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Chapter 840: Gaining Trust
Chapter 840: Gaining Trust
Chen Chuan spoke candidly, "I learned about your situation from Senior Fang, and then I heard from other sources that you were living here."
Regarding his purpose for seeking them out, he continued, "There's a matter concerning some elders that I need to inquire about with you. You don't need to doubt me; I have proof of my identity."
He retrieved the bag he had set down earlier, opened it, and took out a notebook, which he handed to the approaching Hao Zhilan.
Hao Zhilan immediately recognized the notebook with delight, "This... is Senior Zhen's notebook? It was a memento she gave to the teacher. I'm sure of it." She turned to Hao Ruihai, who was sitting there, and excitedly said, "I bought this notebook for her back then. Look, one of the pages has a torn corner. I wanted to exchange it, but Senior Zhen said it wasn't necessary. She said that the Uninterrupted School seeks perfection in its flaws. She had her own imperfections, and it was only fitting that the notebook had its flaws too. It's been so many years..."
As she spoke, she looked at Chen Chuan, her eyes sparkling with light, "Senior Zhen's notebook is with you. You... you're Senior Zhen's son. You're Xiao Chuan, aren't you?"
Chen Chuan replied, "Yes, Senior, it's me."
"It's really you! I knew it!" Hao Zhilan's emotions became somewhat agitated, and her voice rose with excitement, "You and Senior Zhen look so much alike! Your eyebrows and eyes are almost identical, so neat and beautiful, as if drawn with a brush. Your eyes are so expressive and bright."
However, Hao Ruihai remained seated, unmoved. He looked at Chen Chuan and said, "The notebook is real, but I still can't believe you."
"Brother," Hao Zhilan began, a hint of dissatisfaction in her tone, but Hao Ruihai shook his head at her. Then, turning to Chen Chuan, he asked, "Do you have anything else?"
Chen Chuan, noticing his caution, was even more certain that something was amiss. Fortunately, he had prepared for this and took out some childhood photos from his bag, including some taken at his aunt's house.
Hao Zhilan immediately took the photos, and upon seeing the figures in them, her eyes welled up, "This is Senior Zhen, and there's her husband and you, Xiao Chuan... Is this her sister, Yu Wan?"
"Yes, this is my aunt, Yu Wan," Chen Chuan confirmed.
Hao Ruihai examined the photos and finally believed him. These items were not easy to forge, especially the finer details that only someone familiar with the subjects would notice.
He tidied up the photos and returned them to Chen Chuan, asking Hao Zhilan to wash her face and bring up some dried fruit and sugarcane. Then, addressing Chen Chuan, he said, "I'll call you Xiao Chuan; I hope you don't mind."
"Both of you are my seniors, so I have no problem with that," Chen Chuan replied.
Hao Zhilan sat down beside them, concerned, and asked, "Xiao Chuan, why have you come here to find us?"
Chen Chuan explained, "Over ten years ago, my mother and father went missing. Later, my aunt and uncle took me in and raised me. A few years ago, I found some things my parents had left behind, and I realized their disappearance might not have been as simple as I thought. I wanted to investigate, but I discovered that many crucial clues were missing.
From their records, I learned that they had found a martial arts teacher for me, but I never met this teacher. Recently, I traveled to the Besa Khanate and found Senior Fang, who had opened a martial arts academy. After talking with him, I suspected that he might be the teacher my parents had mentioned. So, after learning of your whereabouts, I rushed here."
He noticed that when he mentioned his parents' search for a teacher for him, both siblings' faces showed a hint of guilt.
After a while, Hao Zhilan spoke up, "Xiao Chuan, I won't hide it from you. Senior Zhen and we had agreed that we would teach you martial arts, but... this matter is complicated. We..." As she spoke, hesitation crept into her expression.
At this point, Hao Ruihai interjected, "Xiao Chuan, from your appearance, it seems you've also practiced martial arts?"
Chen Chuan nodded, "I've learned a little."
"Did you learn from a teacher at a martial arts academy?"
"I was admitted to Wuyi Academy," Chen Chuan replied.
The Hao siblings were surprised to hear this. Getting into Wuyi was no easy feat, requiring both talent and a solid foundation. Especially the latter, which needed guidance from a reliable person, leaving no room for error.
Hao Zhilan asked, "Xiao Chuan, there's an entrance exam for Wuyi. Who taught you before that?"
"My uncle found me a teacher," Chen Chuan answered.
"No wonder," Hao Zhilan said. "It seems your uncle and aunt have been good to you."
"Yes, my aunt and uncle have been very kind to me. They raised me until I became an adult," Chen Chuan confirmed.
Hao Zhilan's curiosity was piqued, and she continued her questioning, "Xiao Chuan, how old are you now? You're not even twenty yet, right? Have you graduated from Wuyi? Are you still in Yangzhi?"
"I graduated some time ago, and now I'm in Jingbeidao Central City," Chen Chuan replied.
"So, you're in the central city now..."
The Hao siblings nodded. After all, a marginal city like Yangzhi had limited resources and was quite closed off. Anyone with ambitions to make a name for themselves would head to the central city.
Hao Zhilan said sincerely, "That's really great. If Zhen Shijie could see how accomplished you've become, she would be very proud."
Hao Ruihai looked at Chen Chuan and said in a solemn voice, "Xiaochuan, you've learned martial arts and have been to the Central City. From your appearance, it seems you're doing well now. The matter back then was quite complicated, and it's best if you stay out of it. It's good for you, as well as for your aunt and uncle."
Chen Chuan looked at the two of them and said, "Seniors, there's something I need to tell you. In the year Xiaochu graduated, I was once attacked. It was a near-death experience, and I still don't know who was behind it."
Hao Zhilan and Hao Ruihai were both shocked upon hearing this. Hao Zhilan looked at him anxiously and said, "Child, are you alright? Did you suffer any lasting effects?"
Chen Chuan replied, "I recovered well after that, but the person who attacked me was definitely trying to kill me."
Hao Zhilan clenched her teeth and turned to Hao Ruihai, "Could it have been them?"
Hao Ruihai furrowed his brows, "The year Xiaochu graduated was about four or five years ago. It's been so long, how could it be...?"
Chen Chuan looked at the two of them and said, "Seniors, this might just be a coincidence, but it could also be related to what happened back then. If there's even the slightest possibility, I won't take any chances."
His eyes flashed with a sharp light, "I must get to the bottom of this. There might be some force behind it, but I believe I have the ability to protect myself now."
Hao Ruihai said in a deep voice, "Xiaochuan, it's not that simple. Since you graduated from Wuyi Academy, you should be around the Second Limit now. In a few more years, you might reach the Third Limit, but even as a Third Limit fighter, that level of strength won't help much against what you're facing."
Chen Chuan agreed, "A Third Limit fighter isn't enough." He paused and then lifted his gaze, "But what about a Fighter?"
"Fighter..."
Hao Ruihai and Hao Zhilan were stunned for a moment. They stared at Chen Chuan, looking at his calm and composed demeanor. Suddenly, Hao Zhilan's eyes lit up, and she asked eagerly, "Xiaochuan, do you mean you... found a Fighter to be your teacher?"
Hao Ruihai also sat up straight. If a Fighter was involved, they wouldn't need to be so afraid. Even if the matter couldn't be resolved, at least Chen Chuan's safety would be ensured.
However, they saw Chen Chuan shake his head, and their hearts sank. They thought they might have been overthinking it. How could a Fighter just happen to meet Chen Chuan and take him as a disciple?
But then they heard Chen Chuan say calmly, "Among the seniors I've met, there are indeed many Fighters, but I don't need to rely on them. Because, I am a Fighter myself."
Upon hearing this, their eyes widened in shock and disbelief, "You, Xiaochuan, you..."
Suddenly, they felt a powerful oppressive force emanating from Chen Chuan. In that instant, their alienation organizations began to alarm frantically, and the surrounding sounds seemed to disappear.
Chen Chuan no longer concealed his field strength but released it slightly. He said slowly, "Seniors, I haven't formally introduced myself yet. I am Chen Chuan, a national-level Fighter, the current Director of Security and Defense in Jingbeidao Central City, a member of the Security Decision Group, and a Military Advisory Committee Member of the Converged Land."
Hao Ruihai and Hao Zhilan were utterly stunned. They subconsciously thought it was impossible, yet they could feel the tremors from their alienation organizations, creating a sense of cognitive dissonance.
After releasing his field for a while, Chen Chuan retracted it and said, "Seniors, I apologize."
Hao Ruihai and Hao Zhilan took a while to recover, but their expressions still showed their shock.
Hao Ruihai took a deep breath to calm himself and said with a hint of excitement, "Zhen Shijie's son has become a Fighter?"
He then exhaled forcefully and said decisively, "Alan, go and bring out what Zhen Shijie left behind, and give it to Xiaochuan."
"This..." Hao Zhilan hesitated for a moment.
Hao Ruihai said sternly, "No matter what Xiaochuan decides to do, we have no right to make decisions for him in this matter. It's his property, and it should be returned to him."
Hao Zhilan nodded seriously, then got up and walked to the second floor. After a while, she returned with a small box and carefully placed it on the table in front of Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan saw that it was a small password-locked box, identical to the one he had previously retrieved from the Wan Sheng Finance Bank. He recalled the password and entered it, and with a click, the box opened, revealing a blue syringe inside.
He gazed at it.
This... is another bottle of memory elixir?
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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