Chapter 109: Noon Family Town
Chapter 109: Noon Family Town
After the sixth day of the new year, Chen Chuan and Gao Ming went to the company located on the south side of the city, on Broadway Street, and signed an agreement with Ren Su and his associates.
However, when Ren Su and his group saw that Chen Chuan didn't want to be a shareholder and only signed a temporary cooperation agreement, they were surprised and a little concerned. This meant that Chen Chuan could leave at any time, so they chose their words and behaved more cautiously.
After the signing, Chen Chuan had a meal with them. During the dinner, Gao Ming didn't need much effort to figure out the backgrounds of everyone present.
Ren Su and his partners were left with a very good impression of Chen Chuan.
They didn't understand business matters or how to gauge one's capabilities, but Chen Chuan was handsome, with divine eyes and an indescribable dignified aura. He spoke calmly and orderly, with great logic. Combined with the stories of his past deeds, it didn't take long for many of the younger members to feel a sense of reverence.
After the dinner ended, and they bid farewell to Ren Su and the others, Gao Ming said as they walked out, "Cousin, the backgrounds of these wealthy heirs are not simple."
Chen Chuan replied, "Those who can provide such substantial funding to establish a commission company certainly don't have poor family conditions. For now, we are just partners."
Gao Ming smiled, "Cousin, I understand what you mean. I won't do anything extra, but I remembered something a senior in the industry once said: 'Discuss emotions with the rich and discuss benefits with the poor.' It's not always accurate, but it's close enough."
"Everyone has their pursuits," Chen Chuan said.
"Yes, pursuits," Gao Ming looked into the distance, where a clear river flowed under a bridge, "It drives people, whether passively or actively, towards a certain direction."
Chen Chuan also looked over. Under the sunlight, the river shimmered with sparkling waves, dazzling yet brilliant. After watching for a while, he said, "Let's go."
Gao Ming nodded and drove him back to the Patrol Bureau's residential area, where they bid farewell outside.
"Cousin, I have to get back to the firm. I'll gather the information as soon as possible. Just wait for my news, but it shouldn't take more than a few days."
"It's still the holiday season, Gao Ming. There's no need to rush," Chen Chuan said.
Smiling, Gao Ming said, "Since I've taken on this task, there's no such thing as rest time until we achieve our goal. I'll call you later." He waved at Chen Chuan, got into the car, and drove off after signaling.
Chen Chuan watched the car leave and then walked into the house. However, as he entered the courtyard, he paused, noticing that the dematerialization phenomenon that had been haunting his "second self" since the cinema's urban legend had disappeared without him noticing.
He pondered for a moment. It had been about ten days since then, and this legend was much more powerful than the well doll, but the duration of the phenomenon had actually shortened. This confirmed his previous guess: as the time overlap of his "second self" strengthened, he could naturally endure more intense harm.
In the following days, Chen Chuan continued to enjoy his vacation. He went out to meet old classmates he hadn't seen in a long time and also went riding two-wheelers with a few good friends at Ding Jiao's place. He visited the small Green Mountain in the southwest of the city, went ice fishing on the lake, and then watched a few movies.
Even though he had already seen the movie at Orchid Fragrance Cinema that day, watching it with his classmates was a much better experience than watching it with the urban legend.
On the tenth day of the new year, Chen Chuan accompanied his younger sister, Yu Wan, and her husband's family to the Wu Yi Academy's Martial Arena to watch the semi-finals and finals of the tournament.
The match was very exciting. In the final, both Class B students were evenly matched, and the fight was back and forth. Until the end, the audience couldn't predict who the real winner would be.
In Chen Chuan's eyes, these two students, judging only by the force exerted by their altered tissue and their technique, were already on par with Class A students of the same grade.
However, since the tournament was also meant to be entertaining, neither side used their full strength, and they even prolonged the match with some flashy, performance-like techniques to engage the audience. This was what people loved to see.
After the match, the family was still immersed in the atmosphere of the competition. Chen Chuan's younger brother, Nian Mo, imitated the fighters, running and jumping in front, wielding a tree branch and making 'wa' sounds.
Yu Wan carried her daughter, Nian Lu, slowly. She said, "Chanchu, those two finalists seemed very powerful. How do they compare to you?"
Chen Chuan smiled and replied straightforwardly, "I can win."
Class B students don't learn techniques meant for fighting to the death. Some techniques are unnecessary in actual combat. If he were on the tournament stage, he might need some time to adjust to the rules. But even without weapons, his opponents would have little chance of winning.
However, with targeted training, Class B students can also develop a certain level of combat power. After all, those with altered tissue are far stronger than ordinary fighters, almost incomparable.
Back at home, five days passed in a flash, and the Lantern Festival was over. The festive atmosphere lingered, but it gradually faded.
These days were a rare time to relax, but with school starting again in half a month, Chen Chuan focused his mind and sincerely adjusted himself for the new beginning. That day, he was practicing in the yard, following the method taught by He Xiaoxing. His altered tissue was now fully on track, growing within his bones and muscles.
According to his notes, if the process continued uninterrupted, it would take about ten more days for his altered tissue to reach its first limit and grow steadily.
Not only was he aware of his limits, but he also knew that pushing himself to the brink with his second self was not enough. He needed more training and stimulation to drive the altered tissue to its limits.
As He Xiaoxing finished demonstrating a set of techniques, footsteps approached from outside the courtyard. A boy, around twelve or thirteen years old, poked his head out and said, "Little Chuan, someone's looking for you outside."
Chen Chuan stopped his practice and thanked the boy. He stepped out and approached the alley entrance, where a SUV was parked. Ren Su was there, rubbing his hands together as he waited. Chen Chuan greeted him, "Mr. Ren, what brings you here?"
Ren Su, feeling slightly embarrassed, replied, "Mr. Chen, we didn't mean to disturb you during your vacation, but..."
Chen Chuan, with a sense of duty, said, "Mr. Ren, since I've signed the agreement, I'll fulfill my responsibilities. If you're looking for me at this hour, it must be for a commission. Let's discuss the matter at hand."
"Alright," Ren Su glanced around and whispered, "We just received a commission from the Government Hall related to the Flying Head Cult we mentioned earlier. They want us to handle it as soon as possible."
Chen Chuan's gaze immediately shifted, "In the city?"
Ren Su felt a sudden tightness in his chest under Chen Chuan's intense stare. He quickly nodded, "Yes, it's not in the city center, but considering the potential presence of the Flying Head urban legend, we specifically came to seek Mr. Chen's assistance."
"Wait for me," Chen Chuan turned back, grabbed the Snow Lady Sword, and also brought the Wu Ji Handgun. He quickly returned and said to Ren Su, "Mr. Ren, please lead the way. We'll discuss the specifics in the car."
Ren Su hurriedly agreed and helped Chen Chuan open the car door. Once Chen Chuan was seated in the passenger seat, Ren Su said to the driver, "Head to Noon Family Town in the north."
Chen Chuan wondered, "The north again?"
This made sense as the north was densely populated, making it easier to hide, but any commotion would quickly attract the attention of the Patrol Bureau. In contrast, the north had more space and a more xenophobic population with numerous gangs, making it an ideal place for clandestine activities.
Not only that, but the north was adjacent to the mountains. If things got too hot, one could easily escape into the mountains and remain hidden, making it difficult to capture.
Ren Su rummaged through his briefcase and pulled out a commission form. He carefully passed it to Chen Chuan in the back seat, saying, "There's news that a Flying Head was spotted in Noon Family Town. Many townsfolk were offering sacrifices when it suddenly appeared, causing a large number of them to go insane. Although the town has a security team, only a few managed to escape."
"Many commission companies have sent representatives, but no one dares to act without an expert. Since our submitted materials mentioned a specialist in handling urban legends, the Government Hall assigned it to us."
Chen Chuan took the form and quickly grasped the situation.
He had already inquired with Cheng Zitong about the Flying Head urban legend. Cheng Zitong had warned him that physical methods could be effective, but the challenge was its ability to fly at incredible speeds. Especially when agitated, it could severely impact people's sanity. Engaging it in close quarters was risky, as prolonged exposure might drive one insane.
Cheng Zitong advised that if faced with such a situation, maintaining breath control and regulating one's qi and blood circulation was crucial. One's emotional state should remain stable, and if things got out of hand, it was best to retreat and devise another plan, or consume herbs to calm the mind.
However, Chen Chuan didn't need such advice. His second self could absorb external influences and harm, and sustained damage had little effect on him. In this regard, he was well-equipped to counter certain urban legends.
After about half an hour, the car arrived at a small town near Yangzhi City. Most of the buildings were low-rise brick and tile structures with snow still capping the roofs. However, some were clearly remnants from the Great Expansion era, with watchtowers and warehouses standing out.
The town's proximity to Yangzhi City meant the roads were well-paved and spacious, with street lamps lining the way. As they entered the town, they saw overturned tricycles and scattered goods, while many shops were closed.
At the town's entrance, over twenty vehicles were parked, likely belonging to the commission companies. A group of townsfolk stood nearby, discussing the situation.
Further away, curious onlookers had gathered, pointing towards the town. Their daring was evident.
As the car reached the intersection, a burly man from the town ran towards them and asked, "Are you Mr. Ren? Did your company's expert arrive?"
Ren Su rolled down the window, letting in a gust of cold air that made him cough twice. "Yes, we're here!"
The man's face lit up with joy, "You're just in time!"
The representatives from the commission companies also brightened, extinguishing their cigarettes. With the Flying Head lurking, no one dared to act, fearing they'd end up like the affected townsfolk. An expert's presence was a relief.
The car came to a stop, and Chen Chuan stepped out with the Snow Lady Sword in hand. The man was initially taken aback by Chen Chuan's youth, but upon seeing the long sword and his calm gaze, his heart skipped a beat.
He quickly approached Chen Chuan and shook his hand, "I'm Captain Wu Dagold of the town's security team. Nice to meet you."
The representatives from the commission companies also regarded Chen Chuan with reverence. His youth and ability to carry weapons openly indicated his prowess, and the Government Hall's endorsement as an expert in handling urban legends only heightened their respect.
Chen Chuan shook hands with Captain Wu and glanced at the crowd behind them, asking, "Captain Wu, what's the situation?"
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
