Book 3, Chapter 123: Mentor And Mentee’s Reunion

When Chen Chuan reached the square in front of the university, he cast a glance at the entrance and found plenty of students going in and out of the place.

It was the end of July. Judging by the time, the students were about to register for their follow-up exam the next day to determine whether they were going to be first- or second-class students.

While watching the hopeful expressions on the students’ faces, Chen Chuan couldn’t help but remember himself from two years ago, and he sent a prayer wishing for the students’ success during the exam. He slowed down and stopped at the entrance to show the security guard his ID card.

The security guard recognized him, and his instincts from the days in the military made him salute Chen Chuan. Then, he motioned for him to go in.

Chen Chuan gave him a nod as thanks and drove in.

Aside from the last time he stepped out of the campus, he had always entered the campus through the side gate during his studies. This time, he drove in through the main gate, and this gave him an entirely different experience. It was simultaneously familiar and strange.

After passing by the main hall, he drove over to the administrative office building. When he passed by the Spring-Autumn Lake, he couldn’t help but cast a few glances at the dorm.

Wu Han should have graduated. As for Feng Xiaoqi, Luo Kaiyuan, and Wei Dong, they should still have one year left. He wondered whether they were still on the campus. Perhaps he could go to the dorm to check later.

He could also visit the dormitory supervisor, though he wouldn’t be able to increase his pension just yet.

After arriving at the foot of the administrative office building, Chen Chuan parked his car and walked over. As he stared at the stairs before him, he straightened his hat and walked up.

Since the follow-up exam’s registration was the next day, a number of examinees had come to the administrative office building to ask for advice and information. A few of the lecturers in charge of the exam were present. When they saw Chen Chuan walk in, they were stunned.

The students couldn’t understand it, but they sensed an aura from Chen Chuan that made them fall silent. Meanwhile, the lecturers recognized his Resolution Department’s uniform.

The year before, a number of the lecturers connected to the former chancellor were either transferred or arrested by the Resolution Department, so their first reaction upon seeing Chen Chuan was whether the Resolution Department had come to arrest someone again.

After taking a closer look, they noticed something different. Aside from the different uniform, Chen Chuan also had a silver sword on his shoulder badge. That was the emblem of Central City’s Resolution Department.

Central City’s Resolution Department?

The lecturers were shocked.

Central City seldom sent anyone to the branch campuses. Did something happen? Again?

But this Resolution Department officer looked familiar...

Most of the lecturers had seen Chen Chuan before, but he had grown taller. When he walked past them, his invisible aura made their hearts tremble in fear, even though they were martial artists. They were worried about getting involved in whatever this was, so they stood still. None of them dared to approach him and ask any questions.

Chen Chuan didn’t recognize the lecturers, but he had met a couple of them when he visited the administrative office building in the past. He gave them a nod while passing through and got into the elevator.

After he left, the tension eased in the corridor. Some of the lecturers exchanged questioning glances, but none had an answer.

Chen Chuan went straight up to the sixth floor, where the Logistics Department was, and walked to Cheng Zitong’s office. His mentor was on the phone. It seemed like he was really busy, since he received a call on his other phone while still talking on the first one. He was discussing the registration and follow-up exam.

After waiting for a while, Chen Chuan finally heard Cheng Zitong drinking water inside. Then, he drew closer, knocked on the door, and said, “Mr. Cheng.”

Cheng Zitong whipped his head up, and delight lit up on his face. He stood up behind his desk. “Xiao Chuan, you’re here! I was thinking you’d drop by around this time. Come in. Take a seat! You look good in that uniform! It makes you look full of energy.”

Chen Chuan had kept in contact with Cheng Zitong the whole time. Even so, they hadn’t seen each other for half a year. His mentor’s face had become even rounder, and he had a healthy, red flush on his face. By the looks of it, he had been eating well over this period of time.

Cheng Zitong beckoned Chen Chuan inside and instinctively moved to close the door, but a quick thought made him lower his arm, and the door remained open. He grabbed a jug full of water instead and walked to the sofa. “It’s been half a year since I last met you, and you’ve changed a lot. You’re giving off an entirely different aura now. Your clothes, too. Hmm... Are you...”

Cheng Zitong was a man with plenty of knowledge about the world. Once the joy of meeting his beloved mentee faded away, he could recognize the telltale signs of what was going on, but he wanted to make sure of them.

Chen Chuan removed the wide-brimmed hat and set it on his knees to meet Cheng Zitong’s eyes as he said, “I haven’t been able to tell you this, but I reached the Third Limit two days ago and am now a Third Limit martial artist.”

Cheng Zitong was stunned, then excitement filled his entire being, and his face turned red. He slammed his hands on the table so hard that one of the corners bent with a snap. “You reached the Third Limit?!”

Chen Chuan nodded.

“That’s good. That’s amazing!”

Cheng Zitong observed him for a long while before squashing down his excitement and sitting down again. He grinned.

“You’ve only been in Central City for half a year, haven’t you? But then again, this makes sense. You’re talented. I’ve never met anyone as talented as you are. You’re improving at a much faster rate than other people, so it’s about time that you reached the Third Limit. You’ve been in the Second Limit for a long time, based on your standards. To others, you might have reached it too quickly, but the foundation you’ve been building all this while has just been waiting to push you to the Third Limit.

“I really am lucky to have taught someone as outstanding as you are. I no longer have any regrets in my life.”

Ever since Chen Chuan sparred with the younger disciples, people started calling him from Central City and either blatantly saying or hinting that they wanted to send their disciples to him for training. The respect he received grew a lot, and from that day on, his appetite also improved.

Chen Chuan stood up and took the glass of water Cheng Zitong had filled, even though some of it had spilled out when Cheng Zitong slammed his hands on the table. He filled the glass to the brim and pushed it back. “I’m the lucky one for receiving your guidance.”

Cheng Zitong laughed at that and took the glass. “You’re the same as ever.”

Then, his smile faded a little. “Life has been difficult for you in Central City, hasn’t it?”

“It’s alright. I can handle it,” Chen Chuan answered.

“You’ve managed to endure all the hardships, so life should get easier for you now. Third Limit martial artists can go wherever they want. Plenty of people stop at this stage, but with your talent, I’m sure that you can walk even further.”

Cheng Zitong thought of something and lamented, “It gets harder the further you tread. Plenty of people experience no growth even after decades of work. It’s not because they don’t want to improve. It’s just that they can’t.”

Chen Chuan pondered over this before asking, “Why does it sound like there’s some sort of secret behind the Third Limit?”

“I’ve heard about them, but I don’t know the details. Be patient, though. Someone will tell you when the time is right. They will make sure you learn about it even if you don’t want to know. Just wait. When the time comes for you to make your decision on what path to take, observe before making your choice. Don’t fall into a trap. You can ask my second uncle if you have any questions. Uncle Shang knows many things and is willing to provide guidance to the younger generation. I’ll give him a heads-up.”

Chen Chuan nodded at that and said, “Thank you, Mr. Cheng.”

“You don’t have to thank me, you know?”

Chen Chuan hummed before taking some things out from his bag. “I got these for you from Central City.”

“Seriously, you. You can come empty-handed. I won’t mind. You don’t have to bring me any souvenirs...”

Chen Chuan handed over a notebook at that moment. “This has notes on some of the supernatural beings I saw and dealt with in Central City. I recorded everything in this notebook. The information I gathered about them is all inside.”

Cheng Zitong’s eyes lit up. This was what he loved, and he happily took it. “Since this is a show of your sincerity, I’ll have to accept it. This is good stuff!”

While they were talking, both of the phones on the table rang. Cheng Zitong answered them and only set them down after a while.

“You must be really busy, Mr. Cheng,” Chen Chuan remarked.

Cheng Zitong grumbled, “I am. The follow-up exam’s registration is tomorrow, and the exam itself will be held in less than a month. We have to begin all sorts of preparation now. Things are different this year. The recommended student system has been canceled, and more students registered this year than before. The government is also paying a lot of attention to this, so everyone in the university is put to work. Even the Logistics Department is busy.”

“Then, I won’t bother you anymore. I’m going to be staying in Yangzhi City for a month, so I’ll visit you when you’re free,” Chen Chuan promised.

“No need for formalities between us. Since you’ve only just returned to Yangzhi City, take a good rest. Once I have some free time, let’s have a long chat to catch up,” Cheng Zitong said.

“Okay. Then, I’ll be leaving now,” Chen Chuan said and put his hat on.

“Go on.” Cheng Zitong stood up too and patted his shoulder. “Don’t waste your time here. The world outside is huge.”

After saying goodbye to Cheng Zitong, Chen Chuan left the office.

Meanwhile, Cheng Zitong returned to his desk in a good mood. After working for a while, he finally had some time to rest. While drinking water, he suddenly remembered something and giggled as he made a call. It went through very quickly.

“Senior Brother Qiao? It’s me. I’m dropping by for lunch today. Remember to prepare more food for me! Look, I have a good appetite, okay? And your food is really good! That’s settled. Bye now!”

***

Chen Chuan had wanted to visit Bian Feng and Yue Hong, but when he walked past the Admission Department, the place was deserted. Thinking that they were probably busy outside, he decided to let it slide. After leaving the administrative office building, he took a stroll along the shaded path of the Spring-Autumn Lake. With the wind blowing across the lake onto his face, he walked to the dorm.

When he stepped inside, he noticed some students standing around. They were new students who had come to ask about the follow-up exam. They didn’t recognize any of the lecturers, much less Chen Chuan, but when they saw his uniform, they instinctively spoke in whispers.

One of the upperclassmen was answering the questions for the dormitory supervisor and distributing information when he noticed the change in the atmosphere. He looked up and was stunned for a moment before crying out excitedly to the dormitory supervisor, “It’s Chen Chuan! Sir, it’s Chen Chuan!”

The dormitory supervisor also saw Chen Chuan at that moment. His eyes landed on the emblem on the young man’s shoulder, and he laughed. “You sure got promoted quickly, Chen Chuan. Looks like I actually have a chance of getting a higher pension.”