Gathering

Out in the training grounds, Instructor Wen stood there smiling just as before, but Chen Chuan could sense that the brightness in his eyes was noticeably dimmer than earlier. This was likely the toll taken by the resonant transmission. Instructor Wen smiled. "You were able to sustain a focused changeless mind for over three hours in one stretch. That genuinely surprised me. I had assumed you'd need several breaks to get through it. According to the records you provided, you broke through to the third limit less than five days ago, didn't you?" Chen Chuan nodded. Instructor Wen said with a hint of regret, "It seems I truly misjudged you before. You indeed possess talent that ordinary people could never hope to match. At this rate, it probably won't take long for me to teach you everything you need—I might even be able to pass on a few extra things." He checked his wristwatch. "It's nearly six o'clock. Let's call it a day." Chen Chuan cupped his hands in a respectful salute. "Thank you, Instructor Wen." He didn't know if this was how Instructor Wen instructed everyone, but it was clear the method took a toll on the instructor himself, so his gratitude was completely sincere. Instructor Wen smiled faintly. "Once you've fully digested what I taught you today, come find me again." Chen Chuan agreed. Seeing that Instructor Wen hadn't driven a car here, Chen Chuan offered to give him a ride, but the instructor politely declined. Chen Chuan didn't insist. After bidding him farewell, he drove back from the outskirts. After eating dinner at home, he went to his room and carefully examined his condition. This method of teaching through resonance was remarkably efficient. He felt as though the techniques were deeply imprinted into his flesh and bones. The moment his thoughts shifted, the mutated tissue in his body instinctively moved in the manner he had experienced during the day. However, these impressions were only temporary. If he didn't hasten to familiarize himself with them, the mutated tissue might gradually forget over time. Yet before doing any of this, he first had to guide the Furnace Breathing Technique. Each practice drained a portion of the energy he had accumulated beforehand, and mobilizing it also consumed his gathered changeless mind. Therefore, if he wished to train every day, he had to maintain a careful balance: the cost of his training could not exceed his daily reserves. He needed to thoroughly digest his current gains before seeking further guidance from Instructor Wen. For the next three days, he stayed home without going out, repeatedly honing these techniques. During this time, he received a phone call from Wei Chang'an. Since most of their group had their own commissions and obligations, finding a time when everyone was free wasn't easy; only a brief window in the middle of the month worked, so they scheduled their gathering for mid-month. Before the first ten days of the month ended, Chen Chuan consulted Instructor Wen once more, gaining even greater insights. He also discovered that this process of repeated application was extremely beneficial for restraining and controlling his changeless mind, which proved to be an unexpected bonus. When his rest day arrived, he drove to Bureau Director Lei's home at the time previously arranged with Senior Sister He, paying a visit to the family. Naturally, the conversation turned to his experiences after arriving in Center City. After listening, Director Lei said, "It seems you've adapted quite well to Center City. Sometime next year, I may be transferred there as well." Chen Chuan had heard Director Lei mention the possibility of a promotion and transfer before, but he hadn't expected it to be to Center City. Still, it was good news. He said, "Then congratulations are in order, Director Lei." Director Lei said, "This was actually settled last year, but I had too many loose ends to tie up in Yangzhi, so I deferred it by a year. Student Chen, we'll see each other again in Center City." Chen Chuan nodded. "And Senior Sister He and Xiao Ying?" Director Lei took He Nan's hand and gently stroked Xiao Ying's head. "They'll be coming along with me. I'll head over first to establish a foothold, and they'll likely follow a step later." Senior Sister He said, "Junior Brother, the situation in Center City is complicated. Once Old Lei arrives, he might need to trouble you for help with certain matters." Chen Chuan replied, "You're too polite, Senior Sister. Director Lei helped me a great deal in the past. Now that I have a bit of ability myself, please don't hesitate to let me know if there's anything you need." He stayed for a meal and took the opportunity to consult Director Lei about several matters regarding esoteric rituals before leaving in the afternoon. A few days later, the date agreed upon with Wei Chang'an arrived. Chen Chuan changed into casual clothes and headed to their old gathering spot, the Douyi Hotel. When he arrived, Senior Brother Ren, Lin Xiaodi, Luo Kaiyuan, Feng Xiaoqi, Wei Dong, Wu Han, and the members of Wei Chang'an's team had already begun trickling in. Seeing one another again, they exchanged news and spent a good while catching up. Once everyone was seated in the private dining room and the food was ordered, Wei Chang'an said, "Public security in the city has been gradually improving lately. Most of our commissions are focused on the wilderness and the surrounding counties and towns. There isn't much work inside the city—just routine security details." Cai Si chimed in, "I heard things are pretty lively up north, but the Yuangan Company has its eyes on that area, so there's no need for us to get involved. On the other hand, I heard..." He turned toward Wu Han. "All the commissions dealing with roving out-of-town bandits have been monopolized by Junior Brother Wu, Junior Brother Wei, and the rest of you?" Wu Han puffed out his chest and clapped the shoulder of Wei Dong, who was guzzling water to stave off his hunger. "You bet! Junior Brother Wei and I have unmatched chemistry. And Junior Brother Feng and Junior Brother Luo aren't half bad either." Feng Xiaoqi asked curiously, "Student Chen, what is Center City really like?" Hearing his question, everyone turned to look at Chen Chuan with expectant expressions. Chen Chuan hid nothing from them, sharing the reality of Center City, both good and bad, exactly as it was. Most of them had heard bits and pieces about Center City before, but it was all secondhand hearsay, impossible to verify. Listening to Chen Chuan, who had actually gone and lived there, opened their eyes completely. It truly felt like Center City and the world outside were two entirely different realms. Wei Chang'an sighed. "Your Brother Wei is doing reasonably well in Yangzhi City these days, but compared to you, Junior Brother Chen, the gap is truly immense." Everyone at the table felt the same. After all, the resources available in Yangzhi City couldn't begin to compare with Center City. Next to Center City, Yangzhi was like a tiny pond, incapable of making any real waves, and reaching the top here was still just that. Even the powerful families of Yangzhi would be nothing if placed in Center City. Ding Liao slapped the table. "Damn it, I already knew Center City was great, but hearing this makes me feel it even more! Don't blame me for being cynical, brothers, but what's the point of working so hard in Yangzhi? It all just amounts to the same old thing. Old Wei, if we get the chance, we have to go to Center City!" The other team members nodded in agreement. Wei Chang'an smiled. "Since you put it that way, brother, I'll definitely find a way to make it happen for everyone." Chen Chuan said, "I might be able to help with that." Becoming a third-limit fighter wasn't just a leap in status; it also allowed one to act as a guarantor, enabling a group of people to obtain long-term residency permits. Official citizenship was still exceedingly difficult to acquire, as Center City granted only a limited quota each year—otherwise, Chen Chuan wouldn't have had to put in so much effort just to test into Center City in the first place. Feng Xiaoqi and Luo Kaiyuan exchanged a glance, and Feng Xiaoqi said, "Student Chen, we have one more year of studies before we graduate. Luo, Wei Dong, and I already agreed last month to register for the Grade C defense license exam. We're heading over in a few days. If we pass and earn a recommendation, we might have a shot at Center City too." Luo Kaiyuan said, "It won't be easy, though. We aren't the only ones taking the Grade C exam, and rumor has it there's only one recommendation spot each year. We're all going to fight for it and see who makes the cut." In truth, Zhuang Zhi, Zhuang Zhongshan, and Feng Sheng from the dorm across from theirs were quite formidable; otherwise, the Mutual Aid Society wouldn't have recruited them in the first place. However, having joined the Mutual Aid Society was now a black mark on their records, so they weren't permitted to participate in this assessment, eliminating several tough competitors. Chen Chuan raised his glass. "Then I wish you all success." Seeing this, the others raised their glasses as well, toasting their upcoming trials. The dishes began to arrive, and they ate and chatted until one in the afternoon. Stepping out of the hotel, Chen Chuan exchanged updated contact information with everyone. After saying his goodbyes, he walked toward the parking lot. Watching his upright back, Cai Si suddenly said, "Brother Wei, do you get the feeling Brother Chen is a bit different from before?" Wei Chang'an rubbed his chin. "He is. Standing in front of him just now, I almost felt like I was the junior. Maybe it's because he holds an official post now?" "No," Cai Si shook his head. "Not that kind of difference." Lin Xiaodi was chewing bubblegum and blew a bubble. "Martial Uncle Chen is a third-limit fighter. That's completely normal." The moment she spoke, the people who were busy exchanging farewells froze and turned their heads toward her. Lin Xiaodi blew another bubble, looking at the stunned group in confusion. "Didn't Martial Uncle Chen tell you?" She blinked. "My master told me Martial Uncle Chen is already a third-limit fighter. Feeling that way when standing before him isn't strange at all. My master says fighters have a keen sense of danger, and instinct warns them to stay away from someone dangerous to them." Once this news was confirmed, the shock that surged through Feng Xiaoqi, Wei Chang'an, and the others far surpassed the impact of hearing about Center City earlier. As fighters, third-limit combatants had always existed purely in their imaginations—a distant goal to strive toward. Yet someone from their own circle had suddenly reached that echelon. The sheer sense of dislocation and astonishment was unprecedented. The group stood in place for a long while before departing, their emotions lingering long after. As Cai Si walked down the street, he muttered, "No wonder I barely dared to meet his eyes when Brother Chen looked over earlier. So that was why." Wei Chang'an patted him on the back and laughed. "Isn't that a great thing? Junior Brother Chen is one of our constabulary's own. When he said he could secure long-term Center City residency permits just now, he really wasn't bluffing." Cai Si looked up. "Old Wei, what are you getting at?" "Work hard. Don't let Junior Brother Chen look down on us. Center City is where we belong in the future."