Chapter 219: Meeting

After his phone call with Lei Guangcheng, Chen Chuan decided not to go back to the university but instead went back home for a bit.

Since this was a day off, his entire family was in. When they were having dinner together, Nian Fuli suddenly asked, “Xiao Chuan, don’t you have a team? And don’t you always have gatherings at Douyi Hotel with them?”

“We don’t go there all the time. We’ve only been there twice,” Chen Chuan replied.

“For the time being, don’t go anywhere near there for gatherings,” Nian Fuli then cautioned him sternly.

“What happened?” Yu Wan asked worriedly.

Nian Fuli put down his chopsticks and looked at them both. “We’ve discovered explosives planted in Douyi Hotel recently.”

“Explosives?” Yu Wan was shocked.

“It’s not just Douyi Hotel. We found explosives in other places in the downtown area too. One of them was really close to the Department of Administrative Affairs’ conference hall. We have reason to believe that the resistance group planted them. Even though we managed to locate them all in time, what if we missed one?

“Recently, all sorts of companies and officials from other cities have come here for a meeting, and the higher-ups have told us to tighten security. I’m pretty sure that the resistance group has planted the bombs to target these guys, and I think they’re going to be really active over this period of time.”

Yu Wan turned to Chen Chuan. With worry evident in her eyes, she said, “Chan’er…”

Chen Chuan immediately reassured them. “Don’t worry, Uncle, Aunty. I won’t be going to the downtown area over this period of time.”

“Good. Instead of being on guard against threats, it’s better to avoid them altogether. If you can avoid that place, do it,” Nian Fuli said.

Meanwhile, Chen Chuan was thinking about what he said. If he connected the incident of the resistance group installing bombs in the downtown area with the conclusion he had formed, it was highly likely that they were doing this to attract the Constabulary’s attention so that they could have an easier time doing other things.

The resistance group had done this multiple times before, and it always worked, because even though the Department of Administrative Affairs and the Constabulary knew that the resistance group was just trying to draw their attention away, they still had to tighten security over those areas. Worse still, this time, it was in the downtown area. The conference hall where various divisions of the Department of Administrative Affairs were going to have their meetings was the most important building of them all, and the Constabulary had to inspect it even more closely.

After dinner, Chen Chuan stayed the night at home before returning to the campus the next day.

He walked one round around the Spring-Autumn Lake while guiding his breathing. When he was done, he went to the Weapons Department’s training hall to practice his saber.

Whenever he came here, an upperclassman from the Weapons Department would come over to spar with him, and he welcomed the experience. When he fought against students using other weapons, he could also get experience in fighting against their weapons of choice.

Even though the opponents he met outside mostly used guns, if he fought against another martial artist, he was most likely going to end up clashing with them with melee weapons.

With a snap, the wooden staff in his opponent’s hands broke, unable to bear the force of the refined force that charged into it. The upperclassman lowered the broken staff in regret and gave him a fist-and-palm salute. “Thank you for your time, Chen Chuan.”

Chen Chuan returned the salute.

The upperclassman took two steps away before asking, “How did you exercise such precise control over your refined force?”

Isn’t this what the stronger martial artists do when they fight weaker martial artists? Chen Chuan thought, but he said seriously, “Through lots of practice.”

The upperclassman mulled over his words before nodding in agreement as he mumbled, “That means I haven’t practiced enough. I need to practice even more.”

Then, he said clearly, “Thank you, Chen Chuan.”

He threw away the broken staff and left.

The students who had been watching their sparring session also gave Chen Chuan a fist-and-palm salute before leaving with admiration and excitement so that they could return to their own training.

After they left, Chen Chuan went to a single training room and practiced his throwing art.

When he used the throwing art, he found the effects much better than when he used a gun. He could throw a stone quickly and discreetly, and it didn’t cause too much of a commotion either. It could make up for his weakness in long-distance attacks.

Chen Chuan practiced the entire morning before returning to his room for a shower. Just as he was about to go to the cafeteria to eat, his phone rang, and he answered it.

Lei Guangcheng’s voice came through. “Chen Chuan? It’s me, Lei Guangcheng. After our conversation yesterday, I had someone investigate Spill Hill in secret. We haven’t found anything abnormal as of now.”

“It isn’t there?” Chen Chuan was quite surprised.

But Lei Guangcheng said, “No, I think that your deduction should be correct. Just because we don’t see the entire thing, doesn’t mean that the array isn’t there. Some of the materials produced in Central City can hide it from plain sight.

“As technology improves, the cultists have come up with things that can replace traditional materials, making them even harder to find and fend against. Fortunately, these materials are rarely produced, and I believe that there’s also only a handful of them that can be of practical use.”

“Are there cults in Central City too?” Chen Chuan asked.

“Central City is the breeding ground for cults. Each social class can get comfort from them, even have their demands and interests met. What we’re doing is only suppressing them. We can never get rid of them fully,” Lei Guangcheng remarked gravely.

Chen Chuan grunted in acknowledgement.

“I called you today to tell you something else. This matter is quite complicated, so the Cult Investigation Bureau can’t handle it alone. We’re going to have a meeting two days later, and the government officials from other departments are going to join the discussion about this. I hope that you can attend it too.”

“Alright. I’ll be there,” Chen Chuan answered decisively.

“Good. I’ll tell you the specific location of the meeting when it’s finalized. By the way, that alumni of yours woke up yesterday. All that’s left for her is to take her time recovering. The ones who went missing with her are still in a coma, even the martial artists. She’s lucky.”

Chen Chuan nodded. “Thank you, Mr. Lei.”

“You’re welcome. Wait for my notice,” Lei Guangcheng said.

After the call, Chen Chuan put his phone down and invited Feng Xiaoqi and Luo Kaiyuan for lunch in the cafeteria when they came back upstairs. When he was back, he rested for a little while. Just when he was about to begin his afternoon training, Cheng Zitong called him and said, “Xiao Chuan, the new director of the Department of Administrative Affairs wants to see you.”

“Me?” Chen Chuan was quite surprised at that and asked, “For what, though?”

“He’s the one who approved your application to Central City. As the new director of the Department of Administrative Affairs, I think he wants to express his goodwill toward Martial Valor University through you.”

Chen Chuan pondered over this and thought of a likely reason as to why the new director would want to see him. He asked, “When does he want to see me, Mr. Cheng?”

“Mr. Zhu is quite the gentleman. He says that he knows that you’re training hard and hasn’t set a specific date and time yet. But I think that regardless of whether he’s sincere or fake about this, he’s put on a good outward show of politeness. That’s why we shouldn’t let him wait too long. Besides, once you’ve met him, that also means that fewer people will be paying attention to you, and you can focus on your training again,” Cheng Zitong answered.

“You’re right. If that’s the case, I’ll meet him now. I have time,” Chen Chuan said.

“Alright. I’ll send you there. Meet at the dorm entrance later,” Cheng Zitong replied.

After hanging up, Chen Chuan went back, washed his face, and put in formal wear before walking out of the dorm. When he was outside, Cheng Zitong was already waiting for him. Chen Chuan walked over and got into the car.

Cheng Zitong then drove out of the campus and headed south. In less than twenty minutes, he arrived at the Civil Affairs Bureau, located at the south of the city, and he said, “Go on in, Xiao Chuan. I’ve already notified them earlier. Someone will receive you once you’re inside.”

Chen Chuan nodded and got out of the car. He walked up to the entrance and spoke to the security guards there. Soon, a government official of the Department of Administrative Affairs came out and politely led him inside.

Cheng Zitong waited in the car. About half an hour later, he saw Chen Chuan come out. Once he got in, Cheng Zitong asked, “Have you met him?”

Chen Chuan nodded.

“What did he say? Did he give you trouble?”

“No, actually. He’s just like you said. He’s really polite and didn’t put on airs. When we met, he asked me about my life. After learning that I’ve submitted my application to go to Central City, he gave me a few words of encouragement. He didn’t say anything else. It seems like he really just wanted to see me,” Chen Chuan said.

“Seeing you already shows his stance on the matter. Whatever small talk he says with you isn’t important, in this case,” Cheng Zitong said.

Every move politicians made carried meaning. They always found subtle ways to get their points across. Even if sending a message wasn’t what they wanted, they’d still think about the repercussions and effects of their actions before doing something.

Chen Chuan cast a glance at the Civil Affairs Bureau. While Zhu Xian hadn’t mentioned anything else, Chen Chuan could sense that Zhu Xian had sought him out for the matter regarding the ritual.

The car engine started, and they went back to Martial Valor University.

***

Zhu Xian stared at a map of Yangzhi City in his office. As the new director of the Department of Administrative Affairs, he was incredibly wary of the resistance group and cults that had caused turmoil in Yangzhi City for a long period of time.

According to his subordinates’ reports, he knew that they might be able to catch those people’s tails this time. If he could get rid of them in one go, that would be an outstanding achievement that could let him set up his prestige in the city and set his foot firmly here.

Similarly, if he failed, it would be devastating for him. That was why he couldn’t show his stance on the matter.

This time, he had met Chen Chuan because he knew that Chen Chuan was a participant in this operation. But on the surface, he was just showing concern for an outstanding student of Martial Valor University and also showing his goodwill to the university. It wouldn’t lead to any complications.

However, if they managed to get rid of the target this time, his meeting with Chen Chuan would show that he had great foresight. Then, through some ingenious publicity stunts, the people would think that the operation was a success due to his arrangements and encouragement. Meanwhile, even if it failed, if he downplayed his involvement in the matter, he wouldn’t be blamed for it. No matter what, he wouldn’t lose out on meeting Chen Chuan.

But Chen Chuan struck him as different.

When he recalled how relaxed Chen Chuan had been when he stood in front of Zhu Xian, the director felt ill at ease.

How should he put this? Usually, when teenagers saw him, they would feel awkward and nervous. That was due to the difference brought by their statuses.

Yet Chen Chuan had been calm the entire time. When he stared at Zhu Xian with those composed eyes, Zhu Xian felt an indescribable sense of intimidation from him, causing him to recall his meeting with Wen Tong on the train that day.

It was as if his life no longer belonged to himself at that moment.

He came to a quiet decision: He was going to avoid these martial artists as much as possible in the future. He couldn’t let such people get too close to him anymore.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep