Start with push-ups to gain experience

Chapter 377 The Perfect Role Model: Is Fitness Addictive?

"In the 25th year of the Republic of China, it was a time of great turmoil, with the country in turmoil and the whole world in the midst of war."

"The then-President personally ordered a search for extraordinary people and talents throughout the country, hoping to find a way to save the nation from peril."

“Li Guizhen was summoned to come out of seclusion at that time.”

Fang Cheng stared intently at Dong Yuanchuan, listening as he recounted a long-forgotten chapter of history.

"No one knows where he comes from or which school of thought he studied under."

"He appeared out of thin air, yet single-handedly suppressed a powerful clan that was plotting rebellion in the capital region, and became famous overnight."

"Subsequently, the President issued a letter of appointment, ordering him to create a special search team and granting it the highest authority."

“Li Guizhen started from scratch and personally formulated the selection criteria, training subjects and code of conduct for the team members, transforming a group of unruly warriors into an iron army that made the enemy tremble with fear.”

"However, he only served as the head of the special search team for more than ten years. Not long after the war ended, he resigned and began to travel the world, appearing and disappearing like a dragon."

Dong Yunchuan's words were filled with boundless longing for that legendary figure.

"Most of the stories about Li Guizhen have become legends, and many official archives are vague about them. I only heard some half-true and half-false anecdotes from my senior brother Ma."

He picked up his teacup to moisten his throat and saw that Fang Cheng looked very focused, seemingly very interested in these secrets.

Then, intrigued, he continued:

"Brother Ma's father also worked in the Special Investigation Team when he was young, and was fortunate enough to work with Li Guizhen for a period of time."

"He said he witnessed a strange event that he would never forget and often told us younger generation stories about it."

"That time, they were on a transport ship carrying out a secret mission in the East China Sea, with a batch of crucial supplies that could affect the entire war situation."

"As we sailed, the ship entered a thick fog. The fog was so thick and white, like a wall, that you couldn't see a person more than five meters away, and the radar stopped working."

"It was late at night, and the entire transport ship was like being locked in a grayish-white coffin, with only the sound of the waves to be heard."

Then, a creaking sound began to come from under the boat, dense and numerous, like countless mice gnawing on wood.

"Soon, something crawled out of the sea and onto the deck."

Dong Yunchuan's eyes sharpened, as if a terrifying scene was right before his eyes.

"Old Master Ma said that the thing looks like a human, but its skin is bluish-black, slippery and covered in scales, its fingernails are like knives, its eyes are green, and it pounces on people without fear of death."

Fang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly as he couldn't help but recall his fantastical experiences on Yong'an Island.

As expected, Dong Yunchuan continued:

"Later they learned that it was a kind of genetically mutated humanoid monster that lived in the deep sea, called a merman."

"At the time, the guards on the ship were firing machine guns. The bullets hit them like they were hitting soaked cowhide. They would just embed themselves but not cause fatal wounds."

"Just when the defense line was about to be breached, something even more frightening emerged from the fog."

Dong Yunchuan paused deliberately at this point.

"A head as big as a small mountain slowly rose from below the sea, its two eyes bigger than millstones, glowing green, coldly staring at the people on the deck."

"Grandpa Ma said that it should be a giant squid that is several hundred meters long."

"It stretched out two tentacles and twisted the anti-aircraft gun barrels on the ship into a pretzel. More tentacles wrapped around it, and the whole ship made a strange 'creaking' sound, as if it was about to be dragged into the sea at any moment."

"Those merfolk are probably cannon fodder that this big guy drove here."

"Faced with this monster that seems to be from mythology, even the modern weapons that humanity is so proud of appear somewhat powerless."

"Just when all the officers and soldiers on the ship were in despair, Li Guizhen stepped forward."

"He walked alone onto the swaying deck, without any protective gear, holding only a sword in his hand."

"The sword was very ordinary, it looked like an antique, nothing special, except that it emitted a circle of white light in his hand."

"Then, he leaped into the air as if walking on flat ground, covering hundreds of meters in just a few steps, and charged directly at the giant squid."

"No one saw how he made his move. Old Master Ma just remembers that a sword light flashed like lightning and disappeared in a flash."

"The next second, the giant squid let out a deafening scream. Its two tentacles snapped off cleanly, and its black blood, like ink, stained half the sea black."

"The monster, in pain, went berserk and lashed out wildly with its remaining tentacles, creating towering waves, but it couldn't even touch the hem of Li Guizhen's clothes."

"Then, another flash of sword light appeared, piercing one of the monster's eyes."

"The monster, which was even larger than the transport ship, was severely damaged and its fate was unknown. It sank back into the dark depths of the sea."

As Dong Yunchuan spoke, he subconsciously clenched his fist.

Fang Cheng's eyes flickered slightly, and he could imagine the scene at that time.

A tiny human figure, facing a sea monster as huge as a mountain, severely injured it with an almost overwhelming force.

That was no longer just a martial art, but almost a miracle.

He couldn't help but compare himself to the situation, wondering if he could achieve the same level of awe-inspiring impact.

"There are many similar feats."

As Dong Yunchuan got into the conversation, his voice rose a few decibels.

"In 1942, the Japanese gathered their elite troops and confronted us on the northern defense line."

"Among them is a 'Ghost Force' composed of superhumans, whose combat power is extremely strong. They are stationed in the camp to protect their commander."

"Just when the battle was at a stalemate and we were at a loss, Li Guizhen once again acted alone and broke into the enemy's main camp, which was garrisoned by tens of thousands of enemy troops."

"No one knows the specifics of what happened, but the Japanese commander eventually died suddenly in the military camp."

"What's even more amazing is that after Li Guizhen completed the assassination mission, he didn't leave immediately. Instead, he wiped out all the core members of the 'Ghost Force' who came to provide support in the enemy camp."

"That battle solidified his reputation as a 'god of slaughter' and shattered the enemy's morale, paving the way for our subsequent counter-offensive."

After recounting two stories about this legendary figure, Dong Yunchuan let out a long sigh and said with deep emotion:

"This Commander Li does not rely on any modern technology, nor does he use any special abilities. He only has his own body and a sword."

"But to be able to cultivate martial arts to the extreme like him, isn't that the most outstanding talent?"

Many people speculate that he must be a member of a secret family that has been passed down from ancient times, and that he was born with extraordinary physical qualities.

"However, there has been no news about him for a long time. Some say he made too many enemies and eventually fell into a trap, where he was surrounded and killed. Others say he was old and eventually couldn't escape the passage of time and died of old age."

"I only heard about these things from Brother Ma, so it's hard to tell if they're true or false."

"But this person's strength is unfathomable, and he is widely recognized as one of the strongest martial artists in history, without a doubt."

At this point, Dong Yunchuan's gaze returned to Fang Cheng, filled with fervent expectation.

"Acheng, with your talent, I think you have a real chance to surpass him in the future!"

"If you are interested in his affairs, you can ask Senior Brother Ma Jianguo. After all, the Ma family and this Commander Li have quite a history."

Fang Cheng nodded, seemingly lost in thought.

But a picture popped into my mind.

That was two hundred meters below the seabed of Yong'an Island, in that natural cave that he used as a meditation chamber.

On the cave wall, there is a line of inscriptions, somewhat smoothed by the erosion of seawater:

"Li Guizhen, I was here."

At the time, he thought it was just a fellow practitioner who had gone down here to cultivate.

Little did they know that such an amazing past was hidden behind this name.

I just don't know if this "Li Guizhen" is the same as that "Li Guizhen".

If it is indeed the same person, then it means that this legendary figure was still active in the world at least not long ago.

More importantly, the stories told by Dong Yunchuan provided Fang Cheng with a perfect role model.

An official precedent, even one that was once acknowledged and relied upon, of someone who reached the highest level through their own cultivation.

This means that as long as one's abilities do not exhibit obvious "extraordinary" characteristics, they can be completely categorized as "qigong" or "ancient martial arts".

If they were to face investigation by the Special Investigation Team in the future, they would have an impeccable explanation.

It can be used for both offense and defense.

This discovery allowed a weight to be lifted from Fang Cheng's shoulders.

The midday sun shone through the blinds, casting dappled shadows in the antique-style office. The air was filled with the mixed aroma of old books and tea.

After chatting for a few more minutes, Fang Cheng politely declined Dong Yunchuan's invitation to have lunch together and got up to take his leave.

Dong Yunchuan personally escorted him to the office door, patted him on the shoulder again, and solemnly comforted him:
"Acheng, don't worry about the graduate school admission. Leave everything to me and just wait for the good news."

Fang Cheng hesitated for a moment, his lips moving slightly.

In the end, he swallowed back the words that were on the tip of his tongue and simply nodded.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Uncle Dong. However, you don't need to be too demanding; just let things take their course."

"Hey, you little rascal!"

Dong Yunchuan smiled with satisfaction: "Why are you being so polite with me?"

....................................

I walked out of the red brick building of the law school.

The midday sun was warm and gentle, shining down on me and dispelling the heavy sense of history in the office.

The campus is shaded by green trees, and young students stroll by in twos and threes, full of youthful vigor.

It felt like a completely different world from everything I had just experienced.

Fang Cheng, with his satchel slung over his shoulder, took a deep breath of the fresh, grassy air.

Just now, he had intended to completely reject Dong Yunchuan's kindness.

For him, this postgraduate degree was not a necessity, and he didn't want to owe anyone a favor because of it.

But his mother's expectant gaze flashed through his mind.

That was one of the few, and most important, anchors for him in this secular society.

Refusal means spending more time explaining and comforting the mother's desire for her son to succeed.

Acceptance will put the mother at ease and make the family happy.

For Fang Cheng, who was already accustomed to solving problems through direct violence.

Such choices, filled with interpersonal relationships and social niceties, are actually more troublesome.

But he is not a sentimental person, and he will not be indecisive about this.

Now that the choice has been made, I will not think about it anymore.

Fang Cheng raised his head, looked at the clear blue sky, and started walking towards the school gate.

The few karate instruction DVDs I bought from Wu Datong last night are still in my bag.

First, find a restaurant to have a meal, then go to the appliance store to buy the latest high-definition DVD player.

Then I went back to my home in Haitian Garden to study it carefully and try to unlock new skills.

Furthermore, Dong Yunchuan mentioned holding a gathering of martial arts research association members over the weekend.

I do have some questions about Qigong practice and traditional martial arts, and I need to consult Ma Jianguo and others.

In this world, no matter how the rules are made or how the environment changes.

Holding power firmly in one's own hands is always the most fundamental principle for dealing with all troubles.

Because a powerful fist is itself the most fundamental principle for maintaining order.

....................................

In the early hours of the morning, the bedroom was completely quiet.

The heavy curtains blocked out all light and sound from the outside world, and darkness flowed like water.

"Beep beep..."

The shrill alarm clock abruptly shattered the tranquility.

The phone screen on the bedside table suddenly lit up, displaying a clear, cold white number—4:00.

On the bed, Fang Cheng's eyes snapped open instantly. His dark pupils held no trace of the drowsiness of just waking up; he was as awake as if he had been waiting for a long time.

The next second, his entire body suddenly sprang up, and with a smooth and neat leap, his feet landed steadily on the floor.

Reach out and turn off the still-noisy alarm.

The room fell silent once more.

He put on his slippers and quietly left the bedroom.

A simple wash, the cool water splashing on my face, brought a refreshing feeling.

The young man in the mirror had sharp eyes and was full of energy, showing no signs of fatigue from staying up late watching DVDs last night.

Fang Cheng smiled slightly, then walked into the living room and glanced out the window.

The sky remained a deep, inky blue, and the city was still asleep.

Only a few car lights streaked across the distance on the main road like fireflies.

He didn't linger, changed into a blue tracksuit, and zipped it up.

Then open the door, go out, and gently close and lock the door behind you.

The entire process was conducted without making a single unnecessary sound; the movements were as light as a cheetah stalking in the night.

In the same building, in the same dark bedroom.

A girl wearing a pure white silk nightgown is sitting in a wheelchair by the window.

She seemed to have woken up very early, or rather, she wasn't sleepy at all.

He just quietly gazed at the sleeping world outside the window, lost in thought.

Suddenly, her gaze sharpened slightly.

Downstairs, that familiar figure in a blue tracksuit reappeared in the dim glow of the streetlights.

The person slightly parted their legs, raised their arms above their head, and stretched their body backward.

Next, move your wrists and ankles, and rotate your waist.

Every movement was stretched to its limit, the body seemed to become a bowstring ready to be released, full of inexplicable power.

The girl's eyes flickered, and she subconsciously leaned forward, trying to see more clearly.

Just then, the person finished warming up, bent his knees slightly, and then took brisk steps, running along the road in the community towards the gate.

A mixture of curiosity and disappointment appeared on the girl's face.

Meanwhile, on the floor above hers, there were also people who were still awake.

On the floor of the room, there was a complex circular pattern, with a circle of extinguished white candles placed at the nodes of the pattern.

The wax solidified, leaving only a short root, as if it had been burning all night.

The bathroom door clicked open.

A man emerged wearing only a towel around his waist, his hands rubbing his wet hair with a towel.

His bare upper body had fair skin, smooth and lean muscle lines, without an ounce of excess fat, exuding a harmonious beauty.

The man casually draped a towel over his shoulder, walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, and habitually looked down at the still-dormant city.

His gaze swept around the room.

The figure running downstairs in the early morning also came into his view.

Watching the man in the blue tracksuit disappear around the corner of the residential area at an astonishing speed, he couldn't help but click his tongue.

"This guy is even more motivated than me..."

"Can fitness really be addictive?"

As he muttered to himself, the figure had already crossed the empty road and was running towards the distant beach.

It's as if we're running towards the rising and falling tides, heading towards the place where dawn breaks.

(End of this chapter)