Ch. 1Chen Daolin
Key Plot Points & Events
- Chen Daolin, an unremarkable 18-year-old student, leaves the Extreme Martial Arts Hall after obtaining his intermediate student certificate.
- He is beaten by senior students at the hall due to a misunderstanding involving Ji Xuan, his childhood friend.
- It rains heavily as Chen Daolin walks home, and Ji Xuan offers him her umbrella.
- Chen Daolin has dinner at the Ji family's home, where he resolves to change their poor living conditions.
Character Developments
- Chen Daolin: He is determined, diligent, and hardworking but lacks confidence and backbone. He is also penniless and has average martial arts talent. Despite his circumstances, he remains grateful and caring towards the Ji family.
- Ji Xuan: She is strong-willed, protective, and excels in her studies. She becomes an Advanced Trainee early on and is leagues ahead of Chen Daolin in martial arts progress. She is also fiercely protective of Chen Daolin, as shown when she beat three senior students from the martial arts hall.
- Ji Han: She is a well-behaved, disabled girl who relies on a wheelchair for mobility. She is close to Chen Daolin and considers him an older brother figure.
- Ji Xuan's parents: They are kind-hearted, ordinary people who take care of Chen Daolin after his parents' death. They have a difficult financial situation due to Ji Han's medical expenses.
Significant Themes
- The supremacy of martial force in society.
- The struggle of ordinary people in a world dominated by powerful martial artists.
- The importance of family and friendship.
- The determination to improve one's situation despite adversity.
Character Interactions
- Chen Daolin and Ji Xuan: They have a close, childhood friendship. Ji Xuan is protective of Chen Daolin, while he feels grateful and somewhat intimidated by her strength.
- Chen Daolin and the Ji family: They treat each other like family. Chen Daolin is grateful for their care and wants to improve their living conditions, while the Ji family takes care of him as if he were their own son.
- Chen Daolin and the senior students at the martial arts hall: They bully Chen Daolin due to a misunderstanding involving Ji Xuan.