Chapter 44: Initial Encounter
Chapter 44: Initial Encounter
Because the first day of school was eventful, Chen Chuan decided to rest early. According to his schedule, public classes would start the next day. Since his guidance teacher had not been assigned yet, he planned to attend and observe. After a quick rinse, he went to bed.
The next morning at six, he had just finished his morning routine and was about to head out for a workout when he suddenly heard a knock on the door.
Who could it be so early?
He walked over and opened the door to find a middle-aged man standing outside. The man wore a white shirt with a diagonal striped tie, neither too thin nor too fat. He held his coat over one arm and a briefcase under the other. He looked to be in his forties or fifties, with thick eyebrows and large eyes. Despite his round face, it was clear he had been quite handsome in his youth. He held a pair of decorative sunglasses and a name card, waving them at Chen Chuan. "Chen classmate? Hello." He smiled and added, "I'm your guidance teacher, Cheng Zitong. You can call me Teacher Cheng or just Old Cheng."
Chen Chuan glanced at the name card and immediately responded politely, "Hello, Teacher Cheng." However, he recalled that among the materials provided by the dormitory manager, there didn't seem to be any teacher surnamed Cheng.
"Surprised, right?" Teacher Cheng laughed. "It's not just students who choose teachers; teachers can also choose students. I reviewed your resume and found you to be a promising student, so I came to see you."
Chen Chuan stepped aside. "Please come in, Teacher Cheng."
Cheng Zitong nodded and walked in, sitting down on the sofa. He leaned back and looked around, remarking, "This dorm hasn't changed much over the years..." Seeing Chen Chuan preparing to pour him a drink, he waved him off. "Don't bother, come sit down and listen to what I have to say."
Chen Chuan still poured a glass of water and placed it on the coffee table in front of the sofa. "Please forgive me, Teacher Cheng. We only have plain water here."
"Ah, no need to be so formal. You're a very polite student."
Cheng Zitong picked up the glass and waited for Chen Chuan to sit down before continuing. "Chen classmate, others might think you started practicing the Breath Technique too early, exhausting your potential, but I believe you are a talented student. However, there is an issue I think you need to address urgently. Let me show you something first."
He took out a stack of papers from his briefcase and handed them to Chen Chuan. "These are records of some Wu Yi University graduates, from when they were seventeen to thirty-seven. You don't need to read the earlier parts; focus on the later sections, yes, keep flipping."
Chen Chuan flipped through the documents and quickly noticed that almost all the Wu Yi graduates had medical and surgical records starting from their twenties and thirties, and some even had such records in their early twenties.
Cheng Zitong said, "See that?"
Chen Chuan looked up and asked, "Teacher Cheng, what is the reason for this? Is it due to excessive training during their studies that caused physical injuries?"
Cheng Zitong shook his head. "It would be better if that were the case. We need to discuss this gradually."
Chen Chuan said, "Please enlighten me, Teacher."
"Don't be so formal," Cheng Zitong replied, though he was clearly pleased with Chen Chuan's attitude. He continued, "You have already started practicing the Breath Technique and can feel its benefits, but you may not understand what truly lies beneath it."
Chen Chuan couldn't help but ask, "What is it?"
Cheng Zitong said, "Under the influence of the Breath Technique, your body's resistance, the strength of your internal organs, the load-bearing capacity of your bones, and various other aspects will undergo a qualitative leap. You should feel that after starting the Breath Technique, you have pulled ahead of ordinary people who haven't practiced it, and you continue to improve every day."
Chen Chuan nodded. "That's true."
"But there is another effect," Cheng Zitong said slowly. "Your body will develop some new tissues and organs, which we call Altered Tissues. For example..."
He pointed at Chen Chuan. "Under the influence of the Breath Technique, your body will first develop additional fascia tissue. The reason Martial Artists can generate power beyond ordinary people is due to the existence of these tissues. When such tissues appear in your body and continue to grow, you will initially feel itchy or hot, and you will notice a rapid improvement in your physical attributes."
Chen Chuan was taken aback. He recalled feeling a burning sensation in his body shortly after starting the Breath Technique, which he had discussed with Yu Gang. The improvement in his physical attributes might be due to his consistent practice, which he had maintained without interruption.
Seeing his reaction, Cheng Zitong said, "It seems you have already experienced this. Don't worry; it indicates that your body is well-suited for martial arts training. Some people are even born with some Altered Tissues, and they are known as having a Natural Talent.
However, this situation cannot be left unchecked, especially after undergoing martial arts training. Prolonged and deliberate external stimulation can cause these tissues to grow rapidly. Without proper guidance, these tissues will grow uncontrollably, potentially infringing on the normal functions of other body tissues, leading to various health issues. In such cases, surgery may be necessary to remove some of the tissues. In severe cases, it can lead to deformities or even death."
Chen Chuan paused to think, then asked, "Teacher Cheng, I'm curious about the timeframe for this issue."
Teacher Cheng tapped his knee with the decorative sunglasses he held, and replied, "It varies from person to person. Everything in this world has its pros and cons. The more talented one is, the faster and higher the altered tissue grows."
He gestured towards the documents with his chin and continued, "The shortest time recorded is less than a year. Yes, less than a year. To be precise, it's ten months. Let me ask you, how long has it been since you started practicing the breathing technique until now?"
"Three months," Chen Chuan answered.
Cheng Zitong contemplated, "Three months already..."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment and realized that his second self might not be able to resolve this issue.
Currently, the second self could only handle some direct and tangible harm, but the prerequisite for removing the damage was the presence of an overall 'self.' These tissues were also considered a part of the 'self,' so it was like he couldn't just remove his blood and internal organs out of thin air.
While he wasn't sure how the second self would change in the future, at least for now, it was impossible to do such a thing.
So, he sought advice, "Then, Teacher Cheng, how can I avoid this situation?"
"Don't view this as something too terrible," Cheng Zitong waved his hand dismissively and spoke earnestly, "You should face it head-on. I even think it's a gift from the heavens. Without these altered tissues, the human body can't surpass its limits. But if we can harness them for our benefit, they might become the ladder that propels us forward."
"Martial arts," he continued, "are precisely the method to achieve this."
"Yes, although martial arts stimulate the tissues, if we guide them in an orderly manner, there's a possibility to turn their drawbacks into advantages. But the prerequisite is that the guiding method must be correct."
Chen Chuan asked seriously, "Teacher Cheng, what constitutes an orderly and correct approach?"
Cheng Zitong instructed, "Stay seated and don't move."
He stood up and probed Chen Chuan's shoulders, hand joints, neck, spine, and other areas with his hands. Chen Chuan could feel a tingling sensation where Cheng Zitong touched.
Cheng Zitong furrowed his brows and said, "It's progressing so quickly. You've only been practicing for three months? Some people might not reach your level even after three years of training. It seems you have a natural talent..."
He sat back down, his expression turning solemn. "It looks like I'll have to accelerate your progress. If you continue like this, it might not end well."
Chen Chuan, surprisingly, remained calm and asked, "According to your estimation, Teacher Cheng, how long before I encounter that situation?"
"Hmm..." Cheng Zitong replied thoughtfully, "It's hard to say. The most optimistic estimate is about six months. If it's faster, it might happen within two to three months. Your altered tissues will become harder to control. At that point, to safeguard your health and even your life, we might have to consider the least ideal method."
Chen Chuan didn't inquire about the specifics of these methods but could guess some of them.
Cheng Zitong spoke solemnly, "You've been practicing the foundational breathing technique. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you a higher-level breathing technique, and you must master the power technique as soon as possible, no matter how small the power is. This will ensure that your altered fascia grows in the direction you need, rather than uncontrollably."
"If, after the first ten days, you don't experience pain, tingling, or swelling, it means your direction is temporarily correct. We can continue training. If not, we'll adjust until you master the complete power technique, and then we'll have overcome one hurdle."
"But it doesn't end there," he continued, "If your altered tissues continue to grow, you'll need to find a way to enter the next phase and sustain it until the first rapid growth phase slows down. Only then can you breathe a sigh of relief."
He looked at Chen Chuan intently and said, "Since I've decided to be your guidance teacher, no matter how difficult it is, I'll help you overcome this hurdle. But it requires your determination; otherwise, my efforts will be in vain. What's your decision?"
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Teacher Cheng, thank you for telling me all this. Do you know that my first reaction after hearing your words was joy?"
"Joy?"
Chen Chuan nodded, gazing out the window, his eyes filled with anticipation. "Only those powers that defy common sense can free us from our shackles and take us to greater heights, to witness the scenery there." He turned back to Cheng Zitong and said sincerely, "Teacher Cheng, I'll do my utmost because this is precisely what I aspire to and yearn for."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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