Bureau Director Lei walked over to the desk, picked up the chess-piece-like ornaments arranged on it, and set them down one after another into an outwardly expanding pattern.
Turning back, he explained to Chen Chuan, "Look. Suppose these pieces represent rituals of the ancient era. Then..."
He took out a pen and drew several lines between them. They were not simply linked in a straight series; instead, lines of varying distances connected the pieces, each one distinct from the next.
Chen Chuan looked at the varied figurines and the lines drawn beneath each of them, falling into deep thought.
"Do you see it?"
Bureau Director Lei tapped his finger along the lines. "Because his rituals were never a single whole to begin with, linking them together is no easy task. I suspect he spent a tremendous amount of time bridging the gaps and stringing them into a sequence. But a ritual constructed this way is doomed never to resonate as a unified whole. It has to be driven forward section by section.
"When it activates like that, it gives us enough time to react. We can target them one by one. The more we disrupt, the less cohesive the ritual will become.
"Still, this takes time, and he will undoubtedly rely on a core. That core will play a pivotal role, and we need to locate it. Until we find it, there is no guarantee we can dismantle the entire ritual. During that window, we will need you holding the line at the front.
"Moreover, because he holds the initiative, we can only react from behind. Right now, it is impossible to be certain just how many ancient-era rituals have been put to use, which makes it equally difficult to define a precise timeframe."
Chen Chuan nodded. In other words, before the esoteric rituals were completely disrupted or the outcome was decided, he would have to personally endure whatever effects were directed at him.
He did not feel particularly burdened by that. After all, he possessed his Second Self; at most, it would be a battle of attrition.
He currently had eighteen hours of overlap time. While excessive corruption would continuously shave away at that duration, he had no intention of just standing there like a stationary target. Besides, he would not be fighting alone this time.
Bureau Director Lei said solemnly, "We won't send you to face these things unprepared. Over the next few days, I will do everything I can to prepare various protective rituals to ward off the corruption. But that still won't be enough. When the critical moment comes, you'll need to find ways to resist or disrupt the rituals yourself.
"In fact, if strictly necessary, we could inscribe esoteric rituals directly onto human skin. However, esoteric rituals cause severe mental corruption. Doing that to someone takes too heavy a toll, and it could easily make it difficult to maintain one's sanity.
"If you were purely a ritual practitioner, we could have people nearby administering injections, or swap in another person if your state deteriorated. But considering that you are a martial artist who needs a clear mind and abundant stamina, I decided this method was unsuitable for you.
"That leaves only one approach: arranging esoteric ritual patterns on the clothes and gear you wear. We can prepare several spare sets to ensure you can counter what comes."
Chen Chuan nodded. It was a sound consideration. Even though his Second Self could divert that corruption, if there were alternative means available, he should certainly make use of them first.
No matter how long his overlap time lasted, every minute and second had to be weighed with utmost care once combat began. After all, his life was on the line.
Bureau Director Lei continued, "Esoteric rituals always require preparation in advance, utilizing substantial time and materials to leverage abnormal substances. Everything is prepared beforehand, even the measures you use on the fly.
"It's just like the hand of cards you hold. The moment you enter the field, all the cards you can play are already in your grasp. It comes down to how you play them and how you bring out each card's utility.
"That said, you are a martial artist, not a pure esoteric expert. All of this is merely an auxiliary aid to let you bring your own strengths to bear without interference.
"Over the next two days, I will teach you how to rapidly identify types of esoteric rituals, along with basic methods to counter them. That will be enough. I've already had my subordinates begin preparations to teach you using physical objects, which leaves a far deeper impression. For now, take some time to arrange your own affairs, and we'll begin shortly."
"Understood," Chen Chuan replied.
Once he finished speaking with Bureau Director Lei, Chen Chuan phoned his former squad members, asking if they were available for an upcoming commission to wipe out an armed gang.
Unsurprisingly, every single one of them readily agreed upon hearing his invitation.
Even setting personal ties aside, every commission Chen Chuan brought was of exceptionally high quality and yielded immense rewards—far beyond anything an ordinary commission could offer. There was simply no reason to pass it up.
However, because this commission carried a high level of confidentiality, it could not be handled through the company. Chen Chuan did not want to trouble Bureau Director Lei with administrative details either, so he called Gao Ming to manage the paperwork.
Ever since successfully clearing Chen Chuan at the Tribunal, Gao Ming had made a tremendous name for himself in solicitor circles. Even though Chen Chuan's exoneration appeared outwardly linked to Molan Company itself being targeted, the ability to exploit intelligence, assess the landscape, and successfully achieve his objective through it remained a rare feat.
For a time, numerous solicitor firms had attempted to poach him, and several high-society figures had sent formal invitations seeking to hire him onto their legal teams.
Yet Gao Ming turned them all down. He did not leap at major cases just because his fame had surged; instead, he took on several minor cases with a low profile, deliberately fading from the public eye as much as possible.
In his own words, his true value would only rise when Chen Chuan successfully entered Center City. There was no need to poke his head out too early right now.
Lying low now was meant to yield greater harvests later.
When he received Chen Chuan's call, Gao Ming gladly accepted. Chen Chuan was not only his cousin, but also his primary client. Naturally, the primary client's requirements took precedence above all else.
After finishing his calls, Chen Chuan was brought by Bureau Director Lei to a training hall that afternoon. The floor was already covered in advance with various esoteric diagrams.
Standing in the center of one of the esoteric diagrams, Bureau Director Lei said solemnly, "The categories of esoteric rituals are vast. Learning how to respond to each of them normally requires prolonged instruction and repeated combat drills. Not only is the material investment enormous, but it also inflicts immense torment on a person's psyche. We have neither the time nor the inclination to put you through that.
"Therefore, we have prepared counter-rituals for you in advance. All you need to do is correctly identify what you face and determine which ritual to deploy in response.
"Making the right judgment here is critical, and the window to react is razor-thin. While most esoteric rituals allow you to find a countermeasure after activation, certain rituals will deny you any chance of fighting back once they are unleashed. You must act before that happens whenever possible. That hinges entirely on an individual's powers of observation and acuity."
Saying so, he handed over a dozen exquisitely crafted pattern plaques inscribed with various esoteric diagrams.
"These are the esoteric ritual patterns that will be drawn onto your clothing beforehand. Next, I will trigger the ritual here. What you need to do is identify the correct counter-plaque in the shortest possible time to neutralize the triggered ritual effect."
Chen Chuan glanced at the plaques in his hand. They were intricate and ornate, appearing nearly identical at first glance. Committing them to memory and discerning their differences was no simple feat.
Fortunately, his previous diligent study of the dossiers bore fruit. Combined with his keen observation, he was able to tell them apart after studying them for a short while.
Bureau Director Lei said, "If you're ready, we'll begin."
Chen Chuan nodded. "Bureau Director Lei, I'm ready."
The moment he spoke, Bureau Director Lei raised his hands and clapped once. At the exact same time, Chen Chuan noticed a faint sign of blurring appear across his Second Self, which indicated that a ritual had already been quietly set in motion.
After a brief thought, he decided to face the ritual's effects directly, and held his Second Self back from blocking it.
The instant he made that decision and committed to it, he felt Bureau Director Lei's clapping suddenly sound as though it were drifting in from a great distance.
The ambient light around him seemed to dim. He felt as if he were trapped deep inside a hollow cavern, enveloped by a suffocating wave of loneliness and anxiety. Even his limbs seemed to be slowly drifting away from his body, and a part of him felt inclined to sink deeper into the abyss.
He immediately recalled the dossiers he had reviewed earlier. According to those records, when esoteric rituals did not exploit urban legends, the vast majority acted as mental assaults. Physical harm existed, but was comparatively far less intense.
Under normal circumstances, one could still resist, but considering this was merely an exploratory test, the actual effects would likely be far more severe. Countering them under real conditions would pose a significant challenge—and if enemies were flanking him at the same time, it would be exceptionally perilous.
Maintaining his composure, he looked down at the plaques in his hand, only to find the patterns on them difficult to make out. Relying on his prior memory, he swiftly picked out one of them. The moment he completed the action, the stifling sensation receded rapidly, and everything around him swiftly returned to normal.
Bureau Director Lei looked at him. "Very good. You studied those dossiers carefully." He paused. "Let us continue."
Throughout the rest of the afternoon, Chen Chuan repeatedly familiarized himself with utilizing these fixed rituals under Bureau Director Lei's guidance. Because the components he needed to master were straightforward, he grasped them completely by the end of the afternoon.
As they finished, he posed a question to Bureau Director Lei.
"Bureau Director Lei, this student would like to ask something. That Cult of Life from before was capable of transferring a person's vitality. If someone possessed greater manpower and wealth, could they use that to achieve longevity?"
Bureau Director Lei answered slowly, "That is a very dangerous subject. The purpose of esoteric rituals is to pursue visions that humanity itself cannot fulfill, achieved only through established rules and conduits. What can be accomplished is strictly limited to what the rules themselves permit. Fortunately, up to this point, no such outcome has ever emerged."
Chen Chuan said, "Just because it hasn't been discovered doesn't mean it's impossible, does it?"
"Indeed," Bureau Director Lei said. "Since the ancient era, people have continually strove in that direction. Although no one has ever achieved it, people have never entirely given up, and many are still searching for that possibility.
"The so-called vitality transfer practiced by the Cult of Life cannot actually endure for long. At first, the recipient might feel brimming with vigor, but before long, they return to their original state. Outwardly, nothing has truly changed."
Chen Chuan pondered briefly. "So it's akin to taking an energy-boosting stimulant?"
Bureau Director Lei nodded. "A very apt comparison. In truth, the genuine effect is even weaker than simply taking medicine, and it may bring various side effects along with it.
"You might wonder, then, why anyone would expend vast fortunes and manpower on something so weak.
"It is because compared to whatever physical replenishment the ritual offers, the mental euphoria and satisfaction it delivers are unforgettable. In particular, that sensation of vitality surging into the body—as though one has been reborn—leaves many people completely enthralled, even addicted."
At that point, his tone turned solemn. "Applying any ritual brings about mental stimulation. Many personnel in the Esoteric Cult Bureau currently rely on injections to alleviate the side effects of frequent ritual use. But if one truly wishes to withstand them, the only answer lies in self-restraint and unwavering resolve."
Chapter 220