After a colossal column of smoke and dust surged into the sky, shockwaves rippled outward layer upon layer. The surrounding trees shook violently, rustling like crashing ocean waves, and the two airships hovering nearby shuddered incessantly, drifting back toward the periphery.
Yet no one on either side knew the outcome, for both men had moved far too fast. Only at the very final moment had they caught a vague glimpse of one being hoisted aloft with a single arm by the other, followed immediately by that earth-shaking explosion.
Supervisor Bao noticed the opposing airship turning around, its machine gun turrets swiveling as well. He immediately warned his crew, "Get ready. If they open fire, we shoot back."
Still, though both sides remained on high alert with gun barrels trained on each other, neither actually opened fire. They kept a considerable distance, knowing everything depended on the result below.
After waiting a short while, the swirling smoke and dust settled, faintly revealing the scene within. Supervisor Bao took a few glances, his expression brightening with delight.
Right where the two had been fighting, an immense shallow crater had formed. Chen Chuan stood in the center, while Qi Huishi lay at the bottom of the pit.
At this point, the victor was unmistakable.
Qi Huishi's chest heaved faintly, wisps of white light steadily seeping from his body. Mutated tissue throughout his entire frame had been permeated by jin, rendering him completely unable to move.
He knew Chen Chuan had held back just now. Otherwise, that strike alone would have claimed his life, rather than leaving him appearing outwardly unscathed as he did now.
Spitting out bits of dirt, he murmured weakly, "Chief Chen, you win. I'm backing out of this affair. Take the woman, and take the key."
A pang of heartache gripped him. It had taken him an agonizingly long time to amass those high-energy nutritional ingredients—especially the rationed, restricted medicines, which couldn't be obtained on a whim. Even so, he hadn't fought this duel for his own sake, so once he returned, he would demand double compensation no matter what.
Chen Chuan glanced to the side. The key pushed up from the shattered soil and drifted before him. Catching it in his hand, he said, "Mr. Qi, should an opportunity arise, let us spar again."
With that, he turned and walked toward where the white-haired woman lay, lifted her up, and headed toward his airship.
In his mind, he thought those Sky-Traversing Beads were rather nice and well-suited for a collection. Unfortunately, this had only been a spar, so it was inappropriate to take them.
Seeing him approach, the airship ahead slowly descended closer to the ground, lowering its boarding ramp. Chen Chuan stepped onto it and turned around, watching the distant airship accelerate toward where Qi Huishi lay.
As the boarding ramp retracted, his field of view narrowed until it pulled fully inside the cabin, shutting with a bang. Supervisor Bao came over at that moment. "Chief Chen, are you all right?"
Chen Chuan said, "It was nothing. Just a simple spar."
Supervisor Bao stared at him, his throat bobbing. *After such an earth-shattering spectacle, you call that just a simple spar? Then what would a real fight between you two look like?*
Chen Chuan set the white-haired woman down. Supervisor Bao gestured, and guards immediately stepped forward to restrain her. Then Bao stepped closer and said in a low voice, "Mr. Chen, regarding this matter, do you feel there's something between the Chaotic Lands and Haixi Dao...?"
Chen Chuan hummed in acknowledgment. The wrecked airship belonged to the Chaotic Lands, which shared murky, entangled ties with Haixi Dao. Certain figures or factions within Haixi Dao were even quite likely to be the masterminds or participants in this incident.
Moreover, being able to enlist a martial artist's intervention suggested that government authorities might also be involved.
Yet there was no need to probe deeper into the matter—nor was it possible to do so. He had little interest in it anyway; as long as he brought the person back, this episode could be brought to a close.
He said, "Let it rest at that."
Supervisor Bao nodded silently. A small fry like him couldn't shoulder something of this magnitude; it would require people from the company headquarters to handle it. In any case, his only job was to report the entire process upward.
After their airship departed, Qi Huishi lay on the ground for a good while. The crew from his airship disembarked and hurried to his side. "Mr. Qi, are you all right?"
The dust on Qi Huishi's body was dispelled outward in waves as he stood up from the pit. In truth, he had already recovered moments ago, but had felt too embarrassed to climb to his feet while Chen Chuan was still present.
He recalled their battle just now. The strength and speed Chen Chuan had displayed were actually not much different from his own, nor were his forms and techniques particularly extraordinary, yet he had effortlessly created and seized every opening.
Moreover, Chen Chuan's profound One-Embracing True Force had left an indelible impression on him. Without such a foundation, he doubted he would have lost so easily. Still, he had drawn his own weapons, so he had no right to complain; combat was never strictly fair.
This defeat was one he had to take lying down, without the slightest grievance.
"Let's go," he said, turning toward his airship.
The attendant hurried after him a couple of steps and asked, "Sir, what about the items?"
Qi Huishi cast him a cold glance. The attendant's heart skipped a beat, and not daring to utter another word, he followed along in silence.
Aboard Yuangan Company's airship, Chen Chuan returned to his cabin to clean up a bit before stepping out into the main hold, where the white-haired woman had been placed. Seeing him enter, she raised her head abruptly, fixing her blue eyes on him. "You are very strong."
Chen Chuan paused slightly, looking down at her. Looking up, the white-haired woman said, "I watched your battle with that other warrior. But if my strength were restored, neither of you could defeat me."
Chen Chuan could tell she wasn't boasting or gloating; she genuinely believed it and was simply speaking her mind.
By now, he had a fair idea of how to speak with people like her, so he replied, "Combat between fighters has never been fair. You have already lost, and as the victor, I have the right to decide the fate of everything you possess."
A dejected look washed over the woman's face. She clearly accepted that logic. Solemnly, she said, "Do you intend to make me a slave? As a hunt warrior, I will never be a slave, but you have the right to take my life and my possessions."
Chen Chuan said, "I have no need for your life. All you must do is surrender what was taken from us."
Hearing him mention this, she grew agitated, shouting, "That is our spoil of war! It carries the glory and hope of our tribe! I can compensate you with the livestock and people I own within my tribe!"
Chen Chuan said, "Centuries have passed; your tribe is likely long gone. Not to mention, that trophy is mine now. You have no right to make demands."
Hearing this, the white-haired woman flushed beet red. She was visibly furious, yet she offered no rebuttal, sitting there in utter silence as though using her demeanor to protest.
No complications arose during their return journey. A day later, the airship arrived back in Yangzhi. Instead of heading to the Civil Affairs Department, it touched down at the Yuangan Company branch located in the city center.
This site had originally been Molan Company's headquarters. The layout of the buildings remained largely unchanged, but the interior was entirely different now. Looking down from above, Chen Chuan gazed upon an exterior that felt both familiar and alien.
Once the airship came to a steady halt and he walked down the ramp, a group of people was already waiting below. At their head was a refined, scholarly middle-aged man in his fifties. Seeing Chen Chuan emerge, he stepped forward proactively and greeted him politely.
"Chief Chen, I am Liao Donghai, the special commissioner commissioned by Yuangan headquarters to handle this affair. Chief Chen, the company is exceedingly grateful for your assistance.
"We also heard that during the process of retrieving the second individual, you crossed hands with a martial artist from Haixi Dao. Please rest assured, the company will cover all expenses and resources you expended in the encounter."
Supervisor Bao, as a mere branch manager, didn't understand such matters and didn't know what martial artists required. He had treated Chen Chuan primarily as the Chief of the Security Defense Department and naturally couldn't make any promises. But Yuangan Company's headquarters knew how the world worked, which was why Liao Donghai had made their stance clear at the first opportunity.
Chen Chuan said, "I am the Chief of the Jibei Dao Security Defense Department, and this occurred within Jibei Dao. Naturally, I could not turn a blind eye. But let me ask you: can your company handle this matter properly?"
Liao Donghai said earnestly, "The company previously concealed the excavation findings in hopes of conducting proprietary research. Facts have proven that this was a mistake. Therefore, the head office has already reported the matter to the state. The government will soon dispatch personnel to be stationed at the company to oversee our proper handling of this affair."
This was a wise course of action. With Chen Chuan involved, there was no hope of hushing it up. Once he returned, he would certainly file a report to higher authorities. Rather than waiting for his report to go up, it was better for them to admit their fault preemptively—after all, Yuangan was a state-owned enterprise.
Just then, the telegraph operator from the airship rushed down the ramp, calling out, "Chief Chen..."
His shout drew the eyes of everyone present, including the armed security personnel and company executives. Startled by all the attention, he steadied his nerves, raised his hand slightly, and managed to say, "Chief Chen, a telegram from the Ministry of State Security."
Everyone present fell silent, even Liao Donghai uttering not a word.
Chen Chuan turned and walked over, taking the telegram from the operator's hands.
The Ministry of State Security was the superior department above the Security Defense Department. While the Ministry of National Defense was mainly responsible for managing the Ring of the World and all external defense matters, the Ministry of State Security oversaw internal public security activities and supervised domestic and foreign enterprises.
He scanned through it. The telegram instructed him to track and participate in subsequent developments, and to submit a detailed report on the situation to the ministry afterward. It further informed him that the ministry had already dispatched an official communication to Yuangan headquarters regarding this matter.
Chen Chuan looked up and said, "Mr. Liao, according to instructions from above, I may intervene in this matter at any time moving forward. I hope your company will cooperate."
By now, Mr. Liao had also received a telegram from his assistant. After glancing through it, he looked up and declared earnestly, "Chief Chen, the company will offer our full cooperation."
Chapter 856