A few more days went by, leading into the period after classes had resumed.
This time, Nian Fuli happened to be home as well. When Chen Chuan walked through the door, his uncle was leaning back in an armchair listening to the radio, his legs crossed as he read a newspaper, while the two younger cousins played merrily to one side.
Chen Chuan greeted the two of them and went over to pour himself a glass of water.
Nian Fuli looked at Chen Chuan, then at Yu Wan, and patted his chest. "I'm out of cigarettes. Yu Wan, go buy me a pack, would you?"
Yu Wan gave him a look and turned to Chen Chuan. "Just look at that. Your uncle made brigade captain, and now he knows how to boss people around."
Nian Fuli said helplessly, "It's just a pack of cigarettes. What are you bringing that up for? Even if I'm a brigade captain, it's not like I get more than one pack a day..."
"All right, Brigade Captain Nian. I'll go buy them for you right now."
Once Yu Wan was out the door, Nian Fuli set down his newspaper, got up, and ushered the cousins into their room to play. Only then did he return and say to Chen Chuan, "Little Chuan, I heard you were the one who took down that Maka? You were there on the scene?"
Chen Chuan said, "Yes, Uncle. It was an activity arranged by the academy. I was there when the shooting started. How is Director Liu doing?"
Nian Fuli replied, "No need to worry about the likes of them. Those high-and-mighty officials from the Municipal Administration won't step foot outside without wearing protective suits. Liu Zhan only suffered a bit of a fright—nothing serious. But because of this whole mess, the brothers down at the station have been run ragged all over again..."
Listening to him talk, Chen Chuan learned that more than one location had been attacked that day, clearly orchestrated to draw the constabulary's forces away. He asked further, "Uncle, do you know how those Maka students will be handled?"
Nian Fuli said, "How else? Just follow the standard procedure for exiled fugitives."
"Exiled fugitives?" Chen Chuan asked in surprise. "Aren't they exchange students?"
Nian Fuli said, "The higher-ups looked into it. These people weren't exchange students at all, but a band of exiled criminals from Maka. The real exchange students claimed they were ambushed by this group upon entering Great Shun, and the culprits replaced them to carry out the exchange program at Wuyi Academy."
"Is that so..."
Chen Chuan considered this. Judging by how Teacher Douma and those students had performed, they were genuine students and an instructor who had received long-term martial training. Otherwise, Wuyi would never have failed to spot the deception.
He suspected the Makas might well have deliberately staged this swap to leave no pretext for blame, keeping from souring diplomatic relations with Great Shun while avoiding being dragged down by the resistance organization.
And to be fair, on the surface it truly served as an explanation. It even framed the Maka exchange delegation as the victimized party, since those fugitives had long had their citizenship revoked and were no longer considered Maka nationals.
Yet no one was a fool. It shouldn't be difficult for the upper echelons to discern what had really transpired. If the Makas had indeed arranged this intentionally, Great Shun and Maka might maintain their relationship in public, but in private, things would never return to the way they were before.
He asked again, "Uncle, what about the student who fled with the item that day?"
Nian Fuli said, "His whereabouts are currently unknown. Someone must have met up with him. The Municipal Administration is taking this resistance organization very seriously this time. Likely enough, after failing to stir up trouble through Fang Dawei's gang before, they seized this opportunity to rear their heads again."
With that, he pulled out half a pack of cigarettes, drew one out, lit it, and took a drag, sighing, "The higher-ups give the word, and the folks down below run their legs off. The brothers in the constabulary are in for a hard time again."
Chen Chuan thought to himself, *Not bad, Uncle. Now that your rank is higher, your perspective really has leveled up.*
After a few puffs, Nian Fuli suddenly remembered something. He glanced outside, hastily stubbed out the cigarette, quickly pushed open the window to air out the room, and turned back to say solemnly, "Whatever you do, don't tell your aunt you were there. We don't want her worrying again."
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Uncle. I won't say a word to Aunt."
***
After finishing lunch at home, Chen Chuan planned to first meet Cheng Zitong's martial niece, a senior sister named He Nan.
Strictly speaking, though he had never met this senior sister before, he had collaborated with her disciple, Lin Xiaodi, while carrying out a commission under Ren Xiaotian.
Since this was not a commissioned task, he chose not to call a car from the agency. After confirming over the phone, he went to the city center and boarded a tram bound for Senior Sister He Nan's quarters in the southern district.
It was a martial arts training hall located along the banks of the Bai River in the south of the city. Rows of willows lined the embankment; new buds had sprouted on the branches, lending a touch of color to the scenery. Once inside the hall, an attendant-like man came forward and said respectfully, "You must be Young Master Chen. The young lady is waiting for you. Please follow me."
Chen Chuan thanked him and followed him inside. Despite being a martial training ground, the walkway leading into the hall was paved with polished river stones, and flower stands lined both sides of the foyer with lush greenery brimming with vitality.
Upon entering the outer reception room, he caught a refreshing, soothing fragrance. Through an openwork partition screen, a woman could be seen trimming flowers beneath a window, with a long sword hanging within arm's reach beside her.
The attendant stepped inside and spoke a few words. She set down her shears, went over to a basin to wash her hands, dried them, smoothed her hair, and walked out.
As she emerged, Chen Chuan took a look at her. She was a beautiful woman in her early thirties with an oval face, arched brows, and an intellectual, graceful air. Her hair was gathered in a neat coil at the back of her head, and she wore a tailored, jade-white practice suit cinched at the waist.
Were it not for the remarkably rhythmic cadence of her stride and the subtle force underlying each step, her countenance alone would never have suggested she was a martial artist.
He cupped his hands in a martial salute. "Senior Sister He?"
Senior Sister He smiled. "You really are Martial Uncle Cheng's student. So young—just make sure you don't pick up my uncle's stiff, old-fashioned ways." She stepped forward and took the initiative to shake Chen Chuan's hand. "Xiaodi mentioned you to me last time. She said Martial Uncle Cheng had taken on a handsome young fellow. Mm, not bad at all. Come in, have a seat."
She led Chen Chuan inside beneath a latticed window, where they took seats in antique rosewood chairs, and she had fragrant tea brewed and brought up.
Chen Chuan found the decor exceptionally refined. The colors and atmosphere put one completely at ease, and every piece of furniture and utensil had been chosen with great care. It seemed this Senior Sister He was fond of a sophisticated lifestyle.
Senior Sister He sat with proper posture, her back straight and her hands resting over her lap. She said, "Martial Uncle Cheng already phoned me earlier. This matter has troubled Old Lei for a long time, but he's the sort who hates being indebted to others. Since he wouldn't speak up, I felt embarrassed to approach Martial Uncle Cheng myself. That Martial Uncle Cheng is willing to help this time is truly wonderful—it takes a huge weight off my mind."
Hearing this, Chen Chuan realized his senior sister had probably misunderstood. She likely assumed Cheng Zitong was willing to step in personally to solve the problem Bureau Director Lei's son was facing, and that he, the student, was merely acting as a liaison.
Yet he did not correct her. If Cheng Zitong had kept quiet about that, he naturally had his reasons. Furthermore, Senior Sister He spoke of Bureau Director Lei with a blend of concern and casual intimacy, showing the two were clearly very close.
He asked, "Senior Sister, when would it be convenient to meet Bureau Director Lei?"
Senior Sister He said, "You're still a student, busy with your studies. Finding time to make this trip can't have been easy, so thank you. Today is a rest day, and Old Lei happens to be home. I've already let him know. Mm, why don't you take my car?"
Chen Chuan said, "Then thank you, Senior Sister."
Senior Sister He smiled and said, "Junior Brother Chen, you went out of your way to help Old Lei resolve his trouble. I'm the one who should be thanking you."
Chen Chuan exchanged only a couple more words before stepping outside and boarding a light blue Yifulan sedan. It was evident Senior Sister He came from quite a well-off family: living in the south of the city, with a dedicated car and driver.
Once he was seated, the vehicle headed south. It moved quickly yet smoothly. Around thirty minutes later, they reached the edge of Quanzhou District. This area was on the verge of leaving the city, situated in the southwestern corner of Yangzhi City. Dwellings were sparse around here, consisting of two- or three-story houses standing far apart from one another, giving the surroundings a quiet, secluded feel.
He asked the driver, "Sir, does Bureau Director Lei live nearby?"
The driver explained, "Director Lei doesn't like living in crowded areas."
After driving for another five or six minutes, the car turned down a tree-lined lane and pulled up before a three-story house encircled by flower beds. "We're here," the driver said.
Chen Chuan got out of the car. Many vibrant flowers and plants grew in the beds; he couldn't name them—perhaps foreign varieties or specially cultivated blooms. After all, it was February, and keeping them so vivid and striking was no small feat.
Looking at them, Senior Sister He's figure surfaced in his mind. For reasons he couldn't explain, he simply felt these flowers had something to do with her.
After saying goodbye to the driver, he walked along the neatly swept path up to the front steps, passed beneath an awning, and knocked on the door.
After a short wait, footsteps approached from inside. The door opened to reveal a man who looked forty at most, wearing black-rimmed glasses, a grayish-black coat over a white shirt, with a straight nose and a square jaw—a handsome man.
Unsure of his identity, Chen Chuan said, "Hello, is this Bureau Director Lei's residence? I'm looking for Bureau Director Lei."
The man nodded. "That would be me. Did she send you?" When Chen Chuan nodded, he said courteously, "Thank you for making the trip." He turned to walk inside. "Come in and take a seat."
Chen Chuan observed him. This Bureau Director Lei didn't look like an official from the Municipal Administration so much as a schoolteacher. Chen Chuan changed his shoes at the entrance and walked in.
Once inside, even toward a young man like Chen Chuan, Bureau Director Lei remained very polite. He invited him to sit on the sofa, poured him a glass of water, and said, "May I ask your name?"
Chen Chuan said, "Chen Chuan, a student of Wuyi Academy."
Bureau Director Lei seemed surprised and looked at him closely. "Oh? He Nan only said you were Supervisor Cheng's disciple. She didn't mention you were a Wuyi student."
A disciple was different from an ordinary student. But hearing this, Chen Chuan understood that Senior Sister He had put it that way to emphasize his connection to Cheng Zitong, so he was in no hurry to deny it.
"Chen Chuan..." Bureau Director Lei pondered the name. "I seem to have heard that name before." He looked up, his gaze behind the glasses turning sharp. "Five days ago, were you the one who intercepted and killed that Maka fugitive, Douma?"
Chen Chuan hadn't expected him to know about that, as officials from the Municipal Administration rarely took note of specific ground-level people and events. He replied, "Yes, that was me. I didn't expect Bureau Director Lei to know."
Bureau Director Lei looked at him. "As a Wuyi student and not part of the security detail on site, you didn't have to step forward. Why did you take the initiative to intervene?"
Chen Chuan said, "I hadn't intended to stand out either, but someone was opening fire on innocent civilians. No matter what my status was, so long as I had the ability, I felt I couldn't just stand by and watch."
Bureau Director Lei nodded and remarked, "You have a strong sense of justice."
Chen Chuan said frankly, "It wasn't just that. I'm a native of Yangzhi City. My friends and relatives are all here. What if they had been among those people?"
The piercing gaze Bureau Director Lei had fixed on him softened. After a brief silence, he suddenly said, "You should go back."
Chen Chuan was taken aback. "Bureau Director Lei?"
Bureau Director Lei shook his head and said, "Regarding my son's situation, I've tried many methods. Setting aside whether it can even be resolved, it easily rubs off on other people, and there might be other complications. You're a fine young man with a bright future ahead of you. You shouldn't be dragged into this."
Chen Chuan thought about it, then said, "Bureau Director Lei, my teacher had me come precisely because he trusts my abilities."
Bureau Director Lei was slightly surprised, for Chen Chuan had emphasized himself rather than his teacher. Pushing up his glasses, he studied Chen Chuan intently. After a moment, he gave a nod and stood up. "Follow me."
Chen Chuan followed him up the stairs all the way to the third floor. Bureau Director Lei produced a key, pushed open a door, and spoke softly toward a child curled up in the corner of the room: "That is my son. He is very afraid of strangers. If you want to ask anything, please keep your tone as gentle as possible."
Chen Chuan nodded and walked toward the corner. As he drew near, his steps paused slightly, and he looked back at Bureau Director Lei.
Bureau Director Lei asked in a natural tone, "What is it? Is something wrong?"
"Nothing..." Chen Chuan glanced at the child once more.
Only... it was a wooden puppet.
Chapter 125