Ever since the joint department commission concluded, Chen Chuan had taken on no further commissions for the time being, and he had temporarily turned down assignments from the company as well. He simply stayed at the academy, intensifying his combat training.
Another ten or so days passed, bringing the final day of November.
Because the commission payment had come through earlier that month, he had already placed calls beforehand to arrange a gathering with his team members for lunch today at the Douyi Hotel. It was a chance to share a meal and distribute the money; with the end of the year fast approaching, this was not something that could be put off.
Just as he was preparing to head out, however, he received a phone call from Bureau Director Lei.
"He Nan and I have set our wedding date. It's on the fifteenth of next month. We're only hosting a few close relatives and friends that day. An invitation will be delivered to you today, Student Chen. You must make sure to come."
Chen Chuan knew that someone in Bureau Director Lei's position was constantly watched from the shadows by cultists. That was why the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau, despite being an agency of force, kept almost no presence among government offices during ordinary times.
And for the safety of his family and friends, his wedding was destined to be held without fanfare. Nor could he gather all his subordinates under one roof; he had to keep things as low-profile as possible.
"Congratulations, Director Lei," he said. "I'll definitely be there."
Director Lei said, "Xiao Ying's health has improved greatly now. I told him about what you did, and he keeps saying he wants to meet you to thank his big brother."
Thinking of that boy, Chen Chuan felt it truly was a miracle that he had survived in the hands of those cultists.
Director Lei added, "A senior colleague from the Center City Examination Bureau will be attending this time. I'll take the opportunity to introduce you to him. It'll be helpful for you in the future."
Chen Chuan said, "Thank you, Director Lei."
"Don't mention it. Compared to how much you helped Xiao Ying, this is nothing."
Chen Chuan pondered a moment and said, "Director Lei, ever since the last commission ended, there's been something I've wanted to ask."
Director Lei said, "You want to ask about the whereabouts of the person behind that ritual setup, right? We tracked down the hot-air balloon after it landed, but we couldn't find anyone. I later guessed that the true mastermind was very likely hiding aboard the train at the time."
"On the train..."
Chen Chuan turned the thought over and asked, "Didn't the man captured on the train confess anything?"
Director Lei said, "He was merely a cultist responsible for coordinating things on site. According to his confession, he was only hired for the job. We verified that he was telling the truth. But there's no need to worry anymore. Once an esoteric ritual has been triggered, even if nothing is done, those patterns and materials will fade away after some time.
"Without material and manpower support, it's impossible for him to set up a ritual on that scale again. As for smaller rituals, our bureau can handle them."
Chen Chuan nodded. Although esoteric rituals could achieve many mystical effects, in most cases, a tremendous amount of time had to be spent on preliminary preparations.
That person had been able to reach such heights previously only because of backing from the Molan Company. Without the support of a power like that, recreating what had happened before was practically out of the question.
After chatting a few moments longer, the two hung up the phone.
Chen Chuan could sense that Director Lei had consistently been steering him toward the esoteric path. Introducing a senior figure from the bureau this time was likely motivated by the same intention.
Yet while he was intrigued by matters of a mystical nature, only combat arts could truly empower himself. Having chosen this path, he would walk it with resolve, without straying toward anything else.
Tidying up a bit and adjusting his attire, he pushed open the door and headed out. Reaching the foot of the dormitory building, he hopped onto his bicycle and rode toward the Douyi Hotel.
By now, the corporate meetings had concluded, and the resistance organization had been almost completely wiped out, so the downtown area was safe again. After he arrived, the members of his team showed up one after another.
As was customary, the money was distributed before digging into the food.
Receiving a substantial payout right before year's end along with an evaluation boost left everyone in high spirits.
Wei Chang'an rose with his glass in hand and said earnestly, "Junior Chen, thanks to those commissions of yours, your Brother Wei here has finally made senior commissioner! I won't ever have to walk on eggshells around the companies again. I've got to toast you!"
Chen Chuan picked up his glass, clinked it against his, and smiled. "Then congratulations are truly in order, Brother Wei."
The others also raised their glasses to offer their congratulations.
A senior commissioner held a high personal evaluation, commanded far better compensation, and found it vastly easier to deal with government bureaus and major corporations. Some senior commissioners, by virtue of long-term employment with certain government departments, even wielded a degree of de facto authority, enjoying a status entirely different from before.
For Wei Chang'an to attain it at his age was truly something worth celebrating.
After clinking glasses with everyone, Wei Chang'an finally sat back down. At that moment, Cai Si beside him spoke up: "Have you guys been listening to the radio these past few days? Day after day, it's just endless coverage praising the new Civil Administrator for crushing the resistance organization right after taking office. What a shame—even though we were the ones who did it, we can't talk about it."
The radio broadcasts hadn't mentioned Chen Chuan or his team members at all. Several departments had briefed them on this beforehand, explaining that the priority was restoring the public's trust in government authorities, which was why their names were withheld; in exchange, they were granted an extra bonus on their payouts.
Feng Xiaoqi mumbled, "Isn't getting extra money a good thing? Compared to fame, I'd rather take the cash."
Chen Chuan, however, said, "Even if they hadn't brought it up, I would have asked for the same thing. The resistance organization isn't going to vanish just because this bunch was eliminated. They'll resort to any means, completely unconstrained by scruples.
"For everyone's safety, we should avoid exposing ourselves as much as possible. Besides, as far as I know, one key figure managed to escape, and their whereabouts remain unknown."
Ding Liao chimed in with deep agreement: "Exactly. As long as the world stays the way it is, the resistance organization will always exist. All that happened was putting out the flames on top; the sparks underneath are still smoldering. Who knows when they might flare up again? It's better to stay cautious."
Luo Kaiyuan remarked, "Some of them might have been driven to it."
Feng Xiaoqi said, "Well, I don't like them regardless. One explosion went off just dozens of meters from my family's little shop. There was an old neighbor grandpa I knew who used to weave grasshoppers out of straw to amuse the kids—he was buried right there."
Wei Chang'an raised his glass again and said with a smile, "In any case, most of the resistance organization has been eradicated, and the Molan Company has fallen. That's worth celebrating! Come on, everyone, let's have another drink!"
The others raised their glasses in unison.
While they were having their feast, Cheng Zitong was walking out of the principal's office. Staring at the document in his hands, his face radiated exhilaration.
He hurried back to his office and dialed Chen Chuan immediately. When no one answered, he remembered that the boy was likely out having a meal today.
Putting down the receiver, he thought it over, chuckled to himself, and retrieved a duplicate of the document, tucking it into his briefcase. He then went downstairs and drove straight over to Lakeside Villa.
Stepping out of the car, he took off his decorative sunglasses, lingered before the main gate for a moment, and strode inside.
"Lao Qian, my senior brother is in, right?"
"He is," the gatekeeper replied.
"Teaching his disciple right about now, isn't he? Fine, I'll go find him myself."
Cheng Zitong walked into the courtyard. Glancing over, he saw that student practicing punches by the waterside pavilion, while Qiao Linhu was sipping tea in the parlor, looking outside from time to time with evident satisfaction in his eyes.
Clomping right over, Cheng Zitong whipped the document out of his briefcase and slammed it onto the table before Qiao Linhu with a sharp smack.
Startled, Qiao Linhu looked up at him in surprise, then frowned down at the paper. "What is this?"
"What is it? An admission slot for the Main Academy in Center City!"
Cheng Zitong slapped the document several more times and crowed, "This is my student, and I am his instructor! Didn't expect that, did you, Senior Brother?"
Qiao Linhu fell silent for a moment. Ever since watching Chen Chuan upend the Mutual Aid Society, he had sensed that something was amiss. He said slowly, "In all things, one must guard against arrogance and rashness, not pursue quick success..."
Cheng Zitong jerked his briefcase open again. Smack! He slammed another certificate onto the table. "This is the weapons license my student earned!"
"Students must be tempered. Blindly puffing them up will only cause them to lose their self-restraint..."
Smack! Cheng Zitong slammed another certificate onto the table. "This is my student's armor license!"
"...Even if he has achieved a tiny bit of success..."
Smack! Cheng Zitong slapped down yet another certificate, pointing at it. "This is my student's unlimited defense license—Grade B!"
Qiao Linhu's voice caught in his throat. Clutching his beard, he sat there in stifled silence. For no matter what words he spoke, none could compare to an unlimited defense license.
Great Shun maintained extraordinarily strict standards for such credentials; otherwise, all those recommended students wouldn't have bothered testing for a Grade C license first before trying every trick in the book to earn a Grade B certificate. This was formal recognition at the national level. Against it, any verbal quibble was pale and hollow—nothing more than hot air.
Cheng Zitong's eyes were faintly reddened. "My student doesn't need to follow any of your bullshit traditional paths! He doesn't need anyone shackling him with damn outdated rules, and he sure as hell doesn't need to walk a path laid out for him by others! Relying on nobody but himself, he can blaze this trail on his own!"
His voice boomed across the entire courtyard, clear enough for the attendant out front and the student practicing punches to hear every single word. The surrounding air fell dead quiet, as though even the chirping insects and singing birds had vanished in an instant.
"The old man insisted that his way was the only true way, but that doesn't mean everyone has to walk it! His words aren't gospel! I said that once I walked out, I'd find my own way back, and now my student is going back in my place! Over all these years, the old man has taught so many students—pick any single one of them..."
Cheng Zitong slammed his palm down hard on the table. "Put them right here! Put them in my student's shoes! Which one of them can beat their chest and say they could do what my student did, or achieve what my student achieved? Which one? Is there anyone? Have them step forward and let me see!"
Having endured the tirade, Qiao Linhu said slowly, "Junior Brother, don't you forget that my student can go to Center City as well. Yours isn't the only one capable of going there!"
"He'll have to wait two years, won't he?"
"...Yes."
"My student—"
"Enough!"
Qiao Linhu barked. He had no stomach to listen any further. All Cheng Zitong did was brag and boast, and the more he rambled, the more grating it became.
Slapping the table, he stood up as well. "Junior Brother, let me tell you: the traditional path has guides to lead the way, elders above to watch over you, fellow disciples beside you to lend a hand, and younger students behind you to back you up! Have you ever considered that when your student gets there, he will have none of that? How far can he possibly go?"
Cheng Zitong wasn't worried in the slightest. He looked at Qiao Linhu for a moment, chuckled, slipped his decorative sunglasses back on, and started walking out. As he walked, he said, "That's my student. I have faith in him. Oh, by the way..."
He looked back over his shoulder. "Senior Brother, I just love seeing that stubborn, unyielding mouth of yours. Keep it up! I'm off..." With a wave of his hand, he swaggered out.
Over by the waterside pavilion, the student who had been practicing punches couldn't help pricking his ears as the two were arguing. But as he listened, he suddenly noticed Qiao Linhu standing expressionlessly in front of him, and he shuddered involuntarily.
"You can't even get a single posture right. It shows you haven't drilled it into your bones yet. Do it another hundred times for me."
"Yes, Master." The student groaned inwardly, but dared not utter a peep at a time like this, diligently continuing his practice.
Qiao Linhu watched from the side, a suffocating knot of frustration festering in his chest. It suddenly dawned on him—Cheng Zitong had been coming over every day lately just to praise his disciple! He had wondered why the man had had such a sudden change of attitude. Turns out, he had been saving up for this ambush all along!
Careless. Truly careless.
He looked at the disciple before him. Before, everything about the boy had seemed pleasing to the eye; now, no matter how he looked, he saw nothing but flaws.
He needs more training! More drills, continuously!
Cheng Zitong stepped outside and let out a long breath. The weather today felt simply magnificent. It was utterly exhilarating, utterly satisfying!
Looking back toward the entrance, he called out toward the gate, "Lao Qian, let my senior brother know that I'll be back tomorrow! Tell him to save an extra bowl of rice!" With that, he leisurely got into his car and sped off before long.
Chapter 227