced, stepping forward with a lowered center of gravity. A jarring, unpleasant screeching sound emanated from the floor as he charged forward, executing the "Crashing Body" technique from the Great Sanshou style. This move relied on the attacker's physical advantage to forcefully break through the opponent's defense. No matter how intricate the technique, it ultimately depended on strength; otherwise, it would be useless.
Shu Han did intend to wait for Chen Chuan's reaction. If Chen Chuan was fooled by his feint and shifted his weight backward, a quick pull of Shu Han's hand would leave Chen Chuan's strength wasted, and he could easily capture Chen Chuan's head, ending the fight.
But at that moment, Shu Han realized something was wrong. He suddenly felt an irresistible force rushing toward him, and he couldn't stand his ground. He was knocked sideways, but as he flew out, he rolled with the momentum and quickly got back on his feet, seemingly unharmed.
Shen Shao spoke up, "Little Shu, you lost. If Chen had continued to press forward, you wouldn't have won."
Shu Han fell silent for a moment, then acknowledged, "Yes, Chen, you won."
Chen Chuan shook his head, "The senior was gracious."
This wasn't mere courtesy; Chen Chuan felt that Shu Han had made a very subtle move, which he quickly restrained. Chen Chuan guessed it might be a harmful technique, but since they were only sparring, Shu Han didn't use it.
This victory was only in a friendly match; the outcome would be different in a life-or-death battle.
Shu Han's usual arrogance had seemingly vanished as he politely invited, "Junior, you haven't had dinner yet, right? Let's go, I'll take you there."
"Hey, I haven't eaten either. Take me too," Shen Shao called out.
Shu Han retorted, "You have your own legs, do you still need someone to take you?"
Shen Shao, with a cheeky grin, replied, "If others refuse you, you can refuse them back. Why can't you take me along just because I have my own legs?"
Shu Han instantly felt his fists clench.
Chen Chuan secretly smiled to himself, then joined the two as they took the elevator down from the upper floors. Along the way, he explained his absence earlier that day. Both Shu Han and Shen Shao were surprised by his explanation and exchanged glances, though they didn't say anything. Instead, they gave him meaningful looks.
The main dining hall of Wu Yi Academy was located on the southwest side of the campus, primarily because the majority of the students were Class B students, and their learning facilities were all situated in the older buildings in that area.
Regarding food provisions, while recommended students had their private chefs, Class A and Class B students shared the same dining hall. However, there were still distinctions made within the dining hall itself.
As the three of them entered, they headed straight for the Class A student dining area.
Suddenly, the dining hall's broadcast system came to life, and a gentle, soothing female voice filled the air: "Longde Foods has revolutionized the way we perceive food, breaking free from the constraints and limitations of traditional concepts. Longde's philosophy is to return food to its most natural state..."
"The primary ingredient used is Fuleng Algae, ensuring high-quality, easily digestible, and absorbable nutrients. It provides a balanced diet and all the essential substances required by the human body..."
Chen Chuan observed that some students had a blank expression, while others, who were clearly new students, sighed and muttered, "Here it goes again." Many others seemed to ignore the announcement altogether.
"Longde Foods implements strict disinfection measures and comprehensive sealed management, eliminating the drawbacks of traditional food safety issues. Longde Foods can be preserved for over 150 years, even in extreme temperatures..."
Shen Shao chuckled, "It's your first time hearing this, right? It's not so bad for us Class A students; we just listen to it once during each meal. But for the Class B students, it's played on a loop. You can't even leave unless you pay for your own meal and come to eat with us."
Chen Chuan understood. Hearing it once was fine, but having it repeated every day was almost like brainwashing. However, he knew that the nutritional paste provided by the school was courtesy of this company, so daily advertisements weren't entirely unreasonable.
The trio found a four-person table near the edge of the dining hall. Shu Han reached under the table and pulled out a menu with a pen attached, sliding it towards Chen Chuan. "Choose whatever you like; everything on the list is free. If you want something with a unique flavor, that's possible too, but it'll cost extra."
Chen Chuan didn't hesitate and selected several items with the pen, as he wasn't a picky eater. Shu Han and Shen Shao also made their choices and tore off the order slip, handing it to the waiter who had approached them.
Chen Chuan looked around, noticing that despite it being mealtime, the dining hall wasn't overly crowded.
Shen Shao laughed, "Junior Chen, don't be fooled by the increased number of students this semester. After the second round of exams, there are only about 200 students left, which is way more than previous years. In the past, there were barely 40 to 50, and at most, 70 to 80. This year, there's a significant increase, and I heard it's partly because of you."
Chen Chuan was taken aback. "Me?"
Shen Shao leaned forward slightly, fixing his gaze on Chen Chuan. "Yes, because of you. You know, when news spread about you defeating Zhong Wu, many instructors became hesitant to push students too hard. They're afraid that if they pressure students too much, they might create another person like you, who could potentially kill or cripple them."
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(End of Chapter)
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