Atlas of Heaven and Man

The man sitting across from him had a gentle and refined smile. "Let me introduce myself. I'm Wen Tong, the chief instructor of the Yangzhi City Patrol Bureau's combat division. The patrol officers like to call me Mr. Wen. I'm here this time on a mission to protect Chief Zhu."

"We've already investigated and found that many people in your security team were planted by various major companies. I've already taken care of them for you. You can rest assured."

Zhu Xian frowned and said, "Are you sure?"

"I'm very sure."

Mr. Wen said very sincerely, "These companies are trying to influence and control your decisions. Planting people around you is to ensure they can secure business."

Zhu Xian also became serious.

Mr. Wen smiled and stood up from his seat. "I won't disturb your meal any longer. Rest assured, I'll be responsible for your security from now on. I'll ensure you arrive in Yangzhi City smoothly."

Zhu Xian's vision seemed to blur for a moment. When he came back to his senses, he suddenly realized the person across from him was gone. All that was left was the rhythmic sound of the train wheels and the sound of his assistant swallowing nervously. He looked outside and confirmed that he was still on the moving train.

He thought for a moment, then stood up, walked to the carriage door, grabbed the handle, waited for a moment, and slowly opened it. He saw the security guards outside slumped against the carriage wall, each with their head cracked open.

Moreover, the brain tissue inside their heads looked charred and withered, with hot steam still rising from them. It was clear that a sudden burst of high temperature had heated the entire brain tissue, causing the skulls to crack.

The assistant was a local of Yangzhi. Seeing this situation, his legs went weak, and he said in terror, "Cranial, Cranial Fiend..."

Zhu Xian glanced at it a few times, closed the door, and returned to his seat. After pondering for a moment, he took out the application form from below and quickly signed it. He said to the assistant, "Send it back."

Half an hour later, within the Martial Valor Academy, Cheng Zitong received the news and immediately called Chen Chuan, "Xiao Chuan, your application form's process is complete. I didn't expect the Chief Administrator to approve your application while still on the train. It seems this Chief Administrator is very supportive of Martial Valor's work and has high hopes for you."

He said a few more words and hung up the phone. Turning back, he saw his uncle, Cheng Shang, sitting there drinking tea, and said, "Second Uncle, look..."

Cheng Shang looked up and said, "I'll be returning to headquarters in the next two days. I'll bring his file and application form back with me. Zitong, you yourself aren't doing so well, but this student you taught is quite good. It seems your father overlooked your ability in this area. How about you come back with me this time?"

Cheng Zitong returned to his seat and chuckled, "Whatever I do, the old man has something to say, as if he's the most capable person in the world. Now he manages his students, and I manage mine. It's best if we don't interfere with each other."

Cheng Shang shook his head and said, "You two have the exact same temper. Neither of you is willing to give in first. Forget it, I won't bother with you."

He slowly took a sip of tea and sighed, "Tea brewed with Yangzhi's water is still the best," then shook his head again, "The filtered water in Central City has no flavor."

Cheng Zitong scoffed, "Second Uncle, that's like someone who's used to eating meat saying meat doesn't taste good."

Cheng Shang glared at him, then said in a deep voice, "Central City is a place with many opportunities, but you also have to bear a lot. It's like there's always a hand pushing you forward, with no way to stop.

Even here, I'm still thinking about things in Central City, afraid of missing something during these few days in Yangzhi, something that others know but I don't."

Cheng Zitong didn't take it seriously, "This kind of place is perfect for my student. I believe my student can adapt."

Inside the A-grade student dormitory, Chen Chuan returned after having lunch with Luo Kaiyuan, Wei Dong, and the others. Seeing that the internal message box seemed full again, he casually took out the letters inside.

Back in the dormitory, he flipped through them. Most of them were invitation letters for elective courses. Only one letter was sent by an Assistant Qiu.

He thought for a moment and remembered that this was the person who followed Old Madam Ni. He opened it and saw that the content said that Old Madam Ni wanted to see him about some matters, so she asked him to come over whenever he had time.

What did Old Madam Ni want to see him about? Could it be about the Snow Monarch Saber? Thinking about it, that was the only thing it could be. If that was the case, he had to be careful.

In the afternoon, he chose a suitable time and came to the training hall where Old Madam Ni usually stayed. After finding Assistant Qiu inside, the latter took him to the reception room, poured him a cup of tea, and asked him to wait while she went to fetch the old lady.

After waiting for only five or six minutes, Old Madam Ni walked in from outside with a cane. Assistant Qiu was supporting her from behind. When Chen Chuan saw her, he stood up from his seat.

Old Madam Ni said, "Sit, sit. Xiao Qiu, go outside and keep watch. I have something to say to this young man."

"Yes."

After Assistant Qiu went out, Old Madam Ni sat down in her seat and slowly said, "Young man, your mother's name is Yu Zhen, right?"

Chen Chuan glanced at her, nodded, and asked, "Does Teacher Ni know my mother?"

Actually, it wouldn't be strange if they knew each other. His predecessor's mother was also a fighter and a local of Yangzhi City. She spent her girlhood in Yangzhi. But now she suddenly called him over to talk about this. Was there some connection between them?

Old Madam Ni said, "I know her. There's quite a bit of fate involved. The master she followed to learn her skills was my junior sister. About ten years ago, your mother entrusted something to her, telling her that if her child entered Martial Valor in the future and had the opportunity to go to Central City, she should give him this thing. If not, then forget about it.

My junior sister, although she's not young anymore, is a restless person. She's been abroad for the past ten years, so she entrusted this thing to me. Now that you have a chance to enter Central City, I'll return the thing that was placed here to you today. It can be considered fulfilling a wish for this old woman."

As Old Madam Ni spoke, she placed a small package on the table. "Take it and have a look."

Chen Chuan stepped forward and took the thing. He found it to be very light. Judging by the shape, it was something like a notebook.

Teacher Ni said, "I haven't flipped through the things inside. You can rest assured. I've lived a long life and I'm not interested in the affairs of you young people."

Chen Chuan said seriously, "I believe Teacher Ni." He asked again, "Has Teacher Ni met my mother?"

Old Madam Ni nodded and said, "I've met her once. Quite a beautiful and strong-willed young girl, very quick-witted, but with a stubborn temper. I saw her sparring with her fellow disciples. After losing more than ten times, she still gritted her teeth and stood up. But each time, she was able to gain some advantage. It's just that she still didn't win that time. It's said that there was a contest later where she won, but I didn't see it. It's a bit of a pity."

Chen Chuan nodded and said solemnly, "Thank you, Teacher Ni, for taking care of it for so many years."

"No need for thanks. My junior sister gave a storage fee. If the time comes and you haven't gone to Central City, I'll destroy these things according to the agreement."

Chen Chuan said, "Teacher Ni, if you can see this senior again, could you please pass on a thank you from this junior?"

Old Madam Ni said, "If I can see her again, I'll pass it on for you. Alright, I know you young people are impatient and don't like talking to old people like me. Go back early."

Chen Chuan nodded, said goodbye to Old Madam Ni, and came out of the training hall. Outside the door, he thought for a moment. Looking back now, Old Madam Ni's gift of the saber to him wasn't entirely because of the monthly exam.

He hurried back to the dormitory. After closing the door, he unpacked the small package and found that it was a notebook, filled with fragmented and damaged pages, unrelated to each other, and he couldn't see any content.

At this moment, his heart stirred, because he recalled that there seemed to be a similar thing in the old house. He thought to himself that it seemed he had to go back to the old house.

Before, he didn't go back because the cause of his predecessor's death was unknown. At that time, he didn't have enough martial strength to protect himself. But now he had received a new protective suit and had a second self to protect him. It was time to go back and take a look.

After making a decision, he didn't act immediately, but waited until the holiday in the first ten days of the month, put on all the protective equipment, and greeted acquaintances, including Cheng Zitong, in advance. Then he carried the Snow Monarch Saber on his back and rode out.

After leaving the city, he rode north for more than an hour and came to the vicinity of a small river bend. On the opposite side of the river, he saw a house. This was the old house left by his parents.

About half a kilometer away, there was also a large house where Meng Shu used to live. It's just that her family only had servants and no adults, because there were few people nearby, so the two children often played together at that time.

This place looked relatively remote, but the ground was relatively flat, and there was a wide road outside, which was built during the Great Reclamation and was still usable today.

Looking at the surrounding traces, it had been more than a year, and no one had come here.

He detoured to the downstream of the stream, found a road paved with pebbles at a shallow bay, rode over, and stopped in front of the house, looking up.

This was a fairly large house, with five rooms and a large living room. Outside, there was a corridor with a roof. In his memory, his predecessor often walked back and forth on the railing when he was a child.

And his predecessor was hit and killed by a small stone on the corridor last time. Then, it was the matter after he arrived.

He pushed the bike over, stopped it outside, stepped on the creaking wooden planks, came to the door, took out the key to open the door, then gently reached out and pushed it open, looked at it, and walked into the house.