Once the car drove into the tunnel, the surrounding scenery turned monotonous. Chen Chuan chatted idly with Old Zhan, taking the opportunity to recall what he knew about the Lower District.
It was said that when Center City was first constructed, the planning for both the Upper and Lower Districts had begun simultaneously. For unknown reasons, however, construction of the Lower District was never completed as scheduled and was eventually abandoned.
With the withdrawal of the last administrative and maintenance team thirty years ago, the place had completely devolved into a haven for undocumented vagrants and gang members.
The Lower District comprised vast, compartmentalized sectors and an intricate labyrinth of subterranean roads and tunnels. These thoroughfares branched in every direction, linking various districts and even reaching up into the Upper District. There was no way to get an accurate census of the population, but it likely rivaled that of the Upper District.
Because it had been forsaken by Center City's administrative apparatus, a daily influx of experimental implants, illicit drugs, and hazardous goods flowed down into it, turning it into an open testing ground for various corporations.
It was also where esoteric cultists and insurgents congregated in the greatest numbers. Countless illicit cults and fanatics gathered there, and several unaligned resistance organizations operated from the shadows, while throngs of gangsters ran all manner of illegal operations.
The esoteric materials Old Qi had purchased before, for instance, had originated from down here.
Many fighters wanted in the Upper District also fled here to lie low. Someone in the Disposal Bureau had once suggested deploying funded students like Chen Chuan into the Lower District to hunt down fugitives, but Ni Xixi had thoroughly cursed them out for the idea.
During the early stages of his flight, Wei Wusheng had also been suspected of slipping into the Lower District. Consequently, the area was invariably associated with chaos, lawlessness, depravity, and madness.
The vehicle jolted, likely rolling over loose gravel, breaking Chen Chuan's train of thought. He saw the car veer into another tunnel sloping downward.
After driving for another ten minutes or so, the space began to open up. The ceiling rose continuously, finally leveling off at what appeared to be twenty to thirty meters high.
Now, at regular intervals, huge cylindrical glass enclosures could be seen leaning against the walls, containing dark green plants that emanated a fluorescent glow throughout. Similar glass fixtures were suspended from the ceiling like crossbeams, casting ample illumination across the subterranean expanse.
In some places, however, the glass had long since shattered. Even the foundational pillars had cracked, collapsing onto the roadway alongside metal support frames. Unchecked vegetation spilled outward onto the pavement, claiming the roadway and scattering broken, flickering luminescence in every direction.
The glass casings along the ceiling were even more severely damaged, yet over time the climbing vegetation had formed an independent structure, draping down like curtains of rain.
As a result, the car frequently had to navigate around narrow clearances, and Chen Chuan even watched them cross a stretch of road that was nothing more than a bridge formed by collapsed pillars intertwined with dense flora.
He checked with his boundary credential. These plants were sun vines, products originally developed by the Titan Plant Company of the Linakes Federation. Back then, the company had partnered with the Great Shun government to cultivate vast quantities of subterranean economic and food crops.
Later, however, the company had run into conflicts with the Great Shun government and was completely expelled. The crops and facilities left behind were abandoned without oversight or maintenance, decaying into their present ruined state.
Even so, the plants had managed to thrive and adapt to the subterranean environment, providing a cheap source of illumination for the core sectors of the Lower District.
Observing this layout, Chen Chuan got the impression that the Great Shun government had originally intended to construct an underground defense perimeter before ultimately abandoning the project for reasons unknown.
Seeing Chen Chuan studying the foliage, Old Zhan smiled. Such sights were everywhere in the Lower District; newcomers might find them novel, but one soon grew weary of them.
The car drove on, periodically taking side forks. The subterranean tunnels branched in all directions, making navigation virtually impossible without a guide.
As they ventured deeper, Chen Chuan noticed signs of blurring beginning to manifest on his Second Self. The effect was faint in certain stretches and heavier in others.
Whether through seasoned experience or inside knowledge, Old Zhan consistently steered clear of the areas where the encroachment was most severe.
"Right, almost forgot."
Old Zhan rummaged beneath his seat and tossed over an outdated boundary credential. "Brother Chen, use this once we're in. Yours is too conspicuous, and down in the Lower District, you won't get any transmissions from the Upper District anyway."
Chen Chuan had no desire to stand out. While he had nothing to fear personally, he was an outsider here and wished to avoid causing trouble for Old Zhan and the others. He accepted it without hesitation and swapped it in.
Seeing how decisively he acted, Old Zhan nodded in quiet approval.
Just then, the sound of approaching vehicles echoed from another tunnel mouth, sounding like an entire convoy. Old Zhan's expression shifted slightly. He immediately swung the steering wheel, slipping into a shadowed nook concealed behind tangled vines where the light could barely penetrate. He swiftly produced a spray canister and spritzed the immediate surroundings, sending swarms of insects and small critters scurrying away.
After a brief wait, vehicle after vehicle roared past along the main road ahead.
Chen Chuan peered out and caught sight of several passengers whose hair was styled to resemble moss and painted in garish colors, making them instantly recognizable. "The Moss Gang...?"
After about a dozen seconds, the convoy finally passed.
Old Zhan restarted the engine and got back on the road. "Those were folks from Poison Ant Express," he explained. "It's a business backed by the Moss Gang. They've set their sights on this sector lately, looking to swallow it whole. They've been clashing with Lutong Logistics pretty regularly these past few days."
Chen Chuan considered this. Every gang had corporate backing to some degree, and behind the Moss Gang stood the Green Origin Ecological Company.
It was a joint venture that kept a low profile despite wielding considerable strength. Domestically, it held little renown, but its international operations were vast.
The Disposal Bureau had maintained long-term surveillance over the firm, but because it appeared relatively compliant on the surface, it did not rank high on their priority list.
Beyond that tunnel, the car emerged into an open area resembling a sprawling bazaar. Most of the structures and sheds were cobbled together from concrete blocks and makeshift materials, forming a chaotic layout with convoluted alleyways and thick crowds.
Along the widest central avenue, the flanks were cluttered with countless storefront signs and billboards projecting illuminated screens. Through his boundary credential, searchlight-like beams in various colors could be seen sweeping overhead, constantly flashing crude, low-grade advertisements while blaring cacophonous noise and booming music.
He also spotted gas stations and lodges, and a bit further along, a used-car market where over a hundred beat-up vehicles were densely packed across an open lot.
Around the bazaar stood several metal guard towers, where armed patrols paced back and forth with rifles slung over their shoulders. They merely spared Old Zhan's car a casual glance as it went by.
After driving briskly through the settlement, the vehicle turned into another tunnel and passed another small encampment. Over half an hour later, they emerged from an exit, and Old Zhan said, "We're here. Lutong Logistics' base is just ahead. Mister Yu and Brother Lu have been staying there recently. Once we're inside, you can relax."
With that, he tapped his horn a few times. Several answering honks came from ahead, and the gunmen stationed at the crossroads immediately raised their muzzles toward the ceiling.
Chen Chuan looked out. Stretching along the tunnel wall was an immense convoy of parked vehicles, so extensive that the end was nowhere in sight. Most of them appeared heavily modified.
From time to time, two-wheeled motorized vehicles ridden by drivers in hard hats, carrying boxes and sturdy saddlebags, zipped over from one end, pulled up beside the cargo trucks to collect packages, and sped away again.
Despite the large crowd, there was no disorder; vehicles came and went in methodical harmony.
Guided by a flagman, Old Zhan maneuvered the car into an empty spot specially reserved for them. As the two stepped out, a middle-aged man in work overalls and a thick beard walked up to greet them.
"Old Zhan!" the man said with a broad smile. "Today isn't a restock day. What brings you down here?" He glanced toward Chen Chuan. "And this young fellow is...?"
Old Zhan replied, "This is Brother Chen. He's Mister Yu's student and Brother Lu's martial brother. He came specifically to see them."
"Ah, Mister Yu's student!" The bearded man's demeanor instantly grew warm. He waved over a boy of fourteen or fifteen. "Xiao Dan, take Brother Chen over to Brother Lu."
"Right away!"
Chen Chuan gave a nod, said goodbye to Old Zhan, and followed the boy.
Nearby, a spirited youth with bleached white hair pulled up on a motorized two-wheeler. Planting one foot on the ground, he watched Chen Chuan walk away and commented, "Uncle Zhan, that's Mister Yu's student? Heh, he looks pretty sharp—almost gives me a run for my money."
The bearded man asked, "Give it to me straight, Old Zhan. What's his deal?"
Old Zhan replied, "He really is Mister Yu's student. Brother Lu gave me the address; I wouldn't have brought him here otherwise."
The bearded man's tone grew serious. "He doesn't look simple."
"He's a fighter. In my estimation, he's at least on Mister Yu's level."
The white-haired youth's eyes widened. "Then isn't he on par with Sister Nan?"
Old Zhan paused thoughtfully. "I reckon he might be even stronger."
The youth curled his lip. "No way. Leaving aside old-timers like Old Bian, I've rarely seen anyone in our age group who can match Sister Nan's skills. This guy might be as handsome as me, but he's younger than I am. How could he possibly beat Sister Nan?"
Old Zhan didn't bother arguing. Instead, he turned to the bearded man and said, "The stronger he is, the better. My guess is Brother Lu called him down here specifically to help solve our trouble."
Led by the boy, Chen Chuan arrived before a modified motorhome. Emblazoned on its side was a circular ring of delicate, palm-sized gears that resembled a ring of fire from a distance—the hallmark emblem of Fenghai Manufacturing.
Fenghai Company specialized in medium and large commercial vehicles, though this particular model appeared to be an older design.
After thanking Xiao Dan, Chen Chuan knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" a familiar voice came over the intercom above.
Chen Chuan smiled. "Brother Lu, it's me."
Inside, hurried footsteps shook the walls of the vehicle, and the door was promptly thrown open. Lu Ke appeared in the doorway, his face alight with astonishment and joy. "Brother Chen!"
Chen Chuan raised his hand. Lu Ke leaped down, slapping his palm against Chen Chuan's and gripping it tight. "Brother Chen, we finally meet again!" he exclaimed, brimming with excitement.
Chen Chuan said with feeling, "Indeed. More than a year has gone by in the blink of an eye." He noticed several fresh scars marking Lu Ke's face and couldn't help asking, "What happened to your...?"
"Ah, it's nothing! Got into a scrap with someone, that's all. Don't just stand out here—come inside and let's talk!" Lu Ke waved dismissively, warmly ushering him into the vehicle.
Chapter 403