Early the next morning, Chen Chuan arrived at the Disposal Bureau. As he stepped inside, the armed security personnel on either side snapped to attention and saluted immediately.
Director Wu came out from within to greet him. After shaking hands, he said, "She is still in the detention hall. Over the past year, she's actually helped us resolve quite a few difficult problems. Though she's young, she's very methodical in her work and understands the rules. She was trained by a corporation, after all."
Walking inward beside him, Chen Chuan asked, "How is the handover progressing between the Esoteric Cult Bureau and the Disposal Bureau this month?"
Director Wu replied, "The Esoteric Cult Bureau has already taken over most of the abnormal affairs, which has taken a huge load off our shoulders. We aren't well suited to handling that sort of thing anyway. Still, when odd situations crop up now and then, we handle whatever we can on our own."
As they spoke, they reached the elevator. The doors slid open automatically, and both stepped inside. As the elevator descended, Director Wu said, "She's quite a talent. I hope higher authorities will consider letting her stay here at the Disposal Bureau."
Chen Chuan said, "That will depend on her own wishes."
Director Wu said, "As long as the higher departments don't compete with us for her, we can offer terms she won't be able to refuse."
Chen Chuan gave a slight nod. "Let me speak with her first."
The elevator came to a halt. The two stepped out, and after passing through two sets of blast-resistant security doors, Director Wu stopped, leaving Chen Chuan to head inside alone.
Ahead was a room fitted with one-way glass. When he reached the door, Andun's voice sounded, the surrounding alert signals cleared, and the upper and lower lockdown bolts disengaged. Chen Chuan pushed open the door and stepped inside.
Yang Ling was sitting with her back against the single window, knees drawn up, flipping through a book. Sensing movement from outside, she set the book aside and stood up.
Chen Chuan glanced at her. After these past two years of recuperation, her injuries had fully healed, and her spirit seemed much improved. Clearly, she had been diligently practicing the breathing technique he taught her.
Yang Ling looked up at him. Because Chen Chuan was tall, she had to tilt her head slightly back as he approached.
Chen Chuan walked to the side, pulled down a wall-mounted folding chair, sat down, and gestured to her. "Have a seat."
Yang Ling sat down cautiously.
Chen Chuan cast a glance at the book she had been reading. It was reference material related to esoteric rituals. He asked, "Still reading this sort of book?"
Yang Ling gave a quiet hum of acknowledgement, then whispered softly, "Thank you."
She knew that as a detainee of the Disposal Bureau, being able to read so many books and not being subjected to harsh treatment was entirely due to the help of the person before her.
Chen Chuan said, "Based on what you did, you were facing a sentence of four to five years of detention. I reviewed the Disposal Bureau's report. You have accomplished a great deal, so your term has been appropriately reduced. At the earliest, you will be able to leave by the middle of next year."
Yang Ling lifted her head, a brief gleam appearing in her eyes before quickly dimming. In truth, she didn't feel her present life was bad at all. At least it wasn't like at the corporation, where every day had to be spent studying and working according to rigid schedules, not to mention cooperating with countless experiments under twenty-four-hour surveillance. During her time in the central city, even though she had also been watched, it had actually been a comparatively relaxing period.
And here, as long as she completed the tasks assigned to her by the Disposal Bureau, no one forced her into anything. Nor did she have to worry about people outside targeting her. In fact, she felt exceptionally safe.
Chen Chuan said, "Like your brother, I once received guidance and help from the same teacher, which makes us fellow alumni of sorts. That is why I can grant you some leniency within the bounds of the regulations regarding your disposition.
"Furthermore, you should understand very clearly that because Lianwei Heavy Control still has experimental data tied to you, you won't necessarily be safe once you're out. According to our intelligence, you may currently be the only living test subject in their company who has merged with an active conscious entity and survived."
At the mention of Lianwei Heavy Control, Yang Ling's body trembled slightly, a hint of terror flickering deep in her eyes.
Chen Chuan continued, "Next month, I will be going abroad for a period of time, and it may be a long while before I return. That is why I am arranging your affairs in advance.
"Currently, I can give you two options. One is that upon the conclusion of your detention, you join the Defense Department's special forces as a contract hire to take part in missions, putting your unique spiritual power to use.
"Your duties there will mainly be similar to what you've already been doing. I will give advance instructions, so you won't have to worry about being subjected to any biological experiments.
"The other option also utilizes your spiritual aptitude: participating in and working with esoteric rituals. I can arrange for you to enter the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, where there will be specialists to train and guide you."
Yang Ling thought for a while before finally plucking up her courage. "I want to go to the Esoteric Cult Bureau."
Chen Chuan could tell that whether it was urban legends or esoteric rituals, her interest did not stem from pure curiosity; rather, there seemed to be a knot in her heart she had yet to unravel.
With a turn of thought, reflecting on what she had seen and endured in the past, he could roughly understand.
He nodded. "Then so be it. I'll make the arrangements for you. Get some good rest."
With that, he stood up. Yang Ling rose as well, uttered another "Thank you," and bowed to him.
Chen Chuan nodded and walked out. Tapping his boundary credential, he arranged the follow-up matters in his capacity as a Committee Member of the National Security Affairs Department.
People possessing exceptional spiritual power were scarce anywhere. What made Yang Ling particularly unique was that she could not only perceive the existence of rifts, but had also served as an important test subject. If he didn't put these arrangements in place ahead of time, there was no guarantee certain higher-ups wouldn't develop ideas of their own.
As for Lianwei Heavy Control, he would settle matters with them sooner or later, but not right now. Their headquarters was in Shannan Dao, and they weren't going anywhere.
Presently, every central city that joined the Skyline Project became part of the joint security cooperation team established between the two daos. The integration of Shannan Dao into the Skyline Project was currently progressing quite smoothly, and results could be expected by the end of the year at the earliest.
Once Shannan Dao was brought into the fold, dealing with Lianwei Heavy Control would be far simpler.
Leaving the Disposal Bureau, he didn't head straight home, but went over to Lu Fang's martial arts gym instead.
When he arrived, Chen Xiaojin was there as well, sparring with an opponent—or rather, more than one. Whenever he took one down, another stepped up immediately. He fought almost without pause. Sweat soon dripped onto the floor, and his breathing grew ragged.
Yet he did not stop, gritting his teeth and pressing on. Although his natural talent wasn't as high as his elder brother's or sister's, he possessed an unyielding tenacity, and that was his greatest strength.
Lu Fang invited Chen Chuan to sit to one side, poured him a hot drink, and said, "Xiaojin is very earnest. He says his goal is to get into Wuyi Academy. At his current rate of improvement, he could take the entrance exam in another year, though waiting two years would give him far better odds."
Chen Chuan watched for a few moments. Lu Fang's assessment was spot-on. After becoming a third limit fighter, his discernment and coaching ability had improved considerably. More importantly, he invested great care into teaching—a rare and commendable trait.
Chen Chuan said, "I'll be going abroad for a while soon, and it may be a long time before I return." He took out a booklet and handed it to Lu Fang.
"Please give this to him. Tell him that if he passes the exam for Wuyi by the time I return, I will take responsibility for instructing him as his teacher."
Lu Fang was slightly surprised. Taking the booklet, he said seriously, "Understood, I'll make sure he gets it. Junior, I wish you a smooth journey."
Chen Chuan nodded, watched for a little while longer, and then departed.
On his way home, he received a message. The delegation from the Linakes Federation had concluded their multi-year visit to Great Shun and was preparing to return home; the invited visiting delegation would accompany them back to the federation. The federation's delegation would arrive in Jibei Dao in three days, and his team was instructed to prepare security defense and reception arrangements.
He considered the matter. For now, there was no need to worry about security.
The most prone to causing trouble was Green Source Ecology, which had already been placed on the distrust list. Under administrative suppression, they were in dire straits, with various legal measures also being pursued against them. Furthermore, the Disposal Bureau was keeping a close eye on them, leaving them incapable of doing anything.
As for the consortium represented by megacorporations like the Progenitor Company, with the establishment of the branch bureau in the White Bird District, they were also under semi-surveillance. Any development could be detected immediately. Without the cooperation of the Municipal Council, the corporations were behaving with utmost compliance, raising no objections whatsoever to the measures implemented by the Government Affairs Hall.
As for elsewhere, Xu Chan was currently responsible for overseeing things. Given his capabilities, he was more than equal to the task, leaving little cause for concern.
So after delegating the security tasks, Chen Chuan paid it no further mind and returned home to continue preparing for his departure.
Three days later, as the Linakes Federation's delegation drew near, escort combat airships across the Jibei Dao central city cast off from their mooring towers and waited aloft in the sky.
Chen Chuan stood upon the open deck of the flagship, his back to the sun, watching the delegation's airship formation emerge far across the horizon.
As the airships drew closer, he sensed something. Shifting his gaze, he looked toward a certain vessel and almost immediately spotted Prabhakar, the martial artist from the federation, aboard it.
Prabhakar was looking his way. The moment their eyes met, an involuntary look of astonishment crossed the man's face.
The delegation had stayed in Great Shun for a long time, and along the way, he had seen many people and sights. Initially, after hearing of Chen Chuan's deeds, he had felt considerable admiration, but that had merely been the appreciation one holds for a promising junior martial artist. Yet now, seeing him again, Prabhakar actually felt a grave threat radiating from the young man—a sensation that made his hair stand on end.
Involuntarily, he sat up straight and pressed his palms together, sighing, "The unmoving mind is stirred once more today; my cultivation still falls short."
His accompanying disciple asked in confusion, "Guru, isn't an unmoving mind supposed to remain still?"
Prabhakar replied candidly, "Unmoving is fearlessness. I have not yet seen through the delusions of attachment. Now, overwhelmed by the might before me, remaining still is naturally beyond me—unless one truly cares nothing for life and death, and I admit I have not transcended that."
The escort airships of Jibei Dao escorted the delegation's vessels toward the White Bird District, while the airship carrying Prabhakar headed straight for the harbor without entering the city.
Seeing the escort mission completed smoothly, Chen Chuan disembarked from the airship. Just as he was preparing to head back, he suddenly sensed something. Glancing in a certain direction, he saw a somewhat indolent figure standing there with hands in pockets, offering him a faint smile.
Chapter 1052