Chapter 67: The Power Struggle
Chapter 67: The Power Struggle
The instructor on the platform and the students below had a clear view of what had just transpired. Qiu Xin's previous move, intended as a demonstration, should have been a gentle lift and release, but his final action was unexpectedly forceful.
Although the platform had a certain degree of elasticity, being thrown like that could easily result in unconsciousness, and if unlucky, more severe consequences.
They all sensed that something was amiss, but when they saw Chen Chuan quickly stand up, they assumed it was a skillful maneuver and breathed a sigh of relief. Some even applauded, except for Guan Xinyin, who remained still, her gaze serious and focused on the two figures on the platform.
Qiu Xin slowly turned around, his eyes meeting Chen Chuan's with a hint of confusion and a trace of cold sternness. "You wanted to seek guidance from me, right? I can instruct you on anything you don't understand."
Chen Chuan smiled faintly and said, "That's good."
Mr. Xu glanced at the two of them but did not intervene. Chen Chuan flexed his wrist and shoulder slightly, then stepped forward. As the two approached, the students below grew tense.
Qiu Xin spread his arms and legs, leaning slightly forward. His eyes locked onto Chen Chuan. Although their heights were not vastly different, Qiu Xin's larger build and heavier weight gave him an apparent advantage.
Chen Chuan observed that Qiu Xin exuded confidence, and his stance was a clear indication of his strategy. He intended to utilize his power for defense, seizing the opponent at the moment of attack, and then deciding the outcome with a wrestling technique.
Those from the Wrestling Division were adept at wrapping-clothing power, and they also possessed the combat takedown technique, which allowed them to infiltrate the opponent's body with their power once they had a hold of them. Chen Chuan had just experienced this infiltration.
In the past, Chen Chuan would have had to catch such opponents off guard, but now, he no longer needed to. As his body moved forward, the platform emitted a scraping sound, and he kicked upwards.
Being caught by a wrestling or grappling expert in this manner was extremely dangerous.
Chen Chuan kicked out, but he didn't exert full force. Instead, he spun his body and executed an extremely fast change-of-direction kick.
H
Qiu Xin was startled. He had researched Chen Chuan beforehand, but how could the latter have mastered a power technique within just two months of enrollment?
There was no time for further contemplation; power could only be countered with power. Qiu Xin hastily summoned his own power, knowing that if he didn't, he would be kicked off-balance, and his stance would be compromised, putting him at a severe disadvantage.
Chen Chuan kicked again, and although this kick didn't appear fast, it carried the same power. Qiu Xin, having hastily countered the previous kick, found himself pinned down by the power, and now another surge was upon him. He had to summon his power once more to withstand the assault, hoping to endure and then retaliate.
However, what he didn't anticipate was the relentless succession of kicks that followed.
In reality, Chen Chuan's kicks weren't exceptionally fast, and even the Class B students below could follow them clearly. But each kick landed precisely at the moment of Qiu Xin's breath transition, allowing him to unleash his power in response, yet leaving him unable to do anything else.
Thus, in everyone's eyes, Qiu Xin stood like an immovable post, merely waiting for Chen Chuan's kicks, without any countermeasures. It seemed odd, but since this was just a demonstration, perhaps it wasn't entirely wrong?
Mr. Xu and Guan Xinyin stared intently at the two combatants. They could tell that Qiu Xin was pinned down by the power, leaving him no choice but to endure.
This contest was a test of endurance, a battle of who could withstand the pressure for longer. Although Chen Chuan held the initiative, the outcome was still uncertain. If he couldn't outlast Qiu Xin, the latter would soon launch a counteroffensive.
Qiu Xin was enduring a difficult trial, as each surge of power taxed his internal organs. Typically, five or six such instances in a single bout were considered substantial.
But this was different; it was a concentrated onslaught, a true "life-or-death" struggle.
However, having made his decision to engage, Qiu Xin no longer cared about the consequences. He gritted his teeth, waiting for the moment Chen Chuan would falter.
Confident in his years of additional training, Qiu Xin believed he could prevail in this power struggle. But with each successive surge of power, his vision darkened, his breathing grew labored, his forehead veins bulged, and his body felt like it was being torn apart. His mind seemed on the verge of exploding.
Chen Chuan's gaze remained calm and steady throughout, each strike maintaining a rhythmic precision, with only the sound of his kicks reverberating.
After what seemed like a dozen or so kicks, just as he was about ready to deliver another, Qiu Xin's eyes rolled back, revealing the whites, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth. His breathing was almost nonexistent, yet his body remained motionless, maintaining its posture.
Chen Chuan slowly retracted his foot, planting it firmly on the ground, and addressed Mr. Xu, "Mr. Xu, Assistant Qiu seems to be unwell. We should call for medical assistance."
Mr. Xu immediately shouted towards the ground, "Medical aid!" The medical staff, who had been waiting below, rushed to the stage.
With one hand in his pocket, Chen Chuan casually walked down the stage. Behind him, perhaps due to the vibrations from the medical staff's footsteps, Qiu Xin's body fell backward and slammed into the stage, his limbs twitching helplessly.
After descending from the stage, Chen Chuan walked out of the training hall, his expression indifferent amidst the awe and admiration of the Class B students.
Guan Xinyin, sitting nearby, contemplated for a moment before following him outside. She called out, "Chen Chuan, Chen Tongxue."
Chen Chuan turned to face her, and she approached, extending her hand, "Chen Tongxue, I've heard about you from Wei Dong."
Chen Chuan shook her hand, "Guan Tongxue, nice to meet you."
Guan Xinyin spoke, "Qiu Xin has been assisting various invited teachers lately. I heard he and Zhong Wu have a good relationship, and he's been his guiding senior brother.
I suspected he might have something against you. I was thinking of taking the stage myself, to test whether his wrestling skills were better than my horizontal training. After all, such opportunities are rare. But now it seems I was being too meddlesome."
Chen Chuan politely responded, "Thank you for your concern."
In fact, Chen Chuan had been aware of Qiu Xin's condition upon arrival, as the invitation letter had clearly stated this. It was likely written by the teacher in charge. However, having just mastered the vitality technique, Chen Chuan was eager to test his skills, so he did not retreat but proceeded forward.
Guan Xinyin fixed her gaze on Chen Chuan, "Chen Tongxue, you've mastered the Zhouyuan Technique soon after enrolling. That's impressive. Wei Dong has been beaten by me numerous times, yet he refuses to admit that I'm better than you. It seems he was right, and I wonder if we could find time to spar sometime?"
Chen Chuan agreed, "Sure." Despite Guan Xinyin's expertise in horizontal training, he was likely to have some proficiency in other areas as well, and Chen Chuan welcomed the opportunity to face an opponent.
"Not now," Guan Xinyin candidly admitted, "I'm sure I'm no match for you at the moment. Let's wait until I master the technique, and then we can have a proper match."
Chen Chuan smiled, "I wish you success in mastering the technique soon."
Meanwhile, Cheng Zitong, after leaving the dormitory, organized some materials. In the afternoon, he arrived at the Enrollment Office and knocked on the door. The senior teacher inside, upon seeing him, asked, "What's new? Any updates?"
Cheng Zitong entered and sat down opposite the teacher, handing him a sheet, "My student has mastered the Zhouyuan Technique. I'm here to inform you, and later, I'll register him. Isn't that fast enough?"
The teacher acknowledged, "A little over two months is indeed fast."
Cheng Zitong replied, "I know you might think it's just the Zhouyuan Technique with limited prospects, but my student will make the most of it."
The teacher questioned, "You have that much faith in your student?"
Cheng Zitong laughed, "Of course, both my student and I are from the Insight School. How can we not have faith in our training?"
The teacher studied Cheng Zitong and said, "It's good that you have faith."
Cheng Zitong was well-acquainted with the teacher, and upon hearing this, he straightened up in his seat, curious, "What do you mean?"
The teacher explained, "Now that you're here, I wanted to inform you. As you know, we initially planned to have He Xiaoxing as your student's teacher, but he's unwilling to return. So, you're temporarily filling in.
I've been calling He Xiaoxing, but he hasn't given a definite answer. However, after hearing that your student has chosen the Zhouyuan Technique, He Xiaoxing's attitude has shifted. He might come to observe, and if he decides to take Chen Chuan as his student..." The teacher trailed off, looking at Cheng Zitong.
Cheng Zitong fell silent for a moment before responding, "He Xiaoxing is talented, and he's better suited to be a teacher. If he's willing to teach Chen Chuan, I'll step aside."
The teacher asked, "No competition?"
"What's there to compete about?" Cheng Zitong shook his head, picked up his briefcase, and waved, "I'm off." With that, he exited.
After Cheng Zitong left, the teacher remained in deep thought for a while before resuming his document review.
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(End of Chapter)
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