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Chapter 163: Clean-Up
Chapter 163: Clean-Up
After the statue completely disintegrated, Chen Chuan saw that the intense fade signs on his Second Self had slowed down. He then withdrew his hand and gradually relaxed, with wisps of white vapor emanating from his body.
He looked down at the pile of ash and dust at his feet. Since the thing had been dealt with, there was no need to rush down the mountain in the middle of the night. He could wait until the next day to leave. Thus, he returned to the temple, replaced a few torches, added some incense, and sat down again.
At this moment, he heard various insect sounds, as if a wall of isolation had been broken, and the world had returned to its original vividness.
He calmed himself and began to guide his alienation organization with his breathing technique. The previous attack had been too intense, causing his Second Self to become unstable, almost making it impossible to maintain the normal, orderly growth of the alienation tissue. Now, he could finally settle down and focus entirely on the task.
The latter part of the night was relatively peaceful, and the Mountain God Temple welcomed the morning light with pleasant bird songs.
Chen Chuan opened his eyes and saw that the fade signs on his Second Self had not diminished at all, indicating that the invisible attack was still ongoing. It was unclear how long this would last.
This phenomenon was not a good thing for others, but for him, it was quite beneficial.
In the past, the more widespread the influence of a haunting tale, the longer the subsequent attacks would continue.
This led him to understand why no one had come to manage this haunting tale despite its long presence here. Because handling such matters was simply a losing proposition.
For ordinary people, what kind of haunting tale was the best to deal with?
Undoubtedly, something like the one in the cinema last time. Despite its certain level of danger and lethality, it was close to the upper echelons of society. After resolving the issue, one could solve the troubles of the upper echelons, increase one's influence, and receive substantial rewards.
Because of this, after handling the haunting tale at the cinema, he was referred to as an expert, even though those upper echelons could not clearly distinguish between different haunting tales.
As for haunting tales in remote areas, even if one went through great lengths to handle them, the reward would only be the meager savings of the villagers, which might not even cover the cost of equipment and travel. There was also a risk of losing one's life, so who would be willing to do it?
Chen Chuan looked at the bright light streaming in from outside, casting a dappled pattern on the wall. A few birds had also landed on the wall, adding a touch of life to the originally eerie temple.
He got up from his spot, picked up his machete, and walked outside. The pile of ash was still there. He used the blade to dig a few times and saw a white, bone-like object underneath. He bent down and picked it up.
It was an upper jawbone with sharp teeth, but it was clearly not human. It was unknown what kind of creature it belonged to.
At this moment, he caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of his eye. He dug again with the machete and saw a yellowed piece of paper in the ash. He picked it up and examined it, seeing strange symbols made of dots and lines, as if drawn with cinnabar.
He thought for a moment. This item resembled the ritual props mentioned by Director Lei, which were often associated with the secret sects in the Three Mountains Legend. Could it be that this was left behind by them?
Although he didn't understand this, any ritual would leave traces nearby. So, he decided to walk around the area. Indeed, he found quite a few things.
At the eight directions of the mountain top, he found eight skeletons buried, each sitting cross-legged with their heads placed on their abdomens.
Notably, the heads had undergone special treatment and had not ossified, resembling instead the withered, dried skin state he had seen when he had seen the witheredFrom this, he deduced a clear clue that the haunting tale had been handled by the secret sect. This led him to deduce that the haunting tale had been handled by the secret sect, likely early by the secret sect. This led him to believe that the haunting tale had been handled by the secret sect, likely early by the secret sect. This led him to believeHeHeHe put the camera back in his bag and took it to the camera, which he took that the haunting tale had been handled by the secret sect. This led him to deduce that the haunting tale had been handled by the secret sect, likely early by the secret sect. This led him to believe that the haunting tale had been handled by the secret sect, and he decided to ask Director Lei, who might know more about it. He could then return it to Director Lei, who might know more about it. He could then return it to Director Lei, who might know more(He
(End of Chapter)As Xiao Wei, the driver, stood by, he said, "Expert Chen is here to dispel this haunting tale without asking for money. He has no reason to deceive you."
But his words only made some villagers more skeptical. She asked, "If you're not here for money, why are you here? Nowadays, no one believes in good deeds without a catch."
Expert Chen didn't try to convince them further. No matter what he said, they wouldn't abandon their decades-long vigilance. He replied, "If you're still unsure, do as you've always done. Once you've experienced it for a while, you'll understand."
After saying this, he bid farewell to the elder and patted the hunter who had guided him, his wrist showing no reaction this time.
Amidst the villagers' half-believing, half-doubting gazes, he got into the car and headed back to the city.
Upon returning, he first went to the company, handed over the photos to be developed, and casually wrote down the commission record. Ren Shu, after reviewing it, was quite excited.
"Expert Chen, this commission has been unsolved for so long, but now you've resolved it. Once it's verified, the company's reputation will rise again."
Expert Chen said, "That's good. Mr. Ren, I might be busy for a while. I may have to go out for a trip or might not be able to take on commissions for some time. I wanted to apologize in advance."
Ren Shu wasn't surprised. Then he realized something and said earnestly, "Expert Chen, our company may be small, but we have some resources. If you need anything, please let us know. We'll help however we can."
Expert Chen assured him, "I will if needed."
After leaving the company, he headed straight to Cheng Zitong's private training hall, determined to utilize this power as much as possible before the fading signs intensified.
Upon arrival, he checked the overlap time during his workout, and the results didn't disappoint. This time, he gained an extra hour, comparable to the time he earned during the Infinite Defense Certificate exam.
In reality, the Infinite Defense Certificate exam was also highly dangerous, but he had been confident beforehand. This time, he wasn't prepared for a complete resolution, and at one point, he misjudged the situation, taking a risk. It could be said that he passed with great peril.
The total time exceeded five hours.
Following this trend, he felt they would soon reach the 24-hour overlap limit within a day. He sensed that after reaching this limit, his second self might undergo further changes.
He stayed there for two days, even as the fading signs persisted. But with the approaching holiday, there were matters to attend to at the academy, especially the money from the two gold certificates that Cheng Zitong had withdrawn for him. This time, the amount was substantial—one certificate was worth 10,000 Jian Yuan coins, and the other, 40,000.
He guessed this was likely the reward from the Macanese for their team, Mitai. While not a large sum for a country, it was significant for a team.
Wanting to share this good news, he invited all the team members who had ventured into the wilderness that day to a celebratory dinner at Duiyi Hotel.
Before the meal, following the previous custom, he distributed the money according to the agreed-upon shares. Everyone knew their portion, so there were no disputes.
As the dishes were served and they began eating, Wei Chang'an spoke to Expert Chen, "Junior, I'll be graduating this semester, but if you need anything, just call me directly. You have my number on the name card. If you can't reach me, look for Lao Si."
Cai Sai, sitting nearby, added, "Yes, if you can't find Wei Ge, find me."
Expert Chen smiled, "Wei Ge, I won't forget you if I need help."
"Then it's settled."
The two clinked their glasses in laughter.
Lin Xiaoti spoke up from the side, "Chen Xiao Ge, I've passed the entrance exam. After the re-exam in two months, I'll be able to join Wu Yi Academy. We'll be classmates next semester!"
Expert Chen laughed, "Then let me wish you good luck in advance, Xiao Ti."
Lin Xiaoti was He Nan's apprentice, carefully nurtured from a young age. Though he hadn't witnessed her skills, her movements were agile and graceful, indicating a solid foundation. This lively young lady also possessed extensive technical knowledge, making her quick-witted and resourceful. She should have no difficulty passing the re-exam.
After the meal, Expert Chen parted ways with the group and returned to school with a few classmates. By this time, most students were awaiting the holiday, and the campus lacked its usual tense and solemn atmosphere.
However, he knew his real test was just beginning, and it was too early to relax. While others were planning their vacations, he remained in his private training room, practicing tirelessly.
In the afternoon, the phone rang in the living room. He paused his training and answered the call. It was Cheng Zitong:
"Xiao Chuan, Old He sent a telegram agreeing. The academy will be on holiday soon. If there's anything at home you need to arrange, do it now. Once you set a date, I'll buy your train ticket. This is an intensive training period, so make the most of every day. I'll prepare the necessary training drugs for you in advance."
Expert Chen replied calmly, "Thank you, Teacher."
After hanging up, he had a premonition that this might be the last time they could help each other. He had to seize this opportunity.
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End of Chapter
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