After ending his call with Bureau Director Lei, Chen Chuan thought it over and decided not to return directly to the academy. Instead, he made a trip back to his aunt's home.
Since it was a rest day, the whole family was there. Over dinner that evening, Nian Fuli suddenly asked, "Xiao Chuan, don't you have a squad? Do you often meet up for meals at the Douyi Hotel?"
Chen Chuan said, "Not often, just a couple of times."
Nian Fuli solemnly cautioned him, "Then don't eat anywhere near there lately."
"What's wrong?" Yu Wan asked with concern.
Nian Fuli set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at the two of them. "Recently, they swept the Douyi Hotel and discovered bombs."
"Bombs?" Yu Wan was startled.
Nian Fuli sighed. "It's not just the Douyi Hotel. They found them in several other places around the city center too, including one very close to the Municipal Assembly Hall. It was likely the work of the resistance organization. Even though every single one was swept and found in time, you can never be too careful.
"Lately, representatives from various companies and enterprises, along with officials from other cities, have come here for meetings. Higher-ups told us to step up security. From the looks of it, the resistance is targeting this, and their moves probably won't stop anytime soon."
Yu Wan looked at Chen Chuan, her eyes filled with worry. "Chan'er..."
Chen Chuan immediately said, "Aunt, Uncle, don't worry. I won't go near that area for now."
Nian Fuli said, "That's good. Better to steer clear than try to guard against it. If you don't have to go, stay away."
Chen Chuan turned the matter over in his mind. Combining this with his earlier deductions, the resistance organization's bomb plantings were very likely just a ploy to draw the constabulary's attention, making it easier for them to operate elsewhere.
The resistance had used this trick before, and it never failed. Even if the Municipal Administration and the constabulary knew it was a distraction, they had no choice but to heighten security there. What was more, this was right in the city center, where the administrative conference building hosting the assembly was of paramount importance, necessitating even stricter sweeps.
After finishing dinner, he stayed the night at his aunt's place and returned to the academy the next day.
He took a walk around Spring and Autumn Lake, slowly regulating his breathing technique. When he finished, he headed to the Weapons Division training hall to practice saber techniques.
Every time he trained here, an upperclassman from the Weapons Division would come over to spar with him. Chen Chuan welcomed this warmly; each bout against students wielding different weapons gave him plenty of experience in countering them.
Though firearms were what one encountered most often in the outside world, once pitted against fellow fighters, clashes usually came down to close-quarters combat with cold weapons.
With a sharp crack, the wooden staff snapped under the strain of channeled jin. Opposite him, an upperclassman ruefully lowered the broken half in his hand, clasped his fists toward Chen Chuan, and said, "Junior Brother Chen, thanks for indulging me."
Chen Chuan cupped his hands to return the salute.
The upperclassman took a couple of steps, then couldn't help asking, "Junior Brother Chen, how do you manage to control your jin so precisely?"
Chen Chuan thought to himself, *Isn't that just how it goes when the stronger fights the weaker?* Outwardly, however, he answered with a solemn expression, "I believe it comes down to hard training."
The upperclassman pondered this and nodded in agreement, muttering, "Not enough practice. I need to train even harder when I get back." Then he added, "Thank you, Junior Brother." Tossing aside the broken staff, he strode away.
The other students who had been watching the spar from nearby also clasped their fists toward Chen Chuan, dispersing to their own training filled with admiration and renewed motivation.
After everyone departed, Chen Chuan went to a private training room to practice his throwing technique alone.
In his hands, such techniques were even more effective at short range than firearms. For one, they were fast and covert to launch, and for another, they produced little noise, making up nicely for his lack of long-range methods.
After training for the whole morning, he returned to the dormitory and took a shower. Just as he was getting ready to head to the cafeteria for lunch, the phone on the desk rang. He picked up the receiver.
Bureau Director Lei's voice came over the line. "Student Chen? Lei Guangcheng here. Following our conversation yesterday, I sent men to secretly scout Mount Xie. So far, they haven't found anything unusual."
"It isn't there?"
Chen Chuan was slightly surprised.
However, Bureau Director Lei said, "No, I believe your deduction is sound. It's just that manifestations of esoteric rituals aren't necessarily entirely visible. For example, certain materials produced in Center City can achieve that effect.
"With advancing technology, such materials are currently replacing traditional ritual components, making them even harder to guard against. Fortunately, their output is scarce, so whatever can actually be deployed in the field should be very limited."
Chen Chuan asked, "Director Lei, do esoteric cults exist in Center City too?"
Lei Guangcheng replied in a deep voice, "It would be more accurate to say that a place like Center City is the ultimate breeding ground for esoteric cults. Every social stratum can derive solace, fulfill desires, or gain advantages from them. All we can do is contain them; we cannot eliminate them."
Chen Chuan gave an acknowledging hum.
"I called you today for another matter as well. Because this issue involves too much for the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau to handle alone, there will be a meeting in two days. Colleagues from other departments will join the discussion, and I hope you can attend."
Chen Chuan answered decisively, "Understood, Director Lei. I will be there."
"Very well. I will let you know the exact location when the time comes. By the way, your fellow Wuyi alumna woke up yesterday. Now it's just a matter of gradual recovery. Meanwhile, the others from the same batch—even the fighters among them—are still unconscious. She was quite fortunate."
Chen Chuan nodded. "Thank you, Director Lei."
Bureau Director Lei said, "Don't mention it. Await my notice."
When the call ended, Chen Chuan hung up and called over Feng Xiaoqi and Luo Kaiyuan, who had just returned, to eat lunch at the cafeteria together. After returning, he rested briefly and was preparing to resume his afternoon training when he received a phone call from Cheng Zitong.
"Xiao Chuan, the new Civil Administrator Zhu wants to meet you."
"Meet me?"
Slightly surprised, Chen Chuan asked, "Teacher, do you know what it's about?"
Cheng Zitong said, "He was the one who signed off on your application form earlier. As the new Civil Administrator, my guess is that he might want to curry favor with Wuyi Academy through you."
Chen Chuan pondered for a moment, faintly guessing one possible reason. He asked, "Teacher, when?"
Cheng Zitong said, "This new Administrator Zhu has put on quite a show of humility and respect. He said he knows how hard you train and didn't demand a specific time. In my view, whether he's being sincere or hypocritical, he's certainly made all the right gestures. It wouldn't do for us to keep him waiting long. Besides, getting this over with sooner means fewer people paying attention to you, leaving you free to focus on your training."
Chen Chuan said, "You make a good point, Teacher. In that case, let's do it now. I have time right now anyway."
Cheng Zitong said, "Fair enough. I'll drive you over. I'll be downstairs at your dorm in a bit."
After hanging up, Chen Chuan washed his face, changed into formal attire, and walked out of the dormitory building. Outside, Cheng Zitong's car pulled up right on cue. Chen Chuan stepped forward briskly, opened the door, and got in.
Cheng Zitong drove out through the school gates and headed south along the main thoroughfare. In less than twenty minutes, they arrived outside the municipal administrative building in the southern district. He said, "Xiao Chuan, go on in. I called ahead earlier; someone will receive you once you enter."
Chen Chuan nodded and climbed out of the car. He went over to speak with the security personnel at the entrance, and soon a staff member from the Municipal Administration emerged to politely escort him inside the administrative building.
Cheng Zitong waited in the car. About half an hour later, he saw Chen Chuan emerge. As Chen Chuan got back into the vehicle, Cheng Zitong asked, "Did you meet?"
Chen Chuan nodded.
"What did he say to you? He didn't give you a hard time, did he?"
Chen Chuan said, "Not at all. The Civil Administrator was just as Teacher said—very warm, with no airs about him. When we met, he asked a bit about my daily life, and upon learning that my application form for the Center City slot had already been submitted, he gave me some words of encouragement. He didn't mention anything else, as if he simply wanted to meet me in person."
Cheng Zitong said, "Meeting you in itself shows his stance. What was said really isn't that important."
A political figure's actions were never without purpose. They invariably broadcast a message in one form or another; even if the politician didn't consciously dwell on it, they would weigh the potential reactions and consequences before doing anything.
Chen Chuan looked back toward the administrative building. During this meeting, although Administrator Zhu hadn't brought up anything extra, Chen Chuan could sense that the man's motive for summoning him was very likely tied to that affair.
The car beneath him started up again, heading back toward Wuyi Academy along the avenue.
Inside the Civil Administrator's office, Zhu Xian studied a map of Yangzhi City. As the newly installed Civil Administrator, he was exceptionally vigilant regarding the resistance organizations and esoteric cults that had long stirred up trouble across Yangzhi.
From reports sent up from below, he knew there was a strong chance of catching hold of these people's tails this time. If he could wipe them out in one fell swoop, it would undoubtedly be a dazzling achievement, more than enough to establish his prestige in Yangzhi and secure a firm foothold.
At the same time, however, failure would be equally detrimental to him, which was why he could not overtly take a side.
He had met with Chen Chuan because he knew the youth was one of the participants in this operation. On the surface, this merely showed care toward an outstanding Wuyi student while currying favor with the academy, implicating him in nothing.
If the target was successfully eliminated, it would highlight his foresight; through clever public relations, others would believe the success had come under his direction and encouragement. And even if the effort failed, he could simply downplay the matter and remain untainted. Either way, he stood to lose nothing.
Still, that student had given him an unusual feeling.
Recalling how Chen Chuan had stood so calmly before him, Zhu Xian suddenly felt a wave of discomfort.
Ordinary teenage students meeting him would invariably feel awkward and nervous—a natural gap born of status and station.
Yet not only had this student remained composed the entire time, but when those calm eyes looked his way, they had imparted an indescribable sense of pressure, unconsciously reminding him of facing Wen Tong on the train that day.
It was as though his life no longer belonged to him in that moment.
He resolved secretly that in the future, he must keep his distance from these fighters as much as possible.
He could not allow people like that to get too close.
Chapter 218