Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 95 - 85: Transaction

Right after Chen Chuan and the others disembarked from the armored transport vehicle, they were summoned to Guan Yuming’s temporary command post.

Guan Yuming had his aide brief the group on the situation, after which he said, "Everyone, Madam Fang has already gone to prepare the medicine. Now, I need you to play it by ear. If conditions are favorable during the exchange, I want you to find a way to get the boy out. As soon as he’s safe, we’ll have a much easier time making our move."

Despite his words, the Wuyi Students were free to refuse. They were contractors in this situation, not his subordinates, so the mission was not compulsory.

Han Guo stood to the side, saying nothing. Her responsibility was to provide information and evaluations, but the choice was up to the students. She would not interfere.

Among the students, Senior Brother Liu thought for a moment before asking, "What’s the situation with the villagers in Cai Family Stronghold?"

Guan Yuming said, "We’re not sure at the moment. Cai Family Stronghold was likely occupied by a resistance organization some time ago. That group seems to be connected with Fang Dawei’s gang of kidnappers. All we can say is that the situation inside the village is grim."

The students discussed it for a moment and were all inclined to accept. Besides, they were told to play it by ear, which gave them a great deal of autonomy. If an opportunity didn’t present itself, they could simply choose not to act.

Chen Chuan didn’t offer any opinion. The senior students were experienced, after all, and he could tell from their discussion that their thinking was sound.

At this point, Senior Brother Liu made a request: "Director Guan, we can agree, but given that the enemy has both Implants and firearms, we’ll need the Patrol Bureau to provide us with Protective Clothing and grant us temporary authorization to wear it."

Guan Yuming agreed without hesitation. "You got it." If these students could really solve the problem, it would save him a great deal of trouble.

Hearing his approval, the senior students relaxed a little. With Protective Clothing, they could afford to be a bit bolder.

The Protective Clothing was delivered quickly. Although it was only standard-issue, it was more than enough for their purposes.

Everyone immediately changed into them. Chen Chuan put on a set as well. The Protective Clothing fit snugly and had some thickness to it, but it wasn’t very heavy and didn’t hinder his movements.

Just then, Madam Fang’s medicine arrived. Guan Yuming first had an officer with a megaphone relay a message to the stronghold. After getting a definite response, the group took the medicine and started walking toward the village.

Halfway there, the senior student named Wu suddenly asked Chen Chuan, "Nervous, Junior Chen?"

Chen Chuan said, "I’m fine."

The senior student, Wu, looked him over and chuckled. "Heh. You’re really something. Even I’m feeling a bit on edge."

"Alright, that’s enough talking."

Senior Brother Liu turned back and said to Chen with a stern expression, "Chen, I know you’re very capable, but you probably don’t have experience handling this kind of situation. I’ll be the one to negotiate with the kidnappers. If there’s no opening, we’ll let it be. Do not, under any circumstances, act rashly. None of us are on our own here; we’re a team. If something goes wrong, you could get us all killed. But if we do have to make a move, don’t hesitate."

He glanced at the others. "That goes for the rest of you, too."

Wu said, "Got it, Brother Liu."

Chen Chuan nodded. ’He’s right.’ He agreed with the logic. The mission could take a backseat; ensuring his own safety had to come first.

As the group drew closer to the stronghold, Senior Brother Liu peered inside. Seeing that the village was completely silent, he turned and said, "Junior Chen, Wu, we’re going in to negotiate. You two wait at the entrance and provide backup. Remember to spread out a little. Don’t stand together."

Wu seemed unhappy about being left behind and mumbled something under his breath.

Chen Chuan, however, just nodded.

’The arrangement makes sense. It’s better to have someone posted outside so our escape route isn’t cut off. No matter how you slice it, someone has to stay out here, so I have no problem with it.’

After giving his instructions, Senior Brother Liu entered the village with the other three students. For safety, he split them into pairs, keeping a distance of over ten meters between them.

Once inside the village, however, it was still deathly quiet, as if no one was there. They looked around and spotted a three-story brick-and-wood building in the center of the village, which seemed to be the tallest structure. They began to move cautiously toward it.

Back in the command post, Guan Yuming watched their movements through a pair of binoculars, simultaneously scanning the village. But he saw no signs of activity; it was as if everyone was in hiding.

Just as some of the Wuyi Students had moved so deep into the village that they were nearly out of sight, a telephone suddenly rang behind him.

His aide picked it up and turned around. "Director Guan, it’s a call from the Commissioner."

Guan Yuming immediately turned and took the phone. "Hello, Guan Yuming speaking." A voice came from the other end. He had only heard a single sentence when his expression tensed. He involuntarily glanced toward the village and immediately barked at a messenger Patrol Officer, "Relay a message! Tell them to get back here, now!"

The messenger Patrol Officer reacted quickly and immediately ran out.

Chen Chuan was waiting at the bottom of a gentle slope when he suddenly heard a shout from far behind him.

He turned his head and saw a Patrol Officer running out onto a low hill in the distance, yelling in his direction. At the same time, Wu, who was positioned ahead, pricked up his ears. He had apparently heard the message too. He immediately rushed into the village, shouting, "Hey, you guys! The kid isn’t in the village! Director Guan wants us back!"

Senior Brother Liu and the others heard him from a distance and immediately started running back without hesitation. But at that very moment, Liu’s pair faintly heard a child crying.

They involuntarily stopped in their tracks.

The female student said hurriedly, "The child isn’t here."

"But there’s a child in there!"

Senior Brother Liu replied in a low, firm voice. He snatched the Protective Umbrella from the female student’s hands, gave her a push, and said, "You go back first!" He himself turned and charged toward the house where the crying was coming from.

The female student looked at him, gritted her teeth, and then ran back at full speed.

But at that exact moment, a massive explosion erupted from the path behind her. The buildings in the center of the village collapsed one after another, sending rubble and bricks flying out of the stronghold. A shower of dust and gravel rained down even on the spot where Chen Chuan and the others were standing.

Meanwhile, back at the command post, Madam Fang was waiting with nervous apprehension. When she heard the explosion, her face went deathly pale, and her limbs began to tremble.

She stumbled over to Guan Yuming and grabbed him, her voice filled with terror. "Director Guan, weren’t you supposed to be making an exchange? I gave you the medicine! Did you push them? Why did you have to push them?! Why?! My son is only seven years old, he’s done nothing wrong!"

Guan Yuming said, "Madam Fang, please calm down. Your son is not in the village."

Madam Fang almost couldn’t believe her ears. Then, a spark of hope ignited within her. She gripped Guan Yuming’s arms tightly, her nails digging into his flesh, and stared at him, hissing, "He’s not in the village? Then where is he? Where is he?!"

As if he felt nothing, Guan Yuming spoke in a soothing tone, "The call I just received... your son, Fang Xunli, secretly slipped out of the house at eight-thirty this morning to play at his classmate’s house. I don’t know how he managed it, but he’s with his classmate right now."

He looked at the stunned Madam Fang and said, "So the kidnappers never actually had your son."

It was as if all the strength drained from Madam Fang’s body, and she began to slump to the ground. Guan Yuming caught her and instructed his aide, "Take Madam Fang back."

The aide hurried forward to take over.

"Report!"

A messenger Patrol Officer approached, saluted, and said, "Report from Captain Yu. Fang Dawei’s group withdrew to the north during the exchange. Requesting orders on whether to pursue."

Guan Yuming said in a grim voice, "Relay the order. Tell him to pursue immediately. I want him to stay on their tail and not let go!"

"Yes, sir!"

Meanwhile, Han Guo was also observing the village through binoculars. The driver of the armored transport vehicle walked over and handed her a slip of paper, saying, "Member Han, a telegram for you."

She took it and quickly decoded the contents in her mind. She then said, "Reply: Message received. I will report the situation to the assigned students as is."

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