Su Chen dropped Teng Liang off at the Judicial Court but didn’t head back himself. Instead, he took a hovercar to the Purple Gold Flower Capital. After parking, he looked up. The place was as resplendent as ever.
This was the very place where Zhu Xuan had once hosted a grand banquet, flushed with success and ambition. Now, the grass on his grave was likely overgrown.
In a private room on an upper floor, Su Chen pushed open the door to find quite a few people already waiting. So were strangers, looking apprehensive, while others were very familiar.
"Brother Su, you’re finally here," said Du Yu. He had since been promoted to patrol squad leader in the Inspectorate and now ca forward to greet him.
"Brother Su..." Jiang Xi, who stood beside him, called out. Now a junior logistics supervisor at the Craftsmanship Departnt, he seed much more mature and composed, his eyes filled with gratitude.
It was only a few months ago that he finally understood why, on his first visit to deliver the War Boots, Su Chen had him take back a half-finished bottle of wine.
"Brother Su..." Zhang Hengyu was there as well. He had long since given up any thought of competing with Su Chen and was currently preparing to advance to Tier Three.
Su Chen was a private person and mostly chatted with them online, but he put on no airs and responded to each of them in turn.
The ones who looked young and green were this year’s top talents from Southwind City, and they gazed at Su Chen with awe.
"Southwind sent quite a few people this year," Su Chen remarked, scanning the room. Du Yu pulled him over to the seat of honor that had been saved for him.
"City Lord Yuan made so bold moves, incorporating the refugees into the talent developnt system. He ended up discovering quite a few decent prospects," Du Yu explained.
"I see," Su Chen said with understanding as everyone took their seats.
After a few rounds of drinks, the atmosphere had ward up considerably.
"You all knew I defeated soone from the Yuan Capital, even back in Southwind?" Su Chen asked, looking at the young girl before him in surprise.
"Mm..." The young girl was a bit shy. When she saw Su Chen’s attention fall on her, her cheeks grew redder and she could only stamr, unable to get a word out.
"Well, we have a Bureau of Comrce. News from Ying Feng still finds its way back," Du Yu explained, then looked to the young man at his side. "What about what you brought?"
"Oh, right..." The young man hastily pulled out a tal box from his side. "This is... a letter Miss Bai Ge asked to bring, and one from City Lord Yuan as well..."
Su Chen paused, then reached out to take it. He had only co because Du Yu told him about these items.
Of course, they would have been delivered to him even if he hadn’t co.
"You’re the one Southwind recomnded to the Judicial Court this year?" Su Chen asked, looking at him.
"Yes... His na is Qian Heng. A prospect hand-picked by City Lord Yuan. He has a Silver Talent," Du Yu said.
’A Silver Talent, huh...’ Su Chen wasn’t surprised. It was normal for Subordinate Cities to put forward those with Silver Talents.
"I see," Su Chen nodded. Qian Heng’s face flushed. Back in Southwind, he had only a vague understanding of Su Chen’s status.
It wasn’t until he arrived in Ying Feng that he truly understood. During the Inspectorate’s screening at the city entrance, the inspectors’ attitudes had softened considerably upon hearing they were from Southwind.
After chatting a while longer, Su Chen noticed everyone seed a bit on edge. He knew why, so after a quick word with Du Yu, he prepared to take his leave.
But just as he was about to go, he pulled a small box from his coat and handed it to Du Yu. "Could you do a favor? Find soone to take this back to Southwind and give it to Hu Xiang."
Inside was the Fog Nightmare Pearl. He’d had it for a year now.
He hadn’t sent it back right after getting it last year because he was worried soone might pocket it. Then, after he joined the Judicial Court, the matter slipped his mind.
It wasn’t until he saw the people from Southwind today that he suddenly rembered.
"No problem. You can count on ." Du Yu seed a little drunk, but upon hearing Su Chen’s request, he straightened up and gave his assurance.
After exchanging a few more words, Su Chen turned and left.
’It’s been a year.’ Boarding the hovercar, Su Chen felt a wave of nostalgia. He recalled when he first arrived in Ying Feng. While he wouldn’t say he was thwarted at every turn, he had certainly needed to be cautious.
He took the tal box from his coat, opened it, and saw two letters folded inside.
’Letters...’ Su Chen thought, looking down. He suddenly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
The existence of the fog sotis made the world feel so surreal.
This wasn’t so special form of communication for the sake of ceremony; between cities, letters were genuinely a primary ans of correspondence.
The first letter was from Xiao Gezi. It was in a light pink envelope, and the paper carried the scent of wood.
"Brother Su..."
The letter was long, three or four pages filled mostly with chatter, miscellaneous updates, and complaints about Yuan Chenyang being too strict.
After finishing, Su Chen chuckled softly. He then opened Yuan Chenyang’s letter, which looked much more formal.
"To my disciple, Su Chen. Seeing these words is like eting again..."
Old Yuan’s letter was filled with praise and astonishnt, but he also urged Su Chen to keep his edge hidden. He was still young, he wrote, and shouldn’t get caught up in short-term squabbles.
After reading the letters, Su Chen put them back in their envelopes and placed them in his Storage Space.
He turned his head to look out the window. The sky had already grown dark, and the neon lights of Ying Feng reflected on his face.
"Holy Banquet..." he murmured.
’Finally, Cyan Thunder Master is maxed out.’
「Ten days later.」
Su Chen stared at his panel, a sharp glint in his eyes. He put away the Spirit Realm Instrunt as usual. With all preparations complete, he didn’t hesitate.
Calamity Patrol Envoy—Advance!
In an instant, violent arcs of lightning erupted from his body.
At the center of the thunderstorm, Su Chen’s body underwent a drastic transformation. Cyan thunder patterns proliferated wildly beneath his skin, crawling over his entire body like living creatures.
Illuminated by the lightning, his bones began to crystallize. A continuous, explosive cracking echoed from his skeleton as his eyes transford into two rotating maelstroms of thunder. Two bolts of lightning converged between his brows, faintly weaving together to form a searing white sigil.
The physical tamorphosis was even more intense and painful. Su Chen spat out two bloody teeth, clearly feeling new, much stronger ones growing in to take their place.
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