Chapter 310: Serpent's Robe
Chapter 310: Serpent's Robe
On May 2nd, Chen Chuanjie received a message through his Boundary Vessel from the Processing Bureau, requesting his presence at their headquarters for questioning.
"Is it finally here?" he thought to himself.
Chen Chuanjie had expected the Bureau to contact him within a day or two after Zhao Qian's incident, but several days had passed without any word. Perhaps they had discovered the matter too late?
Just then, his Boundary Vessel vibrated again, and he saw that Ni Xixi was calling him. He accepted the call, "Sister Ni?"
Ni Xixi asked, "Did the Bureau contact you about the matter?"
"Yes, I received the message. But I don't know what they want to ask."
"It's about Zhao Qian's disappearance. Did you know he's gone missing?"
Chen Chuanjie was taken aback, "Disappeared? I knew he was dead, but I had no idea about his disappearance."
"Yes, that's the case."
Ni Xixi continued, "You accused him of hiring someone to attack you, right? Because of this conflict, some people at the Bureau now suspect that you might be involved in his disappearance."
Chen Chuanjie sincerely replied, "I assure you, the disappearance has nothing to do with me."
"It doesn't matter either way."
Ni Xixi sounded disdainful, "The evidence you provided is right there, but instead of standing up for their own, some people are thinking about how to take advantage of the situation. They haven't even offered you any comfort. If they don't consider you one of their own, then you don't need to take them seriously either."
Chen Chuanjie understood what she meant, and he asked, "Sister Ni, is there anything I should be aware of during the questioning?"
Ni Xixi said, "Nothing much. What can they really do to you? Just answer their questions, and you'll be fine."
Chen Chuanjie nodded, "I understand. Thank you, Sister Ni."
After ending the call, he changed his clothes and arrived at the Processing Bureau's headquarters in the Wu Ding District as agreed. Upon entering the Bureau, he was escorted to an office where he was offered a cup of tea. They maintained a polite demeanor and didn't make the atmosphere overly serious.
In less than half an hour, he was escorted out of the office.
Once outside, Chen Chuanjie walked towards the parking lot to retrieve his car. On the way, he spoke to Gao Ming, "Gao Ming, I'm out. They did ask those questions, but they didn't probe too deeply, just as you predicted."
Gao Ming's voice came through, "Brother-in-law, the Bureau's questioning is more about establishing a record of their internal investigation. No matter who asks the questions, they'll have a process to follow.
Even if there's direct evidence, they won't reveal the results and target you, their own invested student. Now that Zhao Qian is dead, you're undoubtedly more valuable. Once you reach the Third Limit, they'll act as if this incident never happened."
Chen Chuanjie nodded in agreement.
Inside the Processing Bureau's building, a middle-aged man with exceptionally sharp eyes stood at a high window, watching Chen Chuanjie's departing figure.
A person behind him said, "Director Wu, this matter must be related to him."
Director Wu replied, "Zhao Qian is already dead. There's no point in pursuing it further. And if Zhao Qian was indeed murdered, we should consider that our investment in him will pay off many times over in the coming years."
The person behind him expressed skepticism, "Do you really think he'll be one of us? I think he's more likely to join the other side."
Director Wu said, "A fellow traveler is someone who shares the same path. It doesn't matter where they are. I can sense that, in the next few years, his contributions to the Bureau will far surpass the resources we've invested in him."
The person behind him fell silent.
Director Wu watched as Chen Chuanjie drove away and asked, "What's the situation with Union Heavy Drive?"
The person behind him immediately replied, "It seems they had already planned to abandon Zhao Qian. So, this matter ends here."
Director Wu glanced at his Boundary Vessel, where an image of Zhao Qian's severed head appeared. He said solemnly, "Send a report to the higher-ups, confirming that Zhao Qian, a member of the Zhao family in Yangzhi City, is deceased. File the case and seal it."
On his way back, Chen Chuanjie received another call from Ni Xixi, who said, "I have some good news. The Bureau just decided to increase your monthly quota of Resonance Energy by one hour."
Chen Chuanjie was slightly surprised and asked, "Do you know the reason?"
Ni Xixi pouted, "It's a carrot and stick approach."
Chen Chuanjie thought for a moment and sincerely replied, "Then they can give more carrots."
Ni Xixi burst into laughter, knowing how easily amused he was. Chen Chuanjie waited calmly.
After a while, Ni Xixi calmed down and said, "Well, I have something to tell you. That exchange event had a good effect, and I noticed those young ones weren't satisfied either. They want to have a rematch, and they'll pay you even more this time. It's up to you if you want to go or not."
Chen Chuanjie nodded and said, "I'll consider it."
At the top of the Xuan Gong Tower, Ling Assistant sat in the garden hall, her fingers tapping on the armrest of her chair as she communicated through her Boundary Vessel, "Yes, Zhao Qian has disappeared.
"He chuckled, "There aren't many coincidences in this world. Whether he achieved this through medication or has this ability inherently, it proves that he's suitable to join our plan."
He watched as a flock of colorful, wing-like birds flew by, their wings folding as they landed on the ground. With a smile, he said, "Of course, not just yet. Only by truly reaching the Third Limit will you be qualified to face the truth."
After returning to the dormitory, Chen Chuan felt a sense of relief. Zhao Qian wasn't just a threat he had to face recently; it was also a continuation of the Yangzhi City incident.
With Zhao Qian's death, this matter could finally be put to rest.
However, he suspected that someone had intentionally leaked his information to Zhao Qian. Although he couldn't be entirely sure who it was, he subconsciously thought of one person.
He remembered Wu Laoshi's warning before his death, so he remained vigilant.
There was also the matter of Shen Xuezhang's sister. Zhao Qian was dead, but there might be clues in the implant. He was just waiting for news from Wu Bei. If they couldn't find anything there, they could think of other ways. At least without Zhao Qian's interference, investigating the matter would be more convenient.
In the following days, Chen Chuan continued his routine training and studies. With the increase in his evaluation points, many non-public materials and books were made available to him, including some records from the old era and valuable rare books. He would read them whenever he had free time.
The day before the rest day, Ding Shu, the butler of Cao Guiqi, contacted him.
"Young Master Cao has already communicated with the Serpent Sect. Due to the unique nature of their service, they will send someone to meet and discuss the project with you, Mr. Chen. When are you available so we can set a time?"
Chen Chuan considered for a moment and replied, "I can do it tomorrow."
Ding Shu said, "Then let's make it tomorrow. Tomorrow is the rest day. At 2 PM, if it's convenient for you, Mr. Chen, please come."
Chen Chuan agreed.
The next day, after noon, he drove to Mo Tie Mountain, and the person sent by the Serpent Sect had already arrived early.
He was a man with skin as smooth as jade, almost unnaturally handsome. His face and neck were marked with embedded lines, a clear sign of implants, and his eyes had been replaced with snake-like pupils. His hair was tied in a bun, and if it weren't for prior notice, one might mistake him for a woman at first glance.
After introductions, he introduced himself, "I am Zou Handan, a disciple of the Serpent Sect. This time, with the recommendation of Cao Guiqi, I will be in charge of the project and provide the service to you, Mr. Chen."
His voice carried a hint of theatrical resonance and a unique rhythm, giving the impression of a stage performer speaking to you.
"But I must inform you beforehand, Mr. Chen, that although our Serpent Sect's service has a high success rate, it also carries a certain level of danger. If one is not careful or properly protected, it can be equally fatal. Therefore, we will provide you with some information and ask you to review it before confirming your decision."
As he spoke, he took out a scroll and placed it on the table, sliding it forward, "This is the information we provide. Mr. Chen, if you agree, please sign on the scroll after reading it."
Chen Chuan picked up the scroll, untied the ribbon, and unfurled it. The content consisted of both illustrations and text, clearly depicting the history and evolution of the practice, making it easy to understand.
In the early days, fighters didn't have the conveniences of modern times during their training. They often spent their lives searching for and competing for secret medicines. To break free from these constraints, the Serpent Sect, in the distant past of the old era, conceived an idea—to cultivate a special breed of snakes to assist in the fighters' cultivation."
However, after generations of repeated attempts, the snakes, despite long periods of nurturing, never met expectations. It wasn't until the new era, after the Algal Revolution and breakthroughs in biotechnology, that they finally succeeded."
The scroll was accompanied by ancient-style line drawings. The first illustration was a snake-catching scene, depicting a Serpent Sect disciple with a snake basket on his back, venturing deep into the mountains to capture snakes.
The snakes in the drawings were exaggerated, either bizarre in shape, enormous in size, or with wings sprouting from their backs. The disciples often struggled to capture the suitable ones, enduring countless hardships.
The second drawing showed the process of refining the snakes, feeding them rare and precious medicinal herbs, and even using blood and their own bodies to nourish the snakes, as was done in the old era.
The third illustration depicted a person being swallowed by a snake, and the fourth showed the snake dying, followed by the person peeling off the snake's skin.
"Serpent Shedding Technique."
Zou Handan waited until Chen Chuan reached this part before speaking slowly, "The founding masters of the Serpent Sect believed that just as a snake sheds its skin and is reborn, so too can a person shed their skin and gain a new life. By being swallowed by a snake and shedding its skin, one can obtain its vitality."
He looked at Chen Chuan with his snake-like pupils, "Just as I explained, Mr. Chen, our Serpent Sect's service involves the snake swallowing you, and you must remain in its belly for a period of time to achieve the desired effect. Are you willing to undergo this process?"
...
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(End of Chapter)
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