Chapter 187 - 138: A Thrilling and Exciting First Date

By the time he woke up, it was already past 9 PM.

Chen Jue found himself still lying on the massage bed in the massage room, covered with a thin blanket. It wasn’t cold at all in the climate-controlled rehabilitation center; in fact, he felt incredibly comfortable after waking up.

However, when he saw that the massage room was empty, the main lights off and only a cozy floor lamp lit, Chen Jue immediately sat up and twisted his neck twice with a CRACK CRACK.

That strange disconnect from his body had finally vanished, replaced by a light, floating sensation.

Chen Jue figured it was because his Attributes had suddenly skyrocketed, and he hadn’t quite adjusted to the changes in his physical capabilities yet.

On top of that, he felt an intense, gnawing hunger in his gut.

He got up and moved around a bit, discovering that his muscle soreness was surprisingly mild—a clear sign that Master Liu’s stretching and massage had been very thorough.

’Has everyone already left for the day?’

Chen Jue left the massage room and headed to the cafeteria first, but meal service was over and it was already closed.

He asked the receptionist and learned that Master Liu and the others had left for the day at 9 PM. Since Chen Jue had been sleeping so soundly, they hadn’t wanted to disturb him. Before leaving, they had specifically told the front desk staff to check on the client in the massage room during shift changes.

Chen Jue nodded in satisfaction. ’This is the kind of service you only get at a professional rehabilitation facility! If I’d fallen asleep in a private room at the Jingtang Club, I’d have been woken up and kicked out by the next technician, no matter how dead asleep I was.’

Chen Jue stretched, changed his clothes, and left the Tianyu Rehabilitation Center.

Since he hadn’t eaten all evening, he didn’t have the stomach for any heavy, greasy late-night snacks. Instead, Chen Jue hailed a cab to a shop specializing in clay pot congee and had a light bowl of seafood congee.

It was past 11 PM by the time he returned to Wangyang Apartment. Full and refreshed, he took an invigorating medicinal bath, then applied the Tongluo Wine and Bone-Strengthening Ointment to all his joints and bones.

Since he’d just had a long, deep sleep, he wasn’t the least bit tired when he got into bed. So, Chen Jue got up, first reviewing and making notes on what he’d learned that day about the appendix and muscle density. Afterward, he went online to research knowledge related to the "Second Breath."

’A compensatory mechanism triggered under a certain intensity and exercise load, activated after the release of dopamine and endorphins?’

’It’s like the happiness you get after beating a boss in a game. Overcoming the ’Pole’ during exercise makes the body feel pleasure—it’s the result of mental willpower and bodily hormones working in tandem.’ Chen Jue mused, looking at the information he’d found online.

He recalled his Fartlek Run that afternoon; the farther he ran, the more invigorated his body had felt.

His mind had gone blank, but he was filled with a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. Clearly, feel-good chemicals like dopamine had been at play.

’No wonder ordinary people get winded after just a few hundred meters, their chests tight and legs aching, while professional long-distance and marathon runners can cover a full 42 kilometers without stopping.’

’The human body’s potential for endurance is actually incredibly high. Most people just haven’t grasped the key techniques to unlock it.’

’The average person’s willpower and physical conditioning aren’t enough to break through this ’Pole’.’ Chen Jue rubbed his chin, reminded of his former self.

Before he got his panel, he truly had no idea his body could be improved to a level comparable to that of a top-tier athlete.

It was just as the saying goes: you never know your limits until you push them.

Furthermore, Chen Jue felt that if he could learn to consciously activate this "Second Breath" state at will—just as he’d mastered the active secretion of Adrenaline—his stamina and explosive power might reach a whole new level.

At that point, forget just lifting that big gold brick for 25 seconds—he could probably swing it around like a sledgehammer!

...

Having found the information he wanted, Chen Jue sat cross-legged on his bed and began to practice his Meditation.

Thanks to the regular sleep schedule he’d cultivated, Chen Jue only stayed up until a little after midnight before forcing himself to sleep.

When he woke up a little after 6 AM the next morning, he still felt full of energy, completely unaffected by having broken his limits twice the previous day.

Clearly, by breaking through the Pole and unlocking the "Second Breath," his stamina and endurance had taken a huge leap, and even his usual feelings of fatigue had vanished.

After all, professional marathon runners can log up to 145 kilometers a week. Chen Jue’s 20-kilometer run the day before was, at best, merely on par with their daily average.

As for those people on his Friends Circle flexing their 10,000-step counts, to a professional like Chen Jue, it was just child’s play.

’It’s 2023. Who even bothers with step counts anymore?’

’It’s all about kilometers now!’

...

Since it was Saturday and he had a date with Teacher Wu, Chen Jue made a point of conserving his stamina and energy.

After his usual upstairs training for his eyes and ears, Chen Jue returned to his room to get ready.

He drove out to the Morning Exercise Park. There, he saw that Wu Fang had changed out of her usual sportswear and training clothes. She was wearing a light gray, knee-length down jacket, revealing only a section of her tall black boots. With light makeup, her look was simple yet fashionable. Standing in the cold winter wind, she looked both chic and beautiful, causing Chen Jue’s eyes to light up.

"Sorry to keep you waiting! Should we go grab some breakfast first, get a little something in our stomachs?" Chen Jue asked, approaching her with a grin.