Enlightenment and Awakening

Hearing Long Jiu say this, Meng Chuan could only smile bitterly and nod in agreement.

"At the end of the month, have Meng Yongzhi bring you to the police station to assist with some promotional work.

While you're there, you can collect your bonus. In addition to the 200,000 yuan special reward for eliminating the Heavenly Demon, I will personally add another 100,000 out of my own pocket."

"Don't refuse. If you hadn't stalled the Heavenly Demon until Master Luo arrived, it would have caused me a great deal of trouble. This 100,000 yuan is my way of thanking you."

With a large sum of money suddenly dropped into his lap, Meng Chuan felt a bit dizzy, but he remained clear on one point: Master Luo was the primary combatant from last night.

Luo Guanyun seemed to be able to read Meng Chuan's mind and spoke up in advance:

"You don't need to look at me; I don't lack this bit of money. If you have the heart, just deposit 100,000 yuan into our martial arts school's account. Learning things is for your own benefit anyway."

Meng Chuan nodded gratefully.

Long Jiu spoke up:

"Alright, it's getting late, and there's a mountain of work back at the bureau. Brother Luo, I'll be heading off first."

"Little Meng, come with me. I'll give you a ride. Your uncle and aunt were worried sick and waited up all night; they nearly blew up our branch bureau's phone lines."

Not wanting to let the two of them worry about him, Meng Chuan said goodbye to Luo Guanyun and got up to leave with Police Chief Long.

Left alone in the room, Luo Guanyun lit a cigarette and fell into deep thought:

"The kid was covered in black sludge. How is that so similar to the marrow-cleansing I experienced when I first mastered the Yuanshen Thunder Seed Method?"

But the other party was just a child who hadn't even passed the Qi and Blood barrier, making it impossible for him to practice a True Technique. Therefore, Luo Guanyun suspected whether Meng Chuan had awakened some trait related to marrow-cleansing.

In ancient times, people in the martial arts world who were different from ordinary people in certain aspects were called Yiren.

As the saying goes, "Those with unique traits are destined by heaven," so some superstitious people also called them the Destined One.

After the founding of Great Chu, scientific and technological research improved significantly. Experts discovered through genetic research that these so-called Destined Ones were actually individuals whose bodies had undergone certain genetic mutations and specializations.

It wasn't some superstitious claim of being ordained by heaven, so the term was changed to the more appropriate Enlightened One.

Later, through surveys and censuses, it was discovered that the phenomenon of being born with innate enlightenment was not the only case.

Many Enlightened interviewees claimed that when they were born, no differences in their genes compared to ordinary people were detected.

However, after encountering different stimuli later in life, their bodies gradually changed and became different from ordinary people.

After further extensive investigation and research confirmed this, the Martial Arts Association announced that this group of people who achieved enlightenment later in life would be called the Awakened One. Whether innate or acquired, the cause of the mutation is collectively referred to as a Trait.

After suffering certain stimuli later in life, there is a probability of awakening hidden traits within the body.

Meng Chuan's encounter last night fit this viewpoint, and coupled with the marrow-cleansing-like characteristics that appeared on his body this morning, Luo Guanyun suspected that he was this type of acquired Awakened One.

Thinking of this, Luo Guanyun suddenly became energized and speculated:

"Could it be a trait like Tongmai or the Little Dragon Type?"

Traits are the deepest treasures hidden within the body; they can only be judged by external physical manifestations and cannot be definitively confirmed through detection.

The manifestation of the Tongmai trait is the cleansing of marrow and changing of tendons, the opening of the eight extraordinary meridians, and achieving twice the result with half the effort in martial arts practice.

The Little Dragon Type is even more extraordinary. Those who awaken the Little Dragon Type trait can be said to be reborn; after marrow-cleansing, their bones and tendons are transformed, and they possess the twelve animal forms. It is the supreme trait for naturally practicing zoomorphic martial arts.

At the same time, it also features strong tendons and bones, and the production of fluids by the five internal organs, which is also suitable for practicing martial arts that have a certain destructive negative effect on the body, such as the Yuanshen Thunder Seed Method!

"The kid seems to have grown a bit taller, and his dragon spine is unusual. Could he really be the Little Dragon Type?"

Luo Guanyun was instantly intrigued, but as a martial arts master, he maintained his composure and would not jump to conclusions, thinking to himself:

"No rush, I'll observe a bit more. Traits are hidden within the body and cannot be detected unless you spend day and night with the person. This kid still has to renew his membership at the martial arts school, so he won't be going anywhere for a while."

Police Chief Long drove very fast, and in no time at all, he had delivered Meng Chuan home.

The other party had things to attend to and didn't engage in much small talk, simply reminding him to remember to come to the Qindu Branch Bureau at the end of the month before driving off.

At home, Xue Na was cooking, and she was making all the dishes Meng Chuan loved.

"The child was really scared this time. I'll make more of what he likes to help him recover properly."

Meng Yongzhi had already received a call from Police Chief Long in the morning, stating that Meng Chuan was safe and sound and would be brought back by noon.

Just as the meal was finished, Meng Chuan pushed the door open and walked in.

"Uncle, Aunt, I'm home."

Meng Yongzhi hurriedly stood up from the sofa and walked over, circling Meng Chuan to check him over repeatedly.

"It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back. Did anything happen?"

Meng Yongzhi only knew that many people had died in Tong Family Alley last night, but he didn't know what that had to do with his nephew.

Meng Chuan stretched out his arms and legs to show his uncle, then jumped in place a few times.

"I'm fine. I ran into a Heavenly Demon while walking at night, but fortunately, Master Luo saved me. See, I'm completely fine."

"Just looking at you, I can tell nothing happened."

Meng Yongzhi didn't think too much about it. Seeing that Meng Chuan was unscathed, he patted him firmly on the shoulder.

It felt like Meng Chuan's temperament had changed since he returned this time; I couldn't quite put my finger on what was different, but he just seemed much more vibrant.

In the past, Meng Chuan spent his days obsessing over how to break the limits of Guoyi Fist, which inevitably made him seem a bit dull, but now he appeared full of vitality.

A woman's focus is truly different from a man's. My aunt walked out of the kitchen wearing an apron, and the moment she saw Meng Chuan, she exclaimed in surprise:

"Oh, Chuan'er, why does it feel like your skin has improved after just one day of not seeing you?"

Meng Chuan smiled and explained:

"I ran into a Heavenly Demon last night, and it scared the color right out of my face."

With Meng Chuan back safe and sound, the family finished lunch immersed in laughter and joy.

After the meal, Meng Chuan couldn't wait to return to his room to practice martial arts, but his uncle stopped him.

"Master Luo said you still need to rest and recover for a while. Don't practice yet; your health is the most important thing. There will be plenty of time for martial arts once you've rested."

"I'm fine, Uncle. If you don't believe me, I'll show you."

With that, Meng Chuan threw a few punches, simultaneously utilizing the force-generating techniques of Ming Jin, and a crisp, explosive sound rang out in the air.

"This is... Ming Jin?"

"I think so; I just grasped it."

Meng Yongzhi nodded repeatedly, beaming with joy.

"Good lad, it took me until I broke through the three barriers to learn the force-generating techniques of Ming Jin. You've actually learned it so quickly, so you must have entered the ranks. Remember to go to the martial arts hall this weekend to test your blood energy again."

"By the way, Uncle, Police Chief Long said you should take me to the Qindu Branch Bureau at the end of this month to collect the prize money, which adds up to 300,000."