Free Web NovelChapter 419: Chapter 149: The Heart’s Destination
Meng Shu walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looked out at the night sky, and said, "Have you been back to your old family home?"
Chen Chuan said, "I have. I went back once before coming to Central City."
Meng Shu said, "I still remember the little stream in front of your house. In the summer, we’d walk in it, and the water would come up to our calves. It was so cool and refreshing. We were so carefree back then, without a single thing to worry about.
"And the sky full of stars at night. I used to wonder if we took a small boat and floated all the way down the stream, if we could drift right into the Milky Way."
Chen Chuan walked over and also looked outside. Even though it was autumn, he could still see the twinkling clusters of stars, and he couldn’t help but recall the night of the class reunion two years ago.
Meng Shu wrapped her arms around herself and said, "Two years ago, I returned to Central City, and my grandfather told me the truth about the world. That’s when I learned that another world exists opposite ours and that the two are about to have a great collision.
"When I found out, I didn’t show much of an emotional reaction. My grandfather was very pleased with my composure.
"But the only reason I was like that was because I felt that even though everything around me seemed within arm’s reach, none of it truly belonged to me. So what did it matter to me how the world changed?
"Ironically, when I learned that there were things I could actually obtain, I felt a little scared. Maybe it’s because I finally had the chance to possess something.
"Xiaochuan, when you found all this out, were you ever afraid?"
Chen Chuan said, "Actually..." He looked up at the magnificent starry sky. "I even felt a little excited. Because it meant the old constraints were no longer constraints. Maybe one day, I could get there on my own."
Meng Shu said, "I should have known. You’ve loved adventure stories and yearned to see different places ever since you were little. I remember whenever Aunt Yu told those fantastic stories, your eyes would always light up, like you couldn’t wait to jump right in."
Chen Chuan thought, ’That was the original owner’s way of thinking. My own thoughts, however, were of the mysterious and the unknown, of breaking free from this cage, of a transcendence without any restraints.’
Meng Shu let out a soft sigh. "Honestly, I’ve thought about giving up before, but this isn’t just about me anymore. My grandfather’s expectations are secondary. Everyone who follows me, who surrounds me, they’re all pushing me forward. I can’t stop.
"I might be sitting at the prow of this ship, but I’m not the one who decides when it stops or where it goes."
Chen Chuan thought for a moment, then said, "So your grandfather’s plan is to just watch the two of you compete, and whoever wins gets the inheritance?"
Meng Shu said, "I’ve never known what my grandfather is truly thinking. I’ve seen him only a few times, probably fewer than the people closest to him. He has many sons, but he didn’t choose any of them. Instead, he placed the right of succession on Meng Huang and me.
"He’s the man at the very top of the company. The moment he makes a decision, Meng Huang and I both have to follow his will. It’s the same for everyone in the Meng Clan and the company.
"Maybe only when I’m sitting in his seat will I know what he’s really thinking, be able to have my own ideas, and steer my little boat to where I want it to go."
She looked at Chen Chuan and said, "Xiaochuan, I’ve never asked if you’re sure you can do this, because you always seem so confident."
Chen Chuan said, "Because as a Fighter, all my strength comes from within myself. When I decide to do something, I can face my enemies head-on without hesitation. I have complete faith in the power I command, because nothing is more trustworthy."
His voice was steady. Though he hadn’t said anything particularly rousing, it contained an inexplicable power.
Meng Shu took a deep breath, looked out again at the vast expanse of stars, and said, "Maybe you really can get there. Not with a little boat, but all on your own."
After their conversation ended, Chen Chuan returned to his villa and resumed his daily training.
After three days, the signs of etherealization on his Second Self began to fade, eventually disappearing completely. From this, he determined that he could take the special medicine once every three days.
Anyone else, without some special method, would not have been able to make such an accurate judgment, nor would they have been able to time the doses so perfectly one after another.
So, he took the second bottle of special medicine and consumed it, maintaining his training rhythm.
Yan Yi’s speculation proved correct. Sure enough, a few days later, news came from the company that the Meng Clan, citing Meng Shu’s insubordination, had withdrawn the security team the family had dispatched.
Yan Yi said with some regret, "This actually proves there was nothing wrong with that security team, which is a pity. But the good news is that it shows there’s no problem on Lord Meng’s end. It’s likely just Meng Huang convincing some members of the Meng Clan. Otherwise, it would be much worse than this.
"But they won’t stop here. Next, they’ll probably target the Mistress’s assets within the family, and even her share of the income distributed by the company.
"Fortunately, that won’t be easy. Legal matters like these aren’t resolved quickly. As long as the Mistress doesn’t concede, it can be dragged out for a year, or even several years. They’re probably just trying to drain our energy and financial resources."
She was right. Two more days passed, and the company sent a legal notice from a Litigation Master to the estate, stating that there was a dispute regarding the ownership of the estate where Meng Shu resided and a portion of her income.
The estate was already prepared for this. They gave full authority to a Litigation Master to handle the lawsuit, with the goal not being to win, but simply to drag it out.
Any competent Litigation Master could accomplish this. Even if something were to happen to this one, another could easily take their place, so there was no need to worry.
Just then, Chen Chuan received a call from Captain Guan of the Processing Bureau.
"Meng Huang was handling company affairs for a while, but he’s been communicating with outsiders more frequently these past few days and making frequent public appearances. We suspect he might be preparing to make a move.
"Mr. Chen, you need to be careful over there.
"Also, some news for you. In the past few days, the Processing Bureau has registered two skilled Fighters entering Dashun from the Outer Ocean. Both came in through Ferris Wheel Company channels.
"But there might be more who came in secretly. We’ll be monitoring these two closely and will be putting some pressure on the Ferris Wheel Company in the near future. But we can’t rule out that they have other methods. We’ll send you a file shortly with a list of our suspects and a detailed analysis of each person. Mr. Chen, please be ready to receive it."
Chen Chuan said, "Alright, thank you."
After the call ended, he received a large amount of data through his Realm Token. This was the convenience of having the Processing Bureau’s backing; even at the estate, he could stay clearly informed of outside developments.
He opened the files and looked them over. They were all individuals the Processing Bureau believed could pose a threat to the estate.
The whereabouts of most registered Fighters could be monitored. The only ones worth paying special attention to were wanted criminals, members of crime syndicates, and those who had been smuggled in.
This was why the Processing Bureau was so wary of experts from the Outer Ocean, as these individuals often had large corporations covering their tracks.
As for the Fighters hired through various platforms, the Processing Bureau had tried to reach out. Many responded that they had indeed been contacted recently, but when they learned the target was Chen Chuan, they all said the job was too risky.
The main reason was the strength Chen Chuan had displayed in his fight against Wei Wusheng. Another was that Chen Chuan was clearly affiliated with the Processing Bureau.
If Chen Chuan were just an ordinary trainee with no background, they might have considered it, but there was no need to risk going head-to-head with the Processing Bureau over it.
After this filtering process, the scope of potential threats narrowed considerably.
After reviewing everything, he found there were only three teams truly worth being suspicious of, and among them...
As he was reviewing the files, in a villa on Motie Mountain, a Resonance Nest had been set up inside a room. The tendrils on its exterior pulsed with light. The well-mannered Gao Changge was waiting outside.
After a long while, the pulsing stopped.
Gao Changge took a few steps forward and asked, "How is it?"
The Resonator inside answered, "The Domain is solid. They’re a professional team, most likely from the Processing Bureau. One team is holding the perimeter while another is managing the situation inside. We can’t break through."
Gao Changge said, "Didn’t they say the client had someone on the inside?"
"He’s just one person; there’s not much he can do. The inner and outer teams operate independently. If we can’t breach the perimeter, it’s pointless to even try and make contact with him."
"So this approach is a dead end?"
"Not necessarily. If we could force the Processing Bureau to divert their manpower, or if the client could send a small team to support us, we might have a chance. But as things stand, we can’t do it on our own."
Gao Changge didn’t press him. "You just focus on the technical side. I’ll figure out the rest."
He turned and made a call with his Realm Token. "Boss, I’ve looked into it. There are complications. It’s not that the boys aren’t pulling their weight; it’s a genuinely difficult situation."
He explained the key issues. "If the client isn’t willing to provide manpower directly, can we offer more money to hire outside help? We just need to breach the perimeter and tie them up. We’ll have support once we’re inside."
This was a necessary step, because the Motie Mountain residential area had its own security system. Two small Airships patrolled the perimeter twenty-four hours a day, ready to respond to any incident at a moment’s notice. Therefore, blocking the Domain’s signal was essential.
He spoke with the person on the other end for a while longer, then added, "...If none of that works, then our only option is to spend a lot of money on the black market for a single-use Domain Creature to force a block. But that would probably only last for a short time... Okay, Boss. Whatever you say. We’ll prepare for both scenarios. I’ll get on it."
...
...
