CHAPTER 183: BOUNDARIES

The sedan drove out of the Quanzhou District and entered the West Post District forty-five minutes later. This area had a lot of abandoned factories, so it became a gathering place for gangs and a trading place for forbidden items.

The sedan drove over the pothole-covered road, and Chen Chuan stared at the abandoned factories outside. He remembered coming here before with Wei Changan to capture Tong Qianjiang, but due to various reasons, they failed to get him. Chen Chuan was only able to kill him and the rest of his gang in the fort outside Cai Hamlet.

After the car hit another pothole with a violent jolt, the box beside Chen Chuan started emitting skittering sounds.

Chen Chuan patted the box, and the noise faded.

They traveled down for a while more before the driver slowed down and said, “Mr. Chen, Li’an Machinery is right ahead, but I see barriers blocking the road.”

Chen Chuan cast his eyes forward and saw two cement barriers in front of them. There was a factory behind them. “It’s just a few paces away. I’ll get out here.”

He opened the door and walked out with the Frost King Saber. The driver came out too and carried the box over.

Chen Chuan checked his watch. It was 3:45 a.m., fifteen minutes away from the time of the meeting.

The driver walked over and put the box in front of him. Chen Chuan thanked him, grabbed the box, and walked to the factory.

There were trees scattered here and there on the sides, along with simple, old, roadside benches. The road under his feet was full of potholes and covered in leaves and debris.

Shen Zheng probably walked down the same road three years ago.

Today, it was Chen Chuan’s turn to tread it.

Their situations were different, though.

Chen Chuan looked forward. With a steady, powerful stride, he walked toward the factory. His feet landed on the fallen leaves, making them let out crisp sounds as they broke apart. Gradually, he got closer to the dark, gloomy factory.

At the same time, a black limousine headed toward Yangzhi City down the public road. It was coming from Central City.

A man in his thirties sat in the back seat. Half of his face had wires embedded beneath the skin. The stereo in the car played relaxing music. The man took out a bottle and filled half a glass of saffron-colored liquid. Then, he started savoring the drink.

As a martial artist, he had great self-discipline. He neither drank nor smoked, but with the technology from Central City, the researchers had made non-alcoholic drinks that tasted like high-class wine, so he could enjoy them.

The driver slowed down the car.

“What is it?” the man asked.

“Mr. Chi, there’s someone in front,” the driver answered.

Mr. Chi looked over and saw a well-built man standing in the middle of the spacious road. His mane-like hair danced in the wind.

After observing him for a bit, Mr. Chi mumbled under his breath, “Looks like we won’t get there before 4 a.m.”

He set the glass down, opened the door, and got out of the car while stretching. Then, he walked over to the man standing in front of the car.

***

Meanwhile, Chen Chuan arrived in front of the factory. Quite a number of high-class cars were parked outside. Many of them had their headlights still on, while private security guards were standing around them. Just then, a butler walked up to him and asked with a smile, “Are you Mr. Chen?”

“That’s me,” Chen Chuan answered.

“Please come with me.”

The butler motioned him forward. Two security guards slowly pulled up a wide rolling shutter door in front of the factory, revealing the interior to be brightly lit by industrial lights. There were even two spotlights at the sides. The long beams were deliberately cast further into the factory as if trying to show something.

Chen Chuan stood in front of the tall, wide entrance with his saber in hand. Behind him was the dark night, while ahead of him was a room filled with blinding light. It was as if the entrance separated two completely different worlds.

The butler gestured for him to go in. “This way, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Chuan tightened his grip over the Frost King Saber and walked in. After around eight steps, the rolling shutter door came down behind him and landed on the floor with a snap.

Chen Chuan ignored it and observed his surroundings. The factory was huge. Steel platforms elevated about four meters above the floor by metal panels and frames were set all around. Beneath them were metal staircases, with narrow passageways weaving between them.

Some people were walking on those platforms, which created loud thumps. There were also spotlights at the corners of the passageways and the pillars. They turned on with loud clicks, and more than ten beams shone on him.

Chen Chuan wondered about their purpose for a moment before he set down the box. Then, he walked forward with his saber until he arrived under a platform. He could see a Mutual Aid Group member standing on it.

He could identify the person as a member immediately because of the custom-made uniform. Golden threads were woven together to form two hands clasped together—the emblem of the Mutual Aid Group. It was similar to the university’s uniform, but more lavish.

About six people stood on the platform in front of Chen Chuan. Whispers were coming from all around, but those people were further away. Aside from them, he could also hear a lot of breathing from the other platforms and passageways. There were dozens of them, perhaps more. Chen Chuan believed they were security guards and retainers.

It was simple logic. Unless they were certain of their safety, the rich kids did not even dare to show their faces in front of him.

Even now, they stood above him as if to show their status and power, but they were also probably doing it out of fear and desire to keep a distance from him.

With a few thuds, Wei Jun arrived next to the metal railing. He slammed a hand on it and looked down. “How very punctual of you, Chen Chuan.”

“I don’t like tardy people, so I refuse to be late to any appointments,” Chen Chuan stated.

Wei Jun hummed and nodded before commenting, “That’s a good habit. We won’t have to waste each other’s time. Since you’re here, let’s talk.”

Now that Chen Chuan had come, he was no longer as stressed as before. They had made a lot of arrangements for tonight, and the factory was filled with people from their side.

Meanwhile, the companies and forces of power belonging to their families had already taken action in the other parts of Yangzhi City. They were keeping an eye out on all the organizations that might interfere in this matter and were ready to warn the Mutual Aid Group.

For the moment, it was quiet from that side. Yet despite the silence, Chen Chuan decided to come alone to meet them. He even walked into the factory. Their plan was bound to succeed at this point.

“There’s no need for us to get to the point where we see each other as mortal enemies, Chen Chuan. I know what you want, but do you think that path is easy to take?”

While speaking, Wei Jun kept walking and tapping against the railing.

“I know that you’ve received evaluation points from the Foreign Affairs Department and will definitely sit for the unrestricted defense permit. Your goal is to get a recommendation slot to go to Central City, isn’t it? But no matter how hard you try, you won’t get it. Do you know why?”

Wei Jun appeared relaxed, as if victory was already in his grasp, but there was a barely noticeable trace of agitation in his posture.

Suddenly he turned to face Chen Chuan and nodded before saying, “By the way, have you heard about Shen Zheng? I’m sure you have, or rather, you should have.

“He died taking the very path you’re taking right now. Do you know what he did wrong that led to his death?

“He crossed the line!”

Wei Jun pointed downward, as if he was trying to emphasize something. “He didn’t obey the rules that he should have and crossed a line he shouldn’t have! That’s why he died!”

He slammed both of his hands on the metal railing, and it trembled so violently that dust fell from it. But Wei Jun just kept his eyes fixed on Chen Chuan. “You’re taking that same path, and it’s very dangerous.”

He let some of the hostility fade from his voice. “But it doesn’t have to be that way. If you step back, obey the rules, and do everything according to them, we’ll be able to get along. However, if you continue down this path, you won’t just be making an enemy out of us, the Mutual Aid Group. Heh. That’s right. It won’t be just us...”

He brought his arms up. “You’ll be going up against the tall embankment built by the upper-class of Yangzhi City.”

Chen Chuan watched Wei Jun from where he stood below. He knew what the latter was saying. The social hierarchy in their world was really clear and distinct. Central City existed at the highest point of the pyramid, then came Yangzhi City and other cities, followed by the villages and hamlets, and finally, the wilderness.

Each level had its own unique circles, and each circle had its own way of living. They did not bother each other’s lives, for there was a huge disparity in the way they lived.

The ladder up this pyramid was really narrow, and only a handful of people made it up. Those who could go up had to use every method they could to crush those who stood in their way to climb up the ladder.

If anyone wanted a peaceful life, they could not even dream about climbing up the social ladder. They had to just stay in their lane, and they would be fine.

But once someone tried to break the rules and cross the line, they would face all sorts of persecution.

“We’re willing to talk to you because we don’t want things to reach that stage,” Wei Jun continued, motioning toward Jiang Wei, who stood beside him. “Jiang Wei invited you to join the Mutual Aid Group twice through Yu Ruizhi. Now, we’ll extend that offer to you again.

“We won’t legally bind you with cumbersome clauses, and we won’t even ask you to do anything. The clauses are really only for the mediocre people. You don’t need them. We can give you resources, as long as you don’t cross the line.”

Chen Chuan smiled dismissively at that. He knew all too well that they were only offering to not impose those clauses on him because they had no choice but to make that concession after seeing his strength. They were just hoping to keep him in his place for the time being.

If he said yes and stopped moving forward, they would find ways to slowly get rid of his supporters. Then, they could easily remove him from the picture.

If he decided to be a good boy, the Mutual Aid Group would make him fight against those who tried to cross the line. But if he didn’t, he would end up like Shen Zheng.

“Since you’re making the offer, I suppose I should give you my answer,” Chen Chuan said in a relaxed voice. “I’ll continue down this path, and I will keep moving forward. As for the obstacles in my way?”

He looked up at Wei Jun and the other members of the Mutual Aid Group. His gaze was as sharp as a knife.

“I’ll just get rid of them all.”