Chapter 164: Departure
Chapter 164: Departure
On July 1st, the first day of the summer break at Wu Yi Academy.
Chen Chuan woke up early, went out for some exercise, and then began packing for his trip. After all, he had just returned from a long journey not long ago, so a simple packing would suffice.
The day before, he had returned to his aunt's house and mentioned that his teacher wanted to take him out to gain some experience during the break. Yu Wan, of course, encouraged this idea, as it indicated a strong relationship between the teacher and student, which she was delighted to see.
At noon, when the family gathered for lunch, Nian Lilu said, "You Wu Yi students, you'll be doing internships in your second year, right? Have you thought about where you'd like to go?"
The elite students of Wu Yi reach their first limit after their first year, making them highly skilled. Especially the Class A students, there are only so many of them each year, and the best ones directly join the Handling Bureau. After graduation, they become Wu Yi teachers and then rise to hold important positions.
Some, impatient with the constraints, go to the Commission Company. Therefore, not many end up in the Government Hall, as various departments compete for these talented individuals.
Not to mention Yangzhi City, but the surrounding six counties also offer excellent treatment. After all, for government officials, personal safety is their top priority, especially with the presence of rebel organizations, which further highlights the importance of security.
Apart from that, they also assist in law enforcement against fighters turned bandits. Only fellow fighters can deal with them, as their destructive power is immense if left unchecked.
Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Uncle, can you arrange something for me at the Patrol Bureau?"
Nian Lilu confidently replied, "I can't speak for others, but for you, Little Chuan, there won't be any issues. You've grown up under our watchful eyes, and you're like a son of the Patrol Bureau."
Chen Chuan knew that the number of Wu Yi students interning at the Patrol Bureau was very limited. On the surface, it was because the Patrol Bureau itself was a violent institution, so their demand for these students wasn't urgent. In reality, it seemed that the upper echelons didn't want to see Wu Yi and the Patrol Bureau getting too close.
He had some guesses about the situation.
"Uncle, I'd like to wait and see. My teacher might have plans for me," Chen Chuan said.
"That's good too," Nian Lilu said. "You're an elite student with a scholarship, and everyone will be vying for you wherever you go. Your teacher has deep connections and a wide network; he can surely recommend you to a great place."
However, Chen Chuan was thinking that with Liu Zhan's transfer, he would soon be facing the Mutual Aid Society. If he could withstand the pressure from the Mutual Aid Society, he could apply for a recommendation to go to Central City. At that point, whether he interned or not wouldn't make much difference to him.
If he had to choose, he hoped to go to the Secret Sect Review Bureau. That way, he could learn more about the Secret Sect, and he was very interested in these mysterious matters.
At that moment, his aunt was wiping Nian Lu's mouth and suddenly remembered something. "Isn't Gao Ming coming back these days?"
"He might arrive tonight," Chen Chuan said.
Yu Wan said, "Your cousin is ambitious, and her husband is often away from home. Poor Ming has been on his own since he was little. Every time I visit, I see him alone, and it's quite pitiful."
Chen Chuan said, "Gao Ming is smart. Among our graduating classmates, aside from those with exceptional family backgrounds, not many can compare to him."
Nian Lilu agreed, "Gao Ming is a promising young man. He's clever but never uses his wit for evil. His father taught him well."
At that moment, Nian Mo raised his head and said, "Dad, I'm smart too."
Yu Wan sighed and said, "You're smart in the sense that you always grab what you want and push unwanted things to your sister. That's a bad habit. When you grow up, I don't expect you to be as capable as your brothers. Just don't give me a hard time all the time."
After lunch, Chen Chuan returned to the study to read. By dusk, Gao Ming finally arrived. After receiving a call, Chen Chuan left his home and sat in Gao Ming's car.
Gao Ming got straight to the point, "About Director Liu's matter, I'm not surprised. Based on what you told me before, and considering the important figures who might affect your chances of going to Central City, I did a simple personality analysis, and Director Liu is the most likely to cause trouble.
As long as he's a Da Shun bureaucrat with career ambitions, it's inevitable that he'd seek a transfer from the Foreign Affairs Bureau after the Macan incident. The only difference is the timing of the leaked recommendation evaluation. The only change is that your martial prowess might not meet expectations. If you feel your strength is insufficient to handle the situation, the best approach is to arrange an exchange student program or an early internship in another region. Buy some time, and when you're confident, return to minimize the impact of this incident."
Gao Ming pushed up his glasses and continued, "But if you believe your martial prowess is sufficient, we just need to implement the contingency plan we drafted earlier.
In dealing with the Mutual Aid Society, you have more than just martial prowess, my cousin. The situation is dire, but it might not be as bad as it seems. What are your plans for the next steps? I'll adjust my arrangements accordingly."
Chen Chuan replied calmly, "Teacher Cheng wants me to go to another region for intensive training with Teacher He for a while."
Gao Ming's eyes lit up, and he asked, "Is that Teacher He Xiaoxing you mentioned before?"
Chen Chuan nodded and said, "After seeing you today, I'll be taking the train tomorrow to meet with He Laoshi, the teacher who instructed you. He's an incredibly skilled teacher. I only studied with him for one night, and I've already gained a lot. If I can continue learning from him for a while, I might be able to make up for the original gap in martial abilities."
Upon hearing this, Gao Ming smiled and said, "In that case, Liu Zhan's incident might not be entirely bad. If it weren't for this, Teacher Cheng probably wouldn't have specifically recommended you for further studies. And Teacher He might not have had the time to teach you at this moment."
Chen Chuan agreed with this statement. Indeed, if this incident hadn't occurred, he would likely have continued his solitary practice for most of the semester, and Cheng Zitong wouldn't have found an opportunity to speak up. Consequently, the chances of learning from He Xiaoxing would have been very slim. So, sometimes, danger and opportunity coexist.
"Okay, let's discuss it in detail after you return, Brother."
Gao Ming searched through his briefcase and took out a set of documents, handing them to Chen Chuan. "I've compiled another set of documents based on comprehensive information from various sources. It should be quite comprehensive. Take it with you, Brother, and try to finish it within three days. The writing on it is done with invisible ink, which will disappear within three days."
Chen Chuan took the documents. He remembered something, "By the way, there's something I wanted to tell you."
Before the holiday, he received a call from the Patrol Bureau. It was about Zorro, who, after being injured by Chen Chuan, had incurred significant medical expenses. As a result, he planned to sue Chen Chuan for compensation.
A gang member who had attempted to assault someone was now suing the person they had attacked. On the surface, it seemed hilarious, but the implications behind this were chilling.
The Patrol Bureau assured him that he didn't need to worry if he went to the Judgment Court. This matter, apart from being annoying, wouldn't have any adverse effects on him. However, a lawyer was needed to handle the matter.
Each profession has its expertise, and since Gao Ming was present, Chen Chuan decided to entrust the matter to him.
Gao Ming listened and smiled, saying, "This is an easy matter. I'll take care of it. If you decide to see it through, you might even be able to make him pay compensation."
Chen Chuan shook his head, "That won't be necessary. I don't have time to waste here."
Gao Ming nodded, "You're the boss, Brother."
After their conversation, Chen Chuan and Gao Ming parted ways. Chen Chuan was about to set off for He Xiaoxing's place. He called Cheng Zitong to inform him and obtained a train ticket for the same day.
Since it was during the holiday period, there was no way to take the Infinite Defense Certificate exam, so even if he stayed away from Yangzhi City for a while, it wouldn't raise suspicions.
Cheng Zitong didn't need to hide outside anymore.
There was only one railway line leading out of Yangzhi City, but it had been under repair since last year and was still not operational. So, Cheng Zitong accompanied him to the Shangbu City train station, from where he would transfer to his destination.
Upon arriving at the station, Cheng Zitong told him, "Teacher Liu Zhan will keep an eye on things here. You don't need to worry. Follow Old He's instructions first. This opportunity is rare, so don't waste it."
Chen Chuan replied, "I understand, Teacher."
After bidding farewell to Cheng Zitong and getting off the train, Chen Chuan boarded the train alone.
Initially, he thought that He Xiaoxing's practice location would be in a remote wilderness, but upon receiving the train ticket, he realized that the place was actually near a famous tourist attraction.
The ancient city of Lorea featured palaces and houses resembling ant nests, with labyrinthine passageways inside and underground. It was said that not all the underground paths had been explored, so only limited areas were open to the public. Even so, people went missing in these areas every year.
The distance from Yangzhi City to Lorea was a two-day train journey. Fortunately, Chen Chuan had paid for a sleeper ticket, and after two days of travel, he arrived at Lorea around noon.
Since he had sent a telegram in advance, someone was waiting for him at the station and took him directly to an old inn. The driver told him that He Xiaoxing had instructed him to wait at the inn, and he would come to find Chen Chuan in the afternoon.
Chen Chuan unpacked his luggage in the room and went to the window to look outside.
Although it wasn't the peak tourist season, the streets were still bustling with people. After all, according to legend, the ancient city of Lorea was said to be filled with hidden treasures. This wasn't just a marketing ploy to attract tourists; the city's fame stemmed from the fact that even in recent years, news of unearthed treasures had continued to emerge.
When he arrived, he saw many people claiming to guide others through unexplored underground passageways, catering to those seeking thrills.
He wasn't interested in the treasures but was curious about Lorea's mysterious nature in the old era, as mentioned in the brochures. If he had the time, he might try to learn more about it.
As evening approached, there was a knock on the room door from the outside.
Chen Chuan stood up and walked to the door, his hand on the doorknob, just about to open it when he suddenly stopped and turned around. To his surprise, there was a person sitting on the bed, though he couldn't recall when they had arrived.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
