Since the joint departmental commission ended, Chen Chuan hadn’t taken on any new commissions. He had also temporarily put aside matters with the company, focusing instead on intensifying his Fighting Skill training at the academy.

Another ten days or so passed, bringing them to the last day of November.

The payment for the commission had come in during the first ten days of the month, so he had already made calls to arrange a team lunch at the Du Yi Hotel for noon today. It was also a chance to distribute the money. With the end of the year approaching, he couldn’t let it drag on.

Just as he was about to leave, however, he received a call from Director Lei.

"He Nan and I have set a date for our wedding. It’s on the fifteenth of next month. We’ll only be inviting a few close relatives and friends. The invitation will be delivered to you today, Chen. You must be there."

Chen Chuan knew that with Director Lei’s status, there were always Cultists watching him from the shadows. That was why the Esoteric Review Bureau, despite being a force of order, maintained an almost non-existent profile within the government’s administrative bodies.

For the safety of his family and friends, his wedding was bound to be a low-key affair. He couldn’t gather all his subordinates in one place and had to be as discreet as possible.

He said, "Congratulations, Director Lei. I’ll definitely be there."

Director Lei said, "Xiaoying’s health is much better now. I told him about you, and he keeps saying he wants to meet you and thank his ’big brother’."

Chen Chuan thought of the boy. ’It was a miracle he managed to survive his time with those Cultists.’

Director Lei added, "A senior from the Central City Review Bureau will be there. I’ll introduce you. It could be helpful for you in the future."

Chen Chuan said, "Thank you, Director Lei."

"Don’t mention it. Compared to the help you gave Xiaoying, this is a small thing."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment and said, "Director Lei, there’s something I’ve been meaning to ask since the last commission ended."

Director Lei said, "You’re asking about the whereabouts of the person who set up the ritual, right? We tracked the hot air balloon after it landed but couldn’t find anyone. I later surmised that the true mastermind was likely hiding on the train at the time."

’On the train...’

Chen Chuan’s thoughts shifted. He asked, "Did the person we caught on the train confess anything?"

Director Lei said, "He was just a Cultist providing support. According to his confession, he was merely a hired hand. We confirmed he was telling the truth. But you don’t need to worry. After a ritual is activated, even if nothing is done, the patterns and materials will disappear on their own after some time.

"Without the support of material and human resources, it’s impossible for him to set up such a large-scale ritual again. And as for smaller rituals, our Review Bureau can handle those."

Chen Chuan nodded. Although Esoteric Rituals could achieve many mystical effects, they usually required a great deal of time for prior preparation.

The mastermind had only managed to pull off something of that scale because he had previously received help from the Molan Company. Without the support of such a powerful entity, a repeat performance was virtually impossible.

After exchanging a few more words, they ended the call.

Chen Chuan could feel that Director Lei was constantly trying to steer him toward the path of Esoteric Buddhism. This introduction to a senior from the Esoteric Bureau was likely part of that effort.

However, while he was interested in matters of a mystical nature, he believed only Fighting Skill could truly strengthen him. Since he had chosen this path, he would walk it with determination and not be swayed toward another.

He finished getting ready, straightened his clothes, and headed out the door. Downstairs from his dorm, he got on his bicycle and rode toward the Du Yi Hotel.

Because the various company conferences were over and the resistance organization had been all but wiped out, the city center was safe now. After he arrived, his team members began to show up one by one.

As was their custom, he handed out the money before they started eating.

Everyone was thrilled to receive such a hefty payment before the end of the year, which also boosted their personal ratings.

Wei Chang’an stood up, holding his glass, and said earnestly, "Junior Chen, thanks to these commissions you brought us, I—Brother Wei—am now an Advanced Client. I won’t have to grovel to the companies anymore. I have to toast you."

Chen Chuan raised his glass, clinked it against Wei’s, and said with a smile, "Then congratulations are in order, Brother Wei."

The others all raised their glasses to congratulate him as well.

Advanced Clients had high personal ratings, allowing them to earn greater rewards and making it easier to deal with government departments and major corporations. Some Advanced Clients, due to long-term employment with certain departments, even came to possess a degree of de facto authority, their status and position completely different from before.

For Wei Chang’an to achieve this at his age was indeed something worth celebrating.

Wei Chang’an clinked glasses with everyone before sitting back down. Cai Si, who was beside him, then said, "Have you guys been listening to the radio lately? For days, they’ve been endlessly reporting on how the new Civil Affairs Chief wiped out the resistance organization right after taking office. Too bad we can’t say it was us who actually did it."

The broadcast didn’t mention Chen Chuan or his team members’ names at all. The various departments involved had given them a heads-up, explaining that the priority was to restore public trust in the current official institutions. So, instead of mentioning them, they were simply given a little extra compensation.

Feng Xiaochi grumbled, "What’s wrong with extra pay? I’d rather have more money than fame."

But Chen Chuan said, "Actually, even if they hadn’t said anything, I would have requested the same. The resistance organization isn’t gone just because we eliminated those members. They’ll resort to any means and act without scruple."

"For everyone’s safety, we need to keep as low a profile as possible. Besides, from what I know, one of their key figures escaped, and their whereabouts are currently unknown."

Ding Liao chimed in, in full agreement, "Exactly. As long as the world stays this way, the resistance will always exist. We just put out the fire on top, but the embers below are still glowing. You never know when they’ll flare up again. It’s better to be careful."

At this, Luo Kaiyuan said, "Some of them might have been forced into it."

Feng Xiaochi said, "Well, I don’t like them. An explosion once went off just a few dozen meters from my family’s little shop. I knew an old man in the neighborhood who used to weave grasshoppers to entertain the kids. He was buried there."

Wei Chang’an raised his glass again, smiling. "In any case, most of the resistance has been crushed, and the Molan Company has fallen. That’s worth celebrating! Come on, everyone, another round!"

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement.

Meanwhile, as they were having their lunch, Cheng Zitong was just leaving the principal’s office. He stared at the list in his hand, his face alight with excitement.

He walked quickly back to his office and immediately called Chen Chuan, but there was no answer. Then he remembered that his student was probably out for a team lunch today.

He put down the phone, thought for a moment, and chuckled. He took out a copy of the list, stuffed it into his briefcase, then went downstairs and drove directly to Lakefront Villa.

After getting out of the car, he took off his decorative sunglasses, stood before the main gate for a moment, and then strode inside.

"Old Qian, is my senior brother in?"

"He is," the gatekeeper replied.

"Probably teaching his disciple right now, huh? Alright, I’ll go find him myself."

Cheng Zitong walked into the courtyard. With a glance, he saw the student practicing his forms by the waterside pavilion, while Qiao Linhu was in the living room drinking tea, his gaze occasionally drifting outside, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

He stomped over, pulled the list from his briefcase, and slapped it down on the table in front of Qiao Linhu with a loud SMACK.

Qiao Linhu started, looking up at him in surprise. He then frowned at the paper. "What’s this?"

"What’s this? It’s an admission spot for the Central City General Hospital!"

Cheng Zitong tapped the list a few times with his hand. "This is my student. I am his advisor. Didn’t see that coming, did you, senior brother?"

Qiao Linhu was silent for a moment. Ever since he saw Chen Chuan take down the Mutual Aid Association, he’d had a bad feeling. He said slowly, "One must always guard against pride and impatience. One cannot be eager for quick success..."

Cheng Zitong reached into his briefcase again and, with another SMACK, slapped a certificate on the table. "This is the Weapon Permit my student earned!"

"A student needs to be tempered. Blindly elevating him will only cause him to lose his self-control..."

SMACK! Cheng Zitong slapped yet another certificate down. "This is my student’s Armor Certificate!"

"...Even if he has some minor achievements..."

SMACK! Cheng Zitong slammed down one more certificate, pointing at it. "This is my student’s Unlimited Defense Certificate, a B Certificate!"

Qiao Linhu’s voice caught in his throat. He sat there sullenly, stroking his beard, because no amount of words could compare to an Unlimited Defense Certificate.

Dashun was extremely strict about these. Otherwise, so many Recommended Students wouldn’t have to first test for a C Certificate and then try every way they could to get a B Certificate. This was recognition at the national level. Any verbal argument was pale and powerless in the face of this document. It was all just nonsense.

Cheng Zitong’s eyes were slightly red. He said, "My student doesn’t need to follow some bullshit old path! He doesn’t need anyone to chain him down with their damn old rules! And he certainly doesn’t need to walk a path others have laid out for him! He can do it himself! He can forge this path all on his own!"

His voice boomed across the entire courtyard. Even the attendant at the front and the student practicing his forms heard him loud and clear. A profound silence fell over the surroundings, as if even the chirping of insects and birds had ceased.

"The old man says his is the only true path, but that doesn’t mean everyone has to walk it! His words aren’t gospel! I said it before: I left, and I can walk my own way back! Now, my student is going back in my place! The old man has taught so many students over the years, just pick any one of them..."

Cheng Zitong slammed his hand on the table. "Put them here! Put them in my student’s shoes! Which one of them can beat their chest and say they’ve done what my student has done, or achieved what my student has achieved? Who? Is there anyone? Let them step forward and show me!"

Qiao Linhu listened to him ramble on for a while before saying slowly, "Junior brother, don’t forget, my student can go to Central City too. It’s not just your student who can get in!"

"But he has to wait two years, right?"

"...Yes."

"My student..."

"Enough!"

Qiao Linhu shouted, no longer in the mood to listen. He was just hearing Cheng Zitong boast and brag, and the more he said, the more irritated Qiao Linhu became.

He slammed the table and stood up as well. "Let me tell you something, junior brother! The old path has guides, support from seniors, help from fellow disciples, and backing from students who follow. Have you ever thought about it? When your student gets there, he’ll have none of that. How far can he possibly go?"

But Cheng Zitong wasn’t worried in the slightest. He looked at Qiao Linhu for a moment, smiled, put his sunglasses back on, and started walking out. As he went, he said, "But he’s *my* student. I have faith in him. Oh, right..."

He looked back. "Senior brother, I just love seeing that stubborn look on your face. Keep it up. See ya..." With a wave, he swaggered out.

By the waterside pavilion, the disciple had been practicing his forms, but he couldn’t help but perk up his ears as the two men spoke. As he was listening, he suddenly found Qiao Linhu standing before him, his face expressionless. The student couldn’t help but shudder.

"You can’t even get one stance right. That means you haven’t drilled it into your bones yet. Do it another hundred times."

"Yes, Master." The student cried out in his heart, but he didn’t dare say anything at a time like this and obediently continued his practice.

Qiao Linhu watched from the side, a ball of frustration building inside him. He finally understood. Cheng Zitong had been coming here every day lately, praising his own disciple. He had wondered why Cheng had a change of personality. So this was what he’d been waiting for.

’I let my guard down.’

He looked at his disciple. Before, he had found him pleasing to the eye no matter how he looked. But now, all he saw were inadequacies.

’He needs to train. He needs more training!’

Cheng Zitong walked outside and let out a long breath. The weather today felt wonderful. It was so invigorating, so satisfying.

He glanced back and called through the gate, "Old Qian, tell my senior brother I’ll be back tomorrow! And tell him to save me a bowl of rice!" With that, he leisurely got into his car, and a moment later, drove off.

...

...