Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 128 - 116: Incursion

Once inside the camp, Chen Chuan learned from his guide that this was merely a staging area for logistics and backup personnel. The actual combatants were already all on the mountain.

He looked up. The yellowish-green mountain ahead was about four or five hundred meters high. Although it was only early February, many weeds had already sprouted, and the trees had grown new buds. From here, he could faintly see figures moving on the mountainside.

As he was surveying the area, an employee from a commission company approached him and asked respectfully, "Are you Expert Chen? I’m Pan Zhong, an assistant from the Pan Shi Commission Company. All the team leaders are waiting for you up the mountain. Would you be free to head up for a meeting?"

Chen Chuan replied, "Then please lead the way, Assistant Pan."

"Please follow me."

Chen Chuan told his driver, Xiaowei, to wait below as he followed Assistant Pan up a path that had been cleared with tools. They walked up the slope for a while, then wound around the mountainside. Near the summit, on the leeward slope, was a fairly wide natural platform, also dotted with numerous tents.

"Expert Chen is here," someone called out a greeting from a distance.

Chen Chuan looked over and recognized the person as someone from one of the commission companies during the last Flying Head Monster incident, and he called back in response.

In truth, the commission companies formed a tight-knit circle. After taking on enough jobs, you were bound to run into familiar faces. Furthermore, when dealing with similar incidents, the Administrative Affairs Hall also preferred to assign the work to recognizable people who had left a good impression.

Just then, several people came up to greet him. A man from one of the companies said with a smile, "We were just waiting for you, Expert Chen. We can’t handle this matter without you."

Chen Chuan replied, "You’re too kind. All of you here are doing the real work. I’m just responsible for finishing things up."

"Expert Chen is just being modest."

The men from the commission companies all laughed. ’People Chen Chuan’s age who are that capable and resourceful usually have their noses in the air. They’re difficult to work with, but they’re also indispensable, which makes things tricky. Fortunately, Chen Chuan isn’t like that.’

Many of the people here had personally witnessed how decisively he handled the Flying Head last time. ’He’s capable, yet humble. He knows how to preserve everyone’s dignity and doesn’t hog all the credit. Damn, a guy like that... even if he wasn’t an expert, we’d have to call him one. You have to treat someone like him well!’

A middle-aged man with a faint five-o’clock shadow stepped forward. He extended a hand and said in a mature, steady voice, "I am Gu Mingde of the Pan Shi Company. With the endorsement of my colleagues, I am acting as the commander for this operation. Expert Chen, welcome aboard."

Most of these Yangzhi City commission companies, which often handled violent jobs, were well-established firms. Everyone knew that without a unified command, they would only fight amongst themselves and hold each other back, accomplishing nothing. Therefore, whenever several companies teamed up for a major assignment, they always agreed on how to divide the rewards beforehand. After all, there would always be a next time to cooperate.

In their line of work, a bad reputation meant you had nothing left. Your peers would unite to boycott you, refusing to cooperate. After all, the commission companies had a complex web of relationships with the Yangzhi Administrative Affairs Hall and even the city’s council members.

Chen Chuan shook his hand and said, "Mr. Gu, could you brief me on the current situation?"

"Mr. Chen, please come this way." Gu Mingde invited him into a command tent large enough to hold a dozen people. A long table stood in the center, covered with a large-scale local map. A row of folding stools and various pieces of portable equipment were arranged on either side.

"Expert Chen, please take a look."

Once inside, Gu Mingde moved a folding stool aside, pointed to the bottom of the map, and tapped it. "This is the mountain we’re on now." He then moved his finger upward, tapping on a peak ahead. "And this is Man Mountain. It’s only about two or three miles away as the crow flies, very close. The stronghold we’ve identified is right there.

We’ve already sent people to investigate. The village has only about a hundred residents. At its deepest point is an Esoteric Temple from a bygone era. A few years ago, someone went there to trade for mountain goods, and everything was still normal. We don’t know when all the villagers became believers of the Flying Head Sect.

The place is well-hidden and fairly cut off from the outside world. It’s also possible the cultists aren’t in their right minds, so they aren’t very vigilant against outsiders. This is highly advantageous for our operation.

Our plan is to launch a surprise attack at dawn tomorrow and take them down in one go. The problem is, we know how to fight living people, but this is our first time encountering a paranormal entity like the Flying Head. Our advisors provided us with some protective gear, but we still wanted to ask you, Expert Chen, if there’s anything specific we need to watch out for."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment before replying, "The Flying Head Monster affects the mind and brings out a person’s deepest desires. An ordinary person will be driven into a frenzy, so everyone must do their best to control their emotions. Also, it’s best to have those who have mastered Power on the front lines. Their resistance will be slightly stronger."

Gu Mingde nodded. This was quite consistent with what the consultants from the Administrative Affairs Hall had told them. They had also made certain preparations.

Chen Chuan added, "If a Flying Head appears, I will handle it. Everyone else should try to stay back to avoid being affected." He then thought for a moment. "You mentioned there was an old temple?"

"That’s right. We don’t know how old it is, but it’s a stone structure, very ancient." Gu Mingde gestured, and an assistant searched for a moment before producing an old photograph. "Here."

Chen Chuan took the photo and examined it. Though old, the picture was relatively clear. It showed a stone-built structure in a style vastly different from that of the Dashun. However, it had apparently been renovated at some point, as it now incorporated some local architectural elements.

He said, "Paranormal entities like the Flying Head Monster tend to lair in old places suitable for long-term worship. That altar should be inside the temple. If so, that’s good news. A Flying Head Monster usually doesn’t stray far from its altar. If it has enough sacrificial offerings, it might not even come out voluntarily."

He looked up. "Have any of you observed the villagers performing sacrifices? Or noticed any other unusual activity?"

A man spoke up. "We only have a partial picture of what’s happening on the mountain, but every day we hear strange chanting and the beating of hide drums. It sounds like the old mountain Shaman dances. It happens once in the morning and once at night, each time for a fixed duration of about forty-five minutes."

Chen Chuan nodded. "That must be the ritual." He looked at Gu Mingde. "In that case, I recommend we launch our attack just as the villagers are beginning their worship, or right before it concludes. While the ritual is underway, the Flying Head Monster generally ignores everything else. That will be our opening!"

Someone spoke up, "In that case, the originally scheduled time might have to be pushed back."

Gu Mingde was decisive. "Then we’ll postpone it. We’ll do as Expert Chen says!"

Everyone present nodded. To be honest, even if the number of cultists doubled, they wouldn’t pose a real threat. What everyone truly dreaded was that bizarre Flying Head. If there was a way to counter it, they wouldn’t have to be so timid.

"Any other advice, Expert Chen?"

Chen Chuan said gravely, "The Flying Head entity easily triggers emotional and mental chaos. So, when I move to deal with it, I need all of you to stay as far back as possible. It would be best if we can trap it inside the temple.

But if it gets out of the temple, it will be much harder to handle. We have to move fast and finish the fight outside while it’s still preoccupied with its sacrificial offering.

And one more thing..."

He looked around at everyone. "When the time comes, the Flying Head’s resistance might be intense. It’s highly likely that some of us will lose self-control, so everyone needs to be mentally prepared."

A chill ran through the assembled group.

Someone spoke up, "Last time, Expert Chen, you destroyed a Flying Head with a single strike. We’ve prepared a Large Net, throwing darts, and ropes this time. Surely those will be of some use?"

Chen Chuan said, "That was likely just a Flying Head transformed from a human head. It can be driven away or destroyed with conventional means. But it can’t be compared to a true Flying Head. That thing cannot be harmed by ordinary attacks. It can only be dealt with using special methods."

He looked back at the map. "If we confirm that the root source of all this is located here, then I will enter the old temple alone. I need all of you to seal the entrance behind me, leave only a small guard detail outside, and have everyone else retreat down the mountain immediately. Don’t unblock the entrance until I’ve finished."

Gu Mingde asked a few more questions about the Flying Head’s specifics before saying, "I originally felt this situation was highly unpredictable, but with your guidance, Expert Chen, I feel much more confident." He gave Chen Chuan a solemn fist-and-palm salute. "In the end, however, we will be relying on you."

Chen Chuan returned the salute. "Of course."

After the meeting concluded, the group dispersed. Chen Chuan settled into a one-man tent Gu Mingde had arranged for him. Inside, he meticulously wiped down the Snow Monarch Blade, checked his gun and ammunition, and performed some of his daily breathing exercises. When the time was right, he lay down and went to sleep.

Early the next morning, the group began to assemble. Although the original plan was canceled, they still set out before dawn.

The commission companies had dispatched a large force for this operation. Not counting the support staff in the rear, there were over fifty combatants. Since the mission was taking place in the mountains, far from the city, they had obtained temporary authorization from the Administrative Affairs Hall. Every man was armed with a Crossbow and a firearm, and they had even prepared a number of Smoke Bombs.

Gu Mingde organized his men into several small, dispersed groups. Their movements were exceptionally stealthy. Despite their numbers, they flowed forward like trickling sand, almost impossible to notice without close observation.

Chen Chuan was assigned to Gu Mingde’s team. He wore a yellowish-green shell jacket designed for trekking through mountain forests. It was rainproof and tear-resistant, yet highly breathable and not stuffy, offering excellent camouflage.

Fortunately, it was only February, and the weather was still very cold. There were no snakes, insects, or dangerous beasts in the forest, so there was no need to apply any extra ointment.

After advancing for nearly two hours, the group arrived at the foot of Man Mountain. Here was a concealed location that had been scouted out in advance, invisible from above.

Once there, everyone except for the sentries began to drink water and eat their Nutrition Paste.

Chen Chuan leaned against the rock face and glanced at his watch. It was just past six-thirty in the morning. ’If they have a morning worship ritual, it should be starting right about now.’

Sure enough, just a moment later, faint sounds drifted down from Man Mountain above—a strange drumming and percussion, accompanied by bizarre chanting. But just then, he suddenly saw his Second Self begin to show faint signs of phasing. He immediately hissed, "Take cover! Stay hidden!"

Gu Mingde reacted quickly, made a hand signal, and the people around him immediately crouched down, taking cover. After a short while, they saw a swarm of black dots fly out from above, circle once in the sky, and then fly back.

Chen Chuan’s gaze sharpened. He had seen them clearly: a swarm of Flying Heads. He made a rough count—nearly twenty of them. ’I never expected there would be so many,’ he thought. ’No wonder their influence could be felt from such a distance. This proves it. The Flying Head Root Source is definitely here!’

Gu Mingde shot him a questioning look, and he nodded in confirmation.

Gu Mingde immediately turned to his assistant. "Radio the rear command. Tell them we’ve encountered a large number of Flying Heads. The primary paranormal entity is confirmed to be at this location. Have them dispatch reinforcements to our position."

The assistant immediately took the radio transmitter out of its case, put on the headset, and began transmitting.

Gu Mingde knew this was the best time to attack. He issued his final instructions: "In a moment, we move out according to our assigned groups. No chaos. Move fast. Is that clear?" After receiving affirmations from all the team leaders, he gave the sharp command: "Everyone, up!"

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