Time flew by, and soon it was late September. In just one more day, the Great Shun delegation would depart.
Just as dawn was breaking, Chen Chuan arrived alone in Yangzhi City. Following the worn, dilapidated streets into the old western district, he made his way toward the place where he had once studied fighting techniques under Teacher Yu.
It had hardly changed since he left. Makeshift shanties and extensions cluttered the area, the ground was still pitted and potholed, and overhead hung a tangled mess of electrical wires and clotheslines.
Now this old district was slated to be demolished and rebuilt, and most residents had already moved away. As he walked along, he only occasionally spotted a few remaining households, along with a tabby cat perched on the eaves, watching him.
Reaching the mouth of that alley, he saw the wooden utility pole where the signboard for the "Home of Fist" still hung. Though somewhat faded, the lettering remained clearly legible.
He took a look, then walked into the alley. Strolling through the narrow passage, he could not help but recall how he had walked in here in this exact same way back then.
For an instant, he felt as if he had overlapped with his former self. Back then, filled with naivety and curiosity, determination and dreams, he had navigated this crooked, winding lane and plunged headlong into this world.
Though several years had slipped by in the blink of an eye, that conviction had never wavered.
It felt as if only moments had passed before he emerged from the alley and stepped onto that open practice ground.
Compared to when he had last left, not much had changed here either.
From the concrete building ahead came the rhythmic, muffled thuds of fists striking a sandbag, just like the sound he had heard the very first time he came.
He walked inside. Entering the room, he saw Lu Ke punching a hanging sandbag. His hands were wrapped in handwraps, sweat already glistening on his skin. Seeing Chen Chuan enter, he smiled.
"Brother Chen, catch!" Saying this, he grabbed a pair of boxing gloves and tossed them over.
Chen Chuan caught them in one hand. The moment he held them, he recognized them at once—they were the very gloves he had used back then.
He smiled faintly. Drawing on his spiritual power, he temporarily suppressed his physical capabilities down to how they had been when he first began training in fighting techniques. Walking forward, he took his old spot and began pounding on the sandbag.
In this moment, he paid no mind to anything else, simply immersing himself in that process of wholehearted exertion from the beginning, reliving the grueling strain, exhaustion, earnestness, and the forward drive mingled with hope.
Much later, as the daylight outside grew brighter and dust motes danced clearly in the sunbeams, the sound of striking the sandbags ceased.
The two sandbags continued to sway back and forth, the echoes still lingering in the room.
Chen Chuan exhaled a breath and took off the gloves. Just as he was about to set them aside, Lu Ke bumped his fists together and said, "Brother Chen, take the gloves with you. You didn't take them last time."
Chen Chuan looked at him and said, "Alright."
Lu Ke chuckled, unwrapped his handwraps, and waved to him. "Come on, let's head up and have a drink?"
Chen Chuan nodded. Together, they climbed the stairs they had trodden so many times and reached the rooftop.
The morning sun climbed between the gaps between buildings, its light spilling from one side and washing over the entire rooftop.
Lu Ke trotted over, pulled a bottle of soda from a plastic crate below, and tossed it to Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan caught it with one hand. It was the same Shazhen Soda he used to drink with Lu Ke. With a flick of his thumb, he popped the bottle cap, took a swig, and felt a rush of crisp refreshment.
He walked over to the side, looked at the chair he had sat in back then, and asked, "These are still here?"
"Every single one."
Lu Ke patted it and said, "We spoke with the Iron Chain Gang and asked them to preserve whatever they could for us. When I came yesterday, I cleaned the place up in advance. Guaranteed spotless."
Chen Chuan could not help but remember how, when he had trained under Yu Gang in the past, Lu Ke would have already swept and tidied everything up by the time he arrived early in the morning.
Lu Ke raised his bottle, gulped down a mouthful, wiped his mouth with his arm, and said, "Back then, hey, I could still go toe-to-toe with you, Brother Chen!"
Chen Chuan smiled. "That's true."
Lu Ke chuckled again.
Chen Chuan asked, "How has Teacher Yu been lately?"
"Doing great! The implant was a great match, and Master's strength has fully recovered. He isn't thinking about advancing to another level anymore, just wants to teach a few good students who can carry on his fighting style. I'm working hard too—can't let my junior brothers and sisters laugh at me, right?"
At this point, Lu Ke's spirits rose high. He talked about what he had encountered when they first arrived in the Lower City, and then about what they went through afterward.
Chen Chuan listened quietly. Some things he had heard Lu Ke mention before, while others he was hearing for the first time.
"Everyone is doing well, and they told me to send you their regards. Oh, right, this—" Lu Ke pulled a photograph from his pocket. "We took this together. It's for you."
Chen Chuan took it. In the picture were Yu Gang, Lu Ke, Lan Xinnan, and several other students dressed in training uniforms—likely Yu Gang's newly admitted disciples. He said his thanks and tucked the photo away.
By now, full daylight had broken. Golden sunlight bathed the entire old district, warming them comfortably.
Lu Ke turned his head, looked out, and suddenly pointed at the faint gray silhouette on the distant horizon. "Look, Mount Jiao!"
In his expression, looking toward it no longer carried the gloom that had once weighed heavily upon his heart; instead, it showed an open, unburdened lightness.
For he had walked out of there—not merely in body, but in freeing himself from that inner knot as well.
"And over there, Da Da Kindergarten, the only kindergarten around here. You could always hear nursery rhymes coming from it back then. Over there, the Deng family's steamed bun sign—I'd always grab one for Master in the morning. He loved them. Such a shame you had to take medicinal cuisine every day, Brother Chen, so you never ate them.
"And here, the Lu family bike repair shop. Some bastards were wicked enough to scatter nails on the road, so I went to his shop to get patched up every time. Good and fast."
He enthusiastically pointed out one familiar spot after another. Some still had people around, while many were now deserted.
Having pointed them all out, he suddenly felt a twinge of wistful loss.
Just then, something nudged his arm. Looking back, he saw Chen Chuan holding out a bottle of soda. He grinned, thanked him, took it, and chugged it down in big gulps before wiping his mouth. "Man, that feels good!"
Then he added, "Brother Chen, it'll probably become much better here in the future, right?"
Chen Chuan said with certainty, "It will. Once the redevelopment is done, the people who used to live here will all come back."
"That's great." Lu Ke raised his bottle, toasting the sunlight, and took another hearty gulp.
Chen Chuan asked, "What are your plans going forward, Brother Lu?"
Lu Ke replied, "Head back to Lutong Logistics, of course! Our logistics business has already expanded aboveground. In the future, we'll reach all of Center City and every city around it."
In his eyes, one could see the light of passion and hope for life, along with the fervor and youthful vigor fitting for his age.
By now, the sun had climbed higher into the sky, casting down brilliant light that illuminated the surroundings. The two did not remain standing; instead, they sat down and chatted, finishing bottle after bottle of soda.
When the last empty bottle was placed into the crate, Chen Chuan said, "I should get going." He stood up. "Goodbye, Brother Lu. When you see Teacher Yu, give him my regards."
"I'll pass them on, Brother Chen. Goodbye!" Lu Ke stood up as well.
Chen Chuan waved to him and leapt straight off the rooftop. Landing lightly, he walked away with brisk steps.
Lu Ke stepped forward to the edge of the terrace and waved vigorously. "Have a smooth journey, Brother Chen!"
Chen Chuan waved back with his back turned, walked out of the alley, and followed the familiar path he had walked in the past.
On his way out of the city, he passed Wuyi Academy. He could not help but pause his steps, gazing at the unchanged front gate. In his mind's eye, he seemed to see himself from back then, standing by the gate wheeling a bicycle. He looked up, watching birds fly past one by one across the sky.
With a faint smile, he turned and walked away, continuing until he reached National Boulevard. An airship was waiting there; upon seeing him approach, the hatch below slowly opened. As he walked forward, his silhouette flashed, and he was already inside the cabin.
With the turning of the propellers, the airship hatch closed, and it set off on its return toward Center City.
Around midday, the high-speed airship reached Center City. Without stopping, it soared across the airspace above and continued toward the southern industrial zone.
Arriving over the industrial zone, the airship docked securely at the mooring tower. Chen Chuan disembarked and walked toward the train station.
Two days ago, Mr. Zhuan had telegraphed to notify him that the item had been secured and that he would arrive before this afternoon. Calculating the time, it should be about now.
Since Skyline had connected the region, passenger traffic here had steadily grown, bringing even more travelers from surrounding areas to Center City. The station bustled with a surging crowd carrying all sorts of bags and luggage, requiring security personnel to maintain order.
After waiting for over half an hour, Chen Chuan heard the blare of a steam whistle as another train rolled into the station. When it came to a gradual halt and the doors opened, crowds of passengers poured out like water, instantly filling the station with clamor.
Mr. Zhuan walked down, with Mr. Mask shouting loudly, "Over here, over here! Left, left! The suitcase is on the right—"
Looking exceedingly grave, Mr. Zhuan wound around for a few turns before squeezing through the crowd. Catching sight of Chen Chuan, he walked over toward him.
"Council Member Chen, over here!" Mr. Mask called out. However, his voice was transmitted spiritually through the boundary credential, so none of the people around them noticed a thing.
Chen Chuan had also spotted the two. Stepping up to meet them, he said, "Seniors, thank you for making the long journey. Shall we return to the compound first?"
Mr. Zhuan replied, "We've already booked return tickets for the next departure. Time is tight, so we won't go over. We made this trip specifically to bring this to you."
He lifted the suitcase in his hand. "We asked a senior in the faction to put in a good word and secured support from headquarters. Inside is a case of Jade Bone Paste—and of the highest grade. Council Member Chen, take it with you on your journey."
Chapter 1055