Clues

"If he's still in Center City..." Chang Dong looked at Chen Chuan and asked solemnly, "Supervisor Chen, can you track him down?" Back then, that incident had always been a sore spot for the Jibei Dao branch of the Purist Faction. Even though the branch still nominally existed afterward, only a handful of logistics and reserve personnel remained. And he was one of them. Although people from the Purist Faction had come to investigate in the years that followed, the branch had been devastated and its core members virtually wiped out. On top of that, the other two factions had seized the opportunity to suppress and eliminate what remained of the Purist Faction's connections and influence, making any follow-up exceedingly difficult. Only now, with Chen Chuan—someone who possessed official authority and martial strength in Jibei Dao's Center City—rising to prominence, could they continue pushing forward with the matter. Chang Dong knew how hard it would be and how much time it would take. Having waited fifteen years, he didn't mind waiting a little longer, but now, a glimmer of hope finally seemed within sight. Chen Chuan said, "I'll go back and keep investigating. There should be other clues." A single sheet of paper actually held quite a bit of information. In particular, the other party likely hadn't been meticulous; beyond the paper itself, the ink was another lead. He intended to send it for another round of composition and trace testing. The faster this moved, the greater the chance of finding the person. He did not linger; after saying his goodbyes, he headed straight back to the bureau. After Chen Chuan left, Chang Dong said to Gao Yanjun, "I know Tian Rui. If what he wrote was a warning, it means he understands what happened with the Marsh Training Camp. Those people might truly have the ability to threaten us. In that case, even staying in Weiguang District might not be entirely safe." Gao Yanjun pushed up her decorative glasses and said, "I'm already prepared." Chang Dong smiled. "Indeed. Since we agreed to come here, you and I were both prepared. But there is at least one thing we don't need to worry too much about." In a half-joking tone, he added, "I believe that even if we really fall here, Fellow Chen will make sure those people come down to keep us company." *** Returning to the Disposal Bureau, Chen Chuan handed over the material to the identification team for in-depth testing. At the same time, he retrieved the on-site analysis report from the information team. That slip of paper had likely been thrown using a special jin force. Testing revealed a faint biological field nearby, which had been logged. However, there were no matching records in the database, indicating this person had no prior warrants or criminal record. Given the martial power this person displayed, coupled with the absence of any criminal history or warrants, he had to have a relatively stable occupation or source of income. Furthermore, given the children's workbook, it was very likely he had started a family in Center City. Of course, this was merely speculation based on the current clues; nothing was certain yet. He didn't have to wait very long before the identification team sent word that the ink used was a relatively common brand. This ink was quite popular in some of Center City's higher learning academies because it dried quickly and flowed smoothly. Crucially, pollen particles had also been detected in the ink, including pollen from the ornamental Jingrong flower. With its rich fragrance and high aesthetic appeal, this flower was widely favored by middle-class residents. However, pinpointing which specific area it came from would require further analysis, which might take a few days. While waiting, Chen Chuan did not disregard the warning on the note. He made a point of requisitioning a batch of surveillance field organisms from the bureau and had them sent to the branch currently under construction. Because this was Hongsheng District, the weakest link in terms of surveillance, combined with the field interference in the surrounding area, the surveillance organisms could only be deployed around the perimeter. For now, they could only watch certain corners and key locations rather than covering the entire zone. Still, this was better than nothing. If any suspicious individuals appeared, it would at least provide an early warning. Two days passed quickly, and the analysis results came in. Through the plant particles and certain specific pollutants, compared against historical sample data, the identification team confirmed that the writing had been done near Bao'an Street in Wuding District. Chen Chuan checked and found a middle-class residential area there, where most inhabitants were citizens of decent standing. This aligned neatly with the earlier clues. He then brought up Tian Rui's photograph and fed the records of the man's martial arts training along with the previously gathered intelligence into Andun for analysis. He also had Andun retrieve historical surveillance footage and archive records of this residential quarter to cross-reference and search for matching individuals. True to its nature as the Disposal Bureau's active conscious entity, Andun took only a few hours to identify several potential suspects using these leads. After filtering through them, it ultimately locked onto a single individual. Chen Chuan looked at the profile. This person also shared the surname Tian, though his name was Tian Feng. His face was completely different from the photograph. Yet with modern technology, altering one's appearance was hardly difficult. Andun's analysis was based on behavioral patterns and biomechanical movement regularities, which had proven remarkably reliable in the past. This man had moved into the neighborhood ten years ago. He was a martial arts instructor, while his wife was a mid-level corporate manager. They had two sons and a daughter: the eldest son, Tian Wo, sixteen; the daughter, Tian Mengmeng, fourteen; and the youngest son, Tian Xiaolei, five. According to Andun's findings, the man's name had been legally changed, and that change had taken place precisely fifteen years ago. The prior records, however, had already been destroyed, leaving no trace of his original name. Chen Chuan looked at the photograph. Whether this was truly the man would become clear once he went to see for himself. At the same time, he couldn't help reflecting that it was only because he was now an Investigation Supervisor and could requisition Andun's processing power that the investigation proceeded so swiftly. Back when he had been a mere enforcement officer, or even an enforcement captain, looking into this would never have been so easy. This time, he didn't wear his uniform. Changing into casual clothes, he drove the Jiade car alone, soon reaching Bao'an Street and cruising into the residential quarter. Right upon entering, he saw a sizable open square where a street fighting match was taking place. The fighters appeared to be a group of young men and women around eighteen or nineteen, dressed like students, with quite a crowd watching from the sidelines. Wuding District had the fiercest martial arts culture, and such fighting events could be seen everywhere. Compared to the chaos and backwardness of Hongsheng District, this area could be considered peaceful and orderly. However, a glance caught his eye: he noticed that the target's eldest son, Tian Wo, was actually one of the participants. Moreover, he spotted an acquaintance. It was Liu Yin, who had once fought against him. At the moment, Liu Yin seemed to be offering martial pointers to both sides on the field. After a brief thought, Chen Chuan parked, stepped out of the vehicle, and leaned against it to watch for a moment. Dressed casually, with his field and presence deliberately restrained, and looking quite young, he drew no immediate attention. Around this time, Liu Yin seemed to sense something and glanced toward the perimeter. When he spotted Chen Chuan, surprise flashed across his face. He said a few words to the others, stepped out of the crowd, and approached Chen Chuan, greeting him, "Supervisor... Chen, what brings you here? Er... if it's not convenient to say, pretend I didn't ask." Chen Chuan smiled. "Brother Liu, are you training these students in combat?" Liu Yin said, "There are plenty of martial arts clubs in the academies. Since I know a trick or two, they dragged me over to be their 'coach.'" As he spoke, he couldn't help looking at Chen Chuan again. After his earlier defeat against Chen Chuan, he had returned to train diligently, hoping for a rematch. Yet as Chen Chuan progressed ever faster and rose to higher and higher standing, Liu Yin had completely lost the drive to compete with him. By now, he had come to accept it with an easy mind. After all, once the gap grew beyond a certain point, rivalry lost all meaning. In its place came a calm, open-minded perspective, no longer fixated on past defeat. Chen Chuan said, "I came today to visit a senior. I just happened to pass by and saw you, Brother Liu, so I stopped for a look. Don't let me keep you." "All right." Liu Yin didn't press further. He watched Chen Chuan return to the car and drive away before turning back. Someone asked curiously, "Brother Liu, do you know that guy? He looks so tall—definitely a fighter. Is he with your group too?" Liu Yin said, "An old acquaintance." He added with emphasis, "A very formidable one." Tian Wo was drinking water nearby. Hearing that, his expression stirred. Wiping his mouth with his sleeve, he asked curiously, "How strong is he? Compared to you, Brother Liu?" Liu Yin shook his head. "There's no comparison. I'm nowhere near his level." A chorus of gasps rippled through the crowd. They had all witnessed Liu Yin's prowess; to them, his fighting level was something they could only look up to. Chen Chuan didn't look old at all, making it hard to imagine someone of similar age being so much stronger. Only Tian Wo privately curled his lip. *** Meanwhile, Chen Chuan drove his car to the front of a detached residence. Checking through his boundary credential, he confirmed this was indeed Tian Feng's home. After parking, he got out and walked toward the house. In front of the house lay an open lawn, where a man in his forties sat repairing a skateboard. Just then, a little boy on the second floor tossed a ball down. Seeing it, the man let out an exaggerated whoop, dropped what he was holding, and lunged forward to catch the ball before rolling across the grass. Then, with a playful howl, he threw the ball back up to the boy, sending the child into fits of giggles. The middle-aged man laughed heartily as well. Chen Chuan watched this scene. Coming to a halt, he addressed the middle-aged man: "Tian Rui?" Hearing that name, the man looked back almost reflexively. When his eyes met Chen Chuan's, a look of confusion crossed his face. "Are... are you Xiao Wo's classmate?" Chen Chuan gave a slight smile and said, "Tian Rui, I came here for you." Only then did the man realize what was happening. His gaze darted erratically as he said in a fluster, "I... I'm not Tian Rui. That's not my name. You... you..." Chen Chuan's eyes remained calm and deep. "Senior Tian, allow me to introduce myself. I am Investigation Supervisor of the Disposal Bureau and the current head of the Purist Faction's Jibei Dao branch, Chen Chuan."