Elmonte-Vea State was one of the Federation's five great states and the largest on the West Coast. Situated beneath the Central Split-Ridge Mountains and nestled in the midstream basin of the Taita River, it served as the West Coast's primary transport hub connecting north and south.
The West Coast Faction had previously expanded upon the artificial canals dug in the early years by the First Folk, linking Vea Center City to several major states along the West Coast via waterways.
Furthermore, this Center City was the only city within Federation borders that permitted foreign martial artists to enter and leave freely. Consequently, it drew vast numbers of fighters and martial artists from all around the world, widely regarded as a sacred haven for fighters.
With the staunch backing of the West Coast Faction, the martial academy located in Vea Center City operated independently of the Federation's traditional Dome Sword Academy system, bearing the name Free Stars.
Much like how Great Shun's foremost martial artists were predominantly gathered within the capital and its surrounding vital avenues, the overwhelming majority of martial artists on the West Coast were concentrated in Free City and this very Center City. The academy's teaching faculty was remarkably formidable.
It routinely sent invitations to martial academies and independent dojos worldwide, offering generous terms to attract elite martial students from various nations for study and training, with large batches of outstanding fighters distinguishing themselves here each year.
Center City even offered lavish compensation to invite martial artists from various nations for martial artist tournaments. Naturally, given that martial artists held standing and status within their respective nations, these were private sparring matches rather than public exhibitions.
Master Baishi, whom Chen Chuan had slain, had been a frequent visitor here. Beyond the convenience of acquiring resources, it provided opportunities to spar with other martial artists.
With so many martial artists from across the globe gathered in one place, incidents could easily arise. As such, an entity of a higher limit appeared to maintain order here.
Records indicated the existence of such a figure, yet no definitive evidence confirmed it.
Atahoca State was not far from Vea State, requiring only a single day's journey by train. However, the entourage had been traveling and toiling for so long that Chen Chuan planned to have everyone rest for a few days to recover their spirits before setting out.
That way, they could spend the New Year in Vea Center City, where a sizable population of Great Shun people resided.
When the team heard their next stop was Vea Center City, excitement rippled through them.
Their contingent included many fighters, not one of whom hadn't heard of this world-renowned city of fighters.
They had originally wondered whether the visiting delegation would visit this place, and to their delight, it was indeed on the itinerary.
Upon hearing the news, Gui Zihan could not help touching the sword in his hands, yearning stirring within him.
Since embarking on the journey to the Federation, he had experienced shock after shock, each one exceedingly intense. He had been present during most of Chen Chuan's battles, yet he had been unable to see anything clearly, able to perceive the process only in vague outlines.
Yet he had not grown disheartened. Instead, witnessing those spectacles had greatly stimulated his spirit, deepening his resonance with the sword in his grasp.
He could feel that he was substantially stronger than before their departure, making him all the more eager to exchange blows and test his skill against others. The destination they were heading toward was precisely the place to fulfill that desire.
After announcing the departure date, Chen Chuan had Gao Ming and several security personnel head to Vea Center City to handle the paperwork, while the rest took their rest where they were.
Everyone took the opportunity to relax. Because the members of this expedition were privy to many secrets, they kept their activities confined to the hotel's vicinity.
Wei Dong, Feng Xiaoqi, Wu Han, and Luo Kaiyuan went to a well-known local drink shop nearby, planning to have a few drinks.
Due to its proximity to Vea Center City, the establishment offered specialized drinks for fighters, along with various artistic performances.
What was most prevalent here were the Federation's signature exotic dances, which could be found virtually everywhere. Initially, the group had marvelled at them, but now they were thoroughly accustomed to the sight. Some could already analyze the choreography to deduce the various stylistic schools and discern which performers had undergone formal training versus those with unrefined roots.
It was said that conservatives within the East Coast Faction abhorred these performances and had issued repeated prohibitions. On the West Coast, however, even if decrees arrived from the East Coast, no one bothered to enforce them, allowing such dances to continue flourishing.
After taking their seats, the men ordered several hot drinks. As they sipped through straws, a large transport truck pulled into the parking lot outside. Once it came to a halt, the driver, co-driver, and two freight handlers stepped down.
All of them clearly had Great Shun features, which was hardly unusual given the large number of skilled laborers who had immigrated to the Federation from Great Shun.
The men walked into the shop. The bearded driver looked around the room, and his gaze suddenly landed on Luo Kaiyuan. After examining him closely, he hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to venture a question.
"Kaiyuan, is that you?"
Luo Kaiyuan had already sensed someone looking at him. Turning around, he studied the bearded man and asked, "Are you... Uncle Cai?"
Receiving his confirmation, the bearded man looked delighted and stepped forward excitedly. "It really is you, Kaiyuan! It's me!"
He looked him up and down. "Kaiyuan, I haven't seen you in years. You've grown taller and look far more spirited. You truly resemble your older brother."
Luo Kaiyuan said, "It really has been years. I didn't expect to run into you here, Uncle Cai."
Uncle Cai glanced around him and asked cautiously, "How... how did you end up in the Federation? I didn't hear your brother mention it beforehand."
Luo Kaiyuan said, "I'm accompanying the Great Shun visiting delegation on their tour of the Federation as part of the security personnel. The unit has strict rules against disclosing our movements or wandering off, so I couldn't reach out in advance."
Uncle Cai's expression turned to envy upon hearing that. "Kaiyuan, you've really made something of yourself. When your brother told me you entered Wuyi Academy, I knew you'd succeed. If your brother saw you now, he'd be thrilled."
Luo Kaiyuan asked, "Where is my brother? I haven't received a letter from him in a long time."
"Him..." The bearded man hesitated slightly before saying vaguely, "Same as always, I suppose."
Seeing his evasive manner, Luo Kaiyuan did not press further. Looking outside, he asked, "Uncle Cai, are you just passing through...?"
Uncle Cai pointed toward the large transport truck outside. "I'm delivering goods to the Silver Lake Hotel—black-lip fish from Lake Chibili. Those white folks love it. I was just passing by, got hungry, and dropped in to grab a bite."
After exchanging a few more words, Uncle Cai, needing to stay on schedule, took a meat roll handed to him by his companion. Leaving behind a brief contact method, he called over his companion—who had been transfixed by the undulating figures on the stage—and hurried out.
Once they were gone, Luo Kaiyuan sat back down. Feng Xiaoqi had previously heard him mention having a half-brother who had immigrated abroad, so he asked, "Kaiyuan, was that a friend of your brother's?"
Luo Kaiyuan replied, "Yes. He acted as my brother's guarantor back then and brought him along to the Federation."
Feng Xiaoqi said, "Why not mention it to the delegation leader and see if you can visit your brother? Where he lives shouldn't be far from here, right?"
Luo Kaiyuan shook his head.
Seeing this, Feng Xiaoqi dropped the subject and flagged down the staff. The shop brought over a deck of cards and a rolling-ball tray. To play a certain card, a player had to roll the ball on the tray; if the resulting roll failed to match the required number or pattern, they were not allowed to discard. It served as a specialized pastime among fighters.
Meanwhile, Uncle Cai returned to the truck after leaving the shop and resumed his journey. After a half-hour drive, he arrived at the Silver Lake Hotel on the outskirts of Center City.
It was a lakeside resort. After completing the handover of the goods, he stepped outside and approached a telephone booth. By routine, he always called his family immediately after finishing a job.
Inside the booth, a man wearing a hat was currently on the phone, so Cai could only wait outside.
Glancing left and right, he took out a cigarette, lit it, and took a drag. "I met him according to the plan. We only spoke a few words before I left."
The man in the booth still appeared to be talking on the phone with his back turned, but his voice drifted out: "No rush. Take it slow. Make contact first; opportunities will come."
Uncle Cai hesitated. "He's working for the Great Shun government now, and he seems to be doing very well. Is there really any need to drag him into our affairs?"
The man replied, "Comrade Luo Qiming once said that his younger brother possesses a profound sense of justice and great sympathy for ordinary people at the bottom. He is very well suited to join our cause."
Old Cai said, "But Qiming didn't want his brother dragged into this either." He let out a sigh and offered a wry smile. "I don't even know whether what I'm doing is right or wrong."
"Old Cai!" The man's tone turned stern. "We are working to reform this world, to make it a better place. The interests of one or two individuals mean nothing before such a cause. Besides, we haven't asked him to do anything; we merely hope to understand the movements of the Great Shun visiting delegation."
Old Cai could tell their intentions went beyond that—a fact he had long known. Raising the objection had simply been his way of soothing his conscience and easing the guilt of pulling his friend's brother into the fray.
Taking several deep drags from his cigarette, he tossed the butt to the ground and crushed it beneath his boot. "When is the next contact?"
"Do you have deliveries tomorrow?"
"Every single day."
"When you pass by tomorrow, stop just like you normally would. Don't force it. If you don't see him, let it be. If you do see him, don't ask questions unless he calls out to you."
Old Cai said, "Understood." Then he added, "Anything else? Vacate the booth then. I need to call my family."
The man stepped out of the telephone booth and said, "Old Cai, the year is drawing to a close. Your subsidy will be deposited into the usual account. Remember to withdraw it promptly."
Old Cai nodded to him and stepped into the booth. He lifted the receiver, but in the brief moment it took to turn around, the man had already vanished. Without looking further, he dialed a number, a smile spreading across his face. "Xiaobao, have you been listening to Mama and your big brother? Ah, Papa misses you too. Papa is coming home right now."
Chapter 1100