Chapter 445: The Tea Gathering
Chapter 445: The Tea Gathering
The following afternoon, Chen Chuan emerged from the dormitory and met up with two of his teammates before heading towards the venue of the tea gathering.
Although the invitation was extended solely to him, the invitee was allowed to bring a few companions. Yuan Qiuyuan, having learned of the invitation the day before, expressed his desire to join as well, considering they were a squad and would likely be transferred to Chen Biting's side in the future. So, he decided to include Qin Qingque as well.
Upon their arrival, they found the place already bustling with many people, mostly young men and women, all dressed in low-ranking military uniforms. These were likely the individuals who had arrived by train, and they shared a common trait—a youthful aura with a distinct military upbringing.
Chen Chuan could discern from their auras that many of them had implants, which was not a typical practice for fighters. This further confirmed his previous judgment—these people were not disciples taught by Chen Biting. They didn't need his guidance, but were representatives of a certain faction, here to show their support and stand by Chen Biting.
As for the choice of this meeting place, it was because, in a few days, Chen Biting would be leaving the Convergence Zone for a mandatory leave in Central City. This would be his final stop in the Convergence Zone.
Yuan Qiuyuan scanned the surroundings, noticing the long table laden with exquisite tea snacks and top-quality beverages. The air was filled with a sweet, cloying aroma, all of which were delicacies rarely seen in the base's restaurant. These must have been specially transported from Central City by train.
Chen Chuan recognized the features of these military offspring. He turned to Qin Qingque beside him and asked, "Executor Qin, do you know anyone here?"
Qin Qingque shook her head. "No, I don't recognize anyone."
The people at the gathering noticed the arrival of Chen Chuan and his teammates. Although there were many people, few were as young as Chen Chuan, already dressed in the uniform of an executive captain. Thus, his entrance immediately drew the attention of many.
A handsome officer approached and shook hands with Chen Chuan, introducing himself, "Hello, I'm Captain Zhan Yi."
Chen Chuan glanced at his uniform and shoulder insignia, confirming that he was indeed an executive captain, but about ten years older than himself. He appeared to be in his thirties. "Hello, Captain Zhan," Chen Chuan replied.
Zhan Yi said, "My teacher would like to meet you. Please come with me."
"I'd be honored to meet him," Chen Chuan responded.
After a quick word with his teammates, Chen Chuan followed Zhan Yi to where Chen Biting was conversing with Captain Le Wu. Surrounding them were several high-ranking officers and advisors from the base, but just like the day before, the base's top officials were nowhere to be seen.
"Teacher, this is Captain Chen," Zhan Yi introduced, turning to Chen Biting. The officers and advisors also turned to look at Chen Chuan.
Chen Biting gave Chen Chuan a once-over and said, "Young man, we met yesterday."
Those around them were taken aback by this statement. Yesterday? When did that happen? It seemed like yesterday, this person had entered the room and hadn't come out since.
Chen Chuan understood that he was referring to their previous spiritual encounter. "Yesterday, when I was welcoming Instructor Chen, I was indeed there. I didn't expect Instructor Chen to be able to see me from so far away."
The people around them finally understood.
Chen Biting spoke slowly, "An outstanding and exceptional young man, even in a crowd, will always stand out."
A base advisor smiled and said, "Instructor Chen's judgment of people is indeed remarkable. Captain Chen, the hero who forced the Iron Demon to surrender a few days ago, has solved a major problem for our region. He's a rare talent."
One of the officers asked curiously, "Captain Chen, how did you defeat the Iron Demon? The report didn't provide many details. Could you share the story with us today?"
The people around them showed similar interest, and some of the younger officers nearby gathered closer.
To be honest, most of them had little interest in specific fighting techniques and wouldn't understand them anyway.
They relied on implants to gain strength. High-level implants had minimal side effects and were difficult to detect on the surface, except for those with exceptional talent. Most people preferred the convenient path rather than enduring hard work and rigorous training.
However, this didn't diminish their interest in stories of battles against powerful enemies, especially when it happened right before their eyes, and one of the parties involved was a well-known enemy like the Iron Demon.
Chen Chuan noticed Chen Biting's gaze as well, and he said, "There's nothing I can't share."
He briefly described the events of that day—the night attack, the decision to take the initiative, and ultimately, the defeat of the Iron Demon in direct combat.
Throughout the retelling, Chen Chuan didn't embellish or exaggerate, keeping it straightforward. Although it might not sound extraordinary, he emphasized the role of the intelligence department at the end.
"If it weren't for the intelligence department's deception, the Iron Demon wouldn't have returned to fight us so easily. So, I believe at least half the credit goes to them," Chen Chuan said.
One of the advisors spoke up, "That's probably because only Captain Chen's squad was pursuing the Iron Demon, so they were marked as easy targets."
"He turned around and addressed the crowd with a smile, 'I never expected Captain Chen to be so formidable, ultimately falling there.'
As he spoke, he lightly clapped his hands, and the people around him politely followed suit. To be honest, many in the audience felt disappointed after hearing Chen Chuan's description, as it wasn't as thrilling as they had imagined from his account.
Standing to one side, Zhan Yi noticed something else, 'Captain Chen, I heard from you that the Iron Demon underwent a mutation at the end?'
Chen Chuan replied, 'Yes, his mutated tissue grew beyond his body's surface, thereby granting him robust protective abilities and strength. However, this also caused his body to become uncoordinated, making his overall performance inferior to before.'
At this moment, Chen Biting spoke up, 'The Iron Demon should be a Demonic Spirit.'
'A Demonic Spirit...?' Zhan Yi furrowed his brows.
The staff officer then added, 'Captain Zhan has been away for a long time, and he's new to the Convergence Zone. He might not be aware of the situation here. The old imperial family in the Convergence Zone has long merged with the Demonic Spirits. In the past, they would bestow the title of Demonic Spirit upon some worthy royal descendants, allowing them to acquire abilities surpassing ordinary people.'
'In other words, they actively activate it. It's said that this activation technique is controllable, allowing people to retain their original sanity and unlock higher potential.'
'However, the situation might have changed now. Not only are some of the royal descendants involved, but also some ennobled warriors and those deemed worthy can undergo activation modifications. They consider this a great honor.'
'But I suspect this Iron Demon's activation period might have been too short, or there could have been technical issues. Perhaps the fusion wasn't successful, leading to those problems.'
...
A young officer seemed particularly interested in the Demonic Spirits and couldn't help but ask, 'Staff Officer Fa, do we have this technology in Great Shun?'
Officer Fa smiled and said, 'The Great Shun government would never engage in such activities, but some companies might be secretly conducting research.'
He seemed reluctant to discuss this topic further and smiled at Chen Chuan, 'Fortunately, this Iron Demon was dealt with by Captain Chen. Otherwise, if his fusion level increased, he might have become an even more formidable opponent in the future.'
Another round of applause erupted, slightly more enthusiastic than before.
However, at this moment, another discordant voice sounded, 'Captain Chen, I noticed in your report that you spent a night outside during the Iron Demon's process. You used Secret Religion rituals to defend against the Convergence Zone's nocturnal anomalies. That's not easy, Captain Chen. You seem to know a lot about Secret Religion rituals.'
The crowd turned to see a tall officer in the Discipline Department's uniform, standing there with round glasses and parted hair, smiling at Chen Chuan.
Seeing this person raise this question, the crowd exchanged glances, all with a hint of amusement.
The Secret Religion rituals were strictly monitored in Great Shun, and some were explicitly prohibited. How did Chen Chuan understand them? Had he joined a certain sect?
Chen Chuan calmly replied, 'I do know a bit. Back in school, I came across some anomalous cases and received commissions and support from the Secret Religion Review Department. So, I learned a bit about this aspect.'
'If not for later entering the Central City Military Academy, I might have ended up working for the Secret Religion Review Department instead of coming to the Convergence Zone to fight.'
'Is that so...?' The tall officer stared at him for a few moments and smiled, not saying anything further.
At this moment, Chen Chuan turned towards Chen Biting's direction, took a few steps forward, and said, 'Instructor Chen, may I ask you a question?'
Chen Biting, with a half-face mask and deep facial lines, appeared very stern. But his tone was gentle, 'Chen Chuan, what is it you wish to ask?'
Chen Chuan asked, 'During my battle with the Iron Demon, I noticed he had a certain sense for impending danger. This person often manages to avoid the most dangerous places. I'd like to ask, is this ability related to his combat skills, or is it due to his Demonic Spirit identity?'
The crowd, upon hearing this question, also awaited an interpretation.
However, Chen Biting didn't directly answer the question. Instead, he said, 'Chen Chuan, after I return, I'll focus on recuperating in the Central City. I might open a training course with the support of friends. Chen Chuan, if you have the time, you can come to me, and I'll provide you with an answer then.'
Chen Chuan looked at him, setting aside their positions and the underlying issues. This person definitely had valuable insights. If he could learn something, it would benefit him too. So, he said, 'Instructor Chen, I will come.'
...
(End of Chapter)
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