Itinerary

Once the spiritual fluctuations around Mr. Zhuan subsided, he spoke. "I will write you another letter. Go there to find him, but you must make haste. With the collapse of the Ferris Wheel Company, the Ocean Exploration Group and Canglong Company are tightening their grip on the Outer Ocean, and there may also be infiltration and sabotage from the Linakes Federation. No matter which faction intervenes, none of them will tolerate an enduring fissure that preserves lost heritage to remain there indefinitely. The moment it is discovered, they will certainly find a way to destroy or reclaim it. I do not know how much longer that place can survive. If you wish to go, it is best to do so as soon as possible. The sooner you arrive, the more time you will have to cultivate." Chen Chuan felt the information transmitted into his mind and nodded. "I understand. Thank you, Mr. Zhuan." Mr. Zhuan opened his briefcase again and brought out a piece of lustrous jade carved in the likeness of a pig-snouted dragon, extending it toward him. "Keep this on you. Once you enter the fissure, contamination is inevitable, and this will help you resist it. But it is merely an aid. Remember what I said—fighting back is the key. My telegraph contact information is inscribed on the bottom of the jade. If there is anything you wish to ask, you can reach me through it." Chen Chuan took it. A refreshing chill washed over him the moment it touched his palm, soothing his very spirit. Knowing it was a fine object, he turned it over and saw a series of frequency bands on the back, thanking him once more. Mr. Zhuan patted his briefcase and said, "I must send these items back as soon as possible. Headquarters will issue you some Purist Faction supplies afterward, but there is no hurry on those; someone will be assigned to deliver them directly into your hands." Instructor Wen remarked, "Supervisor Chen mentioned earlier that people from the Refinement School approached him this afternoon, introduced by Civil Administrator Zhu Xian. I deduce that someone high up in the Refinement School thinks quite favorably of Supervisor Chen." "Is that so?" Mr. Zhuan stood up. "I will handle that matter." He extended his hand to shake Chen Chuan's once more. "Well then, Supervisor Chen, until next time." Chen Chuan nodded. "Mr. Zhuan, until next time." Mr. Zhuan shook Instructor Wen's hand as well, took his leave, and departed. Chen Chuan watched him leave, noticing that he took off his mask as soon as he stepped onto the road. Chen Chuan thought to himself that it would probably take some time before the faction's internal affairs were settled... Fortunately, he was in no rush regarding that. Traveling to the Outer Ocean, however, needed to be put on his schedule as soon as possible. He did not linger either. Bidding farewell to Instructor Wen, he took his belongings and returned home. Over the next few days, he found himself with some spare time, so he phoned classmates and old friends to arrange get-togethers. In particular, he had to see those heading to Center City, like Wei Chang'an, before their departure. On the twentieth, which happened to be the academy's rest day, Chen Chuan took a dedicated car and entered Wuyi Academy through its north back gate. At this time of year, third-year students rarely lived on campus anymore. They had likely secured their respective paths more than half a year ago, and returning to the school was merely going through formalities. Only the first- and second-year students were still facing the mandatory end-of-term evaluations, making this the final, relatively tense stretch of the term. The car drove to the foot of South Hill. Instead of continuing straight, it traveled up the winding mountain road, finally pulling up in front of Wenguo Hall at the summit. This was the place where Cheng Zitong had first instructed him in jin. During their phone conversation earlier, Cheng Zitong knew he did not want to cause a stir at the academy, so he had arranged to meet here. Once the car came to a stop, Chen Chuan saw another vehicle parked nearby and recognized it as Teacher Cheng's car. The man had already arrived. An orderly stepped out to open the door for him. Chen Chuan picked up a briefcase and walked outside. He looked around. Nearly four years had passed in the blink of an eye, yet the scenery remained largely unchanged. Turning toward North Peak, he saw that the manor still stood—the place where the recommended students used to live. Starting from last year, however, recommended students had virtually ceased to exist. Although students of distinguished backgrounds could still pay to stay there, they enjoyed almost no special privileges anymore, and everyone had to pass the entrance examinations to enter the academy. It was said that someone had proposed to Civil Administrator Zhu that the recommended student system be restored, but he had rejected the idea on the grounds of internal affairs within Wuyi. After a few glances, Chen Chuan walked toward Wenguo Hall. Passing through the open gate and across the wide martial training grounds, he entered the main hall and saw Cheng Zitong sitting in a guest chair to one side. The man looked roly-poly, his face glowing with health and vigor. Catching sight of Chen Chuan, he called out, "Hey, Little Chuan, you're here!" Chen Chuan promptly changed his shoes, walked inside, and bowed slightly. "Teacher." "Look at you! Come, sit, sit." Cheng Zitong cheerfully motioned for him to take a seat. "There's nobody here, so no one will interrupt our reunion. Ah, Little Chuan, do you still remember the first time I brought you here?" Chen Chuan looked around and said, "I remember. Back then, it was you, Teacher, who placed immense trust in me and allowed me to choose the Zhouyuan Jin technique. I am deeply grateful to you. If not for your full support back then, I wouldn't be where I am today." Cheng Zitong shook his head and said, "Little Chuan, in your eyes, I helped you, but haven't you helped me just as much?" Over the past two years, martial arts families from Center City who had rarely contacted him in the past had been visiting him constantly. Not only did they try to cozy up to him, but they also dropped overt and subtle hints about wanting to entrust their younger generation to him for instruction. He knew well that while some genuinely had their descendants' best interests at heart, others merely wanted to forge a connection with Chen Chuan. Therefore, he had not agreed to a single one. Chen Chuan took some files from his briefcase and said, "This is something I specifically found for you, Teacher." These were all archives from the Center City Disposal Bureau regarding anomalies and related matters, most of which remained unresolved. Back when he became an enforcement captain, he had learned that there were ways both inside and outside Center City to resist and suppress anomalies. For instance, the active conscious entities of corporations and the government were very effective at confronting and suppressing them. Consequently, anomalies mostly surfaced in neglected corners and chaotic areas. In those places, not only were they difficult to handle, but the cost of doing so was also too steep. As a result, they were largely ignored in the early stages, drawing high-level attention only after breaching a certain threshold. Furthermore, for various reasons, the government did not intervene directly, delegating the tasks to commissioners or commissioned companies instead. The most common practice of the latter was outright extermination—after all, once the people were gone, the anomaly vanished as well, just as had happened with Golden Shrimp. This cold and inhumane approach was tacitly permitted by certain upper-level figures. Chen Chuan had already made up his mind: now that he had become an Investigation Supervisor, he would pay attention to these matters when the time came, suppressing and properly resolving such incidents as best as he could within his capacity. Cheng Zitong took the thick stack of files, stroked them, and sighed with emotion. "Little Chuan, that is very thoughtful of you." Setting the files aside, he looked at Chen Chuan. "Ah, it wasn't convenient to talk over the phone. Little Chuan, tell me what happened in Center City. How did you suddenly become an Investigation Supervisor? Oh, if there's anything you shouldn't say, you don't have to; I understand." Naturally, Chen Chuan would not mention matters like Fumu's reproduction and fission, but the official narrative was more than sufficient, and for the specific adversaries he had fought, he only needed to omit their names and identities. Listening to the account of his experiences in Center City over the past half year or so, Cheng Zitong's round face shone with boundless pride and excitement. This was a student he had taught himself! True, the path this student walked now had little to do with him, but the foundation had been laid under his guidance. In the future, wherever Chen Chuan went, Cheng Zitong could proudly proclaim that this was his student! Moreover, this student was still far from reaching his true peak. What he had experienced so far might merely be a beginning; an even longer road awaited him, and his future was boundless. After chatting for a while, he asked, "Little Chuan, how long do you plan to stay this time?" Chen Chuan replied, "Probably just a month. After that, I might travel abroad for a while." Cheng Zitong smiled and said, "In the past, you never needed anyone to push you in your training; you've always been very dependable. But there must be a balance between exertion and rest—going outside to unwind is great. Little Chuan, you have your own mind, and I never worry about you. But as your teacher, I still have to nag a bit: think more and observe more before doing things. If you hit a wall sometime, don't rush. With your skills, you can go anywhere. Wait a bit; if you wait, a turn for the better might just come along." Chen Chuan said seriously, "Teacher, I will keep that in mind." "Good, as long as you remember. Come, drink tea." Cheng Zitong gestured for him to drink the tea he had just brewed. Chen Chuan lifted the cup, took a sip, and said, "By the way, there is another thing I should tell you, Teacher. My application to Wuyi Academy has been approved, and I have become an instructor at Wuyi Academy." Cheng Zitong was somewhat surprised. "A teacher at Wuyi?" Then he nodded. "Little Chuan, your strength is certainly more than enough." He sighed wistfully. "To think that in the blink of an eye, you're a teacher too." Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Right now it isn't convenient for me to show my face around the academy. I'll have to trouble you, Teacher, to pass a message to the dormitory supervisor. Tell him I haven't forgotten my promise to him, and I'm currently working toward that goal." Cheng Zitong smiled. Without asking what the promise was, he said, "I will be sure to deliver the message." The two of them continued sipping tea and chatting, and an entire afternoon slipped by just like that. By dusk, seeing that it was getting late, Chen Chuan prepared to leave. Cheng Zitong spoke up then. "Little Chuan, wait a moment." He stood up, walked to the side, retrieved a thread-bound booklet from his briefcase, returned, and handed it to Chen Chuan. "This is a spiritual cultivation manual compiled by an ancestor of the Cheng family. When I left Center City back then, my second uncle gave it to me. But I knew I didn't have the talent for it. I didn't, but you do. Don't worry, this is merely a guide to cultivation; it doesn't involve any secret arts. We live in a new era now; there is no need to hoard things like brooms of worthless straw. Use what should be used. Any method kept hidden away will never amount to anything. Once you've read through it, Little Chuan, if you can bring forth something new from the old and carry it forward, your teacher will be all the more gratified." Chen Chuan did not stand on ceremony and accepted it directly. "Then thank you, Teacher." He stood up. "Teacher, I will take my leave now." "All right, let me see you out." Cheng Zitong walked out with him. Standing atop South Hill, he watched Chen Chuan get into the car and drive away down the mountain road. He couldn't help thinking back to when he had left Center City—all to prove that the path he had chosen was not wrong. He had not proven his path himself, but his student had helped him achieve it. Over the past two years, plenty of people had come from Center City to see him, but his own father still hadn't shown the slightest interest, acting as if nothing had happened at all. He gave a chuckle. "Old man, let's see how long you can hold out."