Chen Chuan put the items back, shut the suitcase, and walked into the living room. Finding the rotary phone, he picked up the receiver and said, "Nian residence..."
A familiar voice came over the line. "Hey, Chen Chuan, what are you up to? Stop moping at home and come hang out!"
He recalled the voice—it was his middle school desk mate, Ding Jiao. The background was noisy, so he had likely called from a street telephone booth. Chen Chuan asked, "Where are you?"
"Where else? The usual spot, Zizai Snack Street. Da Li and Miangua are here too. What have you been doing lately? Nobody's seen you anywhere."
Chen Chuan said, "You guys go ahead and have fun. I've got things to take care of, so I won't be coming."
"Come on, looking for a job? Look, don't keep everything bottled up. If your bro can help, I will. If nothing else, getting you a spot at my family's factory is a piece of cake."
Chen Chuan smiled faintly. "If I need your help, I won't hold back."
He did not mention that he had passed the entrance exam for Wuyi College. Ding Jiao was fiercely loyal, but he was also a blabbermouth. If Chen Chuan told him now, every single classmate would know by tomorrow, bringing an avalanche of congratulatory visits and people looking to network. He still had to prepare for the entrance retest and had no time to spare for that.
"Alright. Oh, right, did you hear?" Ding Jiao's voice suddenly rose. "Third Han got into Molan! Everyone's talking about it! Damn it, what kind of dumb luck did that guy hit? His grades weren't even as good as yours!"
Chen Chuan was slightly surprised. "Molan Company?"
"Who else? You wouldn't believe how smug the guy is!" As Ding Jiao spoke, envy and jealousy seemed to spill straight through the receiver.
Chen Chuan gave a quiet hum of acknowledgment.
Molan Company—full name "Molan Kaolin Company"—was reportedly headquartered in Center City, and the branch in Yangzhi City was a major one. On the surface, its primary business was cosmetics, but in truth, the enterprise had long since permeated every facet of Yangzhi City and its surrounding counties and towns. Most everyday necessities of the populace were tied to Molan and its subsidiaries.
According to what Nian Fuli had said in private, half of the city advisory council members were on Molan's payroll, while the other half were busy counting Molan's money. Several successive civil administration chiefs had all danced to Molan's tune.
The company even maintained its own independent security forces and employee training academies; that was likely where his classmate was headed. It was truly no small feat—Han's family had probably pulled some strings. He vaguely remembered that the Han family had ties to the waterworks bureau?
After rambling on, Ding Jiao recalled something else and raised his voice: "Right, don't forget the graduation dinner at the end of next month!"
Chen Chuan said, "I remember. I won't forget."
"Great, I'm hanging up then. Da Li and the others won't stop nagging me."
Chen Chuan hung up and returned to his room. Next, he had to prepare for the entrance retest. Starting from June, it looked like three months remained, but that was all the time he had—it was far from time to relax.
Moreover, the reason why his predecessor had been killed remained completely elusive. Although the death had occurred far out in the suburbs, he decided to avoid wandering around outside unless necessary.
He spread a map of Yangzhi City across the desk, retrieved a small notebook labeled "Martial Records," and scanned through it as if searching for something, circling several locations firmly in pencil.
Time flew by, and dinner soon arrived. Nian Fuli's family trickled back one after another, filling the house with lively noise. Once everyone sat around the dining table, Nian Fuli said, "Kid, did you look for somewhere to go today?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Yes, Uncle."
Nian Fuli gave a casual nod. "How did it go?" He only asked in passing, expecting that since it was only the first day, there likely wasn't much progress.
Chen Chuan said, "I went to Wuyi College today."
"Wuyi?" Nian Fuli suddenly turned to him, utterly astonished. "What did you go there for?"
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "I was just about to tell you and Aunt. I passed the entrance exam for Wuyi College today. Once the semester starts, I'll move into the dorms on campus."
"Admitted to Wuyi? You?"
Nian Fuli was stunned. His eyes widened as he looked Chen Chuan up and down, as if seeing his nephew for the first time.
What kind of place was Wuyi? Every year, countless applicants fought tooth and nail to squeeze inside. Tiger Wei, a man he could never see eye-to-eye with, had bragged for an entire year after his son got in!
He could not help questioning, "You didn't cheat, did you?"
Yu Wan was instantly displeased and nudged him. "Why shouldn't Chan'er pass?"
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Uncle, how could I cheat? I don't know anyone, and I don't have money. Why would the teachers at Wuyi help me?"
"Fair point."
Nian Fuli studied him a few more times, an indescribably complex expression in his eyes. Chen Chuan also noticed a flicker of wistfulness on his aunt's face, though relief and pride were far stronger.
After a moment, Nian Fuli tapped his chopsticks against the tabletop. "Wuyi is a genuine way out. Once you're inside, it's like having gold bricks already tucked in your pocket. But you still have to pass the retest, right?"
"Yes." Chen Chuan nodded. "There's an entrance retest."
"That's the catch." Nian Fuli tapped the table again. "Kid, let me tell you, there's a lot more to it. Even if you're accepted, passing the retest versus failing makes a world of difference. I don't know how Wuyi let you through, but even if you can enroll, there's no guarantee you'll pass the retest."
Yu Wan grew anxious immediately. "Dear, what should we do then?"
Nian Fuli waved a hand at her, then looked at Chen Chuan. "Chuan, what were your plans originally?"
Chen Chuan thought it over. "I originally planned to find a boxing club to learn from, but I wasn't sure which ones were reliable. I was hoping to ask you about it, Uncle."
Nian Fuli leaned back, pondering for a moment before saying, "Don't go to boxing clubs. Those places are a mixed bag with too many shady tricks. You spend a fortune and rarely learn anything real, and it's too easy to end up dragged through the mud."
Chen Chuan nodded and asked sincerely, "Then what should I do, Uncle?"
Nian Fuli rubbed the stubble on his head. "There are about two months until enrollment, right?"
Chen Chuan said, "Yes, Uncle." In truth, three months remained before the official term began, but newly admitted applicants had to report a month early, so calling it two months was accurate.
Nian Fuli said, "Chuan, I'll find someone for you. Follow him and learn for a while, and aim to pass the exam this time. This man is something special. If you can pick up even a couple of moves from him, you'll benefit for the rest of your life."
Yu Wan asked with concern, "Is there a tuition fee?"
"Don't worry about that," Nian Fuli replied, then turned to Chen Chuan. "Chuan, come with me after dinner."
Chen Chuan said, "Alright."
After finishing dinner, the two wheeled out their bicycles and left. About five minutes later, they arrived at the Baofeng District Constabulary, where Nian Fuli worked.
The facility had originally been a fortress built during wartime and was later repurposed into a constabulary. Constructed entirely of reinforced concrete, it looked exceptionally heavy and imposing from the outside. Though twilight had not yet fully fallen, the entrance driveway was already blocked by barricades.
Seeing Nian Fuli and Chen Chuan approach, an armband-wearing patrolman behind the barricade strolled up leisurely. "Well now, what brings Captain Nian back? It's not your shift tonight, Captain."
Nian Fuli flicked a cigarette toward him and jerked his chin toward Chen Chuan. "This is my nephew. Brought him along to see the world a bit."
The patrolman held the cigarette beneath his nose, took a sniff, and swept a seemingly careless glance over Chen Chuan. Asking no further questions, he waved his hand, and two patrolmen stepped forward to move the barricades aside.
Nian Fuli voiced his thanks, signaled Chen Chuan to follow, and wheeled his bicycle inside.
Once the two entered, the armband-wearing patrolman scanned the street outside a few times before slowly turning back.
This was Chen Chuan's first visit to the constabulary. Initially curious, he soon lost interest; most of the structures had only a few narrow slits on the exterior, looking grim, solid, and utterly stifling.
After twisting and turning through several corridors as if making a wide loop, they finally arrived at a place resembling a warehouse. The lighting here was bright. Soft mats covered the terrazzo floor, surrounded by piles of exercise equipment and stacked wooden crates.
A dozen or so patrolmen had stripped off their uniform jackets down to their undershirts, baring sturdy arms. Squatting or standing in a circle, they surrounded an elegant, mild-mannered middle-aged man dressed in traditional formal attire, who appeared to be lecturing on something.
"Everyone can first try standing on one leg and holding the posture still."
The patrolmen immediately balanced on one leg. Some wobbled from the start, while others held it for quite some time, though even those who swayed managed to steady themselves after a few tries.
One patrolman spoke up, "Mr. Wen, what's so hard about this?"
Mr. Wen smiled. "Now, please close your eyes, everyone."
The patrolmen closed their eyes as told. This time, most immediately began swaying violently, cursing colorfully under their breath. Yet one young patrolman remained standing steadily.
"Nice going, Rooster!"
"Look at that posture, not budging an inch. Who would've thought?"
"Golden rooster standing on one leg—fits you perfectly!"
The patrolmen chimed in one after another. Eyes still closed, the young patrolman said smugly, "I used to play this all the time as a kid, along with head-butting games. I could stand like this without moving for a quarter of an hour! Mr. Wen, what else you got? Bring it on!"
Mr. Wen smiled. "Well done, Patrolman Ji. This time, you can climb onto the crate and try again."
"Piece of cake, watch me!"
The young patrolman eagerly scrambled onto the wooden crate, and then...
"Holy crap!"
He had barely stood for a moment before trembling violently, forced to hop down.
Looking back at the crate, he felt bewildered. He had merely shifted from the flat ground onto a crate; the standing surface wasn't noticeably smaller, nor was the crate very high. Yet the moment he closed his eyes, a surge of panic seized him, making it impossible to keep his balance.
"Hold on, I didn't set my footing right just now."
Refusing to admit defeat, the young patrolman climbed back up to try again, but this attempt was even worse than the first; he began swaying the second his eyes closed. Hopping down, he asked in confusion, "That's bizarre. Mr. Wen, what's going on here?"
Mr. Wen said with a gentle smile, "Because your brain is telling you that you are currently in an unstable environment, urging you to reject such behavior."
He pointed to his head. "This is your brain wrestling with you. For instance, when some people stand at a great height, they feel an urge to jump down. It stems from the very same principle; fundamentally, your brain wants to keep you away from danger. However, through proper training, we can harmonize and coordinate our bodies.
"Martial artists of the old era trained along the edges of cliffs to overcome mental barriers. Today, we don't need to be so extreme; we can choose to train along the edge of an elevated platform and adapt gradually.
"In fact, there are all sorts of instincts we must conquer in daily life. For example, when a punch flies toward you, you close your eyes reflexively. A fist might be manageable, but if it were a lethal weapon, blinking for a single instant could cost you your life. As patrolmen, you must ensure your vision tracks your target every single moment—unless you possess superior senses to replace it."
Someone asked instinctively, "Superior senses?"
Mr. Wen smiled without elaborating.
Hearing those words, Chen Chuan felt a stir within. If he used the Second Self to see on his behalf, would that count as a superior sense?
The Second Self generally existed within a few meters of his body and was inherently one with him. If it could replace ordinary vision, he could not only observe from behind, but perhaps also from above, surveying opponents from every possible angle...
While he was pondering, Nian Fuli stepped forward and greeted Mr. Wen, saying, "Mr. Wen." Then he gestured for Chen Chuan to come over, clapped him on the shoulder, and raised his voice: "My nephew here just got into Wuyi College."
"Wuyi? Wuyi College?"
"Whoa, incredible! Captain Nian, your nephew really did you proud!"
"Captain Nian has to treat us to drinks!"
The dozen or so patrolmen chimed in boisterously. In this era, making something of oneself required either getting into a prestigious university or entering Wuyi College. At the very least, many Wuyi graduates served as security advisors to civil administration officials, and if someone was lucky enough to reach Center City, they would skyrocket to success in a single leap.
Nian Fuli also felt a swell of pride. He continued, "Mr. Wen, this nephew of mine never practiced martial arts before; he was just figuring things out on his own. Who knows how he passed the entrance exam, but I figure we can't let him mess around recklessly for the upcoming retest. So I wanted to ask if Mr. Wen could offer him some guidance. What do you think, Mr. Wen?"
Mr. Wen looked at Chen Chuan, hesitated briefly, and said, "How about this, Captain Nian: let's speak over there." Discerning the intent, the patrolmen tactfully dispersed one by one.
Chen Chuan and Nian Fuli followed Mr. Wen to a spacious corner. Speaking with earnest sincerity, Mr. Wen said, "Captain Nian, forgive my bluntness, but I don't want to hold your nephew back."
Nian Fuli was taken aback. "What do you mean?"
Chapter 4