Chapter 444: The Welcome
Chapter 444: The Welcome
The next morning, at 8 a.m., a train arrived at the Fourth Fortress Base, her hair adorned with white tassels, and the Iron Demon, with a crimson iron mask, stopped amidst the honking of its horn.
As the crowd awaited, a team of soldiers descended and lined up on both sides, followed by a handsome officer with an alert gaze.
He surveyed the surroundings, then turned, and respectfully said, "Teacher."
A military boot stepped down, and a man wearing a cap and a military coat emerged from the carriage. He wore a half-face mask, and despite appearing only in his mid-forties, his exposed face was marked by deep wrinkles and silver hair.
His uniform was neatly pressed, with tightly fastened buttons and cuffs, and his brass buttons gleamed brightly. His eyes were as sharp as knives, and from his appearance, he seemed like an old-school military man.
However, he wasn't particularly tall, standing just over 1.7 meters, even shorter than most soldiers. If not for his spirited eyes, it would be hard to believe he was a powerful fighter. One might mistake him for an ordinary officer or a trustworthy person.
Following him was a female officer, tall and sturdy, at least 2.2 meters, with a robust build yet not unattractive, and surprisingly harmonious features.
Despite the vast difference in their physiques, everyone's attention was unconsciously drawn to the former. As he descended and approached, all the soldiers, including those on the platform, saluted respectfully.
"Teacher Chen," the welcoming crowd exclaimed.
From the waiting area, the Third Tier Fighter, Le Wu, emerged from the crowd with a beaming smile.
Le Wu was unpopular in the base due to his indifference towards others. Once, when Chen Chuan's squad passed by and greeted him, he merely glanced away without a response.
Yet, this seemingly aloof person now showed utmost respect towards Chen Biting. He saluted formally and said, "Instructor Chen, please stay a few extra days at the Fourth Fortress. Allow your student to fulfill the duties of a host."
Chen Biting stood his ground, raised his hand, and returned a salute to everyone. Then, escorted by the leading officer and the tall female officer, he walked into the base.
The soldiers lifted their guns, shouldered them, and marched in unison.
Yuan Qiu Yuan, despite arriving early, couldn't go to the platform as he wasn't part of the welcoming party. Watching Chen Biting approach, he felt a slight surge of excitement.
He turned to Qin Qingque, "If only I could be Teacher Chen's student. Even if not, a bit of guidance from him would be wonderful, don't you think, Executor Qin?"
Qin Qingque shook her head.
Yuan Qiu Yuan, noticing her reaction, found it odd but didn't think much of it. He glanced ahead and said, "I wonder how long Instructor Chen will stay..." He looked around, "Hey, where's the captain? The captain said he'd be here this morning..."
Chen Chuan stood on the base's elevated walkway, watching Chen Biting approach from a distance. He noticed that most of the soldiers' eyes held genuine admiration.
It was no wonder the higher-ups couldn't directly convict this man. Aside from the issue of evidence, his impressive achievements and the fact that he was admired and aspired to by many made it a huge impact to accuse him of this crime. Even if proven, they wouldn't use this charge, and might have to find another excuse.
As Yuan Qiu Yuan observed him, Chen Biting suddenly turned and shot a sharp gaze towards him.
But after a glance, the sharpness faded, and he returned to his previous demeanor.
Chen Chuan raised an eyebrow, realizing that while the man had looked at him, none of the bystanders reacted. No one followed his gaze, as if they hadn't noticed his action. Even he felt like it was just a fleeting illusion.
But upon closer inspection, he believed the man had indeed glanced at him. It must be the combined effect of aura and spiritual techniques, causing this misperception.
This seemed to be a highly skilled application of aura and spiritual techniques. During this, he hadn't sensed the man's aura, proving his prowess beyond that of the Iron Demon.
As he pondered, Chen Biting and his entourage entered the fortress, disappearing from view. Yuan Qiu Yuan didn't linger but returned to his dormitory.
The base's main officials didn't show up, evidently aware of something, opting to avoid suspicion. However, they didn't skimp on hospitality, providing the best rooms for Chen Biting and his companions.
Chen Biting entered the room, and a young officer approached with a stack of documents, placing them on the table beside him. "Teacher, these are the reports that have accumulated over the past few days."
Chen Biting was on mandatory leave and was not allowed to access outside news during his journey. Only upon reaching the outpost could he review some outdated information.
He picked up a few reports and skimmed through them. When he saw one particular report, he paused, "Was the Iron Demon dealt with?"
The handsome officer replied, "Yes, it was taken care of by an Executor who had just arrived at the Convergence Zone."
Chen Biting slowly said, "I had heard about the Iron Demon before and was thinking that if this person came to the outpost, I would take the opportunity to deal with him. Now it seems I won't need to get involved."
The handsome officer said, "For someone like the Iron Demon, it's too much of an honor for the teacher to personally handle it. If we encounter such matters, we can leave it to the students."
He continued, "But the fact that he was killed by an Executor who had just arrived shows that his skills aren't that impressive. I wonder how he gained such a big reputation in the first place. I think it's mostly just talk."
The officer noticed that Chen Biting was still reading the battle report. He knew that the teacher enjoyed mentoring younger generations, especially those with great potential. Whenever he encountered such individuals, he would offer guidance. So, he said, "Teacher, do you want to meet this Executor? This is not a simple matter. He might be outside right now. I'll go and inform him. He's probably eager to meet you."
Chen Biting said, "I do want to meet him, but not today. Tomorrow. Although I'm not restricted in my actions, I'm still under surveillance from above. I've just arrived, so there's no need to rush into things. Otherwise, many people might be holding midnight meetings again."
The handsome officer glanced at the tall female officer standing silently to the side, and with a hint of indignation, he said, "This matter has nothing to do with the teacher, yet they insist on blaming him. Now even his actions are restricted. Don't they consider how much he has contributed in the past? They show no respect at all."
Chen Biting remained calm and said, "What those above consider is never respect, but rather the potential risks. Even I, as a perceived danger in their eyes, would do the same."
He continued, "Let's not dwell on this. Xiao Yi, you've just returned from abroad. I'm sure you've seen a lot out there. I'd like to hear about your experiences."
In the 69th book of the 1st bar, there's no mistake in this version!
The handsome officer immediately stood at attention and said, "If the teacher wants to know, the student will leave no stone unturned."
Meanwhile, Chen Chuan returned to the dormitory and locked the door. He took out a tube of special medication he always carried and ingested it.
When the outpost distributed special medication, they would issue a warning, advising users to avoid practicing in the Convergence Zone. Especially for those who had never used special medication before, a moment of carelessness could lead to problems.
Except for some with high levels of spiritual cultivation, most fighters would choose to take the medication after leaving the Convergence Zone as a precaution.
However, Chen Chuan could rely on his Second Self to divert the invasion, so he didn't have to worry too much. Moreover, he didn't know how long he would stay there, and he couldn't afford to waste so much time.
The next day, when Chen Chuan left the dormitory, he found that the outpost had become noticeably "livelier." This was a military outpost, and apart from the sounds of soldiers training and drilling, it was usually quiet. But now, he could hear occasional footsteps and casual conversations passing by.
When he joined Yuan Qiuyuan and Qin Qingque for breakfast, he learned the reason for this unusual activity. Many of Chen Biting's students and those he had taught knew of his arrival and came specifically to meet him, including some high-ranking officials' offspring who had heard of his reputation.
Chen Chuan contemplated that the situation might not be as simple as it seemed. The information from Commissioner Li provided indicated that Chen Biting had some influence, possibly a show of support from his faction.
As he was pondering, a strange signal appeared on the Boundary Token, attempting to contact him. He hesitated, then accepted the call. "Who is this?"
A powerful voice came from the other end, "Captain Chen, I'm Zhan Yi, a student of Teacher Chen. If Captain Chen were there yesterday, you would have seen me.
"Teacher Chen heard about you defeating the Iron Demon, and he admires your skills. He wants to meet you. Are you available? If it's convenient, there's a tea gathering at 3 PM. You're welcome to join."
Chen Chuan's heart skipped a beat. His original task was to make contact with Chen Biting, and now with this opportunity, he wouldn't let it pass. "Okay, I'll be there on time."
The other party considered this response natural, "Good, then we'll meet later."
After ending the call, Chen Chuan contacted Qin Qingque, "Executor Qin, could you help me check who leaked my communication channel?"
"Yes, Captain, I'll find out."
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Chapter end
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