When the car came to a steady stop, the orderly stepped out, walked to the rear, and opened the door. Chen Chuan stepped out.
Seeing Chen Chuan, the man opposite took off his sunglasses, stood up from his seat, and came forward in person to greet him.
The security personnel behind him moved to follow, but he waved a hand to stop them. Bringing only his female assistant, he walked up to Chen Chuan, bowed politely, and greeted him, "Hello, Mr. Chen. I am Wang Weichang, head of the Jibei Dao branch of Wansong Company." With that, he extended a hand with a smile.
Chen Chuan glanced at the man. He possessed no prominent physical features, and his appearance was quite ordinary; only the jade ring on his finger caught the eye somewhat.
Yet this was clearly just a facade. The man evidently carried a strand of spiritual presence anchored to him; behind him stood a martial artist.
However, it was only a minuscule wisp of spiritual presence, conferring virtually no combat strength—at most comparable to the bird that performance artist had possessed.
Even so, by rights, anyone like this entering Jibei Dao was required to register, yet Chen Chuan, as the head of the Jibei Dao Security Bureau, had seen no such registration on file.
In a situation like this, either the other party's security clearance stood above the Security Bureau's review authority, or he had bypassed the procedures in secret.
Thus, he did not reciprocate the friendly gesture.
Wang Weichang did not seem to mind in the least. He lowered his hand naturally and chuckled. "My apologies for asking you to make a special trip here, Commissioner Chen. But given the importance of the traded item, and because I personally wished to converse with you, Commissioner Chen, I could only take the liberty of inviting you."
With that, he stepped aside and gestured. "Commissioner Chen, right this way." Behind him, the female assistant also bowed, gesturing toward the canopy.
Chen Chuan cast another glance at Wang Weichang. Many insiders within the government did not even know he was a commissioner in the Ministry of State Security, yet this man not only knew it, but stated it openly, further demonstrating that his background was far from simple.
He walked over to the canopy and, at the man's invitation, sat down in one of the chairs.
A cool, slightly damp breeze drifted off the lake, and waterbirds occasionally swept past overhead.
The female assistant came forward and poured tea into the cup before Chen Chuan.
Wang Weichang maintained a polite smile. "You have conducted several transactions with our company in the past, Commissioner Chen, and I believe our cooperation has been quite pleasant. Thank you for your trust in us.
"Commissioner Chen, you specifically requested a Grade 1 relic. Based on our understanding, does that mean you intend to..." He deliberately slowed his pace. "...reach for higher-level power?"
As a Dongxuan View martial artist seeking a relic, anyone aware of the methods of advancement would have little trouble guessing his purpose. Yet Chen Chuan had never intended to conceal it in the first place.
He asked, "Oh? Does your company make a habit of inquiring into the intended use? As I recall, you never had such a rule."
Wang Weichang smiled. "Of course, our company has always respected customer privacy. The only reason I ask is that if you truly intend to seek the path upward, Commissioner Chen, then what you need surely exceeds just this. Our company can provide far more."
Chen Chuan looked at him. "Oh? Can your company provide everything I require?"
Wang Weichang picked up his teacup and took a sip. Setting it down, he folded his hands across his stomach before saying slowly, "In theory, yes."
Just then, a shrill cry sounded from high above. The surrounding security personnel suddenly tensed, raising their guns toward the sky.
Chen Chuan said, "No need to be nervous. That is merely a pet of mine."
Wang Weichang glanced up at the magnificent bird-like creature with brilliantly colored plumage, a hint of surprise surfacing in his eyes.
He raised a hand, and the security guards lowered their guns. He remarked, "How astonishing, Commissioner Chen. In this day and age, limit-breaking mutant creatures are rarely tamed. Well, if you ever plan to order supplies for your pet, the company can accommodate that as well."
Chen Chuan said, "Mr. Wang, if this were purely a matter of business, I doubt you would have invited me here in person or beaten around the bush like this. Both our time is valuable. I believe you can speak plainly."
"Ah, is that so..."
Wang Weichang said apologetically, "In dealing with people, I tend to lay the groundwork and test the waters first. But I forgot that you are not like the common rabble, Commissioner Chen. In that case, let us speak frankly and openly."
He rubbed the jade ring on his finger and said, "Whenever transactions involve materials tied to higher-level power, we always proceed with utmost caution, for it could very well affect the safety of the world. I believe you understand this, Commissioner Chen.
"So before that, I would like to ask: how do you view martial artists? Ah, I mean the community of martial artists as a whole."
Chen Chuan replied, "Different perspectives lead to different views. Which aspect do you wish to hear about, Mr. Wang?"
"My apologies, I did not frame it clearly. Let me put it this way," Wang Weichang looked at him. "As a member of the martial artist community yourself, do you feel any deep sense of identity or belonging with them?"
Chen Chuan gave it some thought and said, "Not particularly. In my eyes, aside from possessing martial might, they are not much different from ordinary people."
Wang Weichang said, "Don't you feel, Commissioner Chen, that if we set aside the boundaries of nation, ethnicity, and social class, martial artists ought to identify more closely with one another?"
Chen Chuan looked at him and said, "I already told you. To me, there is no difference."
Wang Weichang fell silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, tapping his sunglasses twice against his palm.
"It seems I asked a foolish question. I overlooked your record of achievements, Commissioner Chen. In your eyes, perhaps there truly is no difference between commoners and ordinary martial artists.
"Then allow me to share my perspective.
"I have always maintained that martial artists are already distinct from ordinary humans. Their destructive power and vitality far surpass those lower life-forms. In the old era, calling them gods would hardly be an exaggeration.
"And they truly were regarded as gods once. Martial artists have become an entirely new species. Why must we continue to exist within the framework of mortals, submitting to their dictates and fretting over them, rather than breaking free, shedding these burdens, and building our own great cause?"
Chen Chuan said calmly, "By your logic, Mr. Wang, or according to your theory, martial artists can also be divided into different tiers. If that were truly the case, you might not even qualify to sit before me.
"Furthermore, why should higher-level powers bother defending the world at all? Wouldn't it be better if they simply abandoned everything?"
He looked at Wang Weichang. "Mr. Wang, have you not realized that once you overturn this consensus, those who get overthrown will include ourselves?"
Wang Weichang's expression grew solemn. "That is a sharp question, Commissioner Chen, but I can answer it.
"I know you have not been a martial artist for long, and you still strongly identify with your former status. But there are many who have been martial artists for decades, a century, or even several centuries.
"Their kin have long since passed away. Even if some blood descendants remain, they cannot form any deep emotional bond with them. They have severed virtually all ties to this world. If anything remains, it is merely the faint, lingering sentiment of once having lived as humans.
"Yet fortunately, we share common ground—"
He tapped his chest. "We all possess robust mutated tissue. This is what allows us to perceive one another, resonate with one another, and grants us the capital to evolve into higher echelons.
"This is the key to forging an identity among martial artists. We are an entirely new race, distinct from lower species."
Chen Chuan said, "And then? Once you have proved your superiority, what do you intend to do? Pursue that so-called 'great cause'?"
Wang Weichang leaned forward slightly. "Don't you want to see a brand-new world where martial artists sit at the apex of the food chain, Commissioner Chen?
"I am not saying this without reason. The Great Impact is coming. Why should we, who possess real power, sacrifice ourselves for those lower species? The government? The corporations? All of them are a joke!
"Unless they are willing to hand everything over and let us take the lead, so that we fight for ourselves—only then will we commit our full power, which would ultimately benefit the world as well."
He tapped the armrest again, producing two clacking sounds. "Of course, while I believe martial artists are superior to the lower species, out of compassion, we do not intend to abandon them.
"Not only will we not abandon them, but we will also aid them. By transplanting artificial mutated tissue, we can grant them a measure of strength so they can better serve us."
With that, he leaned back slowly and raised a hand. "In this new world, those with ability rightfully occupy high positions. An elite like you, Commissioner Chen, should naturally wield immense authority in the new world.
"And I—we—are willing to offer resources for advancement to elites such as yourself."
Saying this, he gestured toward the female assistant standing nearby. She tapped her boundary credential, and a man soon walked over carrying a metal briefcase.
Wang Weichang took it, placed it on the table, and pushed it toward Chen Chuan.
"Inside is a Grade 1 relic—a token of our goodwill. We do not expect you to agree with us right away, Commissioner Chen, but please believe that our sincerity is genuine. We wholeheartedly hope you will join us."
Chen Chuan said, "I have one question. How do you view the Great Impact?"
"The Great Impact..."
Wang Weichang said meaningfully, "Commissioner Chen, the Great Impact is indeed a catastrophe for mere mortals, but for us, perhaps it is not so terrifying. On the contrary, it might very well be our opportunity."
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "I understand." He looked at the man. "Mr. Wang, I have zero interest in anything you've said. Let us leave it at that."
He stood up. "By the way, you should know what my post is. I expect you to register your security credentials as soon as possible. I will give you two days; otherwise, I will take the necessary measures."
With that, he turned and walked away, never casting even a single glance at the briefcase from start to finish.
Wang Weichang stood up as well. "Commissioner Chen, I have been entirely candid. You may not understand my words now, but in the future, Commissioner Chen, you will."
Chapter 1356