Celestial Human Diagram-Chapter 96 -s 86-87: Armed and Armored, No Holds Barred

「Two hours later, Cai Family Stronghold.」

Patrol Bureau personnel had moved in, and Senior Brother Liu’s body was recovered from the rubble.

His body was shielded by the tattered Protective Umbrella. Beneath it, his Protective Clothing was largely intact. The fatal injury was a broken crossbeam that had fallen on him.

He had died in a braced, crouched position, shielding a small child beneath him. The child was unconscious but still breathing, saved by the space he had managed to create. From the outside, the child appeared completely unharmed.

The female student said in a low voice, "We’ve figured it out. They had villagers tied up in the surrounding rooms and remote-controlled explosives buried in the road. They must have been trying to lure people in for a rescue before triggering the bombs. It’s a good thing we left when we did..."

As she spoke, her eyes grew red. "He could have gotten away."

The male students around them fell silent.

Chen Chuan looked around. The explosion had caused at least five or six houses to collapse. Senior Brother Liu’s sacrifice had saved the child in this house, but the villagers in the others were still buried beneath the rubble.

Han Guo walked over at this time. "Regarding Liu’s death, I will write a truthful official evaluation."

Senior Brother Wu snorted. "He’s already dead. What’s the point of that?"

Han Guo said, "People die, but their legacy lives on. What he did was meaningful, and the Committee will help handle the remains." She glanced at them. "Also, I’m here to inform you that the special assignment has been canceled."

The students were all stunned and turned to her in unison. The female student glared, "What do you mean by that?"

Han Guo said calmly, "Exactly what I said. Don’t ask me why, because I don’t know either. You’ll still get the evaluation points you’ve earned. I suppose it might be because Councilor Fang’s son has been found?"

Senior Brother Wu scoffed. "Found? He was never even here."

Chen Chuan had heard the story. While the Patrol Bureau was pouring all its resources into the search, Councilor Fang’s son was at a friend’s house playing darts, skipping class together. At first, everyone assumed he’d been abducted. When the two kids heard about the commotion, they thought it was hilarious and deliberately hid. It took a long time for the truth to be confirmed.

If it hadn’t been for that, this whole thing probably wouldn’t have blown up into such a massive operation.

Han Guo said, "Although the special assignment is canceled, the main assignment is still active. It’s just been transferred to the Patrol Bureau. Whether you continue or leave is your own decision. The Review Committee won’t be involved."

The female student asked, "So what’s the situation now?"

Han Guo said, "Fang Dawei and his gang didn’t get far. They’ve fled to a high point to the north, where there’s an abandoned Sentry Post from the Great Expansion. But the approach is narrow, and the Patrol Bureau has failed to storm it after several attempts. It’s your call. Anyone who wants to leave can come with me. I’ll give you ten minutes."

With that, she turned and left.

The students stood in silence. After a long moment, the female student said, "I’m out."

One of the male students lowered his head. "Me too."

"I’m out too." Another male student looked at the others. "I admit it, I’m scared. If Liu hadn’t died, I’d stay. I suggest you all leave, too. On that terrain, they’ll definitely rely on us to make the breakthrough, but how are we even supposed to do that? Besides, the special assignment is already canceled. Why should we stick our necks out? I’m just saying, everyone should think this through."

’I...’" Senior Brother Wu seemed to want to stay but couldn’t bring himself to decide. He looked at Chen Chuan. "Junior Chen, what about you?"

Chen Chuan looked at his seniors. It seemed they were hoping he would quit with them. But before he could answer, a young woman’s voice called out, "Chen, is that you?"

He looked over and saw a fair-skinned young woman, quiet and slender, standing nearby. She had her hair in two braids and was dressed like a typical village girl, but she carried herself with a maturity that belied her age. He was surprised. "Guan Xiaohui?"

He thought for a moment, then said to his seniors, "You all should go on ahead."

Seeing that he’d run into someone he knew, the other students didn’t press him further. They exchanged glances and left.

Chen Chuan walked over to her. "Guan Xiaohui, it really is you. Do you... have relatives here in Cai Family Stronghold?"

At a class reunion, he’d heard Ding Jiao mention that Guan Xiaohui’s father had fallen into gambling debt. Her stepmother had taken her own daughter and fled, leaving Guan Xiaohui to hide out in the countryside. ’Could this be the place?’

Guan Xiaohui nodded gently. "Chen, what are you doing here?"

Chen Chuan explained, "I was accepted into Wuyi University Hall. I came here on an assignment from the Administrative Affairs Hall."

Guan Xiaohui gave him a surprised look, as if seeing a classmate she no longer recognized.

After a moment, she said, "I understand." She continued softly, "My mother’s family is from Cai Family Stronghold. A few days ago, a gang took it over. My uncle and I were outside at the time, so we managed to get away.

We sent word to the city to ask for help, but no one listened. So my uncle contacted relatives and friends from other villages to try and take it back.

We thought everything would be resolved when the Patrol Bureau arrived today, but they just made us lay down our weapons. We could only watch as that gang broke out."

She glanced at the departing Wuyi Students. "Are you all leaving too?"

Chen Chuan looked at her, then at the collapsed houses all around them. He said slowly, "I’m staying."

Inside the sentry command post, Guan Yuming stared at a map. Fang Dawei and his gang had escaped quickly, but he had forces positioned along the perimeter, and now they were trapped on high ground.