Weiguang District, Lakeside Greenery Park.
Chen Chuan and Old Feng sat down on a bench facing the lake. In the distance, beneath weeping willows, a few people were leisurely fishing. Boats drifted across the water, and quite a few children were chasing and playing nearby.
Even seated, Old Feng did not lean against the backrest. His upper body remained ramrod straight. Facing the cool breeze sweeping off the lake, he said, "Ah, three years have gone by in a flash, haven't they? Even when I was elsewhere, I often heard about you, Trainee Chen.
"What happened in Jibei Dao was truly unexpected. I never imagined you people would actually pull it off. Back when you decided to push for it, I was genuinely sweating for you.
"You have no idea—the other center cities denounced you with pen and tongue. If spit could drown someone, Jibei Dao probably would have been submerged."
Chen Chuan said, "If people could be brought down by spit alone, we wouldn't be standing here today."
Old Feng chuckled and remarked with nostalgia, "Trainee Chen, you're just as confident as you were back then." He paused. "Well, my coming here this time isn't just to catch up. Someone up above asked me to pass along a few words to you."
Hearing this, Chen Chuan raised a hand to touch his boundary credential, intending to instruct the Mother to shield the surrounding field.
Yet at that very moment, he discovered that the informational field around them had already ceased functioning.
He looked toward Old Feng and noticed that the man's demeanor seemed to have undergone a subtle shift in that single instant.
Old Feng gazed at the distant waters and spoke: "Regarding the Investigation Delegation, Commissioner Cao had actually uncovered a few leads. But with two operatives falling in the line of duty, all trails went dead right there. In truth, he knows who these people are, but he has no way to investigate any further. It isn't their fault."
Chen Chuan's heart stirred slightly. "Who did it?"
Rather than answering directly, Old Feng asked, "You know about the Provisional State-Founding Commission, don't you?"
Chen Chuan nodded. "I do. It was the predecessor to the Government of the Republic of Great Shun."
Old Feng said, "Over a century ago, a mighty struggle against the former empire surged across the globe. Here on the Eastern Continent, the old imperial house held tremendous power. To concentrate strength and overthrow them as swiftly as possible, the rebels and idealists who rose up first were willing to embrace every force that could be rallied.
"This included various political factions, major corporations and merchant firms, regional powers, reformist officials who had originally served the old imperial house, and even... the military that had originally sworn fealty to the imperial house, along with many senior commanders leading them.
"From this, the Provisional State-Founding Commission was established. At the time, that choice was not wrong. The approaching Great Impact and the formation of the Grand Alliance both required a unified, intact regime dedicated to preserving our world. It was the same across all nations, not just ours. Yet hidden perils were inevitably planted.
"Ever since the Republic's Executive Administration was established, internal strife has never ceased. The conservative faction is deeply entrenched and powerful, posing countless obstacles to governmental centralization. Hemmed in by circumstances, we could only pursue gradual reform from within. For nearly a century, we have traded struggles for compromises and back again.
"We have our grand direction and strategic objectives to achieve, and they have their own agenda. So long as core principles are not at stake, we can temporarily tolerate them. Yet their actions all too often run directly counter to ours."
Chen Chuan watched the ripples rolling across the lake. Though the other had not stated outright who was behind it, he had no need to ask further.
In fact, whether it was him or the members of the Security Decision-Making Team, all of them understood clearly: Great Shun's greatest enemy at present had never been external, but internal.
With Great Shun's sheer scale today, simple foreign intrusions could never shake it. Looking back across history, every great power and mighty empire had first developed fissures from within before ultimately crumbling into ruin.
He said, "We don't have much time left."
Old Feng said, "Yes, time is running out. If we had another hundred years, we could still take things slowly. But let alone a hundred years, we might not even have the next ten.
"Before the Great Impact arrives, we must concentrate every shred of strength that can be gathered, even if it requires somewhat radical measures. That is already the best outcome we can secure while avoiding open war."
Chen Chuan pondered briefly. "The Skyline?"
Old Feng nodded. "The Skyline is something that must be pushed forward, and it is vital. With it, we can maximize efficiency and concentrate our forces. Yet what decides all of this—and what ultimately determines the direction of the world—is still martial might."
His tone grew slightly more solemn. "Saying that the Supreme Security Advisory Commissioners decide the nation's course is hardly an exaggeration. Although none of the commissioners participate directly in policy decisions or concrete execution, their opinions and stances often profoundly sway the judgments and choices of the highest leadership.
"At present, our two sides are locked in a stalemate within the Supreme Security Advisory Commission. One could even say that after years of effort, we have temporarily gained the upper hand over the other side.
"However, they possess profound foundations. Following the collapse of the old imperial house, they seized vast reserves of resources, took possession of many secret hoards that should have been turned over to the state, and have continuously cultivated new talent. While our side lacks no exceptional figures, in terms of heritage and accumulated depth, a gap still remains."
As he spoke, he turned his head to look at Chen Chuan and smiled. "Yet fortunately, we have always been advancing in the right direction. We have never stopped, and we have people like you, Trainee Chen, following closely behind.
"Trainee Chen, one day we may fall upon the road ahead, but with people like you around, I believe that torch held high will never drop."
He reached into his pocket, drew out an object resembling a name card, and handed it over. "This is for you."
Chen Chuan accepted it.
"This is a millennium-old secret hoard we discovered within the country. It might contain some treasures of the Old Faith. If you have time, you can go take a look."
Chen Chuan glanced down at it. The object appeared to be crafted from polished white jade. When his mental strength made contact with it, an ethereal mist drifted forth, shaping itself into a three-dimensional topographic map of mountains and rivers.
"If you can obtain what's inside, keep it for yourself. Things are only useful in the hands of someone who can put them to work. Just be mindful of your safety—there are things in there dating back to the old era, and others might have their eyes on the place as well.
"Trainee Chen, I look forward to the day we meet in person."
After saying this, his face turned back toward the lake. A moment later, Old Feng suddenly raised his head and pointed at an angler casting his line ahead, exclaiming with delight, "Hey, Trainee Chen, look! Catching something in the middle of the day—that's no easy feat!"
Chen Chuan looked over and said, "Yes, it isn't easy."
He knew that just now, someone had used Old Feng's body to speak with him. Judging by the tone and content, it was likely someone among the highest echelons.
Old Feng said with a touch of wistfulness, "When I was young, my father often took me fishing. Back then, I hated sitting still and didn't understand the appeal. Later on, when I tried it myself, I fell in love with it too. Because as long as you have patience, preparation, and focus, you'll get a catch. It's truly addicting. So many years have passed in a flash—I've almost forgotten what it feels like to hold a fishing rod."
Chen Chuan said, "Old Feng, the waters of Jibei Dao run deep and are full of fish. I'll be waiting for you to reel in a few more."
Old Feng smiled. "Don't worry, I promise to land a few big ones for you."
Chen Chuan stayed there with Old Feng for over an hour, chatting about the situation in Jibei Dao. Afterward, they had a meal together before he returned to the villa in his private car.
Back in his study, he opened the case Skarson had given him. Aside from the expected foodstuffs and high-energy nutritional supplies, a small item rested in the upper right corner—a crystalline, ice-like object shaped like a bird's talon, roughly the size of a child's fist.
Feeling the distinct field radiating from it, he was slightly surprised. Was this... the relic from that day?
He picked up the note attached to the side. Written in simple Great Shun script, it explained that this object was called the "Cold Claw," a Class 3 relic, given by the Investigation Delegation in gratitude for his showing mercy.
It also detailed its specific functions: the relic could affect martial artists, limit-break creatures from the Melded Lands, and even entities from the other side, impeding their movements.
When employed, it could either be placed somewhere in advance or integrated directly into the user's body. However, the latter method required a certain level of physical endurance, with the bearable duration ranging from just a few seconds to over ten minutes.
He nodded to himself. Even though he had now mastered both the Grand Firmament Forms and Grand Radiant Light Forms and possessed means to counter such threats, relics did not expend his own power and could be triggered without warning. It was undeniably very useful.
He planned to visit the hunting grounds soon; having this would save him a great deal of effort.
He took out the Cold Claw, closed the case, and headed to the storage room to put the items away in their respective places. Just as he walked out, a chime sounded from his boundary credential.
He checked the boundary credential. It was a message forwarded from the Government Affairs Hall, stating that reporters from a Norland martial arts magazine wanted to present him with an award and were requesting a visit. They claimed to have contacted him previously and had already arrived in Center City.
He thought back, and indeed there had been such a matter. Earlier, this foreign magazine had wished to confer their most influential figure of the year award upon him, and he had sent a reply letter later on.
He replied that he was free now and told them they could come over.
Half an hour later, after passing multiple security checkpoints along the way, the two magazine reporters were escorted into the villa by a guard.
Upon meeting Chen Chuan, they introduced themselves. One was named Stomark, and the other Osne, both foreign correspondents and sales representatives from Flying Wing Magazine.
After greeting one another and sitting down, Stomark, who wore thick round glasses, said apologetically, "Greetings, Section Chief Chen. Visiting without an appointment was truly presumptuous of us. But we've been here for five days and simply couldn't reach you, so once the public meeting ended, our only option was to contact Your Excellency through the Government Affairs Hall."
Chen Chuan said, "Things have been rather busy at the Government Affairs Hall lately. I hope you two can understand."
"We understand, we completely understand."
Facing a martial artist, the two seemed somewhat nervous and constrained. Stomark signaled to his companion, who blinked in confusion before catching on, quickly offering forward the case he held in his arms.
Stomark raised the case slightly and said, "We came today to formally present this award to Your Excellency, and along with it, the trophy."
Chapter 953