0034 New Skill:

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As Chen Jue stepped out of the International Darts Club, he knew this would probably be his last visit. He decided to consider the 6,888-yuan membership fee as a way to settle old favors once and for all. Since he had already turned down Zhu Hongbin’s request, returning to Zhu’s turf to practice darts would be nothing more than asking for trouble.

As for why he so firmly rejected such a lucrative opportunity, Chen Jue had his reasons. If he had just graduated from college, inexperienced in the ways of the world like his apprentice Jiang Lin, perhaps Zhu Hongbin’s few words would have persuaded him. Why not sign? Work is work, and it’s all about making money in the end. How quickly could you get rich as an internet celebrity? With live streaming, product placements, and commercial appearances, you could easily become a millionaire within a year or so—something most people could never achieve with a lifetime of regular work.

But now, approaching thirty, Chen Jue had seen through many of life’s intricacies. Ever since awakening his abilities, what mattered most to him was no longer wealth or career, but rather a healthy body and the freedom of thought.

Take his high-paying job at Hengtong Group, for example. All it took was a phone call or a message to HR to resign, and he could leave at any moment. But MCN companies were a different story. Once you signed their contract, even the biggest online celebrities had to toe the line and obey. If you didn’t cooperate, they would first shelve you and cut off your income, then blacklist you across the internet, and finally sue you for astronomical breach-of-contract penalties.

Although Chen Jue had never worked as an influencer, he had seen enough news and short videos to know the tricks of the trade. Despite being socially anxious, introverted, and somewhat flawed, he was fundamentally straightforward in character. As the saying goes, “Better to take the straight path than seek crooked means.” That described Chen Jue’s temperament perfectly.

…

After leaving the darts club, Chen Jue didn’t go far. He wandered around the sports complex, sending Wu Fang a message about the failed interview. He also shared all the inside information he had learned and pointed out the contractual risks, typing it all out and sending it over as a well-intentioned warning—something no one would ever refuse.

Wu Fang replied quickly, sending several adorable stickers expressing surprise, receipt, and gratitude. Discovering this lovely side of the beautiful and kind-hearted teacher, Chen Jue felt his LSP heart truly waver.

“Get to know her more!”
“If fate doesn’t provide an opportunity, I’ll create one myself!” Chen Jue chuckled to himself.

He put away his phone and looked up, surprised to find that while chatting on WeChat, he had wandered over to the climbing area. Before him stood several outdoor climbing walls in a row, ranging from beginner walls over five meters high to professional walls exceeding twelve meters—almost the height of a four-story building. The brightly colored holds scattered across the walls, and the agile figure swiftly ascending the twelve-meter wall, instantly caught Chen Jue’s attention.

The climber was a young man in his twenties, with medium-length silver-gray hair, bare-chested, a safety rope clipped at his waist, and wearing professional dark green climbing pants. One foot dangled in the air while the other pressed against a rock hold.

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He reached up with practiced ease, hooked onto a higher hold, and with a sudden pull, lifted his body nearly half a meter upward using only one arm, quickly shifting his feet to another hold—a “foothold,” as it’s called in climbing terminology.

“To do that with just one arm?”
“This guy is incredible!” Chen Jue stood mesmerized.

As a novice at skipping stones but a professional at darts, Chen Jue paid great attention to the strength of his arms, wrists, and fingers. The stronger these muscles were, the greater his release speed, range, and power—whether for darts or skipping stones.

Having skipped the gym for a couple of days, Chen Jue was feeling restless. After all, exercise was truly addictive. Seeing the climbing wall, he felt an urge to test his hand strength and see if he could move as fluidly as the silver-haired youth.

“Sir, I noticed you’ve been watching for a while.”
“Would you like to give it a try?”
“Our outdoor climbing facilities are free to experience—no charge!” A yawning young woman approached from the nearby booth. Wearing a club-logo uniform, she was clearly a student working here part-time.

“Free to try?”
“Then I’ll give it a shot!” Chen Jue’s interest was piqued, and he walked toward the five-meter-high beginner wall.

He curiously touched the various shaped holds, testing them with his hands and feet. Just then, the silver-haired youth, having reached the top, noticed a new visitor. He let out a loud whoop for attention, earning a few glances from the young women present, then swiftly descended using the safety rope—resembling a modern-day Tarzan.

“Hey, man!
I’m Yu Jie, the instructor here. You look like a beginner—want a quick intro to climbing? It’s free!” The silver-haired youth approached with enthusiasm.

But as he drew near, Chen Jue was taken aback. From afar, Chen Jue had assumed he was a slim type, but up close, his bare torso was as sculpted as a Renaissance statue—defined muscles, eight-pack abs, prominent side lines, and thick, solid arms from shoulders to forearms. His long, slender fingers and the blue-black veins on the backs of his hands showed not a trace of extra fat.

Compared to the gym coach Li Chaoqun’s inflated physique, Yu Jie’s build was exactly what Chen Jue dreamed of.

“Coach Yu, is it?
I’d appreciate a lesson!” Chen Jue said, curiosity in his eyes as he began to chat.

It turned out that Yu Jie, like the young woman, was a junior in college working part-time nearby. He was the president of his university’s climbing club—handsome, fit, with fashionable silver-gray hair, and a bit of a show-off, which made him very popular with the girls on campus.

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Of course, aside from small talk, Yu Jie also gave Chen Jue a primer on climbing basics. The colorful protruding holds, though different in color and shape, each had their own terminology and specific use.

For example, the hemispherical hold, known as a “Sloper,” is large, smooth, and lacks grooves—making it very easy for hands to slip. The “Jug,” with a groove like a handle, is a favorite for beginners and mainly used for strength training. The “Crimp” is a small hold with a tiny groove, too short for a single finger joint, requiring only the fingertips to grip.

There’s also the long “Pinch,” which can only be grasped by pinching with the fingers, and the “Pocket,” a holed hold used for finger friction, among many others.

Chen Jue listened attentively and, following Yu Jie’s guidance, quickly climbed over three meters up the wall. But to his surprise, his attribute panel suddenly reacted!

———
[Ding~]
[Completed a qualifying action]
[Skill activated: Climbing]
———

“Climbing?”
“Isn’t this rock climbing?” Chen Jue was stunned, thinking he had misread. He glanced at his panel—it clearly showed [Climbing Lv0 (1/100)], not “rock climbing.”

He recalled how, while practicing darts, the English dart was included under the general “Darts” skill, so he guessed that climbing and rock climbing had a similar hierarchical relationship.

“Is this skill meant for climbing trees, rocks, or even scaling mountains and waterfalls?” As the realization struck him, Chen Jue’s eyes widened, sensing the panel’s true intention.

Noticing Chen Jue’s wide-eyed look, Yu Jie worried that his instruction had missed something and asked carefully, “Jue, are you alright? Did you pull something?”

“If it’s your first time, we can take it easy—you don’t have to reach the top right away.”

Prompted by Yu Jie’s concern, Chen Jue quickly closed the panel and jumped down from the beginner wall.

“I’m fine! I was just thinking about how to lose weight faster and get a physique as great as yours!” Chen Jue waved away his concerns.

Relieved, Yu Jie grinned. For a college student, finding a suitable part-time job wasn’t easy. The club had hired him for his relevant experience and good looks. If a customer were to get injured and complain, it could cost him his job.

“Jue, you have to keep at it!
I joined the climbing club in my freshman year and got this physique from years of gym training with upperclassmen.
If I’m not mistaken, you’re over 85 kilos—if you want to get into climbing, you should lower your body fat and work on your grip strength,” Yu Jie advised, sharing his own fitness journey.

When Chen Jue mentioned his busy work schedule and lack of time for the gym, Yu Jie’s eyes lit up. He pulled up a product on Taobao.

“Jue, this hand gripper is perfect for you! Just a few dozen yuan, keep it in your pocket—you can squeeze it at work, and it’ll not only strengthen your grip but also your fingers, wrists, and forearms!
I used to secretly train with it in class—it really works!”