Chapter 8: Initiation
Chapter 8: Initiation
In the resting area, Chen Chuanzheng savored the cooked meat slices and pumpkin porridge with great relish.
The shredded meat, seasoned with medicinal herbs, had a subtle fragrance. It lacked the usual gaminess, and its tender texture was interspersed with a hint of sweetness. It was so soft that he could swallow it without much chewing, and once it reached his stomach, he felt a warm sensation throughout his body.
Yu Gang addressed Chen Chuan, "Breath Regulation Technique is quite demanding on the body. Don't underestimate this black rat meat. It's the most effective for repairing physical injuries. Martial artists in the old era frequently used this medicinal food, but it's not easily digestible, so it's best to eat it with pumpkin."
Chen Chuan seemed to recall something and put down his chopsticks and bowl. "When I was young, I lived in the suburbs, and the elders there had a saying, 'Pumpkin rice and dried rat meat, a sweet and savory delight.' Is this dried rat meat what they were referring to?"
"Indeed," Yu Gang confirmed. "It's actually a children's rhyme, and the second half goes, 'North Zang Mountain, the earth official, heartless and lungless, only wealth remains.'"
The locals of North Zang Mountain knew that the meat of the large rats found in the mountains was edible and also an excellent medicinal ingredient, making it quite famous. In the old era, when Dashun was still an empire, local officials forced the commoners to dig three feet deep to find these rats. Later, during the Algae Liquid Revolution, when the Republic was established, major companies adopted brand new food synthesis technology, making food more affordable. As a result, fewer people consumed this meat. Nowadays, only the older generation in the suburbs and the west of the city still preferred it; the younger generation would probably find it repulsive."
Chen Chuan didn't have any particular feelings about this. As long as the ingredients were clean and normal, he could eat them without issue. The taste didn't matter to him, especially since this food was actually medicinal and beneficial to him.
As Yu Gang spoke, he observed Chen Chuan. He never expected that this youth would be able to find the knack of the technique in just one day, and his subsequent demonstrations of the Breath Regulation Technique were also spot-on, indicating a genuine mastery.
This was truly remarkable.
Even if one grasped the technique's knack, it didn't guarantee immediate familiarity. It required repeated adaptation to become proficient and master the correct path. Chen Chuan's quick adaptation was truly unimaginable.
Now he finally understood what his teacher had meant when he said that some people possess talents that ordinary people lack.
Undoubtedly, this youth possessed such talent and had the potential to find the true essence of martial arts training.
Lu Ke, sitting beside them, scooped up some rice and expressed his admiration, "Young Master Chen, you're so amazing. I wish I could be like you."
Chen Chuan said, "This time, I used your medicine, Lu Xiao. I'll find a way to make up for what I owe you. By the way, Mr. Yu, what's the name of this medicine?"
"This step is called 'Opening Practice,' so the medicinal ointment is also called 'Opening Practice Powder.' If you're a Wu Yi University student, you can purchase it internally at a discounted price. When the time comes, if it's convenient, you can buy some more to replenish Lu Ke."
"I'll remember that," Chen Chuan replied earnestly.
Lu Ke noticed that Chen Chuan was almost done with his bowl and quickly offered, "Young Master Chen, shall I get you more rice?"
"I'll get it myself," Chen Chuan said.
He walked to the side, carefully scraped the remaining medicinal food into the bowl, leaving none behind. He returned to the table and continued eating. Before long, he had devoured the entire pound of black rat meat and pumpkin rice, leaving nothing behind. He felt warm and energized, and his spirit had significantly recovered.
After waiting for a while, Yu Gang spoke, "You've grasped the basics of the Breath Regulation Technique. Generally, you'd need to familiarize yourself with its practical application and gradually master it through practice. However, we don't have much time, so I plan to start your formal training tomorrow. You'll need to adapt during the training process."
According to his original plan, even if Chen Chuan mastered the Breath Regulation Technique, the most optimistic estimate was that it would take half a month to a month. But now, they had saved a lot of time. Although the schedule remained tight, it was much more relaxed than before, and many plans didn't need to be as compressed.
Feeling slightly excited, Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Yu, is the training going to be martial arts sparring?"
"You still have a long way to go," Yu Gang replied. "Regardless of the type of training, the body is the foundation of everything, including martial arts. This includes strength, speed, endurance, coordination, flexibility, and reaction time. Only with a solid foundation can one bear various techniques. Fortunately, you've already mastered the Breath Regulation Technique, so the training difficulty will be significantly lower than before."
Yu Gang stood up, walked to the side, and took out a book from the drawer, tossing it to Chen Chuan. "I have all the training equipment here, and this book provides detailed records of specific methods like running, weight-bearing, jumping, stretching, and so on. All exercises are designed to complement basic martial arts techniques. Take a look, and if you have any questions, ask me. For some exercises, you'll need a partner, so you can skip those for now. I'll arrange it for you when the time is right."
Chen Chuan took a look; it was an internal print edition published by Wu Yi Academy in the 79th year of Jianzhi. It had been over a decade since its publication, but in the Dashun Republic, it was normal for a general textbook to be used for over a decade. He recalled that his middle school textbooks hadn't changed in 30 years.
Yu Gang added, "Did you ride your bike here? Tomorrow, you won't need to ride; just run here and practice the Breath Regulation Technique along the way. It's best to have all your meals here, except for breakfast. I'll first explain the correct method and key points of running..."
Chen Chuan didn't take running lightly just because it was common. He carefully noted the key points and then listened as Yu Gang shared some dietary taboos. As the sky had already darkened, he bid farewell to his master and rode home after washing the dishes.
When he arrived home, it was already past six o'clock, and Mr. Nian LiFu hadn't returned yet. He told Aunt Yu Wan that he had already eaten dinner outside and went to the bathroom to freshen up before heading to the backyard to wash his clothes. After tidying up, he returned to sit at his desk and connected with his "Second Self" through consciousness.
Now that he had mastered the breathing technique, there was no need to worry about the damage caused by the medicinal effects.
Although the medicine had healing properties, according to Yu Gang, some injuries might never fully recover, which could potentially cause future complications.
If not for this, normal trainees wouldn't need to spend months or even a year or more to slowly master the technique after their bodies had fully matured.
As the second self began to exhibit signs of etherealization, he felt as if a burden had been lifted from his body, and he instantly became much lighter.
At this moment, he noticed that the etherealization only lasted for a brief moment before the second self solidified once more.
Hmm? Another improvement?
He pondered for a moment, realizing that he hadn't defeated anyone today, so it was likely due to his mastery of the breathing technique. When he grasped the breath meridians, he genuinely felt joy.
He took out his alarm clock again, closed his eyes, and merged with his second self to feel it. Indeed, it seemed that the time he could stay merged with his second self had increased by two or three seconds.
From this, he understood that any positive emotion could potentially push his second self closer to reality. His previous thoughts had been a bit narrow-minded.
This made him wonder if continuing like this would eventually transform him into another true 'self' that could be seen by others, or if there would be other changes. He wasn't sure.
At this moment, it was as if he were constantly pushing another version of himself to become stronger, and they could mutually promote and progress together. Therefore, he eagerly anticipated the changes that lay ahead.
He got up, went to the door, took out the small booklet Yu Gang had given him from his shoulder bag, and carefully looked through it while waiting for Mr. Nian LiFu to return. He planned to tell the latter about today's events.
However, even after the clock chimed ten times, no one returned. It seemed that he was out all night on official business, which was not uncommon. So, he stopped waiting, freshened up, and went to bed. He was indeed a bit tired today, so he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, Chen Chuan woke up full of energy, had breakfast, and went out for a run.
After being informed by Yu Gang, he learned that there was another route to reach 'Fist House.' He had to go south by taking a detour from the north. Although it was a bit longer, the road conditions were better, and it would save a lot of trouble.
When he ran along this route, he indeed found it much smoother. The northern residential area was more orderly, and although it was old, it wasn't as chaotic.
As he ran through a narrow alley over a hundred meters long between residential buildings, a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy was squatting on the balcony railing, brushing his teeth. His hair was messy, but it stubbornly stuck out like a bird's nest. He still had the fist wrappings he had tied earlier.
From a distance, he heard the rhythmic, light, and fast footsteps. He glanced over, muttering, "Very energetic..." He paused with his toothbrush in hand, scratched his head, and said, "I feel like I've seen him somewhere before."
In a flash, Chen Chuan ran through the alley below, leaving only his receding figure. The boy didn't think about it further. He spat out the mouthwash, did a backflip from the railing, landed lightly, stretched his chest, and said with vigor, "Today's training, Wei Dong, let's give it our all!"
Soon, sounds of shouting and kicking echoed from inside the room.
Although Chen Chuan had only been running, the smooth road allowed him to reach Fist House in just over twenty minutes.
Lu Ke came out of the building and greeted him, "Good morning, Young Master Chen. Come with me; the teacher is waiting for you."
Chen Chuan thanked him, "Thank you, Lu Ke."
This time, they didn't go upstairs but headed to the first floor, where daily training took place. It seemed that two classrooms had been combined to create a space of about 120 square meters. Sandbags hung in the distance, and numerous mats and equipment lined the walls.
Yu Gang stood by the window with his arms crossed, observing something. Chen Chuan approached and greeted him, "Good morning, Mr. Yu."
Yu Gang turned and asked, "Did you remember to use the breathing technique when you ran here today?"
Chen Chuan nodded.
"How did it feel?"
Chen Chuan thought for a moment, clenched his fist, and said, "My body felt lighter, and I didn't get tired even after a long time."
Yu Gang explained, "The breathing technique can effectively regulate your blood circulation and the rhythm of your movements. However, since you've just started, you'll need more time to adapt and practice. Before you fully master it, the breathing technique can cause damage to your body. For the first few days, you shouldn't use it for more than an hour because your body needs time to adapt and recover."
Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Yu, when can I consider the breathing technique fully mastered?"
Yu Gang glanced at him and replied, "Breathing techniques have different levels. If you can maintain this basic breathing technique for 24 hours, then you've mastered it completely. But this is just in theory because the human body has its limits. Due to the strain the breathing technique puts on the body, being able to maintain it for three to five hours continuously is already very good, and it's sufficient for a skilled fighter."
There was one more thing he didn't mention: at Wu Yi University, one could learn even more advanced breathing techniques. Therefore, no one would waste their energy trying to master the basic breathing technique. There was no need to explain this to Chen Chuan, as it might dampen his enthusiasm for training. Yu Gang chose to omit this detail.
Chen Chuan said earnestly, "Mr. Yu, I've taken note."
In his mind, he was considering that his second self could help divert damage, allowing him to spend much more time practicing the breathing technique than an ordinary person.
At this moment, Yu Gang walked to the center of the training area and said, "Before we officially start, let me see your foundation. Come and punch me."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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