Chen Chuan saw the ape approaching, halted in his tracks, and looked over.
Most creatures in the Confluence, unless brainless like the rodent hogs, would steer well clear upon encountering him. He had not expected this ape to show no fear at all, but rather to approach him of its own accord.
Once it scampered up before him, the ape made a rummaging motion inside the pouch on its belly. A few glittering trinkets could be seen in its paw. It then darted right up to Chen Chuan's feet, set the trinkets down, picked up a stone to place into its pouch, and then drew the trinkets back out, repeating this sequence several times.
Chen Chuan understood at once: it wanted to barter with him.
Certain tribes in the Confluence known as pouch apes roamed across vast ranges and had interacted with humans in the past, picking up this custom. What was more, they were quite fair: the greater the value of what was given to them, the greater the return they offered—though naturally, an item's value was determined according to their own understanding.
Yet in a place like the Confluence, anything creatures perceived as rare and highly valuable was almost certainly something he could use as well.
After a moment's thought, he unhitched a waterskin from his waist and tossed it over.
This was fashioned from the membrane of a multi-eyed devil ray. It was extraordinarily tough, and so long as there was moisture in the air, it would draw and condense water on its own—an invaluable treasure in a wasteland like this.
Back when he had harvested the material, he had casually crafted two of them.
Catching the waterskin, the ape clearly recognized its extraordinary utility and desperately coveted it. Yet it seemed unable to produce anything of equivalent value in return, scratching its ears and cheeks in an anxious fluster. Setting the waterskin down, it bounded a few paces away and let out a shrill cry. In an instant, dozens of apes leapt down from the sand tapirs, scampering and bounding over toward them.
The troop gathered together, chattering excitedly around the waterskin as each took a turn handling it. Finally, an old ape with grizzled white fur stepped forward. From its abdominal pouch, it drew out an object wrapped in some kind of leather and held it out toward Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan took it and unwrapped the leather. Inside lay a rhombohedral stone. It was impossible to tell what it was, and it was feather-light, yet his instincts told him it was no ordinary object.
Yet when his gaze fell upon the piece of leather itself, his heart stirred slightly. He wrapped the stone back up, nodded to the old ape, and stowed the parcel away right before their eyes, slipping it into a pocket of his smock.
The moment he made this gesture, it signified his acceptance of the trade. All the apes let out a peculiar cry, though it was not hard to tell they were cheering.
The old ape then took a bundled clump of white ape hair from its pouch, crawled forward a few paces, and presented it to Chen Chuan. Its expression was solemn, and it pulled over a young ape to gesture back and forth.
Chen Chuan watched for a moment and understood the meaning: if he encountered a similar troop of apes in the future, holding this hair would allow him to initiate trade with them.
This was rather interesting.
He accepted the hair.
At that moment, the old ape uttered another call, and the entire troop bounded back, leaving behind only a swirl of dust.
Chen Chuan then took out the bundle the old ape had given him and unwrapped it once more. Setting the rhombohedral stone aside for now, he smoothed open the leather before him. Colorful markings covered its surface.
If he was not mistaken, this was a map. He had no idea who had drawn it, but judging by the texture, it was likely ancient. Although there were no clear characters or text, different terrains were depicted with distinct patches of color, and fairly intuitively at that.
There was hardly any fine detail, but the general outline was clear. The yellowish-brown swath in the center represented the desert before him, while the charred-black area presumably corresponded to the plain he had traversed behind him. In addition, there were two patches colored red and blue.
Judging by the topography, the red patch lay behind him, in the direction the apes were heading, while the blue patch lay straight in the direction he was currently facing.
Long white lines also converged toward the blue area, which likely represented rivers. Seen this way, the blue region was probably a sea.
After pondering it for a moment, he decided to keep to his course. Picking up his suitcase, he headed toward that direction, facing into the oncoming wind.
***
Center City, Weiguang District, within the Golden Maple Garden villa estate.
Nian Fuli drove an armored security sedan into the garage. He was currently in charge of personnel affairs in the City Patrol. The higher-ups all knew he was Section Chief Chen's uncle by marriage, so everyone treated him with great deference.
As for the subordinates, although they did not know his background, anyone who could secure such a post obviously had powerful backing. Moreover, he was a genuine combat veteran who had served as a brigade commander, managed people, and knew how to foster connections and make friends. Over the past few months, he had firmly solidified his standing.
Perhaps owing to the fine food and nutrition here, combined with making time to exercise every day lately, his formerly slack muscles had tightened up again, and his vigor was even better than before.
When he entered the villa, Yu Wan was just hanging up the telephone receiver. Seeing him walk in, she stepped forward to take his coat as he took it off. "Old Nian, I have something to tell you. Eldest Sister just called and said Xiao Cheng is coming over."
"Xiao Cheng?" Nian Fuli thought for a moment. "My brother-in-law's idea?"
"I think so," Yu Wan said. "My sister wouldn't think of it; she'd love nothing more than to keep the boy right by her side."
"It's good for him to come," Nian Fuli said. "Livelier that way. And with Little Chuan around, he won't get pushed around. The boy's nature isn't bad at heart, and doing something proper beats idling around."
Just then, an attendant approached, bowed, and said, "Sir, Madam, the tutor is about to leave."
Yu Wan hurried to say, "I'll see her off."
Nian Fuli went to the washroom to freshen up. When he came out, Yu Wan had already returned. He asked, "How does this new Teacher Gu compare to Teacher Weng?"
"Both are quite good," Yu Wan said. "Teacher Weng has vast learning, while Teacher Gu knows how to manage children, keeping Xiaomo and Xiaolu completely in line."
"Then she's capable," Nian Fuli said. "Xiaolu is fine, but Xiaomo is playful to the core. Keeping him in line without a belt is no small feat."
Yu Wan rolled her eyes at him. "You think everyone's like you?"
Nian Fuli shrugged it off. "That's how I trained recruits in the army. If they don't know the rules, a good beating sets them straight. Try reasoning with them about right and wrong, and they'll spout more excuses than you have arguments."
He walked over to the side and switched on the field screen. Various news broadcasts popped up one after another. Such convenience in receiving and transmitting information was something unimaginable in the past.
Yu Wan walked over again. "Old Nian, when can we find some free time to go back and visit?"
"We've only been out for a few months, and you're already homesick?" Nian Fuli asked.
"I just miss the neighbors," Yu Wan said. "And I wonder if Aunt Luo has been taking proper care of the flowers I planted in the yard."
Nian Fuli thought for a moment and said, "Let's wait until Little Chuan returns. It's not easy for him either—heading out on a mission for a whole month at a stretch. Who knows how he's doing right now."
A flicker of worry surfaced on Yu Wan's face. Back in Yangzhi, she had received a phone call from Chen Chuan every month, checking in on them. Now so many days had passed without word, and she couldn't help wondering how he was faring.
Seeing this, Nian Fuli comforted her, "Don't worry. Little Chuan is a martial artist. Even if something happened to anyone else, he'd be fine."
"Mm."
***
Meanwhile, in Bainiao District.
Inside the villa's main hall, Mr. Chi was communicating with someone via boundary credential. Around him was a green garden simulated by a field, with melodious birdsong chirping from time to time.
From across the boundary credential, a voice came through: "After that person departed Shengu City, he headed toward the unknown depths of the Confluence. It has been nearly a month now, and the informants posted there haven't seen any sign of his return.
"Earlier, we received word that two state-subjugating generals of the former dynasty had once gone to the very place he is in now, but both emerged one after the other, staying for less than half a month. Now that this one hasn't come out, could it be possible that..."
Mr. Chi shook his head. "Don't be so optimistic. This man is extraordinarily powerful. He withdrew several times the supply of food and nutrients provided to ordinary martial artists from the Municipal Council. You should understand what that signifies. What's more, that state-subjugating general of the former dynasty died by his hands. What that man couldn't do, this one might well accomplish.
"Judging from the provisions he carried, they should suffice for a month's needs. If he doesn't return next month, he likely intends to remain there for an extended period. Have your informants keep a close watch at all times."
"Understood," the voice replied. "I'll report back to you immediately if there are any developments."
The call on Mr. Chi's end concluded, but then a telephone on the desk rang. It was a dedicated private line. He stepped forward at once, lifted the receiver, took a breath, and said, "Chi Houde speaking."
A voice came through from the other end: "Sir instructed me to inform you that that gentleman is already on his way to your location and may arrive in three hours. Make the arrangements for him according to plan."
Mr. Chi's expression turned solemn. "Understood. I will receive him personally." Once the other party hung up, he immediately went to the rear of the villa and climbed down an access shaft. Docked below was a small, offshore sightseeing submersible capable of seating six.
A little over half an hour later, routine inspections concluded. With the assistance and arrangements of the internal staff, he climbed inside. Ten minutes later, the submersible departed into the sea.
The sightseeing submersible was not fast, traveling less than ten kilometers an hour. Just then, the radio operator received a signal, and the submersible moved toward the transmitted coordinates. Soon, illuminated by their lights, another submarine came into view, coated in an anti-field reflective membrane and idling in the water.
The sightseeing submersible drew up alongside and docked hatches with it. Once the hatch swung open, after waiting a short while, an internal crew member wearing an oxygen mask appeared from the opposite side and made a hand gesture indicating that he should close the hatch.
Mr. Chi froze. What did this mean? Where was the person? Where was the man he was supposed to receive?
Just then, a thought struck him. He looked back at once—and saw a figure sitting in the very seat he had just occupied.
It was impossible to discern the person's exact age. His hair was dyed green, draped loose like waterweeds. His skin was an iron black, unmistakably the result of implants, and there were closed bulges on his arms whose purpose could not be discerned. His countenance was cold and ruthless.
A chill ran through Mr. Chi's heart. Straightening his clothes, he asked respectfully, "Are you Mr. Noche?"
Chapter 893