Shockwaves

On National Boulevard in the eastern part of the city, the front of an extended luxury car was caved in with a massive dent, and Mr. Chi was embedded right inside it. His high-end clothing was completely tattered, his forehead slick with blood, half his face swollen tight, and one eye squeezed shut into a slit as he panted heavily. He tried to pull himself up a little. Seeing the burly figure standing firmly ahead seeming about to move again, he hurriedly thrust out a hand and called, "Stop, stop, stop..." He appeared to jar a painful spot and hissed, wincing as he bared his teeth. "I'm just trying to make a living here. There's no need to take it this far." He fumbled around, picked up a shattered wristwatch beneath him, looked at it, tossed it aside, and said, "It's almost six o'clock anyway. Even if I rush over now, I'd be too late." With those words, he watched the figure ahead turn around and stride off with steady paces. Mr. Chi breathed out a long sigh and tilted his head back toward the sky, shouting with all his might, "Hey, anyone still alive? Bring me a drink, would you? I hate baking in the summer sun the most..." Meanwhile, in Yangzhi City, word of the incident in the old factory district spread quickly outward. Within just a few hours, the entire city was practically in an uproar. This incident was truly unprecedented. The ones who had died this time were no mere nobodies, but the scions of Yangzhi City's upper crust—and not just one or two, but dozens of them. Counting the security personnel, the dead numbered nearly a hundred. How many years had it been since Yangzhi City had seen such a massive upheaval? It was late August, and Wuyi Academy had not yet opened for the new term, but when this news broke, it stirred up a colossal wave among the student body. What was the Mutual Aid Society? It was the most powerful student society in the academy, formed by recommended students—a force that had loomed over the heads of the vast majority of students for decades. According to subsequent reports, a total of thirty-seven members of the Mutual Aid Society died in this incident. Aside from a few nominal members who rarely involved themselves in affairs and were not present, not a single prominent member had escaped. In effect, the entire leadership of the Mutual Aid Society had been wiped out in one fell swoop. The students at the academy were not fools. Just looking at the location was enough for them to guess what had happened. That was the exact place where Shen Zheng had died three years ago. The Mutual Aid Society had clearly intended to stage a reenactment, but never in their wildest dreams did they imagine they would encounter an opponent who defied all expectations. Many students who had personally experienced the events surrounding Shen Zheng back then were so overcome with emotion upon hearing the news that they couldn't contain themselves, shouting over and over that they got what they deserved! Although they did not know the exact details, they could vividly picture it: last night, Chen Chuan had stood alone against nearly a hundred men. Faced with the pressure and intimidation of the Mutual Aid Society's members, he had not yielded an inch; instead, he had risen in defiance, blade in hand, and slaughtered the entire leadership of the society to the last man! Just imagining the scene made their blood boil with excitement. Though there were still several days left before the term began, many students could no longer sit still after hearing the news and arrived at the academy early. More than that, some students who had already graduated a year or even several years prior returned to the academy as well. For so many years, the Mutual Aid Society had used every means at their disposal to suppress outstanding students, coercing and bribing them from the very day they enrolled. Under such circumstances, students coerced into joining the society remained bound by the agreements they had signed even after graduating. Many harbored bitter resentment but dared not voice it, having no way to resist. Yet now this outcome had emerged, leaving them all thrilled and exultant, and filling them with boundless admiration for Chen Chuan, the one who had brought it about. There were also many first-year freshmen who had moved into the dormitories early. At first, they were bewildered, but after hearing the older students explain, they learned of the Mutual Aid Society's past deeds and what had happened to Shen Zheng. Once they understood the whole story and tied it to what Chen Chuan had done today, they realized just what an incredible feat this senior had accomplished! Even though their classes had not yet officially begun, they felt immense reverence for this senior, wishing they could travel back to the previous night and swing their blades beside him against the enemy. Yet amid the excitement, worry for Chen Chuan inevitably took hold. A student spoke up, "I heard Student Chen Chuan has been taken away by the constabulary! But he didn't do anything wrong!" The students agreed en masse. The incident was clearly engineered by the Mutual Aid Society, and they had mobilized at least a hundred people while Chen Chuan stood entirely alone. Who was persecuting whom could not be clearer! "We must submit petitions to the academy's senior leadership and the Municipal Administration demanding Student Chen's release!" "That's right! That's what we should do!" "Count me in!" "Me too!" While the students engaged in heated debate, inside the Admissions Preparation Office within the administrative building, Bian Feng spoke to Master Gao: "Lu Fang came looking for me. He hopes the academy leadership will step in to protect Chen Chuan. I also believe we can't just stand by." Master Gao said in a deep voice, "You are both instructors of this academy. Setting aside right and wrong for a moment, you need to keep your composure first and not get swept up by the students' emotions." Yue Hong added from the side, "But Master Gao, regardless of anything else, Chen Chuan is a student of our academy. He hasn't been convicted of anything yet, and the final assessment is still up in the air. We can't just abandon him!" "What's the rush?" Master Gao said slowly. "Vice Principal Gu has already reported this matter to the Disposal Bureau." "The Disposal Bureau?" The two exchanged glances. Although the Disposal Bureau usually handled fighters in broader society, academy students strictly speaking also fell under their jurisdiction. In that case, they could indeed intervene, which meant Chen Chuan wouldn't be so easily crushed by those factions. "Don't celebrate too early," Master Gao said somberly. "This isn't that simple. You all know who stands behind those students." Those recommended students came from Yangzhi City's most powerful and influential families; many of their relatives held key posts in the Municipal Administration or sat as members of the Consultative Council. Moreover, some had ties to corporations and conglomerates in Center City, or were directly connected to Molan Company. The local families were one thing, but Molan Company was a megacorporation from Center City. Their influence was unimaginably vast. They could sway more than half the Consultative Council, thereby swaying the entire Municipal Administration. If Molan Company intervened, whether the Disposal Bureau could withstand the pressure was hard to say. Just then, a voice came from outside. "I come commissioned by the academy's board of trustees, and I must see Supervisor Gao immediately. Out of the way." Amid a flurry of raised voices, Commissioner Jiang strode in from outside. Looking toward Master Gao seated there, he said, "Supervisor Gao." Master Gao regarded the newcomer. "So it is Commissioner Jiang. What is the matter?" Commissioner Jiang straightened his imported formal suit, produced a document, placed it on the desk, and said, "I have been commissioned by a number of academy trustees as well as academy sponsors to demand the expulsion of student Chen Chuan." Master Gao asked, "On what grounds?" Commissioner Jiang sneered. "On what grounds? Could Supervisor Gao truly be unaware?" Master Gao said gravely, "If Commissioner Jiang refers to the incident that took place yesterday, there has not yet been a definitive finding, so it would be improper for me to draw conclusions." "Conclusions? Is the matter not obvious enough?" Commissioner Jiang slapped the desk in anger, his voice agitated. "That Chen Chuan slaughtered thirty-seven outstanding students single-handedly, along with dozens of security personnel dutifully performing their jobs! How can you allow such a brutal, bloodthirsty student to remain in this academy? "The board of trustees must consider the safety of the academy's students and think of the academy's reputation! Right now, many sponsors are questioning whether the academy's leadership can properly run this institution or manage its students!" Master Gao picked up the document, glanced over it, and set it back down. "This bears the signatures of only a fraction of the trustees; it does not represent the full board. Furthermore, if an expulsion is truly to be carried out, it must first be verified whether the student actually did what you claim, Commissioner Jiang, and the academy management must deliberate before any decision can be made. It cannot be decided by a mere handful of signatures." Commissioner Jiang's face darkened. "Supervisor Gao, the fallout of this incident is enormous and utterly vile. Not to mention you, even certain people backing you won't be able to suppress it. The board of trustees is giving you an opportunity right now. You had best think carefully, Supervisor Gao." "Who wants to expel my student?" With that voice, Cheng Zitong pushed the door open and strode in, still sporting those tinted decorative glasses. "Expel him? Just try it! My student—who dares expel Cheng Zitong's student?!" Commissioner Jiang turned to look at Cheng Zitong and scoffed coldly, "Supervisor Cheng, you are Chen Chuan's instructor, correct? Chen Chuan butchered so many outstanding students. As his instructor, you bear responsibility for this as well. You'd better think about how to extricate yourself first." Cheng Zitong didn't buy it in the slightest. "Jiang Qing, save your crap. You might intimidate others, but you won't intimidate me. The board of trustees? Without my approval, not a single soul is expelling my student!" Commissioner Jiang said coldly, "Supervisor Cheng, Wuyi Academy is not your personal institution. You have no authority to speak like that." "I have no authority?" Cheng Zitong scoffed, taking off his glasses, and said slowly, "My grandfather, Cheng Yunbai, was Wuyi Academy's—" Meanwhile, back in the dormitory, Feng Xiaoqi rushed inside in a panic and called out to the group of classmates gathered there, "The board of trustees sent that Commissioner Jiang to Supervisor Gao's office! They're saying they want to expel Brother Chen!" Wei Dong said, "Expelled? Even I haven't been expelled! Why should they expel Brother Chen?" Senior Wu gritted his teeth and cursed, "Damn it, that bastard Commissioner Jiang never does a damn thing good! No, we have to come up with something." "Yeah, we need a plan." Listening quietly from the side, Luo Kaiyuan took no part in the discussion. Instead, he slipped out in silence. Half an hour later, Commissioner Jiang walked out of the administrative building with a grim face. He intended to report what had just occurred back to several trustees. But when he reached the parking area, he discovered that his car tires had been slashed. Cursing under his breath, he told the driver following him, "Go make a phone call and have a car sent over." The driver hurried back to the office building to borrow a telephone. Commissioner Jiang waited alone, glancing at his watch. Right at that moment, footsteps suddenly drew near. Before he could react, his world spun violently, and a fist slammed into his face. With a wet crunch, he spat out several teeth. Immediately following, another fist smashed into his face, plunging his vision into darkness, and then another... The assailant stood up, glanced left and right, and unhurriedly walked away from the scene. When the driver returned and found Commissioner Jiang collapsed on the ground, covered in blood, he blanched in sheer terror. Rushing forward, he hauled him up, shaking him and shouting, "Commissioner Jiang! Commissioner Jiang!..." In the dormitory, Feng Xiaoqi and the others were still debating options, trying to figure out what they could do to help Chen Chuan. Turning around, they saw Luo Kaiyuan walk in from outside. Feng Xiaoqi asked, "Brother Luo, where'd you go? Where were you just now?" Luo Kaiyuan said, "Nothing. Just went to use the restroom."