Chapter 71: Aftermath
Chapter 71: Aftermath
Since Wei Chang'an had taken charge of the situation into his own hands, Chen Chuan didn't linger at the scene. He rode his bike away, unaware that within the old well, a surreal and beautiful doll was climbing up its walls. As the moonlight emerged from behind the clouds once more, the doll vanished without a trace.
On his way back, Chen Chuan chose to take the back alleys, but even so, he could still hear the roar of modified cars speeding through the streets, occasionally accompanied by the sound of chains dragging and shattering glass.
The evening was when gang members were most active, and Chen Chuan had no desire to cross paths with them. Now that he knew some urban legends were real, he tried to avoid those secluded alleys as much as possible.
After cycling for over an hour, he reached the city center square and made a call from the contact number listed in the materials.
When the call connected, there was no response from the other end. Following the instructions in the materials, Chen Chuan said, "The item has been captured."
A deep and emotionless voice came from the other end, "Location."
"City center square, opposite the Du Yi Grand Hotel," Chen Chuan replied.
"Wait there, the car is on its way," the voice instructed.
Chen Chuan hung up and waited by the roadside. In just a moment, a vehicle turned the corner, its headlights shining brightly. It was a delivery truck, and as it approached, Chen Chuan could see the body of the truck emblazoned with a blooming ink orchid.
Ink Orchid Corporation? Chen Chuan wondered.
The truck stopped in front of him, and two people in Ink Orchid Corporation uniforms stepped out.
Chen Chuan stood up, carrying the bag with him. One of them took it, untied the rope, inspected the contents, and nodded, "The goods are correct."
The other person took the slip from Chen Chuan, signed it, stamped it, and returned it to him.
After taking back the slip, Chen Chuan noticed the two men carrying the bag to the back of the truck. As they opened it, a chill emanated from within.
The men placed the item inside and returned to the front of the truck, quickly starting the vehicle and driving away without another glance at Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan put away the slip and checked his "Second Self," only to find that the faint signs of dematerialization were still present, not disappearing even after the well child had been taken away.
However, the damage was minimal, so Chen Chuan didn't pay it much mind. He headed straight back to the Wu Yi School.
By this time, security patrols were active outside the school. Chen Chuan showed his Class A student card and was immediately allowed to pass.
Upon returning to the dormitory, Chen Chuan first used the public phone to call Cheng Zitong. "Teacher, I'm back. Everything went smoothly, and I delivered the item according to the instructions in the materials."
Cheng Zitong asked, "What did you feel?"
Chen Chuan replied, "It's hard to describe, Teacher. That was quite an intriguing experience. But what exactly was it?"
Cheng Zitong explained, "There are some speculations, but even I don't have a clear answer. If you want to find out, you'll have to seek it yourself. Urban legend commissions are generally avoided because they are extremely dangerous. It's best to avoid contact with such things until you know how to handle them.
What I gave you today is a summary of successful methods from previous experiences, making it relatively easier. In reality, a lot of time and resources have been spent on researching these matters, and many people choose to avoid them. With the same effort, they'd rather take on other commissions."
Chen Chuan understood that these commissions were highly risky and didn't offer much more in terms of rewards. So, why bother with them?
Cheng Zitong continued, "But if you specialize in these commissions, more and more similar tasks will come your way. The more you encounter, the more you'll understand. Since others can't handle them, you'll become the expert. When problems arise, you'll be the first person they turn to.
Ordinary commissions can be handled by anyone, but for these, there's no replacement. You're the only one, and your evaluation will be in a league of your own."
"Teacher, I don't care much about evaluations," Chen Chuan said. "But I am genuinely interested in these phenomena.
Cheng Zitong chuckled and replied, "Yes, who cares what it is. As long as we're interested, we'll do it because we want to. Nothing can bind us, and that's how our Insight Sect should be."
Chen Chuan asked, "Teacher, you once said that we shouldn't be confined by labels. Isn't identifying ourselves as the Insight Sect also a form of self-imposed restriction?"
Cheng Zitong paused, then laughed as he said, "Good lad, are you questioning your teacher and picking a fight with me?"
"Being straightforward and not beating around the bush is also a characteristic of our Insight Sect, right?"
"Haha, you little rascal, you've got a point there."
Cheng Zitong was delighted at this moment, as no one had ever clicked with him like this student. But alas...
He sighed inwardly and then lifted his spirits, saying, "Based on past experience, these assigned missions shouldn't be done consecutively. There's a certain negative impact if they're done back-to-back. Take a few days to rest. During this time, you can also check on the growth of your altered tissue and see if you need to arrange the next limit of training."
Chen Chuan said, "Okay, Teacher. By the way, I encountered something today that might have some impact later on." He then proceeded to tell him about his unexpected meeting with Tong Qianjiang and the potential involvement in the assigned mission.
After listening, Cheng Zitong responded, "I've heard about this."
He thought for a moment, "Teacher believes that since you're already involved, you should actively participate. Don't miss this opportunity. This task should be linked to the Administrative Hall, and it can greatly enhance your mission evaluation. Moreover, this matter might have additional benefits for you, but it's hard to comment on now. However, remember..."
His tone turned serious, "Be cautious. This gang has been hiding for so long; they're not that simple."
Chen Chuan assured him, "Teacher, I'll be careful."
After the call, as it was already late, he took a shower and went to bed.
(End of Chapter)
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