Chapter 299: Those Who Train Lightness Skill Bully The Runners! Heading To Wudang!
The gymnasium at the Hong Kong center was already packed.
In the new era, with the development of the internet, the country’s strong promotion of sports has brought increasing attention to all kinds of competitions.
You can see it from how fan-circle culture has invaded sports events.
The benefit is that sports events have gained far more exposure, more and more people are participating and experiencing honor and disgrace together with the athletes.
Many athletes create an account on network platforms, and as long as they have results, they can attract a huge number of fans.
Take Chen Dalong as an example. He originally had only a few fans, but after he defeated Habak, the world fighting champion, his fans directly broke through one million.
Later, as long as he wins two more gold medals in world competitions, his fans will probably surge again.
The downside is that some shortsighted managers may be blinded by the fan economy and ruin an event.
A simple example: in a certain event, our country had always swept aside all competition, never letting foreign countries take a single gold medal. Our athletes were depicted as demon kings in other people’s comics.
There was even a running joke that international competitions were easier than domestic ones.
But under the fan economy, this event was ruined. In two consecutive major competitions they did not use the grand slam winner, but sent the fans’ “idol brother” instead, and lost the gold medals.
There was no way around it: fans, sponsors, money.
But once others seize the momentum in this way, it is very bad.
Chen Han and Xiao Mi went to a spectator stand and sat down.
Zheng Fei led Chen Dao, Chen Linlin’s parents to another area, explaining the rules and acting as their guide.
These were, after all, the parents of a future world champion.
He even had the staff film this scene. When Chen Dao breaks the world record, this will be one of his highlights.
He could write dozens of pages of reports about how he discovered Chen Dao, how he solved Chen Dao’s worries, how he brought Chen Dao’s parents to the scene so he would not be too nervous in his first competition, and so on.
Once posted online, he would be presented as a sports worker who devotes himself wholeheartedly to the honor of national sports.
Leaders would have to ask themselves whether such a responsible person should be given more important duties.
Xiao Mi sat beside Chen Han, slipped her hand through his arm, and happily looked around.
It had been a long time since she had come out to have fun with him like this.
Chen Han gave her a surprised look. So sneaky at the Chen Clan, but out here she was acting without restraint?
“Xiao Yu told me to do this, she said if there were any pretty girls around I should do it.” Xiao Mi said as a matter of course, pointing around. “Look, lots of girls nearby are looking over here.”
“…” Chen Han fell silent and quietly waited for Chen Dao’s race to start.
Many sports competitions have opening ceremonies, but sometimes events are held before the opening ceremony.
There are even cases where, when the opening ceremony begins, the competition is already nearing its end.
This usually happens because there are subsequent international events, and adjustments are needed for the athletes’ schedules and rest.
The 100 meters and several other events were arranged like this. Because the last international golden league meet of the year was about to begin, the events were placed on the first day of the National Games.
At this moment, a burst of noise and cheers came from the venue.
It came from the athletes’ entrance.
The first group of competitors in the men’s 100-meter heats were entering, and among them was a heavyweight figure, the only one on the 100-meter track with a strong record, Su Shen.
His 83 seconds, in a different year at an international meet, might very well have earned a gold medal, such as this year’s International Athletics Championships.
The winning time at this year’s international meet was
Although Sevier, the only person of the new era to run under 8, did not compete, that champion’s performance still had full weight.
Unfortunately, domestic 100 meters had fallen off a level. No one could even run under 10 seconds. The best mark of the year was
In the recently concluded capital athletics world championships, the best domestic result in the heats was 23, essentially chicken pecking at chicken alongside Little Japan’s
But internationally, athletes as a whole had continued to evolve. This year, 44 runners broke 10 seconds.
In other words, in any international 100-meter race, domestic runners could not win medals and could not even reach the final.
That is why Su Shen was so popular and so beloved.
It was just a pity his age was what it was; this was his last race.
The in-venue commentary and online hosts usually gave introductions for the better-known or more interesting athletes in each group.
Naturally this group’s discussion focused entirely on Su Shen.
Su Shen and the other athletes stood on the track. At the gun, they exploded out, and amid the cheers it was clear that Su Shen took the lead and finished first in his group.
15 seconds.
Given his age, this should be the last fully burned-out result of his career; he must have been running this final race with a held breath.
Such an all-out effort might leave his body with more severe damage after retirement.
But he clearly loved this track.
Fans cheered wildly, delighted with his first-place finish in the heat, while many track and field leaders looked embarrassed and grim.
Some even complained.
If he wanted to run his last race, fine, but why go all out?
A group of young athletes had trained so long, yet could not beat an old guy pushing It felt like their faces were being ground into the track.
The narrow-minded ones were probably cursing inside already, imagining how many people online would question them tomorrow.
Next, two more groups ran their heats, but none beat Su Shen’s time, which made his fans cheer all the more.
The faces of the sports officials, however, grew darker.
Only the leaders from Min Province were all smiles.
They could see why Su Shen went so hard for his final run: regret, and no successors.
So this time, when the big stick of online criticism came down, the Min Province side would not be sharing in it with colleagues from other provinces.
They had two Chen Clan Prodigies.
Finally, the last heat came out, and the in-venue commentary began introducing each runner.
In this group, the commentator surprisingly highlighted Chen Dao: “Everyone can see lane six. According to his registration information, he has just finished his third year of high school and is under 18 years old. He is the youngest runner in this competition. Even if he does not place, we hope this race will be a valuable test for him.”
The introduction was given, but clearly they did not think highly of this young runner.
On the 100-meter track, nobody gets a result the first time they enter such a major competition, not even Su Shen.
The venue commentary was tactful. The online commentary was much more blunt. As is well known, some online sports hosts are the most annoying part of sports coverage.
“Min Province track and field is really unlucky. The bus crashed for no reason, their runner was injured and couldn’t compete, so they dragged in a high school student as a substitute.”
“I heard he was really nervous when he arrived, even stumbled over his words.”
“Insider info, he also said he was going to beat Su Shen in this race. Everyone present said he was so nervous he was talking nonsense.”
As the online host for the National Games track events, Hu Kun knew he did not have many chances to show his face.
So he and his co-host used some connections to get inside information.
If his hosting took off, he might become an online personality like some others. If he could attract a wave of fans, that would mean future money.
This temporary stand-in student was a perfect topic, something to talk about at length and belittle a bit.
After all, the fact he was “trying to seek attention by challenging Su Shen” gave them a point of conflict to stir up Su Shen’s fan emotions.
Hu Kun continued: “But this young runner named Chen Dao seems not to understand Su Shen’s status. Su Shen is likely burning his last reserves this time. It is impossible for this young runner to surpass him. We hope he remembers this lesson and trains with his feet firmly on the ground in the future.”
Fans in the live stream all voiced their agreement.
Seeing this, Hu Kun was thrilled.
With conflict sparked, he would have ways to draw these fans to follow him.
But then something unexpected happened. The live chat began filling with messages he had not anticipated:
“That looks like the Chen Clan Prodigy.”
“I thought he looked familiar. Hearing the name Chen Dao confirms it.”
“Damn, when I saw Chen Dalong easily beat the world fighting champion, I wondered whether people from the Chen Clan could compete in sports too.”
“Another Chen Clan Prodigy in sports, and in the 100 meters!”
“…”
All at once, the tone of the chat changed completely.
The Chen Clan had recently been extremely hot online, and it had not been long since Chen Dalong defeated world fighting champion Habak.
People who followed sports had all heard the news, knew the Chen Clan had true kung fu, and had wondered what would happen if more Chen Clan members entered sports.
No one expected another Chen to compete, and in the 100 meters.
A martial artist entering a track meet, and with the Chen Clan known for lightness skill, was a natural hook. The news spread rapidly online.
Many people actively helped promote it, sharing the link to the live stream across various groups and Moments.
What stunned Hu Kun, the director, and the technical crew was that the online viewers in the feed exploded at an incredible rate.
The numbers surpassed even the peak year for basketball broadcasts. It was staggering.
Hu Kun’s face went a bit pale.
He realized this “temporary stand-in” might have an unusual identity. The chat was full of words like martial arts and lightness skill.
“The Chen Clan seems to know lightness skill.”
“What do you mean ‘seems’? They do. Even if this Chen Clan Prodigy hasn’t learned much, bullying domestic athletes would be easy.”
“Sprinters, how can they outrun people who train lightness skill?”
“…”
Looking at the barrage, Hu Kun suddenly had the feeling that Chen Dao was destined to win.
If the kid really won, then everything he had just said would be awkward. Instead of becoming famous, he would be notorious, nailed to a pillar of shame and mocked forever.
Like that host who said he was not optimistic about a certain sprinter before his early races, only for that runner to become a world champion. That host’s career ended.
In the Chen Clan’s compound.
On a large outdoor screen they were also showing the 100-meter heats, with a close-up of Chen Dao.
There was no mystery why. The on-site director already knew what was happening online.
The director was no fool, and neither were the leaders. They knew what people wanted to see and knew this was a chance to boost the heat of track and field.
Even small-ball sports and diving were already enjoying the fan economy. Track and field wanted a share too.
Many tourists had already stopped under the outdoor screen, and there were many of them. The Chen Clan had already announced that a Chen Clan Prodigy would compete in the National Games 100 meters.
Now, with the camera lingering on Chen Dao alone, even more tourists recognized him and naturally stopped to watch.
Even at the venue, many people felt something was off.
For example, Su Shen looked up at the outdoor screen above the 100-meter track and saw the image frozen on that young man.
Normally, the camera would rest on one or two of the best-known or strongest in the group. A prolonged shot was star treatment.
Like when he had appeared.
There had to be a reason.
At this moment, the last heat was about to begin.
Runners ready, starter ready.
All eyes were drawn in.
Including Su Shen’s.
Finally, the race began. All runners burst forward.
In that instant, Su Shen’s eyes widened, drawn to the young man’s figure, as the boy pulled a body-length ahead in a very short time.
This…
Not only him. Countless spectators stood up in shock at the sight.
Even the other runners, mid-race, glanced at the leader in disbelief, eyes wide as they watched the boy ahead of them.
During check-in, when they had heard this boy say he would beat Su Shen, they thought he was biting off more than he could chew. But now, seeing his speed…
Very quickly, everyone crossed the line.
Everyone turned to the screen.
82 seconds!
When the time flashed, the entire group turned to look at Chen Dao in unison, as if they were looking at a monster.
The venue erupted.
The roar and shouts were deafening.
Why did Su Shen have so many fans?
Because he was strong.
Because of his fighting spirit.
People hoped he would keep improving, win medals, and end the country’s barren run in Olympic 100 meters.
Even as he neared retirement, this hope remained.
Because there had been no one to carry his flame.
But if a new god appeared, people would gladly turn their cheers to the new god.
Sports is, after all, a world where the strong are respected.
Chen Dao’s result was astonishing. Leaders from all the other provinces looked over at the Min Province delegation and seemed to understand. To hell with the bus crash and the injured runner and the substitute.
Clearly, the injuries had “cleared the way” for this boy.
Now, Su Shen’s retiring, all-out times would only bring criticism. Min Province would escape that.
Everyone understood this without saying a word.
They sometimes used these kinds of loopholes themselves.
What mattered was results, and the boy who took the “vacated” spot had broken the domestic 100-meter record.
Would anyone dare accuse them of abusing rules to produce a champion and a record?
If you dared to question them, the internet that was ready to give you one smack tonight might give you ten tomorrow.
Not only in the venue, but online too, the viewers were boiling over.
They had all come to see the Chen Clan Prodigy run the National Games 100 meters, to see whether the clan that could crush a world fighting champion could also bully 100-meter sprinters.
Now they had their answer: absolute bullying.
The others looked like trash, left several strides behind.
The live chat was packed:
“Lightness skill, a casual try and it’s a record.”
“Chen Clan: using lightness skill to bully a bunch of sprinters, boring.”
“Haha, I believe in wuxia novels now. Put a martial artist among ordinary people and it’s pure bullying.”
“…”
Just as the online viewers were shocked, something strange appeared in the stream. The hosts’ expressions turned odd.
The feed cut to the women’s 100-meter heats, which were running almost simultaneously.
On the scoreboard, first place showed 14 seconds.
That time was even faster than Su Shen’s. And this was from the women’s race. The domestic women’s record was 79, the world record
In other words, this was a world record.
Clearly the women’s 100 meters was an easier field.
In the replay, a young girl’s lead was crushing. The others could not even see her wake.
This…
In contrast, she looked even faster than Chen Dao.
When viewers saw her name, Chen Linlin, the stream exploded once again.
“Damn, another Chen Clan Prodigy!”
“See? This is martial artists bullying people.”
“Some said the Chen Family Head came up from parkour. Parkour can do this?”
“The three great Chen Clan Prodigies will be famous after today.”
“…”
Once they realized who Chen Linlin was, everyone understood: the Chen Clan had sent two youths into the National Games 100 meters. One broke the domestic record, one broke the world record.
And this was the 100 meters, the event long considered a forbidden zone for the country, now breached.
Almost at once, all sports reporters got the news. Even those covering other events with superstar athletes dropped what they were doing and ran to the 100-meter venue.
What a joke. Superstars can be interviewed any time. A pair of prodigies from one family both breaking records in the 100 meters? That does not happen every day.
People say track and field draws less attention and has lower commercial value. That is a mistaken view.
The low attention and low commercial value are because there have been no great athletes.
Do they remember the heat around the flying man? His commercial value?
No medals on the international stage, no placements at the Olympic Games; what attention and commercial value can you ask for?
If you break the domestic record, break the world record, then sorry, you are the flying man, you are a god.
The heats ended, but the 100-meter track area became a madhouse.
All the reporters squeezed in.
It was a spectacle.
The Min Province leaders seized the chance and organized a dedicated interview session for Chen Dao and Chen Linlin.
Sitting before the dense cluster of microphones, they were a bit nervous but more excited.
Especially Chen Dao. Last time, when he saw Brother Long being interviewed by so many reporters, he had been envious. Now it was finally his turn.
He had not brought shame to the Chen Clan.
And since Brother Long had put on a show last time, he could not fall behind.
As the press conference began, reporters could not wait to ask questions.
“Chen Dao, Linlin, this is your first competition. Were you nervous?” one reporter asked.
Chen Linlin said, “Not nervous. I just wanted to run all out and not shame the Chen Clan.”
Chen Dao calmly said, “I didn’t even use my full strength. Why would I be nervous?”
The room erupted.
What did that mean?
He broke the domestic record without using full strength?
If anyone else said that, people would doubt him, but he had just broken the domestic record.
Another reporter asked Chen Dao, “Before the race, there were reports you publicly said you wanted to beat Su Shen, and people called you arrogant. What do you think of them?”
This made some of the other heat runners feel awkward.
Because they had been the ones who spread it.
Now they felt like clowns.
Chen Dao said directly, “I came here to take first place. If you don’t have that belief, why are you even competing? The strong speak with strength. The weak just flap their mouths.”
It was a bit offensive, but he had earned the right to say it.
On the sidelines, Su Shen watched with a broad smile he could not hide.
It was the joy of seeing a successor, seeing talent.
The boy was a third-year high school student and would be going to university next year.
And Su Shen was the dean of a university sports college.
Their college was a 211, and most serious athletes chose 211 universities, because they had better resources and more professional programs.
More importantly, he had rich experience: running technique, power application, training. Even top schools like Tsinghua and Peking University could not match him in this.
In 100 meters specifically, his recruitment advantage was unmatched nationwide.
Not only Su Shen; many viewers online also agreed with Chen Dao. If you have strength, why resort to trash talk?
This was not a group of the weak mocking a kid. It was a group of weaklings mocking a king.
You could be sure this would be remembered online as a classic negative example.
The interview continued.
Another reporter asked, “Chen Dao, Linlin, you’re both from the Chen Clan in Shangyuan Village, Linhe County. We’ve heard many of your people practice martial arts. Can everyone run as fast as you?”
Chen Dao replied, “Are you kidding me? If I could run as fast as they can, why would I need Uncle Dagou to train me? I’m just a disappointing junior.”
Hearing that, Chen Linlin quickly added, “Me too!”
“…” Reporter
“…” Reporter
“…” Reporter
…
Viewers in the live stream felt an odd sense of déjà vu at those words.
Having just pulled off this act, Chen Dao felt extremely satisfied.
Because he still had the 100-meter semifinal that night, the interview did not last long. They needed to give him more rest.
Back at the hotel, both Chen Dao and Chen Linlin were treated like treasures. Leaders from the provincial and city sports bureaus and track and field departments were all terrified something might happen to them.
Only track champions and record-breakers in a few events got this treatment.
Other sports might be faked or manipulated using power without much consequence.
Like a certain minor ball sport, where leaders thought they could casually use their power, skip the grand slam ace, and send a more popular player.
As long as they won, who could criticize them?
Too bad it backfired.
In track and field, every authentic elite is rare and precious.
Once one appears, everyone treasures them.
Time passed.
By evening, when the men’s 100-meter semifinals were about to start, the live stream had already filled with countless viewers.
News of the Chen Clan Prodigy breaking the 100-meter record at the National Games had spread everywhere.
Discussion of the Chen Clan using lightness skill to bully people was all over the internet.
The online viewer count was terrifyingly high.
For a time, the 100 meters became the most-watched event.
This made the track and field officials grin from ear to ear.
In future track meets, as long as Chen Dao and Chen Linlin participated, sponsors would flock in. Since the previous flying man era, they had rarely seen major sponsorships.
On-screen, viewers saw the athletes walk out, with Chen Dao right next to Su Shen, and the camera froze on them.
As if narrating the passing of the torch between eras.
Everyone also noticed Su Shen shaking hands with Chen Dao.
Su Shen took the chance to say, “Come to our university. I’m the dean of the sports college. We’ll open every door for you. I can join your coaching team and teach you my experience, my running technique, and power methods.”
“Okay,” Chen Dao agreed immediately.
He was definitely going to university; he had been thinking about where.
Min Province had no 985 or 211 sports powerhouse. Meeting Su Shen today had given him an idea.
His clan’s 《Tai Xu Chasing Wind Leg》 was good, but it was a combat cultivation method. Its lateral movements let him avoid harm and deliver powerful kicks.
But on the 100-meter track it had many limitations, and needed to be combined with professional sprint mechanics.
In this field, no one in the country could surpass Su Shen. His place on the international 100-meter stage was built on technique and power, not on a physical advantage over black sprinters.
“I can bring Linlin with me,” Chen Dao added with a smile.
Hearing this, Su Shen could not help but hug him. “At our sports college, you’ll outrank me, the dean.”
Outsiders did not know what they talked about, but seeing them hug, everyone’s imagination ran wild.
The on-site commentator immediately said, “We’re seeing a moving moment. Su Shen and Chen Dao embracing. This is encouragement between generations, a touching passing of the torch…”
The two separated awkwardly.
Su Shen muttered, “Idiot commentator.”
Chen Dao nodded heavily.
The other runners nearby looked a bit embarrassed.
The race soon started.
They all flew out of the blocks.
Su Shen was still very fast, burning even harder, overtaking runner after runner, but he watched as Chen Dao’s back pulled further away.
For a moment, he felt shock, like the peak version of himself facing Bolt in his prime.
Although he was no longer at his own peak, his eyes were sharp. He felt this Chen Clan Prodigy might one day break that terrifying record.
It was a strange feeling, but as the boy’s back grew distant, it only grew stronger.
They crossed the line.
The results came up. Su Shen ran 21, slower than in the heats, but nobody could criticize him.
Su Shen looked at Chen Dao’s time and smiled with genuine happiness. This was the world’s best 100-meter mark of the year.
With such a time, Chen Dao would be a contender for the Olympic gold next time around.
Naturally, Chen Dao’s result caused another online explosion. Even people who did not follow sports or the 100 meters now knew the world’s best time of the year.
Suddenly, everyone was fired up. A divine runner had appeared on the domestic 100-meter track.
If that was enough to make people excited, then in the next day’s final, Chen Dao’s time was pure adrenaline.
He actually ran under
This was a complete eruption.
At this point everyone believed his earlier claim that he had not been using full strength.
The time spread across the internet in an instant.
Sevier’s best was only 74, and his potential was spent. He could not do better.
In that sense, Chen Dao was now the number one 100-meter man.
His goal was no longer just an Olympic gold; it was to break the 58 world record.
That would be hugely inspiring at the national level.
And he was still just a high school student, so everyone believed he had a chance.
Once that belief took hold, domestic execution was fierce.
Rumor had it that within a very short time, the top sports authorities met and decided to create the strongest possible coaching team dedicated solely to this boy.
The internet was flooded with news about the Chen Clan Prodigy winning the title, all overwhelmingly positive.
At such a time, who would dare provoke public outrage?
Someone did. One of those contrarian “grew up eating shit” experts.
Li Jianren, a professor at a prestigious university, despised online people for constantly running their mouths.
Especially after he published his “we must not raise the wages of the working masses; low wages are our advantage” survey paper, and the ignorant masses frantically attacked him.
Did they know how long he worked on that survey? How hard the research was?
Yet they dared to question him.
What did a bunch of low-education trash know?
So, seeing everyone praising this boy, he was annoyed and went against the tide, posting: 《Personally, I believe bringing martial arts into sports competition is extremely unfair to other people…》
Then countless people flooded in and left two identical words in the comments:
“Idiot!”
“Idiot!”
“…”
Soon, this so-called expert professor’s accounts were all permanently banned.
Immensely satisfying.
At the hotel, Chen Han saw this news and could only mock this braindead professor.
And this kind of person was educating the youth.
When a professor can say things like “low-income groups can rent out their idle houses” and “ordinary people have an average deposit of 3 million, taking out 500,000 for a bride price is easy,” imagine how miserable his students are.
Night.
There was a knock at the door.
Chen Han opened it to see Xiao Mi in a sexy hanfu. She walked in, pulled him to the sofa, and sat on his lap.
“Coming over this late, you must have bad intentions,” Chen Han said with a grin.
Instead, Xiao Mi took out a video for him to watch.
A man asked a woman, “What kind of guy do you like?”
The woman answered, “Positive and upward.”
The man asked, “What kind of guy do you dislike?”
The woman answered, “Whiny and nagging.”
Chen Han immediately understood, reacted, and asked, “So do you think I’m a very positive and upward man right now?”
Blushing, Xiao Mi leaned to his ear and whispered, “I’m wearing a very sexy apron.”
…
The night passed. The next day, news about the Chen Clan Prodigy Chen Dao was even hotter. You could say all the National Games’ heat was focused here.
But Chen Han no longer paid attention. He and Xiao Mi were already on a plane to Wudang to attend a Feng Shui exchange meeting.
On the plane, to avoid being recognized, they both wore masks.
At the airport they had already been recognized. Many people surrounded them to ask about Chen Dao’s daily training, and most of them were young girls.
Tender and young indeed.
That was the fan economy arriving.
Chen Dao was about to become another “idol brother” in sports.
Fortunately, this brother had real strength, unlike that other “idol brother” who kept losing gold medals.
Wudang, east of Xiangyang, west of Shiyan, south of Shennongjia, north of Danjiang, is an excellent place and a thriving tourist destination.
So there is an airport about 25 kilometers away from Wudang.
When Chen Han and Xiao Mi got off the plane, Daoist Priest Chen personally came to greet them. “Chen Family Head, Lay Buddhist Xiao Mi, you have finally arrived.”
He led them toward the parking area.
As they were getting into the car, Daoist Priest Chen said mysteriously, “Chen Family Head, at this exchange meeting, the association will have a surprise for you.”
