Chapter 304: Shadow in the Heart
Chapter 304: Shadow in the Heart
At 9 AM, Zhao Qian was allowed to leave the Processing Bureau, but he would have to return there for questioning over the next few days.
This treatment, while not directly harmful to him, was enough to damage his reputation within the company, especially after the recent incident.
With a composed expression, Zhao Qian exited the Processing Bureau and headed towards his armored vehicle. His assistant had already opened the car door for him, and after he sat inside, the door was closed, and the assistant took the front seat.
The car slowly started and drove out of the square, accompanied by security personnel in a protective vehicle, one in front and one behind, guarding his car in the middle.
Meanwhile, in an apartment, Wu Bei sat within the Resonance Nest, using the Boundary Vessel to observe this convoy.
Undoubtedly, Lianwei Heavy Control Corporation had Resonators equipped with Resonance Nests, but such individuals were responsible for the company's field defense and would not follow Zhao Qian.
However, this did not mean that Zhao Qian lacked protection. One could see a Resonator by his side, ready for action, indicating that today's operation also needed to target this Resonator.
Zhao Qian noticed that the convoy's route was carefully chosen. Instead of taking the shortest, direct path, they detoured, passing through bustling streets in the Central City's commercial district. This was because the security in these busy areas was also robust, ensuring maximum safety.
Fortunately, all of this was within his prior considerations. He told Chen Chuan, "Chen, I'm about to begin. I'll send you the field signal shortly, and it should start in about two minutes."
On the other end of the Boundary Vessel, Chen Chuan replied, "Okay, I'll wait."
Two minutes later, the vehicle carrying Zhao Qian arrived at an intersection. After the security vehicle in front passed through, the traffic light flashed, turning red, forcing Zhao Qian's car to slow to a stop.
As Zhao Qian waited, his gaze drifted across the intersection. It was just a casual glance, but in that instant, his eyes froze.
There, a tall and upright young man with a bright and sunny disposition was walking out of a high-end clothing store on the side of the road. He carried a bag, likely containing clothes, and politely nodded to the store attendant who opened the door for him.
Even though the young man wasn't wearing a training uniform and seemed a few years older with slightly different features, his spirit and demeanor were all too familiar.
How could this be?
Zhao Qian straightened up in his seat, but just as he was about to get a clearer look, the young man turned and walked towards the other side of the street. At that moment, the traffic light turned green, and Zhao Qian's car started moving forward. Several vehicles turned, blocking his view. By the time they passed, the young man had already turned the corner.
Zhao Qian withdrew his gaze and sat there, his mind unsettled, his face clouded with gloom.
He had witnessed that person's death with his own eyes; it was impossible to be mistaken. He kept telling himself that it was impossible for that person to still be alive, but...
A persistent thought arose in his mind, urging him to confirm it again.
After driving for a while, Zhao Qian instructed, "Turn around up ahead and go back to the previous intersection." As he spoke, he marked the location using the Boundary Vessel.
The driver complied and, at the next intersection, turned around and headed back. Seven or eight minutes later, they returned to the previous intersection and stopped across from the high-end clothing store.
Zhao Qian looked around but couldn't see the young man from before. He remained silent, and the others dared not speak.
After a while, Zhao Qian instructed the assistant in the front seat, "Go inside and check who was buying clothes there just now. Ask what kind of person it was."
"Yes."
The assistant opened the car door and stepped out.
Zhao Qian used the Boundary Vessel to communicate with the Resonator in the other vehicle, "Get me the field record from inside the store."
The Resonator replied, "Zhuo Ke Company highly values privacy. The field signal is well-secured. Give me five minutes."
Zhao Qian leaned back in his seat. The April weather wasn't hot, but he felt stuffy and irritable in the car. He opened the storage compartment and took out a bottle of Blood Wine, pouring himself a glass. Just as he was about to take a sip, his gaze inadvertently shifted to the rearview mirror, and his hand paused.
A young man was striding towards him from the other end of the street.
His hand trembled slightly; it was a face he knew well and despised. He would never forget the multiple public competitions at Wu Yi Academy, where he had always been defeated by this person, without a glimmer of hope for victory.
Even though he had now reached the Third Limit, he thought he had long overcome the psychological shadow cast by his opponent's death. But when he saw the person standing before him, his eyes instantly reddened with blood.
Even if his rational mind told him that this person was dead, that it was impossible for them to stand before him, when he saw that figure, his heart was instantly filled with uncontrollable anger and hatred.
You're not dead? How can you not be dead? How could you possibly be alive?!
As the figure approached, he unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside. Zhao Qian could see intricate patterns spreading from his fist and forearm, extending towards his neck and face. With each step, his hair fluttered in the wind, and the patterns became clearer.
Zhao Qian's eyes narrowed suddenly.
Mystic Phase Technique!
When the figure was still dozens of meters away from the vehicle, it suddenly quickened its pace and began to run, finally leaping up and descending from above towards the armored car.
Zhao Qian stared intently, certain that the posture and the way the figure moved were identical to that of the previous figure, but faster and more ferocious!
Do you think I'm still the same as before?!
He let out a low growl from his chest, pushed the door open, and instantly appeared outside, gazing at the figure backlit by the light, descending from above. He kicked upwards, aiming at the figure!
The two figures quickly approached, and as their fists and feet were about to make contact, it seemed as if the moment of their crossing paths collided in that instant.
However, the next moment, Zhao Qian's foot passed through the other's body, and his full-force kick landed in empty space, leaving him with no leverage and causing a momentary loss of balance.
But his solid foundation in martial arts was undeniable, and as soon as he realized something was amiss, the altered tissue on his body immediately twisted and pulled, allowing him to instantly retract his strength.
In Chen Chuan's apartment, Chen Chuan opened his eyes.
Success!
At this moment, his hand remained in a punching posture, and the previous punch had been thrown by him.
Although he could have used a photo of Shen Zheng from that time to create a fitting projection of Shen Zheng's appearance, a simple shadow wouldn't fool Zhao Qian. So, along with the photo, some drawings depicting Shen Zheng's various combat postures were also included.
This was clearly Chang Ba's doing, and it was likely done under He Xiaoxing's guidance, ensuring an accurate representation of Shen Zheng's actual situation.
But this wasn't enough. Wu Bei wasn't a fighter and didn't know how fighters fought, so from the beginning, his Boundary Vessel was connected to Wu Bei's Resonance Nest, allowing him to express the true fighting techniques.
In just one move, they perfectly recreated a Shen Zheng who had grown stronger over the years and whose power had entered the Third Limit!
He slowly lowered his fist.
Zhao Qian had just attacked his field, so it was as if he had attacked him. The first condition of the ritual had been met.
On the other side, Wu Bei also heaved a sigh of relief.
He wiped the sweat from his forehead. The process had gone relatively smoothly, and Zhao Qian had never turned off his Boundary Vessel from start to finish.
It was known that Zhao Qian used an implanted Boundary Vessel, which was already difficult to infiltrate and interfere with. If he had turned it off earlier, Wu Bei would have had to use a disruptive interference technique that could only be used with the cooperation of the Resonance Nest, which would have delayed the shutdown by one or two seconds.
Although Chen Chuan had told him that even a one or two-second delay would be enough, doing so would cause a momentary resonance amplitude that might make him pass out. In that case, he might not be able to help later, and even with prior preparations, some unpredictable accidents could occur. The current result was just right.
Zhao Qian stood in the empty street, surrounded by security guards, their expressions serious, eyes unwavering, but with a hint of something unusual in their eyes.
They had just seen Zhao Qian inexplicably run out of the car and kick towards the sky. If they hadn't known that Zhao Qian had almost no implants, they might have thought he had developed a functional disorder syndrome.
Zhao Qian's face darkened as he looked around. Now he could be sure that someone had just used a fitting projection field to target him.
But the previous situation had been so real, as if Shen Zheng had truly appeared, especially the state of his attitude and the transmission of his martial arts technique, which only someone very familiar with Shen Zheng and extremely knowledgeable about the Mystic Phase Technique could use.
If it wasn't Shen Zheng, who could it be?
No, there was one more person.
And this person was a great threat, and he was still on guard against him.
But if this person really wanted to deal with him, he wouldn't use such a threatening and useless way, and he wouldn't scare the snake.
"Boss?"
At this time, the assistant walked out of the clothing store, looked around, and looked at both sides of the street, a little confused.
Zhao Qian turned around without a word and walked towards the car, and the assistant hurriedly ran ahead and opened the car door for him.
Zhao Qian bent over and got into the car, sat down, and asked, "Did you figure it out?"
The assistant bent over and said to the car, "I asked, and the clerk didn't want to say at first. I bought a piece of clothing and gave a small tip. I learned that a strong young man had just come to the store, bought a piece of clothing, and left, but I don't know where he went."
At this time, the Resonator's voice sounded, "Boss, the field record of this store has just been deleted."
Zhao Qian's eyes were cold, and he didn't say anything. He just waved his hand, and the assistant quickly sat in the front passenger seat. The security guards returned to the car, and the convoy slowly started again.
At this time, Zhao Qian contacted a person through the Boundary Vessel, "Go back to Yangzhi City for me and check one thing..."
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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