Free Web NovelChapter 429: Chapter 159: Aftermath
Outside Lu Lan Lake, the sky was gradually brightening. The off-road vehicle carrying Reporter Hu Ying followed the tracks all the way to the area.
As he passed through the area where the two had just fought, he gawked at the incredible scene of destruction, immediately snapping a flurry of pictures.
He also saw a weapon, broken in two, stabbed into the ground. But the two combatants were nowhere to be seen. He followed the path of destruction until he reached the shore of the lake, where he was forced to stop his vehicle.
A breeze blew across the lake, rustling through the swaying reeds. Hu Ying stood on his vehicle, surveying the area. He spoke into his Realm Token, "We’ve been following the trail of the two Fighters, and it leads straight into the lake ahead. Could it be..."
Just as he was speaking, ripples spread across the surface of the water not far away. Then, a figure slowly emerged, causing him to trail off mid-sentence.
Chen Chuan walked out of the lake step by step. He held the Snow Monarch Blade in one hand and Xu Xianwen’s severed head in the other.
As he stepped onto the shore, the water on his body began to evaporate, wisps of white steam rising from his skin.
The morning clouds glowed on the horizon, and the dawn light reflected off the lake, enveloping one half of his body. Behind him, the heavy fog over the water was slowly beginning to dissipate.
Hu Ying trembled, watching the scene in utter shock. It wasn’t just him; everyone watching through his Realm Token seemed to have forgotten their surroundings, their eyes glued to the image on their screens.
Just then, the thrum of propellers sounded from above. A small Processing Bureau airship was flying toward them, as armored vehicles converged on the location from the ground.
Chen Chuan set foot on dry land, his clothes already steamed dry. He looked up and saw a flock of migratory birds flying south across the sky.
Hu Ying snapped back to his senses with a jolt. He wanted to run over to Chen Chuan for an interview, but for some reason, his legs felt like they were filled with lead. He couldn’t move a muscle, nor could he manage to speak.
’Move!’ he roared internally, trying to take a step. But his face flushed with effort, his body refused to obey.
The sound of footsteps grew behind him. He felt a hand on his shoulder and a voice said, "Reporter Hu, please leave. The following is official Processing Bureau business and cannot be disclosed."
He found he could speak again. "I’m a reporter! I have the right to..."
But someone gripped him somewhere on his body, and he was instantly rendered speechless again. He was then unceremoniously hauled away by the scruff of his neck.
"Mr. Chen!"
Once the Processing Bureau personnel arrived, a reconnaissance team member spotted Chen Chuan and immediately ran over. He looked him up and down and asked, "Mr. Chen, are you alright?"
As he spoke, his eyes involuntarily darted to the head in Chen Chuan’s hand.
"I’m fine," Chen Chuan said. He remembered that Xu Xianwen was on the Processing Bureau’s most-wanted list, so he held out the head. "This is Xu Xianwen. Take him back with you."
"Oh, oh! Yes, of course..."
The team member hastily took Xu Xianwen’s head with both hands.
Chen Chuan walked back to the spot where they had fought and picked up the two pieces of the broken Gun Staff. This was his most valuable trophy to date.
’It’s broken, but it can probably be repaired.’
’The Bureau offers repair services. A broken weapon has more sentimental value, but since I plan to put it in my future collection room, it should at least look whole.’
Just then, the small airship drew closer. Once it was overhead, a rope ladder descended, and Captain Guan climbed down to the ground.
He first gave some orders, telling his team to secure the scene and disperse any unauthorized personnel. Then he walked over to Chen Chuan. "Mr. Chen, excellent work. I’ll be sure to report your contribution to the Bureau."
Chen Chuan thanked him, then asked, "Captain Guan, what’s the situation at Motie Mountain?"
"Don’t worry," Captain Guan said. "We’ve posted guards, and Motie Mountain’s own security has taken over the surrounding defensive perimeter. Even if the entire Viper Corps returned, they wouldn’t be able to get through."
"That’s good to hear," Chen Chuan said. "Captain Guan, my work here is done. As per my assignment from the Bureau, I need to head back now."
Captain Guan said gravely, "Of course. Official business comes first. I’ll have a vehicle arranged for you immediately."
"Thank you, Captain Guan."
Meanwhile, on the other side of Lu Lan Lake, two people stood on a thick tree branch, watching from a distance. One of them, a burly man in his thirties wearing a Processing Bureau uniform, said, "Looks like we won’t be needed after all."
The other, a young man in his early twenties, was less than respectful. "You say that like you could’ve taken on Xu Xianwen, Old Wan."
The burly man, Old Wan, didn’t get angry. "Well, we had you, didn’t we, Xiaolu? With you there, we could’ve at least put up a fight."
"I wouldn’t be so sure," Xiaolu said. "Everyone from the Secret Snake Sect is a strong swimmer. If Xu Xianwen had fled into the water like he did, who could have caught him? Who would be confident enough to even try?"
He added with a sigh, "This Brother Chen is really something else. If it were me, I would’ve given up the chase. I wouldn’t have dared to follow him into the water."
"Well, he’s someone the Bureau is heavily invested in," Old Wan said. "That makes a difference."
Xiaolu replied, "Among us Fighters, strength is what matters. He has the strength, so he deserves the benefits. I’m impressed."
Meanwhile, Chen Chuan rode in the car provided by the Processing Bureau back to Meng Manor. The security guards were still at their posts. The members of the Viper Team had all been either killed or arrested. As he approached, the guards suppressed their excitement and saluted him one by one.
He nodded in acknowledgment as he walked to the basement entrance. He used a backup Realm Token to contact those inside. "The attackers have been dealt with," he said. "You can come out now."
After speaking, he added a code phrase.
It was the passphrase he and Meng Shu had agreed upon. Information transmitted via Realm Token could be falsified, so this was the only way to be certain.
After a moment, he heard the sound of a heavy metal door being pushed open from within.
Perhaps due to his focus, he felt a slight throb between his eyebrows. He could suddenly sense the presence of every person behind the wall. Everyone could be perceived clearly, except for Meng Shu; she was wearing something that made her presence feel faint and elusive.
’This ability surfaced during the fight with Xu Xianwen. It seems to be a kind of psychic sense, but it’s probably an inherent ability for Third Limit Fighters.’
The door was pushed open from the inside, and Meng Shu and Yan Yi emerged, flanked by three female bodyguards. Because their Realm Token had maintained contact with the outside, they already knew that Xu Xianwen had been killed. Even so, they had stuck to their agreement and remained in the basement.
Yan Yi believed that since a plan had been made, it must be followed to the letter. This was the best way to avoid any unforeseen incidents, as failure often strikes when success is nearest.
Meng Shu agreed. She always listened to sound advice. She looked at Chen Chuan and said earnestly, "Thank you."
Chen Chuan gave a slight smile. "All in a day’s work."
Yan Yi then said, "Miss, Mr. Chen, let’s speak in the living room." Meng Shu gave a slight nod.
Once they were in the living room, the three bodyguards withdrew. Yan Yi said, "Mr. Chen, from what we’ve gathered, the Viper Corps was the strongest force Meng Huang had at his disposal. Now that you’ve eliminated them, he temporarily lacks the ability to threaten us. The situation is beginning to turn in our favor."
On the surface, the Viper Corps had no connection to Meng Huang; you couldn’t find a shred of evidence linking them. Yet, everyone knew he was the one who had sent them. Their annihilation was undoubtedly a severe blow to him.
The other factions, who were watching from the sidelines, would now be thinking, ’If his greatest force could be eliminated by Meng Shu’s side, could she eliminate Meng Huang himself next?’
And how many people would rally behind a man who might not even be able to protect his own life?
Even setting that aside, the fact that Meng Shu wasn’t killed proved she could protect herself. This meant the succession struggle was far from over, so there was no need for anyone to place their bets on a side just yet. They could afford to wait and see.
Just then, Yan Yi’s Realm Token chimed with activity. She glanced at it for a moment, then smiled at Meng Shu. "Miss, it’s some members of the Meng Clan. They’re trying to curry favor with you."
"Then please reply to them cordially on my behalf," Meng Shu said.
"Of course. They’re still useful for now," Yan Yi said. She looked at Chen Chuan. "And, of course, all of this is thanks to Mr. Chen’s power."
Ultimately, all of this was a result of the deterrence provided by sheer power.
Possessing such power was equivalent to possessing strength and a voice.
’Hiring Chen Chuan was absolutely the right decision.’ She felt incredibly fortunate that such a master Fighter happened to be a classmate of her miss, which was the only reason they’d been able to hire him.
Chen Chuan, however, knew it wasn’t so simple. ’If Meng Huang is truly in contact with some entity from the other side, this won’t be over so easily.’
However, the Processing Bureau had assigned him to handle security here. Without further instructions, he wouldn’t take any unnecessary actions.
Meng Shu then said, "Sister Yan, for everyone who helped with the defense today, give rewards where rewards are due, and promotions where they are earned."
"I’ll see to it at once, Miss," Yan Yi replied. It was something she would have done anyway, but it carried more weight coming directly from Meng Shu.
Meng Shu then looked back to Chen Chuan. "I recall you also brought in some associates to help? I’d like to express my gratitude to them as well."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement.
Meng Shu immediately used her Realm Token to transfer a sum of funds to Chen Chuan’s account. As for Chen Chuan himself, she would separately issue a large bonus in her company’s name—payment he was due as a security consultant, though that went without saying.
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