Gao Wu: A centenarian old man, many children and good fortune! Chapter 003

The faint glow of dawn, dappled through sparse branches and leaves, sprinkled onto the small green belt below the military family apartment building. Xiao Yan, dressed in loose white training clothes, stood still, his arms slowly rising, his movements gentle and fluid, like flowing clouds and water.

He was practicing the “Military Tai Chi Fist,” a martial art refined by the Alliance military based on ancient martial arts. This set of boxing techniques was not designed for extreme lethality but focused on harmonizing qi and blood, nourishing the internal organs, and stabilizing the foundation. For young soldiers, it served as an auxiliary功法 (gōngfǎ – cultivation method) to build a solid foundation and reduce hidden injuries. For veterans like Xiao Yan, especially after sensing the new power within him, it became the best “container” and “guide,” helping him meticulously sense, sort, and stabilize that hard-won and continuously growing power.

Each move was slow and steady. Xiao Yan closed his eyes in concentration, clearly feeling the warm current within him had grown much stronger, like a trickling stream flowing into a dry riverbed, nourishing every inch of his meridians. With each breath, he could detect a subtle change: his qi and blood were a hint more active than the day before. His strength was no longer growing explosively but was like spring rain nourishing all things, silently yet steadfastly permeating and accumulating.

“Hoo…” After completing a set of forms, Xiao Yan slowly concluded, exhaling a long breath. He felt refreshed, and the heaviness in his body had dissipated a bit more.

“Hubby, wipe your sweat.” A gentle voice sounded.

Li Xiuying, holding her slightly bulging belly, walked over carefully, holding a clean towel and a small bottle of light green nutrient solution emitting a faint fragrance. A serene smile graced her face, and her gaze towards Xiao Yan was filled with reliance and concern.

Xiao Yan took the towel and wiped his forehead, then took the nutrient solution and drank it in one gulp. In the past six months, from initial mutual respect to the current tacit understanding and tenderness, their relationship had slowly fermented and warmed in the mundane routine. Li Xiuying’s gentleness and thoughtfulness brought a long-lost warmth to his heart, which had been hardened by the battlefield. And Xiao Yan’s steady reliability gave this young woman a safe harbor.

“How are you feeling today? Is the baby not bothering you?” Xiao Yan supported her, his voice unconsciously softening a lot.

“Very good, just an occasional kick, he’s strong!” Li Xiuying touched her belly, her face radiating maternal glow. “You should rest for a bit, you train like this every day.”

“It’s fine, a little exercise is good for the body,” Xiao Yan smiled, saying no more. He knew that this “good” was far more than just stretching his muscles and bones.

Late at night, when the city’s light pollution had slightly faded, and a few stubborn stars could vaguely be seen, Xiao Yan changed into an inconspicuous black running hoodie and pants. Then, he quietly closed the door and left home.

About a kilometer away from the military family apartment building was an open public park. Deep within the park, near the fitness equipment area, a public strength testing machine was also installed. This machine was the same model as the one at the veterans’ activity center, old but usable. It also didn’t require connecting to a personal terminal for identity binding; anyone could use it. This was exactly the anonymous testing spot Xiao Yan needed.

He ran at a steady pace along the quiet street, his breathing long, his steps steady, completely unlike a centenarian.

The qi and blood within his body, like a surging river, had become far more vigorous and active than six months ago, thanks to the daily nourishment of the “Military Tai Chi Fist.”

Soon, he arrived at the park. The park was empty and deserted late at night, with only a few lonely streetlights emitting dim yellow light.

Xiao Yan didn’t stop for a moment, heading straight for the strength testing machine. He vigilantly scanned his surroundings, confirming there was no one else before standing in front of the machine.

This time, he held nothing back.

Taking a deep breath, qi sinking to his dantian, all the power in his body was instantly mobilized, surging along specific meridian pathways towards his right fist. His bones emitted faint crackling sounds, muscles bulging, and an incomparably powerful aura erupted from his seemingly aged body!

There were no fancy moves, just a simple, straightforward punch that condensed his true strength at this moment!

“Bang!!”

A dull thud echoed not far in the silent night.

The testing machine’s buffer pad deeply indented, and the numbers on the screen surged wildly at an unprecedented speed!

Eight thousand! Nine thousand!

Finally, the number impressively settled at— 9580 kilograms!

Ninth-grade peak! It even exceeded his record from his prime!

Xiao Yan’s pupils suddenly constricted, his heart pounded, and an indescribable ecstasy instantly swept through his entire body!

He was back! He was truly back!

Not only had he stopped the decline, but he had even surpassed his past peak!

And all of this was just the beginning!

As long as the child in Xiuying’s belly was safe, his strength would continue to grow!

He suppressed the excitement in his heart, not lingering for a moment. He turned and melted into the night, his steps light as he hurried home.

Not long after Xiao Yan left the park, a young couple in fashionable sportswear ran into the park, laughing.

“Phew… I’m exhausted, A-Qiang, let’s rest for a bit.” The girl panted, pulling the boy’s arm.

“This is nothing, Xiao Ya, you need to train your stamina!” The boy proudly tossed his hair, pointing to the testing machine not far away. “See? I can punch three thousand kilograms now. If I train more, I’ll aim for four thousand before graduation!”

“Wow, three thousand! So amazing!” The girl’s eyes were full of admiration.

The boy, flattered, felt a bit lightheaded. He pulled the girl to the testing machine: “Come, brother will show you… Hmm?”

His gaze fell on the screen, which had just dimmed but still showed faint numerical imprints. Although the numbers were disappearing, he caught the outline of an astonishing “ 9…” at the beginning.

“Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands… over nine thousand?!” The boy’s voice instantly changed pitch, his eyes wide. “D-did I see that wrong?!”

The girl also leaned in to look. Although the numbers had almost completely disappeared, she still saw the boy’s ghost-like expression: “What’s wrong, A-Qiang? Over nine thousand? Impossible! Doesn’t this broken machine only go up to ten thousand? Who would run here in the middle of the night to punch that hard? Maybe the machine is broken?”

“It must be broken! Absolutely!” The boy nodded quickly, but he couldn’t help but mutter to himself, “Nine thousand five hundred… That’s almost touching the edge of the ninth-grade peak… Which pervert ran here in the middle of the night…”

They looked at each other, both finding it somewhat incredible. The relaxed atmosphere from before had completely vanished.

…

A month later, late autumn quietly passed, and the chill of winter began to bite. The year’s end was approaching.

For the Alliance’s retired soldiers, the end of the year meant the annual “Soldier Qualification Assessment.” This was not just an official evaluation of their physical condition but also directly related to whether they could continue to enjoy corresponding welfare benefits and retain their “soldier” title, which symbolized their identity.

Every year at this time, a group of veterans would quietly leave, bidding farewell to the soldier ranks that haunted their dreams.

Early that morning, Xiao Yan and a few familiar old comrades like Old Zhang and Old Li, arranged to go to the Social Security Bureau’s Soldier Management Department in the city center for registration and assessment. They were all dressed in neat casual clothes, with retired military badges pinned to their chests, as if to remind themselves and others: We were once the guardians of the Alliance.

The Social Security Bureau hall was bustling with people, all like Xiao Yan and his companions, white-haired but still standing tall.

A complex atmosphere permeated the air: some were warmly chatting, as if to dispel their inner unease; some sat alone in corners, their eyes flickering with worry about the future; more people quietly conversed, expressing sighs about the relentless passage of time.

When it was Old Zhang’s turn to test, he took a deep breath, gathered all his strength, and punched the strength testing machine.

The screen flickered, finally settling: 7350 kilograms.

Old Zhang looked at the number, smiled bitterly, and patted the testing machine: “Sigh, it dropped again. I wonder if I can keep this ‘Seventh-Grade Soldier’ skin next year.”

Several other old comrades also stepped forward to test, most of their results hovering around seven thousand kilograms. Each time a number appeared, a low sigh echoed through the crowd. This was reality, an irreversible physiological law.

Finally, it was Xiao Yan’s turn.

He walked to the testing machine, feeling the power within him, which was much more vigorous than six months ago.

He knew that if he went all out, he would likely hit close to ten thousand, but now was not the time.

He slightly restrained his aura, controlled his strength, and seemingly put all his effort into throwing a punch.

“Bang!”

The numbers on the screen jumped, finally stopping at— 8565 kilograms.

This number was significantly lower than the 8850 kilograms he secretly tested six months ago, but it was still a notch higher than Old Zhang and others’ seven thousand-plus kilograms. It just barely fit within the range of “though declined, the foundation is still there, barely maintaining the ninth-grade threshold.”

“Sigh…” Old Zhang walked over, heavily patted Xiao Yan’s shoulder, his eyes filled with understanding and sympathy. “Old Xiao, you too… Sigh, you’re a hundred years old after all. Your strength has still fallen. But being able to keep eight thousand five is not bad; at least your benefits can be maintained.”

The other old comrades also chimed in, their words full of regret. In their eyes, Xiao Yan, who was once a ninth-grade peak and incredibly fierce, ultimately could not escape the erosion of time. Like them, he had embarked on the downhill path of continuously declining strength.

Looking at his companions’ genuine regret and sympathy, Xiao Yan merely smiled faintly, offering no explanation.