Chapter 849: The First Glimpse
Chapter 849: The First Glimpse
"What? What?"
Nian Qian's tongue nearly tied itself in knots. "Gr-gr-gr-fighter?"
He waved his hand behind him, "Wait a sec, let me catch my breath."
His emotions today felt like a rollercoaster, rising and falling, and it was incredibly exhilarating.
What did a fighter even mean? Putting aside everything else, he was well aware of the situation within the military. But if a fighter appeared, the entire combat system would revolve around them.
Although he hadn't officially witnessed a fighter in action, he had seen videos of their battles. That time truly shocked him; it was hard to imagine that such immense power and destructive force could be unleashed by a person. The scenes from those videos lingered in his mind, unforgettable.
His special forces unit was considered formidable, but he knew that compared to a fighter, they were no different from ordinary soldiers.
In fact, when he heard that Chen Chuan had become a Tier Three Battlemaster, he was already astonished. Such individuals were the backbone of the military, and up till now, there was no way to replace them. Their treatment was exceptionally high, but a fighter...
This thought caused his mind to momentarily stall, as if something that existed only in concept had suddenly materialized in reality.
However, upon further reflection, everything seemed to make sense. If his cousin wasn't a fighter, how could he have become the Defense Director at such a young age?
But... a fighter was his cousin? The one who had just been sitting next to him?
He sat in the car, momentarily stunned, then suddenly saw from the rearview mirror that Nian Fuli and Yu Wan had gotten out and were taking luggage from the back seat. He quickly opened the car door and said, "Dad, Mom, let me do this. Why trouble yourselves? Don't tire yourselves out."
Nian Fuli waited for Chen Chuan to open the trunk, then quickly lifted out the heavy suitcase and placed it on the ground. He grunted, "Your father still has the strength to do this."
Yu Wan didn't expose him. Instead, she nudged Nian Qian and gestured for him to help.
Nian Qian said, "Dad, your energy is unmatched even by the soldiers in the unit. But since I rarely come back, let me show off a bit, okay?"
Nian Fuli was about to say something but was stopped by Yu Wan's pat on the shoulder.
Nian Qian took out the remaining bag, glanced at Chen Chuan, who was closing the trunk, and muttered to himself. His cousin didn't seem any different; he couldn't tell. Not at all.
"Cousin, you've really given me a surprise... no, a shock!"
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "I only got this position recently. I mentioned it to the family a few days ago, so I haven't had time to tell you."
Nian Qian shook his head, "No, no, I'm talking about a fighter! A fighter!" He raised his voice with excitement, "Cousin, a fighter!"
Chen Chuan hummed in acknowledgment.
Nian Qian looked at him and snorted. He suddenly felt that what he considered exciting and mysterious might be very ordinary to his cousin.
He said sincerely, "Cousin, I'm truly impressed!" He took a step closer and asked tentatively, "How about it? Can you tell me about it later?"
Chen Chuan could tell that he was very curious about fighters, a common obsession among technical officers. He smiled and nodded.
The family turned into the alley and arrived home. Nian Qian went to wash his face, then brought out some gifts he had gotten from outside.
He was well aware of his family's preferences. The items weren't expensive, but everyone in the family loved them. He hadn't forgotten to bring a gift for Chen Chuan as well.
"Cousin, look, this is for you."
Chen Chuan took it and was indeed surprised. It was a collection of deluxe posters from adventure movies over the years, and some were rare editions almost impossible to find on the market.
He looked up and said, "Thanks, cousin."
"Nah, it's nothing!" Nian Qian waved his hand. "A buddy in my unit likes this too. Once, we had a drinking contest, and I drank him under the table. I won these from him."
He didn't mention how heartbroken he was when he got them. Tears streamed down his face as he asked Chen Chuan to keep them safe. "I think it's best if you keep these for me, cousin."
Chen Chuan nodded. These were his favorite items from his previous life, and he would treasure them.
Yu Wan was wiping Nian Mo's hands and face as she watched them talk. Having the whole family together was the most comforting moment for her.
But at that moment, she thought of her older sisters and wished they were here too.
Nian Qian was talking to Chen Chuan but remained observant of his surroundings, a habit from his military training. He noticed Yu Wan's emotions and, as the eldest son, understood his mother best. He said,
"Mom, didn't you say you haven't visited Auntie in a long time? I have over a hundred days of leave. After the New Year, I'll go visit Auntie for you. I got into the military with the help of Uncle's connections, and I haven't properly thanked him yet."
Chen Chuan said, "I have a flying ship, so traveling is convenient. Auntie, if you want to visit Auntie, why don't we go together when the time comes?"
Yu Wan looked at Nian Fuli, "Old Nian, what do you think?"
Nian Fuli replied, "It's only right. They're relatives, and we should visit them. Now that Nian Qian is back, it wouldn't be right not to pay them a visit."
"Oh, we'll take the airship then, the airship," Nian Mo exclaimed, bouncing up in excitement. Yu Wan reached out to calm him but ended up patting him instead.
Nian Lu's eyes sparkled as she asked, "Big Brother, can we also take the airship to the Central City?"
"To the Central City?"
Nian Qian was taken aback and turned to Chen Chuan, "Little Brother, do you plan to take Dad and Mom to the Central City?"
Chen Chuan nodded.
Nian Fuli explained, "This decision was made just yesterday. Now that you're back, Nian Qian, we were about to tell you. Your little brother plans to move the entire family to the Central City after the New Year."
Chen Chuan added, "After all, with my current position, Uncle and Auntie will inevitably be affected. It's not convenient for them to stay in Yangzhi anymore. Moreover, Little Brother and Little Sister can receive a better education in the Central City."
Nian Qian understood this, knowing that with Chen Chuan's position, many would seek him out. Moving to the Central City would also allow his younger brother and sister to attend school there. At his rank, he was well aware of the Great Collision incident, and staying in Yangzhi was no longer safe for the family. The Central City would be a much better option.
In truth, he had been considering this move for some time but was still deliberating.
"When do you plan to leave?" he asked, unable to contain his curiosity any longer.
Chen Chuan assured him, "There's no rush. I can go back to the Central City first to make arrangements. Once everything is settled, I'll bring Uncle, Auntie, and the little ones over."
Nian Qian's expression turned solemn as he nodded, "Little Brother, I appreciate it."
Chen Chuan smiled, "Big Brother, I'm also family. It's only right to be concerned about family matters."
Nian Qian nodded, patting his shoulder firmly. A smile crept onto his face as he thought, "These are the shoulders of a martial artist. Today, I got to pat them."
After a brief conversation, he went to take a shower and then indulged in a hearty meal. As he ate, he mumbled, "The food in the army is pretty good, but Mom's cooking is still the best."
Yu Wan smiled, "If you like it, eat more," and then reminded him, "Eat slowly, don't rush."
Nian Fuli observed Nian Qian's toned physique after he took off his shirt and nodded in approval, "The army life has done him good. He's become much more robust."
Nian Qian sighed, "It's necessary to be robust. Our days are filled with classes, training, drills, and leading the troops on exercises. There's hardly any time to relax, except during holidays."
Nian Fuli agreed, "The hardships are worth it."
"Indeed."
Nian Qian turned back to Chen Chuan, "But compared to your hardships, mine are nothing. In the army, I've seen a few Tier Three Battlemasters. They train and cultivate non-stop, except when on missions. I asked them if they ever get tired."
They said it wasn't that they didn't want to rest, but they knew that their opponents were also training relentlessly. If they slacked off for a moment, they might lose their edge, so they dared not stop."
What he didn't say was that even Tier Three Battlemasters lived like this, and martial artists probably had it even harder. It was unlikely that their lives had become any easier.
Yu Wan looked at Chen Chuan with a hint of heartache in her eyes. She had never imagined that training could be so arduous. She couldn't fathom how much hardship Chen Chuan had endured over the years.
Chen Chuan smiled, "Big Brother, we do train and cultivate a lot, but it's not as tiring as you might think. For me, it's actually enjoyable. Seeing my strength gradually grow is a pleasure that's hard to shake off."
Nian Qian's eyes widened, and then he suddenly understood, his face filled with genuine admiration.
No wonder his little brother had come so far. Although the martial artists trained tirelessly, Nian Qian could see that they were reluctant. In reality, they were merely using their martial arts skills to trade for a better life, not because they truly enjoyed it.
Very few people were truly immersed in this path, at least not among those he had met.
This was a significant difference. While others treated it as a chore, he found joy and dedication in his training, and his talents might even surpass others. How could anyone compare to him? Wouldn't the gap only widen?
Unable to hold back any longer, he asked, "Little Brother, what is it like to be a martial artist?"
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and replied, "To put it simply, on the battlefield, when a martial artist is at their physical peak, the number of opponents doesn't matter much. Even ordinary firearms and artillery are not very effective against us."
As they spoke, a fluffy creature on Chen Chuan's side bounced over. However, as it approached him, it suddenly stopped and hovered in the air.
Nian Qian's eyes widened in surprise as he witnessed the dining table, chairs, and even himself slowly floating upwards as if in zero gravity.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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