Hearing that Instructor Che wanted to see Chen Chuan, Yu Wan grew worried and asked, "Why does he want to see Chan’Er?"

Chen Chuan smiled. "It’s alright, Auntie. Instructor Che and Uncle are colleagues at the Bureau. Since he’s come all this way, he’s a guest. I’ll go and meet him."

Nian Fuli said, "I’ll go with Xiaochuan." He put his hat back on, buttoned up his uniform, and went out with Chen Chuan.

Instructor Che hadn’t entered the family residential area, but was waiting outside the alley. When Chen Chuan and Nian Fuli came out, they saw an official car parked there, flanked by two armed escort vehicles, one in front and one behind.

Standing in front of the car was a man in his early thirties, wearing the uniform of a Patrol Bureau instructor. He had thick, blade-like eyebrows and an extremely sharp gaze. While he could be considered handsome, he exuded an aggressive aura that made him difficult to approach.

Seeing the two of them emerge, he approached, ignoring Nian Fuli and extending a hand to Chen Chuan. "Mr. Chen, is it? I’m Che Lie, Chief Instructor of the Yangzhi Patrol Bureau."

As the man walked over, Chen Chuan realized he was also a Third Limit Fighter.

This was to be expected. Judging from Instructor Wen’s situation, the Chief Instructor’s duties included not only training Patrol Officers but also protecting important figures within the Patrol Bureau.

It was a position that seemed to hold little power on the surface but was, in fact, extremely important.

It wasn’t surprising that the man had identified him so readily. Chen Chuan had known since leaving the Processing Bureau that whenever a registered Third Limit Fighter traveled, the local security authorities would be notified. This was standard practice both domestically and internationally.

For his trip to Yangzhi City, the Processing Bureau would have certainly informed the Upper Layer of the Yangzhi City Government and the Patrol Bureau in advance.

He extended his hand as well, and the moment they clasped, he felt a surge of Power. With a calm expression, he sent a current of his own Power back.

When their Power clashed, Che Lie felt a numbing ache in his forearm, as if his hand was about to be repelled. He hastily tried to steady his grip, but the opposing Power vanished as suddenly as it had appeared. He was inwardly shocked. As soon as Chen Chuan released his fingers, he nonchalantly pulled his hand back.

He then looked at Nian Fuli. "Captain Nian, could you allow me a private word with Mr. Chen?"

Nian Fuli stood his ground and looked at Chen Chuan.

Chen Chuan said, "It’s fine, Uncle. I’ll just have a few words with Instructor Che."

Nian Fuli said, "Alright, you two talk. I’ll be at the mouth of the alley. Just give a shout if you need anything." With that, he walked back to the alley entrance, lit a cigarette, and began to smoke slowly.

Instructor Che paid Nian Fuli no mind. He turned to Chen Chuan and said, "Mr. Chen, as it happens, I also graduated from Central City Wuyi. So, I’ll take the liberty of calling you junior."

Chen Chuan said, "So you’re a senior from the Central Hospital."

Instructor Che looked him over and said, "Junior Chen, you are truly young and promising. After I graduated from the academy, it took me another three years to reach the Third Limit."

"But you, Junior, you’ve achieved this much in just over half a year at the Central Hospital. I’ve seen few with such talent."

Chen Chuan’s Divine Thought had grown much sharper now. He could sense that although the man’s words were polite and he was attempting to build rapport, they concealed a faint hostility and scrutiny.

He said, "Senior Brother Che, you flatter me."

Che Lie said, "I know what you’ve done in the past, Junior Chen. When it comes to the vermin undermining our nation, we must be ruthless. Exterminate them completely, without a shred of mercy."

Hearing this, Chen Chuan couldn’t help but recall the person he met with Special Envoy Feng. ’Are all the people from the National Temporary Special Action Committee like this?’

Che Lie continued, "Here in Yangzhi, although we’ve eliminated those vermin, there are still many threats to the Dashun Government that need to be purged. For example, those armed militants outside the city."

Chen Chuan said, "Instructor Che, are you referring to those villagers?"

"Villagers?"

Che Lie’s gaze sharpened. "They are not villagers. They illegally possess weapons, harbor members of the resistance, and have established strongholds. This is direct opposition to the Dashun Government, and they must be annihilated!"

Chen Chuan remained noncommittal.

Che Lie raised his eyebrows, staring at him. "Mr. Chen, you seem to sympathize with those resistance organizations. That’s a dangerous inclination."

Chen Chuan lifted his gaze to meet Che Lie’s directly. "Senior Brother Che, you’re not from Yangzhi, are you?"

Met with that bright, sharp gaze, Che Lie involuntarily leaned back slightly, his expression tensing. He said in a low voice, "I was only posted here in Yangzhi this year. But as soon as I arrived, I discovered numerous problems that have accumulated over a long time. It’s now at the point where they must be cleaned up and corrected."

Chen Chuan replied, "Senior Brother Che, I grew up in Yangzhi. Those villages have been there since I was a child. They’ve never posed any threat to Yangzhi City. In fact, they are often plundered by bandits."

"Just last year, I eliminated a band of raiders who were trying to plunder one of those villages. It was later proven that they were connected to the resistance group involved in the train robbery. If these villages are resistance strongholds, why would they be robbing themselves?"

Che Lie said slowly, "Mr. Chen, you are indeed capable. I’ve heard about what you did last year. However, your information is outdated. That raid was merely a case of internal strife among members of the resistance."

"I was dispatched to the Yangzhi Patrol Bureau by the Upper Layer for a reason. One of my tasks is to clean them out completely. And I will be taking action tomorrow."

He looked at Chen Chuan. "Junior Chen, this is a great opportunity to showcase your abilities. Our every effort will be seen by the Upper Layer. Would you like to join me?"

Chen Chuan refused. "I’m sorry, Senior Brother Che. I only came home to quietly enjoy my vacation and spend time with my family. Besides, this isn’t my duty. I’m afraid I can’t join you."

Che Lie stared at him for a moment, then said, "In that case, enjoy your vacation, Junior Chen. I won’t disturb you any longer." After a nod, he turned and walked back toward his car.

The Patrol Officers accompanying him immediately opened the car door. Just before getting in, he paused and turned back. "I’m heading out to suppress the bandits tomorrow. If you change your mind, Junior Chen, you can come and find me."

With that, he got in. The car door slammed shut, and the vehicle slowly drove off, escorted by the two armed patrol cars.

Chen Chuan watched him leave. ’Even though he’s just a Chief Instructor, his entourage is more ostentatious than the Bureau Chief’s.’

He walked back to Nian Fuli, who was still waiting. "Finished?" Nian Fuli asked. Chen Chuan nodded. Nian Fuli snuffed out his cigarette, threw the butt to the ground, stomped on it a few times, and said, "Let’s head back."

Back inside the house, Nian Fuli gave the waiting Yu Wan a reassuring look. "It’s fine." Then he turned to Chen Chuan. "Xiaochuan, what did that Che fellow say to you?"

Chen Chuan poured him a glass of water before answering. "He said he wanted to invite me to help annihilate the villages outside the city, but I think his real goal was to make sure I don’t get in his way."

Yu Wan asked in confusion, "But Chan’Er, what does this have to do with you?"

"No, it has everything to do with him." Nian Fuli took off his hat. "Xiaochuan isn’t just anybody now. He’s from Central City, holds a post with the Processing Bureau’s Headquarter, and is an official Law Enforcer of Central City. He has a direct line to the Headquarter."

He rubbed the stubble on his head. "No wonder. I was originally supposed to lead the mission, but then I was taken off it. They were so polite about it, too. It was because of Xiaochuan all along."

Chen Chuan said, "That’s probably it."

’In truth, he knew what Nian Fuli said was only part of the reason. More importantly, there was the weight he carried as a Third Limit Fighter. That, and his own intricate connections to the Patrol Bureau. Refusing to help was one thing, but it would be incredibly easy for him to sabotage the operation if he wanted to.’

’It seemed Che Lie placed great importance on this operation, which was why he had gone out of his way to meet him personally.’

Yu Wan breathed a sigh of relief. "What a mess."

Nian Fuli waved a hand. "Let’s eat first."

After dinner, Yu Wan took the two little ones out for a walk. Chen Chuan and Nian Fuli sat down to discuss what had happened, but they had only exchanged a few sentences when the phone suddenly rang.

Nian Fuli went to answer it. After listening for a moment, he grunted and put the receiver down. "That was Xiaowu. He said Che Lie just left with his men. Apparently, they left in a great hurry."

Chen Chuan said, "He just told me it would be tomorrow."

Nian Fuli shook his head. "He wasn’t telling the truth. Or perhaps he was afraid something might go wrong. Sudden changes in plans are common on missions, to prevent information leaks."

A thought crossed Chen Chuan’s mind. ’Che Lie took action as soon as he returned. Was he afraid things would change? Was it because of my disapproval during our conversation? Or was there some other reason?’

But there was nothing he could do about it for now. Seeing Nian Fuli on the phone with his colleagues from the Bureau, trying to get more information, he didn’t stay in the living room any longer and returned to his own room.

He read a book for a while. When it was about time, he took some calming medication and began his Breathing Technique.

By now, he could completely replace sleep with the Breathing Technique, which was excellent for maintaining his peak condition. The technique was also especially useful for regulating his state of mind.

The night passed in a flash. At five in the morning, the phone in the living room suddenly rang. Nian Fuli was already up. He put down the towel he was using to wipe his face, walked over, and picked up the phone. He froze for a second, then his expression changed, his voice rising involuntarily. "Say that again?"

Hearing the commotion, Chen Chuan came out of his room.

Nian Fuli put down the phone and said to both Yu Wan and Chen Chuan, "Che Lie is dead. He died last night outside one of the villages."

Yu Wan was visibly stunned. "The... the Instructor Che who was just here yesterday? Wasn’t he supposed to be incredibly skilled?"

Nian Fuli frowned. "The details are unclear, but this is a huge deal." He quickly grabbed his belt from the coat rack, buckled it, and put on his hat. "I’m heading to the Bureau right now."

Just then, Chen Chuan said, "Uncle, I’ll go with you."

Nian Fuli hesitated for a second, then said decisively, "Alright! You should come, Xiaochuan. You’re powerful, and Che Lie came looking for you yesterday. I’m guessing the Bureau will want to question you later, so you might as well come along now."

...

...