Subdued Fate

Qi Qianyang lay prone atop the giant bird, flying due east out of Center City. After soaring over the ocean for more than an hour, an island came into view. The giant bird slowly lowered its altitude. While still several dozen meters above the ground, Qi Qianyang stood up and leaped from the sky. Down below, standing on a large coastal reef, was a man just under forty years old. Going by his looks, he was another instructor from the Marsh Training Camp. He glanced at Qi Qianyang's arm and asked, "Did it succeed?" Qi Qianyang tilted his head for a look. Cracking sounds resonated within the limp, dangling arm. On the outside, torn flesh stitched together, while the broken bones within realigned and mended section by section. After a few minutes had passed, it was completely restored. He flexed his fingers, testing the sensations transmitted from his mutated tissue, and nodded. "It succeeded." What he cultivated was Fuming Jin, one of the three great secret jin techniques of the Purist Faction. This technique could regulate every part of the human body. When mastered to a profound depth, it could coordinate every subtle strand of mutated tissue, allowing one's life potential to be unleashed to a full one hundred percent. Furthermore, the defining trait of Fuming Jin lay in its adaptability: so long as one withstood an opponent's jin power, or suffered damage from a specific form of jin, then as long as one recovered within a certain period of time afterward, one's mutated tissue could endure and adapt to that force. The next time he fought that opponent, the damage such jin power could inflict on him would be drastically reduced, if not entirely negated. On the surface, he had gone to brazenly provoke Chen Chuan. In truth, every step before and after had been calculated solely to withstand a blow from Chen Chuan's jin power, thereby securing better odds of victory against him. Although there was a degree of scheme involved, he saw nothing wrong with it. Combat was inherently about using every possible means; the ultimate objective was always to triumph over the opponent. Moreover, the nature of his jin power dictated that this approach was the safest and most suitable for him. The man opposite him spoke up. "Instructor Qi, though you succeeded, your tracks were far too obvious. That opponent you mentioned will very likely deduce what you were trying to do from your actions in hindsight." "It doesn't matter even if he figures it out." Qi Qianyang brushed it off, lowering his hand. "I've already seized the initiative. Is he going to hastily practice an entirely different jin technique on the spot?" The instructor opposite acknowledged the logic, but he still felt Qi Qianyang's methods were too crude and entirely unconcerned with collateral damage. To coordinate with him this time, a third-limit fighter produced by the training camp had been sacrificed, and two others had yet to fully extract themselves. Cultivating people of such caliber was exceedingly difficult; the camp had produced only a handful over the past fifteen years. With careful planning, they could have easily devised a far more rational strategy with fewer losses. Yet this man was simply willful. To achieve his ends, he cared nothing for those around him or the price they had to pay. The instructor said, "Instructor Qi, I must remind you to pay attention. The people from the training camp were all trained by Master. Although they have been entrusted to us to direct and manage, you ought to cherish them, not treat them as expendable bargaining chips." Qi Qianyang sneered with utter disdain. "These people were trained precisely to be used. I acknowledge they face danger, but why should I bother looking out for them? I am their ruler. They do whatever I command them to do." The instructor shook his head. "Master would never agree with your claim." Hearing Master mentioned, a trace of awe finally crept into Qi Qianyang's expression. He said with irritation, "Don't try to pressure me with Master. When I began following Master, nobody even knew where you were." Unwilling to waste more words, he turned to walk away. After a few paces, he seemed to recall something and added, "Just you wait. Once I drive out the Purist Faction branch, Master will surely validate my approach." The instructor watched him leave, shaking his head and muttering to himself, "Instructor Qi, you don't understand. Master's vision was never about any of that." *** After leaving the Disposal Bureau, Chen Chuan immediately drove to Weiguang District, where he met up with Chang Dong and Gao Yanjun and recounted the earlier encounter. Chang Dong said, "He made such a huge ruckus just to challenge you, Supervisor Chen?" Chen Chuan said, "I've given it some thought. The location of the duel he transmitted to me should be somewhere within the Melded Lands." "Then he wants the home-field advantage." Chang Dong pondered it for a moment. "No, that still doesn't add up. If that was all, there was no need for him to make a personal appearance right in front of you. He must have had another agenda." Thinking further, he suddenly picked up on a detail he had nearly overlooked. His expression shifted, and he looked at Chen Chuan, then at Gao Yanjun beside him. "I think I might know what he was after." Taking a deep breath to steady his thoughts, he said, "Back then, that defector learned quite a few of our Purist Faction's secret arts. What he personally specialized in was Fuming Jin, a secret technique that can be cultivated up to the martial artist stage and includes a continuous path for subsequent cultivation. It's very likely he taught this jin technique to Qi Qianyang." He then explained the characteristics of this technique. Once finished, he solemnly cautioned Chen Chuan, "Supervisor Chen, he has likely already withstood and partially adapted to your jin power. If you cross paths with him next time, you must be extremely careful." Upon hearing this, Chen Chuan understood everything. No wonder the man had gone to such lengths and even arranged an escape route in advance. If that was the case, the pieces fit together. As for Haverford, it had probably been pure coincidence. He could tell from Qi Qianyang's eyes that the man was utterly reckless, practically wearing the attitude of doing whatever he pleased on his face. If so, Haverford could only blame himself for showing up in the wrong place at the wrong time. As for the opponent's jin technique, Chen Chuan was not particularly concerned. Zhouyuan jin power could simulate numerous jin techniques, making it the least susceptible to being countered by any single method. Besides, no matter how miraculous Fuming Jin might be, there was an upper limit to what it could withstand. Under greater strength and speed, even the exact same jin power would unleash vastly different destructive force. He remarked, "A secret technique of our Purist Faction? I'd certainly like to experience a power like that." *** Feng'an District, underground station, 4:40 PM. Xu Chan stepped out of the elevator carrying a metal case and walked toward the train parked ahead. Following behind him were three men, all clad in specially made protective coveralls. For this deployment into the Melded Lands, the higher-ups had assigned him three enforcement captains. Each enforcement captain brought two team members, forming a ten-man squad in total. One of the captains was from the Disposal Bureau, while the other two came from the Defense Department. Everyone, including the squad members, possessed rich experience operating within the Melded Lands. All three captains had mastered heart jin. As for spiritual perception, that was a skill reserved solely for those with extraordinary talent; currently, Xu Chan was the only one in the squad who had achieved it. However, the ten of them were merely the primary squad. Behind them stood an entire support team, drawing upon a substantial amount of elite personnel for this operation. Once they reached the outpost in the Melded Lands, the military would provide an escort along the initial stretches of the route, backed by logistical support from the base. Consequently, they had little to worry about during the early phase. But once they pushed deep into the interior of the Melded Lands, things would be entirely different. There would be no support of any kind, and they would have to rely completely on themselves. After boarding the train, the group took their seats on the cushioned chairs. Xu Chan checked the time; the train was set to depart in ten minutes. Just then, his boundary credential chimed. He tapped it. "Commissioner?" Commissioner Liang's voice came through. "Old Xu, I managed to have someone transmit news of this operation to the Pioneer Team we dispatched earlier. If they receive it, they might be able to lend you a hand." Xu Chan said, "Thank you, Commissioner." The members of the Pioneer Team were naturally top-tier operators with deep familiarity with the Melded Lands. However, once the Pioneer Team went deep inside, receiving communications became exceedingly difficult, and they had their own mission to carry out, so this could only serve as a contingency. "Old Xu, stay safe." Xu Chan replied, "Understood." After ending the call, a brief moment passed before several short whistle blasts sounded. The train beneath them slowly lurched forward, beginning its journey toward the Melded Lands. *** Jiyang District, near the harbor. A convoy moved along the dedicated road atop the sea wall. Supervisor Wen sat inside his private car, observing the surroundings outside while receiving incoming reports from various locations. He had not slept for four days and four nights. Whenever fatigue set in, he consumed nutritional paste and regulated himself with breathing techniques for a short while. He had not experienced this kind of grueling work routine for a long time, not since ascending to the post of Investigation Supervisor. Yet he had no choice. On paper, he was in charge of the security of the Linax Federation diplomatic delegation; in reality, his role was surveillance and containment. The mission assigned to him from above was to use every possible means to delay and prevent these people from entering the Melded Lands. Unlike the Syndicate, the Linax Federation had long maintained strained relations with the Great Shun government. As a result, their corporations held at most a few representative offices and footholds in Center City, lacking any legitimate channels to enter the Melded Lands. Consequently, their only options were covert routes. Yet completely blockading them was virtually impossible. While they could seal off the access points within Center City's urban perimeter, the underwater tunnels beneath the seabed were difficult to control, as those fell under the authority of the Municipal Council. So long as the Linax Federation promised sufficiently generous terms, that would be enough for the Municipal Council to grant them passage. He rubbed his brow. Under the current circumstances, all they could do was ramp up patrols beneath the sea. After all, given the bilateral relations between the two nations, the Municipal Council did not dare act with utter brazenness either. Still, interference from the council and the corporations was severe, occasionally requiring him to step in personally to hold the line. No matter what, he had to hold out. The tighter his blockade and the longer he stalled them, the more time he could buy for Xu Chan's team. Just then, the convoy's speed noticeably decreased. He frowned and asked, "What's happening?" "Reporting in—Supervisor Han's car is up ahead." "Oh?" Another convoy approached slowly from the opposite direction. As the two lead vehicles passed alongside each other, the windows on both sides rolled down. Supervisor Wen looked at Supervisor Han sitting in the main seat and said with a smile, "Supervisor Han, what a coincidence."