Chapter 391: Physical Test
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
It was nightfall and the bunk was stuffy and hot.
Fang Yuan was sleeping in a double-decker bed. In a big room, 23 orphans were sleeping together. Snores and scratching sounds were normal and there was the occasional gritting of teeth. All of these led to Fang Yuan recalling what the female teacher had rambled on and on for the whole afternoon: Ideological Education.
"I can't sleep, I can't sleep..."
He crawled out of his bed and squinted his eyes.
In that instant, the dark room became instantly bright.
"It's great that I can still keep my Fiery Golden Eyes..."
This was a form of consolation for Fang Yuan. With more focus, Fang Yuan could observe the effects of an X-Ray as he scanned across the skeletons lying on the beds. It was a scary scene.
"Hmm, it seems like my skill is evolving. Are my Fiery Golden Eyes able to see through things now?"
In his field of vision, he could see that every child was full of life and energy, glowing like fireflies.
"Eh?"
At this point in time, from the window outside, there was a small glow which attracted Fang Yuan's attention.
"Is there someone?! It's so huge! Could it be the teacher doing her rounds?"
He climbed down his bed nimbly and at that moment, he could see a suspicious-looking skeleton flipping over the railing and wall outside. Looking at how experienced the skeleton was, this would mean that this was not its first time doing it.
"Eh? How can a child have a stronger life energy than an adult?"
Fang Yuan stuffed a pillow on his bed and covered it with a blanket. With a piece of metal wire, he poked the lock of the door.
"Kacha!"
With the help of his X-Ray Vision, the locked door gave way and Fang Yuan darted out.
The night breeze was cooling and Fang Yuan felt free.
"Ha..."
His eyes focused on the suspicious shadow as he followed behind it.
Outside the orphanage, there was a small river stream. The small figure held a bamboo stick in his hand, stood by the river and observed it.
Suddenly, as he released his hand, the bamboo pierced into the river and through a big green fish.
Fang Yuan was startled. Such speed and force were rare even among adults. Although the green fish was being pierced through, its scales were shimmering and its tail was still flicking around.
The figure exclaimed in excitement. As it was about to retrieve the fish, it heard a voice from behind. "Hey, Zhao Daniu, what are you doing?"
"Ah!"
The figure shuddered and turned around slowly. With that, he gazed into the shadows as Fang Yuan emerged. Shocked, the fish in his hands slipped and fell to the ground.
"I... I... It was not on purpose, and I am not here to steal anything..."
Zhao Daniu had big eyes and seemed like an honest bloke but now, he was panicking to the brink of crying.
'He is only a pure child and would never think of killing me just because I found out what he was doing…...;'
Fang Yuan sighed before explaining himself. "I am not here for the fish, but for you. I've seen what you just did. Your strength is superb and your speed is remarkable! You don't seem like a normal person..."
"I... I am not a monster!"
Whatever Fang Yuan had just mentioned seemed to be his weakness. With that, Zhao Daniu shuddered and cried out.
"Hey, you're not a monster. You're a superhuman, a superhuman who would contribute to Chinese Country!"
Fang Yuan smiled. "Therefore... I want to give you up to the country!"
"Huh!?"
Zhao Daniu blinked furiously and gave a look of confusion.
Can they remain as friends? Their friendship was on the brink.
...
After a few minutes, in a bomb shelter.
This was originally built for the war but now, it was left alone. It was a mini base which Zhao Daniu had discovered for himself.
Fang Yuan lit a bonfire, descaled the fish, took out its organs and started smoking it over the fire.
Although he did not have salt and oil, the method of smoking was still able to remove the fishy smell from the fish. The fragrance of the smoked fish filled the air and made Zhao Daniu salivate.
"It's done! Let's share it!"
After roasting the fish, Fang Yuan split it into two pieces. He gave one to Zhao Daniu and started eating the other one.
Sigh... Without enough nutrients, his body would be extremely weak.
"Whooo... It's great! Delicious!"
Zhao Daniu did not care about the fact that the fish was still burning hot as he munched on it happily. "If I knew that roasted fish would be so nice, I wouldn't have eaten it raw last time..."
Fang Yuan was speechless. What kind of life did Zhao Daniu lead in the past?
Of course, after threatening to hand Zhao Daniu over to the country, Zhao Daniu had to come to an agreement with Fang Yuan and promise to share any fish with him in the future.
This secret had stayed long with Zhao Daniu and he felt relieved the moment he opened up to Fang Yuan.
"When I was 8, my appetite grew and I became stronger. My eyes have also evolved to be able to see many things..."
"Booohoooo... I am not a monster. I am only out here looking for food because there isn't enough food in the canteen..."
"All the kids don't want to play with me, and they even bullied me... I dare not retaliate... boohoooo..."
…..
"Alright, you are also a pitiful person!"
Looking at the sobbing Zhao Daniu, Fang Yuan was speechless.
However, he had no intentions of protecting him. "Come over and let me take a look!"
It was rare to see someone with powers. How could Fang Yuan let this chance slip by?
"Hmmm... Your body is normal and seems like everyone else's. Your muscles are slightly larger and you are much stronger than an adult. However, you don't seem to have any additional organs..."
With his skill in Medicine and his Fiery Golden Eyes, Fang Yuan gave him a detailed checkup before remaining silent. "Other than the fact that your mindset is slightly more mature than that of the people in your age group and that you are stronger, you don't seem any more different than the others... It seems like the magnitude of your evolution is not big enough?"
The only explanation was that this was a special case in itself.
To Fang Yuan, it was simply because Zhao Daniu was too mature for his age which was why he was frightening himself.
"I can't even detect any problems with him. I'm afraid that we will not be able to see any results during tomorrow's physical test..."
After eating, he brought Zhao Daniu back to the orphanage. Fang Yuan laid on his bed and was deep in his thoughts. "Furthermore... I can't even detect any abnormalities. It seems like I need to learn the science of this realm... I'll have to show my knowledge off and learn as much as I can."
...
"Children, put in your best effort in this physical test and make our orphanage proud!"
On the second day, thousands of children gathered around the field. Everyone looked at the proud-looking principal trying his best to shout into the microphone. From this scene, Fang Yuan knew that he was oversimplifying things.
"... This physical test is in place to select the best few to join a special organization of the government. All of you must perform well. If you are selected, you will be able to eat buns, meat, noodles and barbequed pork every day!"
In front of them, the teacher-in-charge used a microphone as well.
"Rumble!"
Everyone was swallowing their saliva.
Barbequed pork was very tempting in such times of hunger. In fact, even the simplest buns were enough to tempt not only children but adults as well.
"Alright! The test is beginning soon. Everyone, please queue up according to your classes. Please come forward if I read out your name!"
"We will first measure your height and weight followed by your physical fitness!"
...
On the few, doctors draped in their cloaks surrounded a few trucks as they meticulously started setting up their medical equipment.
It was extremely organised which made Fang Yuan suspect something. "Could this be the military? ... Furthermore, in this era, everyone would be made to draw blood for blood testing. The price for one such equipment is already not cheap. It seems like the country is determined..."
Fang Yuan generously walked forward to allowed his blood to be drawn. During the eyesight test, Fang Yuan had effortlessly outperformed everybody to get a perfect score of 2.0, which would qualify him to be a pilot in the military.
"Alright, next up will be the physical fitness test!"
Of course, these doctors seemed to know that their test would not have any results and they seemed to have a final deciding factor.
"1-kilometre run, 100-metres sprint, high jump, weightlifting, push-ups, sit-ups... everyone needs to do it!"
"If your performance is good, you will be selected to join the Special Group and the Gifted Group. You will get better treatment there!"
"If anyone of you can enter these groups, you would have done the orphanage proud. Children, do your best!"
...
"Fang Yuan, we've got news!"
Beside him, the two children, Wang Aiguo and Guo Jianjun gave him a suspicious look and spoke in a serious tone. "Teacher has said... The country is choosing athletes. We can even join the Olympics in the future and do the country proud!"
"Yes!"
Fang Yuan rolled his eyes and examined the children around him.
Under the temptation of material gains, honour and glory, although he knew that he was different from, how could he hide his desire for such gains?
He gazed over to look for Zhao Daniu, only to find him standing in front of a shot put with a look of unwillingness.
In a few moments, Zhao Daniu's expression changed. He mustered all his strength and threw it to around 400 metres?
'Alright... his acting skills resembles mine...'
Fang Yuan broke out in sweat.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, from the track, there were exclamations.
"11.7 seconds! 11.7 seconds!"
A doctor in a white cloak screamed. "Are you Liu Fei? Do it another time!"
On the track, a tanned and skinny boy ran like the wind and ran past the finish line for the second time.
"11.6 seconds!"
With this, there was a huge commotion among the doctors. All of them started to surround Liu Fei. "You're good... This is the standard of the national sprinters! He's only 13 and this is unbelievable!"
"Alright! Liu Fei, you're doing good!"
Zhang Haiman rubbed the child's head, her face flushed with excitement.
Fang Yuan had a feeling that Liu Fei was about to be brought somewhere else.