"I started practicing martial arts when I was young. I might have had a bit of talent and quickly stood out among my peers. Unfortunately, Inspector Ding Xiao later left with your grandfather, and I was left alone. Fortunately, by then I was already 11 years old, just at the beginning of the Great Expansion Era. Because I was strong from martial arts training, no one looked down on because of my age."
"I followed the Pioneer Corps from the 10th year of the New Era to the 15th year, for a full five years. I only settled down in the Buffer Zone at 16, when Station Chief Ding discovered . Hmm, back then he was still an Inspector and gave the only position as an officer."
"..."
Jiang Chuan’s tone was very calm, as if he was telling soone else’s story.
He didn’t ntion how a six-year-old survived in the Buffer Zone, nor did he talk about the life-and-death experiences of joining the Pioneer Corps at eleven.
But Cheng Ye could read the weight of the hardship from those simple words.
He couldn’t bear to imagine what life would be like if he were in such an environnt.
Just like Huang Sheng said, their generation could indeed... endure hardship!
"Later, I followed Station Chief Ding all the way to success. Today, I can say I’ve witnessed the rise of Happiness City Checkpoint—from its establishnt to its current fa across the Wasteland. Back then, even Inspector Cheng Wu praised my martial arts talent."
"Have you never tried the Extraordinary?" Cheng Ye suddenly asked.
Jiang Chuan was taken aback, his face instantly becoming serious. "Inspector Cheng, how do you know about the Extraordinary?"
"I..." Cheng Ye paused for a mont, it was really hard to explain how he knew.
After all, it was well-known that in this era, being an Extraordinary was still a curse.
And to beco an Extraordinary, one needs to coexist with Extraordinary Creatures.
"Well, it was Researcher Qin who told . I previously captured an unknown infection source, and it showed a reward for an Extraordinary Inducer!"
Cheng Ye did not ntion the conversation with Towns, but instead recounted how he first learned about the Extraordinary.
"Oh, that makes sense." Jiang Chuan’s expression softened a bit. "The Extraordinary isn’t a secret, but interns usually aren’t exposed to it. If you’re curious, don’t take it too seriously. When it’s ti to know, you will naturally know. But if you rush into it, you may end up in pain and tornt, or even fall into..."
"Taking sides?" Cheng Ye interjected.
"Exactly." Jiang Chuan grinned, "Many people chose sides to beco Extraordinary, only to beco slaves to power, making it even harder to control it."
"Then you never tried to beco Extraordinary?"
Cheng Ye asked again.
Jiang Chuan opened his mouth, shaking his head first, then nodding, "I tried, but I failed."
"Understood."
Cheng Ye didn’t continue to question, which made Jiang Chuan heave a sigh of relief.
He didn’t want to lie, but disclosing details to those who hadn’t been exposed to the Extraordinary was a strict rule.
Once Cheng Ye knew too much, pursuing the Extraordinary would beco much more difficult for him later on.
But soon, his brows couldn’t help but twitch.
"So what’s your belief?"
"Hmm?" Jiang Chuan’s mouth opened wide in surprise, his expression changing dramatically.
Belief, Extraordinary... Could it be that Cheng Ye already knew the key to becoming Extraordinary!?
But before he could speak, Cheng Ye continued, "I heard from Director Miao that to achieve Unity of Heaven and Man, one must have a firm belief."
Alright, spell interrupted.
Jiang Chuan deflated like a balloon, his face showing slight bitterness. "My belief isn’t worth ntioning; compared to others, it’s like a firefly next to the bright moon."
Seeing Cheng Ye blink with curiosity.
He could only sigh and say, "I want to protect the things I believe are good, just like Inspector Ding Xiao did for back then."
Protect...
Cheng Ye felt a stir in his heart, not expecting Jiang Chuan’s belief to be so simple, yet so weighty—just two words.
No wonder he failed, not achieving the Extraordinary.
For the Extraordinary, it’s not about seeking inward and living by certain rules.
But seeking outward, binding belief to others, almost planting the source of belief in soone else.
To protect "good things," if it’s sothing inanimate, that’s one thing; but the latter sentence clearly points to a person.
To protect a good person?
But in this Wasteland World, is there an absolutely good person?
Or even, is there a person who remains unchanged as good from birth to death?
If that "good person" changes midway, even a slight deviation, as soon as Jiang Chuan starts to doubt his belief or judgnt, his foundation would shake once.
And if he truly becos Extraordinary and that person being protected changes or dies soday, would he be polluted and beco a curse?
Seeing Cheng Ye fall silent suddenly, Jiang Chuan didn’t speak again, and the atmosphere in the room turned a bit heavy.
"So, is Station Chief Ding the person you want to protect?" Cheng Ye broke the silence first.
"Not just him." Jiang Chuan shook his head, his tone lightening, "I’ve also sponsored many kids in the Buffer Zone, at least ensuring they won’t starve. Sotis I even teach them martial arts. When scavengers want to venture out, so dare to leave without even a gun, I’d lend them a hand, and there are also the elderly... There are many beautiful things in the Buffer Zone that need soone to protect them silently..."
Saying this, he suddenly recalled Ding Yishan’s words in the car that day and couldn’t help but chuckle, "Let’s put it this way: if your belief is ford for the sake of power and not what you truly desire, then it’s better not to form it at all."
"That’s quite philosophical, like sothing you’d find in books."
Cheng Ye teased, easing the atmosphere again.
After that, he didn’t bring up anything about the Extraordinary or belief again, as he could roughly guess why Jiang Chuan had such an attitude towards him.
Because of belief, and because of protection.
Jiang Chuan truly is the kind of person who, having been through rain, been given an umbrella by soone, and now willing to hold an umbrella for others.
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