Hearing Gao Ming mention that this was news from the Cao family estate, Chen Chuan immediately tapped his boundary credential, opened a secure channel, and asked, "Gao Ming, what's the situation? Tell me the details."
Gao Ming promptly recounted everything Uncle Ding had told him, word for word.
After listening, Chen Chuan turned the matter over in his mind and instructed, "Thanks, Gao Ming. Reply to the Cao estate for me and tell them I know and that they can set their minds at ease. Also, remember to keep this confidential."
Given his current status, it was inconvenient for him to communicate or meet directly with Senior Cao. It would not affect Chen Chuan himself, but it would not be good for the latter.
"Understood, Cousin."
Chen Chuan added, "Right, I haven't asked yet—how did your exams go?"
Gao Ming replied, "Cousin, I've already received certification as an advocate from the Martial Artists Council. If you ever have any business involving martial artist clauses in the future, you can come straight to me."
"That's great."
Chen Chuan nodded. This qualification was actually quite difficult to obtain and was recognized worldwide. The decisive factor lay neither in the knowledge one mastered nor in how skilled an advocate one already was, but rather in one's background.
From what he knew, certain members of Great Shun's upper echelon would arrange for their relatives to take up such positions. Dealing with, communicating with, and even managing affairs for martial artists meant wielding authority and harnessing violence, creating a shared community of interests between both sides.
So Gao Ming was able to pass so quickly only because he was Chen Chuan's relative and because Chen Chuan's own influence was growing heavier by the day. Otherwise, the Martial Artists Council would never have approved the qualification so easily.
After chatting briefly with Gao Ming and agreeing to get a meal together another day, Chen Chuan ended the call and sat with his aunt, chatting about ordinary household matters. Before long, his younger cousins returned home from school. Stepping out of the car, they saw Chaoming soaring above the villa and knew their cousin was back, running inside while cheering, "Cousin! Cousin!"
Chen Chuan smiled and stood up. Under the two youngsters' expectant gazes, he took out some things brought back from the convergence zone. They were all harmless and novel small creatures. When told they could bring them to school, the two were overjoyed, knowing that none of their classmates had ever seen anything like them.
The two children bustled around him for quite a while before Yu Wan led them off to wash their hands and do homework. Once she returned, Chen Chuan asked, "Aunt, are my cousins practicing breathing techniques now?"
"The school had it taught to them, along with a set of calisthenics. They said every student has to learn it," Yu Wan said, looking slightly nervous. "Chan'er, there's nothing wrong with that, is there?"
Chen Chuan said, "Don't worry, Aunt. Simple breathing techniques only strengthen the body. There's no problem at all, as long as they keep up a normal intake of nutrition."
Yu Wan was instantly relieved.
Chen Chuan knew that beyond ensuring physical health, the schools likely taught this for screening purposes. The crisis of the other world hung right overhead, liable to descend at any moment, and more combatants and martial artists were needed to step forward and support the world.
He had seen records from the Government Affairs Department showing that more and more people with talent were being detected each year, the numbers climbing steadily. Aside from the broadened scope of testing, it was also because that world was drawing closer, inducing changes in more people.
Yet for now, this change appeared to occur only in individuals and was not passed down hereditarily. Thus, whether pressured by external threats or actual circumstances, the upper echelon had to provide ample upward mobility to the lower strata.
Another half hour later, Nian Fuli returned from city patrol. Having already heard that Chen Chuan was back, he had come home a bit early today. After changing and sitting down, he began chatting with Chen Chuan in the living room.
While Yu Wan's earlier talk had been about domestic affairs, once the two men started conversing, the subject gradually shifted to policy implementation by the Government Affairs Department and the views of certain government personnel.
Dinner time arrived shortly after. The family ate dinner together, and after keeping his aunt company while watching a program for a while, Chen Chuan returned to his study. He drew back the curtains, and a cool evening breeze swept in, stirring the fabric. Outside, the neon lights shone as brilliantly as ever—kaleidoscopic, yet shifting and unpredictable.
He truly cherished this warmth and contentment of family being together. But the tree desires stillness yet the wind will not cease; in this world, without sufficient strength, one could not protect any of this, let alone withstand the threat from the other world.
Unless one reached a state that was utterly unshakeable.
He gazed deeply into the sky, where the vortex had grown steadily larger, seemingly blanketing the heavens above the city.
The wind outside grew stronger, gradually rustling the tips of his hair.
After standing for a long time, he drew the window slightly shut and pondered what Gao Ming had told him. Senior Cao's message said the visitor came from the former imperial household, and such people would never come looking for some secret repository without cause; they had to have an agenda.
*A secret repository...*
Anything involving a secret repository might also involve a fissure. Senior Cao had done the right thing by reporting it to him immediately; otherwise, if something happened down the line, he would likely be dragged in.
Yet for these people to approach Cao Guixi so brazenly—weren't they afraid he might reveal the news to the central city?
On second thought, however, they truly had nothing to fear.
Cao Guixi had never enjoyed the trust of the Government Affairs Department. Though he had attended Wuyi Academy in the past and maintained good relations with the Disposal Bureau, that was only on the surface. Historical archives showed that, more often than not, it was simply convenient for keeping him under surveillance.
Everyone who had ever interacted with the Cao family was recorded in the registry, and Cao Guixi had never reported anything to them.
On one hand, the Government Affairs Department required nothing of him; keeping him around was enough to draw out remnants of the old dynasty. On the other hand, even if he did report something, the department would not trust him and might only tighten surveillance on him instead.
Senior Cao understood this as well, which was why he had remained passive for so long. It was precisely that detachment, in fact, that had invited repeated visits from the old dynasty's loyalists and scions. But Chen Chuan's position was different. He had once received generous, unreserved help from this senior and was deeply grateful for it; a foundation of trust existed between them.
After pondering for a while, he stepped out of the study into his office and activated the field screen. He then transmitted a message to the Government Affairs Department requesting an emergency security decision meeting.
This was the prerogative of every member of the security decision team; whenever an urgent situation arose that required swift handling, a meeting could be called.
Before long, figures began appearing on the field screen. Aside from Yao Zhiyi, the rest of the decision team assembled quickly.
Qi Weizhao said, "Section Chief Chen, welcome back." Qiao Weiting and Liang Guanghai also greeted him in turn.
In truth, during the nearly six months he had been away, no one had felt entirely at ease. Only after Xu Chan broke through his limits to become a martial artist had the situation slightly improved.
After waiting for roughly half an hour, Yao Zhiyi arrived as well.
Once Chen Chuan exchanged greetings with him, he wasted no more time and said directly, "I called this meeting today for two matters. First, based on Supervisor Xu's investigation, I believe it is necessary to place Green Source Ecology on the untrusted corporate list and subject them to a security inspection."
This proposal was approved swiftly. The company had long since been flagged as problematic; the Plague Cult in the Lower City was likely backed by them, which might also tie into things from the other side. Concrete evidence had always been lacking, however, and the Municipal Council had served as a barrier. But the situation had changed now—they could directly employ executive authority to sanction the firm.
Just as Chen Chuan anticipated, there was no need to worry about what other corporations might think, because they needed Jibei Dao. Even if these companies were truly eliminated, the vast resources of the Outer Ocean were waiting to be developed, and many domestic enterprises and companies were eyeing this place. Whether due to the environmental shifts caused by the breach in the Ring of the World or the connection of the Skyline, Jibei Dao was now one of the rare regions on the globe capable of driving rapid technological advancement.
With that proposal settled, he brought up the second matter: the news received from Senior Cao.
This immediately drew the security team's utmost attention and vigilance.
After all, anything concerning a secret repository or a fissure was never a simple affair.
Qi Weizhao asked, "Section Chief Chen, do we know the location of this secret repository?"
Chen Chuan said, "The Cao family doesn't know the exact location either, but they provided an intelligence report confirming that the secret repository is right here in our Jibei Dao."
At this, Liang Guanghai spoke up. "That is possible."
The others could not help but look toward him. Liang Guanghai said, "In ancient times, Jibei Dao had lore of the 'Three Zhous'—'zhou' being the archaic word for a fissure.
"Today, one such fissure lies here in our central city, while another is at sea. Thirty years ago, it opened briefly and closed after lasting for over a decade; it was actually coalesced and swallowed up by the mother.
"As for the remaining one, its location is unknown. Lore says it lies within the range of the Three Mountains, where a large army was stationed during the Great Expansion Era, though they discovered nothing. There is also another possibility: Mount Jiao outside Yangzhi.
"We investigated that area once before without any clear findings. Having heard Section Chief Chen's report today, I have reason to suspect this remaining 'zhou' was sealed through a ritual by the former imperial household and turned into a secret repository."
Qiao Weiting said, "Is the key to unlocking this secret repository in the Cao family's hands?"
Chen Chuan said, "The Cao family discussed this with me. They do have the item, but it is incomplete—only half of it. If needed, they can produce it."
The members of the team immediately understood. Precisely because the item was only half, it had been difficult for the Cao family to bring it forward in the past. The Government Affairs Department might have suspected they refused to surrender it in full and were secretly hoarding the other half, a suspicion impossible to dispel. Now, however, the situation was different; with Chen Chuan present, the Cao family finally dared to disclose the matter.
Qi Weizhao said gravely, "The former imperial household ought to know the exact location of the secret repository. Having made no moves in the past, yet suddenly coming to seek the key now—does this suggest they have launched a new operation?"
Chapter 1016