Chapter 111: Influence
Chapter 111: Influence
Sun Dagold listened to Chen Chuan's instructions, but hesitated for a moment, "But what about the ancestral hall...?"
He didn't care about the flying skull; he only cared about the town's residents. As long as they were safe, he didn't see the need to pursue the other flying skull.
Chen Chuan understood his thoughts and said, "The flying skull in the town is gone, but if this one is still around, there's no guarantee that something like this won't happen again."
Sun Dagold was shocked at the possibility and quickly responded, "I'll take care of it right away!"
Chen Chuan watched as Sun Dagold hurried off. It wasn't that Sun Dagold had a narrow-minded perspective; in this world, many people only cared about their immediate concerns and stayed within their own circles, not wanting to get involved in other matters because sometimes getting involved only led to trouble.
At this moment, most of the onlookers had already fled, crawling and rolling away. They knew the severity of the situation, but Chen Chuan couldn't help but admire the curiosity of some people. He saw a few of them vomiting while still trying to get a better view, only lacking a phone in their hands.
The two security guards were still affected and kept bowing incessantly. Sun Dagold waited for a while, growing impatient, and ordered, "Damn it, take them and put them under the newly built altar!"
Chen Chuan watched this scene and thought to himself, 'One master is better than two.' He decided to let them finish their ritual.
Since they had already prepared an altar once, it was easy to set up another one. The security guards quickly assembled the altar and brought over a sheep, which they stunned and placed on top.
The crowd waited nearby, but after the flying skull in Wuji Town was dealt with, there was no further business for the Commission Company. They could have left, but they stayed because of Chen Chuan.
They realized that Chen Chuan had been considerate of them, so they were returning the favor. Moreover, they didn't need to take any action themselves, and to be honest, it was beneficial to have a connection with an expert who could handle urban legends.
Chen Chuan stood near the altar, gazing at the sky. He wasn't sure if dealing with one flying skull would attract the other, but he was willing to give it a try.
The flying skull seemed mindless, and as the simple sacrificial ritual began, the other flying skull returned and circled above.
During this time, Chen Chuan reloaded his gun.
The flying skull swooped down towards the altar and began devouring the sheep.
Chen Chuan adjusted his stance. This was his first time dealing with such a creature, and he had no real experience to speak of, relying solely on his instincts. This time, he took the initiative and charged forward like an arrow released from a bow, swiftly delivering a powerful slash!
The strike was so swift and forceful that it not only sliced the flying skull in half but also cut through the sheep's corpse and the entire altar!
The two halves of the flying skull twitched once before becoming still.
Chen Chuan glanced at the scene, noticing that his own body's ethereal transformation was deepening, but he didn't pay it much mind. Compared to the shadow in the cinema, this was a milder case.
He gave his sword a light flick and walked back to Sun Dagold, advising, "Captain Sun, stay away from these things for a few days. They'll decompose on their own, and then you can bury them."
Sun Dagold looked at the flying skull, its insides revealing grayish-black decayed organs. The split face still wore a creepy smile, causing Sun Dagold to shudder. He nodded and then asked anxiously, "What about the people affected by the flying skull? What will happen to them?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Most people will recover after a few days of rest. However, those deeply affected... take good care of them."
Currently, it was unclear how these urban legends caused harm, and everyone involved had been affected to some extent. Those with breathing techniques and transmuted organs might recover quickly, but ordinary people, especially the elderly and children, would likely suffer more severe consequences.
Sun Dagold understood Chen Chuan's implication and had prepared himself mentally for this outcome. He held Chen Chuan's hand and said sincerely, "Thank you, Chen Chuan. The people of Wuji Town will remember your help."
He then turned to the Commission Company members and bowed, "Thank you all. Thank you for giving me face today. Whenever you come to Wuji Town, we will welcome you warmly."
Most of the company members responded coldly, with only a few offering a reply. Sun Dagold didn't mind their reaction.
Chen Chuan provided some additional advice to Sun Dagold and, seeing that everything was in order, got into Ren Su's car to return to the city.
Ren Su had witnessed Chen Chuan's handling of the situation throughout the day and was deeply impressed. Unlike other partners, his impression of Chen Chuan wasn't secondhand; he had witnessed Chen Chuan's abilities firsthand, and today's events were far more thrilling than any ordinary case.
Although the company specialized in handling urban legend cases, this was Ren Su's first encounter with a genuine urban legend. Chen Chuan's calm and composed demeanor from start to finish reassured him that they had chosen the right expert for the job.
He couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Chen, do you handle all your commissions as effortlessly as today?"
Chen Chuan spoke earnestly, "In fact, it's not as easy as it seems. Dealing with urban legends primarily relies on prior understanding, preparation, and employing the right methods. If the approach is incorrect, the trouble and difficulties can multiply tenfold."
Upon hearing this, Ren Su nodded in agreement, recalling the helplessness of many before Chen Chuan's arrival.
Chen Chuan continued, "Finding the right method is just one condition. If urban legends were that easy to resolve, they would have been dealt with long ago."
"The constant harm inflicted on people by these legends must be a problem. Those who have prolonged exposure to such cases may encounter unknown issues, which is probably why there are so few experts in this field."
"It's because he possesses a second self that he doesn't need to worry too much about it."
At that moment, Chen Chuan also noticed that his transformed organs were slowly growing, different from the urban legend he encountered at the theater, which had disappeared after the initial stimulation. This time, the reaction occurred after the fact.
Ren Su, curious, asked, "Mr. Chen, what exactly are those flying skulls?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I'd like to know the answer too, but unfortunately, we don't have one yet. We can only address the problem once it arises."
He had reviewed the information provided by Cheng Zitong and currently had a theory. Aside from the first flying skull, the others were likely real human heads that had transformed.
The appearance of two flying skulls so close to Yangzhi City suggested that more would emerge in the surrounding areas. It seemed that the Yangzhi City Government Hall would soon take significant action.
Ren Su glanced at him and cautiously said, "Mr. Chen, after discussing with my partners, considering the upcoming commissions, we believe your travel might be inconvenient. The company has decided to provide you with two vehicles, one for the city and another for commissions outside the city. What do you think, Mr. Chen?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "That's fine." Having a car would make travel more convenient for commissions, carrying items easier, and he wouldn't have to worry about maintenance.
Seeing his acceptance, Ren Su pointed to the driver beside him and said, "Mr. Chen, how about Xiao Wei here? He's our company's dedicated driver."
Chen Chuan smiled, "I have no issues."
Ren Su said, "In that case, Mr. Chen, I'll purchase a garage near your school and connect a telephone line. Xiao Wei will be waiting there. In the future, if you need him, you can call him directly. For now, you'll have to use the company's phone."
"Thank you, Mr. Ren, for the company's cooperation and your consideration," Chen Chuan replied.
He knew that Ren Su and his associates were well-off. It was rare for a commission company to provide such care, and they often deducted from commission fees or made things difficult during commission grading.
Ren Su quickly added, "Not at all."
The vehicle journey back was smooth, and they arrived at the Patrol Bureau Residential Area. Chen Chuan parted ways with Ren Su and returned home.
Nian Fuli had already gone to the bureau, and Yu Wan was visiting with her cousins. Chen Chuan washed up, changed clothes, and returned to his room, turning on the radio on his desk.
During the New Year, Nian Fuli's apprentice, Xiao Wu, had given him a new radio. Nian Fuli said he couldn't get used to the new one, so he gave it to Chen Chuan.
Soon, the radio crackled to life, and Chen Chuan tuned it to the news. He then drew out the Snow Lady Sword and carefully cleaned it with a cloth.
As he wiped, he could clearly feel the resonance between the sword and himself intensifying, a noticeable difference from the last time. His eyes flickered, indicating that not only fighting humans but also battling urban legends could have a stimulating effect on the sword itself.
This made sense; if urban legends could stimulate his transformed organs, they could also affect the sword. However, it was unclear if the sword would be damaged, though its self-repairing ability likely mitigated any potential harm.
Just then, a news report caught his attention.
"A mass poisoning incident occurred in Wujiatown, north of Yangzhi City, where hundreds of villagers showed symptoms of poisoning after drinking water. Under the care of the Government Hall, the responsible party was severely punished, and the villagers' emotions have been soothed..."
The news report briefly mentioned the incident in Wujiatown, but discussing flying skulls publicly was challenging due to the risk of copycats.
However, the explanation of water poisoning seemed questionable...
Chen Chuan pondered and, after putting away the Snow Lady Sword, opened the map of Yangzhi City. The city was traversed by two major rivers, both tributaries of the first great river in Dushun, the Xuan River.
One river flowed from the west, passing through the city, while the other originated in the southeast, circling the city and flowing through a large industrial area in the southeast before heading north. Wujiatown was located downstream, which seemed reasonable but perhaps too convenient, making it seem like there was an underlying issue.
As he contemplated this, the phone rang, and he answered. On the line was Gao Ming, who said, "Cousin, I'm home alone, so I can talk freely."
Chen Chuan replied, "Cousin Aunt and Uncle are not here, just me. Go ahead."
"Okay, cousin," Gao Ming said solemnly. "After returning, I've been reviewing numerous case files and have come to a conclusion. In the current situation, I believe you should obtain the Infinite Defense License as soon as possible, and the sooner, the better."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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