HPDBC Book 4, Chapter 1: Going Back Home
Book 4, Chapter 1: Going Back Home
Book 4: Spirit FormThe armored motorcade traveled for seven hours and reached Yangzhi City’s checkpoint at around noon. After stopping, the constable at the checkpoint saluted them, and they drove into the city.
He Fen, the director of Yangzhi City’s Resolution Department, and Guan Shuming, the director of the Constabulary, waited for them at the section of the public road leading into the city.
As a lead investigator of the Resolution Department and a Third Limit martial artist, Chen Chuan had to notify Yangzhi City before coming. The city also needed time to give him a proper welcome.
While waiting on the straight and wide public road, Guan Shuming found his heart filled with complicated emotions.
Chen Chuan could be considered a family member of a constable, whom he had watched climb up the ranks. Guan Shuming had even helped him a bit to get to where he was, so he knew that Chen Chuan was a really outstanding young man and that he could climb to even higher ranks.
He just never expected him to do it so quickly.
The last time Chen Chuan returned, he had been a squad captain. Back then, he was already a rank higher than Guan Shuming. Now, he was a lead investigator, which, for all intents and purposes, was a true high-ranking official. In Yangzhi City, he was of the same rank as the director of the Department of Administrative Affairs.
He Fen looked into the distance, then at his watch. Judging from the time, Chen Chuan should arrive in a few minutes.
He Fen had been transferred to Yangzhi City this year, so he wasn’t too familiar with it. Compared to Guan Shuming, he didn’t feel any sentiment toward the situation. All he felt was anticipation of meeting a superior.
He turned to Guan Shuming. “Chief Guan, I heard that Lead Investigator Chen is a family member of a constable. Is that true?”
“He’s Brigade Commander Nian’s nephew. Brigade Commander Nian and his wife brought Lead Investigator Chen up, so we consider him part of the Constabulary,” Guan Shuming said with a nod.
“Then, you’re his elder. I’ve never met Lead Investigator Chen before. Please put in a good word for me when we meet him later,” He Fen joked with a grin.
“Lead Investigator Chen is working at the Resolution Department now. You putting in a good word for me would be more useful,” Guan Shuming quipped.
While they were talking, they heard a shrill, long chirp from the sky. He Fen looked up, then lowered his gaze to the road. His eyes sparkled in realization, and he said firmly, “He’s here.”
Soon, Guan Shuming saw a black dot appear on the public road. It was growing larger, and then, a motorcade showed up headed their way.
Leading the way was an armored car with a machinegun mounted on its top. Behind it was an armored limousine and the other escort cars.
When the armored car in front saw the two men, the driver used the domain connection entity in the motorcade to notify the others. Once they were a certain distance away, the other cars moved to the side of the road.
The limousine went forward before slowing down. When it finally came to a stop, the car door opened, and Chen Chuan got out.
He wore a wide-brimmed hat, a pair of protective gloves, and the trench coat of a lead investigator. Due to him having the uniquely straight posture of martial artists, he looked incredibly heroic.
Once he showed up, someone from the welcoming team immediately shouted, “Salute!”
All the Resolution Department officers and constables gave Chen Chuan a salute. He stood still and returned it before walking to Guan Shuming and He Fen. He first greeted Guan Shuming. “Chief Guan.”
Then, he turned to He Fen and extended his hand. “Hello, Director He.”
He Fen immediately took half a step forward and held his hand with both hands as he said warmly, “Lead Investigator Chen, I’ve heard my colleagues talk about you. Director Fang also told me about your achievements. I really respect you.”
He Fen said it like that to let Chen Chuan know that he was on Fang Ju’s side. “I’ve just come back home for a holiday, but the higher-ups wanted me to notify Yangzhi City about it. I didn’t mean to cause you two trouble.”
“You’re a high-ranking officer from the headquarters. As a subordinate, it’s only right for me to welcome you. Otherwise, people are going to say that I’m rude,” He Fen argued.
“On paper, you’re my superior, but in private, you’re the most outstanding child of the Constabulary. All things considered, it’s only proper for me to come and welcome you,” Guan Shuming commented.
“You’re too kind, Chief Guan,” Chen Chuan said.
Guan Shuming schooled his expression. “Also, on my way here, Mr. Zhu of the Department of Administrative Affairs called and asked me to greet you.”
Chen Chuan nodded at that. “Please thank him for me.”
“I will,” Guan Shuming promised.
He Fen smiled. “We’ve prepared a feast for you in the department to welcome you. We’d be grateful if you could make time to join us.”
“I’ve never had the chance to go to the Resolution Department in Yangzhi City. Since I’m part of the department and am back here, I must go there,” Chen Chuan said.
He Fen smiled brighter and said, “I’ll make sure everything is taken care of for you.”
After exchanging pleasantries, Chen Chuan and the group returned to their cars and joined up. With the Resolution Department’s and Constabulary’s cars leading the way, they headed to Yangzhi City’s Resolution Department.
***
Zhu Xian, the director of Yangzhi City’s Department of Administrative Affairs, was talking on the phone.
“You picked him up? Did you send my greetings to him? Good. Make sure to take good care of Lead Investigator Chen’s reception.”
After putting down the phone, he felt his emotions welling up. He had met Chen Chuan a few years ago. Back then, he had only thought that he was an outstanding young man. Later on, Chen Chuan never crossed his mind again, so it was a shock to see him rise to the same rank as him within such a short time.
It had been less than three years since they last met.
Zhu Xian had worked hard in his region for years before he climbed to his current rank.
But he also knew that the situation was different now, and capable martial artists could get promoted quickly. Sometimes, they could jump several rungs up the ladder once a chance presented itself. Zhu Xian had seen quite a number of such cases over the years.
Martial artists like Chen Chuan didn’t have as much power as a regional high-ranking officer, since Zhu Xian was in charge of millions of people at once, but when a major conflict arose, martial artists were the ones who were prioritized for promotion.
His secretary commented, “I wonder if Lead Investigator Chen just came back home for a visit or whether he has some other goal in mind.”
“It’s not that complicated. To those in Central City, Yangzhi City is just a small place. Without Black Orchid, no one will even spare it a glance,” Zhu Xian reassured her, then dismissed her with a wave. “Just act according to procedure, and if anything happens, call me.”
The secretary nodded.
***
The last two times Chen Chuan had come back to Yangzhi City, he only needed to call his family and didn’t cause too much of a stir.
But this time, before he even came back, the people in the constables’ residential area heard about it and knew that he had gotten an even higher position. Guan Shuming himself had left to welcome him.
Everyone was shocked and full of admiration as they marveled that Nian Fuli was about to get rich.
The Constabulary and Resolution Department weren’t the only places who learned about this. Martial Valor University was alerted too. After all, the university was inseparable from the Resolution Department, and Chen Chuan had graduated from it. Martial Valor University, too, shared his glory.
Cheng Zitong heard about the news even earlier, so he had been beaming with pride over the past few days. The moment he heard that Chen Chuan’s motorcade had entered the city, he picked up his phone and called a number. “Lao Qian, I’d like to speak to my senior brother.”
“Mr. Qiao isn’t around, Mr. Cheng,” Lao Qian immediately answered.
“He’s not around? Where did he go?” Cheng Zitong was quite surprised.
“It’s about the end of the semester, which also means that the new semester is right around the corner, isn’t it? Mr. Qiao contacted Central City, since he will be sending his disciple there to get used to it, and brought him there a few days ago,” Lao Qian answered.
“Oh... Isn’t he acting in too much of a hurry? Why didn’t he tell me about it? I could have gone to see him off.”
“Mr. Qiao said that you’re at your busiest nearing the end of a semester, so he didn’t want to disturb you,” Lao Qian replied.
Cheng Zitong sighed. “He’s so considerate of me. Oh well. Tell me when my senior brother comes back or calls me, okay? Don’t forget it.”
“Of course, Mr. Cheng,” Lao Qian said respectfully.
Upon hanging up, Lao Qian turned around. Qiao Linhu was sitting behind him, and his disciple was next to him. Around them were the luggage bags they had packed earlier.
“I told Mr. Cheng, sir,” he said.
Qiao Linhu grunted.
Just then, they heard honking from outside, and he stood up as he said, “Let’s go.”
He strode out with his disciple in tow.
Once Qiao Linhu got into his car, he waited for his disciple and all his attendants to get in. Once all the luggage bags were placed in the trunks, he urged the driver to leave. “Let’s go, but don’t drive through the main gate. Go through the back of the university.”
The others grew nervous because of how he acted, even though they knew that they were just going to Central City. Anyone else would have thought that they were running away from danger.
After the smell of algae fuel disappeared upon Qiao Linhu’s departure, another car came over and stopped in front of his gate.
Cheng Zitong got out, removed his sunglasses, and saw the tightly-shut gate. “He really left? Guess I can’t get my free meal here this time.”
He then looked into the distance and shouted, “Have a safe trip, Senior Brother!”
His voice traveled along the wind.
Cheng Zitong stood still and watched the area for a while before he laughed, put his sunglasses back on, and returned to his car.
***
The motorcade headed into the downtown area. When they were passing by, Chen Chuan cast a glance at where Black Orchid’s base once stood.
The building had been renovated. Its walls were now coated in silvery, metallic paint with Enclosed Shore’s emblem in the center, which looked like the base of a metal gear. Overlapping ridged leaves jutted out from the top of it.
A metal statue that looked like a foldable shell with several stands underneath it occupied the square.
Most people might not be able to tell what it was, but Chen Chuan thought it resembled the true form of an active biosentient entity.
After staring at it for a while, he examined the building again before looking away.
The motorcade drove past the statue. As the armed guards on the square watched them, they headed to the Resolution Department.