Atlas of Heaven and Earth-Chapter 2: Entering the Exam

After entering the gate, Chen Chuan saw a long row of sunshade carports on the left side, so he went over to park his bicycle. When he came out, he saw some students about his age entering the school gate one after another.

Most of them had eyes filled with anxiety mixed with a hint of excitement, probably students like him who came to apply to Wuyi University[-].

He could well understand this feeling. The Dashun Republic government had been established for more than ninety years, and the social hierarchy was clearly defined. The avenues for common people to advance were already very few.

Both domestically and internationally, or even worldwide, those who excel in martial arts often hold a higher social status. This is one of the few paths, apart from academic studies, that allows people from the lower strata to cross social classes, although it is also very difficult. Yet, every year, countless people still strive hard to get in.

Wuyi University[-] is a formal institution for cultivating such talents. Over the past decade, the university has expanded its enrollment. As long as you are under eighteen years old, have received basic primary and junior education, and have no criminal record, you can come here to apply. This has attracted more young people who cannot afford higher education to gather here.

Even so, because the threshold of the university is indeed not low, only a few can successfully enroll each year.

Chen Chuan walked over and naturally blended into this group of peers. He noticed that the students applying here were all physically robust, with light steps. Whether male or female, the outlines of muscles could be vaguely seen under their clothes.

To apply for the martial arts school, you first need to have a qualified physical condition, preferably with some martial arts foundation. It could be seen that almost everyone around had some foundation.

Although his physical condition was better and he was taller, he had never undergone specialized martial arts training. Compared to other students, he was a pure blank slate. In the past, he would never have thought of applying to a martial arts school, but now...

As the sun rose higher, more and more students entered the school to apply. He was swept forward by the crowd and, after four or five minutes, arrived in front of the main hall of the school. The square on both sides was already full of private cars. With his limited knowledge of vehicles, he could only recognize the domestically famous Furong and the foreign luxury car Katy. The rest, just from their appearance, could be seen to be of no less high grade.

Out of the cars came boys and girls, many of whom had come together, and some younger ones were accompanied by adults. The common characteristics of these people were expensive, well-fitting clothes, full of spirit and confidence, walking with their heads held high, in 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 showed it to a guide, who immediately bowed. Shortly after, a high-ranking school official came out to greet them warmly.

He glanced at the item a few times, lost in thought.

“What is that?” a student asked curiously.

“First time applying?” an older examinee said as he walked, “That’s a letter of recommendation,” his face showing envy, “Do you know about recommendations? With that, you can get admitted directly without taking the exam.”

To enter Wuyi University[-], besides taking the entrance exam, one can also be admitted through recommendation. However, this is not a path available to commoners, as recommenders are usually social elites and high-ranking officials.

Most students from common backgrounds had no idea about the existence of recommendation letters until today.

Chen Chuan and the examinees stood on the side path, watching the confident young men and women chatting and laughing as they walked up the broad steps. Someone whispered, “Once we pass the exam, we can be just like them.”

Everyone’s hearts burned with ambition. Yes, once admitted to Wuyi University[-], they could change their lives and become like those peers on the steps.

Seemingly influenced by this, every step towards the application point involuntarily quickened.

After walking another two hundred meters and making several turns, they arrived in front of a four-story old building. In the open space ahead were rows of temporarily moved desks, behind which sat senior students. Seeing them approach, a student stood up and called out, “Applicants, please bring your documents here for registration.”

All the examinees immediately scattered, rushing towards the desks. The student shouted sternly, “Slow down, slow down! What’s the hurry? One at a time. Starting today, the next fifteen days are all application days. Everyone will get their turn. Those who don’t follow the rules or cause trouble will be immediately disqualified from the entrance exam!”

Hearing this, the applicants quickly calmed down and lined up in an orderly manner.

Chen Chuan was relatively close to the front and soon reached a desk. Behind it was a friendly senior female student with short bangs, light makeup, and a sweet smile. Seeing him sit down, her eyes lit up, and she pushed a form towards him, smiling, “Classmate, just fill it out as indicated. Be careful not to make any corrections in these areas…She extended her fair fingers, considerately pointing out each section. Chen Chuan noticed that her fingers moved with strength, and the muscles that inadvertently tensed proved that she was not as delicate as she appeared.

After Chen Chuan filled out the basic information and confirmed his identity documents, he was required to pay a one hundred yuan application fee.

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

After paying the fee, the female student asked him, "Classmate, have you had any martial arts training before?"

Chen Chuan shook his head.

The female student said, "I thought so." It was easy for those in the know to distinguish between those who had trained and those who hadn't, based on muscle distribution and movement rhythm.

She earnestly reminded him, "Chen, I don't know why you're confident enough to apply, but you should be careful. Later, senior students will be arranged to spar with you, with teachers observing. During the entrance exam, teachers mainly look at your on-the-spot adaptability, not whether you win or lose. Don't be burdened; just do your best."

Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Thank you, senior."

The young female student found his smile sunny, full of vitality and smiled back at him.

On the other side of the old building, several young men were walking over. One tall young man, seeing the female student smiling at Chen Chuan, suddenly felt displeased. He turned to an older student and said, "Old Liu, you're in charge of arranging the sparring partners for the entrance exam, right?" He gestured towards Chen Chuan with his chin, "Let me take on that kid."

Liu Cai, wary, asked, "What do you want to do?"

The tall young man said without hiding his intentions, "Damn it, that little lady always acts so serious, never smiled at me, but she smiles at this kid? I don't like him, I want to teach him a lesson!"

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

Shan Xiong looked very aggressive, staring at him, "Just say yes or no."

Liu Cai hesitated. Shan Xiong knew a lot of people and had unclear connections with some gang members outside the school. The students applying at this time were mostly without background. He didn't want to offend this person over such a small matter, so he nodded to him.

Shan Xiong patted his shoulder, "Thanks, brother."

Liu Cai reminded him again, "Be careful, don't cause any trouble, don't make it difficult for me."Shan Xiong didn't look at him, just stared at Chen Chuan, mumbling perfunctorily, "I know what I'm doing, buddy."

After the students in front of the old building finished registering, they were led in groups by several senior students into the old building. They stopped in front of what was a converted training ground entrance, where they were given numbers and told to wait outside.

They didn't have to wait long before the door to the training ground was pushed open, and someone started calling out numbers. The students who were called, despite having prepared mentally, were still very nervous and entered the examination area cautiously.

Before the door closed, Chen Chuan quickly glanced inside and noticed that the area was large, with smooth wooden floors. The side facing the corridor was covered with thick curtains, behind which it seemed students were moving around and recording something.

Not long after a few students went in, the door was pushed open heavily again, and one of the students who had just entered was carried out on a stretcher, his face covered in blood.

At the sight of this, a wave of exclamations rose from the group of examinees.

"What's all the noise?" a senior student scolded. "What do you think Wuda[-] is? A little injury and you're making a fuss? If you can't handle it, go home early!"

The examinees all fell silent.

Next, students whose numbers were called were summoned one after another. However, when they came out after the exam, although not as severely injured as the first student seen, most had black eyes, swollen faces, or were otherwise injured, some even with fractures.

The examinees looked very uneasy, and they still didn't know whether such serious injuries meant they had passed or not.

But no one at the scene withdrew, because the opportunity to change their fate might come only once in a lifetime. They had already come this far and had to give it their all.

The wait was excruciating. Chen Chuan saw many people fidgeting nervously, and some went to the toilet several times out of anxiety.

After about half an hour, a student called out again, "Numbers twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, enter the examination area..."

Chen Chuan took a deep breath; number twenty-one was him, and it was finally his turn.

He adjusted his hat brim and, along with a tall male student and a petite female student, walked into the examination area under the gaze of the examinees. As the three walked in together, he could hear the slightly hurried breathing of the other two.

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Inside the examination area, they could see three long tables covered with dark blue tablecloths on the opposite side, with several teachers sitting behind them. There were also medical staff wearing masks and a dozen or so scattered senior students standing on both sides. The air smelled of disinfectant, and the floor had just been mopped, making it slightly slippery to walk on. Upon arriving, the three of them walked towards a long table each according to their numbers. Chen Chuan walked towards the one in the middle. Walking in the open area, under the sharp gazes of many, his heart rate slightly increased.

When he reached the marked line in front of the table, a student gestured for him to stop. He bowed to the front and said, "Good day, teachers."

As soon as he stood there, several assistant teachers shook their heads. Chen Chuan looked like someone who hadn't trained at all, a student just trying his luck, nothing worth watching.

A teacher pointed with a pen to a table on the side and said, "Place your personal belongings over there. During the exam, you can use long and short moves, as well as grappling and choking techniques, but additional weapons and tools are not allowed. Violation will result in disqualification from the exam. Understood?"

Chen Chuan nodded, "Understood, sir."

"Okay, let's get this over with quickly."

Chen Chuan walked to the side, took off his hat, and removed his satchel, at the same time calming his breathing.

Liu Cai was standing nearby. He glanced over, initially indifferent, but upon seeing Chen Chuan's satchel, he suddenly paused, looked a few more times, and his mood immediately soured.

Previously, when he saw Chen Chuan, because the latter was sitting and blocked by the table, he hadn't seen the satchel. But now, seeing it clearly, he could confirm it was a standard patrol bureau satchel, with a number on it. This indicated that not only did someone in his family work at the patrol bureau, but they were not just an ordinary patrol officer.

In Yangzhi City, apart from the security team of Molan Company, the patrol bureau was the largest organization of force, and internally very united. If something happened to this student, someone might come looking for trouble.

He cursed under his breath, quickened his pace, and found Shan Xiong leaning against the wall, whispering, "Let's forget about this, do it for me."

Shan Xiong turned his head sharply, his eyes turning dangerous, "Are you kidding me?"

Liu Cai instinctively leaned back, explaining, "No, listen to me..."

At that moment, a shout came from the front, "The students for the evaluation match? Hurry up! What are you dawdling for?"

It was too late to change now. Liu Cai had to stop talking. Shan Xiong pointed at him, then stretched his shoulders and neck, lazily walking over.

Liu Cai had no choice but to hope in his heart that Shan Xiong would go easy.

Shan Xiong went to the side, put on his gloves, clapped his fists together, and walked to the middle of the field, giving Chen Chuan, who was already standing opposite a malicious smile. He had originally intended to teach Chen Chuan a lesson and vent his frustrations, but after being dissuaded by Liu Cai, his anger flared up, deciding to give Chen Chuan a hard time.

Chen Chuan looked at Shan Xiong, sensing the undisguised malice in the latter's eyes, and couldn't help but become alert. Mimicking what he had seen in books, he raised his fists and assumed a stance.

Shan Xiong grinned, not even bothering to use his fists. He lifted his knee, twisted his hips, and sent a high whip kick straight towards Chen Chuan!

Seeing this kick, Liu Cai's heart skipped a beat.

This is bad!

...

...

Glossary:

Wuyi University[-] = Martial Arts University

Furong = Famous brand of car

Katy = Famous brand of car

Wuda[-] (Great Wu) = Name for famous university in Wuhan references that this Wuyi is equivalent to Wuda[-]