Chang Ba drove Chen Chuan to the station, said his goodbyes, and left. Before boarding the train, Chen Chuan found a roadside telephone booth and placed a call to Cheng Zitong.
Once connected, Cheng Zitong asked, "Xiao Chuan, did everything go smoothly?"
"Quite smoothly, Teacher," Chen Chuan replied. "I'm at the train station now, getting ready to head back."
"That's good. Didn't you mention a few days ago that you were running low on medicine? I've been thinking about it over the past couple of days. It's easy enough for me to procure medicine here, but if we clash with the Mutual Aid Society, they will definitely trace where the medicine is going to gauge your training progress. If I order more, they might pick up on clues from how much medicine you're using. Since you're on your way back anyway, stop by a place to pick some up. As for the money, you can put it on credit."
"On credit?" Chen Chuan asked.
Cheng Zitong chuckled meaningfully. "Better to leave it on credit for now. You can write an IOU first, and settle it once this storm passes."
Understanding his teacher's intent, Chen Chuan said, "Understood, Teacher. Where should I go to pick it up?"
Cheng Zitong said, "Once you arrive in Shangbu City, look for a man named Lao Ou at a pharmacy called Fengji Pharmacy on Shufeng Street, in the northern part of the city. I've already spoken with him. When you get there, you can give me another call, and I'll have him arrange it for you. You can leave once you pick up the goods. Keep this place in mind—if you ever need more in the future, you can get medicine there as well."
"All right, Teacher," Chen Chuan replied.
He understood Cheng Zitong's meaning. Once the Mutual Aid Society made its move, it was hard to predict how events would unfold, and medicine was vital to his future training. Preparing ahead of time was the right call; if he truly needed to take shelter elsewhere, he would still have a supply channel.
After hanging up the receiver, he entered the train station. Once the train arrived, he boarded directly. After traveling for two consecutive days, he stepped off at Shangbu City.
Following the address Cheng Zitong had provided, he found Fengji Pharmacy not far from the train station. After calling Cheng Zitong, he collected the medicine from the shop without a hitch. Lao Ou was very warm and friendly, packing the medicine into a large crate for him.
Gauging the quantity, Chen Chuan estimated it would last even him two to three months, while an ordinary person could probably use it for a year or two.
Lao Ou asked at the end if he needed someone to deliver it, but Chen Chuan politely declined with thanks, lifting it effortlessly with one hand before leaving.
The entire errand took less than an hour. Returning to the station, he bought a passenger bus ticket and boarded after waiting barely half an hour.
Checking the time, he saw it was not yet ten in the morning; at this rate, he would be back in Yangzhi City around three or four in the afternoon.
This crash training had taken roughly a month from start to finish, but the gains had been immense.
Although he had not encountered any powerful foes throughout the entire process, the perils he had faced during training were things he had never experienced before. A single misstep in certain moments could easily have cost him his life, which had granted him...
Especially that final, exhilarating swim, which had made him...
He looked ahead, watching the scenery swiftly receding on either side.
*Soon,* he thought.
Over five hours later, the bus pulled into the Yangzhi City passenger station. He retrieved his luggage, strapped the Xuejun Saber across his back, and disembarked. Yet when he stepped out of the station, he saw a squad of constabulary patrol officers armed with live ammunition stationed at the exit, inspecting passersby amidst an air of grim tension.
He was slightly surprised. Stations typically had only their own security personnel; stationing constabulary officers directly was a rare sight.
Passing through the checkpoint, he presented his weapons license. The lead officer noticed his name, took a few looks at him, and asked politely, "Mr. Chen, are you Captain Nian's nephew?"
"Yes, that's me," Chen Chuan replied.
The officer's demeanor immediately grew much friendlier. He offered a smile and greeted him, "I'm Xu Gui, a patrol officer from Quanzhou District. Brother Chen, orders came from above to conduct these checks—nothing we can do about it. Please bear with us."
"Not at all, Brother Xu. You're only doing your duty, I understand. Did something happen recently?"
Xu Gui glanced around, gestured for two officers to take over his inspections, and led Chen Chuan out past the checkpoint to the side. "Brother Chen, you know about the clash between the Blood Mark Gang and the Iron Chain Gang a while back, right?"
Chen Chuan nodded, indicating he did.
Tipping back the brim of his cap, Xu Gui continued, "Last month, the Blood Mark Gang lost three more chieftains. Tsk, tsk, every one of their brains was scooped clean! Several of their strongholds were wrecked, and the companies they run have been attacked again and again. How could they not raise hell after that? At first, they only fought at night, but now there are clashes in broad daylight. Our constabulary had no choice but to deploy extra manpower.
"And right at a time like this, the resistance organization had to join the fray too. You see, the railway that was just repaired last month was bombed again, and the train station was attacked as well. Fearing trouble here at the bus terminal too, higher-ups dispatched us to keep watch."
Chen Chuan finally understood. It appeared the feud between the two gangs had not halted during his absence; instead, it had only intensified. The forces pulling the strings behind this were evidently still applying pressure.
After thanking Xu Gui, he left the station and headed first to his aunt's home. Having traveled out of town this time, he had brought back local specialties—things like dried mutton and preserved fruit—and quite a generous quantity of them.
Yu Wan was delighted. After all, whether constabulary officers or their families, they rarely had the chance to leave Yangzhi City or interact much with the outside world, so regional specialties like these were seldom seen.
Chen Chuan then took out two cartons of cigarettes and handed them to Nian Fuli. "Uncle, I brought these cigarettes from the northwest. They're said to be a good local brand, recommended by a friend. I don't smoke, so I don't know how good they are."
"Oh, Red Camels!" Nian Fuli perked up immediately. "Word is these are mellow and really hit the spot. I've got to try one." He rubbed his palms together, but before he could reach out, Yu Wan snatched them away, glaring at him. "Isn't a pack a day enough for you? I'll hold onto them for now."
Nian Fuli complained, "Xiao Chuan brought these for me out of respect! Why you..."
Chen Chuan smiled, staying out of their bickering. He walked over to give his younger cousins some toys and a few picture books, then headed to his room.
After putting down his belongings, he took a refreshing bath, then came back and tidied up. He planned to stay here for one night and return to the martial arts hall tomorrow; after all, he required daily training, which was inconvenient to do at home. Just then, the telephone in the living room rang, and his aunt's voice carried over: "Xiao Chuan, phone call for you! Sounds like it's your teacher."
Hearing this, Chen Chuan stood up and walked out.
At that very moment, in a private club in the south of the city, Wei Jun swam out of the artificial lake in front of the venue.
Stepping ashore, a flex of his muscles shook the water droplets from his skin. Taking the towel handed over by a servant, he dried himself off, donned a pair of sunglasses, and reclined on a lounger, though his face remained sullen.
He had returned five days ago upon receiving reliable word that, with the bandits still at large, the examination date had been continuously postponed. By now, it was certain that this Grade C license examination would be dragged out until late August.
And customary practice dictated that even after passing the Grade C license exam, it would take another ten days to receive the credential. Thus, even if his name remained on this year's recommendation list for Center City, the lack of this crucial defense license meant he would certainly be unable to enter Center City through the academy's channels.
For this reason, his clan had to renegotiate and deliberate with other interest groups in hopes of securing a spot from the next graduating class. But with nothing yet settled, he was also looking for ways forward on his end.
The butler approached his side at that moment and said, "Young Master, the guests have arrived."
Wei Jun sat up to see Jiang Wei, Shao Xiaobie, and another shapely, attractive female student walking in from outside.
Waiting until the three came over and gesturing for them to take seats, he turned to Jiang Wei and the female student. "You know why I called you here today. Qiao Rong, Jiang Wei, between the two of you, one must give up a spot."
Qiao Rong let out a light laugh. "Senior Wei, you failed to secure your own, yet now you're asking us to hand over ours. Don't you think that's a bit much?"
Jiang Wei said with a smile, "I understand Senior's meaning, and I've looked into the situation. But what kind of compensation could make up for our loss? As long as that can be made clear, I'm willing to yield my spot."
Qiao Rong shot Jiang Wei a sidelong glance. If the two of them joined forces and held firm, Wei Jun could do nothing against them. But Jiang Wei clearly had no such intention, which made things pointless. She began admiring her newly applied nail polish.
Shao Xiaobie sat with his legs crossed. The matter had little to do with him. Although he was also a third-year, he knew his combat abilities fell far short of everyone present. Yet as long as the Mutual Aid Society's network was there, he could still head to Center City through another avenue later on.
Wei Jun said, "If you want to talk about benefits, the corporations and our families are already negotiating. I have nothing to say on that. But today, we can talk about something else."
He removed his sunglasses, leaned forward, and fixed his gaze on the two. "You should know that among us, I'm closest with Senior Zhao in Center City. The Main Academy in Center City isn't an easy place to get by. You must have heard plenty about how fierce the competition is. Without someone looking out for you, could you even gain a foothold? And without me acting as the bridge, even if you go there, Senior Zhao would at most look after you out of basic courtesy." He wagged a finger. "Don't count on him treating you particularly well."
Qiao Rong frowned involuntarily. With that pointed out, she instantly lost interest in her nails.
Jiang Wei maintained his smile. "I've considered what Senior Wei said. But that's a matter for after entering Center City. Compared to a spot to enter Center City in the first place, I don't believe that's enough."
Wei Jun slowly straightened back up. "Fine. If you want something else, I'll be blunt: if someone makes life miserable for me, I won't let them have an easy time either. Even if I don't go to the Main Academy, I can still reach Center City. You should know what I mean."
His mentor, Tan Wang, belonged to the Secret Snake Cult, a faction based in Center City. Even without taking the Main Academy route, he could still reach Center City through alternative avenues. It was just that doing so came with many conditions he disliked, so he originally preferred not to walk that path. But if pushed to the brink, he wouldn't mind trying it. And when that time came, anyone who made him suffer would not be spared either.
As he awaited their reply, the butler walked over and whispered to him, "Young Master, there is a matter you might want to take note of."
Leaning close to Wei Jun's ear, he whispered a few words. Wei Jun hadn't paid much attention at first, but upon hearing them, he abruptly turned his head toward the butler. "Where is he?"
The butler answered respectfully, "Waiting right outside."
Chapter 173