Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 376 You are a martial arts genius that comes along only once in a century

Dong Yunchuan picked up the teacup, blew on it gently, but didn't drink it.

My gaze fell on the tea stems floating in the cup, as if I were looking at a small boat swaying precariously.

"Acheng, since you plan to pursue a Master of Laws degree, I have a question for you."

His voice was steady, carrying a weight of experience, as if he wanted to confirm something again.

"What do you think is the cornerstone of order in the society we live in today?"

This question came suddenly, yet it was also quite reasonable.

Fang Cheng looked at him but did not answer immediately.

The office was quiet, with only the old-fashioned wall clock ticking away steadily.

"The 'stable expectations' guaranteed by law, and the social consensus built upon these expectations."

After a moment's thought, Fang Cheng gave a textbook answer.

"As a member of society, everyone can clearly foresee the consequences of their actions."

"As long as you abide by the law, your life, property, and liberty are safe. When you have a dispute with someone, there will be a fair procedure to adjudicate it. Government power also has boundaries; it cannot arbitrarily infringe on the legitimate rights and interests of individuals."

"This predictability allows each of us to plan our lives, work, and future with peace of mind. Farmers are willing to plant in the spring because they believe their grain will not be stolen during the autumn harvest; entrepreneurs are willing to invest in building factories because they believe contracts will be fulfilled and property rights will be protected."

"It is this certainty and security provided by law that allows society to function in an orderly manner, rather than falling into a jungle state of 'everyone is in danger'."

Upon hearing this, Dong Yunchuan put down his teacup, making a soft sound.

"Yes, but not entirely."

He raised his head, his gaze sharp as an eagle's for the first time, staring directly at Fang Cheng.

“These are the cornerstones under normal circumstances, but in the darkness that we cannot see, there is another set of rules at work.”

"It's like a game of chess. Some people make their moves on the board according to the rules, while others have the power to overturn the board."

The words spoken by this dean of the law school, a top legal expert in the country, were full of deconstruction and helplessness regarding the existing rules.

"We all know that the phenomenon of 'extraordinary people' is not a recent phenomenon, but has existed since ancient times. It is only in the last hundred years, with the dramatic changes in the global environment, that it has begun to erupt on a large scale."

"When this extraordinary power appears in an individual, the existing social order will be severely impacted."

"Imagine an ordinary person, no matter how strong their physique or how rigorous their training, how could they possibly fight against a monster that can flip cars out of thin air or kill people with a thought?"

Dong Yunchuan sighed deeply, leaned back, and sank deeply into the soft sofa back.

He didn't look at Fang Cheng again; his gaze seemed to penetrate the office walls, looking towards distant memories of the past.

"There's simply no comparison."

"A police system composed of ordinary people is often unable to even track down the endless stream of monsters, let alone fight them."

“Acheng, you should know that the Special Search Team was originally the National Martial Arts Hall, and its first headmaster was Ma Jianguo’s grandfather.”

Fang Cheng nodded. Ma Jianguo had mentioned this information before.

"In 1936, China was in turmoil and demons roamed freely. In order to deal with that chaotic situation, the country officially created the Special Search Team as an official organization."

Dong Yunchuan's tone turned somber, as if he were recounting a past event he didn't want to be touched upon easily.

"The initial members were all selected from the strongest martial artists and battle-hardened soldiers, and then equipped with the most advanced modern weapons at the time to carry out special operations."

"But even such an elite team is still unable to defend against certain superhumans with strange abilities, especially those who are good at mental attacks and have heavy losses."

“I heard from Senior Brother Ma that there was a battle that took place in Dongdu. The Special Search Team dispatched a whole hundred-man squad to hunt down a Japanese supernatural being who could create illusions.”

"As a result, in less than an hour, the hundred-man team was almost completely wiped out, with more than half of them dying at the hands of their own teammates."

"Finally, it was only thanks to a team member with a strong will who, with the determination to perish together with the enemy, detonated the bomb on his body that the alien was finally killed."

He paused, seemingly trying to calm the heavy feeling brought by that period of history.

"Later, during the war, biotechnology made breakthroughs, and they saw another hope for becoming stronger. They gradually embarked on the path of biochemical modification, forcibly altering human genes in order to gain the power to fight against the superhumans."

"Even now, this method of strengthening and modifying the human body through drugs has become the mainstream within the Special Investigation Team."

Fang Cheng listened quietly without interrupting.

This information filled the vague and mysterious image of the special search team in his mind with bloody details.

"This is certainly a shortcut."

There was a hint of regret in Dong Yunchuan's voice.

"But it is also a dangerous path where you risk your life for another. I don't need to elaborate on its drawbacks; you understand them yourself."

"The Special Investigations Team appears to be the guardians of order, but at the same time, it is a sword hanging over everyone's heads, and you never know when it will fall."

"But the country needs this force!"

He abruptly changed the subject, his tone becoming cold and calculating, driven by practical interests.

"The vast majority of ordinary people also need them to maintain social stability and to suppress those wealthy families who already control the economic lifeline and are trying to extend their reach into the political arena."

"Especially today, with the increasing impact of the phenomenon of supernatural beings, many things simply cannot be handled without them, and the existing social order is more fragile than you imagine."

"The only thing the government can do is to firmly control the source and scope of use of biochemical agents, and use the strictest means to screen and restrain the personnel of the special search team."

"not to mention……"

At this point, Dong Yunchuan's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"While other countries claim to abide by international agreements, who among them isn't secretly conducting their own supernatural human experiments?"

"This competition had no referees from the very beginning, and no end."

"If we don't do it, it means falling behind. Falling behind means being at the mercy of others in future conflicts."

"So, all of this is... a compromise that had to be made."

After he finished speaking, the office fell into a long silence.

Only the wall clock continued its stubborn ticking.

Fang Cheng's expression remained calm, but his heart was far from at peace.

He understands this "compromise".

When faced with survival, ideals and morality sometimes seem utterly insignificant.

This applies to both nations and individuals.

But he was even more aware that any power that relies on external forces harbors deadly hidden dangers.

When the source of power does not belong to oneself, it is tantamount to handing one's fate over to someone else.

"of course."

Seemingly sensing that the atmosphere was too heavy, Dong Yunchuan adjusted his posture and changed the subject.

"Within the Special Search Team, not everyone supports this approach; quite a few people still insist on practicing their traditional martial arts methods."

As he spoke, his expression also carried a hint of the pride that belongs to a martial artist.

“Acheng, you’ve been a member of the Martial Arts Research Association for about half a year now. You should be able to sense that the path we want to take is completely different from the mainstream of the Special Investigation Team.”

"We believe that the power to fight monsters is actually hidden within the human body itself." "The health preservation techniques and exercise methods passed down by sages throughout history are the keys to unlocking this treasure trove."

"What we are pursuing is not relying on any surgical procedures or drug stimulation, nor is it forcing growth."

"Instead, it is through daily tempering and self-refinement that one ultimately reaches the highest realm of simultaneous physical and spiritual transformation."

Dong Yunchuan spread out his right hand and placed it on the coffee table.

It was a hand that didn't look like that of a scholar; the fingers were thick and the knuckles were distinct.

The palms and fingertips appear fair, but are covered with fine calluses that have become integrated into the skin, and the palm lines are deep as if carved by a knife.

This hand can both hold a pen and write beautiful articles, and it can also unleash amazing power in an instant.

"Just like the Baguazhang I've been practicing since I was a child, it's not about simply practicing killing techniques, but about using the skill of 'walking in circles' to smooth out a restless mind and pursue spiritual harmony and enlightenment."

"If in the future we can draw inspiration from martial arts and find a correct, less harmful path that allows everyone to have the opportunity to discover their own potential..."

As he said this, a light of almost idealism shone in Dong Yunchuan's eyes.

"Perhaps, this could prevent many of the injustices in the current system and sweep away the darkness hidden beneath the social order..."

Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly stopped, seemingly realizing that he had lost his composure, and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"When people get old, they tend to talk about unrealistic and empty things."

Dong Yunchuan steered the conversation back on track, looking at Fang Cheng with great interest.

“Ah Cheng, speaking of which, that night at Wangjiang Tower, I saw you deal with those two assassins; your skills and reactions were extremely fast.”

"How's your qigong practice going, following Senior Brother Ma's instructions?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng pondered for a moment.

My gaze shifted and landed on the slightly cooled purple clay teapot on the coffee table.

Then, he stretched out his right hand and gently covered one side of the pot with his large palm.

There was no spectacular display, no dazzling brilliance.

The temperature inside the office suddenly rose a little at that moment.

Dong Yunchuan's eyes widened suddenly.

He could clearly see a faint red halo, visible to the naked eye, appearing and rippling in Fang Cheng's palm like waves.

Then, wisps of white steam began to rise from the gap between the spout and the lid of the Zisha teapot.

Immediately following, a faint "gurgling" sound came from inside the pot.

The sounds gradually increased in volume and density.

In just over ten seconds, the tea that had cooled down in the pot suddenly boiled violently again under his palm.

Throughout the entire process, Fang Cheng remained calm and composed, his breathing steady.

Unlike Dong Yunchuan, who used to be covered in sweat and have bulging veins when demonstrating qigong at the martial arts research association, he didn't do that.

It was as if I had just done something incredibly simple.

"you you……"

Dong Yunchuan was so shocked that he was somewhat incoherent. He pointed at Fang Cheng, his lips moving, but he couldn't utter a complete sentence for a long time.

genius!

This is absolutely a martial arts genius that only comes along once in a century!
It should be noted that it took him nearly forty years of hard work to reach the level of "externalizing true qi and boiling water in the palm," practicing diligently every day from dawn till dusk, without interruption, to achieve his current success.

Fang Cheng, from joining the Martial Arts Research Association and coming into contact with real Qigong techniques until now, has only been doing so for less than half a year.

Even if he also insisted on breathing exercises every day and practiced diligently without stopping, he would still be a genius at a near-monstrous level!
"What level are you at now?"

Dong Yunchuan finally found his voice and couldn't help but ask, his voice trembling slightly.

Fang Cheng withdrew his hand, feeling the warm current flowing through his body like a river, and calmly replied:

"I don't know the specifics, but I feel that my physical fitness has improved several times since I started practicing Qigong."

"Good! Good! Good!"

Dong Yunchuan said "good" three times in a row, his face turning even redder with excitement.

He excitedly stood up from the sofa and paced back and forth in the office.

"I'll contact Brother Ma right away! Our entire research group must get together again this weekend!"

Dong Yuanchuan knew that with his shallow cultivation level, he was simply not qualified to guide a genius like Fang Cheng.

"Dean Dong, you..."

Seeing his excitement, Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly before he spoke.

"Hey!"

Dong Yunchuan waved his hand, interrupting him:
"What kind of time is this to still call me Dean Dong? According to seniority, you should call me Uncle Dong."

"Uncle Dong."

Fang Cheng immediately accepted the good advice:

"I'd like to ask, when one's Qigong practice reaches a certain level and their physical activity increases significantly, will they be identified as an 'extraordinary person' during a routine blood test?"

This is a crucial question.

With his future completely exposed to the special investigation team, how could Fang Cheng find a reason to conceal his true identity?

Dong Yunchuan was taken aback upon hearing this.

After his initial excitement subsided, he sat back down on the sofa and fell into deep thought.

"You've hit the nail on the head with that question."

"Based on my experience, the RC cell count during my annual physical exam is slightly higher than that of the average person, but it is only slightly higher and is completely within a reasonable range. It will not attract the special search team's extra attention."

"But, given your current situation..."

He glanced at the still steaming teapot, a look of hesitation on his face:

"I'm really not sure."

Dong Yunchuan frowned, pondered for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something and said:
"However, in the history of the Special Search Team, there was also a legendary figure who took our path of martial arts and qi cultivation to an extremely high level."

Upon hearing this, Fang Cheng's gaze sharpened.

"who is it?"

A look of awe and longing appeared on Dong Yunchuan's face.

"Li Guizhen!"

Seeing Fang Cheng's somewhat bewildered expression upon hearing the name, Dong Yunchuan immediately explained:

"Li Guizhen was the first commander of the Special Search Team and one of the strongest martial artists in the history of China with clear records."

"This person is very mysterious. If he is still alive, he is probably over a hundred years old, which is longer than the entire history of our Great Xia Republic."

(End of this chapter)