Book 3, Chapter 226: Going Back Home

After Chen Chuan drove past the final checkpoint of Central City, they left the colorful lights behind. The colorful lights then faded into the night behind them.

A few minutes later, their Realm Passes stopped functioning, and they removed them from their heads.

Chen Chuan turned on the radio, which played cheerful, fast music.

“I’ve gotten so used to having the Realm Pass that now that it’s gone, I feel like I’m missing something,” Lu Fang remarked and cast a look behind him. “It’s been more than a year, huh? I didn’t even notice.”

Then, he turned back and said, “I’ve always kept what you said in mind. Without strength, there is no future in Central City nor a chance to do what one wants.

“I’ve been working hard these days, and I believe that someday in the future, I’ll get what I want with my own strength.”

“How close are you to the Third Limit now?” Chen Chuan asked.

“I’m still far from it, but the best-case scenario would be reaching it in a year or two,” Lu Fang answered after some thinking.

Chen Chuan nodded at that. Students who graduated from Martial Valor University’s main campus were able to reach the Third Limit within three to five years if they trained through normal, conventional means. After all, setting aside their background, they were all people with a certain degree of talent, for which they were recommended from branch campuses to join the main campus.

However, that was the time frame they needed to reach the Third Limit if they weren’t lacking resources.

While Chen Chuan had given Lu Fang a lot of medicine and Lu Fang was talented, it wouldn’t be easy for him to reach the Third Limit.

Still, he had an advantage other people couldn’t compare to: A firm will, a pure heart, a great desire to become stronger, a clear goal, and being in his prime.

Hence, as long as nothing happened to him, there was a huge chance that he would reach the Third Limit.

“I once said something to the students before leaving Yangzhi City’s Martial Valor University,” Chen Chuan said.

Lu Fang nodded and looked ahead at the public road as it stretched into the distance. In a firm voice, he said, “I heard about it before. ‘Everyone, before us lies a boundless path.’”

Chen Chuan smiled and stepped on the gas pedal. The car sped up. Its headlights tore through the darkness ahead, and with the exciting music in the air, they traveled forward.

At around 6 a.m., the morning sun shone on them, and they drew close to Yangzhi City. Dawncall started chirping happily.

Lu Fang looked at the sun shining in through the window. Earlier, he hadn’t realized it, but at that moment, he found himself filled with the intense desire to see his family.

They got past the checkpoint with no problems, and as the constable saluted them, they left the checkpoint and entered Yangzhi City from the south. As they drove into the city, they heard fireworks being set off nonstop and saw red lanterns as well as couplets hanging from the shops. Every corner of the city was filled with festive cheer.

“I don’t know where you live, but let me send you back,” Chen Chuan said.

Lu Fang shook his head. “You don’t have to. Just let me out at the bus station ahead. I can go back on my own.”

Chen Chuan didn’t insist on it. He let Lu Fang off at the bus station ahead, though he did get out and help him take his things from the trunk. Then, he handed a gift box to Lu Fang. “Take this back with you.”

Lu Fang was stunned. “But...”

Chen Chuan just smiled. “Didn’t you also leave something for me in the trunk? It’s the New Year. Happy New Year, Lu Fang.”

Lu Fang shared his smile and no longer tried to reject the gift. He took it and said, “Alright. I’ll happily take it. Thanks, Chen Chuan, and Happy New Year. If you’re free during the New Year, let me treat you to a cup of tea.”

“Just call my house, and I’ll be there,” Chen Chuan promised.

Lu Fang nodded.

After they parted ways, Chen Chuan returned to the car and waved goodbye to Lu Fang one more time before starting the car and driving to the constables’ residential area.

Since he had sent his family a telegram, they were already waiting for him at the entrance of the alley. Nian Fuli and Yu Wan had predicted him arriving around this time.

When Yu Wan saw Chen Chuan’s car, she beamed and tugged at Nian Fuli’s arm. “Look! Chan’er is back.”

“I see him,” Nian Fuli answered.

The car stopped near them, and Chen Chuan opened the car door before stepping out while dressed in the uniform of the squad captain. “Why are you all out here?”

“It’s not that far away. We won’t get tired from just coming out here to wait for you,” Yu Wan said.

Nian Fuli, meanwhile, was checking out his uniform. “Did you get promoted again, Xiao Chuan?”

Then, he took a closer look at the epaulettes.

The squad captain of the Resolution Department. Not bad... he got promoted two ranks at once. His rank is even higher than Director Guan’s now.

In terms of rank, only the director of the Department of Administrative Affairs outranked Chen Chuan. He sighed. “People really do get promoted quickly in Central City.”

Yu Wan jabbed him with an elbow. “That’s entirely because Chan’er is a capable boy. No one’s going to get promoted by flattery over there.”

“Chen Chuan, you got promoted again?” Nian Mo clapped and tilted his head. “When are

you

getting promoted, Daddy?”

Nian Fuli looked down and asked, “Have you finished your homework?”

Nian Mo ducked his head and started nudging at the ground with his feet while Nian Lu raised her hand. “I’m done!”

Nian Fuli rapped Nian Mo’s head with his tobacco pipe. “Learn from your cousin and sister. Stop fooling around all day.”

Chen Chuan laughed in his heart before opening the car door. Dawncall jumped out, and his cousins cheered before running over to surround it.

Once Chen Chuan unloaded all his things from the trunk, the family helped him carry them to the house. On their way, they greeted the people they passed.

The neighbors started discussing them after the family left.

“Look at Xiao Chuan’s uniform. It looks like a trench coat. It’s so cool! It doesn’t look like the usual uniforms. Did he get promoted again?”

“What’s his rank now? He has an extra star on his epaulette compared to Director Guan. Is his rank higher than Director Guan’s now?”

“How could that be? Xiao Chuan is still so young!”

“Young?” Someone scoffed. “It’s different for Xiao Chuan. Brigade Commander Nian’s nephew graduated from Martial Valor University and is currently studying in Central City. He’s the only commoner who managed to do that over the past few years, and he’s currently working at Central City’s Resolution Department. It’s not strange at all for him to get promoted fast.”

“Lao Nian’s family is going to get stinking rich, huh?”

When Chen Chuan and Yu Wan walked into the house, they suddenly heard a loud, crisp cry. “Happy New Year! Welcome home! Welcome home!”

It was the Pocket Parrot Chen Chuan had bought last year.

“That thing never stops talking,” Nian Fuli grouched.

“But it only says things you like to hear. Stop complaining,” Yu Wan shot back.

Once Chen Chuan put his things on the table, he started organizing them before handing his family the gifts he had prepared for them.

This time, he had gotten Nian Fuli a beautifully crafted mechanical watch. It wasn’t popular among the lower-class in Central City, but those in the middle- and upper-class loved it, so it was perfect as a gift.

Aside from some trinkets, he gave Yu Wan a set of skincare products from Green Satchel Pharmacy—the same set from last year. He was no longer the company’s drug tester, but his status was no longer the same, so it wasn’t difficult for him to get them.

“I haven’t even finished using what you brought last time, and you brought another set? Don’t waste your money on this next time, you hear me?” Yu Wan ordered.

“Sure,” Chen Chuan said with a smile. Then, he handed Nian Mo and Nian Lu their presents. They were water guns, skateboards, and some large plushies.

Once he presented everything, he took out something sealed in a package and said, “This is for the entire family.”

He didn’t say what it was, but after seeing it and squeezing it, Nian Fuli knew what it was and said to Yu Wan, “This is Xiao Chuan’s gift. Take it and put it somewhere safe.”

Yu Wan didn’t ask any questions and just nodded before putting it into a safe place.

The family then sat down together to talk about the things that happened in Central City and Yangzhi City over the past half a year, but most of the time, the family just listened to Chen Chuan’s stories. Nothing much happened in Yangzhi City, after all.

Meanwhile, information in Central City spread quickly, and the city itself was packed with people. There never seemed to be an end to new things. Even if Chen Chuan hadn’t seen most of it, he could quickly learn about it from the news.

They talked until noon. Once they had lunch, Nian Fuli said, “Come. Let’s take a walk.”

Chen Chuan left with Nian Fuli, who asked, “You got promoted again?”

“The department gave me a chance for a promotion,” Chen Chuan said.

“Since you became a squad captain at your age, I can’t begin to imagine how far you’ll go in the future.” Nian Fuli sighed. “That last package was protective gear, wasn’t it?”

“It’s stab proof clothes made by Border Fusion. You won’t have any problems wearing them on a daily basis,” Chen Chuan said with a smile.

Without an armor permit, even the constables from the Constabulary couldn’t wear protective gear unless they were out on missions and were of a certain rank. Stab proof vests were the exception, though.

𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Border Fusion’s stab proof vests also skirted the rules and offered slightly better protection compared to the average ones. They could fend against smaller caliber bullets, though, theoretically speaking, the buyers wouldn’t know about specific effects before using them. Hence, even if they used them, they wouldn’t have to worry about getting into trouble.

When Nian Fuli heard this, he immediately figured it out, but he was worried about something else. “Why bring them back?”

“The department told me that someone was asking around for my information. I’m a law enforcer in Central City, so I can’t avoid offending some powerful people and organizations,” Chen Chuan said.

Nian Fuli was a constable brigade commander, so he knew this. He said grimly, “While Yangzhi City isn’t small, everyone in the constables’ residential area knows each other. We’d be able to sniff out outsiders even if they were several blocks away. Besides, ever since Mr. Wen came back, he has been staying in our residential area, so you don’t have to worry too much.”

“Really?” Chen Chuan was quite surprised. If Wen Tong was staying here, then things should be fine. “Where is he staying? He taught me some things the last time I came back, so I’d like to visit him during the New Year.”

Nian Fuli pointed in a direction and said, “At the center. He’s staying in the house of the former director’s aide-de-camp, but I think he’s going to be at the Constabulary during the last few days before the New Year. He’ll definitely be back on New Year’s Eve, though. Go visit him during the first day of the New Year.”