Waves

On the morning of the sixth day of the New Year, Chen Chuan awoke from his sleep. After two days of relaxation, the effects of the memory potion surfaced once more. In the scene that unfolded this time, the light-brown-haired woman appeared again. Her arms were folded across her chest as she spoke with another person. The other person carried the unmistakable air of a corporate executive, their expression dead serious, as if delivering a warning or perhaps a piece of advice. He couldn't tell where this was. It seemed to be along a plank walkway somewhere. Red lanterns floated in the sky, and now and then the crackle of firecrackers drifted over. He took in the scene. Was this during the New Year holiday? No wonder the memory had resurfaced at this time. Meanwhile, the mother of this body seemed to be leaning against a railing off to the side, paying no heed to their conversation, with only the occasional sound of the woman's irritation drifting over. After a while, the woman stormed back. The corporate executive seemed intent on pursuing her, but his original body's mother took a step forward, barring the path. Ultimately, the person did not press further, turning and walking away instead. Once that person was gone, his original body's mother began talking with the brown-haired woman. Walking together, they reached the edge of a cliff. He did not recognize the location, but he noted the characters inscribed on the adjacent cliff face, intending to look them up once he returned to Center City. At this point, the content of their conversation drew his attention. Although the two had talked plenty in earlier memories, the woman had never once mentioned her identity or origins. This time, however, she stated that she would not return to the company. He pondered this. Seen this way, this woman was quite likely an executive of some company, and his body's mother had probably been responsible for her security. It was just not yet clear which company it was. Still, recalling the card left behind by this body's parents, there might well be a connection between the two. As he was thinking, sporadic pops of firecrackers sounded outside again. He glanced outside and got out of bed. There was no need to rack his brains guessing for now; concrete clues would likely become clear as more memories returned in time. After dressing, he went out to wash up. Today he was going to visit Cheng Zitong's home to offer New Year greetings, so he needed to leave early. *** While Great Shun was celebrating the New Year holiday, Gong Zhanxin, direct heir to the old royal house of the Outer Ocean Islands, paid a personal visit to the headquarters of Waves Hall on Erwen Island at the request of the Ferris Wheel Company. Accompanied by several retainers and followers of the Gaotian Cult, he entered the hall under the watchful gaze of disciples clad in martial uniforms. An hour later, he stepped out of the hall and said to the representative of the Ferris Wheel Company waiting outside, "Master Fenghe has agreed. He will send Jian Chengsheng, his proudest disciple of this generation." "His proudest?" The Ferris Wheel Company's representative couldn't help questioning, "Shouldn't it be his most outstanding?" The retainer standing beside him, Gang Yingzhuo, spoke up sharply, "Watch your words, sir. Standing before you is the current head of the Gong family, His Highness Prince Gong." The company representative bowed slightly. "Forgive me. I meant no disrespect to the Gong family." Gong Zhanxin did not mind. Maintaining his elegant demeanor, he said with a smile, "The envoy acts on company business and for the welfare of the Outer Ocean Islands. Our goals align." "Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness." Gong Zhanxin said, "At first, I indeed intended for Master Fenghe to dispatch his most outstanding disciple." "Then why didn't Master Fenghe agree?" Beneath Gang Yingzhuo's fierce scowl once more, the company representative proactively apologized, bowing again. "Your Highness, please forgive me. I am merely anxious. Our target this time is different, and we have already suffered failures before. We do not wish to trouble Your Highness with another journey on this account." Gong Zhanxin said, "I thank your company for your consideration. It is just..." He stated plainly without evasion, "Although the Gong family still retains some influence, we have no absolute authority over Waves Hall. Waves Hall is willing to grant us face because they choose to honor their old pledge. I cannot make decisions on their behalf." The company representative pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "Can this not be changed?" Gong Zhanxin shook his head gently. "Understood. I shall report this truthfully to the company." With that, the representative departed with his entourage. Once he had left, Gang Yingzhuo turned back with his saber in hand. "Your Highness, that company representative was exceedingly impudent. They clearly rely on Your Highness's intervention, yet they still show such disrespect." Yet Gong Zhanxin seemed entirely unbothered. "Isn't that self-evident? If they truly respected me, I wouldn't have had to come here at their behest in the first place." He looked back toward Waves Hall and said indifferently, "Even Waves Hall—are they not using the Gong family name as a shield? They aren't nearly as loyal and honorable as they make themselves out to be." Gang Yingzhuo said indignantly, "A bunch of treacherous scoundrels." "Gangying, you don't understand. In the Outer Ocean Islands, anyone who survived the old era and still manages to thrive—who among them isn't burdened with stains and shame? The same goes for you and me." Gong Zhanxin lamented, "Truly loyal and honorable men have long since ceased to exist." *** After the Ferris Wheel Company representative returned to the vessel docked at the port, he immediately sent a telegram, and headquarters received the message shortly afterward. After careful evaluation, they concluded that this candidate was viable, for in theory, this was already the most suitable person Waves Hall could dispatch at present. The older disciples of Waves Hall were either widely renowned or had ventured into the Confluence long ago. The former would certainly be placed under tight surveillance upon entering Great Shun, while the latter were occupied with missions, making an immediate return difficult. Jian Chengsheng was different. Outside, he had little reputation, yet he was by no means lacking in strength. Ever since he achieved a degree of proficiency at age fourteen, he had traveled across the island nations of the Outer Ocean, challenging established figures under an assumed name. This was exceptionally rare, as people in the Outer Ocean usually stopped at nothing to make a name for themselves. At the start, he suffered defeat after defeat, but after turning fifteen, he had not lost a single match. It was said that even among his fellow disciples, he rarely met his match. In dispatching this disciple, Waves Hall could hardly be accused of lacking sincerity. On a beach along the southern coast of Erwen Island, a young man who appeared eighteen or nineteen stood atop a reef by the sea. One hand rested on the hilt of the long sword at his waist as he watched the crashing waves roll toward him. His hair was gathered into a topknot, and he wore traditional garments from the old era. His blue robes billowed in the sea wind. His skin was rough and weathered, his hands and fingers broad and thick, yet his face possessed a striking presence that was hard to overlook. In his eyes was an enduring tenacity, as if he could vanquish raging waves and turn back the surging tide. "Master Sheng, the hall master requests your return." Jian Chengsheng turned around, bowed slightly to the messenger attendant, then leapt down from the reef and headed back along the path. Waves Hall was built upon a low hill, where the roar of surging breakers could be heard year-round. Two rows of bright scarlet-blossom trees were planted before the entrance; their fallen petals blanketed the path ahead like splatters of blood. Before the mountain path stood an archway gate. Beside the road rested a great boulder inscribed with the characters "Waves," its imposing aura evoking the surge of ocean billows. Past the archway, he reached the upper grounds and stepped onto a planked corridor, walking all the way to the grand audience hall of the main building. Attendants on either side propped up bamboo blinds with bamboo poles. Jian Chengsheng slipped off his footwear, walked across the mirror-polished wooden floor to the front, bowed in the ancient ceremonial manner, and said respectfully, "Master." On the wall of the audience hall hung a massive scroll bearing the two characters "Hear the Thunder." Reclining beneath it sat none other than the master of Waves Hall, Fenghe Shou. He was an emaciated man whose long hair spilled loosely down to the floor, yet he was exceptionally tall; seated there alone, he appeared nearly two meters high. Before him, Jian Chengsheng seemed like a child by comparison. Fenghe Shou said, "I originally intended to send you to the Confluence for tempering. Only there can you learn the techniques of the next stage. However, we once made a promise to the royal house of the Gong family: whenever a direct descendant of the Gong family comes to call upon us, we will dispatch at least one prominent disciple to serve them." Jian Chengsheng listened in silence. Fenghe Shou said, "Now they need a Great Shun fighter eliminated. I intend to send you." Neither proud nor impatient, Jian Chengsheng asked, "Shouldn't Master's best disciples be Senior Brother Bianyue and Senior Brother Sancheng?" Fenghe Shou replied, "At your age, they were not your equal." "Yet if the goal is to defeat an enemy, shouldn't the best disciple be sent?" Fenghe Shou said, "Of the twenty-one halls handed down through antiquity across the Outer Ocean Islands, only three endure today. Waves Hall maintains its standing now not solely through martial might, but because we understand how to make trade-offs. If I am the past of Waves Hall, and your senior brothers are its present, then you are its future. By entrusting that future to the Gong family, Waves Hall fulfills its greatest pledge of honor." "I understand." Jian Chengsheng bowed deeply. Fenghe Shou said, "I permit you to go bearing the name of Waves Hall. If you return alive, you may carve your name into the bamboo stones behind the hall. Should you fall in defeat, there will be a place for you upon the Monument of Self-Sacrifice out front." Jian Chengsheng raised his head and said solemnly, "Master, please listen within this hall for the voice of the future. This disciple shall bring his name back." At that moment, a maidservant approached with small, brisk steps. She brought over a large bowl of medicinal wine that gave off a pungent odor and set it down before Jian Chengsheng. Fenghe Shou said, "Drink this bowl of medicinal wine." Without hesitation, Jian Chengsheng picked it up and drank it down in one draught. After a brief moment, an intense numbness and itch began creeping through his entire body. Brushing his hand casually over his skin, he found that the calluses on his hands were peeling away. The rough, aged layers of skin on his body and face, weathered for years by sea breezes, sloughed off in flakes to reveal fair, porcelain skin beneath. In mere moments, he had transformed into a refined, striking youth with red lips and white teeth. This was essentially his original appearance, yet he seemed two or three years younger all at once. Except for his eyes, which remained steadfast and tenacious, even those familiar with him would find him hard to recognize at a glance. Fenghe Shou said, "Although your biological data has never been recorded by Great Shun and you used aliases when challenging others abroad, you could still be tracked down and recognized. This is the 'White Infant Wine' sent by the Ferris Wheel Company. It renders your skin as smooth and delicate as a newborn infant's, allowing you to enter Great Shun appearing two years younger than before." He then added, "There is no need to bring personal belongings. The Ferris Wheel Company has prepared everything for you. You need only take your blade and the swordsmanship I taught you. You may go." "This disciple takes his leave." Jian Chengsheng offered a respectful bow, stood up, and walked out with his hand on the long sword at his waist. As he passed the Waves Stone, a voice called from behind him: "Hey, kid." He turned his head and saw a disheveled, lame old man in rather slovenly clothes—the gatekeeper of Waves Hall. Jian Chengsheng bowed slightly and said, "Senior." The old man said to him, "Reputation is something only the living care about. So come back alive, and don't you dare go dying on me." Jian Chengsheng did not answer. Offering merely a bow, he walked with steady strides toward the vessel anchored by the shore.