https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-4-The-Enemy-Within-The-Obstacle-in-the-Mind/12979028/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-6-Regulating-Blood-and-Qi-for-Training/12979030/
Chapter 5: Unbound by Age, Unfettered by Restraints
Chapter 5: Unbound by Age, Unfettered by Restraints
Mr. Wen spoke with a hint of regret in his voice, "Captain Nian, to be honest, your nephew is a bit old."
Captain Nian was perplexed, "Old? He's only sixteen, seventeen at most by lunar age. He barely meets the age requirement for enlistment. Is that considered old?"
Mr. Wen explained, "Captain Nian, it's evident that your nephew hasn't undergone specialized martial arts training before. Many of the students at Wu Yi Academy start their training at a very young age."
"Their bodies are developed from an early age, and with a solid foundation, they are prepared for future high-intensity training and skill absorption. Their potential is much higher than those who haven't had this preparation. With just a little guidance, they can acquire basic martial arts abilities. The purpose of the Second Round at the Academy is to select these students and provide them with further cultivation."
Mr. Wen's tone carried a hint of regret, "Your nephew, however, hasn't gone through this stage. Even if he passes the Second Round, when he trains with these students, initially, the progress might not differ much. But as time goes by, the gap will gradually widen. This disparity will only grow, and it's almost impossible to catch up."
"The intensity and ferocity here are not something that those without early training can compare to. Forcing him to join might lead to serious injuries. It's better not to push him, as this might be better for your nephew."
Mr. Wen's words were sincere, with a hint of persuasion. After hearing this, Captain Nian felt a chill down his spine.
If this was the case, he thought it best not to push the issue. He decided to let Chen Chuan finish his studies at Wu Yi University. After all, even if he graduated without a specific skill, there were still options. After all, he was a Wu Yi student. It wasn't his place to make choices for Chen Chuan, so he remained silent for the moment.
Just then, a loud voice echoed from the warehouse, "Captain Nian, is this your nephew? I heard he got into Wu Yi?"
Captain Nian's face twitched, and Chen Chuan turned around to see a robust man with a tilted hat, resembling a patrol officer. He approached them and sized up Chen Chuan, "Hmph, one look at this kid's physique and you can tell he hasn't trained. With this, he wants to make a name for himself at Wu Yi? Keep dreaming!"
Captain Nian's face darkened, "Wei Laohu! Don't get cocky just because your son is at Wu Yi. If your son can make a name for himself, my nephew can do the same!"
"Haha, I don't believe it," Wei Laohu retorted, feeling challenged. He pointed to the broom beside him, "If your nephew can make a name for himself at Wu Yi, I'll eat this broom."
Captain Nian scoffed, "Then wait and see. Chuan, let's go." He took a step forward, and Chen Chuan followed.
Wei Laohu shouted from behind, "You're leaving? Not taking the broom? I'm waiting for you to feed me..."
After leaving, Captain Nian was cooled by the night breeze, and his mind became clearer. However, he still felt a sense of frustration. He turned and said, "Chuan, Mr. Wen is the martial arts instructor hired by our bureau. You heard what he said, what do you think?"
Chen Chuan smiled, "Uncle, we left in a hurry. We should've brought the broom; otherwise, what if someone tries to back out later?" He understood that Mr. Wen's concern was valid, but he had his 'second self'. Many things that seemed impossible could become possible.
Captain Nian was taken aback, then he laughed and patted Chen Chuan's shoulder, "Good boy, I never noticed this before."
Chen Chuan understood his uncle's intentions. He reached into his pocket, took out a cigarette box, flicked it, and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it. The flickering flame vanished in the night, as if he was contemplating something.
Chen Chuan remained silent. After a while, Captain Nian threw the half-smoked cigarette to the ground and extinguished it with his foot. He spoke softly, "I'll give you an address. Go find this person. He has a case, but he's capable. Follow and learn from him. Don't ask too much, and don't get too close. But when it's time to say something nice, do so, don't be too formal."
"Okay, Uncle, I'll remember," Chen Chuan replied.
Captain Nian glanced outside, "It's getting late. The roads aren't safe at night, let's go home."
He and Chen Chuan went to get their vehicle, but this time, they didn't leave through the main entrance. Instead, they exited through the small alley behind the high wall, turned onto the main street, and eventually made their way home.
The sound of two bicycle bells echoed, and the two of them entered the front yard, one after the other.
Yu Wan had been waiting for them and came out to ask about the situation. After Captain Nian briefed her, he went inside, leaving Yu Wan worried.
"You promised Xiao Chan? What if he gets hurt? His father, you should've stopped him. It's better to be safe than sorry," Yu Wan complained.
Captain Nian shook his head, "This boy is determined. I can't stop him. If I could help but didn't, he might resent me for life."
Yu Wan sighed, "Xiao Chan's temperament is just like his second sister."
After Chen Chuan finished washing up, he returned to his room, sat on the edge of the bed, closed his eyes, and tried to observe the outside world with his 'second self'.
Initially, he didn't feel anything, but as he concentrated, he vaguely sensed something. It wasn't easy, and the slightest distraction caused him to lose the connection.
However, he felt there was a way.
For those who trained in martial arts, it wasn't just about one-on-one combat; it could be one against many. Sometimes, there might be hidden ambushes. If he could observe from multiple angles, he could avoid many dangers.
Perhaps he couldn't do it now, but as he strengthened his connection with his 'second self', he might achieve it in the future.
Knowing he wasn't ready yet, he didn't continue. He got up, took a book, and started reading until it was time to sleep.
The night passed, and the next day, Chen Chuan woke up on time. After getting ready, he went to the living room and saw a note under an ashtray on the dining table. He lifted the ashtray, took the note, and saw that Captain Nian had left him an address with a name written below.
He returned to his room and checked the map to confirm the location.
After finishing breakfast, he put on his usual backpack, changed into an old dark grey jacket, and rode his bicycle out.
Mr. Nian LiFu's address was located in the western part of the city, only a half-hour bike ride away. According to the map, just a few miles further, and it would be close to the outskirts of the city, where there were scattered abandoned industrial areas. The locals of Yangzhi City knew this was the territory of the Iron Chain Gang, but members of the gang usually wouldn't appear during the day.
The buildings here were old and chaotic, filled with various illegally modified shacks that extended all the way to the road. Clothes hung on the crooked power lines, obstructing the view, and the road was full of potholes and uneven. There were also people randomly splashing dirty water outside, sometimes from above. He could only ride with extreme caution.
The house numbers in this area were either non-existent or difficult to recognize, so he had to ask for directions along the way. After a long search, he finally found a simple wooden sign with "Fist House" written on a wooden power pole at an alley entrance, with an arrow pointing inward. Comparing it to the address, he was sure this was the place.
Due to the narrow and twisted alley, he had no choice but to get off his bike and push it slowly inside. After passing through the alley, he saw a relatively large open space in front of him, like a playground. On the right were two dilapidated iron sheet doors, and opposite was a three-story reinforced concrete building. In the distance, he could vaguely make out an old water tower, which looked like an abandoned primary school.
At this moment, he heard the sound of someone punching a sandbag with force and rhythm. He shouted, "Excuse me, is Mr. Yu here?"
The punching stopped, and an eighteen or nineteen-year-old young man, with his fists wrapped and his upper body naked, ran out from inside the building. His muscles were well-defined, but he looked very thin. Seeing him, the young man asked, "Are you here to learn boxing?"
Chen Chuan said, "I'm looking for Mr. Yu Gang. Is he here? My uncle, Mr. Nian LiFu, asked me to find him."
Upon hearing this, the young man tried to please him, saying, "Oh, so you're Young Master Chen." He turned and shouted, "Master, he's the nephew of Captain Nian." A deep and powerful voice came from upstairs, "Let him come up."
The young man turned to him and said, "Young Master Chen, come this way." Then he added, "Young Master Chen, you can park your bike here. No one dares to steal it here."
Chen Chuan said, "I'm not a young master. Just call me Chen Chuan. May I ask how I should address you?"
The young man said, "I'm Lu Ke, and I'm Master Yu's disciple." He emphasized, "Not a student, but a disciple."
Chen Chuan understood. Being a disciple not only meant inheriting the skills but also taking care of the master's affairs after his passing. The closeness was not something an ordinary student could compare to.
After parking his bike, Chen Chuan followed Lu Ke upstairs. During their conversation, he learned that Lu Ke had been learning martial arts from Yu Gang for five years.
Chen Chuan followed him to the second floor and walked along the long balcony to the end. He pushed open a double wooden door and entered a spacious room where a tall, middle-aged man in his forties, with a muscular build, sat cross-legged on a cushion. He wore a short-sleeved shirt, and his face was square with thick eyebrows and a prominent nose. His bulging muscles looked like solid rocks.
Chen Chuan said, "Are you Mr. Yu Gang? I'm Chen Chuan, and my uncle, Mr. Nian LiFu, asked me to find you."
The burly man spoke in a deep voice, "I'm Yu Gang. What does Captain Nian want me to do?"
Chen Chuan said, "I just got admitted to Wu Yi Academy..."
"Wu Yi University," Lu Ke said, his eyes filled with deep envy.
Yu Gang understood and asked, "You want to pass the second round of exams, so Captain Nian sent you to me?"
"Yes," Chen Chuan replied.
Yu Gang readily said, "Sure, I'll teach you. First, pay the fee."
Chen Chuan cautiously asked, "Are you talking about the tuition, Mr. Yu?"
Yu Gang said, "I owe Captain Nian a favor, so I won't charge you for the lessons. But to train, you need to eat well and supplement your nutrition. There's also the cost of equipment, sparring partners, and venue rental. I won't cover these expenses."
Chen Chuan inquired, "How much is it?"
Yu Gang said, "Give me fifty first. If you think it's going well, you can continue. If not, you can leave at any time. If there's any remaining balance, I'll refund it to you."
Chen Chuan nodded, "That's fair."
Fifty yuan was not a small amount, but martial arts training had always been the most expensive. Otherwise, Yangzhi City wouldn't be filled with fist societies and arenas.
As far as he knew, the entry fee for a typical fist society was around 150 to 200 yuan, and there was no guarantee of learning anything. He had heard that more expensive options included private trainers, with each session costing several hundred yuan, which was out of reach for most people.
Yu Gang extended his large hand and said, "Then give me the money."
Chen Chuan, prepared for any eventuality, had also brought money. He counted out fifty yuan from his bag and handed it to Yu Gang, who pocketed it directly.
Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Yu, when can we start the training?"
Yu Gang said, "If it's convenient for you, we can start now. But before we begin, I need to ask you something. What's your goal in getting into Wu Yi Academy?"
Chen Chuan was a bit puzzled, "Does this have anything to do with the training?"
Yu Gang gave an affirmative answer, "Yes, it does. Knowing your goal will help me plan your training accordingly."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said in a matter-of-fact tone, "The goal of martial arts is to be free and constantly surpass oneself, isn't it?"
Getting into Wu Yi University wasn't just about his aspirations and pursuit of martial arts; it was also related to the unknown cause of death of his previous self. He didn't know if it was a deliberate attack on him or just a coincidence, so he desperately wanted to become stronger to deal with external dangers. Now, with his "Second Self," he firmly believed he could achieve it.
Perhaps because of this, his voice naturally carried unwavering confidence and determination, which even seemed to affect Lu Ke beside him.
"Free your body and unbind your mind..." Yu Gang paused for a moment and said, "But achieving that goal won't be easy." As he spoke, he slowly stood up from the ground.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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