Chapter 107: Reply

The question made Cheng Zitong sink into pensive silence. “Strictly speaking, they’re connected. The branch campuses need to recommend a list of students to the main campus, which will review them. While the branch campuses are the ones who decide who to recommend, the main campus is the one who reviews the list. The students’ abilities are a huge part of that review.

“Even if you’re a recommended student, you need to be strong enough. How can you prove that you’re strong enough, then? One way is through your fighting prowess, which is self-evident, and the other is through the permits you manage to get.

“You must understand that unless you’re so strong that you’re obviously better than the rest of the people on the list, the person in charge of the review process will have a hard time telling the difference in strength between the applicants. They can only use the branch campuses’ evaluation as a reference. With that being the case, the permits the students get become an important part of the evaluation.

“If you get the Class B permit, that’ll definitely be beneficial for you, because the test for it is dangerous, and recommended students usually don’t dare to take the risk to sit for it. So, if you want to go to Central City, you need that permit.”

At this point, he looked straight into Chen Chuan’s eyes and asked, “Are you asking that question because you want to get a recommended slot to go to Central City?”

Chen Chuan nodded. “I’d like to try.”

“There’s nothing wrong with such a goal, and I fully support you. You can only learn more things and come into contact with the real world if you go to the main campus in Central City. All your hard work will only be valuable if you work toward that goal.

“The university management and I will think of a way to get you that recommended slot, but just like Lao He said, strength is the cornerstone for martial artists. We must get stronger to be able to do what we want to do.”

Chen Chuan agreed with that. Strength was not only able to carve the way forward, but was also the foundation for being able to protect oneself. “Of course. I won’t ever forget that.”

Cheng Zitong was quite optimistic about the whole thing. “You have extraordinary talent. You’re the most talented student I’ve ever seen. I think you’ll be able to go there.”

Chen Chuan looked up. “By the way, Mr. Cheng. Quite a number of agent companies have approached me over the past few days. All of them want to recruit me. I also got news from a small company that the Department of Administrative Affairs wants to eradicate the Flying Head Cult, which is why everyone has been looking for agents who can deal with the supernatural. Have you heard about it?”

Cheng Zitong chuckled. “Even you’ve heard about it? The Department of Administrative Affairs has someone with a loose mouth. All those NDAs are quite useless. You’re right. They’re planning this operation. The department approached the chancellor to ask for a solution, and the chancellor came to me.

“From what I know, this is a major mission. I wanted to take a look after the New Year and see whether it’s a problematic case before discussing it with you. Since you already know about it, I’ll tell you about it now.”

He took a sip of his tea and searched through his briefcase before taking out a stack of papers. “These are the confidential internal documents the chancellor gave me. Take a look.”

Chen Chuan took the papers and read through them.

Meanwhile, Cheng Zitong explained, “You might not have heard of the Legend of the Flying Head before, but it’s really famous in other places. It usually shows up after a ceremony that offers human heads as sacrifices. The ceremony is still held in many places, but that flying head has not shown up for decades in certain places despite consistent sacrifices, while in others just one or two offerings are enough.

“There’s actually no direct link between the sacrifices and the flying head’s appearance, but the ceremony itself does lure over existing flying heads. The people exposed to them become irrational and go into a frenzy. This is one of the few supernatural entities that have a strong impact.

“So, the key to solving this problem is getting rid of the flying heads.

“But they’re really tough to deal with. They can fly, and if you don’t kill the first flying head that appears, they will keep showing up for the next decade.

“According to what I’ve heard, the foreign consultants the Department of Administrative Affairs hired suggested that they send agents to investigate the villages with the cult. We should get a report of their investigation after the New Year. If we can get rid of the flying heads in those villages, things will be easier.

“The Flying Head Cult has spread over many areas, so it can’t be eradicated by a single person. Once I get more information about it, I’ll bring it to you.”

“There’s one more thing. The small company I mentioned earlier also offered me some really great conditions,” Chen Chuan said and told Cheng Zitong about Ren Shu’s company as well as their offer.

Cheng Zitong asked a few questions before giving his opinion. “Here’s what I think: As long as they’re honest about those benefits, you can join their company. The missions I got for you are from my acquaintances’ companies. They don’t pay well, but I was mainly concerned about helping you get experience.

“But I don’t suggest becoming its principal investor. Getting too involved with any company isn’t a good thing. It’s better for you to just sign a temporary contract that promises you higher pay and won’t restrict your freedom. That way, you can leave whenever you want, and both parties will feel at ease working together.”

Chen Chuan nodded. That was what he had thought about doing as well. If he became the principal investor, he would have to worry about the company’s affairs. This did not align with the goals of Ren Shu and his group, since Chen Chuan wanted more than just evaluation points. He also cared about earning lots of money. Those two things were what mattered to him, and he did not want to get involved in anything else.

“You’ll need to find a reliable lawyer, and it’d be best if he has no business ties or shared interests with those rich kids. Do you need me to find one for you?” Cheng Zitong asked.

Chen Chuan thought about it and said, “No. I have a relative who happens to be working in the legal field.”

It was one thing for Cheng Zitong to help him, but it was a whole other thing to get someone else to help him. It would mean that Cheng Zitong would have to cash in some favors. Since Chen Chuan could get his own lawyer, he did not wish to bother Cheng Zitong about it.

“You can take care of this yourself then. You have a month off now, so take your time to relax. I’ll be leaving now.” Cheng Zitong stood up with a smile.

“I’ll see you off.”

After sending Cheng Zitong off, Chen Chuan went to the public phone and called Ren Shu to tell him that he had thought about it. If Ren Shu was really going to offer those benefits to him, then he would bring a lawyer with him after the holidays and sign a contract with them.

Ren Shu was delighted. Once he hung up, he cried out excitedly, “He said yes!”

“Whoa!”

The group became excited. All of them high-fived each other. After all, they had finally found a professional agent to represent their company. One of them even suggested celebrating in a hotel.

But since Ren Shu was older, he was calmer than the rest. “Let’s calm down first. We’ll celebrate, but after we sign the contract with him. We should celebrate with our partner too, no?”

“You’re right.”

His words made sense to the group, but one of them was worried. “Will he change his mind? What if someone else gives him a better offer?”

Ren Shu was worried about that too, but he pretended to be confident as he said, “He won’t. He’s a student from Martial Valor University, and they value their credibility. If he didn’t want to sign the contract, he could have just held back on giving us an answer. Since he said yes, it means that he has already thought things through.”

Everyone believed him. While they could not wait for Chen Chuan to sign the contract, they had no other options.

***

Chen Chuan packed his bag to go back to celebrate the New Year at home. Before he left, he made a call and heard a sweet voice when it went through. “Hello, this is Mi Law Firm.”

“Hello, I’d like to speak to Gao Ming. I’m his cousin,” Chen Chuan said.

“Alright. One moment, please.”

He waited for a short while before a lackadaisical voice greeted him. “Hey, cuz.”

“Gao Ming, are you coming back for the New Year?” Chen Chuan asked.

“Absolutely. I have to come back and visit you and Aunty Wan. Anyway, did you call for legal advice? You’re in luck, because I’m free right now.”

“I have a contract to sign, and I need a trustworthy lawyer to look through it,” Chen Chuan said.

“Sure. Speaking of which, I’ll no longer be an intern after the New Year, but a real lawyer, so it’s going to cost you quite a lot of devs to hire me. Oh, but you called me today. I guess I’ll charge you according to my fees as an intern lawyer, then,” Gao Ming said.

Chen Chuan laughed. “Thanks, Gao Ming.”

“You don’t have to thank me. You will be paying, you know? Anyway, let’s hash out the details when we meet up during the New Year celebrations.”

After the call, Chen Chuan put all the New Year cards he had written into the mailbox, grabbed his bag, and headed outside.

It was snowing quite heavily, so he decided to walk back instead of riding his bike. Just then, a car honked behind him. The moment he turned around, he saw a familiar Discoverer rolling over. The window wound down, and Wei Changan’s face came into view. “Chen Chuan!” he called out.

“Changan? You haven’t gone back yet?”

“I came to pick up some stuff and figured you’d be going back around this time, so I came to check! Get in! By the way, the trunk is full, so you’ll have to put your bag on the back seat,” Wei Changan answered.

Chen Chuan accepted the offer and walked over to put his bag in the car before getting into the front passenger seat. Once he fastened his seatbelt, Wei Changan started driving.

“Chen Chuan, you have no idea, but my old man has been talking about you nonstop and comparing me to you. He has even started treating me like I’m yesterday’s leftovers, especially over the past few days. I don’t know what came over him, but he lectures me every chance he gets,” Wei Changan lamented.

Was it... because you accidentally brought the mop back?

Chen Chuan thought.

“Anyway, let’s forget about the old man. My company got a major mission recently, and they’ve been asking me to get you to join, but I’ve refused it. You have the weapons permit now, so you can join whichever company you want. There’s no reason for you to join my company. I have no other choice but to put up with it for now, but once I become a high-ranking agent, I’m absolutely going solo.”

Chen Chuan knew that he was still bothered by what had happened last time. “I solved a supernatural-related mission recently, so a lot of agent companies have been asking to see me. Many of them are big agent companies too.”

Wei Changan was surprised. “A supernatural-related mission? Not bad. You’re amazing, Chen Chuan. Even the big companies—hmm?”

Suddenly, the puzzle pieces clicked in his mind. Why would the big companies care so much about a supernatural-related mission? Once he linked Chen Chuan’s tone and the information he’d heard recently, his eyes lit up. “You’re a real friend, Chen Chuan.”

Chen Chuan grinned. “I have no idea what you’re saying.”

Wei Changan laughed. Once they were out of the campus, he floored the gas pedal. After a brief conversation, they made it to the area where the constables’ families lived.

Wei Changan got out of the car first and opened the trunk to take out various small bags, which he then put into one large bag. “This is for you. I got everything specifically for you, so don’t say no. You helped me a few times already. You

need

to let me thank you.”

Chen Chuan did not reject the gifts. “Thank you, Changan.”

“I’m off now. I still owe you a meal, so I’ll treat you during the New Year.” Wei Changan waved him goodbye, got into his car, and drove off.

With his luggage and the big bag in hand, Chen Chuan walked into the alley. When he arrived at his house’s door, he saw the couplet stuck on it. He put down the bags and knocked on the door. “Uncle, Aunty, I’m home.”