Chapter 43: The Second Invitation
Chapter 43: The Second Invitation
Chen Chuan paused, unlocked the door with his key, and turned to say, "Senior, please come in." At that moment, Luo Kaiyuan suddenly spoke up, "If you need help, you can call me."
Chen Chuan glanced at him in surprise and nodded in gratitude. "Thank you, Luo."
But the senior seemed not to have heard their conversation and followed Chen Chuan into the dormitory with a faint smile.
Chen Chuan invited him to sit down and poured him a glass of water. He sat down across from him and asked, "May I ask how I should address you, Senior?"
The senior smiled and introduced himself, "My name is Yu Ruizhi, a second-year student from the Wrestling Department."
"A senior from the Wrestling Department?"
Chen Chuan looked at him; judging by his physique alone, he didn't seem like a wrestler. Someone like Zhong Wu would immediately give away his wrestling background.
However, wrestlers came in all shapes and sizes, even small ones, so this wasn't unusual. Chen Chuan asked, "May I ask why you're here, Senior Yu?"
Senior Yu maintained a gentle smile and said, "Chen, do you think I'm here to confront you?"
He shook his head and added, "No, Chen, your every move in the exam followed the rules. There's no denying that, so no one will pursue the matter. The reason I'm here today is to invite you to join the Mutual Aid Society."
Looking at him, Chen Chuan replied, "I guess I wasn't clear enough last time. Today, I formally decline your invitation to receive any support from the Mutual Aid Society."
Yu Ruizhi laughed and said, "Chen, I'm not here to offer you financial support. I'm purely inviting you to join the Mutual Aid Society." He raised his hand, signaling for a moment of patience, "Chen, don't rush to refuse. I can tell you about the benefits you'll gain by joining the Society. You can listen and then give me your answer."
He looked at Chen Chuan, adjusted his glasses, and said, "Chen, you must understand that a true martial artist doesn't become one through casual training. That's just a street-level fighter. Someone who truly aspires to excel in this field must undergo systematic training with clear goals."
"This kind of training is crucial, extremely important," he emphasized repeatedly, his voice carrying an enigmatic depth.
"You might say that there are training teachers and guidance teachers in school, but they don't truly understand you. They teach based on their own past experiences, using themselves as the blueprint. Even with many modern aids, there are still areas of dissatisfaction. Sometimes, it's these tiny deviations that prevent your potential from fully blossoming, keeping you from reaching the heights you're meant for."
Here, he stressed, "The Mutual Aid Society can help you achieve this."
"Oh? Is the Mutual Aid Society that powerful?" Chen Chuan asked.
Yu Ruizhi confidently replied, "Of course. The Society's capabilities exceed your imagination. If you join, you'll receive a comprehensive medical check-up, customized training methods, help in building your own martial arts system, and access to various training supplements. The Society can provide all of this."
And this is just the beginning. In the future, if you perform well, we can recommend you to Mo Lan Corporation. Their current security deputy, Cui Hong, rose to that position with our support. Mo Lan is a company with a significant presence in Central City, and you can imagine what that means for your future."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and asked, "I have a question. Why did you come looking for me?"
Yu Ruizhi explained, "We didn't just seek out you, Chen. We reach out to all students with potential, both past and present."
He smiled again, "Chen, from your exam performance, it's clear that you've mastered the Breath Technique. And unlike others, you didn't start martial arts training early, which is rare. It's challenging for someone without prior training to endure the pain."
However, you passed, and naturally, you now possess the strength to compete with the assessed students.
This also gives you value ahead of time.
Forgive my bluntness in using the term 'value,' but a person can be measured by their worth, and it can also depreciate."
He stared at Chen Chuan, as if wanting to pressure him, "You've gained strength at the cost of overdrawing your potential, but this debt will eventually need to be repaid. What awaits you is a matter of a few years, either in the form of injuries and decline or some other unfortunate circumstances..."
This situation may come sooner than you imagine. Many Class A students haven't started training yet, but once they do, and with the breath technique, they'll quickly catch up to you. The advantage you have now will soon disappear."
Chen Chuan listened, suddenly curious, and asked, "Senior Yu, are you saying there's a way to make up for the overdrawn potential?"
"Of course!" Yu Ruizhi replied with certainty, feeling that Chen Chuan seemed interested. He explained earnestly:
"Some medications produced by pharmaceutical companies in Central City can repair your potential and make up for your shortcomings. These drugs are not only incredibly expensive but are also considered contraband outside of Central City. Only the Mutual Aid Society can obtain them, and they promise that as soon as you join, you'll immediately gain access to these medications."
Seeing that Chen Chuan didn't respond, he added, "Of course, if you find the medication inappropriate or unwilling, there are other options, like... implants."
Chen Chuan looked at him, intrigued. "Implants?"
"You may have heard of them, or perhaps not," Yu Ruizhi said. "It's a biological implant, a military-grade one, that can instantly grant you strength beyond ordinary people."
"In that case, if it's implanted into an ordinary person, will they gain an exceptional fighting power immediately?" Chen Chuan asked.
Yu Ruizhi shook his head. "It's not that simple. The effectiveness of the implant depends on the recipient's capacity. The higher the capacity, the stronger the power that can be exerted. So, a good body is essential."
Chen Chuan pondered his words.
Yu Ruizhi waited a moment before speaking again. "I've said a lot, but I'm curious about your thoughts, Chen."
Chen Chuan looked at him and firmly refused. "I appreciate the Mutual Aid Society's offer, but I'd rather forge my own path."
"Is that your answer? Understood."
Yu Ruizhi maintained his polite demeanor, seemingly unbothered by Chen Chuan's rejection.
He placed a name card on the desk, stood up, and smiled. "Chen, if you change your mind, you're welcome to come to us. Oh, and by the way, martial arts is not just about fighting. The world is not as simple as you think. So, looking forward to seeing you again, and no need to see me out."
After saying this, he nodded at Chen Chuan and walked out. Once in the corridor, he closed the door with a hint of satisfaction.
Chen Chuan pondered Yu Ruizhi's last words, wondering if he was certain that Chen Chuan would seek them out. Was it a threat or some other reason?
He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked down at the campus below. At this moment, the academy compound was lit up with lights everywhere, especially the administrative building and the lakeside lamps, which were particularly bright.
Yu Ruizhi had promised quite a lot, but there was no doubt that it would come at a greater cost. Chen Chuan had come here to learn martial arts, seeking freedom from constraints and the ability to reach greater heights.
He looked up at the scattered clouds in the sky, wondering how the lights below could ever compare to the vastness of the heavens above?
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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