Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 106 - 94: Sheathed, Awaiting the Draw

After Guan Yuming led the Patrol Bureau forces back to the city, he didn’t relax. He remained on high alert all night, and only after confirming there were no immediate issues the next morning did he allow his people to return home and rest in shifts.

The upper echelons of the Patrol Bureau knew the resistance organization had indeed been involved in the incident. They wouldn’t have helped Fang Dawei’s gang for nothing, and they certainly wouldn’t have stopped there.

The current quiet was likely only because Guan Yuming had brought his people back too quickly, leaving the organization no time to act. The bomb was still ticking, and there was no telling when it would go off.

Nian Fuli, as the captain of the Bao Feng District, had remained at his post all night. It was nearly noon the next day before he was summoned by the director for questioning, after which he was finally dismissed.

As he left the bureau, countless people on the street went out of their way to greet him. He knew it was because of his nephew’s recent fame, and he couldn’t help but feel a swell of pride. On the ride home, he rang his bicycle bell with particular gusto.

"Old Nian! It’s Old Nian, he’s back."

"Captain Nian is back! You must be exhausted!"

"Old Nian, just getting back? You must be worn out. My old man was on the late shift yesterday too, he was complaining all about it."

"Nian, you’re not a young man anymore. Don’t work yourself too hard."

As Nian Fuli rode through the alley, with lunchtime fast approaching, people kept poking their heads out at the sound of his bell to greet him warmly.

Everyone in the residential complex knew. Yesterday, Nian Fuli’s nephew had returned in Director Guan’s personal car, escorted right to his door by Inspector Bei himself. The word on the street was that he had helped the bureau capture Fang Dawei’s gang, bringing great honor to the entire Patrol Bureau!

Nian Fuli greeted each one in turn, and it took him quite a while to get through the narrow alley. He was humming a tune from an opera as he entered his courtyard. The moment he stepped into the living room, Yu Wan came over, took his bag, and gave him a pat. "Quick, go change," she said. "You’re covered in dust and reek of smoke."

"I already dusted myself off outside," Nian Fuli said, casually handing her a newspaper. "Take a look." "What’s this?" Yu Wan asked.

"Xiaochuan’s in it," Nian Fuli said.

Yu Wan snatched it away, unfolded it, and read aloud, "Wuyi Youth, Both Benevolent and Brave, Assists Patrol Bureau in Capturing Vicious Bandits..." She was merciless in her critique. "This headline is so tacky. It doesn’t capture our Chan’Er’s good qualities at all." She flipped the paper over and back. "And it doesn’t even mention his name..."

"You don’t get it, do you? It’s to protect him!" Nian Fuli said, going to pour himself a glass of water. "The Patrol Bureau remembers what Xiaochuan did. Wuyi Academy remembers. You just watch, he’s definitely going to be rewarded for this."

Yu Wan was still dissatisfied. She walked over, took the cup from Nian Fuli’s hand, and filled it with hot water from a thermos. "Why are you drinking cold water? Drink the hot water! I had it ready for you and you didn’t even notice! Honestly, all of you, young and old, give me so much to worry about! And that newspaper... it’s as good as saying nothing at all."

’He’s in the newspaper, what more could you want?’ Nian Fuli grumbled to himself. ’I’ve never even made it in once.’

Despite her words, Yu Wan went back, picked up the newspaper, and read it carefully several more times.

Meanwhile, Nian Fuli changed his clothes and shoes, yawning all the while.

Yu Wan slapped the newspaper down on the table. "Oh, that’s right. From yesterday afternoon until now, I’ve done nothing but answer phone calls. They’re all from your Patrol Bureau, asking about Chan’Er. Some even had the nerve to ask how old my Chan’Er is, if he’s engaged yet! Chan’Er is only sixteen! Even if it were time, that should be his decision. It’s not like Second Sister listened to Mom and Dad back then, right?"

"Xiaochan has a good head on his shoulders," Nian Fuli said. "We don’t need to worry about him."

Yu Wan glanced at the floor, then stood up and grabbed a mop. As she started cleaning, she said, "I saw other people get back much earlier. Didn’t Captain Sun next door come home a while ago? Why are you so late?"

"Late?" Nian Fuli chuckled. "You want to know why I’m late? The Old Company Commander called me in today. Said he remembered all my years of hard work. We talked for a while before he let me go."

After so many years of marriage, Yu Wan could immediately tell there was something more to his story. She stopped mopping and looked up. "Old Nian, I get the feeling there’s a subtext to what you’re saying."

Nian Fuli waved a dismissive hand. "Don’t get ahead of yourself. Nothing’s set in stone yet. I’m going to get some sleep. Call me when lunch is ready." With that, he ambled toward the bedroom, his hands clasped behind his back.

Yu Wan pursed her lips. "Show-off." Her mopping became a little faster, and she started humming a tune she often hummed in her youth.

Inside Chen Chuan’s dorm at Wuyi Academy, Feng Xiaochi paced back and forth, clutching a newspaper. He glanced down at the article, then up at Chen Chuan, his face a mixture of awe and envy. "Chen, you’re incredible!"

Luo Kaiyuan nodded in agreement. "Chen, you did a very good thing." His focus, however, was different from Feng Xiaochi’s. He wasn’t dwelling on how powerful Chen was, but on the part of the article that mentioned villagers thanking Chen Chuan for avenging their loved ones.

"If you had been there," Chen Chuan said, "you would have done the same."

Luo Kaiyuan wholeheartedly agreed.

Feng Xiaochi, on the other hand, shook his head vigorously. "No way, not me. I’m just not as skilled as you guys."

"Don’t sell yourself short, Feng," Chen Chuan said.

No one who became a Wuyi A-level student was weak. They either possessed innate talent or outstanding aptitude. He had observed both of his classmates, and their skills were exceptional.

Feng Xiaochi looked a little embarrassed. After a moment’s thought, he said excitedly, "Chen, do you think the academy will give you an award for this?"

"Perhaps," Chen Chuan said. "It’s just a shame Senior Brother Liu won’t get to see any of it. The newspaper only gave him a passing mention, which feels unfair."

Luo Kaiyuan said earnestly, "If you go on to do more good, then his death won’t have been in vain."

Chen Chuan looked at him and nodded.

Returning to the academy was like entering a sheltered harbor. He could still keep up with outside news, but once his dorm room door was shut, the clamor of the world couldn’t touch him.

He quickly slipped back into his daily training routine.

It wasn’t until after dusk that Cheng Zitong came looking for him. He came in, sat on the sofa, looked Chen Chuan over, and said, "Hm. You seem to be fine. Good."

"I’m sorry to have worried you, Teacher," Chen Chuan said.

Cheng Zitong waved his hand. "It was a bit risky, but I knew you had things under control."

"The only tragedy was Senior Brother Liu," Chen Chuan said.

"I knew that student, Liu Xin," Cheng Zitong said. "He had a powerful sense of justice and was always eager to take on responsibility. He reminded me of another student I know, one he often looked up to as a role model. Hm, perhaps that was part of it. The academy will see to his affairs. He was a warrior in life, and he deserves to receive his due honors in death."

He picked up his briefcase and took out a document. "I also came today to tell you something else. In a few days, you’re coming with me to the review committee to pick up your Weapon Permit."

Chen Chuan was completely taken aback. He said in surprise, "But wasn’t the designated assignment canceled? How can I still get a Weapon Permit?"

"Apparently, someone from the Administrative Affairs Hall spoke up," Cheng Zitong explained. "They felt that canceling an assignment of this importance so casually was too frivolous, so it’s been reinstated. A major figure must have stepped in, or some faction is pushing for it from behind. You can probably guess who."

Chen Chuan thought of how Guan Yuming had arranged a personal car to take him home yesterday, and the answer became clear.

"I must also give you a word of warning." Cheng Zitong’s expression turned serious. "Molan Company is a behemoth, not something an ordinary person or faction can hope to challenge. While you are still building your strength, you must be cautious. Don’t go challenging things rashly."

"Of course, if they push you into a corner, don’t back down. This is a big world. As long as you have the will, the skill, and the conviction, you’ll always have a chance to settle the score one day."

Chen Chuan nodded and said earnestly, "Yes. Thank you for the advice, Teacher."

Cheng Zitong’s expression softened. "I know you’re a student who understands things clearly. I don’t need to lecture you. Just be sure to think things through before you act from now on."

Chen Chuan agreed. After a moment, he asked about something else. "Oh, Teacher, it’s been a while since the last Well Doll mission. I was wondering when I might be able to take on the next one? I’m very interested in them."

Cheng Zitong laughed. "Go out into the world, and no one would ever doubt you’re a student of mine."

Very few people ever asked about commissions related to urban legends. He was the only one at the academy who researched them out of personal interest, and Chen Chuan was the rare student who shared his appetite for them.

He considered it for a moment. "Hmm, no need to rush. These missions can have an impact on a person. Let’s wait until after you get your Weapon Permit; it’ll be more convenient to make assignments then. Besides, with the recent trouble from the resistance organization, many areas are under lockdown. It’s not a good time to be running around. We can discuss it again after things have calmed down."

Chen Chuan agreed. He had been wound a bit tight lately, and a couple of days to decompress sounded like a good idea.

Cheng Zitong had other business, so he didn’t stay long. He gave Chen Chuan one last reminder to meet him in three days to go to the committee, then picked up his briefcase and left.

After seeing his teacher off, Chen Chuan returned to the living room. He took out the Snow Monarch Blade and sat down, slowly polishing it with the blade oil Madam Ni had given him.

The blade had drunk its fill of blood in yesterday’s battle, all while constantly channeling his Power. Now, as he held it, he could feel a greater sense of harmony with it. It even felt a little lighter in his grip.

Especially after such fierce combat, the blade should have had some minor nicks and damage. But a night had passed, and looking at it today, they seemed to have vanished completely.

It was truly a self-repairing blade. He could also sense that the more he used it, the more it aligned with his will, and the sharper it became.

The second method of nurturing the blade was indeed yielding rapid progress. But he never forgot that it is the man who wields the blade, not the other way around. He had no need to seek out slaughter just to feed his weapon. Every strike he delivered had to align with his will and his convictions.

He lifted his eyes. His Second Self was leaning against the wall.

Yesterday’s life-and-death struggle had also elicited a tremendous response from his Second Self. He hadn’t expected it himself, but their time of overlap had increased by more than half an hour. This leap not only surpassed all his previous progress but also exceeded the total amount of time he had accumulated so far.

With that single leap, his total overlap time now approached a full hour!

It was a massive improvement.

But it wasn’t enough.

Far from enough.

Chen Chuan gazed out the floor-to-ceiling window, his sight seemingly fixed on something far in the distance.

He could foresee that as he continued down this path, the opponents he would face would not be limited to skilled fighters in training or a few vicious bandits. They would likely be enemies far beyond his current imagination.

Yet it was precisely such adversaries, such goals, that made his path forward feel all the more meaningful.

At this thought, he raised the well-maintained Snow Monarch Blade and executed a gentle forward slash. The long, narrow blade let out a low HUM, and a brilliant flash of light erupted in the room, as if the very air before him had been torn open for a split second.

He paused for a moment. With a turn of his wrist, he brought his elbow to his chest and rested the flat of the blade against his shoulder. Then, he slid the blade into the scabbard at his side. SHIING. The cold light vanished, and all returned to stillness as the blade waited quietly for its next unsheathing.

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