Outside, Chen Chuan saw Luo Kaiyuan also stepping out of his room. For this event, among the two rows of dormitories in Area One on the seventh floor, both he and Luo Kaiyuan had been selected.
In terms of strength, Feng Xiaoqi was actually not bad, and he was usually active and enthusiastic about such functions. However, an external affairs function like this likely had appearance as another criterion. Feng Xiaoqi looked rather ordinary and was perhaps a bit on the shorter side, so he had been left out this time.
At that moment, Zhuang Zhi and Chang Sheng from the opposite dorm rooms also walked out. Neither side showed any desire to make conversation, however. Even after stepping into the elevator, not a word was spoken, and they kept a certain distance from one another.
Exiting the elevator and stepping out of the dormitory building, quite a few students had already gathered below.
As time passed, students from the other dormitory areas trickled in. All told, there were a little over twenty of them, scattered about. Most were freshmen this year, with a few upperclassmen; almost all possessed presentable features, and none had an awkward physique.
What was more, quite a few female students joined in this time.
Among them, Chen Chuan spotted an acquaintance—Guan Xinyin. Seeing him as well, she raised a hand in greeting, and he nodded back in return.
The Maka exchange students also emerged from the dormitory building just then, led by Teacher Douma.
Chen Chuan had been away for the past few days, so naturally he had had no interaction with these students. Still, a fighter's judgment of another's strength could largely be roughly formed from stature and gait. He gave most of the Maka students only a passing glance, pausing briefly on Nali and Shani before quickly withdrawing his gaze.
In Chen Chuan's estimation, these students still fell a bit short compared to those at Wuyi Academy. Considering that the exchange students were all elite students from within Maka, the country's level of martial arts was indeed not very high.
Only Teacher Douma, being an instructor after all, was impossible to read, though it was certain that his level had definitely achieved a breakthrough.
After waiting a bit longer, the Maka female students also walked over, led by a female instructor from Wuyi.
Their numbers roughly matched the male students. They wore brightly colored Maka shawl-coats—resembling half-capes that draped down to just below the knees at a slight slant, revealing only their toned, shapely calves.
This time, everyone was led by several instructors from the Enforcement Office. The lead instructor was surnamed Han, not yet fifty, with an unsmiling, square-jawed face and a stern expression.
Seeing that almost everyone was present, he produced a roster to call roll. Those whose names were called responded one by one. Once roll call concluded, two passenger coaches drove in and pulled up in front of the dormitory building.
Teacher Han briefly went over the rules to be observed, then beckoned everyone to board in order.
The Maka students and instructor rode in one vehicle, while the Wuyi students rode in the other. Once the vehicles set off, the accompanying instructors patiently reiterated the precautions and protocol to be followed later on.
The Foreign Affairs Bureau ranked quite low among the departments of the Municipal Administration; after all, it rarely handled more than a handful of affairs throughout the year. Its standing was apparent from its location alone: rather than being near the administrative buildings at Central Square, it sat somewhat to the south, a drive of more than ten minutes between them.
It was adjacent to an Old Era museum, which also fronted a sizable square. However, it was usually closed to the public, opening only for a few days during holidays. Even though Chen Chuan was a local, he had visited only a few times.
Around eight-thirty, the two coaches stopped in the open space before the museum square. By this time, several Foreign Affairs Bureau staff had already arrived. They had cordoned off the area with crowd-control ropes, laid down a few symbolic stretches of carpet, and hung balloons and ribbons to the side.
A band was also waiting there, holding traditional Maka instruments—mostly skin drums, whistles, flutes, mouth harps, and the like.
All around stood quite a few Foreign Affairs Bureau security personnel, armed with pistols and short batons. Yet they all looked quite relaxed; after all, they received visiting delegations from Maka every year and were well accustomed to it.
Aside from Foreign Affairs Bureau officials, a councilor from the Consultative Council was reportedly attending. Given the long-standing tradition of friendly exchanges between the two nations, joining an event with zero danger and guaranteed publicity had no downside.
After disembarking, the Maka students were stationed to wait along both flanks, with a line of crowd-control ropes behind them, beyond which stood the security personnel.
The Wuyi Academy students, meanwhile, were grouped together facing the front, arranged in two rows directly across from the podium.
Chen Chuan was placed on the far right, relatively close to the Maka students. Coincidentally, the one standing directly opposite him was none other than the Maka student who had previously introduced himself as Qiu Chengzu. When their eyes met, both nodded in greeting, though Chen Chuan noticed a flicker of nervous tension in the young man's eyes.
He didn't think much of it, assuming the other boy simply wasn't used to such occasions yet.
He looked up. Today's sunlight was bright, even slightly glaring. According to the schedule, the ceremony was set for ten o'clock, so there was still some time left.
Teacher Douma and all the Maka students stood waiting in silence. Despite this being a friendly exchange, the atmosphere felt somewhat solemn.
Though it felt a bit stiff, no one found anything amiss, reasoning that most of this group were visiting Great Shun for the very first time; in unfamiliar surroundings, such behavior was only natural.
As the square bordered a main thoroughfare bustling with vehicular and pedestrian traffic, the presence of so many people quickly drew a crowd of onlookers.
As time went on, relevant officials arrived one after another, including the Consultative Council councilor. The crowd surrounding the venue grew denser, packing three and four layers deep, though held back by the ropes and security personnel. Yet the more they were blocked, the more people craned and pushed forward.
Around nine-thirty, three black sedans and an armored car entered the square in succession. First, several security guards stepped out of the armored car, scanned the surroundings, and only then stepped forward to open the door of the center sedan.
Director Liu of the Foreign Affairs Bureau stepped out. In his fifties, though slightly portly, he possessed balanced, dignified features and a scholarly air.
Escorted by security guards, he first shook hands with the visiting Maka officials, exchanging warm pleasantries, and then shook hands with the Consultative Council councilor and several Municipal Administration officials attending the ceremony. Afterward, he ascended the central platform and delivered a speech praising the friendship between the two nations, mutual goodwill, and so forth.
His voice was resonant and clearly enunciated, easily heard by the citizens watching from outside. Led by the staff of the Foreign Affairs Bureau on both sides, his remarks drew periodic rounds of applause.
After speaking for about twenty minutes, Director Liu concluded his remarks, seemingly wishing he could go on.
And next was the main event of the day.
The museum doors opened, and the curator personally led several masters of ceremony to escort out the gift that Maka had originally presented to Great Shun, preserved within the museum all these years.
The Wuyi students perked up; once this ceremony concluded, today's event would be just about over.
Fine though the sun was, standing there as mere background while watching officials talk one after another, forbidden even from whispering, was something nobody found entertaining.
Chen Chuan looked at the box held in the curator's hands. He had learned from Cheng Zitong that inside lay the "Witherless Oak Leaf."
Originally presented to Great Shun by Maka as a symbol of friendship between the two nations, it was said to possess properties that repaired the body and invigorated the spirit. However, it only took effect when accompanied by spices brought by the Maka people and the performance of a special ceremony.
Every time officials from Wuyi City attended the event, they could feel that the object genuinely had some effect. Exactly what it was, they couldn't articulate, but after the ceremony, their spirits were at least noticeably lifted compared to usual. Hence, quite a few people came specifically to bask in the ceremony's benefits. At this moment, the onlookers outside also craned their necks, constantly pressing forward to get a clear look at it.
The curator had a female ceremonial attendant hold the box, took out a key to unlock it, and slowly lifted off the lid. Displayed before everyone was a greenish-gold oak leaf with distinct veins. The moment it was unveiled, a breath of crisp, natural freshness seemed to waft outward.
Chen Chuan glanced at it. The object was roughly ten centimeters long; apart from its unusual color, there wasn't much else to discern. Still, it had been gifted to Great Shun over fifty years ago; preserving it for so long was in itself proof of something extraordinary.
Teacher Douma's eyes fixed on the oak leaf, and his fists clenched tightly in secret as he fought to suppress his agitation. His students, however, could hardly contain themselves, pressing forward one after another. Their purpose in coming to Great Shun was to reclaim this very relic—even if it cost them their lives.
Though their reaction seemed somewhat exaggerated, because the artifact had originally been gifted by Maka and held extraordinary significance in Maka hearts, those around them could understand.
Seeing the Maka delegation's reaction, Director Liu was surprised at first, but magnanimously waved his hand to let the female attendant display the item to the crowd for a few moments. Only then did he take two steps back, smiling as he yielded his position to the Maka official with an inviting gesture.
The Maka official returned a traditional salute of his country, then reached out, reverently cradling the sacred relic in his hands.
Next was the performance of the Maka ceremony. The Maka official signaled for Teacher Douma and several selected students to come forward.
At this point, Teacher Douma seemed to calm down instead. Stepping forward, he received the oak leaf from the Maka official, turned around, and raised it high aloft. In that instant, an elevated fervor radiated from him, as if his entire being had been exalted, while the eyes of the surrounding Maka students shone with intense emotion.
Teacher Douma looked resolutely ahead and took step after deliberate step forward, a long, sustained tone rising from his throat. At the same moment, the Maka drummers struck up their instruments, playing a desolate, ancient melody imbued with a raw, primal simplicity.
The Maka students joined in harmony, their spirits brimming with solemn passion, their eyes resolute and wholly devoted, as though embarking upon a momentous and sacred mission.
Even the crowds watching from both sides were swept up in their emotion, looking on in rapt attention.
Yet right at that moment, amid the drums, an indistinct gunshot rang out. On the platform, Director Liu shuddered. The security guards beside him reacted instantly, rushing forward to shield him. Not far away, the Consultative Council councilor was yanked aside by his own guard, stumbling off balance, as a bullet hole appeared in the spot where his feet had just rested.
Almost simultaneously, several cylindrical canisters were hurled into the square. Dense black smoke billowed out in great plumes; the moment people caught the stench, they began coughing and tearing up.
Teacher Douma's eyes narrowed when he saw Director Liu get shot. Although the local resistance forces had agreed to create an opportunity for them, they had never mentioned assassinating a Municipal Administration official. But there was no time to dwell on that now. Taking advantage of the pandemonium, he snapped the box shut and bolted outward.
The Maka students beside him charged out after him. Across both flanks, male and female Maka students alike sprang into motion as if by unified command, charging headlong at the Wuyi students blocking their path.
Chapter 120