When Yu Gang was sitting, Chen Chuan could already sense his large build. But when he stood up, Chen Chuan realized the man was at least two meters tall. However, his massive body wasn't oppressive; instead, it exuded a sense of calm solidity.
Half of Yu Gang's body was bathed in the afternoon light. In his characteristically deep voice, he said, "For the second-round exam, Wuyi University Hall will have an upper-year student face off against the candidates. This has been the tradition for the past few decades. All you have to do is defeat this student to pass."
"The identity of this upper-year student is decided one month before the semester officially begins. Their detailed profile is then released, allowing candidates to study them. The candidates will have that month for targeted preparation and training. You need that time too, so in reality, you only have two months."
'Two months…'
Chen Chuan mused. Even with his "Second Self," he couldn't help but feel a growing sense of urgency.
Yu Gang continued, "Two months. It's impossible to close a gap of more than ten years of hard work in just sixty days using normal methods. We'll have to resort to drastic measures."
Lu Ke whispered from the side, "Master, are you talking about banned substances?"
Yu Gang folded his arms across his chest and said in a grave voice, "Drugs that stimulate one's potential are one method, but if you want to have a long future on this path, you'd best not touch them. And that's not what I meant."
He looked at the handsome young man before him. "Chen Chuan, I am going to teach you a Breathing Technique. If you practice it diligently and deeply, it can enhance your entire physical condition. Simply mastering the basics will improve your Resistance to Impact and boost your training's effectiveness. If you can master this Breathing Technique before the official confrontation, you'll have a chance of passing the second-round exam."
Before the exam, Chen Chuan had skimmed some books on competitive fighting, but this was the first time he had ever heard of a Breathing Technique. His curiosity piqued, he couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Yu, is this Breathing Technique some kind of Secret Transmission?"
"It's no Secret Transmission," Yu Gang said. "It's even passed around in some of the Boxing Clubs out there. They'll teach you, as long as you pay. However, practicing the Breathing Technique too early can cause irreversible damage to a young student's body. To avoid that, students who've trained since childhood usually wait until after they've enrolled in a school to practice under the guidance of coaches and masters. The Breathing Technique is dangerous, but it's also the only shortcut available to you right now. What do you say?"
Chen Chuan said without hesitation, "Please teach me, Mr. Yu!"
Yu Gang grunted, acknowledging his decisive response. To gain something, one must be willing to sacrifice. If he didn't even have that much determination, then the rest of the training would just be a matter of going through the motions.
But talk was cheap; it all came down to how Chen Chuan performed next. The pain of starting the Breathing Technique was more than an ordinary person could bear.
He said, "You have very little time, so we must make the most of every day. Since you're here today, we'll start right now. Any problems?"
Chen Chuan replied with absolute certainty, "No problems."
Yu Gang pulled a ten-Jianyuan Coin bill from his pocket and handed it to Lu Ke. "Go buy five pounds of black rat meat. And don't forget the change."
"You got it, Master!" Lu Ke accepted the bill, glanced at Chen Chuan, and ran out.
Yu Gang walked to one side, brought over a round wooden stool, and set it in front of Chen Chuan. "Come, sit."
Once Chen Chuan was settled on the stool, he said in a gentle voice, "Sit steady. Relax your breathing. Don't tense your muscles, but don't let them go limp either." As he spoke, he patted Chen Chuan's shoulders and lower back.
Chen Chuan did as he was instructed, and his whole body gradually relaxed.
Seeing that he was holding the posture, Yu Gang began to explain the specific steps of the Breathing Technique. He demonstrated while having Chen Chuan imitate him, teaching him how to grasp the rhythm, where to contract, where to ease up, and how to engage his abdomen.
A full cycle of this Breathing Technique takes more than ten minutes to complete. However, some parts are repetitive, so it isn't complex when broken down. Chen Chuan had it memorized after about three or four demonstrations.
Yu Gang then had him try it once on his own, pointing out and correcting his mistakes. Once Chen Chuan was completely familiar with the process, Yu Gang said, "The key to the Breathing Technique is to not treat the individual steps as disconnected breaths. You must see them as a single, unified whole. That's the most difficult part. You'll have mastered it when your breathing becomes completely seamless."
"However, everyone is different, and each person's breathing rhythm is unique. This means it's difficult for an outsider to help much during practice. You'll need to find the knack for it yourself through constant trial and error."
Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Yu, how will I know when I've found the knack for it?"
Yu Gang stood and said, "I can demonstrate. Focus on sensing my breath." As he spoke, he deliberately deepened his breathing.
Chen Chuan focused his senses and was surprised to discover that Yu Gang's breathing was steady and drawn-out. At first glance, the fluctuations seemed minor, but as he concentrated, he realized it actually maintained a unique rhythm, one strung together from countless tiny, rhythmic pulses of breath.
Simultaneously, his chest, abdomen, and other body parts maintained a slight vibration. If observed piece by piece, it was the exact method he had just been taught. It was only because the transitions were so natural that, on the surface, it looked no different from how a normal person breathes.
After a few moments, Yu Gang stopped the cycle and asked, "Did you understand?"
Chen Chuan took a breath. "I think I get the general idea."
Yu Gang said, "The Breathing Technique is extremely important. If you want to advance in your martial arts training, you must master it, and the sooner, the better."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "Mr. Yu, I understand."
Yu Gang said, "Mastering the breathing is just the first step. The entire Breathing Technique must be paired with medicine. The medicine stimulates your vitality and accelerates the flow of your qi and blood. You then use the Breathing Technique to guide and connect with it, finding the pathways between your energy and strength. The old martial arts called this process 'harnessing the life-trigger.'"
He walked behind a partition hung with clothes and reemerged with a packet of medicinal powder. "This was originally for Lu Ke, but he tried it once and gave up. You can have it for now."
Just then, a voice came from outside. "Master, I'm back with the meat."
Lu Ke ran in carrying a black bag. Yu Gang took it and opened it. An overwhelming smell of blood instantly billowed out, filling the entire room.
Chen Chuan glanced over and saw that the bag was full of ground meat. The skin was black, but the flesh underneath was a normal color.
Seemingly oblivious to the stench, Yu Gang nodded. "Good color. It's fresh." He tossed the bag back to Lu Ke. "Go stew this. Let me know when it's ready."
Lu Ke said, "Don't worry, Master." As he turned, his gaze fell on the medicinal powder by the table. He hesitated for a second before quickly lowering his head. "I'll get going, Master."
Yu Gang grunted. Lu Ke walked out slowly, glanced back as he reached the door, and only then quickened his pace to leave.
Yu Gang had Chen Chuan run through the Breathing Technique one more time. After confirming he had it down perfectly, Yu Gang said, "Your breathing shouldn't become too polished just yet. If it becomes second nature, it will be extremely difficult to grasp the pathways. We need to start the real training as soon as possible. Are you ready?"
Chen Chuan said, "I'm ready whenever you are, Mr. Yu."
Yu Gang was not one to procrastinate. He took out a bottle of medicinal liquor, poured in the powder, and mixed it until it dissolved. He then told Chen Chuan to take off his shirt and pants and sit on the stool, staying relaxed.
He slapped the dissolved ointment onto Chen Chuan's back and had him apply the rest to his chest, abdomen, waist, and legs. Finally, he grabbed a clean blanket and tossed it to him, instructing, "Wrap yourself up tightly. Don't let the medicinal effect fade too quickly. It should last about half an hour. Now, seize the moment. Use the Breathing Technique I just taught you and try to find those pathways."
Chen Chuan immediately focused his mind. He forced himself to get into the zone and began methodically guiding his breath with the technique.
At first, he felt nothing. But after only a moment, a sharp, stabbing pain spread across his skin. His skin, visibly reddening, began to look like a cooked lobster.
Honestly, the pain was bearable, but it was an immense distraction. It came in waves, growing stronger as the medicine seeped in, making it incredibly difficult for him to focus. His breathing, steady at first, soon fell into disarray.
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