By the end of May, Chen Chuan had finished preparing for the upcoming examination. He had already inford his aunt and her family, telling them that he would be going out for special training with Cheng Zitong. He explained they might be heading into the wilderness for a while, so communication could be difficult.
He had also written several letters in advance, which he would ask Cheng Zitong to mail out at the appropriate tis. This would both reassure his family and create the illusion that he was staying in one place.
These letters weren’t just for his family. They were also for acquaintances at his company, classmates from the academy, and even old classmates like Ding Jiao. He hadn’t missed anyone. However, to avoid being too obvious, these were just contingencies; he wouldn’t mail them unless necessary.
He had to be this cautious. The mory of what happened to Shen Zheng years ago was a stark reminder. After all, Shen Zheng had already obtained his Unlimited Defense Certificate at the ti. Chen Chuan hadn’t even passed the exam yet, so he naturally had to be doubly careful.
As for the students he knew well, he had already casually ntioned in previous conversations that he would be training under his instructor. Because of this, they already had a vague idea of his plans. When he brought it up again, it didn’t seem sudden at all. Many of them simply wished him success in his training.
On the evening of the thirtieth, at around eleven o’clock, Chen Chuan carried a suitcase and his Snow Monarch Blade, which was packed in a case, and got into Cheng Zitong’s car.
The car headed west out of Yangzhi City. After a drive of over six hours, they arrived in Shangbu City, located southwest of Yangzhi City. This city was at the junction of two Prefecture Paths and served as a major land and water transportation hub.
According to the examination procedure, he needed to make a phone call here. A mber of the examination board would then et him, give him a train ticket, and instruct him to travel by train to the next designated stop.
From this point on, he would have to travel to the examination site by himself.
After getting out of the car, he said to Cheng Zitong, "Teacher, you should head back. I have to walk the rest of the way on my own."
Cheng Zitong looked at him and said with a sigh, "You’ve grown a bit taller since last year. Ti really flies." He stepped forward. "Focus on the exam. I’ll take care of things at the academy and with your family, so don’t you worry. And be careful out there. I’ll be in Yangzhi waiting for your news." As he spoke, he clapped Chen Chuan firmly on the shoulder.
Chen Chuan nodded. "I’ll rember that."
"I’m heading back now. Oh, right, I left sothing for you in the suitcase. You might need it. Take a look when you have a mont."
Cheng Zitong waved, got back in the car, and with a rumble of the engine, drove back the way they ca. After watching him leave, Chen Chuan adjusted his hat and turned toward the station plaza nearby.
He glanced at his watch. Although it was not yet six in the morning, the streets were already filled with people carrying bags of all sizes. The sun shone from behind him, casting its light over the plaza and illuminating most of the train station’s thick walls.
He scanned his surroundings and found a row of public phone booths at the edge of the plaza. He walked over, found one with a short line, and waited for the person inside to co out. Then he stepped in, picked up the receiver, inserted a coin, and dialed the number the examination board had given him. After a short wait, the call connected.
He said, "I’ve arrived at the designated station."
The voice on the other end said, "Wait there." Then, with a CLICK, the line went dead.
Chen Chuan stepped out of the phone booth. On his way past a newsstand, he casually bought a newspaper and two fiction magazines, then sat down on a bench in the plaza to wait.
Half an hour later, an ordinary-looking man sat down next to him. With a natural movent, he handed Chen Chuan a train ticket and said:
"This is a ticket for the 7:50 AM train. After you arrive, call the number below. Before you enter the Land of Chaos, soone will inspect your belongings and check if you’ve received any outside help or are being followed. Any questions?"
Chen Chuan took a slip of paper from behind the ticket. A phone number was written on it. He thought for a mont and asked, "What if the number is wrong, or if I can’t reach anyone after arriving at the destination?"
The man replied, "You can call again, and we’ll make new arrangents. Any ti lost won’t be counted against your examination period, but you’ll have to cover any extra expenses yourself. The examination board is not responsible."
Chen Chuan nodded. "I have no other questions."
The man rolled up the newspaper in his hand, stood up, and walked away, quickly disappearing into the crowd.
Chen Chuan didn’t leave right away. He read his newspaper for a little longer before getting up and walking into the station.
After entering the waiting hall, he glanced at the departure board and chose a seat near the side. Over an hour later, an announcent inford him that his train had arrived at the station and that boarding had begun.
He stood up, queued, and passed smoothly through the ticket gate. On the other side, a completely black train was waiting. He stepped around a snack cart, boarded through a narrow entrance, and found his seat after walking through a few cars. He stowed his suitcase and the Snow Monarch Blade on the luggage rack above and settled in.
’The examination board was apparently on a tight budget.’ He had to ride the train for nearly a full day, yet they had given him a regular seat, not a sleeper ticket.
He didn’t mind, though. As a Fighter with a resilient physique, his need for such comforts was minimal. He could even rest while standing.
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