Chapter 20 Violent Passage

Chapter 20: Passage by Force

"Yes, we were attacked. Requesting a 3-5 day extension for the mission. We've currently reached the border of Mando."

The two of them sat in disarray on rocks by a small stream.

"We have to split up. Two routes have been detected. You pick one."

With such an inauspicious start, Chen Jiyan knew he was most likely the target. Splitting up was the right move, at least he wouldn't drag others down.

"Alright. But since we're already being watched, let's not share our specific routes. Just set a time and a rendezvous point. We'll meet there. If someone doesn't show up on time, the other one goes ahead with the mission."

They decided to avoid using communication devices to avoid being tracked or located.

Thus, in this highly technologically advanced New Calendar, the two adopted the simplest, most basic method of travel and contact.

Walking and leaving markers.

"Agreed." Ji Xi said no more, choosing a direction and leaving.

A rough start, but at least no one was hurt. He opened his map. The destination wasn't far; he could reach it on foot in a day. The mission deadline was a week, by tomorrow morning at the latest.

Provided he could find some form of transportation.

After finalizing his route and tidying himself up, he set off. He needed to find an inhabited area before sunset. Otherwise, he'd have to enter energy-saving mode, and risk being eaten by wild animals. He wasn't sure if there were beasts outside Ding Shu.

Watching the gradually darkening sky, Chen Jiyan felt a faint sense of unease.

News of Chen Jiyan's group being attacked quickly reached Ding Shu. You Ting received the information almost simultaneously. Before other departments could react, she sought out the Chancellor to confront him ahead of an emergency assembly.

"A minor mishap."

He seemed unconcerned. You Ting had once admired his unshakable composure, an essential quality for an excellent leader. Now, however, it sparked a surge of inexplicable anger within her.

"Jiyan is not your subordinate. I told you long ago not to rush him into contact with Ding Shu. And what do you do? Quietly send him off to the military department, and on a mission so far from the main city."

Seeing his expression remain unchanged, she stopped pressing, shifting her tone.

"If you won't raise him properly, I'll do it myself. I heard you left him in the central district for nearly half a month. Busy as I am, I can still come back to check on the child every now and then."

"He's not a child." You Jinhui rejected his mother's suggestion. "Need I remind you? You haven't exactly fulfilled your duties as a guardian either."

In that regard, they were equally lacking. You Ting might even be less experienced than him.

You Ting opened her mouth as if to say something, but she merely gazed at You Jinhui for a few seconds in silence, saying nothing more.

"Important things are either locked in a safe—and not just that, but behind fortified walls within layered mazes—or they must be forged harder than any stone in the world."

You Jinhui met her gaze with those nearly identical sapphire-blue eyes.

"Words you once taught me. How could you forget them yourself?"

"Not all materials are suitable for forging." You Ting fell into a rare silence. She was always eloquent, unmoved by questioning or doubt, never regretting her actions, and never feeling she owed You Jinhui anything.

Except with Chen Jiyan. His situation was special.

The child she had decided to adopt back then, yet couldn't constantly watch over. Because You Jinhui was so reliable, and her work was so demanding, she had handed him over with a clear conscience.

She had long forgotten how to raise a young child and had no experience dealing with minors, because You Jinhui never had a rebellious phase.

"I know what I'm doing." His tone was resolute, brooking no doubt.

"I hope so."

The Chancellor raised a hand, signaling the end of the meeting.

"Is this compensation for past neglect?"

No one was named, but both people in the conference room understood.

"Even now, I still believe my educational philosophy wasn't flawed. You grew up excellently, a perfect answer sheet."

"Not the best." You Jinhui turned slightly, catching You Ting's figure already at the door in his peripheral vision. She didn't look back.

"If it were, I wouldn't need it. Neither would he."

He would definitely take good care of him.

Ding Shu didn't need another Chancellor either.

Watching his mother leave the conference room, his gaze drifted past the five-minute meeting reminder on the screen, once again looking out the window towards the clouds, in the direction Chen Jiyan had gone.

Sometimes it seemed it wouldn't be so bad if he remained a child forever, never growing up, staying in the Hengmai ward. The outside world wouldn't disturb him, those conspiracies wouldn't involve him, and cruel fate wouldn't find him.

But he had woken up. And the time until his coming of age was less than a year away.

The lurking claws awakening around him, ensuring he successfully passed the screening to become a legal, official adult in Ding Shu—this matter was also becoming urgent.

He couldn't live under his protection forever.

The rain weakened, a faint light filtering through the clouds. Birds on the terrace below shook off water droplets, flapping their wings and flying along the trails left by the trains.

The signal in the borderlands was erratic. Chen Jiyan didn't call for help. He wasn't living a monitored life in the New Calendar; he was a socialized, normal adult. Although the rules he learned in the past might not fully apply now, he possessed an independent personality and the ability to act. Fundamentally, he didn't accept the guardian-ward relationship with You Jinhui.

Clearly, the things and experiences he learned over the past twenty-plus years seemed completely ineffective in this society.

"Excuse me, could I—"

"Pardon me, I'd like—"

He just wanted a ride.

"Hello." After multiple polite requests met with rejection, Chen Jiyan completely switched to the deadpan expression he used at work in the past:

"Robbery."

The simplest, most direct methods are often the most efficient and quick, transcending race, gender, and time. Violence is a language common to all living beings.

He successfully coerced a middle-aged driver into giving him a lift.

The result was good, though the journey was a bit bumpy.

"Is a three-wheeler popular here?"

So bumpy. Feeling a bit nauseous.

"Two wheels are tiring, four wheels waste fuel. Three wheels are the best. Good cargo capacity, saves time and effort."

Chen Jiyan had no mental space to ponder the logic of this statement. "Great, great."

His ashen face, looking as if he were on the verge of death, gave the driver another scare.

"I have some mint drink here. How about you put the gun down first?" Rather than worrying about the pistol held against him as a threat, he was more afraid that Chen Jiyan might accidentally die in his vehicle.

No need, he could handle it with one hand. Chen Jiyan had crafted his persona as a cold and ruthless officer. After careful consideration, he believed this would save him a lot of trouble. An unapproachable Ding Shu soldier naturally wouldn't accept food from ordinary residents of the outskirts—otherwise, it would break character.

He straightened his back and held himself upright for half a minute.

"It's not just the taste of mint." It was sweet and really good.

"Hey! My daughter added mung beans to it—it's mint and mung bean sweet soup!"

Speaking of his family, the driver grew proud and excited.

After entering the town, Chen Jiyan felt much better. The driver was right; the three-wheeler was stable—it was the road that was uneven.

Along the way, there was almost no trace of technology, as if they had returned to an old society using crude tools. The air was filled with the scent of freedom.

Even without checking the system, he could sense that the FS index here was below 20. The burden on his body had lightened significantly, and he felt more comfortable here than in Man Du.

Humans should live in such unpolluted environments. The living conditions in Ding Shu were downright inhumane. Its only advantages—convenient transportation and readily available nutrient solutions—were also designed to facilitate work, reducing commuting and eating time so people could focus entirely on labor.

He was already considering retiring and moving here. He hadn't been to Mo Port yet and didn't know what the climate was like there. From the sound of it, it was a port city, so he could probably see the ocean there, which also seemed nice. He was resistant to the idea of returning to Ding Shu.

Man Du was too close to it, so he didn't particularly like that place either.

"What are you delivering on this trip?" Though his actions were violent, his words remained polite and courteous.

"Delivering pulp paper to the church." Seeing that Chen Jiyan had accepted the food, the driver relaxed and started chatting.

"Pulp paper?"

"Although the quality is a bit poor, the poet recently released new works, so paper is in high demand!"

"What new works?"

"You're from out of town, aren't you? Judging by the direction, you're not from Mo Port—are you from the Man Du area?"

"I've been living with relatives to get medical treatment." His persona instantly shifted to that of a frail but studious young man.

"Oh," the driver understood. "No wonder. Here, I happen to have a copy of his previous work. It's yours."

"Isn't that inappropriate? It must be worth a lot." In the New Calendar, books were considered luxuries.

"It's only hard to come by when it first comes out. Besides, the poet is happy to have another reader. He doesn't charge copyright fees."

Only Ding Shu's books had copyright fees, which weren't high but were still a luxury for outsiders.

It was a sonnet written in English, with a translation on the back.

The place was a tangled mix of people, where three cities met. Logically, it should have given rise to a rich civilization and diverse beliefs.

Yet, according to this driver delivering pulp paper, everyone placed their hopes and passions on a real person, respectfully calling him the "Poet" or the "Prophet."

With so many people gathered in one place, trouble was bound to arise. Ding Shu had issued this task not only to combat piracy but also as a preventive measure.

After bidding farewell to the driver, he found the suspected stronghold with almost no effort—it was just too obvious.

The church stood tall and silent, illuminated by torches and oil lamps. Solemn statues were fitted with wall sconces, like eyes watching every passerby. Under the silver moonlight, it was eerily quiet and solemn.

The place he had agreed to meet Ji Xi was very close by. In fact, Xu Gu wasn't a large city—less than half the size of Ding Shu—more like a small town.

He waited until midnight, but no one came. Following their agreement, Chen Jiyan decided not to wait any longer. Perhaps Ji Xi had already arrived and begun investigating, not wanting to bring him along as dead weight for the sake of efficiency.

Finding lodging now was unrealistic. The driver had mentioned that the church sheltered wanderers for temporary stays, with its doors open 24 hours a day, though the conditions were simple—old wooden tables and stone benches, hard and cold. In standby mode, he had no sensation, and the system could automatically adjust temperature, so it wasn't a big issue.

He was lucky; there wasn't a single person inside. Chen Jiyan leaned against the door for a short rest.

"We've been meditating for three whole days! Why hasn't there been any new poetry?"

"Is this how you treat devout believers?"

The peaceful and harmonious atmosphere from half an hour ago completely collapsed. Faces that had just been bathed in happiness now wore expressions of rage and ferocity, while the figure on the high platform remained silent.

What was this, a large-scale scene of demanding updates? Fans turning against their idol?

After much commotion, the legendary poet was escorted out by dozens of robed figures, surrounded like stars around the moon.

Judging by his build, he was a young boy, roughly matching the description of the mission's target.

He was likely the leader of the pyramid scheme organization that needed to be brought back to Ding Shu for investigation and labor reform.

Author's Note:

----------------------

Changed the cover! The background is a photo of an office building I took after work one day. Thanks to my friend in grad school for taking time out of their busy schedule to help me with the cover [Fighting!]