Chapter 618: The Refinement Sect
Chapter 618: The Refinement Sect
As Chen Chuan returned to Yangzhi City, a luxurious vehicle from Central City arrived and stopped in front of the administrative building of the Government Hall. Three people emerged from the car, one of them wearing sunglasses and looking up at the building with an expression of disdain for its outdated style.
After a while, the three individuals walked towards the building.
Inside the Civil Affairs Secretary's office, Zhu Xian was busy with official duties when his secretary entered and whispered something in his ear. Zhu Xian furrowed his brows and asked, "Are you sure?"
The secretary nodded and said, "They have a membership card from Shao, the Parliament member of Central City." He placed the card on the desk.
Zhu Xian thought for a moment, capped his pen, and leaned back in his chair. "Are they here to cause trouble?" he asked.
"Only three people came, and they don't seem like troublemakers," the secretary replied.
Zhu Xian looked at the card without touching it. Instead, he asked the secretary to leave and then reached for a phone placed separately on the desk, dialing a number.
After a long wait, the call connected, and he stood up, speaking respectfully, "Sir, it's me."
An aged voice came from the other end, "Ah, it's young Zhu. What's the matter? Have you encountered a difficult situation?"
"Teacher, I have a question I'd like to seek your guidance on," Zhu Xian said. "It's like this..."
About ten minutes later, the secretary was called back into the office. Zhu Xian instructed him, "Cooperate with them and assign someone to accompany them. If they need to go out, ensure their protection."
"Sir, should we inform the Patrol Bureau?" the secretary asked.
Zhu Xian shook his head after a moment of thought. "No, use the security team from the Government Hall."
The secretary nodded and left to make the arrangements.
Around 11 a.m., Chen Chuan returned to Yangzhi City. The Processing Bureau had already responded the night before, so the matter was now in their hands, and there was no need to worry about any further complications.
At that moment, the telegraph operator said, "Supervisor, there's a telegram from the bureau." He handed over a translated message.
Chen Chuan took the message and began to wonder if there was an issue at the bureau. However, upon reading it, he realized it was from the Government Hall, and it was addressed to him in the name of Civil Affairs Secretary Zhu Xian. It was only because they couldn't find him yesterday that the Processing Bureau was asked to pass on the message.
After considering this, Chen Chuan instructed the driver to change course and head towards the Government Hall located in the southern part of the city.
At around noon, Chen Chuan arrived at the Government Hall. After getting out of the car, Zhu Xian's secretary personally greeted him and explained, "This time, some people from Central City are here to look for you, Supervisor Chen. They have a membership card from a Parliament member, but we don't know the specifics."
Chen Chuan understood the implication—the visitors had a powerful background. Therefore, Secretary Zhu had no choice but to cooperate.
The visitors from Central City...
What could they want with me at this time?
He followed the secretary into a spacious reception room, where Secretary Zhu and the three individuals, dressed in imported formal attire, were engaged in a friendly conversation.
Upon seeing Chen Chuan enter, Secretary Zhu smiled and stood up. "Supervisor Chen has arrived," he said. "Supervisor Chen, these three gentlemen wish to discuss an important matter with you. I have official duties to attend to, so I won't disturb you further. Please talk." After saying this, he smiled and apologized to the group before leaving.
Once he was gone, one of the visitors stood up and extended his hand. "Hello, Supervisor Chen. Allow me to introduce myself. I am Jin Xinmin, an officer of the Refinement Sect. These two are my colleagues from the sect." The two men behind him nodded slightly.
Chen Chuan's heart stirred slightly, and he shook hands with Jin Xinmin. "The Refinement Sect?"
It was evident that all three individuals were third-tier fighters. Especially Jin Xinmin, who had clearly cultivated his mental powers, making his strength not to be underestimated.
Jin Xinmin smiled and said, "Yes, the Refinement Sect. Oh, I wonder if Supervisor Chen has heard of us before?"
"I haven't," Chen Chuan replied, "but I have encountered a few fighting sects in the past."
"Then Supervisor Chen may not be very familiar with us," Jin Xinmin said, releasing Chen Chuan's hand and smiling. "Why don't we sit down and talk at ease?"
Chen Chuan nodded and took a seat.
Jin Xinmin returned to his original seat, maintaining a polite smile. "Supervisor Chen, although the Refinement Sect is a fighting sect, we are not like the sects you may have heard of in the past. To join us, one must hold a certain position or status, like yourself, in government departments or large corporations."
He continued with a meaningful tone, "The requirement to join our sect is to have a certain level of authority and status. Our members are spread throughout the Great Prosperity, and we have representatives in every central city and capital."
Pausing briefly, he continued, "We have learned about your past achievements and accomplishments, Supervisor Chen. A high-ranking member of our sect admires your capabilities. After some discussion, we believe you are qualified to join us, so we have come to meet you in person."
One of the men behind Jin Xinmin spoke up, "Actually, there was some debate within our sect about your potential membership. The Refinement Sect has strict requirements for every new member. So, we are here to assess you first before making a decision."
In the city of Yangzhi, a conversation unfolds between Chen Chuan and Jin Xinmin, with two others present. Jin Xinmin, using the example of Central City in Jinbei Province, reveals that over the past three years, only one person has joined their faction, whose identity they cannot disclose. This individual's achievements in the Convergence Ground are not only comparable to Chen Chuan's but also solid and without any exaggerated claims.
After Jin Xinmin and the others finish speaking, he smiles and addresses Chen Chuan, "Opportunities like this are rare, Chen Chuan. Your past achievements are remarkable, and your resume is impressive. But you should understand that the world operates in its own unique way. Often, accomplishments on paper hold no value, and they cannot be transformed into tangible results."
"However, our Refinement Sect has the ability to make it a reality."
He pauses, allowing Chen Chuan a moment to reflect on his words. Chen Chuan senses that the information he received upon entering and the introduction he just heard should provide him with an understanding of the weight of Jin Xinmin's statement.
Chen Chuan has a feeling that he has encountered a mutual aid society from his past. Although these individuals speak politely and offer their assistance, there is an underlying arrogance, a sense of condescension, as if they are doing him a favor. Chen Chuan raises his head and says, "I think I understand."
Jin Xinmin smiles and asks, "So, Chen Chuan, do you have any intention of joining our faction? Well, let me explain. This is just an inquiry, and if you wish to join us, a certain assessment will be required."
Chen Chuan calmly responds to the three, "If you came here today solely for this matter, then I apologize. I can clearly state that I have no interest in joining your esteemed faction."
Upon hearing Chen Chuan's refusal, Jin Xinmin is taken aback, but he doesn't show any displeasure. Instead, he smiles and says, "Mr. Chen, you may not fully understand our Refinement Sect. We comprehend that our visit might have been sudden, but it's no matter..."
He places a membership card on the table.
The other two people in the room glance at the card and nod in agreement.
"Chen Chuan, if you ever need our help in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. We will find a way to assist you. It seems like Chen Chuan has some urgent matters to attend to, so we won't disturb him further. We shall take our leave."
Jin Xinmin stands up and shakes Chen Chuan's hand amicably, indicating that despite the rejection, there are no hard feelings between them.
As the three individuals exit the room, Jin Xinmin's smile fades.
One of the men behind him expresses an expected reaction, smirking, "I said it before. This person, not yet twenty years old, has already reached the position of Investigation Supervisor. He's at the peak of his career, and a young man like him needs to experience setbacks to understand the challenges that lie ahead."
Unfazed, Jin Xinmin replies, "But what can we do? Someone above has taken a liking to him, so we had to make this visit as a formality."
"What's the next step?"
Jin Xinmin says, "Since we've been assigned this task, we must complete it, but there's no need to rush. We'll make arrangements, and he'll come to understand."
In the past, they have encountered individuals who were unwilling to join their faction, and they have specific methods to deal with such cases.
The Refinement Sect, with its extensive connections, can exert pressure on the individual in various aspects.
For instance, a simple tactic is to transfer the person away from Jinbei Province to another Central City, effectively removing them from their established network. They would then be assigned a less popular position, denied any cultivation resources, and isolated.
Typically, most people would succumb after a period of time or a few tactics. Even if some persist, they eventually blend into the crowd, and there's no need for further attention.
Of course, if the individual is truly talented, other factions might try to recruit them during this time. But this is precisely why they came today.
To avoid fierce competition, there is an unspoken agreement among factions. Once a person is targeted by one faction, others will not interfere.
After investigating, they found that Chen Chuan had no previous faction background and had never joined any faction. With the vast network of the Refinement Sect, they could easily control him.
One of them looks around and says with disgust, "Let's leave this place. I don't want to stay here any longer."
Compared to Central City, Yangzhi City seems to lag in various aspects, and the presence of buildings from the Great Expansion era enhances this feeling.
The others nod in agreement, and they quicken their pace, soon leaving the area.
After the three individuals depart, Chen Chuan doesn't even glance at the membership card left on the table. He exits the conference room.
As he emerges from the corridor, he encounters Zhu Xian's secretary, who has been waiting. Seeing Chen Chuan, the secretary politely bows and says, "Supervisor Chen, the Civil Affairs Secretary is requesting your presence."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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