A Contest of Skill and Heart

"Splendid!" Clapping echoed down from the airship. Corva was applauding from above, seemingly not the least bit distressed by his partner's battered state, his face brimming with excitement. In truth, there was nothing to worry about anyway. Anyone could see that Chen Chuan had pulled his punches at the end; an injury this minor would heal in a matter of minutes. And so it was. After only a brief pause, the bruises and swelling on Skarson's face subsided at visible speed. His shattered teeth sprouted and reformed, and he pushed himself back to his feet, his blazing body heat swiftly evaporating the wet spots on his clothes. He stood in silence for a moment. Then he spoke. "Section Chief Chen, since I have lost, I will honor my promise. What is it that you wish for?" Chen Chuan asked, "Mr. Skarson, what weapon are you best with?" "That would be my pair of gloves,” Skarson answered. "Then that's what I want." Skarson nodded gravely. Instinctively, he reached up to tap his boundary credential, only to touch the ruined ornament. Ripping it off, he called up toward the airship, "Corva, lend a hand." Corva signaled his understanding. "The third crate from the top, right?" "Yes, the green one. Don't grab the wrong one." Corva made an 'all right' gesture and turned away. A moment later, he returned carrying a pair of gloves, waved them down at them, and tossed them over the side. Skarson caught them cleanly. After a glance, he tossed them over to Chen Chuan. "These were a gift from my teacher when I became a martial artist. They've accompanied me for nearly twenty years. Now, they are yours." Chen Chuan caught them with one hand. "Thank you, Mr. Skarson." Skarson said in a deep voice, "They are the spoils you earned." Regret lingered in his heart. Having failed to persuade Chen Chuan, losses among the forces defending the Ring of the World would inevitably occur in the foreseeable future. That was a dereliction of his duty. Yet a loss was a loss; he had no choice but to accept it. In the end, martial artists spoke through martial power. Had he been able to suppress Chen Chuan today, he could have compelled him to agree. But that was impossible now. Ultimately, it came down to him not being strong enough— No, it was that his opponent was simply too strong! He could not help but glance at Chen Chuan once more. Over the past decade or more, he had traveled far and wide with the investigation team, visiting many parts of the world and encountering countless martial artists. He knew full well what most who had recently broken their limit looked like, yet not one among them could hold a candle to Chen Chuan. What was more, this man was astonishingly young—not even twenty when he achieved his limit break. No wonder his prior record was so staggering. There was not a trace of inflation or exaggeration in it; every bit of it had been earned through sheer, unvarnished power. Such an individual was born strong. Yet why couldn't he spare an opportunity for the weak? Skarson's mood was heavy. Though he could no longer press the matter before Chen Chuan, he would not abandon this cause. No force defending the human world should ever be squandered in internal strife. He said in a low voice, "Section Chief Chen, once I return, I will send you a shipment of high-energy nutrients to compensate for your expenditure today." Chen Chuan nodded. "Then that will do. Do you two have any further questions?" Skarson shook his head. "Our evaluation of you has concluded. We will record everything faithfully, including all our questions and answers, and enter it into the archives. Some personal assessments may be attached. If there is anything offensive in them, I ask for your understanding." Chen Chuan did not mind in the least. He could not dictate what they chose to write. Ordinary civil officials might fear such records, but they could not affect a martial artist in the slightest. A martial artist's authority and standing rested entirely upon their own strength; thus, he gave it no thought. "Where are the two of you headed now? Jibei Dao has many renowned mountains and scenic sights, though they lie outside Center City. Would you like me to show you around?" Hearing this, Corva showed clear interest, but Skarson declined. "We have our duties and are not here for sightseeing. Section Chief Chen, our questioning of you is complete. Next, we will pay a visit to another martial artist." Corva's eyebrow twitched slightly, followed by a helpless shrug. Chen Chuan said, "Principal Yao should be waiting for you at Wuyi Academy right now. You can take my airship over." "Thank you, then," Skarson said. Chen Chuan and Skarson rose from the lake's surface and stepped back onto the airship, departing Chaocai Lake and flying toward Wuding District. Along the way, Corva kept inquiring about Center City and the surrounding region of Jibei Dao. His interests lay entirely in food, drink, and entertainment, and he grew thoroughly intrigued upon hearing about the amusements in Deep Valley City. Visiting the convergence zone, however, was not so simple. Even as members of an international investigation team, they required approval from the Great Shun Defense Department. After all, significant domestic interests were tied up there, and it served as a vital forward front against the Old Imperial Family. When the airship reached Wuyi Academy, Chen Chuan parted ways with them. After dropping the two off, he turned back toward Weiguang District. Chen Chuan watched the two enter Xuangong Building, then withdrew his gaze and stepped into the main cabin. In the bout with Skarson, the force field of the Grand Firmament Forms he had employed had not been the fully integrated field; at best, he had displayed only the power of a single well-mastered form. Unleashing its full strength would have consumed far too much energy, while also handing intelligence over to his opponent. The peak level an ordinary martial artist could reach after several months of practicing the Grand Firmament Forms was roughly what he had just shown. In truth, that was more than enough for a sparring match. Had it been a fight to the death, he was certain the other man possessed hidden trump cards, and the clash would not have remained at such a moderate intensity. Reflecting on the battle, Chen Chuan recognized that as a world-renowned martial artist, Skarson possessed techniques that were genuinely commendable. That precise, highly efficient control over the fire of spirituality was something he had never witnessed before. At present, he could not replicate it. Still, everyone had their strengths and weaknesses. Just because he could not do it now did not mean he would never be able to. Nor would he let it trouble him; he only needed to continue along his own path. After turning it over in his mind, he promptly drafted a report recounting the encounter and forwarded it to Qi Weizhao. He looked up at the intense, brilliant sunlight outside. As things stood, there should be no major issues on his end. The crux lay in whether the Government Affairs Hall could weather this round of investigation. Inside Xuangong Building, Skarson and Corva had just stepped in when they received word that an anomaly had arisen in the convergence zone. Principal Yao Zhiyi would consequently return a bit later than expected. They were asked to wait briefly, and a newly appointed vice principal offered them apologies and escorted them to the principal's reception room. Thus, the two had no choice but to wait. Corva curiously examined the room's decor, taking in the trophies of honor Jibei Dao Wuyi had earned over the years, as well as portraits of past principals. After browsing for a while, he turned around. "Skarson, I have a question. You clearly could have fought underwater just now. Why didn't you?" He knew very well that his partner hailed from Huansuo Island and possessed extraordinary mastery of the water. His aquatic combat prowess was not the least bit inferior to his land-based capabilities—in fact, it might even be slightly higher. He could easily have capitalized on that strength. Skarson replied, "Have you forgotten? He was the one who chose to fight us on that body of water. The intelligence reports indicated that when he destroyed Yuanren Company's active conscious entity, it took place out at sea. I believe he came prepared, so I would never engage him beneath the surface." Enlightenment dawned on Corva. "Right! It could very well have been a trap prepared in advance. Hmm, how should I put it—" He raised a hand, pointing at the student assessment criteria hanging on the wall. "'Superb tactical decision-making in combat!' Yes, exactly that! But—" He spread his hands again, genuine surprise etched across his face. "Skarson, you're just giving up like this? I thought you'd try to persuade him further. That doesn't seem like you." Skarson deliberated for a moment before speaking. "He may be somewhat different from what I initially thought." "Initially? Different?" Corva asked, perplexed. "He undoubtedly believes in martial might above all." Skarson assumed his signature solemn expression. "I used to think he was cold to everyone and indifferent to life. That is a common affliction among martial artists—they no longer view themselves as part of 'humanity,' but rather consider themselves higher beings. "Some take it even further, setting themselves apart from ordinary martial artists and believing they belong to an elevated echelon, no longer of the same kind. There are several such examples among martial artists blessed with natural genius. "Yet I realized I was mistaken. A measure of compassion still resides within him. That diverges somewhat from my earlier judgment." "Come on, partner, how did you even deduce that?" Corva's eyes widened in utter disbelief. "Because he pulled his punches against you just now? In that sort of spar, no one would dare kill an investigator!" Skarson said in a low, measured voice, "Didn't you notice? Before we began sparring, he used his boundary credential to notify the resort area's management, having them seal off the surrounding lake surface so other tourists wouldn't enter the zone. He did that to prevent innocent bystanders from getting caught in the crossfire. "Even if many martial artists pay lip service to respecting ordinary people, deep down they never truly care. Yet he did so naturally. I could tell he wasn't doing it just to appease us; it was his genuine instinct. In that regard, he is different from other martial artists. "Even so, you are right about one thing: my conviction remains unchanged. Every martial artist is of value and must not be squandered carelessly or lightly." Corva rubbed his chin. "I see..." As they were speaking, a receptionist walked in and said with a smile, "Excuse me, gentlemen, pardon the interruption. Principal Yao has just returned. He sincerely apologizes for keeping you waiting. Please follow me."