Chapter 62: Under the Same Rain
Chapter 62: Under the Same Rain
After entering the building, Chen Chuan thought for a moment and went to the public telephone to call Cheng Zitong. "Teacher, I'm back," he said.
Cheng Zitong's voice came through the receiver, "How did it go? Was it smooth?"
"It went well," Chen Chuan replied. "Senior Ren taught me a lot."
"Xiao Tian is very experienced. Don't be fooled by his name; he's meticulous in his work. Following him, you won't be at a disadvantage. Oh, and when you return safely, you can collect your payment. I'll talk to Xiao Tian about it later."
"Teacher, I didn't do much this time," Chen Chuan said.
"Don't say that," Cheng Zitong said. "Don't feel guilty about receiving help. When Xiao Tian assigns a mission, it makes a difference whether someone helps or not. Even if you just sit there the whole time, you have your own use. The key is trust, right?
When the critical moment comes, having someone to rely on gives you confidence. Even if you're extraordinarily powerful, people seeing you alone might give them ideas they shouldn't. Especially some idiots who love doing that sort of thing."
Chen Chuan readily agreed, "Teacher, I'll follow your arrangement."
"That's right," Cheng Zitong said. "Every ten days this month, I'll arrange a mission for you on the rest day. Try to complete the assignments, not necessarily with Xiao Tian, but maybe alone. It's mainly to help you gain some experience and also earn some rewards.
With your physical condition, you'll need more medicine than others, so prepare more money."
Chen Chuan deeply agreed. Even if Cheng Zitong could get him a better price, the quantity of medicine was still a significant expense. It was wise to save up, just in case.
After the call, he took the elevator up and arrived at Zone 1. He saw the door to Dormitory 2 open, with some newly moved-in items in the living room. He had seen these things before and couldn't help but smile. He raised his hand and knocked on the door.
With a whoosh, a figure darted out from the inner room. Seeing Chen Chuan, he exclaimed in delight, "Brother Chen!"
Chen Chuan smiled and greeted him, "Brother Wei, it's been a while."
"Has it been long?" Wei Dong asked, scratching his head in confusion. "I guess it has been a while."
"Not too long, just a month," Chen Chuan said with a smile. "Hey, did you move all that stuff from your grandpa's place?"
"I'm not used to the things at school," Wei Dong said. "I prefer using my own stuff. I've moved the big items, and there are still some small ones left. I'll finish in a few days."
"By the way, Brother Chen, how did you find me? I couldn't find you."
Chen Chuan stepped aside and pointed to Dormitory 4 across the way, "There, I live there."
Wei Dong poked his head out and looked, then realized with a start, "Oh, you live diagonally opposite me! No wonder I never saw you."
Chen Chuan silently thought to himself, 'Brother Wei, when you walk, look at both sides, not just straight ahead.'
Wei Dong retreated and said, "Don't stand at the door, come in."
As Chen Chuan entered, he noticed a basket of soda in the corner. This kind of soda seemed to be a favorite among peers of their age.
He glanced around and said, "You moved so many things, didn't you even ask your roommates for help?"
Wei Dong shook his head, "I don't like them."
Chen Chuan understood. Although he had been training for the past two months, he had also eaten with Feng Xiaoqi and Luo Kaiyuan, and he knew that the students across the way often hung out with seniors from the Mutual Aid Society. It was likely they had already joined the society.
Joining the society didn't necessarily mean hostility, but the Mutual Aid Society wasn't a charity. If you enjoyed their benefits, they would naturally expect something in return. Some things might become beyond your control, so staying away when possible was also an option.
After quickly arranging his things, Wei Dong rushed back excitedly and said, "Brother Chen, how about we have another match?"
He raised his fist and said, "I've been practicing a lot recently, and I should be able to catch up to you."
Chen Chuan smiled and agreed, "Sure."
Wei Dong waved his hand excitedly and said, "This way!" Then he dashed out.
Chen Chuan followed him out.
Two minutes later, Wei Dong's face was bruised, and he lay sprawled on the ground, gazing at the ceiling.
Chen Chuan flexed his wrist and smiled, "Brother Wei, you've improved."
Wei Dong jumped up like a carp and squatted, asking eagerly, "Really?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "Yes."
Indeed, Wei Dong had made significant progress in his techniques, probably because he had been practicing on his own before and now had someone to spar with, which accelerated his improvement.
And his resilience to strikes had significantly improved. Initially, he had intended to hold back, but Wei Dong could withstand his attacks and only managed to knock him down when he let his guard down.
Curious, Chen Chuan asked, "Wei, who's your instructor?"
Wei Dong replied, "It's Teacher Guan from the Free Hand Department."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and then recalled. Teacher Guan was an instructor highly skilled in horizontal training techniques, but in this era, even with excellent horizontal training, without protective measures, a single gunshot could be fatal. Hence, few chose this path.
However, under normal circumstances, that would be the case. With altered tissue, it became a different story.
Wei Dong touched his head and said, "Teacher said I can start training in a couple of days. I'll challenge you again then!"
Chen Chuan readily agreed, "Alright!"
After chatting for a while, Wei Dong mentioned that Chen Chuan could seek his help if needed, and then he turned to leave for his dormitory.
As he entered the door, he realized that without noticing, the sky had started to drizzle.
He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, listening to the patter of raindrops on the glass, and looked down at the Spring-Autumn Lake below. The falling rain created countless ripples on the lake's surface.
At that very moment, on the other side of the administrative building, in the teaching area where the Class B students were located, despite the heavy downpour, a large group of students was still training in the vast cinder playground.
A coach stood in the rain, shouting instructions to the students, "It's been over a month since you enrolled. You need to prepare for your training soon. The school has medicine ready, so don't worry about catching a cold or getting injured. Just keep training until you drop!"
Suddenly, a student raised their hand and asked, "Teacher, I started practicing the breathing technique last month. Do I still need to train these basic moves?"
The coach walked over, gave the student a few glances, and kicked him onto the cinder-covered ground. He scolded loudly, "Did I give you permission to speak? Do I need to tell you everything? Train! I won't say stop unless I want you to stop! Did you hear me?!"
The student quickly got up and joined the other students in shouting, "We heard you!"
The wind and rain gradually blew past the east side of the administrative building, causing the trees on North Peak to sway.
In a flower garden villa on the mountain's slope, a recommended student, Xiao Ran, was training in the practice hall. A robust youth was his sparring partner, and two others were hired to correct his movements as needed.
At that moment, a young girl, followed by a middle-aged man in training attire, entered and addressed Xiao Ran, "Young Master Qiu, Teacher Li is here."
Xiao Ran approached and shook hands with Teacher Li, eager to try, "Teacher Li, can I start my training?"
Teacher Li guided him through a few movements and then applied pressure to his body. He nodded and said, "Young Master Qiu, your body is in excellent condition. After a long period of training and without the use of any harmful substances, you are ready. You can begin your training."
Xiao Ran was very polite to Teacher Li, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Teacher Li."
Breathing techniques were usually self-cultivated, but services were available for those in need. Powerful families would specifically nurture individuals for this purpose, catering to the heirs of influential clans.
However, such individuals required a special talent, making them extremely challenging to cultivate. Even the slightest mistake could lead to failure, so as of now, in Yangzhi City, only Teacher Li was proficient in this technique. Moreover, after assisting someone in their training, he would need an extended rest.
Xiao Ran's family had to pull some strings to secure Teacher Li's services.
Teacher Li said, "Please lie down, Young Master Qiu."
Xiao Ran complied and lay down on the reclining chair, curious, "Do I need to apply medicine?"
Teacher Li smiled and said, "No need. Your body is precious, Young Master Qiu. I'll apply the medicine to my hands first and use massage techniques to let it penetrate. Then, I'll guide your breathing. If you find it boring, feel free to take a short nap. It'll be over soon..."
Outside, the heavy rain continued unabated.
Chen Chuan stood by the window for a while before slowly withdrawing his gaze from the rain.
He entered the training hall and resumed his practice of Correct Free Hand and Zhouyuan Stance Training.
With three months planned, more than a month had already passed. He had to intensify his practice and master the Zhouyuan Combat Technique as soon as possible. Only then could he hope to restrain the altered tissue within the allotted time.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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