Chapter 8: Initiation
Chapter 8: Initiation
Inside the break room, Chen Chuan indulged in a hearty meal of cooked meat slices and pumpkin porridge. The shredded meat, tempered with medicinal herbs, carried a subtle fragrance, devoid of any gaminess. Its tender texture was laced with a hint of sweetness, and it was so soft that he could swallow it without much chewing. Once it reached his stomach, a warm sensation spread throughout his body.
Yu Gang, observing Chen Chuan's enjoyment, commented, "The Breath Technique can be quite demanding on the body. Don't underestimate these black rat meats; they are highly effective in repairing physical injuries. Martial artists in the old times often consumed such medicinal foods. However, this meat is not easily digestible, so it's best to eat it with pumpkin."
Chen Chuan, recalling something, put down his bowl and chopsticks and said, "When I was little and lived in the suburbs, the elders there used to say, '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 a nursery rhyme with a second half that goes, 'North Jade Mountain, the earth-scraping official, heartless and reckless, only cares for wealth.'"
The locals around North Jade Mountain were well aware that the meat of the large rats found in the mountains was edible and also served as excellent medicinal ingredients, making it quite famous. During the old era, when Da Shun was still an empire, local officials forced the common folk to dig for these rats. Later, after the Algae Liquid Revolution and the establishment of the Republic, major companies employed cutting-edge food synthesis technology, making food more affordable. As a result, fewer people consumed this particular dish, and now only the elderly in the suburbs and the western parts of the city still favored it. The younger generation, on the other hand, would likely find it repulsive.
Chen Chuan, however, had no qualms about the food as long as it was clean and normal. The taste didn't matter to him, and he found it especially beneficial since it was a medicinal dish.
As Yu Gang spoke, he couldn't help but observe Chen Chuan, amazed that the young man had discovered the secret technique within a day and had demonstrated it so proficiently in subsequent attempts, indicating a genuine mastery.
This was truly remarkable.
Even if one grasped the secret of the Breath Technique, it didn't necessarily mean they would immediately become familiar with it. It required repeated adaptation to master the correct path. Chen Chuan's swift adaptation was something Yu Gang had never imagined beforehand.
Now he understood what his teacher had meant when he said that some people possessed talents that ordinary individuals lacked.
Undoubtedly, this young man possessed "talent" and had the potential to discover the essence of combat cultivation.
Lu Ke, sitting beside them, scooped up his rice and expressed his admiration, "Young Master Chen, you're truly impressive. I wish I could be like you someday."
Chen Chuan replied, "I'll find a way to compensate for the medicine I borrowed from Brother Lu. By the way, Mr. Yu, what is this medicine called?"
"This step is called 'Opening Practice,' so the medicine ointment is also named 'Opening Practice Powder.' If you're a Wu Da student, you can purchase it internally at a discounted price. When the time comes, just buy some more to replenish Lu Ke's supply."
"I'll remember that," Chen Chuan said earnestly.
Lu Ke, seeing that Chen Chuan was almost done with his bowl, quickly offered, "Young Master Chen, shall I get you more rice?"
"I can do it myself," Chen Chuan responded.
He moved to the side, carefully scraping every bit of the medicinal food into his bowl, leaving none behind. Returning to the table, he continued eating. In no time, he finished the entire pound of black rat meat mixed with pumpkin rice, leaving not a grain behind. He felt warm and energized, and his spirit was significantly revitalized.
After waiting for a while, Yu Gang spoke, his eyes fixed on Chen Chuan, "You've grasped the basics of the Breath Technique, but it's essential to become familiar with its practical application and gradually master it through practice. However, we're short on time, so I plan to start your formal training tomorrow. You'll need to adapt to it during the training process."
According to Yu Gang's initial plan, even if Chen Chuan mastered the Breath Technique, the most optimistic estimate was that it would take half a month to a month. But now, with Chen Chuan's rapid progress, they had saved a significant amount of time. Although the schedule remained tight, it was much more relaxed compared to before, allowing for less compression of their plans.
Feeling a bit exhilarated, Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Yu, does the training involve combat sparring?"
"You still have a long way to go," Yu Gang replied. "Regardless of the training type, the most crucial aspect is the body, which is the foundation for everything, including combat. This includes strength, speed, endurance, coordination, flexibility, and reaction time. Only with a solid foundation can one support various techniques. Fortunately, you've mastered the Breath Technique, so the difficulty of your training will be significantly reduced."
Yu Gang stood up, walked to the side, opened a drawer, and took out a booklet, tossing it to Chen Chuan. "I have all the training equipment here, and this booklet covers various methods for running, weight-bearing, jumping, stretching, and more. All exercises are tailored to basic martial arts techniques. Take a look, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask. Some exercises require a partner, which you can skip for now. I'll arrange a suitable partner for you when the time comes."
Chen Chuan took the booklet, an internal publication printed by Wu Yi Academy in Jianzhi Year 79, over a decade ago. In the Da Shun Republic, it was common for textbooks to remain unchanged for decades.
Yu Gang added, "Do you usually ride your bike here? Tomorrow, you won't need to ride; instead, run here. It will help you practice the Breath Technique. Besides breakfast, it's best to have your meals here. Let me first explain the correct posture and key points for running..."
Chen Chuan didn't take running lightly just because it was a common exercise. He carefully noted the key points and then listened as Yu Gang shared some dietary taboos. As the sky grew dark, he helped clean the tableware and bid farewell to his master and apprentice, then rode home.
When he arrived home, it was already past six o'clock, and Nian Fuli hadn't returned yet. He told Yu Wan that he had already eaten dinner outside and then went to wash his hands and clothes in the backyard. After tidying up, he sat at his desk and connected with his "Second Self."
Now that he had mastered the breathing technique, Chen Chuan no longer needed to worry about the potential damage caused by the medicinal force. Although the medicine had healing properties, according to Yu Gang, some injuries might never fully recover, leaving potential problems in the future.
Normally, students wouldn't take months or even years to gradually master the technique after their bodies had fully developed.
As his 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 more relaxed.
He noticed that the etherealization only lasted for a brief moment before his second self solidified once again.
"Hmm, did I make progress?" he wondered.
Thinking back, he realized that he hadn't defeated anyone today, which might be due to his mastery of the breathing technique. When he grasped the vital energy and its flow, he genuinely felt joy.
Taking out his alarm clock, he closed his eyes and merged with his second self to feel the difference. Indeed, the time he could synchronize with his second self seemed to have increased by a couple of seconds.
This led him to believe that any positive emotion might push his second self closer to reality. His previous thoughts had been somewhat narrow-minded.
He couldn't help but wonder, if he continued like this, would he eventually become another 'self' that could truly be seen by others? Or would there be other changes? He wasn't sure.
At this moment, he felt like he was constantly pushing his other self to become stronger, and they could mutually promote and improve each other. Therefore, he eagerly anticipated the changes that lay ahead.
Chen Chuan got up, went to the door, took out a small booklet from his bag, which Yu Gang had given him, and started reading it carefully. Meanwhile, he waited for Nian Fuli to return so he could share today's experiences with him.
However, even after the clock struck ten, Nian Fuli didn't show up. Chen Chuan assumed 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 tired, so he quickly fell into a deep sleep.
The next day, Chen Chuan woke up feeling refreshed. After breakfast, he ran out of the house.
Yu Gang had informed him of an alternative route to the Fist House, which involved heading south from the north, although it was a bit longer, the road conditions were better, and it would save him a lot of trouble.
As he ran along this route, he indeed found it much smoother. The residential area to the north was well-organized, and although it was old, it wasn't chaotic.
When he entered a narrow alley over a hundred meters long between two apartment buildings, he spotted a teenager of sixteen or seventeen squatting on the balcony railing, brushing his teeth. The boy's hair was messy, but he had a defiant, outward-facing hairstyle, like a chicken coop, and he had a newly tied fist wrap on his hand.
Chen Chuan ran past him, only leaving behind a fleeting shadow. The teenager didn't think much of it, spat out his mouthwash, and performed a backflip over the railing, landing lightly on the ground. He stretched his chest and said energetically, "Today's training, Wei Dong, let's give it our all!"
Soon, the sound of vigorous shouts and kicks filled the room.
Although Chen Chuan was only running, the smooth road allowed him to reach the Fist House in just over twenty minutes.
Lu Ke emerged from the building and greeted him, "Good morning, Young Master Chen. Follow me, the teacher is waiting for you."
"Thank you, Lu Ke," Chen Chuan replied.
Instead of going upstairs, they went to the first floor, which was the daily training area. It seemed like they had combined two adjacent classrooms, creating a space of about a hundred square meters. Sandbags hung in the distance, and numerous mats and equipment were arranged along the walls.
Yu Gang stood by the window, arms crossed, observing something. Chen Chuan approached him and asked, "Hello, Mr. Yu."
Yu Gang turned and inquired, "Do you remember to use the breathing technique when you ran here today?"
Chen Chuan nodded.
"How did it feel?" Yu Gang asked.
Chen Chuan thought for a moment, clenching his fist, and said, "My body felt like a unified whole, and my strikes were effortless. I didn't feel tired even after a long time."
Yu Gang explained, "The breathing technique can effectively regulate your vital energy and the rhythm of your strikes. However, since you're new to this, you'll need more time to adapt and practice. The breathing technique can cause damage to your body if not fully mastered. In the initial stages, you shouldn't use it for more than three to five hours a day, as your body needs time to adapt and recover."
Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Yu, when can I consider the breathing technique fully mastered?"
Yu Gang responded, "Breathing techniques have their highs and lows. Theoretically, if you can maintain this basic breathing technique for twenty-four hours, it's considered fully mastered. However, the human body has its limits, and due to the strain caused by the technique, maintaining it for three to five hours a day is already impressive and sufficient for a skilled fighter."
There was one more thing Yu Gang didn't mention. Once they entered the Wu Yi Academy, they could learn even more advanced breathing techniques. No one would waste time mastering the basic technique, but Chen Chuan didn't need to know this yet, as it might dampen his enthusiasm for training. Yu Gang chose to omit this information for now.
"I understand, Mr. Yu," Chen Chuan said seriously.
In his mind, he contemplated how his second self could help him divert damage, allowing him to train the breathing technique for much longer than ordinary people.
At that moment, Yu Gang stepped into the center of the training area and said, "Before we begin the formal instruction, I want to assess your foundation. Come and punch me."
(End of Chapter)
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