After Chen Chuan finished his call with Director Lei, he thought for a moment. Instead of going straight back to the academy, he first returned to his aunt’s house.

It was a day off, so the whole family was home. While they were having dinner that evening, Nian Fuli suddenly asked, "Xiaochuan, you’re part of a team, aren’t you? And you often eat at the Du Yi Hotel?"

Chen Chuan said, "Not often. We’ve only been there twice."

Nian Fuli warned him gravely, "Well, don’t eat anywhere near there for the time being."

"Why? What’s wrong?" Yu Wan asked with concern.

Nian Fuli put down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at them. "They recently found a bomb at the Du Yi Hotel."

"A bomb?" Yu Wan jumped, startled.

Nian Fuli sighed. "It wasn’t just the Du Yi Hotel. They found others in the area around Central City. One was very close to the municipal conference hall. It must have been the work of the resistance organization. Even though they were all found and disarmed in time, you can never be too careful."

"Lately, various companies and officials from other cities have been coming for meetings, and our superiors have ordered us to increase security. It seems the resistance organization is targeting this event. They probably won’t stop their activities any time soon."

Yu Wan looked at Chen Chuan, her eyes filled with worry. "Chan’Er..."

Chen Chuan immediately said, "Aunt, Uncle, don’t worry. I’ll stay away from that area for a while."

Nian Fuli said, "Good. It’s better to avoid the area altogether than to try and be on guard. If you don’t have to go, don’t."

’The resistance organization’s bomb-planting is likely just a diversion,’ Chen Chuan thought, connecting this to his previous deductions. ’They’re trying to draw the Patrol Bureau’s attention so they can operate more freely.’

’The resistance organization has used this tactic before, and it’s always worked. Even if the Administrative Affairs Hall and the Patrol Bureau know it’s a diversion, they have no choice but to bolster security. Especially since it’s happening in Central City this time. The administrative conference building, where all these parties are meeting, is a top priority, so they’ll have to conduct even more rigorous searches.’

After dinner, he stayed the night at his aunt’s house and returned to the academy the next day.

He took a walk around Spring and Autumn Lake, slowly guiding his Breathing Technique. Afterward, he went to the Military Combat Department’s training hall to practice his Saber Technique.

Every time he trained here, an upperclassman from the Military Combat Department would come over to spar with him. He welcomed it. Each bout against students using various weapons gave him more experience in fighting against them.

Although he was more likely to encounter firearms in the outside world, when facing another Fighter, it would almost certainly come down to a deadly clash of weapons.

With a CRACK, the wooden staff broke, unable to withstand the infused Power. The upperclassman across from him regretfully lowered the broken half, cupped his fist in respect, and said, "Junior Chen, my apologies for the interruption."

Chen Chuan returned the gesture with a cupped fist.

The upperclassman took a couple of steps, then couldn’t help but ask, "Junior Chen, how do you control your Power so perfectly?"

’Isn’t that just what happens when someone strong fights someone weaker?’ Chen Chuan thought. Outwardly, he said with a serious expression, "I suppose it all comes down to hard training."

The upperclassman considered this, then nodded in agreement. He muttered, "I’m still not training enough. I need to practice more when I get back." He added, "Thanks, Junior Chen." Then he tossed the broken staff aside and strode away.

The students who had been watching the spar also cupped their fists toward Chen Chuan before leaving, filled with admiration and motivation, to do their own training.

After the others had left, Chen Chuan went to a private training room to practice his Throwing Technique by himself.

In his hands, this skill was more effective than a firearm at close range. It was fast, stealthy, and quiet, which made up for his lack of long-range options.

After training all morning, he returned to his dorm and took a quick shower. He was about to head to the cafeteria for lunch when the phone on his desk rang. He picked it up.

Director Lei’s voice came from the other end. "Is this Chen? This is Lei Guangcheng. After our talk yesterday, I had my people secretly check out Xieshan. They haven’t found anything unusual yet."

"It’s not there?"

Chen Chuan was a little surprised.

But Director Lei said, "No, I think your deduction is correct. It’s just that an Esoteric Ritual doesn’t have to be performed in a way that’s entirely visible. For example, certain materials produced in Central City can achieve this."

"With technological advancements, they are now replacing some traditional Ritual Materials, which makes them even harder to guard against. Fortunately, these new materials are rare, so the number that can actually be deployed should be very limited."

Chen Chuan asked, "Director Lei, is Esoteric Buddhism also present in Central City?"

Director Lei’s voice grew grave. "You could say a place like Central City is the perfect breeding ground for Esoteric Buddhism. Every social class can find solace, fulfillment, or even profit in it. All we can do is contain it; we can’t eliminate it."

Chen Chuan grunted in acknowledgment.

"I’m also calling you today to tell you something else. This matter has major implications and isn’t something the Esoteric Review Bureau can handle alone. So, in two days, there will be a meeting. Colleagues from other departments will be there to discuss it, and I’m hoping you can attend."

Chen Chuan replied decisively, "Alright, Director Lei. I’ll be there."

"Good. I’ll inform you of the specific location then. By the way, your fellow Wuyi Academy student woke up yesterday. Now she just needs to slowly recover. The others from her group, even the Fighters, are still in a coma. She was one of the lucky ones."

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

Director Lei said, "Don’t mention it. Wait for my call."

After the call ended, Chen Chuan put down the phone. He called over Feng Xiaochi and Luo Kaiyuan, who had just returned, and they went to the cafeteria to eat. After returning and resting for a bit, he was about to resume his afternoon training when he received a call from Cheng Zitong, who told him, "Xiaochuan, the new Minister Zhu wants to meet you."

"Meet me?"

Chen Chuan was a bit surprised. "Teacher, any idea what it’s about?"

Cheng Zitong said, "He was the one who signed off on your application. As the new Civil Affairs Chief, my guess is he wants to make a gesture of goodwill toward Wuyi Academy through you."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment. He had a faint guess as to one of the possibilities. "Teacher, when?"

Cheng Zitong said, "This new Mayor Zhu is acting very humble and considerate. He said he knows your training is demanding, so he isn’t requesting a specific time. I think, regardless of whether he’s sincere or not, he’s putting on a good show. We shouldn’t make him wait too long. Besides, the sooner this is over, the less attention will be on you, and you can focus on your training."

Chen Chuan said, "You have a point, Teacher. In that case, let’s do it now. I have some free time."

Cheng Zitong said, "Alright. I’ll drive you over. I’ll be downstairs at your dorm in a minute."

After hanging up, Chen Chuan went back to wash his face and change into a formal suit. He walked out of the dormitory building, and just as he got outside, Cheng Zitong’s car arrived. He quickly walked over, opened the door, and got in.

Cheng Zitong drove out of the academy gates and headed south along the main road. In less than twenty minutes, they arrived in front of the municipal administrative building in South City. He said, "Xiaochuan, go on in. I called ahead, so someone will greet you once you’re inside."

Chen Chuan nodded, got out of the car, and spoke with the security personnel at the entrance. Soon, someone from the Administrative Affairs Hall came out and politely led him into the administrative building.

Cheng Zitong waited in the car. About half an hour later, he saw Chen Chuan walk out of the building. Once Chen Chuan was back in the car, he asked, "Did you meet him?"

Chen Chuan nodded.

"What did he say to you? He didn’t give you a hard time, did he?"

Chen Chuan said, "Not at all. The Civil Affairs Chief was just as you described, Teacher. He was very friendly and didn’t put on any airs. After we met, he asked about student life, and when he learned my application for a spot in Central City had been submitted, he also offered me some words of encouragement. Other than that, he didn’t say anything. It was as if he simply wanted to meet a student."

Cheng Zitong said, "Just meeting with you is his way of showing his attitude. What he actually said isn’t that important."

The actions of a politician are never meaningless. They always indirectly send some kind of message. Even if they don’t overthink it, they will have considered the potential reactions and consequences of their actions beforehand.

Chen Chuan looked at the administrative building. During this meeting, Mayor Zhu hadn’t mentioned anything out of the ordinary, but Chen Chuan could feel that his reason for summoning him was very likely related to *that* matter.

The car started up again, heading back along the main road toward Wuyi Academy.

In the Civil Affairs Chief’s office, Zhu Xian looked at a map of Yangzhi City. As the newly appointed Civil Affairs Chief, he was extremely wary of the resistance and Esoteric Organizations that had long been stirring up trouble in Yangzhi.

From the reports he’d received, he knew there was a good chance of catching them this time. If he could eliminate them in one fell swoop, it would be a dazzling achievement, enough to establish his authority in Yangzhi and secure his position.

However, failure would be just as detrimental, so he couldn’t openly show his support.

He had met with Chen Chuan because he knew Chen Chuan was one of the participants in the current operation. This way, on the surface, it just looked like he was showing concern for an outstanding student from Wuyi and making a gesture of goodwill to the academy, without getting himself directly involved.

If the mission to eliminate the target succeeded, it would highlight his foresight. With some clever publicity, people would believe it was his planning and encouragement that led to the success. And even if it failed, as long as he downplayed it, he wouldn’t be implicated. Either way, he couldn’t lose.

’This student, however, felt different.’

Recalling how calmly Chen Chuan had stood before him, he suddenly felt a sense of unease.

’How should I put it? Most students in their teens would be awkward and nervous in my presence. That’s the gap created by status and position.’

’But this student was not only composed the entire time, his calm gaze held an indescribable pressure. It unconsciously reminded me of that day on the train when I faced Wen Tong.’

’It was as if my life was no longer my own at that moment.’

He made a silent decision. ’In the future, I need to keep my distance from these Fighters. I can’t let people like that get too close.’

...

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