The State of Affairs

"At 11:20 a.m., a warehouse belonging to Lianwei Heavy Control Company on Bo Street in Shenwei District was attacked by armed thugs. As of this report, there have been over twenty casualties, five vehicles destroyed, and property damage remains unknown..." "Mr. You Shan, security consultant for Lianwei Heavy Control, stated that they have raised their security level, will rigorously track down those behind the attack, and guarantee that Lianwei Heavy Control Company's operations will not be affected." "...A large-scale clash has broken out between the Elephant Gang and the Swordfish Gang in Yinglu District..." "Guan Song, spokesperson for the City Patrol, claimed that these armed criminals will be captured and brought to justice as soon as possible..." On his way back to the dormitory, Chen Chuan heard several news reports like these in succession through his boundary credential, broadcasting in rapid succession. This had to be Ferris Wheel Company's retaliation against Lianwei Heavy Control Company. Ferris Wheel Company was currently being watched closely by all sides. Under such circumstances, choosing to hit back against Lianwei Heavy Control seemed quite unwise on the surface. Yet upon further reflection, it was likely precisely because of the relentless pressure from external developments that Ferris Wheel felt compelled to make a fierce and unyielding response. Like a wounded, cornered beast in acute distress, it was often at its most aggressive at such times. In terms of overall scale, Lianwei Heavy Control Company was far larger than Ferris Wheel, but it only had a branch office in Center City of Jibei Circuit, meaning it couldn't project much power here. Ferris Wheel, on the other hand, had its headquarters right here and was backed by the Outer Ocean Islands, capable of receiving reinforcements at any time. The clash between the two gangs in Yinglu District undoubtedly tied into this as well, because the Swordfish Gang was backed by Ferris Wheel Company. After being driven back and expelled, the Elephant Gang had curled up in a corner and dared not venture out. For them to suddenly fight back now, it was impossible without the backing of another faction—most likely Lianwei Heavy Control. Even so, Chen Chuan felt that for both companies to suddenly resort to such violent confrontation, there was probably more to it than just these surface reasons. There might be some larger shift lurking behind the scenes, though he had no way of knowing at present. He shook his head. He didn't need to dwell on these things; right now, he only needed to take care of his own cultivation. Returning to the dormitory, he refreshed the water and feed for Chaoming, then set the aromatic medicine he had just purchased from the academy onto the table. This kind of medicine used in tandem with the meditation method had a time limit on its efficacy, requiring daily retrieval. If he went to the Confluence, it wouldn't be an issue within the base camp, but once deployed on outside missions, any delay of several days on the road would leave him unable to cultivate. Thus, his short-term goal was to pass through this stage quickly. At this point, he couldn't help thinking of the booklet Instructor Wen had given him. But Instructor Wen had said to wait until he found his own path before opening it, so he decided to wait a little longer. He took out a few tubes of nutritional paste and ate them, changed into fresh clothes, and entered the training room. Sitting down, he began his meditation practice for the day. He remained seated until the aromatic medicine burned out completely. He stood up, stretched a bit, drank a glass of water, and returned to the center of the room. "Hongfu." Inside the training room, a red silhouette instantly materialized. Chen Chuan said, "Hongfu, I need your assistance to train the external tempering method." Hongfu's eyes above her veil gazed at him, and she gave a gentle nod. The surrounding scenery shifted in an instant, and the two seemed to suddenly find themselves inside a temple. Incense smoke curled lazily from a bronze brazier amid echoes of chanting. Behind them stood an idol whose facial features were indistinguishable. Looking further up, not only was there the statue before them, but high up in the clouds above, a colossal divine statue looked down upon them—and the two of them were standing within its two upturned, flat palms. After casting a glance, he withdrew his gaze, drew in a breath, and sat down. The moment he entered the state, he felt a cluster of crimson light seep into his spirit. Unlike the brilliant sun-like radiance displayed by Teacher Xue, Hongfu's manifestation was like a sky full of blazing fire, continuously smelting and forging the heart jade he held concentrated and steadfast. Hongfu increased the intensity according to his actual performance, keeping it precisely within what he could endure—not an iota more, not a fraction less. However, Teacher Xue had cautioned him that external tempering should primarily avoid depleting his changeless mind. The changeless mind was something painstakingly nurtured through meditation; like vital essence, it could save one's life in combat and played an even greater role in advanced techniques later on, so there was no need to waste it here. After completing external tempering, he could conduct the internal tempering method on his own. Although progress wasn't as swift as with external tempering, it didn't tax him much either. Combining the internal and external in this manner far surpassed older tempering methods. Yet he had previously wondered why people in the past hadn't done this, as finding someone to assist in external tempering didn't seem all that difficult. Teacher Xue's answer had been that external tempering was not as simple as it seemed; it wasn't something just anyone could apply. It contained a complex set of techniques developed not only through trial, error, and accumulated experience across generations, but also through repeated calculations performed with the aid of active conscious entities. Another reason was the inherent risk: the slightest slip could easily obliterate one's spirit, so few of the old-era nobles and elites ever dared to attempt it. When he concluded the external tempering cycle, he opened his eyes, a bright glint flashing across his gaze. Nodding to Hongfu, he expressed his gratitude, "Thank you." Hongfu returned the courtesy with a bow. In a flutter of red silhouettes, she vanished without a trace, and the surrounding scenery faded away accordingly. Chen Chuan then proceeded with internal tempering. Its effects were not as pronounced as external tempering, but his spiritual power accumulated thread by thread, each step solid and potent. By the time this round of cultivation came to an end, two hours had already passed. He felt exceptionally energized. Continuing any further would not only see diminishing returns, but would also likely leave him fatigued, so stopping here was just right. Yet his session was not quite finished; he still needed to try the cleansing method Teacher Xue had taught him earlier. Teacher Xue had advised that once mastered, it could be performed roughly every ten to fifteen days. Moreover, no matter what method he used to hone his spirit in the future, this technique could never be neglected. He recalled the key points. In this process, one needed to temporarily forget one's own existence and empty the self, retaining only a single point of conscious awareness, before gathering back the dispersed remnants bit by bit. Those thoughts or impulses that were overly radical could be left outside; though they would not truly vanish, they would no longer hold dominance. Adjusting his internal and external state, he began the attempt. He practiced continuously in his dormitory for seven days, stopping only before the mid-month rest day arrived. He could feel that he had made substantial progress. In terms of pure physical conditioning, the improvement was subtle, but as he embarked on the path of spiritual cultivation, his self-control and his understanding of various techniques had become vastly deeper. This was only the result of half a month's training, and he was still in the introductory stage. With further progress, his strength would surely advance rapidly. Tomorrow was a rest day. Come evening, he allowed himself to relax a bit. Setting a hot drink beside him, he played light, rhythmic music through his boundary credential while browsing through the latest film introductions. After browsing for a while, Ni Xixi's avatar flashed. He connected the call. "Sister Ni?" Ni Xixi's voice came through: "Brother Chen, have you been following the bureau's news lately?" Chen Chuan said, "Are you referring to the conflict between the two companies, Sister Ni? I saw it." Over the past several days, he had indeed kept an eye on outside news. The clashes between Ferris Wheel and Lianwei Heavy Control had not subsided; on the contrary, they had only intensified. Ni Xixi said, "Ferris Wheel Company is likely driving this on purpose. They probably want to escalate things so government departments step in to pressure our bureau and force a compromise. Bureau Chief Wu has already been called in for several meetings." Chen Chuan asked, "How does the bureau plan to handle it?" "Through an internal 'investigation,' Ferris Wheel determined that this was the personal action of a company executive, who has already been dismissed and has committed suicide. "The terms they offered are to compensate you personally as well as cover the bureau's losses, pay a fine, sign a letter of guarantee, and make a public bow of apology in the media. "The higher-ups feel the situation is still controllable right now, but if things continue like this, other companies might be dragged in, so they also believe it's time to rein in the situation." Ni Xixi added, "Brother Chen, the bureau wants to know your opinion on this." Chen Chuan replied, "The bureau's arrangement is fine. I have no objections." After his conversations with Gao Ming and Bureau Director Lei, he knew this matter was extraordinarily complicated and hemmed in by constraints from every side. However, that did not mean he had given up on pursuing accountability; he was merely holding back for now, biding his time. Just like facing a powerful fighter who could hardly be brought down with a single blow, one had to maneuver patiently, gradually wearing down their stamina and striking only when a flaw revealed itself. "Alright, then I'll relay that to the bureau. Bureau Chief Wu said this is the best outcome we can secure for now, and your compensation won't be lacking. Oh, by the way, do you know Bureau Director Lei of the Esoteric Cult Bureau?" Chen Chuan nodded. "I do." "Bureau Director Lei stationed an investigation team right inside Ferris Wheel Company. Ferris Wheel wasn't happy about it, so they filed a complaint against the Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau and dispatched a team of lawyers and PR specialists to lobby and pressure government departments and councilors." Ni Xixi scoffed. "Not that it did any good. When the Examination Bureau received an inquiry letter from the government, their reply was very simple: If Ferris Wheel has nothing to hide, why fear the bureau's scrutiny? Heh, does Ferris Wheel Company really think their tricks work everywhere?" Chen Chuan nodded slightly. If an ordinary government department conducted such an investigation into Ferris Wheel Company, it was indeed easily restricted. Take the Disposal Bureau, for instance: its logistical support for the defense plan, along with more than half of its daily operating budget, relied on the Center City government. Even though the two had no direct subordinate relationship, the bureau could not remain immune to the Center City government's influence and constraints. The Esoteric Cult Examination Bureau was different. It operated with relative independence, its funding and personnel answering only to the supreme capital. This stemmed from Great Shun's extreme vigilance toward evil cults; whenever such matters were involved, there was virtually no room for negotiation or excuses. Right then, he noticed an incoming call on his boundary credential. It was Counselor Pei. His heart stirred. Apologizing to Ni Xixi, he ended the call with her and took Counselor Pei's signal. "Captain Chen? Let's meet." Counselor Pei paused. "It's about that matter." Chen Chuan understood; calculating the timeline, it was indeed about time. He asked, "When?" "Now. I'm already in front of the Xuangong Building." Chen Chuan said, "I'm on my way." ... ...