Taking the Entrance Exam

After entering through the gates, Chen Chuan saw a long row of covered bike sheds on the left. He went over and parked his bicycle. When he came back out, he saw students about his age filing into the school grounds.

Most of them had anxious eyes touched with a trace of excitement. They were probably, like him, here to apply for Wu Yi University.

He understood that feeling well. The Da Shun Republic Government had been established for more than ninety years, and society from top to bottom had become rigidly stratified. Commoners had few avenues left for advancement.

Whether at home or abroad—indeed, across the entire world—those skilled in fighting and combat often enjoyed higher social standing. Other than studying, this was one of the few paths that allowed people from the bottom rung to cross the class divide. Though the road was exceedingly difficult, countless people still sharpened their heads and squeezed their way in every year.

Wu Yi University was an institution dedicated to formally training such talents. Over the past decade, the school had expanded its enrollment. Any citizen under eighteen who had received basic primary and middle-school education and had no criminal record could apply here. This drew even more young people who could not afford higher institutions to gather here.

Even so, the school's threshold was truly high, and only a small number succeeded in enrolling each year.

Chen Chuan walked over and naturally merged into the crowd of peers. He found that every student here to apply was sturdily built, with light, brisk steps. Whether male or female, the outlines of muscles could faintly be seen beneath their clothes.

To apply for a martial academy, one first needed qualified physical fitness, preferably with some foundation in combat. It was clear that nearly everyone around him had some training.

Though his physical condition was better than average and he was relatively tall, he had never undergone specialized combat training. Compared to the other students, he was a completely blank sheet of paper. In the past, he would never have entertained the slightest thought of applying to a martial academy. But now...

As the sun climbed higher, more and more students entered the school to apply. Swept along by the flow of people, he arrived before the Great Hall by the main gate four or five minutes later. Private sedans already filled both sides of the plaza. With his limited knowledge of cars, he could only recognize the famous domestic Furong and the foreign luxury Kaiti models. From their appearance alone, however, he could tell the others were no less high-end.

Young men and women stepped out of the cars one after another. Quite a few had clearly come in groups, while some of the younger ones were accompanied by adults. What they all had in common was expensive fabric, well-fitted clothes, bright and confident spirits, and heads held high as they walked—a stark contrast to them.

Chen Chuan noticed that when a middle-aged couple reached the steps, they took out something resembling a silver invitation and gestured to a guide. The man immediately bowed, and before long, someone who looked like a senior school official came out to greet them warmly.

He studied the item for a few moments, thoughtful.

"What's that?" a student asked curiously.

"First time taking the exam?" an older applicant said as he walked. "That's a Recommendation Certificate." An envious look appeared on his face. "You know what a recommendation is? With that thing, you can enroll directly without taking the exam."

To enter Wu Yi Academy, one could either apply or enroll through recommendation. But recommendation was not a path commoners could take, because recommenders were generally social celebrities, high officials, and wealthy dignitaries.

In fact, most students from ordinary backgrounds had not even known that Recommendation Certificates existed before today.

Chen Chuan and the other applicants stood on the side lane, watching those high-spirited young men and women chat and laugh as they climbed the broad steps ahead. Someone softly said, "As long as we get in, we can be like them too."

Everyone's hearts blazed hot. Yes—so long as they got into Wu Yi Academy, they would surely be able to change their lives and become like those peers on the steps.

As if influenced by those words, every pair of feet walking toward the registration point unconsciously quickened.

After walking another two hundred meters or so and taking several turns, they finally arrived before an old four-story building. A row of desks had been temporarily moved into the open space ahead, with older students seated behind them. When they saw the applicants arrive, one student stood and called out, "Applicants, bring your documents here to register."

All the applicants immediately scattered and surged toward the desks. Seeing this, the student shouted, "Slow down, slow down! What's the rush? One at a time. Starting today, the application period lasts fifteen days. Everyone will get their turn. Anyone who breaks the rules or causes trouble will be immediately disqualified from the entrance exam!"

Hearing that, the students who had come to apply immediately behaved themselves and lined up properly.

Chen Chuan was fairly near the front, and before long he reached a desk. Behind it sat a very approachable senior female student with short hair, straight bangs, light makeup, and a sweet smile. Her eyes lit up when she saw him sit down. She pushed over a form and said with a smile, "Student, just fill it out according to the notes above. Be careful not to make corrections in these places..."

She extended a slender pale finger and thoughtfully pointed out each spot. Chen Chuan noticed that her fingers moved with considerable strength, and the muscles that tightened unconsciously proved she was not as delicate as she appeared.

After Chen Chuan filled out his basic information and confirmed his identification documents, he had to pay a one-hundred-yuan application fee.

That was nearly equivalent to Nian Fuli's monthly salary, enough for an ordinary family to live comfortably for two months.

After he paid, the female student asked, "Student, have you had any prior combat training?"

Chen Chuan shook his head.

"I guessed as much," the female student said. Those who had trained and those who had not could be told apart at a glance. Their muscle distribution and the rhythm of their movements differed from ordinary people's, and anyone knowledgeable could easily distinguish them.

She reminded him seriously, "Student Chen, I don't know why you feel confident enough to apply, but be careful. Soon, senior students will be arranged to spar with you. Teachers will observe and assess from the side. During the entrance exam, the teachers mainly look at your ability to adapt on the spot, not whether you win or lose. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Just do your best."

Chen Chuan smiled. "Thank you, Senior."

The young female student found his smile sunny, vigorous, and full of youthful energy. She smiled back at him.

On the other side of the old building, several young men were walking over. One tall young man saw the female student smiling at Chen Chuan, and a sudden irritation rose in his heart. He turned to an older student and said, "Lao Liu, you arranged the sparring opponents for the entrance exam, right?" He gestured toward Chen Chuan with his chin. "I'll go have a word with that kid."

Liu Cai said warily, "What are you trying to do?"

The tall young man did not bother hiding it. "Damn it, that little bitch is always so prim and proper. She's never smiled at me, but she smiles at that kid? I don't like the look of him. I want to teach him a lesson!"

Liu Cai warned him, "Dan Xiong, don't mess around."

Dan Xiong looked overbearing. He glared at him and said, "Just tell me if it's possible or not."

Liu Cai hesitated. Dan Xiong knew quite a few people above, and he had murky ties with some gang members outside the school. Besides, those applying at this time were all students without much of a background. Liu Cai did not want to offend him over such a trivial matter, so he nodded.

Dan Xiong patted his shoulder. "I owe you one, brother."

Liu Cai reminded him again, "Watch yourself. Don't make a mess of things and put me in a difficult position."

Dan Xiong did not look at him. He merely stared at Chen Chuan and answered perfunctorily, "I know what I'm doing, brother."

After the students in front of the old building finished registering, several senior students led them into the old building in batches. They stopped outside the entrance to a venue that was clearly converted from a training hall, then began handing out numbers and told them to wait outside.

They had not waited long before the training hall doors were pushed open and someone began calling numbers. Though the students whose numbers were called had mentally prepared themselves, they were still extremely nervous as they cautiously entered the examination area.

Before the doors closed, Chen Chuan took a quick glance inside. The venue was large, with smooth wooden flooring. The side facing the corridor was covered by thick curtains, behind which students seemed to be moving around and recording something.

Not long after several students entered, the doors were thrown open again. One of the students who had just gone in was carried out on a stretcher, his face seemingly covered in blood.

A wave of startled cries rose from the applicants at the sight.

"What are you making noise for?" a senior student barked. "What do you think Wuyi Academy is? You're making such a fuss over a little injury? If you can't take it, go home early!"

The applicants all fell silent.

After that, students whose numbers were called entered one after another. Yet whenever they emerged after finishing, even if they were not as miserable as the first applicant, most had swollen, bruised faces or injuries on their bodies. More serious cases even had broken bones.

The applicants all looked deeply uneasy. Moreover, they did not know whether suffering such serious injuries counted as passing. Yet not a single person withdrew, because they might only get one chance in a lifetime to change their fate. Having come this far, they had to give it everything they had.

The waiting was agonizing. Chen Chuan saw many people unable to sit still, while some went to the restroom several times out of nervousness.

About half an hour later, a student called again, "Number twenty, number twenty-one, number twenty-two, enter the examination area..."

Chen Chuan took a deep breath. Number twenty-one was him. At last, it was his turn.

He adjusted his cap brim and entered the examination area alongside a tall boy and a petite girl under the applicants' watchful eyes. As the three walked together, he could hear the slightly hurried breathing of the other two.

Inside the examination area, three long tables draped in dark-blue cloth stood opposite them. Several teacher-like figures sat behind them, while masked medical staff and more than a dozen scattered senior students stood to either side. The air carried the scent of disinfectant, and the floor seemed to have just been mopped, making it slightly slippery underfoot.

Once inside, the three headed toward separate long tables according to their numbers. Chen Chuan walked toward the middle one. Crossing the open venue under so many sharp gazes, his heartbeat quickened slightly as well.

When he reached the marked line before the table, a student raised a hand to signal him. He stopped, bowed toward the front, and said, "Hello, teachers."

The moment he stepped forward, several Teaching Assistant teachers shook their heads. One look showed that Chen Chuan had never trained before. Students like him were merely here to try their luck; there was nothing worth watching.

One teacher pointed with a pen toward a table to the side. "Put your belongings over there. During the examination, you may use long-range and close-range techniques, throws, holds, and grappling techniques, but you may not use additional weapons or tools. Any violation will result in disqualification. Do you understand?"

Chen Chuan nodded. "Yes, sir."

"Fine. Let's get this over with quickly."

Chen Chuan walked to the side, took off his cap, and removed his shoulder bag. At the same time, he steadied his breathing.

Liu Cai was standing nearby. He glanced over without much thought, but when he saw Chen Chuan's shoulder bag, he froze. He looked at it more carefully, and his mood immediately soured.

When he had seen Chen Chuan earlier, the latter had been seated and blocked by the desk, so he had not noticed the shoulder bag. But now that he saw it clearly, he could confirm it was a standard-issue Patrol Bureau shoulder bag, complete with a serial number. That meant someone in Chen Chuan's family not only worked at the Patrol Bureau, but was no ordinary patrolman.

In Yangzhi City, aside from Mo Lan Company's security teams, the Patrol Bureau was the largest violent institution, and it was exceptionally united internally. If anything happened to this student, someone might come looking for trouble with him.

He cursed under his breath, hurried a few steps forward, found Dan Xiong leaning against the wall, and whispered, "I think we should forget this. Do your brother a favor."

Dan Xiong abruptly turned his head, and his gaze became dangerous. "You playing me?"

Liu Cai unconsciously leaned back as he explained, "No, listen to me..."

At that moment, someone shouted from ahead, "Where's the student for the assessment spar? Hurry up! What are you dawdling for?"

It was too late to change people now. Liu Cai could only fall silent. Dan Xiong pointed a finger at him, then rolled his shoulders and neck as he sauntered over lazily.

Helpless, Liu Cai could only hope that Dan Xiong would go a little easier on him.

Dan Xiong went to the side and put on the Gauntlets, knocking his fists together. When he reached the center of the venue, he gave Chen Chuan, who was already standing opposite him, a smile filled with ill intent.

He had originally planned to teach Chen Chuan a lesson and vent some frustration along the way. But Liu Cai's attempt to dissuade him had only stoked his anger, and he decided to make Chen Chuan suffer.

Chen Chuan watched Dan Xiong. He sensed the other man's undisguised malice and immediately became wary. Imitating the stance he had seen in books, he raised his fists.

Dan Xiong grinned. He did not use his fists at all. Raising his knee and twisting his hips, he lashed out with a high whip kick! When Liu Cai saw that kick, his heart dropped.

This is bad!