Chapter 176: Handling
Chapter 176: Handling
At 8 p.m., the Private Training Hall in the southern part of the city.
Gao Ming arrived early, before the appointed time, and met with Chen Chuan upstairs. After they sat down, Gao Ming began his analysis, "Elder Brother, I've gone through quite a bit of information on the Mutual Aid Society in Yangzhi City.
In situations like this, they usually try to appease and win people over first. But since you've already rejected them several times, and now you pose a threat to them, they probably won't attempt that approach again. It's more likely that they'll choose to take direct action, and the easiest way to do that is by framing and setting you up."
However, Elder Brother, you usually keep to yourself and rarely interact with outsiders. Moreover, being the son of a Patrol Bureau official, it's impossible for them to use such methods against you. As for fabricating charges and dragging you to the Adjudication Court, that would be time-consuming, laborious, and would create a huge commotion, not to mention the potential for various unforeseen circumstances. I wouldn't choose that option either."
At this point, Gao Ming pushed up his glasses and turned to Chen Chuan, "So, there's only one option left, and it's the most cost-effective method—eliminating you physically."
Chen Chuan agreed with this assessment. It was more cost-effective and simpler 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 ways to escape unscathed. The key is that the core objective has been achieved.
"So, Elder Brother, 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."
There was a glint in Chen Chuan's eyes, 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 martial arts training all day with the medicine he had retrieved previously.
However, Chen Chuan felt that if an attack occurred at the training hall, it might also endanger innocent people. So, he decided to create an opportunity for those who might want to attack him.
Apart from his necessary training at the hall, he would go to a nearby lake park in the evening to practice his punches and sword techniques. This became his daily routine.
During the day, the park was still bustling with people, but after 4 or 5 p.m., it usually became deserted. Especially with the current intense gang conflicts, even the southern part of the city wasn't entirely safe. No one wanted to wander around in such a sparsely populated area.
If someone wanted to deal with him, they would undoubtedly choose this uninhabited area. Chen Chuan also found this place ideal; if a fight broke out, it would be less noticeable.
In the following days, he maintained a routine of visiting the park at a fixed time. Although there was no sign of activity for five or six consecutive days, he knew that those people wouldn't keep him waiting for long. The holidays provided the perfect opportunity, and once they were over and he returned to the Academy, dealing with him would be much more challenging.
On this particular day, as he was about to leave, he received a phone call from Director Lei.
"Liu Zhan called me and said that someone from the Foreign Affairs Bureau had leaked the information about recommending you. He apologized profusely, saying he had been too lenient in his supervision and felt deeply sorry for the situation."
Chen Chuan asked, "Was it his doing?"
Director Lei replied, "No, I looked into it. One of his subordinates took the evaluation file, and that person has now been transferred. It was indeed an accident.
Of course, he didn't do it out of good intentions. He could have used this to his advantage, but by leaking it early, it lost its value. In the eyes of certain people, he's considered unreliable. Since he couldn't gain any benefits, he might as well sell us the information in advance and leave a favor in our hands.
Xiao Chuan, be careful. If you encounter any problems, you can come to me first. Your master sister and I will arrange a safe place for you."
Chen Chuan sincerely thanked him, "Thank you, Director Lei. It's not necessary yet."
Director Lei said, "Okay, feel free to call me if you need anything."
After the call, Chen Chuan glanced outside, then left the training hall with his sword. The security guard at the entrance asked, "Chen, are you heading to the lakeside park to practice your sword again?"
Chen Chuan nodded with a smile, "Yes."
The security guard watched him leave, understanding why Chen Chuan preferred practicing outside instead of at the training hall. Some people disliked being cooped up indoors, and the outdoor air was refreshing. Although the area was a bit remote, the scenery was indeed beautiful.
After leaving the training hall, Chen Chuan walked through three streets in succession, taking about thirty minutes to reach the park. Here, there was a wetland lake surrounded by a reed marsh that swayed gracefully in the wind.
He gazed at the shimmering water, bathed in the last rays of the setting sun. A few egrets occasionally flew by, creating the illusion of white dots skimming across the water's surface.
At that moment, there was no one else around; Chen Chuan stood alone amidst the vastness of nature.
He raised his hand and gently inserted the Snow Lady Sword into the ground, gripping the hilt as he slowly drew the sword. With a flash of blade light and a crisp ring, the sword was fully unsheathed. He then extended his body and, with his back to the setting sun, began practicing his sword techniques.
A gentle evening breeze blew, causing the green reeds to bow in unison before undulating like waves.
Meanwhile, in a small grove in the southeast, over a dozen robust and fierce-looking men were crouching among the trees and bushes, observing Chen Chuan's every move.
Each of these men was experienced and knew 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 sword skills are pretty sharp, he's a tough nut to crack."
"A Wu Yi student, huh? These are their specialties, and they're pretty good at it. But what use is it? When the guns go off, their parents' efforts are wasted. How can his sword compare to our guns?"
This wasn't the first time they had taken on a job like this. In the past, they had only targeted individuals with status and influence, but this was the first time they were going after a student in such a formal manner.
"This kid chose a good spot for himself, saving us the trouble of digging a pit for him later."
"Alright, no more talking. It's almost dark. Let's finish this quickly and get out of here. Yangzhi hasn't been peaceful lately."
Among them, the leader was a bald man with a cold and ruthless gaze. He spoke with almost no expression, and at that moment, 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. Upon hearing this, his eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly.
The bald man felt relieved. Old Ma was a master of the Third Limit, and with him around, even if they encountered any unexpected situations, they could handle it.
He turned to the other side and spoke to a skinny man in his twenties: "Pi Zi, get ready."
The man responded, raised his gun, and carefully aimed at Chen Chuan's figure through the sights. As Chen Chuan was currently backlit by the setting sun, he squinted his eyes.
Although the angle wasn't ideal, this was the most suitable spot for concealment nearby. But he relied on his instincts when shooting and didn't need to stare at his target.
Just as he was about to pull the trigger, a dazzling flash of sword light caught his eye, causing him to blink involuntarily. But when he looked again, the person had disappeared from the mudflat. He was startled, closed his eyes, shook his head, and looked around.
Just then, he suddenly heard gunshots accompanied by a rush of wind, causing the grass stems to fly. He felt something warm splatter on his face.
He turned to look, and just a few steps away, one of his companions had lost his head, leaving only a bloody stump. Looking further back, the men who had been hiding in ambush were now dismembered, their blood trailing behind them.
One of the men at the back had witnessed everything clearly. Just as they were about to make their move, the sword-wielding figure suddenly stopped mid-stride and then, without warning, charged towards them.
Despite being forty to fifty meters away, the figure seemed to appear in front of them in the blink of an eye, leaving a trail of severed limbs and broken arms in its wake.
Terrified, he raised his gun and fired repeatedly at the charging figure, but his eyes couldn't keep up with its speed, and all the bullets missed.
Chen Chuan had already reached the back, and he hadn't even used many moves. He simply relied on his speed, lightly guiding his sword, to sever everyone in his path.
Now, with someone shooting, he glanced over. His body seemed to have shifted, and in the next instant, he appeared right in front of the shooter.
With a sweep of his sword, the man's arm broke inward, followed by his waist caving in. Strangely, his head and feet remained in their original positions, making him look like he had been folded in half. Then, he flew off to the side.
At that moment, a hooded man suddenly emerged from the shadows, like a venomous snake striking from its hiding place. He managed to grab Chen Chuan's arm just as he was about to swing his sword.
But Chen Chuan lightly touched the ground with his toe, shifting his body to the side. He extended his arm, as if waiting for the man to come to him. As the man passed by, Chen Chuan's arm dropped, encircling the man's chest and ribs. With a slight exertion of force...
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Accompanied by the sound of shattering bones, the man's chest caved inward. His eyes bulged, and blood oozed from beneath his face mask.
Chen Chuan released his grip, letting the limp body fall to the ground. He glanced at the remaining few scattered individuals.
The bald man had witnessed the entire process and couldn't help but curse in despair, "Damn it! This is the Third Limit! The intel was wrong!"
Chen Chuan turned his sword blade towards the group and walked towards them. The bald man shouted, "Fire! Fire! Don't let him escape! He won't get away!"
The remaining men desperately drew their guns and started shooting.
Chen Chuan's body bent down, and in an instant, he was already in front of the leader. With a light push to the man's chin, a cracking sound like snapping sugarcane reverberated, and the man's head flipped over.
Chen Chuan then turned to the other side, and the rapid gunfire abruptly stopped after a few short bursts. Only the birds, startled by the commotion, flew into the remaining glow of the setting sun.
After circling the area, Chen Chuan had eliminated all the remaining men. He stamped his foot, and his high-speed movement came to an abrupt halt. His clothes, tugged by the sudden stop, created a gust of wind, causing grass stems and leaves to swirl before settling. Only then did wisps of white vapor rise from his body.
Ignoring the corpses on the ground, Chen Chuan sheathed his sword and returned to the lakeside. With a swift draw, he pulled out his sword and calmly walked away.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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