"This guy... he's so strange. Why did it feel like a sharp sword was pointed at me whenever he stared at me?" Zhang Chen looked into the hawk-nosed policeman's eyes and couldn't help swallowing.
"Today, the school will hold a grand award ceremony for student Zhang Chen. Disregarding his own safety, Zhang Chen ventured behind enemy lines and assisted the police in solving a serial murder case that had remained unsolved for years. At the same time, he rescued our classmate Wang Yizhi. Zhang Chen's spirit of bravely pressing forward despite danger is worthy of everyone's study."
As soon as those words were spoken, the class erupted. Every gaze turned toward Zhang Chen, but Zhang Chen merely forced a smile. Inside, he was filled with questions.
"The first and second periods this morning are canceled. Instead, we'll be holding a celebration and award ceremony for Zhang Chen at the stadium. The person beside me is Deputy Director Ding of the Jinxi County Police Department. In a moment, everyone will follow Director Ding to the stadium. Our class will have a special guest section."
As soon as Lu Ba finished speaking, the entire class exploded with excitement. Third-year middle school studies were already tedious and demanding, so everyone was delighted to get a chance to rest. On top of that, thanks to Zhang Chen, they would get seats in the guest section, making them even happier.
"Wow, Director Ding is so young, and he's pretty handsome too." Quite a few starry-eyed girls in the class began discussing Director Ding.
In Zhang Chen's view, if this man's parents weren't something like a mayor or provincial party secretary, then he definitely possessed exceptional abilities. From that earlier gaze, Zhang Chen felt he was more likely the latter.
The class followed Director Ding out of the classroom. They split into three groups: one group of girls surrounded Director Ding, asking who knew what; a group of boys clustered around Zhang Chen, asking how he had played the hero and saved the beauty; while the remaining group stayed around Wang Yizhi, asking about what had happened.
Zhang Chen had no choice but to make up some plotlines resembling detective novels to satisfy them before they finally let him go.
After entering the stadium and taking their seats, Director Ding gestured for Zhang Chen to follow him backstage.
"Young man, this time I was repaying that old monk's favor. I helped settle this matter for you and even put a bit of fame on your head. If you cause such a huge mess again next time, no one will help you. One of the little thugs who died in the basement had a powerful family background. It took quite some effort to suppress the matter for you." Director Ding spoke casually without even looking at Zhang Chen.
"Thank you, Director Ding." Zhang Chen frowned slightly. This man clearly didn't seem to like him.
"No need to thank me. I just want to ask you—what did you gain yesterday afternoon?" A chill pressed directly against Zhang Chen's body.
By now, Zhang Chen could roughly guess that this policeman was an ability user like himself, and definitely far stronger than him. He also remembered the red crystal resembling calcite that he had obtained. If he claimed he had gotten nothing, he would definitely become enemies with this man.
Zhang Chen hurriedly took out the pouch Master Pu Hu had given him, opened it, and placed it before Director Ding with great respect.
"Director Ding, this is all I got. Master Pu Hu said these are Blood Beetle eggs and that they would be of great help to me. When that guy died, he was dragged into a doorway, and nothing was left behind."
The moment Zhang Chen spoke, he invoked Pu Hu's name. From Director Ding's words, Pu Hu's strength was definitely not far from his own.
"Mm." Director Ding nodded and said nothing more. That's that old bald donkey's Cosmic Bag. I didn't expect him to act so quickly. Who knows what he obtained? This kid doesn't look like he's lying to me, though he probably wouldn't dare lie anyway.
Just then, Zhang Chen noticed a slit open in Director Ding's right palm. A katana flashing with cold light slowly rose from within it. The entire blade radiated icy air, while the dark-blue ribbon on its hilt automatically wrapped around Ding Jian's hand.
Ding Jian, who had been standing sideways, suddenly swung his blade in a horizontal slash with his right hand, aiming straight at Zhang Chen's throat. The sense of danger surged to its peak, far beyond what he had felt when facing twenty Nail Men. Zhang Chen's ten nails instantly grew to half a meter long and blocked before him, while he activated Telekinesis in an attempt to halt the blade's advance.
The instant Zhang Chen's Telekinesis touched the blade tip's cold gleam, it shattered completely. Blood immediately flowed from his nose. Then, wherever the blade's light reached, his nails—which could cut through steel—broke apart inch by inch.
A drop of blood flowed from Zhang Chen's neck and stopped on the blade tip. The blade had only sunk a tiny bit into his skin, cutting through just enough flesh to allow a single drop of blood to emerge.
Ding Jian drew the katana back before him and extended his tongue to lick away the drop of Zhang Chen's blood from its tip. Zhang Chen, standing to the side, had already been drenched in cold sweat. Just then, it had felt as though Death's scythe rested against his neck. For the first time, the feeling of death was so clear and tangible.
Ding Jian seemed to be savoring Zhang Chen's blood. His eyes were tightly shut, and he looked deeply satisfied. If anyone else had seen him, they would surely have thought he was a pervert. But Zhang Chen did not dare make the slightest movement. He knew very well that the man before him truly might kill him.
After a long while, Ding Jian opened his eyes and spoke.
"Mm, for someone your age, having your current strength is not bad. But if you're still at this level the next time I see you, I'll kill you."
Zhang Chen nodded, steadied himself, and said, "Director Ding's blade truly is a fine blade."
"Oh!" Ding Jian revealed a hint of approval. "This blade is called Moon. No fewer than a hundred Ghosts have fallen beneath her. If you can block her someday, then you and I can address each other as equals."
"But." Ding Jian suddenly leaned close to Zhang Chen's ear and said, "I'm left-handed. But not just anyone can look at that thing in my left hand. Whoever sees it must bleed. Come see it when you have the ability someday. Hahaha."
Zhang Chen said nothing, but his heart churned. This man may be arrogant and overbearing, but he truly has the strength to back it up. I'm still far too weak. If what he says is true, even a hundred of me would be like tofu beneath his blade—and that's not even considering whatever other abilities he has.
"Oh, right, Xiao Chen. If you see Pu Hu, tell him for me that the favor from back then has been repaid," Ding Jian said.
Zhang Chen could only nod.
At that moment, a plainly dressed middle-aged man in his fifties entered the backstage room where Zhang Chen and Ding Jian were.
Ding Jian immediately put away his katana and respectfully said to the man, "Hello, County Mayor."
The man also looked at Ding Jian approvingly and nodded in satisfaction. Ding Jian apparently left a very favorable impression on him.
Zhang Chen initially felt that he had seen this man somewhere before. Once he heard Ding Jian call him the County Mayor, he immediately lowered his head and followed with, "Hello, County Mayor."
"Not bad, not bad. Young people these days are more impressive than the last. Little Brother Zhang, our county truly has to thank you this time, hahaha." The County Mayor had none of an official's airs. He was extremely kind and approachable, earning Zhang Chen's admiration.
Then Zhang Chen went onto the stage, holding the enormous certificate for "Jinxi County Model Youth" that the County Mayor had presented to him, basking in endless glory.
Furthermore, the County Mayor personally announced that Zhang Chen would receive an additional fifty points on his high school entrance exam, along with the County Mayor's handwritten letter of recommendation. Getting into a prestigious high school would no longer be much of a problem. The Yufang Middle School students below the stage could only watch with envy, jealousy, and resentment.
Things never really settled down. Girls from neighboring classes kept coming to Zhang Chen to ask about what had happened that day. But seeing Wang Yizhi looking miserable beside him, Zhang Chen could only send them away before texting his goddess to comfort her.
The following day, something important happened. After Wang Yizhi's parents heard about the incident, they hurried back from another province. Once they saw that their daughter was unharmed, they sought out Zhang Chen and spent a considerable sum treating Zhang Chen and his family to a meal at the best hotel in Jinxi County. Wang Yizhi's parents, who had once met Zhang Chen at Sanxue Temple, thought especially highly of the young man.
Zhang Chen's parents also asked about Wang Yizhi and thought she was very good. As they ate, they somehow began discussing the two of their futures together.
Zhang Chen occasionally looked at Wang Yizhi. Beside her father and mother, she was like an obedient little rabbit, sitting perfectly still with proper manners. Yet whenever their parents mentioned her and Zhang Chen, though she said nothing, her face turned red as if rouge had been applied to it.
After that night, Zhang Chen and Wang Yizhi truly confirmed their relationship. However, they had to encourage each other in their studies and improve together.
Before long, three days passed. It was Saturday, the day of Zhang Chen's three-day appointment with Pu Hu. Zhang Chen got up early, changed clothes, took the talisman paper Pu Hu had given him, and set out.
Last night, Wang Yizhi had called to say she wanted to come to Zhang Chen's home today to study together. However, Zhang Chen postponed it until tomorrow, which made the young girl unhappy for a while. But after Zhang Chen coaxed her a little, she was happy again.
"Taking the bus to Sanxue Temple again. It's already been a year since my last visit. I really miss it." After Zhang Chen got off the bus, he found the weekend crowds quite large, with even more street vendors around. Still, he chose the same stall owner as last time. After finishing a bowl of pork rib noodles, he followed the crowd toward Sanxue Temple.
The same two young monks named Pu Ping and Pu Gong stood at the entrance. They clearly remembered Zhang Chen when they saw him, so they gently nodded. Zhang Chen naturally nodded in return.
"Master Pu Hu said I only need to light it in front of Sanxue Temple, right?" Zhang Chen took out the prepared lighter and talisman paper, then lit one corner.
The flames from the burning talisman paper floated through the air and actually tore open a small gap in space. As more and more flames drifted about, the surface of space around Zhang Chen was completely peeled away, revealing another identical world before him—the same mountains, the same temple.
However, there was no one around. The gate of Sanxue Temple was also, just as when Zhang Chen had first come here, faintly ajar.
"Come in..."
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