Although Zhang Hupan had been incredibly arrogant—albeit toward the Japanese—Chen Wu and Wang Ming still found his attitude before their superior hard to stomach. However, Chen Jiaying, who had already secretly classified Zhang Hupan as a cultivator, knew that what Zhang Hupan displayed could not be called arrogance. It was the bearing and confidence of a true expert. He stopped Chen Wu and Wang Ming from speaking, then addressed Zhang Hupan in a respectful tone that left them dumbfounded: "With Senior here, of course we're not afraid of those Japanese getting away. However, we still don't know their exact hiding place. If we act rashly, by the time we find them, they may have already moved the goods. Then we won't be able to catch them in the act, which could cause unnecessary trouble." Since he had already privately concluded that Zhang Hupan was a cultivator, Chen Jiaying respectfully changed the way he addressed him to Senior.
Ignoring the special-agents' loss of composure, Zhang Hupan said indifferently, "They're in that two-story office building in the northeast corner of the factory. Let's just walk over there. With them under my watch, I'm confident I won't let even a fly escape!" As he spoke, Zhang Hupan strolled toward the gate as casually as if he were taking a walk in his own courtyard.
When Zhang Hupan did not deny being called Senior, Chen Jiaying's heart began pounding. He knew that Zhang Hupan was the legendary cultivator. Finally, he stopped hesitating. Chen Jiaying had absolute faith in a cultivator's strength. They were experts on the same level as his own sect master and grandmaster. He had once personally witnessed his sect master and grandmaster fly on a sword, and the sight had shaken him beyond words. It was a realm he believed he could only look up to for the rest of his life. If Zhang Hupan had known that Chen Jiaying was comparing him to Qingmu, a several-generations-removed disciple of his, he would have wondered what to make of it.
Regardless, Chen Jiaying's confidence swelled. Even if several dozen more Japanese ninjas came, he would probably follow Zhang Hupan without hesitation. He waved decisively at the men behind him, leaving no room for argument, then strode toward the gate with his head held high.
Zhang Hupan behaved as though he were touring his own backyard. Every guard, even the wolfhounds, remained frozen in place. Even when Chen Jiaying and the others walked right past them, they acted as though they saw nothing. Wang Ming, unwilling to believe it, poked one of the gate guards, only to see him collapse. Their vital energy had been completely sealed. Wang Ming and Chen Wu exchanged glances, and both saw the horror in the other's eyes. Neither was stupid; they naturally knew who had done it. "Good heavens. He immobilized every guard, even the wolfhounds, in the time it took to speak. Can a human really do that?" Although Chen Jiaying knew cultivators were incredibly powerful, Zhang Hupan's miraculous—or even bizarre—ability still exceeded his imagination, to say nothing of his subordinates. Perhaps to explain Wang Ming and the others' astonishment, or perhaps simply to express his awe at a cultivator's power, Chen Jiaying sighed softly. "Could this be the power of a cultivator?"
"Master, are you saying Zhang Hupan is a legendary cultivator?" Wang Ming was so astonished that he forgot they were forbidden to call Chen Jiaying Master during missions.
"Yes. Senior Zhang is a legendary cultivator." Chen Jiaying stared at Zhang Hupan's back with reverence. In the world of the strong, only the strong could earn their respect, and Zhang Hupan was the super-expert among those who considered themselves strong.
"Whoa!" Everyone stood there dumbfounded. To these elites, cultivators were their dream—a dream that seemed forever beyond their reach, just as immortals were the cultivators' dream. The young elites gazed at Zhang Hupan's back with reverence. Wang Ming felt reverence as well as deep regret over his rash attitude toward Zhang Hupan.
Soon, everyone reached the two-story office building with its distinctly Japanese style. Zhang Hupan stood quietly before it with his hands behind his back, his thoughts churning. The Japanese had built Japanese-style buildings on Chinese soil and were even hiding stolen Chinese goods inside one. This was an intolerable humiliation. A vast aura radiated from Zhang Hupan and enveloped the entire building. Fortunately, Chen Jiaying and the others behind him were spared its direct pressure, but they could still feel its overwhelming force. At that moment, Zhang Hupan seemed as majestic and towering as a heavenly god.
Inside, the Chinese regional president of the Matsushita Corporation was happily raising his glass to celebrate the success of the operation with five short, compact Japanese ninjas. Suddenly, a tremendous aura, as though the end of the world had arrived, pressed down on them without restraint. In an instant, they were drenched in sweat and sprawled on the floor like dead dogs, trembling uncontrollably.
Trash ninjas like these Japanese naturally did not warrant Zhang Hupan's intervention. He only needed to release the slightest trace of his aura capable of destroying heaven and earth. Zhang Hupan turned and said softly to Chen Jiaying, "Go in and arrest them."
"Yes!" Chen Jiaying waved to the men behind him, signaling them to enter the building and prepare for battle. His cultivation had just risen another level, and he wanted to test his strength. Besides, with an expert at the cultivator level like Zhang Hupan watching over them, he had nothing to fear. Thus, he boldly broke through the main entrance.
Watching Chen Jiaying and the others break in while cautiously covering one another, Zhang Hupan was both exasperated and amused. Could I have not made myself clear? I told them to go in and arrest people, not go in and fight. Was there really any need to be so tense?
This was probably the easiest mission Chen Jiaying had ever carried out. Without lifting a finger, all the superhumans in ordinary people's eyes were already sprawled on the floor like dead dogs, waiting to be arrested. Only then did Chen Jiaying truly understand what Zhang Hupan had meant by "Go in and arrest them." At the same time, he was once again shaken by the power of cultivators. In truth, Chen Jiaying had overestimated cultivators' abilities. Not every cultivator could achieve such a result; at least the Core Formation Stage was required. Without Zhang Hupan's appearance, Wudang still would not have had a single Core Formation Stage expert. This showed how exceedingly rare such experts were in the cultivation world. Of course, ordinary people could not distinguish between cultivators of different levels. In their eyes, cultivators could fly on swords and possessed incredible strength, and they never considered that sword-flying techniques also varied in power.
Since Zhang Hupan had already dealt with the most troublesome part, Wang Ming and the others would naturally handle the cleanup. Chen Jiaying certainly did not dare trouble a senior like Zhang Hupan by making him remain with them in this deserted industrial district, so he took the initiative to drive Zhang Hupan back to school. If anyone had seen Chen Jiaying driving someone around, they would have thought the sun had risen in the west. Even the governor of Zhejiang Province sometimes had to show this special-department chief some respect! Yet Chen Jiaying did not feel the slightest grievance. He was even extremely honored. The Jeep soon reached the first men's dormitory. After getting out, Chen Jiaying respectfully opened the door for Zhang Hupan. Zhang Hupan disliked such formalities and had not revealed his identity, but deep down he still considered himself Wudang's second-generation disciple. Respecting one's elders was necessary, so he did not stop someone of Chen Jiaying's distinguished status from being excessively respectful. Although Chen Jiaying knew a cultivator like Zhang Hupan would never need his help, he still courteously left him a business card. Its title merely listed him as the deputy director of the Security Bureau. He said respectfully, "Senior Zhang, if you ever encounter any worldly matters that are inconvenient for you to handle, please feel free to give me your orders."
Zhang Hupan was rather pleased by Chen Jiaying's thoughtfulness, so he casually tossed him two of the lowest-grade immortal pills. Chen Jiaying's strength was simply too weak in Zhang Hupan's eyes; he could not withstand even slightly better pills. Zhang Hupan then turned and entered the dormitory, leaving Chen Jiaying staring blankly at the two golden, richly fragrant legendary immortal pills in his hands. Chen Jiaying quickly came to his senses, glanced around like a thief, and hurriedly hid them away. Zhang Hupan naturally knew how undignified Chen Jiaying's behavior was. He shook his head inwardly. Why are all Wudang disciples like this?
The old dormitory gatekeeper was a shrewd man as well. He had known all along that Zhang Hupan came from some remote place and had never treated him kindly. After Zhang Hupan began working at the bar, he often returned just as the gates were closing and had been scolded by the old man more than once. Of course, the old man was not a Wudang disciple, so Zhang Hupan would not stoop to arguing with him. Today, however, the old man saw that the person Zhang Hupan had ridden in with was clearly in a military vehicle with an exceptionally impressive license plate. He immediately changed his attitude, even taking the initiative to greet Zhang Hupan warmly. Zhang Hupan was so flattered that it took him a while to realize the change was all because of Chen Jiaying.
Although Chen Jiaying held an important position and had weathered many storms, carrying immortal pills still left him dizzy, light-headed, and parched. His hand trembled nonstop as he opened the car door. After taking the driver's seat, he inhaled deeply before finally calming his overwhelming excitement. Just after he left the school, Zhang Hupan's voice sounded beside his ear: "When taking the pills, find somewhere quiet. You'll need to divide one pill into two doses, while your disciple Wang Ming will need to divide his into four. Cultivate properly and don't disgrace our Wudang Sect. You can't even handle the most basic Five Elements Technique, and I don't know how Daoist Master Qingmu, that sect leader, taught his disciples. Don't bother me again next time unless it's something truly major!"
Zhang Hupan was using the Thousand Mile Sound Transmission technique. Chen Jiaying was not surprised by such a secret martial-art technique, because he could use it himself, though his range was nowhere near a thousand miles—at most, a dozen meters. Hearing Zhang Hupan's message, Chen Jiaying was both shocked and delighted. He was delighted that such an immortal-like figure was a member of the Wudang Sect. From Zhang Hupan's instructions about the immortal pills, it was not difficult to tell that their medicinal power was extremely potent; otherwise, there would be no need to divide one into two doses. This alone showed how powerful the pills were. Perhaps they could even let him reach his master's realm. For an internal martial artist like Chen Jiaying, every step forward was already incredibly difficult. What shocked him was the tone of Zhang Hupan's words. This seemingly ordinary first-year university student was actually senior in seniority even to the current sect leader, Daoist Master Qingmu. Yet Chen Jiaying had disturbed such an elder over worldly affairs. Was that not an act of supreme disrespect? And that was not even mentioning Wang Ming's vile attitude at the beginning. Recalling how Wang Ming had behaved before Zhang Hupan, Chen Jiaying flew into a rage and resolved to teach his reckless disciple a proper lesson this time. If Chen Jiaying had known that the person he had disturbed was Zhang Sanfeng, the founding patriarch of Wudang and his only disciple still alive in this world, who knew what he would have thought?
Poor Wang Ming, despite being far away in Xiasha, inexplicably sneezed. A sense that disaster was about to strike rose in his heart. (To be continued)
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