Book 4, Chapter 4: Arrival
Book 4, Chapter 4: Arrival
Wen Tong smiled and said, “Even though there aren’t clear rules, over time, the recommender has come to serve as a guide. They’re protectors who carry the duty of teaching and passing down the secret techniques of the faction to the new person.”
With slight regret, he continued, “In the past, I would have been perfectly willing to be your recommender, but now, with your current strength and status, I don’t think I’m suited for that role.”
In terms of technique, Chen Chuan had already learned the Heartborn Force, while Wen Tong had yet to reach that stage. Aside from some secret techniques, he could no longer teach Chen Chuan nor protect him.
They also had a huge difference in rank in terms of their government positions. Even though Wen Tong had stayed an instructor due to personal reasons, it was still true that he could not help Chen Chuan much in terms of official work.
Hence, it would not be right for him to recommend Chen Chuan.
“I’ve accepted your application, which means that I will find a suitable recommender for you. Please give me your contact number. Once I have news, I’ll contact you,” Wen Tong said while looking into his eyes.
Chen Chuan nodded and took out a notebook from his pocket. He wrote down his number, tore out the page, and put it on the table.
“Mr. Wen, Central City gave me three months’ leave, and I will stay in Yangzhi City for around a month. You should be able to find me here whenever you want. If I’ve gone somewhere, you can use this number and telegram frequency to find me.”
“I’ll be submitting your application via telegram. Just wait for my news. If things go quickly, we should get word about it within half a month. If they don’t, you might have to wait a month and a half,” Wen Tong stated.
“Thank you, Mr. Wen. I’ll be going back and waiting for your news. Sorry for bothering you today. Goodbye,” Chen Chuan said and stood up.
Wen Tong stood up too and sent him to the door. Chen Chuan turned around to stop him. “You can just see me off from here, Mr. Wen.”
Then, he gave Wen Tong a polite nod and left.
While walking back, Chen Chuan recalled what Wen Tong had told him and thought that the major factions in the new era could no longer be seen purely as martial arts factions.
Since they had their own unique beliefs and political requirements, they were more like organizations with considerable impact among those in power.
Wen Tong had asked some questions, but not told Chen Chuan much about the purity faction. This should be because Chen Chuan had yet to become a true member.
Based on what he heard, the purity faction did not have many requests or restrictions for their external members. They could come and go as they pleased, but once someone became an internal member, things were different.
The examination set up by the purity faction meant that while they examined him, he could also evaluate them. If their beliefs went against Chen Chuan’s, he would think about joining another organization.
Once he was back home, Chen Chuan started his daily training in the courtyard.
He intended to visit Cheng Zitong in a few days, because it was the end of the semester, and usually, the university was at its busiest during this period of time.
If he went over to visit, Martial Valor University would have to prepare a proper welcoming ceremony for him due to his current status. This would cause trouble for everyone, so it would be better for him to wait until the holidays began before visiting Cheng Zitong. Then, he wouldn’t end up bothering the others.
In the afternoon, he left in his limousine to the place where the Black Orchid Co. employees and directors were killed by carpet bombing.
Enclosed Shore was working with the government to build a railroad there. Their goal was to connect the military port up north in Frozen Valley City to Yangzhi City.
The railroad had gone under construction before he left to study in Central City. He believed that it would take another two years or so before it would be completed.
Then, they would have a complete landbound logistics channel connecting them to the north. The military could travel straight down on land, so they could transport more soldiers and resources up north from the south.
While sitting in the limousine and protected by the other armored cars, he drove around the built tracks.
This wasn’t because he was interested in this. It was because the Resolution Department had asked him to check it if he had the time.
While Enclosed Shore was a state-owned enterprise, the Resolution Department had the duty of keeping it in place. The companies had to remain in the country’s control.
Chen Chuan was now at a level where he could understand some of what was going on internally in the government. The National General Affairs Bureau had members in the state-owned enterprises keeping a close eye on them 24/7. This meant that the Resolution Department wasn’t the only entity watching them. The state-owned enterprises were controlled from outside and inside so that they could never escape the government’s control.
***
While patrolling the tracks, the security guards from Enclosed Shore saw the motorcade and reported it to the person-in-charge.
The size of the motorcade was different from the norm, so the man immediately contacted the company. They told him to let the motorcade do whatever it wanted, and he was not to ask questions.
If whoever was inside the motorcade came over to ask questions, he was to answer honestly. If the motorcade did not stop, there was no need for the person-in-charge to engage them. He should stay silent.
The person-in-charge immediately realized that someone important had arrived, and he quickly ordered his subordinates to ignore the motorcade. They were also to give clearance to wherever the motorcade wanted to go. If the person inside had any requests, they were to fulfill them to the best of their abilities.
***
Chen Chuan was just going through the formalities, and both parties knew that. Hence, after giving the place a general look, he went back. He never got out of the limousine to talk to anyone.
Once he was back home, he wrote a report to be sent to the department in the form of a telegram tomorrow as part of his duties.
The next morning, just as he was about to send the telegram, the phone rang in the living room. When he picked it up, he heard Wen Tong’s voice.
“Lead Investigator Chen, the faction has replied. In two days, the person in charge of examining you will arrive. He might also become the one to recommend you.”
“So soon?” Chen Chuan was quite surprised.
“It is fast, which means that the faction values you highly,” Wen Tong said with a smile.
In the beginning, he had also been surprised by how swiftly the faction reacted, but after some thinking, he found the answer. Aside from Chen Chuan’s undeniable feats contributing to his current position, his great strength also played a huge role.
And he had yet to reach twenty. While there were some youngsters similar to him, they all had outstanding backgrounds and families who could support them. Chen Chuan was the only one who had relied on his own strength to reach his current status.
Once the restrictions from those in higher power were removed, it was hard to imagine just how far someone as talented as Chen Chuan could go. He might even become a pillar supporting the faction.
If Wen Tong could see this, there was no doubt that the people inside the faction could see it too. They could not let him go. If they were a step too late, some other faction might recruit him.
Wen Tong took a look at the telegram that had been sent to him. While the recommender wasn’t the one he applied for, he thought for a moment and mumbled, “Perhaps this is for the better.”
***
Two days later, a train headed into Yangzhi City with a tall, thin man with medium-length, messy hair in the VIP carriage. He wore a slightly worn trenchcoat and had a luggage bag damaged in multiple areas next to him.
He sat still during the entire trip, and no one ever came in to ask him whether he wanted anything.
A few hours later, the speaker installed in the train announced to the passengers that the train had entered Yangzhi City’s train station.
The tall, thin man stood up and walked out of the train station. He was met with countless government officials and rows of security guards as well as constables.
This was because a government official from another place had taken this train. Or rather, this train was supposed to be exclusively for his use.
The tall, thin man cast them a glance before walking past the ceremonial procession. Regardless of whether it was the talking government official, the soldiers standing guard, or the security guards who had followed the government official here, none of them saw him. Even when he was less than half a meter away from them, it was as if he didn’t exist in their eyes.
After walking out of the train station, he passed by an apple stall and grabbed one before tossing a coin into the cash basket.
Some distance later, he stared at the streets and buildings ahead of him. Then, as if he remembered something, he searched himself and fished out a note from his pocket.
No. 53, the residential area of constables, Swamp Well Street, Sealed District. After you exit the train station, head north along the road, then head west when you reach Farm Street.
There was also a suggestion for him to take the city tram or a rickshaw. That would make things easier, and he wouldn’t need to search for the address on his own.
The tall, thin man scoffed at the suggestions and looked around for a bit before confidently walking forward.
***
Chen Chuan had already reached Wen Tong’s house and was waiting for the recommender’s arrival. Wen Tong was giving him a brief introduction of the man he was about to meet.
“He’s a martial arts master. The martial arts he learned have been passed down directly from master to disciple from when the purity faction had been formed during the old era. He’s perfectly suitable to be your recommender and examiner,” Wen Tong said with a smile.
“A martial arts master?”
Chen Chuan was surprised. The purity faction had actually asked a martial arts master to be his recommender. This gave him a new impression of the purity faction’s strength and a clear idea of just how highly they valued him.
“Don’t we need to welcome him?” he asked.
Wen Tong shook his head at that. “He’s quite eccentric and doesn’t like people welcoming him or seeing him off. We should just wait here.”
Chen Chuan nodded.
They kept waiting, but even at 7 p.m., the martial arts master had yet to arrive.
The train the martial arts master took arrived at around 1 p.m.. Wen Tong had even called the train station to confirm that the train was not delayed. So, even if the martial arts master was held up by something on his way to them, he should have arrived by now.
Wen Tong didn’t seem to find this strange. He just smiled and said, “Let’s wait a little longer.”
Chen Chuan had a sense of deja vu.
They sat in the living room until midnight. When Wen Tong’s house was practically the only one in the area that remained lit, they heard footsteps outside.
“He’s here,” Wen Tong said with a smile.
Chen Chuan stood up and walked out of the living room with him. A tall, thin man with a luggage bag was walking into the courtyard.