Chapter 153 - 110: Flirting with a Skill

"Holy shit! 500 kilograms?"

"Isn’t that over half a ton?"

Hearing the numbers Zhou Chuan provided, everyone in the private room felt their scalps tingle with shock.

It was a classic case of different fields being worlds apart. Ordinary people who weren’t into fitness would never pay attention to world records for things like squats, deadlifts, and bench presses.

Even Chen Jue was shocked as he listened. Comparing it to his own usual Strength training, he felt there was still a massive gap between him and the title of "Strongest Human."

’A 500-kilogram lift... Just how high would I have to raise my Strength Attribute for that?’ Chen Jue wondered, suddenly finding himself too distracted to even enjoy his lunch.

...

After lunch, everyone began to go their separate ways.

Zheng Yuan had collected a heap of useful human test data and planned to hurry back to work on his thesis with his girlfriend.

Zhou Chuan had also gathered some data that greatly interested him. He made a point of telling Chen Jue they should keep in touch, which left Chen Jue a bit baffled.

He had no idea if this research fiend had latched onto his identity as a Darts master, hoping to squeeze some more useful physiological data out of him.

As for Wu Fang, she didn’t rush off after the meal. Instead, she quietly asked Chen Jue at the cafeteria entrance, "Are we still filming a stunt video today?"

Wu Fang’s question took Chen Jue by surprise for a moment.

He had been so absorbed in the data about the limits of human Strength that Zhou Chuan mentioned that he’d become completely engrossed, almost forgetting that Saturday was the day he’d agreed to film a video with Teacher Wu.

He turned to see the youthfully dressed and beautiful Wu Fang, her cheeks rosy and her eyes full of anticipation. Without a second thought, Chen Jue immediately agreed.

’To hell with human limits!’

’With the panel, I can train slowly and reach those so-called limits one day. But Teacher Wu proactively asking me to film a video is a rare opportunity. That has to come first!’

Without another word, Chen Jue dashed back to his apartment to grab his equipment, then drove back to the Jiang University campus to pick up Wu Fang and head toward the park.

Seeing his cousin get into Chen Jue’s car so docilely, Zheng Yuan put an arm around his girlfriend and remarked with a sigh, "Looks like my cousin is finally seeing the light!"

...

Inside the black SUV, Wu Fang curiously sized up the car’s interior.

Chen Jue was usually busy with training and classes, living a monotonous life between just two points. He hadn’t done much to maintain this domestic car he’d received as payment for a debt.

He’d been driving it for a while without cleaning it. The interior was dirty and messy, and it still carried a lingering smell of smoke from the previous owner. Seeing Wu Fang observing the inside of the car made Chen Jue, who was driving a girl for a change, instantly feel restless.

"Are you usually alone?" Wu Fang asked curiously, blinking.

"Always alone. No one to answer to, so I live pretty casually," Chen Jue nodded and said hurriedly.

"Then you should pay attention to your health! Smoking isn’t good for you." Wu Fang had likely caught the faint smell of smoke and made a point to remind him.

However, hearing that Chen Jue lived alone, Wu Fang’s anxious heart relaxed considerably.

In this regard, Chen Jue was a typical bachelor—messy and casual. Most men without girlfriends were more or less like this.

’As long as he doesn’t have a girlfriend,’ Wu Fang thought, ’then maybe I still have a chance.’

"I’ve been trying to quit recently. I haven’t bought any cigarettes myself in a while. It’s just when friends offer one that I’ll take a couple of drags," Chen Jue confessed honestly, not trying to hide anything.

"Is that so?"

Wu Fang blinked, glanced at the glove compartment and center console, and indeed saw no lighters or cigarettes. She also couldn’t smell any smoke on Chen Jue, so she was inclined to believe his claim about quitting. "I guess you’re being somewhat honest... Hmph."

Seeing Chen Jue fidgeting beside her, Wu Fang felt a laugh bubbling up inside and changed the subject back to the stunt video.

It took them 15 minutes to reach the Morning Exercise Park. When the car came to a steady stop in the parking lot outside the park, Chen Jue got out with Wu Fang, breathing a sigh of relief.

’Damn it!’

’I have to get this piece of junk detailed later!’ Chen Jue thought to himself. His usual sloppiness had almost left a bad impression on Teacher Wu.

He blamed it on being single for too long and living a rather frugal life. He didn’t pay much attention to his car, seeing it as just a tool for transportation, so he rarely had it washed.

Now that he’d finally met a girl he liked, Chen Jue felt that besides improving his physical fitness, he also needed to adjust his personal habits.

He couldn’t have this sweet romance end before it even began just because Teacher Wu gave him a low score, affecting the future development of their relationship.

...

His mind in a jumble, Chen Jue gathered the filming props and headed deeper into the park.

Wu Fang, meanwhile, went home for a bit. When she reappeared by the small lake in the park, she was carrying some books and course materials.

"Watching you do that Flying Needle embroidery on the last stream was incredible. It hit several trending topic lists."

"For this new video, why not do an encore performance?" Wu Fang suggested, setting down the books she’d brought.

"The Flying Needle embroidery?"

"The last stream was recorded, so filming it again feels a bit unoriginal."

"I need to film a different stunt..."

Chen Jue rubbed his chin. He set up the tripod and got the camera equipment ready on standby, then sat quietly on the lawn for a moment to think.

To be honest, he’d just earned a large sum from his live stream, and his mindset had grown a bit complacent. Coupled with being busy grinding his athletic Attributes these past few days, he really hadn’t put much thought into new material.

Seeing him sitting there, racking his brain, Wu Fang just smiled softly. She didn’t disturb him, instead taking out her course materials and starting to grade them off to the side.

And so, a certain scene unfolded in the park on that autumn afternoon:

Under a blue sky with white clouds, by a lake surrounded by large trees, a young man and woman sat next to each other on a green lawn dappled with sunlight. A gentle autumn breeze swept down golden leaves, creating a romantic scene that looked just like a couple on a date in the park.

Although not a word was spoken, the air was filled with a comfortable and somewhat intimate atmosphere.

When a few ginkgo leaves drifted down in front of him, Chen Jue’s eyes suddenly lit up. He looked up at the towering ginkgo tree beside him, visually estimated its height at nearly 20 meters, and immediately exclaimed, "I’ve got it! For the new stunt, we’ll film this tree!"

Seeing that Chen Jue had a new idea, Wu Fang set aside her grading, though she was momentarily baffled. "Film the tree?"

Chen Jue didn’t explain further. He activated his drone and flew it up to the top of the ginkgo tree, then aimed the action camera on the tripod at the tree as well, before handing the filming duties over to Wu Fang.

He put on his Face Armor and gave Wu Fang a hand signal to confirm she could start filming. Then, holding a Short Sword Dart, he aimed at the treetop. He waited a moment for a leaf to drift down and then threw it with a flick of his wrist.

The dart, glinting coldly, flew upward at an angle, first piercing a falling ginkgo leaf before embedding itself with a sharp THUD precisely at the very top of the tree trunk.

Wu Fang was slightly stunned by this. She hadn’t expected Chen Jue’s dart to have such power. It had flown more than 20 meters straight up and still managed to hit two targets with such precision.

’His dart practice is so good, it’s almost fucking supernatural!’

But just as Wu Fang finished filming the footage of the dart throw, Chen Jue, who had just lowered his hand, suddenly dashed forward. He kicked off the trunk of the ginkgo tree with such force that the whole tree shook, and the leaves, which had been ready to fall at the slightest breeze, now rained down from the sky.

Watching this stunningly beautiful scene, Wu Fang’s eyes sparkled and her mouth fell slightly agape. "So beautiful!"

Women, after all, love beautiful things.

Falling ginkgo leaves are one of autumn’s great beauties, to say nothing of so many of them showering down at once.

Meanwhile, after kicking off the ginkgo tree’s trunk, Chen Jue used the momentum to shoot upward. He latched on with both hands, using his 115 kg of single-hand grip strength to grab onto the raised bark patterns on the trunk’s surface, treating them like handholds on a Rock Climbing wall, and began to ascend at high speed.

He was like an agile ape, deftly dodging obstructing branches as he climbed, weaving through the gaps to speed his way up. It took him less than 20 seconds to scramble from the bottom of the tree to the very top.

Gently reaching out, Chen Jue retrieved the Short Sword Dart he had thrown.

Witnessing a scene comparable to a Martial Arts Master using Qinggong to fly up a tree in a wuxia film, Wu Fang was utterly shocked, while also secretly breaking out in a cold sweat for Chen Jue.

After all, he was climbing the tree without any safety gear. If he accidentally fell, he’d be crippled, if not killed.

Fortunately, Chen Jue’s [Climbing] Skill was already honed to perfection. By the time he climbed safely back down the ginkgo tree, a notification popped up on his panel:

——————

[Ding!]

[Completed a perfect practical Climbing exercise. Your Climbing technique has greatly improved. Your two-handed grip ability has slightly improved.]

[By conquering a high objective, your fear of heights has gradually weakened. Your willpower has been thoroughly trained.]

[Climbing Skill Level +200]

[Spirit Attribute +0.01]

——————

[Ding!]

[Skill Level has reached 100%. The Skill Level has increased.]

[Climbing Lv4→Lv5]

[Your understanding of the sport of Climbing has deepened. You no longer have any blind spots in your Climbing technique. Your Climbing speed has slightly increased, your balance has been enhanced, and your atrophied palmaris longus muscle has been strengthened again.]

[Strength Attribute +0.01]

——————

’Finally leveled up!’ Chen Jue sighed to himself.

’After paying for a few Rock Climbing lessons with Yu Jie, and then grinding out a ton of proficiency by vaulting over walls, scrambling up lampposts, and scaling trees, I’ve finally managed to level up the Climbing skill.’

Seeing Chen Jue land safely from the tree, Wu Fang ran over, her face etched with worry. "Are you okay? Don’t do something so reckless again! We can just film some normal Darts stunts. Climbing a tree that high is too dangerous!"

Seeing Teacher Wu scolding him with a worried expression, Chen Jue’s heart warmed, and he gave a slightly bashful smile.

He reached into his pocket. In addition to the Short Sword Dart he’d retrieved from the treetop, his palm, covered in scratches, also held a single golden ginkgo leaf. "This was the prettiest one at the top of the tree. I saw you like to read, so I picked it for you. You can use it as a bookmark!"