Chapter 586
The sea is wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for birds to fly.
Chapter 586 The sea is wide enough for fish to leap, and the sky is high enough for birds to fly.
At dawn, Yulong Lake is as tranquil and profound as in ancient times.
Grayish-white mist drifted slowly along the water's surface, enveloping the entire world.
The intense sonic boom from before had long since dissipated.
Only a few startled egrets flapped their wings and cried out as they skimmed across the gray lake surface and disappeared into the distant reeds.
Glug glug... Glug glug...
Large bubbles churned violently on the bottom of the lake, as if a miniature volcano was erupting, breaking the tranquility of the lake surface.
wow-
Immediately afterwards, a wet head suddenly popped out of the water, kicking up a spray of glistening water.
"call……"
Fang Cheng wiped the water off his face, breathing slightly heavily.
Large amounts of white steam were rising from his reddened skin and swirling around his head.
It made him look like a statue just pulled out of a steel furnace.
Those eyes shone brightly in the morning mist, as if burning with two unquenched flames.
Although he looked a little disheveled, the excitement in his heart was like a tsunami that was hard to calm down.
This was an unprecedented feat and a savage challenge to the limits of the human body.
Fang Cheng waded through the water, his gaze piercing through the thin morning mist as he looked in the direction he had come from.
There, the shoreline had become a blurry black line.
Judging by sight, the distance from where he fell into the water is a full five kilometers away.
In other words, he is currently in the center of Yulong Lake.
This range is simply astonishing.
It should be noted that even his longest jump, achieved using his running start and explosive power, was only a mere 100 meters.
This time, he actually stepped on the soft water and "flew" for five kilometers!
Although no skill unlock notification popped up, Fang Cheng was not discouraged.
On the contrary, during that thrilling sprint, he vaguely glimpsed a broad road leading to "flight".
The principle behind this is actually not complicated.
After he starts moving at the speed of sound, he first uses his body to compress the air and gain initial lift.
Next, the surface tension and inertial resistance of the water are used as leverage points to maintain the height.
In this process, we constantly seek that delicate balance between "weightlessness" and "leveraging".
If you repeat this feeling dozens or even hundreds of times, it will be deeply imprinted into your muscle memory and become an instinct.
Therefore, he could easily transfer this technique from the water to the air.
Although air is thinner than water, it provides a much smaller reaction force.
However, as long as the stomping frequency is fast enough and the force is great enough, it is possible to compress an "air wall" that can provide enough leverage.
More importantly, he possesses a trump card that can compensate for the difference in medium density.
That is, a static hang time of nearly 9 seconds.
Those nine seconds of airtime were like giving him a pair of invisible wings.
This gives him enough time to adjust his posture in the air, recharge, and find the next air pedal.
This is unbelievable for ordinary people.
For Fang Cheng in the past, this was an act of defying the heavens that would have been difficult to accomplish.
But now, with his extraordinary physical abilities and hang time, he has made all of this entirely feasible.
"Goo-"
A clear, melodious cry pierced the stillness of the night.
Fang Cheng looked up, his gaze following a white egret flying in from a distance.
It spread its broad wings and glided with the air currents rising from the lake, soaring lightly and freely overhead.
In fact, if one simply waits for the agility attribute to break through 80 points and hopes that the system will automatically unlock the flight skill, then...
Fang Cheng found it hard to imagine how, based solely on data, the physical body could defy gravity and take off from the spot, soaring through the air like a bird.
But the combination of "running for takeoff + stepping on the air + gliding with the wind" that he just used completely made the originally vague concept of "flight" concrete.
This is just like when you first unlocked the "Boxing" and "Sanda" skills.
The complex fighting styles are broken down into basic techniques such as straight punches, hooks, and footwork, which can be practiced independently and repeatedly.
First, tackle each problem one by one, practice them to the extreme, and then integrate them and connect them into a coherent whole.
Ultimately, quantitative change leads to qualitative change, and one naturally masters the entire skill.
This approach of unlocking new skills through disassembly, practice, and reassembly can now be perfectly replicated in the skill of "flight".
Fang Cheng's eyes burned with intensity, a hint of certainty flashing within them.
If we do it a few more times, we can continuously optimize the angle and frequency of stepping on the air while exerting force in the air.
He didn't even need to wait for his agility attribute to break through the 80-point mark before he was absolutely confident that he could break through the final 0.02-second barrier in one fell swoop!
By then, even if the panel doesn't offer any additional skill bonuses.
He was also able to forcefully control the airflow and master the ability to fly by relying solely on skill and powerful physical strength.
That's truly the place where fish can leap freely in the vast sea and birds can soar freely in the boundless sky.
As my thoughts wandered, the sky began to lighten.
A pale dawn broke over the eastern mountain range, gradually tearing away the heavy night.
The thick fog on the lake surface gradually thinned under the breeze, revealing a large expanse of deep water.
The outlines of distant high-rise buildings gradually became clearer in the gray-white light of the sky.
The faint sounds of early risers exercising and the rustling of cleaning trucks sweeping the road could be heard on the lakeside road.
The city is awakening, and the hustle and bustle of the world is returning.
"It's time to go back."
Fang Cheng glanced around and suppressed the urge to try again.
The commotion just now was too loud. If we run again, we'll probably attract the marine police.
Besides, I have important business to attend to today.
The special search team sent a notice that we need to go there today to pick up our admission tickets and familiarize ourselves with the re-examination process.
Since you've decided to use this disguise to conceal your identity, you still need to go through the proper formalities to avoid giving others cause for gossip.
Fang Cheng adjusted his breathing, his body suddenly sank, and then his arms moved like oars, cutting through the water.
Like a nimble fish, he swam swiftly across the shimmering lake, leaving a trail of white waves in his wake, towards the grove of trees on the shore where the clothes were stored.
....................................
Nine o'clock in the morning.
Jing'an District, Huaihai West Road.
Sunlight pierced through the thin clouds, shining on the gray-white granite exterior of the Special Search Party headquarters building, reflecting a cold, hard luster.
This is a huge building complex with a layout in the shape of the Chinese character "回" and covering an area of several hundred acres.
The main building is thirty stories high, with rigid, straight lines and no superfluous decorations, standing like a giant steel ingot in the city center.
Above the main gate, a huge metal national emblem gleams in the sunlight, while bright red national flags on both sides flutter in the wind, making a rustling sound.
Armed sentries stood on either side of the gate, their eyes scanning the flow of people in and out like hawks.
Even just standing across the street, you can feel an overwhelming sense of solemnity and majesty.
That's the oppressive feeling unique to state-run institutions of violence.
By this time, the plaza in front of the building was already crowded with people.
Thousands of young people gathered here, some chatting quietly in small groups, others standing alone in a corner flipping through materials. The air was filled with the anxiety unique to those preparing for exams.
"Acheng! Over here!"
A loud, energetic shout pierced through the noisy crowd.
Fang Cheng turned his head and saw a burly, bear-like figure waving at him from the bottom of the steps not far away.
Ma Dong-hyuk was wearing a tight black T-shirt, and the outline of his muscular physique was faintly visible under the taut fabric.
He stood amidst the crowd, like a massive reef.
The other candidates, who were relatively thin, instinctively avoided him.
"You're here quite early."
Fang Cheng walked over and greeted him with a smile.
"Absolutely, today is a big day."
Ma Donghe put his arm around Fang Cheng's shoulder, acting as if he knew this place well, and led him inside.
Along the way, he would occasionally raise his chin at a few equally fierce and unruly-looking guys in the crowd, shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Dafei, you're dressed quite well. Looks like you've gone all out!"
"Qiangzi, don't rush off after the exam. Let's find a place to have a drink tonight!"
"Hey, Old Black, you're here too? Is your leg injury healed?"
He kept shouting greetings as he walked, attracting many people to turn their heads and look at him sideways.
The middle-aged man called "Old Black" immediately pushed through the crowd when he saw Ma Donghe, put on a smile, and offered him a cigarette with both hands.
"Brother Ma! Thanks to you, I'm fully recovered."
Ma Donghe waved his hand, refusing the cigarette, and casually patted Fang Cheng on the shoulder, introducing him in a nonchalant manner:
"This is my good brother, Fang Cheng. If we're ever assigned to the same team for a mission, keep your eyes peeled and take good care of him."
"Brother Ma's brothers are my own brothers, you know, you know."
Old Hei nodded and bowed hurriedly, his gaze sweeping over Fang Cheng, a hint of awe creeping into his eyes.
Along the way, Ma Donghe greeted at least five or six groups of people.
Clearly, he has been making waves in the circle of test-takers over the past few months, becoming a veritable "leader" among these social test-takers.
After greeting a few acquaintances, Ma Donghe pointed to the surrounding crowd and said in a low voice:
"See that? This is what they call a massive army crossing a single-plank bridge. But don't be fooled by the number of people; most of them are just cannon fodder."
"Of course, we're not the same."
As he spoke, he gestured with his chin, indicating the group of young people in uniform on the other side of the square:
"As for those guys, they are all elite students from the special police academy, professionally trained, and the special investigation team's favorite sons."
"The main reason we're participating in this second round of interviews is to compete with these greenhorns for a spot."
Fang Cheng followed his gaze and glanced at him.
The trainees all stood ramrod straight, their eyes radiating arrogance.
In contrast, the candidates recruited from the public here do seem somewhat undisciplined and a mixed bag.
"Let's go, Senior Brother Wei is waiting inside."
Ma Donghe led Fang Cheng through the security checkpoint with practiced ease and entered the service hall.
The lobby was well-cooled, and many uniformed staff members were busily moving around.
The sounds of printers and telephones filled the air.
Today, Wei Zheng was wearing the dark green uniform of the Special Investigation Team, with the top button fastened tightly and the silver stars on his epaulets gleaming, making him look exceptionally capable and upright.
"coming."
Upon seeing the two, Wei Zheng smiled warmly and handed Fang Cheng a pre-prepared document bag:
"I've filled out all the information. I put my name in the recommender section."
"After all, teachers have sensitive identities, and too many people are watching them. To avoid unnecessary trouble, it's best to keep a low profile."
"Understood, thank you for your trouble, senior brother."
Fang Cheng took the document bag, didn't even look at it, and signed his name directly.
He couldn't have been happier with this arrangement.
What he wanted was the qualification to pass the background check by the special investigation team smoothly, not the label of "a relative of the minister".
Only by speaking with strength can one have more confidence.
"Alright, you two, take your exam admission tickets first."
Wei Zheng then handed two magnetic cards with photos and serial numbers printed on them to Fang Cheng and Ma Donghe, before pointing to a huge electronic display screen on the wall of the hall:
"The specific exam procedures have been released; please take a close look."
At this time, the area below the electronic screen was already crowded with people.
Everyone was looking up at the scrolling subtitles, and a buzz of discussion filled the air.
Seeing this, Fang Cheng and Ma Donghe also moved closer.
The exam will last for three days.
Tomorrow is the written exam, which will be held in the teaching building of the "National Special Police Academy" under the Special Investigation Team. There will be three sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
The curriculum covers "Fundamentals of Law", "Fundamentals of Psychology", "Introduction to Political Science", "General Theory of Military Management and Command", as well as Chinese and foreign languages.
Law and psychology are considered comprehensive subjects that test administrative professional abilities, and their scores do not account for a large proportion of the overall score.
The main purpose of conducting separate exams for Mandarin and foreign languages is clearly to screen out illiterate people.
Looking at that long list of book titles, Ma Donghe's face instantly contorted into a bitter expression, and he painfully scratched his head.
"Oh no, I really can't understand this stuff. It's even harder than a book written in heaven. I wonder if I can even manage to get a passing grade?"
After complaining, he turned to look at Fang Cheng, as if searching for a comrade:
"Acheng, how's your revision going?"
"It's alright, I've been cramming these past few days."
Fang Cheng answered calmly.
Seeing this, Wei Zheng assumed Fang Cheng was just putting on a brave face, so he patted him on the shoulder and comforted him:
"Don't worry too much. You applied to the medical team as a 'traditional medical specialty student,' so the written test score requirement will be lower accordingly."
"As long as you don't submit a blank paper, even if you just barely pass, the teachers will help you improve your score during the interview."
Fang Cheng smiled but offered no explanation.
For someone with an exceptional memory like him, memorizing these facts is like a college student doing first-grade math problems—it would be hard for him to fail.
"Senior Brother Wei, what about me? What should I do?"
The illiterate Ma Donghe next to him had a bitter face, like a bear pleading for help.
"you?"
Wei Zheng glanced at him and said irritably:
"Just fill it up as much as possible, don't leave any blanks."
"As long as you perform well enough in the physical fitness test, the teachers will naturally have a reason to apply for a 'special talent recruitment' spot for you and make up for the lost points."
Seeing that Ma Donghe seemed slightly relieved, Wei Zheng continued to explain the examination process:
"The written test will be followed by an interview, scheduled for the afternoon of the day after tomorrow, in the interrogation room at the Special Investigation Team headquarters."
"A torture chamber?!"
Upon hearing this, Ma Donghe was immediately startled.
"Don't be nervous, we're just using the venue."
Wei Zheng then explained:
"The main components are psychological evaluation and political vetting. This sounds scary, but you don't need to worry at all. It's basically just a formality to confirm your clean background and that you don't have antisocial personality disorder."
At this point, Wei Zheng paused briefly, his expression suddenly turning serious.
He raised his hand and pointed to the last line of the electronic screen, then tapped it:
"The focus of this exam is still the physical fitness test on the third day."
Fang Cheng's gaze shifted downwards, looking at the content displayed above, and his brows furrowed slightly:
"West Mountain?"
(End of this chapter)