The student who first saw Chen Chuan exclaimed, "Senior, are you back for the break?"

Chen Chuan said, "That’s right. I just got back yesterday."

The dormitory manager saw the confused looks on the new students’ faces and chuckled. "This is a senior of yours. Let me give you a hint: he’s the one who got into Central City last year."

’Last year? Central City?’

One by one, the students’ eyes lit up.

"It’s Senior Chen Chuan!"

As one of them cried out his name, all the students became incredibly excited, their eyes filling with adoration as they looked at Chen Chuan.

What Chen Chuan had done last year was a sensation, earning extensive coverage in the newspapers. He was the first commoner in decades to be accepted into Central City, a feat that had become an inspirational legend. All aspiring Wuyi students looked to him as their ultimate goal.

Although these students preparing for their second-round exams had never met him, they had constantly heard stories about him from others and from the upperclassmen. How could they not be thrilled to see him in person?

They were also incredibly relieved. ’If we hadn’t come here today, we might have missed our chance to meet him.’

Chen Chuan smiled faintly. "My fellow juniors, I wish you the best of luck on your upcoming exams. I hope that one day, you will all have the opportunity to study at the Central City General Hospital."

"Thank you, Senior!" Hearing his words, the fifteen- and sixteen-year-old students were instantly filled with fighting spirit. "We’ll definitely do our best!"

Chen Chuan then walked over to the dormitory manager. "Sir, are Luo, Feng, and Wei around?"

The dormitory manager replied, "Luo went home for the break. Wei has been taking on commissions with Wu Han recently. Feng is here, though. He’s helping prepare for the second-round exam registrations tomorrow."

Chen Chuan nodded.

The dormitory manager gestured upstairs. "Want to head up for a bit? I still have your key. Your old room is still empty, and it’ll stay that way for the entire next semester. You can move back in anytime you want. The school administration gave you special approval."

With a moment’s thought, Chen Chuan understood the school’s reasoning. ’Under normal circumstances, I’d probably still be a student here and would have to finish out the entire year to graduate.’

He shook his head. "That won’t be necessary. It should be left for a more suitable student."

The dormitory manager chuckled. "Maybe someday, but for now, you’re the only one qualified to live there. Even if you offered it to another student, they wouldn’t accept."

"But let’s not talk about that; it’s a small thing. You’ve been in Central City for over half a year. How’s it been?"

Chen Chuan said, "I’ve seen a great deal. If you never go, you can’t imagine how vast the world is. But the light there is blinding, its brilliant colors can seep into the very depths of your soul. And the steps are incredibly high—so high that a single misstep can send you plummeting."

The dormitory manager nodded silently.

He understood, but the students standing nearby were a bit lost.

Chen Chuan then took out a wrapped package and handed it over. "I didn’t have anything special to bring back for you, Sir, but please accept this small gift."

The dormitory manager didn’t stand on ceremony and accepted it with a smile. "In that case, I will."

Chen Chuan chatted with him for a few more moments, but seeing that the manager was busy, he said, "You seem to have things to do, Sir, so I’ll get going." He waved to the students and left the dormitory building amid a chorus of "Goodbye, Senior!"

After leaving, he had originally planned to visit Feng Xiaochi. On second thought, however, he realized Feng was probably still busy. If he showed up, he’d likely get stuck there for half the day and just be a distraction. ’Better not.’

’I should find some time to invite Wei Chang’an, Senior Brother Ren, and the old team members out for a meal and a reunion.’

His mind made up, he headed for the parking lot.

Perhaps because he was feeling sentimental, or simply in a good mood, but after his walk around the campus, the overwhelming aura he exuded had, without him realizing, receded significantly.

After getting into his car and driving off campus, he thought for a moment before pulling over. He walked to a phone booth and made a call. After a moment, a pleasant female voice answered, "Hello, who is this?"

Chen Chuan said, "Senior Sister, it’s me, Chen Chuan."

"Junior Chen?" He Nan responded quickly. "It’s the holidays right now. Are you... in Yangzhi?"

Chen Chuan replied, "Yes. I’d like to find some time to visit you, Director Lei, and Xiaoying. When would be a good time?"

He Nan laughed. "Old Lei will be thrilled to hear you’re back. He’s not busy lately, so he’s free this upcoming holiday. Just come over then, Junior Brother. And remember not to bring any gifts; Old Lei doesn’t like that."

"Alright, Senior Sister," Chen Chuan said. They exchanged a few more words before he hung up.

Meanwhile, the dormitory manager finished his work and saw off the still-excited students. He then unwrapped the gift from Chen Chuan and discovered it was a photo album.

It was filled with photos Chen Chuan had taken in Central City, including pictures of the Profound Palace Building, Rift Wave Canyon, a tram platform, and even the abandoned Molan Company building. At the bottom was a short inscription: *From your student, Chen Chuan.*

He smiled. The stack of photos was one thing, but the inscription—that was something he would have to treasure.

After leaving the phone booth, Chen Chuan went to a nearby newsstand and bought several newspapers. Back in his car, he flipped through them. He had grown accustomed to the rapid flow and easy access to information in Central City; returning to Yangzhi felt a little jarring.

To get any real information here, you had to consult industry insiders and professionals. The newspapers only offered fragmented pieces of the story.

Since it was nearly noon and he had already said he wouldn’t be back for lunch, he thought for a moment and drove toward a specific part of town. At an intersection, he found a place called Han Family Restaurant. He glanced inside; it was close to the lunch rush, and with a good number of customers, business looked brisk.

A family of three was bustling about inside, and a little girl of about ten was helping carry out dishes. Despite her youth, her movements were remarkably deft.

Chen Chuan took off his wide-brimmed hat, got out of the car, and entered the restaurant.

Seeing him enter, a middle-aged man with graying temples and a wrinkled face quickly wiped his hands on a cloth and came forward from the back. He smiled and asked, "Officer, what can I get for you?"

Chen Chuan glanced at the menu on the wall, ordered a few dishes, and after sitting down, added quietly, "I hear the Han Family Restaurant’s house-special beef is excellent."

"Then you’ve come to the right place, Officer. Our beef is the best there is." The middle-aged man jotted down his order. "It’ll be just a moment, Officer." He then went to the kitchen to cook the meal himself.

Chen Chuan only had to wait a moment before the little girl brought his food over. After placing it steadily on the table, she asked, "Big Brother, are you from Wuyi?"

Chen Chuan looked at her. "Why do you ask?"

"Because I’ve seen some of the big brothers from Wuyi, and some of them are as tall as you."

Chen Chuan asked, "Do many of the Wuyi students eat here?"

"Yeah, they all say they’re my brother’s classmates." As the little girl spoke, the middle-aged man silently wiped down a nearby table, saying nothing.

Chen Chuan nodded. "I am too."

"Really?"

Chen Chuan said solemnly, "Really."

"Xiaolan, don’t bother the gentleman while he’s eating. Go help bring out the other dishes," the middle-aged man called out.

"Okay, Dad."

Chen Chuan took a pair of chopsticks from the container and began to eat slowly. The Han Family beef was truly delicious, just as he remembered from the day of his second-round exam. Only this time, it was even fresher, with a richer flavor.

After finishing his meal and paying the bill, he left the restaurant. He drove out of the city again, this time heading north, and turned on the radio to catch the news.

Most of the broadcasts were about civil affairs, but after listening for a while, a story about the resistance organization came on. It said the Patrol Bureau was preparing to surround and eliminate a resistance stronghold outside the city.

When he had spoken with Nian Fuli yesterday, Nian had mentioned this. He’d said that even though the Blood Mark Gang and Molan Company had fallen, the resistance organization still existed. Their activities were just less aggressive now, and they mostly stayed out of Yangzhi City itself.

Those so-called strongholds were less about the resistance and more about villagers outside the city arming themselves for protection against wilderness gangs. The city couldn’t protect them, so naturally, they found ways to protect themselves.

The Patrol Bureau knew this, so they hadn’t given them any trouble.

However, the new Chief Instructor seemed particularly concerned about it, repeatedly pressuring the Patrol Bureau to go out and conduct the raid. The matter was still under debate.

According to Nian Fuli, this Chief Instructor apparently had ties to the National Temporary Special Action Committee. He had come down vested with certain powers and had been spending his time building his own power base.

After about a twenty-minute drive, the car stopped before a small bend in the river. He looked ahead. He hadn’t been to the old house in over half a year, but it looked just the same.

After getting out of the car, he took out his key and opened the door. But in the instant he stepped inside, he suddenly saw an extra shadow on the ground, as if another person were standing right beside him.

He paid it no mind. He went inside, grabbed some tools, and cleaned the house inside and out. Then he started the algae oil generator in the basement, boiled a kettle of water, steeped a cup of tea, and carried a chair out to sit under the eaves of the porch.

It was July or August, a time that should have been scorching hot. But with the abundance of trees and a small creek nearby, the shade was surprisingly cool.

He slowly drank his tea, enjoying the unique sense of tranquility.

He had received an address left behind by his parents, but he had never gone to it. He felt he wasn’t strong enough yet.

’If someone is watching me, going there would only cause trouble.’ But now he had reached the Third Limit. After he returned this time and gathered some necessary information, he could finally make the trip and see what had been left for him.

This was the intersection of his life and death, the place where the ’me’ from two parallel worlds had merged into one. As he sat there in silence, the overflowing aura around him gradually receded, returning him to his previous, simple and natural state. His eyes, however, grew even brighter.

When he finished his tea, his gaze fell to his feet. There was only a single shadow. The extra one from before seemed to have been nothing more than an illusion.

He stayed there until nearly five o’clock before getting up. He put his things away, tidied up a little, and locked the door, driving away to the sound of the wind rustling the leaves and the gurgle of the creek.

* * *