Book 3, Chapter 183: Implant Surgery

Chen Chuan was fine with it. Honestly, if Clear Road Transport didn’t have a strong enough organization supporting them, they would have to give up the territories they reclaimed soon after he left.

Toxic Ants were unlikely to completely destroy Clear Road Transport due to Chen Chuan’s threat, but that was the most he could do for Clear Road Transport.

He was sure the group knew it as well.

Border Fusion swooped in right when they were in trouble and stated that they were willing to support them, so Chen Chuan wasn’t too surprised that they instantly reached an agreement.

And compared to the other companies, Border Fusion was just trying to expand their business for the moment, so they weren’t too greedy.

Naturally, Chen Chuan knew that wanting to expand their business was just one of their reasons for collaborating with Clear Road Transport. The higher-ups of the company were most likely thinking about getting feedback from the people in the lower city district after pumping their implants into the market in order to speed up the research and development of their combat-based implants so that they would be ready for the new era.

This was what every company was doing. Those who couldn’t would end up being left behind in the dust, like Black Orchid Co..

“If that’s what both of you are thinking, I have no reason to object, but as the company’s security advisor, I need to remind you that once you enter the lower city district’s playground, you won’t just be competing in the business field, but might also have to fight with force,” he pointed out.

“We know, and we’re prepared for it,” Tang Zhang said with a slightly more serious expression.

“Do as you see fit, then,” Chen Chuan said.

He would report this to the Resolution Department. He was sure that Tang Zhang had told him about it not just because he was considerate about Chen Chuan’s possible relationship with the people here. He was also likely thinking about reporting it to the Resolution Department through Chen Chuan.

“Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Chen. I need to report this to the company as soon as possible. Please excuse me for a moment,” Tang Zhang said.

Chen Chuan walked back to the RV after he was done talking to Tang Zhang. A lot of consideration had to have been put into picking this place as a base, because the onslaught to his second self was minimal, though still present. It had to be some sort of special corruption.

He didn’t know whether this was related to why the government had decided to abandon the lower city district, but the non-martial artists who stayed here long term would eventually have a high demand for implants.

When Chen Chuan was near the RV Clear Road Transport had assigned for him during his stay, he saw Lan Shennan walking toward him. She looked to be in a good mood. Once she got close, she said, “I’ve spoken to Master Yu. The surgery will be the day after tomorrow. Thank you, Chen Chuan.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Captain Lan. Mr. Yu moving normally again is what I want to see too,” Chen Chuan said.

“I also want to cooperate with Border Fusion. I hope this won’t be a problem for you,” Lan Shennan mentioned.

“It’s no problem at all. As the leader of the group, you do need to find someone powerful to support you. This is a wise decision. I have no comment about that.

“But no matter where you are and who you work with, power is everything. I heard from Mr. Yu that you’re naturally gifted. If you’re able to utilize your gift properly, I’m sure that you can lead your group to greater heights.”

“Thanks for the advice, Chen Chuan. I’ll do it,” Lan Shennan said with a determined and hopeful smile on her heroic face. She took his words to heart.

***

Toxic Ants left the stolen territories quickly. In just a day, they pulled out of the places they had taken from Clear Road Transport. Some of the original Clear Road Transport members heard about this and decided to return to the group.

Naturally, some of them were moles sent from other groups and Toxic Ants itself, but Clear Road Transport suffered from a severe lack of manpower and couldn’t reject them just because they were spies. They decided to take them in and observe them.

Once Border Fusion and Clear Road Transport’s cooperation was set in stone, Border Fusion sent a team to the lower city district. It had a resonator unit who set up a dominant domain signal with Clear Road Transport to let them communicate with the upper city district.

Meanwhile, with the help of the company’s medical team, the base spent two days getting ready for Yu Gang’s surgery. On the third day, they officially began installing the implants.

The surgery went for an entire day. The next day, when the medical pod opened, a tall figure walked out.

Lu Ke had been waiting outside anxiously. When he saw Yu Gang walking out with all limbs intact without any external help, he became so worked up that he ran over to check him from head to toe. “Are you feeling better, Master?”

He put his hand on Yu Gang’s new arm. When he felt how sturdy and powerful it was, tears pooled up in his eyes.

“Yes. I’m fine now,” Yu Gang said.

He moved his arm. Even though it wasn’t his original arm, there was no stiffness in his movements. He could also sense a power that he had never experienced before emanating from the arm. It was a novel feeling.

The implant specialist in charge of maintenance came over and reminded him, “Mr. Yu, your implants can withstand normal activity, but you need to perform suitable training before the muscle and mutated tissue replicas become compatible with you.

“Once it happens, we’ll perform a systematic check on you.

“During this time, you need to take a certain number of nutritional injections to help your joints, nerves, and other parts heal. These injections will help nurture them. In the beginning, you will also need to take anti-mutation medicine. After around five weeks, your body will get used to the implants.

“Our implants have certain practical functions. If your cardiovascular system has been modified before, you can use it together with your implants and unleash even stronger power. If you damage your implants, you can repair them by entering an incubation pod.”

When the implant specialist saw other people gathering around to listen, he felt satisfied and continued, “Of course, what’s more important is the mutated tissue replica. You won’t have to worry about overgrowth or atrophy, since it’s a replica. If necessary, the replica can grow in an orderly manner with the help of certain equipment and keep pace with your increasing strength.”

Yu Gang moved his arm again, and its muscles flexed naturally. On the surface, aside from the skin tone being slightly different from Yu Gang’s own, no one could detect anything strange about the arm. He could even move his fingers normally.

“When can I begin training again?” he asked.

“You have a strong body, Mr. Yu, and your compatibility with the implants is also quite high. The surgery was a huge success, so you can begin training tomorrow. I suggest starting with easy martial arts exercises. Then, you can increase the intensity day by day.

“We will be observing and monitoring you during the entire process to track the changes in your body. Please allow us to gather data to help with future research.”

“Of course,” Yu Gang said.

Lan Shennan walked over and said apologetically, “I’m sorry, Master.”

She had gotten all the implants installed at once and even switched out the original leg that was only barely able to support Yu Gang’s weight. In order for him to be able to accept this drastic change, Lan Shennan hadn’t told him everything in the beginning. Yu Gang had thought that he was only going to change the original implanted leg.

“Looks like my stubbornness has caused you trouble,” Yu Gang lamented.

“Master...”

“Listen, Xiao Nan,” Yu Gang said and put his hand on Lan Shennan’s shoulder. After giving it a pat, he continued, “I’m not blaming you for this. I just didn’t want to be a burden. This isn’t why I came to you for help. Help me with recovery training tomorrow. I’d like to see whether you’ve fallen behind.”

When Lan Shennan felt the thick, wide palm on her shoulder and the power behind it, she choked out a tearful “yes.”

“Chen Chuan helped, didn’t he?” Yu Gang looked outward.

“He opened the supply channel and got the implants,” Lan Shennan answered.

“Where is he?”

“He was around just a moment ago, but then had something to do in the upper city district. Once he heard that your surgery is a success, he left. He asked me to say goodbye to you,” Lan Shennan replied.

***

Chen Chuan was in a car with Tang Zhang, who spoke up once they left. “Mr. Chen, I’ve asked the medical team. Your teacher hasn’t been crippled for too long, and he has a good foundation. After resting for a while, he’ll be able to regain around 70% of his original strength, but we’ll continue to perfect our technology.”

When the car reached the entrance of the tunnel, Tang Zhang took a look at the rearview mirror and said, “Mr. Chen, look.”

Chen Chuan turned around and saw the cars in the base suddenly turning on their headlights at the same time, which lit up the whole underground. The bright light had a burning, vibrant vitality. It was something Chen Chuan couldn’t sense in other places.

“They’re sending you off,” Tang Zhang said.

Chen Chuan nodded before looking away. The car soon entered a long tunnel, but it didn’t head straight back. Instead, the car went down another direction. After around ten minutes, Tang Zhang stopped the car and got out before saying, “He’s there.”

Chen Chuan got out as well and walked away alone. Not too far from him was Lao Bian. He was sitting alone on a collapsed concrete pillar. When he saw Chen Chuan, he stood up slowly.

“Elder Bian?” Chen Chuan asked.

Lao Bian stared at him. His body was tense. Even though he had seen Chen Chuan’s skills through the Realm Pass, seeing him walking over in person still made Lao Bian nervous.

Despite that, he maintained a calm facade and said, “That’s me. Why did you ask to see me, young man?”

When Chen Chuan had said that he wanted to see him, Lao Bian hadn’t actually wanted to come, because he didn’t know what Chen Chuan wanted to do. What if he pulled a fast one on Lao Bian and killed him?

But the circumstances were beyond his control. If he refused to see Chen Chuan, not only would he be unable to keep his last shred of dignity, but he would also be unable to hide if Chen Chuan was determined to make his life hell. Then, plenty of others would kick him while he was down.

Chen Chuan could tell that Lao Bian was nervous, so he smiled before saying, “It’s nothing. I just wanted to talk with you. I won’t be able to stay here for long, but Clear Road needs someone powerful to take care of them. You’ve always had a good relationship with them, so you’re perfect for the role. I’d like you to take care of them in my place.”

Frustration burned in Lao Bian’s heart.

You got me fired, and now, you want me to work for free? What’s this? A threat? You think I’d cave in?

Even so, he said seriously, “I see Clear Road Transport’s people like my own children. If they’re in trouble, I won’t stand by and do nothing.”

“I trust you,” Chen Chuan said with a nod. He motioned to the people in the back, and a security guard from Border Fusion immediately brought a box out. He placed it in front of Lao Bian.

“What’s this?” Lao Bian stared at it.

“Training medicine for the Third Limit,” Chen Chuan answered with a smile. It wasn’t the special medicine, but he was sure that Lao Bian didn’t need that particular brand of medicine.

“That’s settled, then. See you later, Elder Bian.” With a wave of his hand, he left.

Lao Bian watched Chen Chuan leave and listened to the cars driving into the distance. Then, without a single word, he turned his gaze to the box on the ground before sighing and bending his back to pick it up. He patted it and found that it was actually very heavy, so he cursed under his breath. “Damn it, he’s got me completely figured out.”

He headed to the other end of the tunnel while mumbling, “Looks like I’ll have to work for a few more years.”