The hospital discharged Lin Chen at 9:15 the following morning. The attending physician reviewed the final X-ray results, confirmed that no complications had developed overnight, and signed the release form. The nurse removed the IV line, applied fresh tape to the remaining bandages, and provided a printed sheet with medication instructions, follow-up appointment details, and basic care guidelines for fractured clavicle and rib injuries. Lin Chen accepted the documents without comment, placed them in the small plastic bag along with the prescribed painkillers, and left the ward on foot.
The walk to his apartment took forty minutes. The distance was three kilometers. His pace remained slow and deliberate to avoid jarring the injured ribs. The streets of Jiangcheng carried the usual mid-morning activity: office workers heading to buildings, vendors setting up carts, scooters weaving between pedestrians. Lin Chen kept to the sidewalk edge and maintained steady breathing to manage the persistent ache in his left shoulder and side.
He arrived at the building entrance. The six-story structure had no elevator. The staircase consisted of concrete steps with iron railings. He climbed one floor at a time, pausing briefly on each landing to rest his weight against the wall. By the fourth floor his breathing had become shallow, and sweat appeared on his forehead despite the cool indoor air. He unlocked the door with his right hand, entered the room, and closed it behind him.
The apartment measured approximately twelve square meters. It contained a single bed positioned against one wall, a small wooden table with two chairs, a gas stove on a narrow counter, a sink, and a wardrobe that occupied most of the remaining space. Clothes hung on a line stretched across the ceiling. The single window overlooked the street below and allowed limited natural light.
Lin Chen placed the hospital bag on the table. He removed his jacket carefully, folded it, and set it aside. He sat on the edge of the bed for several minutes without moving. The room remained silent except for the distant sound of traffic and occasional voices from neighboring units.
After the initial rest period, he stood and approached the stove. He filled a small pot with water from the tap, placed it on the burner, and ignited the gas. While the water heated, he retrieved a packet of instant noodles from the cupboard. He opened the packet, added the seasoning block, and waited for the water to boil. When the water reached temperature, he poured it into a bowl over the noodles and covered the bowl with a plate.
While the noodles softened, he returned to the bed and sat again. He unwrapped the elastic bandage from around his torso to inspect the bruising. The discoloration had deepened to dark purple with yellow edges. Tenderness persisted when pressure was applied to the rib area. He reapplied the bandage with even tension, securing it firmly but without restricting breathing.
The noodles finished soaking. Lin Chen carried the bowl to the table and ate standing up. The meal consisted of plain noodles with the provided seasoning. He consumed it methodically, without haste. After finishing, he rinsed the bowl and chopsticks under cold water and placed them on the drying rack.
He checked his phone. The delivery platform application displayed his account status as "Suspended – Medical Recovery Required." No new notifications had arrived. The bank application confirmed the pending overdraft fee of 50 yuan. The remaining balance stood at 1,187 yuan.
Lin Chen placed the phone on the table. He moved to the center of the room, where approximately two square meters of open floor space existed. He stood still for a moment. Then he raised his right hand and performed a basic forward punch into the air. The motion originated from the shoulder, with minimal hip involvement. The punch extended fully but lacked power due to the injury.
He repeated the motion five times. Each repetition produced the same result: controlled extension, no significant force generation, slight discomfort in the ribs on the follow-through.
He stopped. He focused on the memory of a specific delivery he had made two months earlier. The customer had been a man in his thirties practicing shadowboxing in an open courtyard near a residential complex. The man had executed a series of straight punches with clear form: feet shoulder-width apart, weight shifting forward, fist rotating at the end of the extension, elbow aligned with the shoulder line.
Lin Chen recalled the exact sequence.
Copy.
The panel appeared in his field of vision.
[Copy Successful]
[Acquired: Basic Shadowboxing Straight Punch Form (Combat Proficiency Level 1)]
[Effect: You now possess the precise body mechanics, weight distribution, fist rotation, and breathing pattern of the observed technique. Current physical limitations reduce maximum output by approximately 60%.]
Lin Chen tested the punch again. The shoulder rotation occurred naturally. The weight transfer shifted forward without conscious effort. The fist snapped into alignment at the extension point. The motion required less perceived energy than before, even with the injury restricting full power.
He performed the sequence ten times in slow motion, then ten times at normal speed. Each repetition improved in smoothness. No additional prompts from the panel appeared during the practice.
He ceased the movements after twenty repetitions. He returned to the bed and sat down. The ribs ached more noticeably now, but the discomfort remained within tolerable limits. He did not attempt further copies that afternoon.
Outside the window, the afternoon light gradually shifted. The street noise continued without interruption. Lin Chen remained seated on the bed, hands resting on his knees, reviewing the acquired techniques in his mind without verbalizing or moving.
The end of Chapter 2.