Sensing the changes above, the black fire-mist shot upward in waves and collided with the fist. Yet after only a brief deadlock, it abruptly scattered.
With nothing left to block it, the fist continued downward, and the scene below finally revealed its true face.
Vehicles were driving along the avenue, and pedestrians came and went. That fist had long since brimmed with jin; a single strike would be enough to smash this stretch of street, along with every person and object upon it, into utter pulp.
Sitting inside the car, Chen Chuan's gaze remained calm. As the fist descended, its platinum radiance illuminated everything ahead and around him in brilliant light. Because they had struck with such blistering speed, whether the people sitting inside the cars or the crowd moving outside, everyone still wore their previous expressions.
Yet in the instant right before the fist landed, in a flash, as though drifting away like wisps of smoke, both the brilliance and the massive hand vanished completely.
The surrounding scenery and streetlights reappeared once more. The motorcade continued driving forward normally, without a single person noticing the slightest abnormality, as if everything that had occurred in that instant had been excised from reality.
He pondered for a moment. The figure who had appeared just now was undeniably a martial artist of the Visage of the Divine, and in all likelihood had reached the level of the Cave Mystery View.
The person had arrived without possessing any physical medium, appearing solely as a spiritual body. What he had witnessed was in fact a scene simulated through spirit; at least in that fleeting moment, it had been no different from reality.
For this person to appear here at such a time had to be related to the dojo matter. Most likely, they had come to intimidate and warn him.
The Strategic Affairs Department?
To think they had mobilized even a Throne martial artist—their determination to seize the Non-Body Style Dojo was resolute indeed, at least on the surface.
Upon returning to the delegation compound, he met with Delegation Leader Xie and explained what had happened.
Delegation Leader Xie learned of the circumstances and heard about the encounter on the road. After some thought, he said, "In my experience dealing with the Federation, the Strategic Affairs Department is posturing. They're also probing us to gauge our resolve and confidence. If we truly back down here, they will only press harder."
Chen Chuan asked, "Does Delegation Leader Xie have any suggestions?"
Delegation Leader Xie replied, "Section Chief Chen having the dojo retaliate was a good move. If they want to blow things up, we'll blow them up. If they try to stir up public opinion, we won't need to do a thing—the Federation government will find ways to suppress the fallout.
"They might assume we prize the negotiations so much that we wouldn't dare cause a massive stir right now, hoping to leverage that to pressure us. In truth, however, it was the Federation's Executive Administration that invited us.
"They care about these negotiations far more than we do. As the invited party, we have no need to be overly cautious.
"What's more, the head of the Strategic Affairs Department was appointed by the current Executive Administration. This is likely the work of certain individuals within the Strategic Affairs Department; it would be impossible for them to mobilize the department's full might. So even if they truly wish to cross swords with us, we have nothing to worry about."
Chen Chuan pondered briefly. Since this was orchestrated by certain factions within the Strategic Affairs Department, perhaps they also harbored the aim of using it to test the Executive Administration's stance and negotiating terms.
However, that was none of his concern.
He dealt only with the enemies right in front of him; dwelling on the rest served no purpose.
Delegation Leader Xie said, "Section Chief Chen, over the next few days I will be meeting with several congressmen from the West Coast. This is your first time in the Federation capital, and there are many places you haven't seen, right? This city likewise places no restrictions on martial artists moving about. Why not take advantage of the free time to tour around?"
Chen Chuan nodded. Having arrived at the Federation capital, there were indeed famous attractions worth seeing.
After parting with Delegation Leader Xie, he returned to rest.
The next day, Chen Chuan departed by car with Gui Zihan and members of the escort squad, arriving at the Yidu River Pier in under ten minutes.
The Yidu River connected to Great Inland Lake Trekland, linking the various key districts and renowned scenic spots of the Federation capital via artificial canals.
The sightseeing yacht for their trip was a luxury vessel capable of accommodating up to forty passengers.
As a relaxing sightseeing tour, the overall atmosphere was not nearly as tense and solemn as before. The squad members no longer appeared in the role of bodyguards, instead joining the party as tourists. In addition, several guards assigned to them by the First Delegation accompanied them.
They had notified the capital authorities in advance; unless something extraordinary occurred, no reckless fools would come to disturb them.
The First Delegation had arranged a guide for them who was familiar with the Federation capital.
This was a man wearing a top hat and a beige trench coat, his lips slightly pale, his appearance a touch scruffy, sporting a patterned necktie currently in vogue and wearing a reassuring smile. Pressing his hat to his chest, he said in a respectful tone, "My name is Samuel Ash. Today, it is my privilege to show everyone the sights.
"I have lived in the capital for twenty-eight years. I've escaped from the muzzles of drug runners, outrun cargo anti-smuggling cutters, saved a suicidal girl in the howling winds atop a high-rise, and narrowly avoided becoming the main course at a cannibal feast in an abandoned church.
"Every corner, every back alley of the Federation capital is etched into my mind. I shall unveil for you, piece by piece, this city's deepest soul and its least-known secrets. I hope you will be pleased."
From his very first words, he gave the impression of having lived a life rich in experience. Whether true or fabricated, his introduction certainly piqued everyone's interest.
Chen Chuan boarded the boat alongside the other team members and took a seat on the open-air top deck.
The yacht cruised along the waterway. After roughly ten minutes, Ash pointed toward a long bridge spanning the river in the distance and said, "Look, that is the Thousand Lantern Bridge, also known as the Angel Bridge, the first famous sight on our journey."
This was a pedestrian bridge spanning the main river, decorated on both sides with hundreds of lamps in diverse shapes and designs.
As everyone listened to his introduction, each lamp had been handcrafted through traditional techniques—mostly from glass and ceramics, with a few sculpted from bronze, and even some crafted from rare biological materials, all of the latter bearing a pair of dainty, charming wings.
Yuan Qiuyuan looked over for a few moments and said, "I've heard of this bridge. Supposedly, those little winged creatures can fly, but I don't see any of them taking off."
Ash smiled faintly and replied, "They remain dormant under normal circumstances. If someone steps across the notes and plays a melody, they take flight and dance."
As the yacht drew closer, everyone could see little angels with pure white wings hanging upside down beneath the underside of the bridge. Yet for some reason, the sight felt distinctly unsettling; far from conveying a sense of holiness, it felt rather eerie and grotesque.
Yuan Qiuyuan asked curiously, "Who built this bridge?"
Ash said, "It was funded and built through donations from a wealthy merchant couple. In the past, there was no bridge here, so residents had to take a ferry every time they crossed. That merchant and his beloved lived on opposite banks of the river back then, and every rendezvous required a tedious journey back and forth, terribly inconvenient.
"The merchant was also a musician. He composed numerous pieces and created large reflector boards corresponding to musical notes. Whenever he longed for his lover, he would raise the boards and flash them across the river, where musicians on the opposite bank would play the melody. That way, even across the distance, they could convey their affection through music."
Everyone listened, captivated.
"Later, upon hearing that a bridge was to be built, the merchant opened his purse generously. To commemorate that past, he took the architect's suggestion and boldly adopted the most advanced technology of the time to construct a musical gallery.
"As pedestrians walk along the corridor, every step triggers a note, producing melodious music. Fifty years have passed since the bridge was completed, and it has since undergone expansions and repairs, as well as the addition of acoustic amplifiers. It has long become a destination where countless lovers seek romance and chance encounters.
"Ah, on the day of its completion, the merchant's beloved even composed a poem on the spot—"
Right as he was speaking, a red-bellied tit suddenly flew over and perched on the bow of the yacht. It proclaimed loudly:
"Ah, my beloved who haunts my dreams,
The dawn glow like gossamer, soft light like your form,
My heart as clear as lake water, yet rippling in waves for you..."
Ash glanced over, seemingly not in the least astonished by a bird speaking human words, and remarked instead, "Sir, that wasn't how the poem went."
Clutching its chest, the red-bellied tit said, "What does that matter? In this moment, our sentiments are one and the same."
Bang!
A gunshot rang out. A gaping hole abruptly burst open in its chest, and it toppled stiffly into the lake waters.
One of the guards on the boat holstered his pistol and saluted Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan gave a slight nod. He had said before that if they encountered this person again, they should simply shoot on sight.
Otherwise, this relaxing trip would soon be ruined by arresting officers catching wind of him and rushing over.
He looked toward Ash and said, "Mr. Ash, please continue your introduction."
As a West Coast Federation native living on the East Coast, Ash had an exceptionally high tolerance for scenes like this. He bowed slightly and offered a faint smile. "As you wish."
Passing beneath the Thousand Lantern Bridge, he pointed toward a tall limestone structure not far along the river. Looking from the boat, one could clearly see double-helix patterns carved into its outer walls.
"Allow me to introduce the Cathedral of St. Flo. It was the very first church in the Federation capital. When first completed, it was quite modest in scale, but after undergoing multiple expansions, it has become an irreplaceable symbol of the city.
"At night, lights spill across the water, mirroring the bridge's silhouette to create a truly magnificent and enchanting scene. Inside, concerts and fireworks displays are held regularly, making it a favorite spot where out-of-town visitors love to linger."
Hearing this, someone couldn't help asking in surprise, "That's a church?"
Ash said, "To be precise, an Old Church cathedral. We adhere to the New Church now, and it has long since been repurposed."
Chen Chuan knew that the Federation's New Church had emerged in the twilight of the Old Era. What it revered was not a specific deity, but a symbol, a concept—for only in this way could they sever ties with certain entities from the world across.
He pondered for a moment and asked, "Mr. Ash, the abandoned church where that cannibal feast took place, as you mentioned earlier..." He looked at the slightly distorted spiral carvings across the way. "...Is it here?"
Chapter 1181