Chapter 86: Armed and Armored, Unrestricted Taboos
Chapter 86: Armed and Armored, Unrestricted Taboos
Two hours later, they arrived at Caijiashai.
Patrol Bureau officers had set up a base there, and Liu Xuelang's body was found under the rubble.
His outermost layer of protection was a somewhat tattered protective umbrella, and his guard suit was mostly intact. The fatal injury was caused by a broken beam that had fallen on top of him.
When he died, he was in a crouching position, and beneath him was a child he had tightly shielded with his body. Although the child was also unconscious, he had created a space by propping himself up, allowing the child to breathe and remain physically unharmed.
The female senior spoke softly, "It's clear now. Several rooms around here had villagers tied up, and there were remote-controlled explosives buried along the road. They probably wanted to lure people in for a rescue and then detonate the explosives. Fortunately, we moved fast..."
As she spoke, her eyes turned slightly red, and she added, "He could have escaped."
The male trainees around remained silent.
Chen Chuan looked around; at least five or six houses had collapsed due to the explosion. The child in this house was saved by Liu Xuelang's self-sacrifice, but the villagers in those other houses were also buried beneath the rubble.
Han Guo walked over and said, "Regarding Liu's death, I will write a truthful evaluation."
Wu Xuelang snorted and said, "What's the point when the person is already dead?"
Han Guo said, "A person's name lives on after their death. What he did still has meaning, and the Corps will help with the funeral arrangements." She glanced at the group, "Also, I need to inform you that the designated assignment has been canceled."
The trainees present were all startled and looked at her together. The female trainee stared at her and asked, "What do you mean?"
Han Guo replied calmly, "The literal meaning. Don't ask me why; I don't know either. But the scores you're supposed to get will still be there. I think it's probably because Fang Yiwen's son was saved?"
Wu Xuelang scoffed, "Saved? Then he wouldn't be here."
Chen Chuan had just heard about this incident. While the Patrol Bureau was searching with all their might, Fang Yiwen's son was playing darts at a classmate's home, so they initially thought he had been kidnapped. The two children found it amusing and deliberately hid, only confirming their safety after a long time.
If not for this, the commotion might not have been so great.
Han Guo said, "Although the designated assignment is canceled, the commission task is still on, but it has been transferred to the Patrol Bureau. It's up to you to decide whether to continue or leave; the Review Committee won't interfere."
The female senior asked, "What's the situation now?"
Han Guo explained, "Fang Dawei and his group didn't get far. They fled to a high ground in the north, where there's an abandoned fort from the Great Expansion Era. However, the entrance is narrow, and the Patrol Bureau has charged several times without success. It's up to you to handle it. Those who want to leave can come with me. I'll wait for you for ten minutes."
After saying this, she left directly.
The group stood in silence for a while. Then, the female senior spoke up, "I'm withdrawing."
One of the male trainees lowered his head and said, "Me too."
Another male trainee looked at the others and said, "I admit I'm scared. If Liu Xuelang hadn't died, I would've stayed. I advise you all to leave too. With that narrow entrance, we'd have to rely on ourselves to break through, but how can we do that? And with the designated assignment canceled, why bother? I advise everyone to think it through."
"I..." Wu Xuelang seemed to want to stay, but he couldn't make up his mind. He turned to Chen Chuan and asked, "What about you, Chen Xuedi?"
Chen Chuan looked at the seniors, sensing they also wanted him to withdraw. Before he could reply, a girl's voice called out, "Chen Tongxue, is that you?"
He turned and saw a fair-skinned, quiet, and frail-looking girl standing there. She had two braids and wore ordinary rural clothes, but there was a sense of maturity beyond her years. He was surprised, "Guan Xiaohui?"
After a moment's thought, he said to the seniors, "Seniors, you should go now."
Having met an acquaintance, the seniors didn't say more. They exchanged glances and left.
Chen Chuan approached her, "Guan Xiaohui, is it really you? Do you... have relatives here in Caijiashai?"
At a classmate gathering, he had heard from Ding Jiao that Guan Xiaohui's father had incurred gambling debts, and her stepmother had run off with her daughter. Could she be here?
Guan Xiaohui nodded lightly, "Chen Tongxue, you're here too? What... brings you to Caijiashai?"
Chen Chuan explained, "I enrolled in Wu Yi University. I'm here because I accepted a commission task from the Government Affairs Department."
Guan Xiaohui looked at him, surprised, as if she found him a little unfamiliar.
After a while, she said, "I understand." She spoke softly, "My mother's hometown is Caijiashai. But the village was occupied by a group of people a few days ago. My uncle and I were outside, so we managed to escape.
We went to the city to seek help, but no one paid attention. My uncle contacted other relatives and friends to take back the village.
We thought the Patrol Bureau's arrival today would solve the problem, but they asked us to put down our weapons, and we could only watch as that group escaped."
She glanced at the departing Wu Yi trainees, "Are you all leaving?"
(End of Chapter 86)
"Chen Chuan glanced at her and then surveyed the surrounding collapsed houses. He spoke slowly, 'I'll stay.'
In the sentry command post, Guan Yuming studied the map. Although Fang Dawei's group had fled quickly, Guan had made arrangements on the outskirts, trapping them on a high ground.
The problem was that this location was challenging to attack. Three sides were steep slopes, and the fort had stored water and food for the villagers who often passed through, so there was no hope of the group surrendering anytime soon.
Moreover, Guan Yuming sensed that with the capture of the son of Vice President Fang, the concern and support from the Government Hall had gradually diminished.
The stalemate continued, and while it was manageable during the day, the night might bring other issues. Especially with a large number of patrol officers from the Patrol Bureau being held outside, if there was a resistance organization involved, could there be trouble within the city?
'Commissioner Guan,' his deputy entered and informed him, 'A group of villagers, young and old, have arrived outside. They claim to have lost loved ones at the hands of the bandits and are requesting our help in dealing with them.'
Guan Yuming stepped out and observed the villagers standing beyond the caution line at the base of the sentry post. He spoke sternly, 'Tell them I'll do my best.'
The messenger patrol officer chased after him and said, 'Commissioner Guan, it's the Commissioner calling.'
Guan Yuming returned and picked up the phone, 'Hello, this is Guan Yuming speaking.'
'I'm informing you that the Ink Orchid Corporation's security team is on its way to your location.'
Guan Yuming frowned, 'What are they coming for?'
'Due to our slow progress, the Government Hall is quite dissatisfied. Ink Orchid Corporation has convinced them to take over and capture Fang Dawei's group.'
Guan Yuming's expression changed, 'Commissioner, how can this matter be handed over to them? Clearly, there's more to this...'
The other end interrupted without hesitation, 'I'm asking you, now that you know the son of Vice President Fang is not here, why did you linger in the village for so long?'
Guan Yuming explained, 'There was an explosion in the village, and many villagers are buried. There might still be survivors, so I asked the patrol officers to assist in the rescue efforts.'
'You're meddling in matters that aren't your responsibility. What does the life and death of those villagers have to do with you?'
Guan Yuming took a breath and said, 'Commissioner, our duty is...'
'Don't talk to me about duty. I understand it better than you. Once you're out of the city, why bother with such matters?'
The tone on the other end softened, 'Alright, Old Guan, Ink Orchid Corporation's team is on its way to your location. If you can resolve it, do so. If not, let Ink Orchid Corporation's security team handle it.'
With that, the call ended.
Guan Yuming furrowed his brows, deep in thought as he stared at the map. At that moment, his deputy entered and stood behind him, hesitating to speak.
Without turning, Guan Yuming asked, 'What is it? Speak.'
The deputy said, 'A student from Wu Yi is willing to cooperate with us in raiding the fort.'
Guan Yuming slowly turned, 'There's only one left?'
'Just one person?'
Guan Yuming was slightly disappointed. The others from the commission company had also charged, but all had failed. One person alone wouldn't make much difference.
'He says he can get up there,' the deputy added.
Guan Yuming considered this, 'Bring him over. I'll ask him myself.'
'Yes, sir.'
Soon after, Chen Chuan entered.
Guan Yuming looked at him sharply, 'I want to know, with everyone else gone, why did you choose to stay? Don't tell me it's for the task; the designated assignment has been canceled.'
Chen Chuan didn't offer much explanation, only saying, 'My uncle is Nian Fuliu, and I'm also a descendant of the Patrol Bureau.'
Guan Yuming straightened up slowly, and the deputy also turned to look at him. Initially, they had doubts, but upon hearing his introduction, they instantly felt a sense of trust from deep within.
The deputy exclaimed excitedly, 'Commissioner Guan, I knew it! In critical moments, we can always count on the descendants of the Patrol Bureau!'
Chen Chuan didn't share their enthusiasm, knowing that he wasn't there for the Patrol Bureau or any task. He was there because those bandits deserved to die!
Guan Yuming noticed the long sword in Chen Chuan's hand and said to his deputy, 'Go and fetch my protective armor.'
'Yes, sir!'
Guan Yuming looked at Chen Chuan and said, 'I just received a call. The Ink Orchid Corporation's security team is on its way to handle the situation. We have less than forty minutes. Can you do it?'
Chen Chuan raised his head, 'Forty minutes is enough!'
Soon, the deputy returned with a light-colored protective suit. Chen Chuan took off his outer clothing and put on the protective suit underneath.
The suit covered the neck, torso, and limbs, including a pair of gloves, without feeling suffocating. It fit his body perfectly, and upon closer inspection, intricate patterns were barely visible.
Guan Yuming explained, 'This protective suit was allocated to me by the headquarters. It's made with the technology of the Central City, capable of withstanding even long-distance machine-gun fire.'
"Chen Chuan, I'm heading over now." Chen Chuan said.
Guan Yuming approached and patted Chen Chuan's shoulder. "If it's too difficult, don't force it. Your future is bright, and sometimes, you need to retreat to advance. There's no need to risk everything here." He then instructed his deputy, "Use my car to send him there."
"Yes, sir!"
Chen Chuan gave a quick salute to Guan Yuming and, under his watchful gaze, turned to leave the sentry post.
Guan Yuming spoke to the messenger patrol, "Make sure the brothers below cooperate fully."
The messenger patrol saluted and, as he turned to leave, paused and said, "Rest assured, Commissioner Guan, the brothers below will do as instructed!"
Guan Yuming acknowledged with a sound, glanced at his watch, and thought to himself, "Less than half an hour left... Will we make it in time?"
As Chen Chuan left the sentry post, he encountered the group of villagers, including Guan Xiaohui. Their eyes met, and Guan Xiaohui called out, "Wait, Chen, where are you going?"
Chen Chuan paused, then approached her and said, "I'm doing what needs to be done. Is there something you wanted to say, Guan?"
Guan Xiaohui hesitated, then spoke, "There's a secret passage at the bottom of the fortress, but only one person can pass through it. People can use it to reach the top, but I'm not sure if it will be useful for you."
Chen Chuan wondered why she hadn't shared this information with the Patrol Bureau. Was it due to a lack of trust? He nodded and thanked her.
Just then, he noticed someone approaching and was surprised to see Wu Xuelang. "Wu Xuelang, I thought you had left. What brings you here?"
Wu Xuelang approached, cursing under his breath, "I can't let this go. Even if it costs me my life, I must avenge Liu's death! Chen, if you're planning to storm the sentry fortress, count me in!"
Chen Chuan looked at him and replied without hesitation, "Great! Then help me with something, Wu Xuelang."
"Of course! Chen, I've heard about your abilities, and I believe in you. You can count on me today."
Chen Chuan gave him a few instructions, and Wu Xuelang nodded enthusiastically, patting his chest and assuring, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it!"
At that moment, the deputy drove the car over, and Chen Chuan quickly made his way towards it, opening the door and jumping into the vehicle.
As soon as he was inside, the car sped off. The deputy discussed the tactics with Chen Chuan and shared the specific details they had learned from the previous engagement. It was confirmed that among Fang Dawei's group, only six individuals had implants, while the rest wore protective armor. These six would require extra caution.
The car arrived at the underground area beneath the sentry fortress, where the Patrol Bureau officers had already dug trenches and constructed makeshift barricades.
Wei Laohu, who was in charge of this direction, had been informed of the situation through a temporary phone call. He approached Chen Chuan and the deputy as they exited the vehicle, recognizing Chen Chuan, "Ah, it's Little Chuan, right? I've seen you once before, and I've heard a lot about you from Wei Ge."
"Yes, I remember you, and I've heard Wei Ge speak highly of you too, Wei Shu."
"That kid probably didn't have many good things to say about me," Wei Laohu joked, looking at Chen Chuan. "Little Chuan, are you ready for this?"
"Don't worry, Wei Shu. I'm confident," Chen Chuan assured him.
"Good! If Chang'an believes in you, so do I!"
"It's not just about me, Wei Shu," Chen Chuan said, looking around. "With so many senior officers from the Patrol Bureau here, isn't this our home turf? What's there to be afraid of?"
"Well said, Little Chuan!"
"Chen's right about that!"
The surrounding Patrol Bureau officers were energized by Chen Chuan's words, feeling a surge of determination to not let him down in front of their juniors.
Chen Chuan turned his attention to the sentry fortress, noticing a winding path leading upwards. The only way in was through a single entrance, which had fallen into disrepair over the years, with several holes in the roof and other areas.
Instead of taking the secret passage, Chen Chuan decided to confront the fortress head-on.
He tightened his grip on his sword sheath and, under the watchful eyes of Wei Laohu, the deputy, and over six hundred Patrol Bureau officers, he walked alone to the front of the uphill path and stood firm.
He looked up at the sun above, then at the fortress atop the hill. With a firm grip on his sword, he plunged it into the ground, burying half of it. Slowly, he drew the sword out, and the sound of the blade being pulled free reverberated, culminating in a sharp ring as a gleaming blade shone in the sunlight.
Chen Chuan regulated his breathing, sensing the eagerness of the sword in his hand and feeling his protective armor moving in sync with his chest and abdomen. At that moment, he recalled Wei Chang'an's words:
"Armed and armored, unbound by taboos!"
Fixing his gaze on the fortress above, Chen Chuan tightened his grip on the sword's hilt and leaned forward, taking a step. In that instant, a second image of himself flashed, and a loud explosion shook the ground as a figure soared upwards!
...
...
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
