Chapter 176: Dealing with the Situation
Chapter 176: Dealing with the Situation
At 8 p.m., a private training hall in the southern part of the city.
Gao Ming arrived early, meeting Chen Chuan upstairs. After sitting down, he began his analysis, "Cousin, I've gone through a lot of information about the Yang Zhi City Mutual Aid Society these days, and I'd say I understand them pretty well.
In situations like this, they usually try to win people over and appease them first. But you've already rejected them several times, and now you've caused them further trouble. So, they're unlikely to try that approach again. The most probable course of action is to directly employ underhanded tactics, like framing and slandering."
However, you rarely interact with outsiders, and as the son of a Patrol Bureau official, it's impossible for them to manipulate you through such means. As for fabricating a lawsuit and dragging you to court, that would be time-consuming and noisy, not to mention the high likelihood of unexpected complications. I wouldn't choose that option either."
As he spoke, Gao Ming adjusted his glasses and continued, "That leaves only one option, the most cost-effective method—eliminating you physically."
Chen Chuan agreed with this assessment. It was far simpler and less costly to deal with him directly than to exert pressure from above.
Once a person is dead, many things can be swept under the rug. Even if there's an investigation afterward, those behind it have plenty of ways to escape. The key is achieving their primary objective."
"So, cousin, you need to be extra cautious from now on. It's the holidays, and you're not at the academy. If someone wants to make a move, this is the most likely time."
Chen Chuan's eyes gleamed with determination, but his tone remained steady. "Then I'll wait for them here."
After meeting with Gao Ming, Chen Chuan didn't return to his aunt's house. Instead, he decided to stay at the training hall, where he could conduct combat training all day with the medicine he had retrieved previously.
However, he was concerned that an attack at the training hall might harm innocent bystanders. Thus, he resolved to create an opportunity for his potential assailants.
Aside from essential training at the hall, he would practice his punches and sword techniques at a nearby lake park during the evenings. This became his daily routine.
The park was still bustling during the day, but by 4 or 5 p.m., it was usually deserted. Especially with the recent gang conflicts, even the southern part of the city wasn't entirely safe. No one wanted to wander in such a secluded area.
If someone intended to eliminate him, they would undoubtedly choose this uninhabited area. Chen Chuan also found it ideal, as any confrontation would likely go unnoticed.
In the following days, he maintained this routine, but after five or six days without incident, he knew they wouldn't keep him waiting for long. The holidays presented the perfect opportunity; once the break ended and he returned to the academy, dealing with him would become far more challenging.
On this particular day, as he prepared to leave, he unexpectedly received a call from Director Lei.
"Director Liu called and informed me that someone from the Foreign Affairs Bureau leaked the recommendation for you. He apologized, taking full responsibility for his lax supervision."
Chen Chuan asked, "Did he orchestrate this himself?"
Director Lei replied, "No, I looked into it. One of his subordinates took the evaluation file. That employee has been transferred, and it was indeed an accident.
Of course, he wasn't acting out of goodwill. He could have used this to his advantage, but by exposing it early, he's now seen as untrustworthy by certain individuals. Since he can't gain any benefits, he might as well do us a favor and leave a good impression.
Chen Chuan, be cautious. If you encounter any issues, you can come to me first. Your senior sister and I will arrange a safe place for you."
Chen Chuan sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, Director Lei. It's not time yet."
Director Lei said, "Alright, feel free to call me if you need anything."
After the call, Chen Chuan glanced outside and exited the training hall with his sword. The security guard asked, "Chen, are you heading to the lakeside park to practice your sword again?"
Chen Chuan smiled and nodded, "Yes."
The guard watched him leave, understanding Chen Chuan's preference for outdoor training. Some people preferred not to be confined to a room, and the fresh air outside was indeed pleasant. Although the area was secluded, the scenery was beautiful.
After leaving the hall, Chen Chuan walked for about half an hour, passing through a marsh with swaying green reeds before reaching the park. There, a wetland lake shimmered in the setting sun, with a few white egrets occasionally flying by.
Chen Chuan stood alone, immersed in this serene landscape.
He raised his Xuejun Blade, thrusting it into the ground, and grasped the hilt. With a slow, steady motion, he drew the blade, and with a flash of light, the entire sword was unsheathed. Then, he turned his back to the setting sun and began practicing his sword techniques.
A gentle evening breeze blew, causing the green reeds to bow gracefully before rippling like waves.
Meanwhile, in a small grove in the southeast, over a dozen robust and fierce-looking individuals crouched behind trees and bushes, silently observing Chen Chuan's every move.
These men were all experienced and cautious, aware that martial artists were highly sensitive to others' gazes. Most of them would glance briefly and then look away, avoiding prolonged eye contact.
"This kid's blade skills are pretty sharp, he's a tough nut to crack."
"A Wu Yi student, huh? This is their specialty, but what good is it? When the guns go off, their parents' efforts are wasted. How can his blade compete with the speed of our guns?"
This wasn't the first time they'd taken on a job like this. In the past, their targets were usually people of importance and status, but this was the first time they'd come to assassinate a student like this.
"This kid chose a good spot for himself, saving us the trouble of digging a pit later."
"Alright, enough talk. It's getting dark, and Yangzhi hasn't been peaceful lately. Let's finish this quickly and get out of here."
Among them, the leader was a bald man with a cold and ruthless gaze. He spoke with almost no expression, and now he turned his head towards a man leaning against a tree trunk in the distance. "Old Ma, keep an eye out."
The man, wearing a black hood with only his eyes exposed, was kept at a distance by the others. Hearing this, his eyes darted, and he gave a slight nod.
The bald man was reassured. Old Ma was a Second Tier expert; with him around, even if something unexpected happened, they could handle it.
He turned to the other side and addressed a skinny man in his twenties. "Pizi, get ready."
The man responded, raising his gun and carefully aiming at Chen Chuan's silhouette through the sights. As Chen Chuan was currently backlit by the setting sun, he squinted.
Although the angle wasn't ideal, this was the best spot for concealment nearby. But he relied on his instincts when shooting and didn't need to keep his eyes fixed on the target.
Just as he was about to pull the trigger, a dazzling flash of blade light caught his eye, causing him to blink involuntarily. When he looked again, the figure had disappeared from the mudflat. He blinked, shook his head, and looked around.
At that moment, a furious roar echoed, accompanied by the sound of gunfire. A gust of wind swept past, causing grass stems to fly, and he felt something warm splatter onto his face.
He turned to see that just a few steps away, his companion's head was gone, leaving only a stump spraying blood. Looking further, he saw that the men who had been hiding in the back were now lying in a trail of blood, their limbs severed.
One of the men in the back had witnessed everything. Just as they were about to strike, the figure with the blade suddenly stopped mid-stride and charged towards them without warning.
Despite the distance of forty to fifty meters, the figure seemed to teleport right in front of them in the blink of an eye. As they passed, limbs and severed arms flew through the air.
Terrified, he raised his gun and fired repeatedly at the charging figure, but his eyes couldn't keep up with the figure's speed, and all the bullets missed.
Chen Chuan had reached the men in the back. With barely any effort, he held his blade horizontally and, relying on his own speed, effortlessly sliced through everyone in his path.
Now, with someone shooting at him, Chen Chuan glanced sideways. A moment ago, he had been far away, but now his body seemed to rotate, and in an instant, he appeared right in front of the shooter.
He swept the blade across the man's back, breaking his arm and caving in his waist, while his head and feet remained in their original positions. The man's body folded in half, and he flew off to the side.
At that moment, a man wearing a hood emerged from the shadows like a venomous snake, grabbing Chen Chuan's arm as he swung his blade.
But Chen Chuan merely tapped his toes on the ground and sidestepped, opening his arms as if inviting the man to pass through. As the man moved past, Chen Chuan's arm came down, encircling the man's chest and ribs. With a gentle exertion of force—
Crack! Crack! Crack!
The man's eyes bulged as his chest caved in, blood oozing from beneath his hood.
Chen Chuan released his hold, letting the limp body fall to the ground. He glanced at the remaining few men with a sidelong look.
The bald man watched the entire scene unfold, and his heart sank as he realized the truth. "Damn it! He's a Third Tier expert! The intel was wrong!"
Chen Chuan turned the blade towards the remaining men. "Shoot! Shoot! You can't escape!" the bald man shouted.
The men frantically drew their guns and fired.
Chen Chuan's body lowered, and in an instant, he was already in front of the bald man. With a swift move, he struck the man's chin, producing a sound like a snapping sugarcane. The man's head flipped over.
Chen Chuan then broke the man's other arm, and the gunfire ceased after a few short bursts. Only the birds, startled by the commotion, flew into the remaining rays of the setting sun.
Chen Chuan circled the area, dealing with the remaining men. He stomped his foot, and his high-speed movements came to an abrupt halt. His clothes, tugged by the rapid motion, created a whirlwind of grass and leaves. The air swirled and spun for a moment before settling, and only then did wisps of white mist rise from Chen Chuan's body.
Ignoring the carnage around him, Chen Chuan sheathed his blade and returned to the lakeside. With a swift motion, he withdrew his blade and walked away with a calm and composed stride.
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
