Central Station.

Station Chief Building.

Jiang Chuan walked briskly into the first floor, going over his prepared words once more in his mind before ascending the stairs to the second floor.

Knock, knock knock.

"Come in!"

The door was gently pushed open. Ding Yishan wasn't sitting behind his office desk handling official business as usual, but was standing by the window, holding a cup of hot tea while looking out at the "large construction site."

During these seven days of closure, the Central Station was hurrying to renovate basic infrastructure, especially the isolation area where He Fei had his accident, which was rapidly being constructed into more comprehensive isolation rooms.

Unfortunately, this renovation was ultimately just surface work, using only the most ordinary steel materials, with no way to replace them with stronger isolation alloys.

After all, the inspection station was different from other departmental units in the buffer zone and couldn't directly apply for funding from the inner city.

Tracing back to earlier times.

This was still a rule established by Cheng Wu's generation, that the inspection station needed to be self-sufficient.

On one hand, this rule blocked the possibility of the inner city reaching into the inspection station, and on the other hand, it also cut off any thoughts of complacency among internal personnel.

In previous years during the great pioneering era, the inspection station had lived prosperously.

With just a few years of income, they had built two large inspection stations in the north and south, using isolation alloys for almost all visible and tangible areas.

But in recent years, as Shi Province's situation gradually stabilized, the benefits that field inspectors could bring back became fewer and fewer, only enough to maintain the station's daily operations and basic repairs.

At the beginning of the year, Ding Yishan had converted almost all liquid funds into supplies, having the core inspectors take them out.

Originally, he had calculated that as long as they could hold on until autumn, they could greatly alleviate the current difficulties and strive to renovate the Central Station to the scale of the north and south stations within two years.

But man's plans are inferior to heaven's plans. The sudden outbreak of the infection tide made the funding deficit in the accounts even more serious.

The current renovation could only temporarily maintain the situation.

"Did you find out the situation?"

"Yes, I've made contact with Cheng Ye."

Ding Yishan turned around, smiling, his mood seeming quite good.

The worried expression from recent days had dissipated considerably, and his entire demeanor carried an indescribable sense of relaxation.

"Sir, is there good news?"

"There is!"

Ding Yishan pulled out a chair and sat down, letting out a long breath. "Just these few days, that fool Zhou Changhai finally couldn't hold back. At noon, he secretly went to see Harlin and was jointly reported to me by the other three. It seems he's decided to join the Westerners to seek advancement."

"Ah?"

Jiang Chuan was stunned. An Eastern inspector had joined the Western camp, and the station chief could still smile about it?

Now that Lei Hu, the duty station chief of the South Station, was already collaborating with Harlin, plus there were two other Western fifth-term inspectors, with Zhou Changhai's defection, wouldn't the Easterners be at a complete disadvantage?

"Achuan, your skills are impressive, but..."

Ding Yishan tapped his head, "This needs more training, otherwise if I elevate you to inspector, you'd just be a brute doing hard labor."

"Sir, I..."

In the past when Ding Yishan praised his skills, Jiang Chuan would accept it openly.

But today, he felt uncomfortable all over, unable to stop images of hundreds of guns aimed at him and being tied up with iron chains from flashing through his mind.

"Four fifth-term inspectors, I have no way to deal with them. No matter who I favor, it will displease the other three and make them resent me as station chief. So... I can only let them fight among themselves first, and only when they produce a result can I step out to manage the situation."

Ding Yishan continued on his own, then changed the topic. "Now it's different. That fool Zhou Changhai joined Harlin, which gave me a perfect target. Hey, tell me, if I, the station chief, show a little weakness now, who would be most worried?"

"It's..." Jiang Chuan hesitated and tentatively answered, "The other three inspectors?"

"I take back what I said earlier. Kid, your mind has become quite sharp these past two years."

Ding Yishan laughed heartily. "Forget it, let's not talk about this. These power struggles among the upper ranks can't make big waves. No matter who becomes duty station chief in the end, it won't affect the current overall situation. If they really want to fight over transcendent opportunities, that won't be until next year."

"How was Cheng Ye when you investigated him?"

"Very impressive!"

Achuan took a deep breath. "The feeling he gave me was at least not weaker than Cheng Long's performance at that age."

"Oh?"

Ding Yishan suddenly sat up straight, unable to help raising his eyebrows. Could today be a double celebration?

"Tell me in detail, from the beginning."

"Yes." Jiang Chuan didn't hesitate and began recounting everything he had seen and heard after entering B-7 district.

He didn't hide anything, even the incident of being captured by the Tianyuan Community people.

He knew clearly that the station chief before him was someone who cared about results and didn't focus on details.

Sure enough, when hearing that he had been tied up by community people, Ding Yishan only raised his eyebrows, his eyes actually showing even more intense interest.

However, as he continued listening, when Jiang Chuan described everyone's reactions after Cheng Ye entered the community and those inspection methods.

The smile on Ding Yishan's face gradually faded, and he began frowning in thought.

Especially the three questions Cheng Ye had asked, he pondered them repeatedly several times and finally couldn't help shaking his head.

"What is this kid asking? Who told him that's how to be an inspector?"

"I don't know, but after he finished asking, he directly let me go."

"Nonsense!"

Ding Yishan scolded, but when he wanted to say more, he seemed at a loss for where to start.

He could only gloomily take a sip of tea and say, "Continue."

"After that, he didn't find my identity strange either. He took me back to where he lived and was about to go to the hospital..."

"In the car, I tested him, and he wasn't hiding anything at all..."

Jiang Chuan sped up, outputting dense information continuously.

Ding Yishan's eyebrows twitched from time to time, but he never interrupted.

Only after Jiang Chuan finished everything in one breath did Ding Yishan lean back slightly in his chair, looking thoughtful. "How are his skills?"

"Average, but for a newcomer who's only trained for two or three months, already very strong."

"Very strong..."

Ding Yishan repeated these two words in a low voice.

If this evaluation came from someone else's mouth, he wouldn't care.

But Jiang Chuan was a master he had focused on cultivating in recent years. Any transcendent items that occasionally came by were given to Jiang Chuan first, hoping to create another transcendent for the inspection station, but he had never succeeded.

Since Jiang Chuan could evaluate him as very strong, it meant that the evaluation during Cheng Ye's probationary period was the same as that report from the inner city.

The goods didn't match the description, completely inconsistent!

"How strange. Do all Cheng family members have this ability, being good at deception?"

Ding Yishan stroked his chin and suddenly instructed, "Achuan, go check the records of whoever evaluated Cheng Ye's probationary performance later. See if that person deliberately recorded false information, or if this Cheng Ye was hiding too deeply."

"Yes."

Jiang Chuan's eyes moved slightly as he tentatively asked, "Are you planning to use Cheng Ye, sir?"

"Hard to say." Ding Yishan pondered. "When Cheng Long was his age, his character might not have been as good as his, but his skills were much stronger!"

After speaking, he shook his head again. "It's a pity there's no Pioneer Corps now, otherwise putting him in there to train for a year or so, he might be able to stand out."

"Sir, in my opinion, given the current situation, skills aren't that important."

"Hmm?"

"He can deal with advanced fusion bodies, whether relying on a group of people or by himself alone, it shows that in terms of dealing with infected entities, he already has the basic qualities of an inspector. As for fighting people..."

Jiang Chuan paused and continued, "As long as Liu Bi is transferred back to protect Cheng Ye, it won't be long before Cheng Ye can grow up naturally."

"No."

Ding Yishan directly shook his head. "Do you think I transferred Liu Bi away for no reason before? The people in the inner city have been pressing for so many days, especially those from the Transcendent faction that Cheng Long offended to death. They absolutely won't allow another Cheng Long to appear, no, they absolutely won't tolerate another Cheng family member rising up."

"If I transfer Liu Bi back now, it's like openly telling these people that our inspection station is going to heavily invest in the Cheng family again. What do you think they'll do?"

"Not to mention anything else, among those people there are plenty of half-step transcendents, masters at your level. Even Cheng Long had to hide in the inspection station and use its influence to compete with them. How could Liu Bi alone handle it?"

Jiang Chuan remained silent, not answering.

After a few seconds, he asked quietly, "But didn't you say before..."

"I said to bring Liu Bi back before because I knew he couldn't come back, so I said that. If he could really come back that day, I wouldn't have made that phone call!"

Ding Yishan finished in one breath, suddenly feeling somewhat dispirited.

He got up and walked to the window again. The setting sun was slowly sinking, spreading a dusky glow across the horizon, very much like the inspection station's current situation.

The sun setting in the west, no longer able to return to the sky.

Perhaps Liu Kun's extreme pursuit of power wasn't wrong. This Happiness City really was a place where strength spoke.

If the inspection station had its own transcendent, how could it have fallen to such a state?

No.

As soon as the thought emerged, Ding Yishan immediately shook his head, forcefully pushing it to the back of his mind.

Once the idea that everything could be solved through violence took root, the righteous path belonging to ordinary people would become impassable.

Even the ten elders, figures who would be revered wherever they went among shelter cities, were still seeking breakthrough solutions among ordinary people.

Liu Kun's path was wrong!

At least for the inspection station, it was wrong!

"Sir."

The voice came from behind again, and Ding Yishan casually hummed in acknowledgment.

However, the next second, his calm face suddenly showed a trace of astonishment, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

"If you give me a chance, I'm willing to... protect him."

"What?"

Ding Yishan spun around sharply, his body trembling.

Then, he strode over to Jiang Chuan in two or three steps, actually reaching out to forcibly lift his lowered head.

"Achuan, what did you just say?"

The moment their eyes met, Jiang Chuan's heart shook.

The usually gentle Station Chief Ding now looked like a lion ready to pounce, sharp-edged, with an indescribable coldness flickering in his eyes.

"I..." He was stunned, but in his mind flashed again the scene of Cheng Ye walking into the community with everyone spontaneously showing respect.

Playing repeatedly, cycling endlessly.

"I said, I'm willing to protect him."

"Why?"

"Because he's the same as you were back then."

"Same as me?"

Ding Yishan was completely stunned. Just for an instant, many answers had flashed through his mind.

But he never expected Jiang Chuan to say this.

"You think he's from the Original Intent faction?"

"No."

Jiang Chuan gently shook his head. "In the Original Intent faction's eyes, ordinary people are still just tools, but he's completely different, just like when you first took office..."

"Enough!"

Ding Yishan suddenly shouted in a low voice. "Jiang Chuan, you're not qualified to judge the Original Intent faction, especially the word 'tools.' I don't want to hear it from your mouth a second time. Unless someday you can sit in my position, otherwise, you'll never be worthy, understand?"

"Yes!"

Jiang Chuan quickly lowered his head in response, fine cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

Clearly Station Chief Ding was only someone who had opened ordinary meridian gates and held a false embryo, not much different from Big Dragon.

But at this moment, the pressure emanating from him was no weaker than Liu Kun's.

That was an invisible force condensed from belief, and also the fundamental reason he had been willing to follow loyally all these years.

"You want to protect him, fine, but you have to become an inspector. Only after entering this system do you have the qualification."

Ding Yishan was breathing heavily as he sat back behind the office desk, his tone carrying unquestionable firmness. "Otherwise, if you Jiang Chuan dare take this step today, you'll immediately die in front of me tomorrow."

"I..."

Jiang Chuan was stunned. "Sir, can't I continue as I am now..."

"No. What do you think you are? Is being half-step transcendent impressive?"

Ding Yishan sneered. "This Happiness City is no longer what it used to be. Without the tiger skin of the inspection station covering you, Jiang Chuan, in those transcendents' eyes, you're worse than an ant!"

"They could step on you and crush you to death."

"Only after entering the system will your half-step transcendent status count as a presentable ability, will someone be willing to stand behind you, will someone uphold justice for you and block those pressures for you. Do you understand?"

After these words fell, Jiang Chuan was still in a daze, unable to come back to his senses for a long time.

Seeing this, Ding Yishan expressionlessly opened a drawer and pulled out three sheets of documents. "But it's just as well. Since Cheng Ye has some potential, enough to make you willing to actively protect him, then let's change the target."

"These three have all passed the cultural assessment and are probationary inspectors now, with only the infection response assessment remaining. I can nod and let them pass at any time."

He tapped the documents with his fingertip, his tone carrying a few traces of cold determination. "You pick one, and I'll have him 'die' in a reasonable and justified manner, then push you up."

"No, sir, I can't..."

Jiang Chuan instinctively shook his head, but before he could finish speaking, he was rudely interrupted by Ding Yishan.

"Jiang Chuan, do you think you have a choice, or do you think I have a choice?"

"Three idiots insisted on following Cheng Long out to die, severely damaging the inspection station! Do you think that before they set out, they didn't consider what would happen to their descendants after failure?"

"They simply don't care. In this world, not everyone cares about their descendants!"

Ding Yishan's voice carried suppressed fury, each word seeming to squeeze out from between his teeth. "Don't play dumb with me. How many inspector descendants has Harlin dealt with openly and secretly over the years, replacing them with his people?"

"Nine, a full nine. I, Ding Yishan, station chief of the inspection station, how many have I replaced?"

He suddenly raised his voice. "Even Cheng Long's worthless son, I've left him a chance to fight for his life!"

"But now, you've made me completely lose patience."

Ding Yishan's gaze suddenly turned cold, his tone carrying unquestionable firmness.

"This isn't asking you, it's notifying you. If you don't agree, I'll randomly pick someone and have him go on duty when the inspection station reopens. When he dies, you must take his place."

"I don't care what happens in the process. I only want the final result. Since you value Cheng Ye, then go protect him. I'm giving you this opportunity."

"I..."

Jiang Chuan murmured, still wanting to say something.

But a sheet of documents had already been crumpled into a ball by Ding Yishan and thrown at his brow.

"Get out!"

The roar exploded from behind the office desk, so unfamiliar it made Jiang Chuan's whole body shake.

Never before had he seen Station Chief Ding in such anger, not even when He Fei died.

I've disappointed Station Chief Ding.

Jiang Chuan stood there dazed, not picking up the paper ball on the ground, just numbly backing away.

The door was gently pulled open. He couldn't help turning his head, his peripheral vision sweeping over the desk.

Ding Yishan still maintained his disappointed expression, the coldness piercing his heart like an ice pick, making him forget to even regulate his breathing.

However, just as half his body stepped out the door, a voice finally came from behind the desk.

"Achuan."

"Sir?" Jiang Chuan instinctively turned around.

"I'll give you a chance."

Ding Yishan's voice deepened. "Pick it up. If you're willing to pick it up, I'll give him a chance to fight for his life and arrange for him to partner with Cheng Ye. They're both 'worthless' people from the inner city. If he can be like Cheng Ye, no, even if he only shows half of Cheng Ye's ability, today's incident will be forgotten. I'll protect him and keep him alive."

"But if you're unwilling, then watch him die at Central Station."

"Sir, I'm willing, I'm willing!"

A flash of astonishment crossed Jiang Chuan's face, then his figure suddenly turned, his half-step transcendent speed fully unleashing.

In the blink of an eye, he had grasped the paper ball in his hand, looking as if he was afraid Ding Yishan would change his mind.

"Open it."

"Yes!"

Jiang Chuan quickly unfolded the paper ball. The top showed two characters: "Wang Kang."

Below was attached a detailed resume: all cultural assessments were at least A-level, and the Inspector Handbook assessment even achieved S-level, but when it came to martial assessment, just like Cheng Ye initially, it was consistently the lowest F-level.

"Want to see the other two sheets?"

The remaining two documents were casually thrown over by Ding Yishan. Jiang Chuan's gaze instinctively focused on the assessment scores.

Cultural subjects were mostly B's and C's, and some martial assessments even had direct failure marks.

"Sir..."

He was completely stunned, his whole body trembling slightly.

"This isn't just my test for you, it's also a test for Cheng Ye. If he wants me, Ding Yishan, to heavily invest in him and cultivate him as the next station chief, fine."

"But relying on this little character and strength is far from enough. The reason I valued Cheng Long back then was never because of his Cheng family identity, nor because of schemes or skills, but because he could motivate the entire team and make other inspectors respect him!"

Ding Yishan stood up, his gaze distant. "Now, you've passed. It's his turn."

[NEXT CHAPTER]