Heavenly Ascension Chronicles Chapter 5: Unrestricted Body, Unbound Mind - Novel Cool

Chapter 5: Unrestricted Body, Unbound Mind

Chapter 5: Unrestricted Body, Unbound Mind

Mr. Wen sighed softly and said, "Captain Nian, to be honest, your nephew is a bit old."

Nian Fuli was puzzled, "Old? He's only sixteen, and seventeen 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 received specialized martial arts training before. Many of the students at Wu Yi Academy start their training from a young age."

"Their bodies have been developed from an early age, laying a solid foundation. They are well-prepared for future high-intensity training and skill absorption. Their potential will be much higher than those without such preparation. With just a little guidance, they can acquire certain combat skills. The purpose of the second examination at Wu Yi Academy is to select these types of students and provide further cultivation."

Mr. Wen's tone carried a hint of regret, "Your nephew, however, hasn't gone through this stage. Even if he manages to pass the second examination, when he's with those students, initially, the progress gap might not be significant, but over time, it will gradually widen. This gap will only grow, and it's almost impossible to catch up."

"The intensity and severity here are also definitely not comparable to those who haven't undergone training from a young age. Forcing him to keep up could lead to injuries. Under these circumstances, I suggest not pushing him too hard. It might be better for your nephew this way."

Mr. Wen's sincere tone left Nian Fuli feeling a chill down his spine.

If that's the case, he felt it was better not to force it. Let Chen Chuan finish Wu Yi University, at least he'd still have a future even if he graduated this way. After all, he'd still be a Wu Yi student. Nian Fuli couldn't make the decision for Chen Chuan, so he remained silent for a moment.

Just then, a loud voice echoed from the warehouse, "Nian Datou, is this your nephew? I heard he got into Wu Yi?"

Nian Fuli's face twitched. Chen Chuan turned around and saw a robust man with a hat tilted to the side, resembling a patrol captain, approaching them. He sized up Chen Chuan with a few glances, "Hehe, this kid's muscles and bones clearly show he hasn't trained. Does he think he can make a name for himself at Wu Yi? He's dreaming!"

Nian Fuli'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!"

"Hey, I won't believe in such nonsense," Wei Laohu became more spirited when he heard Nian Fuli's rebuttal. He pointed at the nearby mop and said, "If your nephew can make a name for himself at Wu Yi, I'll eat this mop."

Nian Fuli gave a cold laugh, "Then you wait and see. Let's go, Xiao Chuan." He took a step forward, and Chen Chuan followed immediately.

Wei Laohu shouted after them, "You're leaving now? Not taking the mop? I'm waiting for you to feed it to me..."

As Nian Fuli walked away, the cool night breeze calmed his mind a bit. However, he still felt a sense of frustration. He turned back and said, "Xiao Chuan, Mr. Wen is a martial arts instructor hired by our bureau. You heard what he said. What do you think?"

Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Uncle, we left in a hurry earlier. We should bring the mop along, or else, what if someone tries to back out later?" He understood that Mr. Wen's concerns were valid, but he had a "second self," which could turn many impossibilities into possibilities.

Nian Fuli was taken aback and then laughed. He patted Chen Chuan's shoulder firmly and said, "Good boy, I never noticed this before."

Nian Fuli understood Chen Chuan's thoughts. He reached into his pocket, took out a cigarette case, flicked it, and pulled out a cigarette to light up. The glowing cigarette tip flickered in the darkness, as if considering something.

Chen Chuan remained silent. After a while, Nian Fuli crushed the half-smoked cigarette underfoot and whispered, "When we get back, I'll give you an address. Go find this person. He has some skills, even if he's a bit of a troublemaker. Follow him and learn, but don't ask too many questions. Be friendly when you should, but don't get too close."

"Okay, Uncle, I'll remember," Chen Chuan replied.

Nian Fuli glanced outside and said, "It's getting late. It's not safe to be out too late. Let's head back."

He led Chen Chuan back to retrieve their car, but this time, they didn't leave through the main entrance. Instead, they exited through a narrow alleyway behind the high wall, turned onto the main street, and eventually made their way home.

The sound of a car horn announced their arrival as they entered the front courtyard, one after the other.

Yu Wan had been waiting for them and came out to inquire about the situation after hearing the car. Once Chen Chuan moved away, Nian Fuli returned to the inner room and briefed her on the matter.

Yu Wan worriedly complained after hearing this, "You agreed with Xia Chan? What if he gets injured? You should stop him, his father. It's better to be safe than sorry."

Nian Fuli shook his head, "This kid has a strong will. I can't stop him. If I don't help him with this, he might resent me forever."

Yu Wan sighed, "Xia Chan's temperament is just like his second sister's."

After Chen Chuan Chen Chuan finished washing up and returned to his room. He sat on the edge of the bed, closed his eyes, and tried to observe the external world through his "second self."

Initially, he didn't feel anything, but as he concentrated, he vaguely sensed something. It was challenging, and the feeling disappeared as soon as his attention wavered.

However, he believed there was a way.

After all, martial artists often faced more than one-on-one combat; they might encounter situations with multiple opponents or even various treacherous schemes. If he could observe from multiple angles, he could avoid many dangers.

Perhaps he couldn't do it yet, but with closer communication with his "second self" in the future, it might become possible.

Awareness of his skill level, he didn't continue and instead got up to fetch a book to read until it was time to turn off the lights and go to bed.

The night passed, and the next day, Chen Chuan woke up on time. After finishing his morning routine, he headed to the living room and found a note under an ashtray on the dining table, which turned out to be an address left by Nian Fuli.

After confirming the location on a map, he finished his breakfast, put on his usual shoulder bag, changed into a worn-out bluish-gray jacket, and rode his bike out.

Chen Chuan made his way to the address given by Nian Fuli, located in the city center. It was only a half-hour bike ride, but the area, as seen on the map, was just outside the city limits, filled with abandoned factories—a known territory of the Iron Chain Gang. However, members of the gang rarely ventured out during the day.

The buildings in this area were old and chaotic, with various makeshift shelters and extensions reaching out onto the road. Clothes hung from crooked utility poles, obstructing the view, and the road itself was full of potholes and uneven surfaces. Some residents even recklessly dumped wastewater onto the streets, sometimes from above. Chen Chuan had to navigate this path with great caution.

While the area had house numbers, they were either missing or hard to identify. He had no choice but to ask for directions as he went. Finally, at the entrance of an alley, he spotted a simple wooden sign on a pole that read "Fist House," with an arrow pointing inward. After comparing the address, he was sure this was the place.

The narrow and twisted alley forced Chen Chuan to dismount and push his bike. As he made his way through, he found himself in a relatively large open space, resembling a playground. On the right were two dilapidated iron gates, and across from him stood a three-story reinforced concrete building. In the distance, he could vaguely make out an abandoned water tower, reminiscent of an old school.

Just then, he heard the sound of someone pounding a punching bag with force and rhythm. Chen Chuan called out, "Is Mr. Yu here?"

The pounding stopped, and a young man, around 18 years old, with a muscular yet lean build, emerged from the building. He was shirtless and had a punching band wrapped around his fists. "Are you here to learn how to fight?" he asked.

"I'm looking for Mr. Yu Gang," Chen Chuan replied. "My aunt's husband, Nian Fuli, sent me to find him."

The young man, upon hearing this, said in a pleasing tone, "Oh, you must be Young Master Chen." He turned and called out, "Master, this is Captain Nian's nephew."

A deep, powerful voice came from upstairs, "Let him come up."

The young man turned and said, "This way, Young Master Chen." Then he added, "You can leave your bike here; no one dares to steal from this place."

"Please, just call me Chen Chuan," he said. "I'm not a young master. What should I call you?"

"I'm Lu Ke, Mr. Yu's apprentice," the young man replied, emphasizing, "Not a student, but an apprentice."

Chen Chuan understood the difference; an apprentice not only learned skills but also took care of their master's affairs, forming a closer bond than a typical student-teacher relationship.

After parking his bike, Chen Chuan followed Lu Ke upstairs. Along the way, he learned that Lu Ke had been studying combat with Mr. Yu for five years.

On the second floor, they walked along a long balcony to the end, where they entered through a wooden double door. Inside was a spacious room with a middle-aged, muscular man sitting cross-legged on a cushion. This man, Mr. Yu Gang, was around forty years old, wearing a short-sleeved shirt. He had a square face, thick eyebrows, and a prominent nose. His muscles seemed as solid as stones.

Chen Chuan introduced himself, "I'm Chen Chuan. I've come to find you, Mr. Yu, at the request of my aunt's husband, Nian Fuli."

Mr. Yu spoke in a deep voice, "I'm Yu Gang. What does Captain Nian want from me?"

"I just got into Wu Yi Academy this year..." Chen Chuan began.

Lu Ke, standing nearby, couldn't hide his envy.

Yu Gang understood and asked, "So, Captain Nian sent you here because you want to pass the second examination?"

"Yes," Chen Chuan confirmed.

"Alright, I'll teach you," Yu Gang said readily. "But first, you need to pay."

"Is this about the tuition, Mr. Yu?" Chen Chuan asked cautiously.

"Captain Nian owes me a favor, so I won't charge you tuition," Yu Gang explained. "But to train well, you need proper nutrition, equipment, sparring partners, and a training space, all of which cost money. I won't cover those expenses for you."

"How much do I need to pay?" Chen Chuan inquired.

"Give me fifty first," Yu Gang said. "If you think the training is good, you can continue. If not, you can leave, and I'll refund you."

"That's fair," Chen Chuan agreed, nodding.

Fifty yuan was a significant amount, but combat training was always expensive; that's why Yangzhi City was filled with martial arts clubs and arenas.

As far as Chen Chuan knew, the entry fee for most martial arts clubs was around 150 to 200 yuan, and there was no guarantee of learning anything. Private instructors were even more expensive, with lessons costing hundreds of yuan each, well beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Yu Gang extended his large hand and said, "Then, let's have the money."

Chen Chuan, always cautious, had brought money with him. He counted out fifty yuan from his bag and handed it to Yu Gang, who tucked it into his pocket without counting.

"Mr. Yu, when can we start the training?" Chen Chuan asked.

"If you're ready, we can begin now," Yu Gang replied. "But first, I need to know your goal for enrolling in Wu Yi Academy."

"Does that matter for the training?" Chen Chuan asked, puzzled.

"It does," Yu Gang affirmed. "Knowing your goal will help me plan your training."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment, then replied with conviction, "The goal of martial arts is to be free from constraints and continuously strive for improvement, isn't it?"

(End of Chapter)

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