Chapter 37: Recollection Chapter (Three): Promise

Recollection Chapter (Three): Promise

"Chén Chén, Chén Chén, I also want to practice martial arts with you."

I don't know which day it was, but Jiāng Jiāng suddenly made such a request.

"How did you suddenly think of this?"

"Because when you fight, I also want to help."

Jiāng Jiāng is very thin; at a height of 1.6 meters she only weighs about sixty or seventy jin, and after the Great Nirvana such a weight-to-height ratio is utterly extremely thin.

The strangest thing is that this child usually eats more than I do, yet she just doesn't gain muscle; at a glance she shows no martial talent.

But since Jiāng Jiāng said so, Chén Chén also brought her to practice; after all, the little follower has been with him for so long, and if she wants to get along well later without having strength to rely on, it would still be quite difficult.

As for Jiāng Jiāng's idea of wanting to help, she can just go ahead; Chén Chén doesn't want to have to spare time to protect a burden during a fight.

At least not for now.

Before dawn, they arrived at the time agreed with Chén Chén for morning training; the child is full of energy, but this certainly doesn't show up in getting up early, as can be seen from Jiāng Jiāng's still sleepy eyes.

"You won't push yourself, right?"

Upon hearing Chén Chén's voice, Jiāng Jiāng trembled like a little cat, and between her eyelids that were almost closed a faint wine-red hue appeared.

"Not pushing myself."

"You want to learn to fight with such a soft voice?"

But you did hear it, right? =_=

"Not pushing myself!"

"Good, full of spirit, then let's begin!"

"Yes!"

"Come along." Chén Chén said, stepping forward, and Jiāng Jiāng immediately followed behind.

"The morning arrangement is the most basic physical training: strength, speed, endurance, and bodily coordination."

"The so-called realm: all levels of power follow the same principle as physical quality, and the so-called 'force' is the foundation."

Jogging trains speed and endurance, punching trains limb muscle strength; when both are combined, it is practice for bodily coordination and also adaptation to core explosiveness.

Jogging while practicing punches.

Chén Chén led the way, setting an example, while Jiāng Jiāng followed, imitating; from the moon setting and stars sinking to the sun rising in the east, Chén Chén hadn't expected that Jiāng Jiāng could keep up this long on her first training; this girl who looks thin and small is far more capable than he imagined.

Although this is only the first item of morning training.

……

Training of force is concentrated in the morning; by noon the focus shifts to training of 'technique', since a child cannot obtain any effective weapon, so it's better to drill fist and foot skills and body methods.

"Ha!"

"Ha ha!"

"Ha ha ha!"

Jiāng Jiāng shouted while punching, as if not yelling would prevent her from putting force into her fists.

"Don't shout so loudly, or you'll wake the security guard napping at noon."

"Oh, okay." Jiāng Jiāng lowered her voice softly.

"What is the first lesson of fighting? Think about it with your head."

"Getting hit! Oh~"

Chén Chén knocked his head against Jiāng Jiāng's head.

"Is it about getting hit?"

"No, no QAQ"

Chén Chén continued his own practice while explaining: "The first lesson of fighting is to avoid being hit; simply put, it's dodging."

"From dodging all attacks, to dodging those that cause greater harm, to progressively dodging vital points; when we need to consider dodging vital points, that is the moment we must decide the outcome."

Jiāng Jiāng repeatedly nodded: "I have fully understood."

Then at night, it is the refining of will and intention, also a summary of the day.

"Pouring water from a bucket over the head is useless!"

……

Such training continued for several months, and Jiāng Jiāng never missed a day.

Whether in talent or effort, Jiāng Jiāng exceeded his expectations.

At least for this child, it's not a bad thing.

"Chén Chén, Chén Chén, next time I can help, right?"

"No."

This is probably the question Jiāng Jiāng has asked most often during this period.

Jiāng Jiāng is now just over eleven years old; although after a month or so of special training she is already much stronger than girls her age, the physical gap due to age and sex remains, and if she wants to punch the North Mountain Orphanage and kick the Zhang Family Bay Kindergarten like I do, she still has a long way to go.

Chén Chén often fights with a purpose to train his actual combat, whereas those who boldly come looking for trouble with him are not something Jiāng Jiāng can easily handle.

The most important reason is that this is his own fight, and Chén Chén does not want Jiāng Jiāng to get involved.

Jiāng Jiāng, a mere tool; Chén Chén hopes to use Jiāng Jiāng to take care of things he is too lazy to do, not things he needs help with, and he himself does not need anyone's help.

"If you want to pick a fight, you can go look for one yourself; that has nothing to do with me."

……

"Chén Chén, Chén Chén, in biology class lately we've been studying symbiotic relationships, eh—clownfish and sea anemones, gobies and pistol shrimp—even after the Great Nirvana they are still widespread in the animal world."

Jiāng Jiāng, while speaking, happily gestured to Chén Chén the images from the textbook.

However, Chén Chén couldn't really feel happy; perhaps one should say he had a premonition.

Jiāng Jiāng, the so-called symbiotic relationship is to entrust one's own life's weakness to another life.

And in natural competition, for every life that wants to survive, what must be done is to overcome its own weakness; that is what is called evolution.

When you choose to entrust your weakness elsewhere, it also means you lose the channel that should have been for evolution. If one day the object you entrusted dies or abandons you, that will be the day you die.

Chén Chén didn't know why he said such things; he only felt they slipped out following his emotions, not knowing why.

Likewise not knowing why, seeing Jiāng Jiāng's expression shift from happy to choked up, a hint of self-reproach also arose in his heart, but Chén Chén still hardened himself and said:

"As for me, I will not leave my own weakness behind."

For the following several days, Jiāng Jiāng did not appear at the place where she should have been according to the training plan.

Chén Chén felt somewhat lost, or somewhat disappointed.

Chén Chén still remembered his original intention to help this little girl; Chén Chén merely hoped to let Jiāng Jiāng share some of his chores, or perhaps bring more of what he wanted to teach this lovable child as skills for surviving as an orphan.

Really, that's all.

These past few days, Jiāng Jiāng still helped Chén Chén complete all his homework; the class study committee had long ago taken this for granted, and Chén Chén's homework notebook was always handed to Jiāng Jiāng and then returned from her to the study committee.

Chén Chén also didn't say anything more.

Without Jiāng Jiāng following him all day, the surrounding world also became much quieter; such a state of life was naturally the best for him.

He had already taught her so much; the remaining homework could just be considered repaying a debt, anyway he could leave the orphanage in a few years.

With no woman in mind, drawing the sword comes naturally.

Chén Chén didn't want to be a person entangled by women; day by day, he would readapt to living alone.

One day, two days, three days—there was no increasing discomfort; rather, as Chén Chén himself had thought, he would only become more accustomed, and Jiāng Jiāng would never reach an indispensable position in his life.

One week and five days, morning.

Chén Chén, as usual, came to the morning training spot each day, and saw a figure already jogging on one side while throwing punches.

Punch speed, footwork, coordination—judging purely from a training perspective, it was already quite perfect.

And this figure was no one else—it was Jiāng Jiāng, whom he hadn't seen in the mornings for several days.

Chén Chén also began warming up, running many laps before the two finally reunited.

"Good morning!"

"Hmm."

It seemed as if nothing had happened, and the two continued training just as before.

When one hasn't experienced talent before, one doesn't notice it; only after truly encountering it does one realize that the so-called talent indeed exists with a gap.

Jiāng Jiāng's talent is very good, very good—whether in physical growth or in comprehension of actual combat.

Even if much time is subtracted from daily training, the progress can still be maintained, and this progress seems not to be slower than Chén Chén's at the same stage.

As for those subtracted hours, they belong to Jiāng Jiāng herself, and Chén Chén also doesn't know what she is busy with.

However, Chén Chén is glad that Jiāng Jiāng can step out of her original ideas; Jiāng Jiāng should have her own life, her own plans, rather than forever being his attendant.

Jiāng Jiāng has such talent, and also the diligence worthy of it; with this demeanor, leaving the orphanage, she will not live too poorly thereafter.

For some reason, Chén Chén occasionally also helps Jiāng Jiāng think about the future, perhaps out of boredom, or perhaps to convince himself.

After sixteen, one can voluntarily apply to leave the orphanage; at most one can stay until eighteen, or apply for some positions within the orphanage.

Jiāng Jiāng often runs to places like the canteen outside of training, and her relations with the canteen cleaning aunt and the cook seem pretty good; staying on at the orphanage might be a good option.

Of course, Chén Chén does not think so.

After all, this is a world of martial artists; if one does not become a martial artist, it is hard to grasp one's own life in one's own hands, and one cannot tell which day a monster might attack the orphanage and wipe it out. After all, it is built on the city's edge; when arranging an evacuation, not having enough time is possible.

Moreover, given Jiāng Jiāng's talent, choosing to become a martial artist, as long as she isn't unlucky and dies in the wilderness, her achievements should still be decent. At least, having seen so many varied people in the orphanage and fought so many bouts, Chén Chén knows the level of peers better than anyone.

Jiāng Jiāng's martial talent is just like her loveliness—amidst a crowd, she would stand out, catching the eye……

Just then, a fist the size of a red bean bun struck Chén Chén's face squarely.

"Eh eh eh! Chén Chén, are you alright?"

Lost in thought, he forgot they were doing practical sparring.

Jiāng Jiāng's level gradually surpassed the other kids nearby, making her even more suitable as Chén Chén's opponent for practical training; of course, such training is also very beneficial for Jiāng Jiāng herself, or rather the benefits are far greater than for Chén Chén himself.

"Chén Chén Chén Chén, why aren't you speaking! Don't scare me!"

Chén Chén waved his hand: "Alright, alright, your punching strength isn't enough to hurt me."

"But you're bleeding from the nose!"

"Nosebleed counts as a minor injury."

"But you're coughing up blood!"

"This is gum bleeding……"

Damn, fortunately I've been losing teeth lately.

In short, the two will always have to part—either on the day Chén Chén leaves the orphanage at sixteen, or even later……

Since the last time, Jiāng Jiāng also seems to be trying to change, attempting to start practicing some life skills for living alone, such as washing clothes and cooking.

These skills, although not very important, are not important enough for Chén Chén to usually pay attention to them, but they also demonstrate Jiāng Jiāng's attitude of trying to change.

Jiāng Jiāng has already prepared herself for the parting.

Chén Chén is glad…… at least he is glad for Jiāng Jiāng, that she can make such a change, which is a good thing for her.

In the short period afterward, Chén Chén held this view, because the ordinary, uneventful days hadn't passed long before Jiāng Jiāng revealed her true purpose.

"Chén Chén Chén Chén, wash your clothes together with me."

There's still such a good thing?

"Give."

Getting a bargain without taking advantage—that's the principle Chén Chén has always followed.

"Chén Chén Chén Chén, want me to help clean your room?"

Okay

"Chén Chén, Chén Chén, I've been learning to cook from the fat uncle lately; if you have time, I'll make some for you to try—how about that?"

"Sure."

"Chén Chén, Chén Chén, how about I become your child bride?"

"As long as you speak up()"

Chén Chén: "..."

Don't think I'll be fooled; I knew early on you little brat would rebel.

Knowing that Jiāng Jiāng couldn't stay hidden, she launched her final assault on the rooftop one night.

"Chén Chén, if you're planning to leave the orphanage, could you let me know?"

The dagger appeared, belonging to...

"Perhaps you could ask more directly."

"Will you take me with you?"

The summer evening breeze swept past the girl's back, lifting her black hair, Yang Guo's cheek on the side, and a hint of shampoo scent blew into Chén Chén's nostrils.

Chén Chén didn't answer, because he was confused.

Perhaps when he began trying to convince himself, he had already lost, hence the saying a hero cannot pass the beauty's gate, although she was still just a little beauty.

Jiāng Jiāng saw Chén Chén not answering, and thought he was going to refuse again, so she hurriedly said:

"I can help you wash your clothes; if your battle uniform and such were known to others, it wouldn't be good."

"I can help with cleaning; I've learned many tricks from the cleaning auntie, guaranteeing we won't be monitored or eavesdropped on."

"And there's cooking; they all say I'm very talented..."

"Besides, these are all unimportant things; they won't become your weakness."

"Just take me with you, like it was in the past and present."

Many years later, Chén Chén recalled that day; the words of refusal were just 0.3 centimeters above his throat, yet in the next second he was still bewildered.

Nobody could refuse a girl whose hair smelled of shampoo and who had red eyes.

"Why must you follow me? This isn't good for you."

"I don't know, but I just want to, I want to always be with Chén Chén; to me that's the most important good thing."

Of course, there's an even more important reason.

"Besides, the outside world is so dangerous; if I leave Chén Chén, I will surely die—I don't want to die."

Chén Chén found it somewhat funny that this would be the reason; upon reflection, this child seems to have feared death since young.

"Okay."