Chapter 99: Boundaries
Chapter 99: Boundaries
Cheng Zitong brought Chen Chuan to the man's back and said, "Old He, I've brought my student to you."
He Xiaoxing turned his head slightly, and the hair on his shoulders fluttered in the wind, revealing his strong and determined facial features. Then he turned around, and his penetrating gaze fell upon Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan looked back at him.
The man's robust physique exuded an overwhelming presence, especially when facing him head-on. Chen Chuan could sense an immense power within him, like a dormant volcano waiting to erupt, or a deep whirlpool brewing beneath the calm surface of the ocean—peaceful yet unpredictable.
Cheng Zitong spoke, "Xiao Chuan, this is Old He, He Xiaoxing. The school wanted him to be your teacher, but at the time, he didn't seem interested. It was only after he heard that you had chosen Zhou Yuan's Power Technique that he changed his mind."
He Xiaoxing's voice was deep and powerful, as if each word was hammered out, "Martial arts are very personal. If a fighter is influenced only by external factors and not by their own firm choices, they won't get far."
Cheng Zitong agreed but also sighed, "Old He, you're right. That's true, but how many people can clearly know what they need? And how can they be sure they're right? After all, we can't completely discard the experiences of our predecessors, even if I consider myself an intuitive learner, I'm no exception."
At this moment, He Xiaoxing lifted his head and looked towards the Inquiry Hall in the distance. His gaze was deep, but like his breath, it seemed to keep all storms beneath the surface.
"Three years ago, I accepted Shen Zheng as my student right here. He chose the Mystic Form Technique because it was the school's expectation, and I, as his teacher, also practiced this power technique.
But I knew it wasn't the most suitable choice for him.
He understood this too, but his burdens were too heavy. He never wanted to disappoint others, so he made this choice. At that time, I knew his path would be full of hardships. To climb to the upper echelons of power, he would either crush others or be crushed himself."
Cheng Zitong said, "He has excellent talent. I remember... you only taught him for half a semester, right?"
"To be precise, it was three months. Later, I went to the wilderness to cultivate, leaving him only a guide notebook. His ability to learn from it was all his own."
He Xiaoxing spoke with a heavy voice, "And then I heard the news of his accident. I was both surprised and not surprised."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and asked, "Teacher, He Teacher, I've heard many senior students mention this senior, but they all seemed reluctant to talk about it. What happened back then?"
He Xiaoxing remained silent, standing still.
Cheng Zitong nodded, "Yes, it's time I told you about this, especially now that you've passed the Firearms License exam. Now you're qualified to take the next exam, and this is related to that license. I had wanted Old He to tell you when he was guiding you, but seeing that he's leaving, I'll explain it to you now."
He paused, "Usually, it takes about two to three years to obtain the Firearms License if you go through the regular assessment process instead of participating in the selection exam. This makes it difficult to take other exams.
But if you pass the selection exam, like you did, you'll have enough time to take other exams, including one called the 'Unlimited Defense License.'"
He emphasized, "From the name itself, you can understand its meaning. With this license, if you perceive that someone is persecuting you or if you feel your life is in danger, you automatically gain the power of unlimited defense.
Moreover, when granted this license, you can automatically participate in limited law enforcement during national emergencies, so some people call it the 'Law Enforcement License.'"
In the past few decades, the 'Unlimited Defense License' has been monopolized by recommended students. With this license, they can better claim 'right of self-defense.' However, even without these licenses, the influential have their ways of achieving the same. Can you understand why they still want it?"
Chen Chuan thought for a moment and nodded in understanding. Defense is usually passive, but with influence, the boundaries become blurred.
In reality, having influence and obtaining this license is just an added bonus. The crucial point is that once the recommended students monopolize this license, other first-class students will have no chance of getting it.
Looking deeper, this is a precaution to prevent other social classes from breaking the rules. The original intention of granting this license might have been to provide certain classes with a tool to break the rules.
Cheng Zitong sighed, "Back then, Shen Zheng was like you, passing the Firearms License exam early. Before him, due to certain reasons, the atmosphere in the academy was terrible. Many first-class students treated second-class students like servants, while the Mutual Aid Society recruited outstanding students and bound them with agreements after graduation. The management was also constrained by the Commission Council, making the situation dire.
To change this, it was necessary to first break the status quo within the student body. He Zheng saw this and led the students to form the Vigor Heart Society. He didn't confront the Mutual Aid Society directly but gathered like-minded students to correct the oppressive culture of first-class students. They provided guidance and assistance to junior students and offered training to young people outside the school who wanted to apply to Wu Yi Academy.
Although the Vigor Heart Society also charged fees, they allowed students to pay after graduation without any interest or the harsh conditions of the Mutual Aid Society. Even those who couldn't get in were given extended repayment periods of over ten years, and they could recommend talented relatives and friends to study together."
Chen Chuan contemplated for a moment. If it was merely about correcting the negative influences, then it had little to do with the Mutual Aid Society. However, providing guidance and assistance to lower-year students in their applications for cadet training without any special conditions was almost like uprooting the society itself.
He affirmed, "If he does this, he will definitely clash with the Mutual Aid Society."
Cheng Zitong agreed, "You're right. The Mutual Aid Society has had several conflicts with him over this matter, and there have even been a few on-campus duels."
Chen Chuan had a hunch that things would unfold this way, as it was the simplest and easiest method. Everything Shen Zheng did undoubtedly relied on his own prestige.
But this was also fragile. As long as someone could defeat him, his credibility would be shaken. It's important to know that besides a few with unwavering beliefs, most others were undecided, merely swept along by the current.
At this moment, Cheng Zitong sighed, "The Mutual Aid Society failed because even the senior students eligible to go to Central City couldn't defeat him in duels."
Chen Chuan thought to himself that Shen Zheng, this senior student, indeed had his reasons for doing this. However, he didn't find it particularly amusing, as it's easier to avoid a visible spear than a hidden sword. If you can't beat them openly, there are other covert means to deal with them.
Cheng Zitong's voice grew somber as he continued, "Now, we're getting to the crux of the matter. The incident two years ago, they a result of him applying for and successfully obtaining the Infinite Defense License?"
He paused, looking at the silent He Xiaoxing, and said, "I only know the investigation's results about what happened afterward, but I'm not sure if it's accurate.
Shen Zheng was found in an abandoned factory, already dead. The report stated that all his injuries were self-inflicted, and no one had abused him. But we still don't know why he did it."
He confirmed, "We can be sure that there were others present, not just him. The school could even pinpoint a group of students, but they couldn't be convicted because they didn't physically harm him. They were only interrogated for a day before being released."
The investigation report explained that Shen Zheng, in his haste for success, had driven himself mad by practicing power techniques. This feeble explanation merely covered up the case, and everyone knew it wasn't the whole truth."
At this point, he turned to He Xiaoxing and said, "Afterward, a group of people were still on guard against you, the guidance teacher, seeking revenge. Even I was tense for a while."
He Xiaoxing spoke in a deep voice, "That was the path he chose, and he should be responsible for it. He took on responsibilities he shouldn't have, and some burdens exceeded his capabilities. I'm not surprised he was crushed."
As for those who chose to take action, it means they were prepared. If I stepped in, I'd only fall into their trap. It's pointless to have me there, but as long as I exist, I'm a constant threat hanging over them. The stronger I become, the more anxious they'll be."
Chen Chuan nodded. Teacher He's choice was correct; the initial outburst might have played into the hands of certain individuals. But by taking a step back, he gained room to maneuver. Everyone knew this matter wasn't over, and as the person before them continued to grow stronger, it would be a prolonged torment for those involved.
Just like today, after Tan Wang was expelled, some people might have trouble sleeping again.
Cheng Zitong sighed, "Shen Zheng, this student, did so much. But his sense of justice was too strong, and he carried too many burdens, almost single-handedly shouldering everything.
After him, no one in the Vigor Heart Society stepped up to fill the void, and many members left. The remaining members have always hoped for someone to lead them back to their former glory."
As he spoke, he looked at Chen Chuan with utmost seriousness, "Xiao Chuan, you've obtained your firearms license, and it shouldn't be difficult for you to get the armored license in the future. If you stop here, there's no issue.
But if you decide to take the Infinite Defense License exam, it will alert those recommended students and their backing forces. Especially with Shen Zheng's example, their reaction might be even stronger. It's not just about competing for immediate gains but potentially causing them real harm in the future. The stronger you become, the greater the threat. Do you understand?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "Teacher, I think I understand."
Cheng Zitong looked at him and asked, "So, what's your decision?"
He Xiaoxing, standing nearby, also awaited his response.
The night breeze blew, rustling their clothes and hair.
Chen Chuan gazed at the lights at the foot of the mountain and the faintly discernible stars in the sky. He slowly said, "The constraints on students will be broken one by one. If we can't overcome these challenges, how can we talk about the future? Looking ahead, I think these encounters are probably the easiest to face."
Cheng Zitong couldn't help but laugh, "Well, Old He, what did I say? This is my student! A student of Cheng Zitong!"
...
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(End of Chapter)
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