"Yeah, still over there, usually bringing along so trainees."
Fang Cheng replied simply.
Noticing this, Wei Zheng chid in:
"Junior Brother Fang, did you run into any trouble on your way here just now?"
"Recently, because of the Silver Wing Building incident, the military has set up checkpoints at all road intersections, and the inspections are very strict."
"Indeed, I did encounter so."
Fang Cheng took a bite of his food and replied casually:
"I was stopped at the express entrance to West Gate District for an inspection. They even used special detection equipnt. But since my docunts were all in order and I wasn’t doing anything illegal, I wasn’t given a hard ti."
Upon hearing this, Shi Chengyi’s expression slightly changed, and he put down his wine glass to say:
"The current situation is rather tense, and those under the military often handle matters with little discretion."
"If you encounter such situations again or are harassed without reason, just call directly."
"Even though I’m semi-retired, this old face of mine still holds so sway in East Capital, and I guarantee no one will dare give you trouble."
Fang Cheng smiled in acknowledgnt and nodded his thanks:
"Thank you for your care, Director Shi."
"Oh, don’t call Director, it’s too distant!"
Li Zhenhua put on a serious face and then quickly added:
"Old Shi is my chess buddy, and by generation, you should call him Uncle Shi!"
Li Dingjian and Li Biyun chid in with a laugh, persuading him:
"That’s right, Ah Cheng, Uncle Shi takes such good care of you, you should offer him a toast."
Following their lead, Fang Cheng raised his wine glass and stood up:
"Then, I’ll humbly oblige. Uncle Shi, I toast to you, wishing you health and all the best."
"Good, good!"
Shi Chengyi imdiately burst into laughter, raising his glass and drinking it all in one go.
"Now that’s more like it!"
Li Zhenhua sighed in relief.
With the change in address, the atmosphere at the table quickly ward up.
Everyone exchanged drinks and laughed heartily.
The initial invisible barrier and formality slowly dissipated, significantly closing the distance between them.
The al ended with everyone thoroughly enjoying themselves.
After the al, Li Biyun began cleaning up the dishes.
Li Zhenhua, on the other hand, eagerly pulled Shi Chengyi to the tea room for a couple of chess gas:
"Old Shi, that last ga doesn’t count. I was going easy on you. Let’s go for another three hundred rounds; I refuse to believe I can’t beat you!"
"Alright, then I’ll risk myself to accompany you."
Shi Chengyi agreed with a smile.
Wei Zheng also followed them into the tea room.
Fang Cheng intended to help in the kitchen, but was pushed out by Li Biyun:
"Shoo, shoo, we don’t need you here. Don’t get yourself covered in cooking fus."
"Go to the tea room and accompany the guests. Help your grandfather out. He’s such a poor chess player, don’t let him lose too badly, or he’ll brood over it later."
Fang Cheng, helpless, wiped his hands and left the kitchen.
As soon as he entered the corridor, he was stopped by Li Dingjian, who was smoking.
"Ah Cheng."
Li Dingjian handed Fang Cheng a cigarette, which he declined with a wave of his hand.
Not persisting, Li Dingjian lit up for himself, took a deep drag, exhaled a smoke ring, and spoke in a low voice:
"The old man has good intentions for you, hoping for a bright future for you. That’s why he strictly instructed not to tell you about Shi Chengyi visiting our house."
"Moreover, over at the Special Search Team... I feel it’s a good opportunity."
He explained and then glanced towards the tea room, his eyes lighting up:
"I discussed with so brothers in the Illuminati privately."
"With the situation getting more chaotic, although the Illuminati is expanding, it’s still sowhat of a ragtag team. Our intelligence is too singular, and we’re often passive in what we do."
At this point, Li Dingjian flicked so ash out the window, looking seriously at Fang Cheng:
"Ah Cheng, if you can join the Special Search Team, even just in na, not only will your family be happy for you, but having an official identity as a cover would facilitate our dealings in East Capital a lot more."
"At the very least, in situations like your encounter with the military search, having the Special Search Team credentials would save you from unnecessary hassles."
"We could consider it as infiltrating the enemy’s ranks to get first-hand intelligence and avoid being left in the dark."
"Of course."
Li Dingjian patted his nephew’s shoulder, speaking sincerely:
"The final decision is yours. Whatever choice you make, your uncle will support you."
Fang Cheng nodded, his expression calm:
"I have it in mind."
Pushing open the door to the tea room, a faint fragrance of tea filled the air.
The chessboard showed one side overwhelming the other.
Li Zhenhua, holding the black pieces, frowned, hesitant with his moves, a slight sweat on his forehead.
Shi Chengyi, holding the white pieces, appeared calm, with a steady grasp of victory while holding a tea cup.
"Ah, I lost again!"
Li Zhenhua tossed the chess pieces into the box, protesting like a sore loser:
"No, no, I’m not in the right state today."
"Ah Cheng, you co and give Uncle Shi a hard ti on behalf of your grandfather!"
Saying this, he stood up and placed Fang Cheng in the seat, then slapped his forehead:
"Oh dear, how forgetful of . Your uncle bought so premium pre-rain Dragon Well tea the other day. I’ll go grab it for you to try."
After saying this, the old man signaled to Li Dingjian, who was standing at the door.
The two exchanged a knowing glance and left, closing the door behind them.
"Click."
The lock made a soft sound.
The tea room was left with just Fang Cheng, Shi Chengyi, and Wei Zheng.
As the hubbub faded, the air seed to quiet down a bit.
Looking at the re-arranged chess ga, Fang Cheng didn’t refuse.
With slender fingers, he picked up a black piece and gently placed it at a corner of the board.
"Uncle Shi, please."
Shi Chengyi looked at where Fang Cheng placed his piece, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
The move seed ordinary but concealed a hidden threat, vaguely blocking a path for the white pieces.
The two exchanged moves for a dozen rounds.
Shi Chengyi’s once steady style began to beco erratic.
He seed distracted, making hasty moves, and even made a noticeable blunder.
Slam!
Fang Cheng made his move, capturing a major group of white pieces.
Then he looked up, his gaze steady on the older man, casually saying:
"Uncle Shi, your mind is restless, not on the ga. Do you have sothing to say to ?"
Shi Chengyi was taken aback, looking at the deadlock on the chessboard, then bitterly smiled and conceded.
"Youth is truly formidable."
He looked at Fang Cheng, his smile fading, his expression becoming earnest:
"Since you’ve noticed, I won’t beat around the bush. Ah Cheng, I’m here again for last ti’s matter."
"We’ve deliberated carefully and took your master Ma Jianguo’s advice into account. We all agree that with your dical skills and martial arts cultivation, it’s a real waste to be hidden away among the common folks."
Beside him, Wei Zheng took over the conversation at the right mont, speaking earnestly:
"Junior Brother Fang, we know you dislike being constrained and don’t want to be involved in those complex factional struggles."
"Therefore, this ti we’re not arranging a combat position in the Action Departnt, but recomnding you for the Special dical Team within the Logistics Departnt."
"dical Team?"
Fang Cheng slightly raised his eyebrows, not replying imdiately.
"Exactly."
Shi Chengyi nodded, then explained:
"The dical Team is relatively independent, directly under the jurisdiction of the Logistics Departnt, which is under my command."
"The work environnt there is simple, primarily responsible for treating the wounded and studying exotic pathologies. It doesn’t involve charging into battle nor too much red tape."
"Moreover."
Shi Chengyi slightly emphasized:
"As long as you pass the exam and beco a formal mber, all due benefits are assured, and you even have opportunities to investigate things you’re interested in."
The tea room fell into a brief silence.
Fang Cheng leaned against the chair back, fingers lightly stroking the cool chess pieces, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
Shi Chengyi and Wei Zheng didn’t speak, just calmly waiting.
They knew this young man had his own ideas, and any urging would be superfluous.
After a while, the chess piece in Fang Cheng’s hand dropped back into the box with a crisp "ding" sound.
"I can take the exam."
Upon hearing this, a joyful expression instantly appeared on Wei Zheng’s face.
Shi Chengyi’s tense shoulders also relaxed slightly.
"However."
Fang Cheng shifted his tone, raising three fingers:
"I have three conditions to clarify first. If you can agree, we can talk further."
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