The Web

Below the redoubt, just as Chen Chuan clashed with Fang Dawei, the spider-man Lao Qi was crawling out through a concealed passage. He had lost all will to fight the moment Tong Baitao was killed. He knew full well that those remaining stood no chance against Chen Chuan, not to mention that he could sense constabulary officers moving up the slope. Seeing that Fang Dawei was also on his last legs, Lao Qi had fled without hesitation. The subterranean passage he had discovered earlier served as his perfect escape route. His body was unusually agile and inconspicuous. Once he slipped out and hid in the brush until dark, he would be home free. The passage was extremely narrow, barely wide enough for a person of ordinary build, but for him, it posed no difficulty. Clinging to the rock walls, he crawled toward the outside. He paused after every couple of steps, advancing only when he was certain nothing was amiss. Creeping forward inch by inch, he soon arrived at the exit. After waiting a little longer to ensure all was quiet outside, he darted out with practiced ease. Yet before his body had fully cleared the opening, a short spear suddenly thrust out from the side, pinning him to the rock face with a solid thud. Lao Qi's limbs began thrashing wildly in distress. Senior Wu stepped out from the shadows and said excitedly, "I've been waiting for you bastards for a while now! Escaping through here, just as Junior Chen predicted!" Before heading in, Chen Chuan had made an arrangement with him: Senior Wu was to watch this hidden exit rather than enter the redoubt, and intercept any of Fang Dawei's gang who tried to flee through it. Anyone else might have harbored doubts about such an instruction, but Senior Wu had believed him without question. If a man was willing to risk his life to take on these criminals, why doubt him? While staking out the spot, others might have grown anxious and let their minds wander, but Senior Wu was single-minded to a fault. When told to wait, he simply waited. From the moment he arrived, he had not shifted his posture, keeping his breathing restrained in a state akin to hibernation—which was precisely why Lao Qi had failed to detect him. Seeing that the creature was still alive and squirming disgustingly, Senior Wu grimaced in revulsion. He channeled jin into his leg and stomped down. With a sharp snap, he broke Lao Qi's neck. *** Inside the redoubt, Chen Chuan kicked Fang Dawei over the edge. The rope around Fang's neck snapped taut. His eyes rolled back as he writhed and struggled, but the more he fought, the tighter the noose cinched. Within a few minutes, he ceased moving altogether. From below, Doctor Lin looked up at Chen Chuan on the second-floor gallery and asked curiously, "You killed him—aren't you afraid Molan Company will come looking for trouble?" Chen Chuan looked down at him, his voice calm. "Doctor Lin, was it? If you aren't afraid, what do I have to fear?" "So that's how it is," Doctor Lin said, nodding in sudden comprehension. "Fair enough. But I'm different from the rest of you." He drawled leisurely, "Because I belong to Molan Company to begin with." He produced a name card from the pocket of his lab coat and flicked it toward Chen Chuan. "Allow me to introduce myself. I am Molan's contracted implant physician, Lin Fa." "An implant physician for Molan Company?" "Indeed." Lin Fa put the card away and pointed at the severed limbs littering the floor. "Do you know where the implants on these men came from?" He smiled faintly. "To research new implants, Molan selects a batch of convicts every year for experimentation. To test and gather data, they periodically release these prisoners into the wild, sending people out to hunt them down—or letting them hunt others. "Naturally, most of the time they're the prey, because those hunters hail from powerful, elite families, surrounded by layers of protection. "The scions of those powerful families jokingly call it 'going on a hunt.' Of course, during a hunt, prey occasionally slips through the net. But to Molan Company, that's hardly an issue. It just makes things a bit more troublesome out in the wild. Once we've observed them enough, we can always capture them again." Chen Chuan walked down the steps and stood before Doctor Lin. Tilting his head slightly, he said, "And this is the so-called secret?" Doctor Lin spread his hands in an exaggerated gesture of helplessness. "Yes. For someone at Fang Dawei's level, it passes for one. But do you think any of those powerful scions don't already know? Even if word leaks out, what of it? Leave aside Yangzhi City—even in Center City, who could do anything to Molan Company?" At this point, his voice filled with reverence and longing. "It is a colossus. The entire world is carved up between governments and these mega-corporations. They are the true rulers of this world!" Chen Chuan looked at him. "And what about you? What were you doing at Fang Dawei's side? Simply treating their wounds, or did you have another assignment?" Doctor Lin chuckled. "I stayed with them to conduct medical examinations, and also to observe and record the daily changes and combat performance of their implants. Along the way, I could gather biological samples and conduct a few small experiments I fancy... "Speaking of which..." He pushed up his spectacles and looked at Chen Chuan with intense interest. "Your battle against them was truly magnificent. I saw many things I had previously overlooked or never witnessed before. "I will document all of it and submit it to Molan Company. I'm certain I'll receive a commendation soon, perhaps even a transfer to an implant research lab. Hmm, maybe we should even recruit some fighters to participate in the experiments; that would truly—" Before he could finish, a flash of blade light flickered, illuminating the interior of the redoubt for an instant. Doctor Lin's expression froze. Strangled, wet gasps escaped his throat. His knees hit the ground, and both hands clamped frantically over the gash torn across his neck. Chen Chuan walked past him toward the exit, his tone entirely detached. "What made you think you were going to walk away?" Doctor Lin collapsed onto his side, his failing eyes watching the saber-bearing figure walk toward the white sunlight framing the redoubt's entrance—striding toward the brightness. Consciousness slowly drained from him until he sank completely into the dark. *** When Chen Chuan stepped out of the redoubt, the afternoon sun washed over him. Wei Laohu and the surrounding constabulary officers looked at him with a mix of pleasant surprise and concern, waiting for his answer. Chen Chuan gave them a nod. Wei Laohu raised his service pistol and roared, "Move!" He was the first to charge into the redoubt, the rest of the officers hot on his heels. Chen Chuan walked over to the edge of the platform. Holding his long saber, he stood gazing into the vast, boundless sky as officer after officer streamed past him into the fortress. In this world, everyone lived within webs woven by themselves or by others—layer upon layer, wall upon wall, fencing people in and keeping them isolated. What they experienced was merely a slice carved out by human design, not the true world, and they remained blind to the vast expanse outside. Meanwhile, certain figures looked down from their high perches, watching the masses bicker, peck, and slaughter one another inside the circles drawn for them. Chen Chuan raised a hand and clenched his fist tightly before his chest. He remembered his original motive for stepping onto the path of martial arts: to continually surpass himself, to keep growing stronger, so that he would never be bound by any restraint. That conviction remained unchanged. He would strive to become strong enough—strong enough to seize the power that could tear through every shackle! *** Inside the redoubt, Wei Laohu stared at the severed limbs and shattered remains across the floor, and at Fang Dawei swaying from the ceiling. Though a formal count had yet to be taken, he was certain that the entire gang of outlaws was accounted for. A wave of stifling heat hit him. He fanned himself a couple of times, wiped the sweat from his face, and muttered, "Damn it all... Big-Headed Nian sure has a hell of a nephew. Talk about bringing honor to his name!" He grabbed a nearby officer. "Go! Hurry and report to Bureau Chief Guan! Tell him the redoubt has been secured! And that Little Chuan took care of every last one of them by himself!" *** At the outpost command post, Guan Yuming received the report. After verifying the news repeatedly, his face remained calm on the surface, but his hand tightened into an involuntary fist. *Fine lad,* he thought. *He actually pulled it off!* He pulled back his sleeve to check his watch. Factoring in travel and reporting time, exactly half an hour had passed. After a moment's thought, he picked up the telephone receiver and dialed the constabulary headquarters. Once the line connected, he said, "Hello, Chief? This is Guan Yuming." "Old Guan, don't say another word. Molan Company's people are almost there. Pull your men back as quickly as possible. You took so many officers out there that the city center is dangerously exposed." Guan Yuming said, "Chief, I called to tell you that the matter is resolved." "Resolved? What... did Molan arrive ahead of schedule?" "No. It was one of our own. A constabulary boy, a student at Wuyi College. He charged into the redoubt alone and took down Fang Dawei's entire gang." A prolonged silence fell over the other end of the line, as if the chief needed time to digest the news. Only after a long while did he ask, "One of our constabulary's own?" "Yes. Nian Fuli's nephew." "Old Nian's nephew? Ha. Back when I was a company commander, he was my orderly. If he's his nephew, he ought to be reliable." Guan Yuming continued, "Chief, the students from Wuyi College came here on a designated assignment. When word arrived that Councilman Fang's son had been found, the assignment was called off, and most of the Wuyi students left. Little Chuan—Old Nian's nephew—stayed behind alone and fought his way into the redoubt with nothing but a blade. I don't need to explain why he stayed." A voice of admiration came over the receiver: "Fine boy! Plenty of guts!" After a pause, the chief added, "Speak your mind. What do you want me to do? Keep it reasonable." Guan Yuming said, "Here's my thought. His designated assignment was canceled, but... it doesn't have to stay canceled." "Not canceled?" Guan Yuming said solemnly, "Not all of Fang Dawei's gang are dead. There are severely wounded survivors. We all know what really happened here, but we can also choose not to know. In exchange, Little Chuan must be credited with completing the designated assignment!" The response from the other end was decisive. "Since he's one of our own, I can use my old face to push for it. Old Guan, keep a tight lid on things over there and get back as soon as you can. I'll handle the negotiations with them. Goodbye." Guan Yuming slowly set down the receiver and pressed the hook. He stared outside, his eyes grave and resolute. The designated assignment itself wasn't what mattered most. What mattered was sending an unmistakable message to the outside world: This young man was under the constabulary's protection!