Taking the Exam

After stepping through the main gate, Chen Chuan spotted a long row of shaded bicycle sheds on his left. He walked over and parked his bicycle. When he returned to the path, he saw students around his own age filing steadily through the gates. Most bore expressions of nervous apprehension tinged with a hint of excitement; they were likely here, just like him, to take the entrance exam for Wuyi College. He understood the feeling well. The government of the Republic of Great Shun had been established for over ninety years, and social stratification had solidified into rigid tiers. For commoners, avenues of upward mobility were few and far between. Both domestically and abroad—indeed, across the entire world—those skilled in hand-to-hand combat tended to enjoy high social standing. Aside from academic scholarship, martial prowess was one of the few avenues through which the lower classes could transcend their station. Though it was an exceptionally difficult path, countless people still squeezed their heads dry trying to break in every year. Wuyi College was an institution formally dedicated to cultivating such talents. Over the past decade, the college had expanded its enrollment. So long as a citizen was no older than eighteen, possessed a basic primary and middle school education, and held a clean criminal record, they could apply for the exam here. This attracted even more young people who could not afford ordinary higher education to converge upon the school. Even so, because the college's admission threshold was formidable, only a small minority managed to gain entry each year. Chen Chuan walked over, blending naturally into the crowd of peers. He noticed that the applicants were all solidly built, each seemingly sturdier than the last, their steps light and agile. Regardless of gender, the faint contours of muscle were visible beneath their clothes. Applying to the martial academy required decent physical fitness first and foremost, and preferably some martial arts foundation. It was evident that nearly everyone around him had some degree of prior training. Though Chen Chuan had good physical attributes and stood quite tall, he had never undergone specialized combat training. Compared to the other students, he was a completely blank slate. In the past, the thought of applying to a martial academy would never have crossed his mind. But now... As the sun climbed higher, more and more applicants entered the grounds. Carried along by the flow of people, he arrived four or five minutes later before the grand auditorium near the main courtyard. Both sides of the square were packed with private automobiles. With his limited knowledge of motorcars, he could only recognize the renowned domestic Furong brand and the foreign luxury make, Kaiti; judging by the appearance of the rest, their caliber was clearly just as high. Young boys and girls stepped down from the vehicles. Many had arrived in groups, while some of the younger ones were accompanied by adults. They shared a common trait: expensive fabrics, tailored and well-fitting attire, vibrant confidence, and an assertive, proud stride—a stark contrast to the students on foot. Chen Chuan noticed a middle-aged couple approach the steps and present an object resembling a silver invitation to an usher. The usher immediately bowed, and moments later, someone who looked like a senior school administrator hurried out to greet them warmly. He glanced at the object a few times, thoughtful. "What's that?" an applicant asked curiously. "First time taking the exam?" a slightly older examinee said as he walked. "That's a recommendation credential." An envious expression crossed his face. "Know what a recommendation means? With that, you get enrolled directly without even taking the exam." To enter Wuyi College, one either sat for the entrance exam or was admitted through recommendation. The latter was not an option open to commoners, as recommenders were typically prominent social figures or high-ranking dignitaries. In truth, before today, most students from ordinary backgrounds were completely unaware that such a thing as a recommendation credential even existed. Chen Chuan and the other applicants stood along the side path, watching those spirited youths chat and laugh as they ascended the wide steps ahead. Someone murmured under their breath, "Once we pass the exam, we can be just like them." Everyone's heart grew fervent. That was right—as long as they were accepted into Wuyi College, they could alter the course of their lives and stand on equal footing with the peers on those steps. Spurred by this thought, the steps carrying them toward the registration desk quickened involuntarily. After walking another two hundred meters and navigating several turns, they arrived in front of an old four-story building. On the open ground in front stood a row of makeshift school desks, behind which sat senior students. Seeing the crowd approach, one student stood up and called out, "Applicants, bring your documents here to register!" The applicants immediately broke rank and surged toward the desks. Seeing this, the senior student barked sternly, "Slow down, slow down! What's the rush? One at a time! Starting today, the next fifteen days are all registration days. Everyone will get their turn. Anyone who breaks the rules or causes a disturbance will be disqualified from the entrance exam immediately!" Hearing his warning, the applicants promptly behaved themselves and queued up in an orderly fashion. Chen Chuan was fairly close to the front, and before long he reached one of the desks. Seated behind it was an approachable senior female student with short hair, straight bangs, light makeup, and a sweet smile. Her eyes lit up when he sat down, and sliding a form toward him, she smiled and said, "Fill it out according to the instructions on the form. Make sure there are no cross-outs or corrections in these sections..." She pointed to each spot with fair, slender fingers. Chen Chuan noticed that her fingers tapped with noticeable firmness; the incidental tension in her muscles proved she was not as delicate as her appearance suggested. Once Chen Chuan finished filling out his basic information and verified his identification documents, he had to pay a registration fee of one hundred yuan. This was nearly equivalent to a month of Nian Fuli's official salary, enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for two months. After he handed over the money, the female student asked, "Do you have any prior background in martial arts?" Chen Chuan shook his head. "I figured," she said. Whether someone had trained was obvious at a glance: the distribution of muscle and the rhythm of movement differed from those of an ordinary person, making it easy for an insider to tell. She added with genuine concern, "Student Chen, I don't know where your confidence to take this exam comes from, but you must be careful. Later on, senior students will be paired with you for sparring, and teachers will be observing and evaluating. During the exam, the instructors primarily look at your adaptability and composure in real combat, not whether you win or lose. Don't weigh yourself down with pressure; just do your best." Chen Chuan offered a smile and said, "Thank you, Senior." The young woman found his smile bright and full of youthful vigor, and she smiled warmly back at him. On the other side of the old building, several young men were walking over. One tall youth saw the female student smiling at Chen Chuan and felt an abrupt pang of irritation. Turning to an older student, he asked, "Old Liu, you're the one arranging the sparring pairings for the exam, right?" He tipped his chin toward Chen Chuan. "Let me take on that kid." Liu Cai asked warily, "What are you planning to do?" The tall youth made no effort to hide his spite. "Damn it, that wench is always so stiff and proper. She's never smiled at me once, but she smiles at this punk? He rubs me the wrong way, and I want to teach him a lesson!" Liu Cai warned, "Shan Xiong, don't cause trouble." Shan Xiong glared at him with blatant insolence. "Just tell me if you'll do it or not." Liu Cai hesitated. Shan Xiong was well-connected higher up and had dubious ties to certain gang members outside the school. Meanwhile, the students applying at this station possessed no backing whatsoever. Not wanting to offend him over such a trivial matter, Liu Cai nodded. Shan Xiong clapped him on the shoulder. "Appreciate it, brother." Liu Cai warned him once more, "Watch yourself. Don't cause an incident and put me in a tough spot." Without looking at him, Shan Xiong kept his eyes fixed on Chen Chuan and brushed him off casually, "I know what I'm doing." After registering in front of the old building, the applicants were led inside in groups by several senior students. They stopped before the entrance of an arena that was clearly converted from a practice hall, where numbers were distributed and they were told to wait outside. Before long, the double doors of the practice hall swung open, and someone began calling out numbers. Though the called students were mentally prepared, they were still extremely nervous as they gingerly entered the exam grounds. Before the doors closed, Chen Chuan caught a quick glimpse inside. The venue was vast, paved with smooth wooden flooring. The side facing the corridor was draped in heavy curtains, behind which students seemed to be moving about and taking notes. Not long after those applicants went in, the doors were thrown open with a heavy thud. One of the examinees who had just entered was carried out on a stretcher, his face covered in blood. A collective gasp rippled through the waiting crowd. "What are you shouting about?" a senior student barked. "What do you think Wuyi College is? Hollering over a little injury like that? If you can't stomach it, go home right now!" The examinees fell silent at once. One after another, numbers were called and applicants went inside. Whenever they emerged after the test, even if not quite as mangled as the first boy, most came out bruised and battered or carrying injuries, with more severe cases suffering broken bones. The examinees looked deeply unsettled. What was more, none of them even knew whether taking such severe injuries meant they had passed or failed. Yet not a single person backed out. A chance to alter one's destiny might come only once in a lifetime; having made it this far, they were determined to give it everything they had. The wait was agonizing. Chen Chuan saw many fidgeting restlessly, and some were so nervous that they visited the restroom several times in succession. About half an hour later, a senior student called out again, "Numbers Twenty, Twenty-One, and Twenty-Two, enter the exam hall..." Chen Chuan took a deep breath. Number Twenty-One was him. His turn had finally come. Adjusting the brim of his cap, he walked into the exam hall under the gazes of the other applicants alongside a tall boy and a petite girl. As the three walked side by side, he could hear the slightly ragged breathing of the other two. Inside the hall, three long tables draped in dark blue cloths stood opposite them, behind which sat several individuals who looked like instructors. Masked medical personnel and a dozen or so senior students stood scattered along the flanks. The air smelled of disinfectant, and the floor had likely just been mopped, feeling slightly slick underfoot. The three parted ways according to their numbers, each heading toward one of the long tables. Chen Chuan walked toward the center table. Walking across the open floor under the scrutiny of numerous sharp gazes, his heart beat a little faster. Reaching the line marked on the floor in front of the table, a student signaled him to halt. Chen Chuan stopped, bowed toward the figures ahead, and greeted, "Hello, instructors." The moment he stood there, several assistant instructors shook their heads. It was plain to see that Chen Chuan had never trained; students like him were merely trying their luck, offering nothing worth watching. One instructor pointed a pen toward a table off to the side. "Place your personal belongings over there. During the exam, you may employ long and short-range techniques, throws, clinches, joint locks, and chokes, but no external weapons or tools are permitted. Any violation results in immediate disqualification. Understood?" Chen Chuan nodded. "Understood, Instructor." "All right, let's wrap this up quickly." Chen Chuan walked over, took off his cap, set down his satchel, and steadied his breathing. Standing nearby, Liu Cai glanced over. At first, he didn't think much of it, but when his eyes landed on Chen Chuan's satchel, he froze. He peered at it closely for a few moments, and his mood sank at once. When he saw Chen Chuan earlier, the boy had been seated behind the registration desk, which obscured the bag. But now that he saw it clearly, he recognized it beyond doubt as a standard-issue constabulary satchel—and it bore a serial number. This indicated that someone in the boy's family not only served in the constabulary, but was no ordinary patrolman. In Yangzhi City, aside from the security force of the Molan Company, the constabulary was the largest armed authority, and its ranks were notoriously tight-knit. If something happened to this applicant, someone might very well come looking for trouble with Liu Cai. Cursing under his breath, he quickened his pace to find Shan Xiong leaning against the wall, murmuring, "Let's call this off. Do me a favor." Shan Xiong turned his head abruptly, his gaze turning dangerous. "Are you messing with me?" Liu Cai leaned back instinctively and explained, "No, listen to me..." Just then, a shout came from ahead: "Where are the sparring evaluators? Hurry up! What's taking so long?" It was too late to switch now. Liu Cai had no choice but to bite his tongue. Shan Xiong poked a finger at him, rolled his shoulders and neck, and sauntered over lazily. Helpless, Liu Cai could only pray that Shan Xiong would hold back. Moving to the side, Shan Xiong put on boxing gloves and bumped his fists together. Stepping into the center of the ring, he flashed a malicious grin at Chen Chuan, who was already standing opposite him. He had originally planned to give Chen Chuan a light thrashing to vent his frustration, but Liu Cai's intervention had only stoked his temper, and he resolved to make the kid pay dearly. Watching Shan Xiong, Chen Chuan sensed the unvarnished malice in his eyes and grew wary. Imitating what he had seen in books, he raised his fists into a stance. Shan Xiong grinned. Without even bothering to use his fists, he drove his knee up, pivoted his hips, and whipped a vicious high kick straight at him! Watching the kick launch, Liu Cai's heart dropped. Disaster!