Stepping Out of the Long Alley into the Light

Stepping Out of the Long Alley into the Light

Chen Chuan's Second Self could now overlap with him for more than a minute, which was more than enough for him at this moment.

Once the two overlapped, his running speed became astonishingly fast. In almost a single breath, he charged in front of the foremost man. The man hurriedly raised his steel pipe, but with a flick of Chen Chuan's wrist, the two stones clenched in his hand flew out first.

A scream immediately rang out ahead. Chen Chuan pushed off the ground and leaped forward with a knee strike. Before the man's cry had faded, he was slammed backward, blocking the people behind him as well.

The moment he landed, Chen Chuan grabbed the man by the collar and yanked him to the right, actually swinging his entire body up to block the people coming from that side.

The sound of wind came from behind him. He bent at the waist, dodging the steel pipe sweeping over his head. Without turning around, he leaned backward and drove an elbow into the attacker's abdomen. The man instantly dropped to his knees.

Figures shifted in front of him as a steel pipe swung down. Chen Chuan raised his left arm to block it without changing expression, then reversed his grip and seized the pipe. At the same time, he threw a punch that landed squarely on the attacker's nose bridge. The man's head snapped back. He released the pipe, covered his face, and staggered all the way back into the charging crowd.

At that moment, Chen Chuan heard hurried footsteps and angry shouts from behind. He knew the people at the rear were rushing over.

He paid them no mind and advanced toward the crowd ahead. As he drew close, he stepped to the right and swept the steel pipe in his hand. This strike naturally employed the whipping force of the Great Unrestrained Hands. His waist twisted, his hand snapping like a whip, and the pipe struck one man's forearm. It visibly bent, and the steel pipe in the man's hand clattered to the ground.

His movements flowed without pause. Leading with his waist and driving his arm, he flicked the pipe and whipped it left, striking another man in the knee. At first, the man seemed not to notice. Just as he tried to move again, he had barely taken half a step when his leg suddenly gave out beneath him. He collapsed, clutching his knee and howling.

Chen Chuan kept moving as he swung the pipe. After two strikes, he had already passed through them. Two people tried to rush up and grab him. If they managed to entangle him, the others would swarm him, making it hard for him to use his skills.

But under the enhancement of the Second Self, his footwork was incredibly fast. He flashed past the two men, who grabbed nothing but air. Instead, they lost their balance and pitched forward, dragging the people beside them into a tangled heap.

Chen Chuan had already broken through the crowd when a burly man in work pants appeared ahead. This man stood firmly, giving off a completely different impression. Seeing Chen Chuan approach, he lifted the steel pipe in his hand and thrust it straight at Chen Chuan's centerline.

Chen Chuan stepped sideways while raising his other hand to deflect and push. His five fingers were slightly spread; if the steel pipe came straight in unchanged, he only needed to close his hand to seize it. But the man's upper arm remained still as he rapidly turned his wrist, using it as a pivot. The pipe slipped past Chen Chuan's grasp and abruptly smashed toward his face!

But Chen Chuan was faster. Before the pipe could reach his face, his steps had already carried him out of range. Yet the burly man in work pants did not let up. He lifted and kicked off with his right foot, folding backward as he spun around and leaned back. The steel pipe in his hand shot toward Chen Chuan like a spear. The strike was fast, precise, and utterly unexpected.

Chen Chuan pushed off with his feet. Instead of retreating, he surged forward, tilting his head and ducking as he charged ahead. He let the steel pipe graze past one side of his cheek while punching the man in the ribs. The man was lifted off the ground by the savage force of the blow, letting out a muffled grunt.

Seeing that the man still gripped the steel pipe tightly, apparently unwilling to give up resisting, Chen Chuan suddenly raised his knee and viciously kicked him under the chin. Broken teeth flew out along with blood and saliva. The burly man in work pants flew backward with his head thrown back, followed moments later by the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground.

Chen Chuan withdrew his foot and remained still, turning halfway to look back. Only one person remained there. The man's eyes were full of terror. When Chen Chuan's gaze swept over him, he involuntarily took several steps back, then simply threw away the steel pipe in his hand, turned, and ran.

At the other end of the long alley, the footsteps that had been rushing over also gradually slowed, before falling completely silent.

Chen Chuan turned back and walked toward the group with the steel pipe in hand. Although there were still seven or eight people there, they unconsciously backed away as he approached. With every step he took forward, they shuffled farther back.

Chen Chuan calmly walked through the people sprawled all over the ground, groaning and wailing. When he reached the spot where he had initially stood, he tossed the steel pipe forward. It hit the ground ahead with a clang, startling the group into retreating several more steps.

He then went to pick up his clothes, brushed off the dust, draped them over his shoulder, and walked toward the sunlit end of the alley.

This time, none of the remaining people dared to stop him. They could only watch him leave with bewildered, awestruck eyes.

Inside that temporary rental room, Brother Qi stood at the window. The cigarette between his lips had already gone out, and the corner of his eye twitched faintly. The man in the floral shirt had his mouth hanging open, his face filled with disbelief and a trace of fear in his eyes. "Th-this kid... he can fight that well...?"

On the other side, the teenager Wei Dong had already jumped down from upstairs, ready to go help Chen Chuan. But he had only landed on a wall sturdy enough to stand on and had not even climbed down before the entire fight was over. He stared blankly in the direction Chen Chuan had left, his face full of astonishment. "Hey, hey, isn't that a little too ridiculous?"

From the moment Chen Chuan made his move until he knocked all these people down, only seven or eight seconds had passed. The speed, strength, and reaction time he displayed were things Wei Dong had never seen in anyone his age.

He watched for a few moments, then, as if provoked, turned and quickly climbed back into his room. Soon, the sounds of fists striking a punching bag rang out—bang, bang, smack, smack.

Chen Chuan had already walked out of the alley. He came to a square telephone booth, picked up the receiver, dropped in a coin, and dialed a number. Once the other side answered, he said, "Patrol Bureau? I'm looking for Captain Nian, Nian Fuli. I'm his nephew. I need to speak with him."

After a while, Nian Fuli's voice came through. "Chen Chuan? What is it?"

Chen Chuan explained the attack. He had not bothered to ask about the identities of those who had attacked him, because he knew the Patrol Bureau would certainly be able to find out. There was no need for him to waste the effort.

Nian Fuli asked, "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. I was just a little heavy-handed."

"Did you bring the shoulder bag?"

"I've been running back and forth these past few days. It was inconvenient, so I didn't bring it."

"I understand. Go back first. I'll handle it."

Inside the Baofeng District Patrol Bureau, Nian Fuli hung up the phone, his expression darkening. He called out, "Xiao Wu, come here."

A young, capable patrol officer immediately came over. "Master?"

Nian Fuli said, "Take some men to Xigang District." As he spoke, he gave several more instructions in a low voice. Xiao Wu nodded, saluted, and headed out. Before long, a sharp whistle sounded outside, followed by the orderly stomp of military boots.

Nian Fuli picked up the receiver again and dialed a number. Once the call connected, he said, "Hello, Lao Yu? It's Old Nian..."

In the square telephone booth, Chen Chuan hung up the receiver and walked out. At that moment, the silhouette of his Second Self behind him seemed to have grown a little more solid.

He looked up at the vast azure sky, so clear that not a wisp of cloud could be seen.

Tomorrow was the day of enrollment.