Chapter 371: The Meeting
Chapter 371: The Meeting
In the early morning, Chen Chuan opened his eyes, awakening from a deep slumber.
He rarely dreamed, but last night, scenes from his sleep flooded his mind.
The most frequent figure in these visions was a woman with light brown hair, a natural color, not dyed. Through his perspective in the dreams, they had numerous conversations.
He could easily sense that the woman he was conversing with was his mother, Yu Zhen.
Their dialogue settings varied, like fragments from a real dream, with sudden jumps from one place to another. Sometimes they seemed to be in a ship's cabin, other times on a winding mountain path, and occasionally in a magnificent golden temple.
On the surface, they appeared to be traveling to different places, with some scenery clearly not within the Great Harmony Republic.
He noticed that this woman bore a striking resemblance to Yu Zhen, but their auras were vastly different. If not for their conversations indicating a close friendship, he might have mistaken her for another sister of his mother.
Most of their discussions revolved around exploration and famous scenic spots, occasionally touching on fashion, clothing, and favorite accessories.
It was evident that these memories were from before his birth.
Yu Zhen might have shared these memories with him, and they were indeed precious. However, if that was the sole purpose, there seemed no need to hide them so securely. Perhaps the transmission of these memories couldn't be entirely controlled, or maybe critical information was embedded alongside these scenes?
The last assumption was plausible.
There might be more crucial content hidden within the memories, which he hadn't discovered yet.
Even if there was no vital information, it didn't matter much. Chen Chuan had embarked on his path and was steadily progressing towards his goals. As he ascended to greater heights, the answers he once sought would gradually reveal themselves.
He rose from the bed, walked to the window, and drew the curtains, allowing the morning light to flood the room.
Looking outside, he realized it was September 10th, a rest day, and the day he had agreed to meet Meng Shu.
He decided to see what his old classmate wanted to discuss.
After standing by the window for a while, he freshened up and put on his Boundary Token. As he activated it, a notification sound played.
It was a message from Qingnang Jade Mansion, offering discounted drugs for Third Limit Combatants.
He glanced through the list, recognizing all the drugs as commonly used by Third Limit Combatants, with no special medications included.
Just as he expected.
He knew that even if he became Qingnang Jade Mansion's test subject again, they would only provide these drugs for free. The special medications, he assumed, would remain out of his reach.
Unless he joined Qingnang Jade Mansion as an official member.
Dismissing the message, he took some nutritional paste and medication before heading to the training room for his daily routine of cultivation and skill practice.
As noon approached, he finished his training, washed up, and prepared to keep his appointment.
Meng Shu had invited him on behalf of Fusion Boundary, indicating that the meeting would primarily focus on company matters. Thus, he changed into his Handling Bureau uniform after freshening up.
After taking care of Chao Ming's food and water, he carried the Xuejun Blade and left the house. Upon reaching the underground garage and retrieving his car, he contacted Gao Ming. "Gao Ming, I'm on my way," he said.
Gao Ming replied, "I've booked a private room there, brother. Feel free to consult me if you have any questions."
"Thanks," Chen Chuan acknowledged. He drove to the Shu Tian Xia Hotel, but this time, instead of taking the mountain path, he opted for the scenic elevator.
To facilitate their conversation, Fusion Boundary had rented an entire independent courtyard, which exuded a strong fragrance of osmanthus upon his arrival.
The courtyard was elegantly designed, adorned with natural stone features that added a touch of rustic charm. Clear streams flowed beneath small stone bridges, creating a soothing atmosphere. The entrance and areas near the water were lined with graceful bamboo, rustling gently in the breeze. The absence of distracting light screens contributed to the overall serene and refined ambiance.
Chen Chuan sat on an old-style round stool with a soft cushion. Shortly after, he heard footsteps approaching and saw Meng Shu entering.
She wore her hair in a hanging bun today, paired with a plain collared short jacket and a blue floral long skirt. A female assistant followed behind her, but as they reached the courtyard, Meng Shu waved her hand, and the assistant bowed and withdrew.
Meng Shu crossed the small stone bridge and sat down on the round stool opposite Chen Chuan. Fixing her gaze upon him, she said, "Before I saw that recording, I never imagined you could reach such heights. But I've always believed in your excellence, and this further proves that my judgment was correct."
"Chen Chuan found that perhaps due to their shared childhood experiences, despite not seeing each other for a long time, there wasn't an awkwardness between them.
He said, 'Two years without seeing each other, and you haven't changed much. Since we were young, you've always been so confident in everything you do.'
Meng Shu shook her head lightly and said, 'That's only because of the family background and wealth I possess. I haven't had the chance to achieve anything noteworthy on my own. Without these, there's no basis for my confidence.'
She looked at Chen Chuan and continued, 'I'm grateful that my parents gave me this background, but these things require careful maintenance. Nothing in this world can remain prosperous forever.'
Her gaze fixed on Chen Chuan as she said, 'I'm glad you can do what you want and succeed at it. I'm happy for you, and a little envious. But I can't do the same, so now, I need your help.'
Chen Chuan asked, 'As an old classmate or as a representative of Fusion Boundary Corporation?'
Meng Shu replied, 'Fusion Boundary isn't mine yet. What I need to do is make it mine, whether I like it or not, I can't back down.'
Chen Chuan said, 'Is it about the inheritance?'
Meng Shu didn't hesitate to confirm, 'Yes.' Then, looking at him, she asked, 'Do you know about that matter?'
Chen Chuan nodded, understanding what she was referring to. 'I do.'
Meng Shu said, 'I don't know what the Handling Bureau and you will say, but I'm sure there will be reservations.'
'I feel the same way,' Chen Chuan agreed.
...
Meng Shu looked at him and said, 'The government and the company currently have a unified stance, but their focus differs. The government's priority is the defense of the World Ring, while the companies, although they also work on defense, have a primary goal of seeking relics from the two worlds.'
Chen Chuan hadn't heard about this before, so he asked directly, 'What are they?'
Meng Shu explained, 'The boundary where the two worlds collide and merge, the place where the World Ring was established, didn't appear suddenly. It has been forming for a long time. During past periods of change, the two worlds had come extremely close on multiple occasions. The convergence of the worlds led to the formation of many objects that conformed to both worlds.
They might be living beings or things that are still hard to understand today. They are collectively called 'relics,' and in the past, they were collected by the imperial families of various countries.
Nowadays, many of the companies' technologies, aside from those developed in this world, are a result of imitating and researching these relics. That's why the government and companies are still eagerly seeking them.
But relics near the outer ring of the world are almost impossible to find, so now we need to get closer to the location of the World Curtain, or even go beyond the World Ring to search for them. And these relics can only be approached or captured by fighters who are well-prepared.'
Chen Chuan said, 'Do you want me to help you obtain those relics?'
Meng Shu shook her head. 'Going there is extremely dangerous. And even if you manage to bring them back, I'll only gain some praise, not any tangible benefits.'
She continued, 'My elder brother controls most of the company's business. He can use this to attract people, form new research teams, and establish new projects, making others grateful to him. What I'm doing now is meaningless. Competing within the company's framework, the advantages he gains will always surpass mine.
Even if I do something beneficial for the company and earn my grandfather's support, I know that it all comes down to might. If he feels threatened, he only needs to send someone suitable to eliminate me physically. Everything I've done will be taken by him.
And my grandfather will unhesitatingly discard me, an heir who can't even protect herself.'
She looked at Chen Chuan and laid out her conditions. 'Chen Chuan, if you're willing to help, I can use the search for relics as a pretext and allocate all the resources at my disposal to you.'
Chen Chuan said, 'Old classmate, aside from my abilities, I believe it won't be difficult to recruit others if you're willing to invest.'
Meng Shu replied, 'But I can't trust any of them. I can't be sure if they've secretly accepted my brother's conditions.'
She looked at Chen Chuan intently and said, 'I've watched your recordings and consulted many people. Everyone unanimously acknowledges your talent. Your abilities are beyond doubt, and I'm more inclined to trust you.
Moreover, I can promise that once I become the heir of Fusion Boundary, I'll provide you with the utmost support. Although Fusion Boundary Corporation isn't a top-tier company, we are an essential military-industrial partner in the country. We maintain a good cooperative relationship with the government, and our business is expanding internationally.
The company is on the rise, and even if it doesn't become world-class, I believe that no other place can offer as much support as a company can provide to an individual.'
...
(End of Chapter)
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