Hearing Long Jiu say that, Meng Chuan could only smile wryly and nod in agreement.
"Come by the police station with Meng Yongzhi at the end of the month and help us with some publicity work.
"While you're there, you can collect your reward. Besides the 200,000 yuan special anti-demon reward, I'll personally add another 100,000 out of my own pocket."
"Don't refuse. If you hadn't held off the Heavenly Demon until Master Luo arrived, it would've caused me a lot of trouble. This 100,000 is my way of thanking you."
A huge sum of money had suddenly dropped into his lap, leaving Meng Chuan a little dazed. But one thing was still clear to him: Master Luo had been the real star of last night's battle.
Luo Guanyun seemed to read Meng Chuan's mind and spoke up before he could say anything.
"Don't look at me. I'm not short of money. If you really want to do something, put 100,000 into our martial arts school's account. What you learn there will belong to you."
Meng Chuan nodded gratefully.
Long Jiu spoke up.
"All right, it's getting late, and there's a mountain of work back at the bureau. Brother Luo, I'll be off."
"Xiao Meng, come with me. I'll give you a ride. Your uncle and aunt were worried sick, waiting at home all night. They nearly blew up our branch bureau's phone."
Not wanting the two of them to worry, Meng Chuan said goodbye to Luo Guanyun, then got up and left with Police Chief Long.
Left alone in the room, Luo Guanyun lit a cigarette and sank into thought.
That kid's covered in black sludge. Why does it look so much like the Marrow Cleansing I went through when I first mastered the Yuanshen Thunder Seed Method?
But the boy hadn't even passed the Qi-Blood Pass. There was no way he could cultivate a True Technique. So Luo Guanyun wondered whether Meng Chuan had awakened some kind of Marrow Cleansing trait.
In ancient times, people in the martial world called those who were exceptional in certain ways Yiren.
As the saying went, "A body marked by the extraordinary bears its own destiny." Some superstitious people called them Destined Ones.
After Great Chu was founded, scientific research advanced by leaps and bounds. Experts studying genetics discovered that these so-called Destined Ones had actually developed unusual specializations in certain genes.
It had nothing to do with being chosen by Heaven—that was just superstition. So the name was changed to the more fitting "Enlightened One."
Later, surveys and investigations revealed that Innate Enlightenment wasn't the only way this could happen.
Many Enlightened One interviewees said that when they were born, tests had found no genetic differences between them and ordinary people.
But after experiencing various stimuli later in life, their bodies had gradually changed, making them different from ordinary people.
After extensive investigations and research confirmed this, the Martial Arts Association announced that those who attained enlightenment later in life would be called Awakened Ones. Whether someone was Innately Enlightened or an Awakened One, the cause of their transformation was collectively called a "trait."
After encountering certain stimuli, people could awaken a hidden trait within their bodies.
Meng Chuan's experience the previous night fit this theory. And given the Marrow Cleansing-like signs that had appeared on him that morning, Luo Guanyun suspected that he was one of these Acquired Awakened Ones.
At that thought, Luo Guanyun perked up and speculated.
"Could it be a trait like Tongmai or Little Dragon Type?"
Traits were treasures hidden in the deepest part of the body. They could only be judged by their outward effects; there was no way to probe them and reach a definitive conclusion.
The Tongmai trait manifested as Marrow Cleansing and sinew-changing, with all eight meridians opened. It made martial arts training twice as effective with half the effort.
The Little Dragon Type was even more extraordinary. Those who awakened this trait underwent a complete transformation, their marrow cleansed, bones renewed, and sinews changed. They possessed twelve beast Forms and had a supreme innate trait for training in Xiangxing martial arts.
They also had strong sinews and bones and organs that produced vital fluids, making them equally suited to martial arts that could damage the body as a side effect, such as the Yuanshen Thunder Seed Method!
"That kid looks like he's grown a little taller. His spine's changed shape... Could he really be a Little Dragon Type?"
Luo Guanyun grew excited at once, but he still had the composure of a Martial Arts Master and wouldn't jump to conclusions. He thought to himself:
No need to rush. I'll keep watching him. Traits lie hidden in the body, and unless you're with someone day and night, you can't notice the changes. That kid still has to renew his membership at the school, so he won't be going anywhere for a while.
Police Chief Long drove fast, and before long, he had dropped Meng Chuan off at home.
He had other things to do and didn't linger. He simply reminded Meng Chuan to come by the Qindu Branch Bureau at the end of the month, then left.
At home, Xue Na was cooking a meal full of Meng Chuan's favorite dishes.
"The poor boy must've been scared out of his wits this time. I'll make extra of what he likes and help him build his strength back up."
Meng Yongzhi had received a call from Police Chief Long that morning. Long had told him Meng Chuan was safe and that he would bring him home around noon.
The meal had just been cooked when Meng Chuan pushed open the door and walked in.
"Uncle, Auntie, I'm back."
Meng Yongzhi hurriedly stood up from the sofa and came over, checking Meng Chuan from head to toe.
"Thank goodness you're back. You're all right, aren't you?"
Meng Yongzhi knew that many people had died in Tong Family Alley the previous night, but he had no idea what his nephew had to do with it.
Meng Chuan stretched out his arms and legs to show his uncle, then jumped in place a few times.
"I'm fine. I ran into a Heavenly Demon on my way home in the dark, but Master Luo saved me. Look, I'm not hurt at all."
"Just look at you. I can tell nothing happened."
Meng Yongzhi didn't think much of it. Seeing Meng Chuan was unharmed, he gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder.
He felt that Meng Chuan's temperament seemed different now that he was back, though he couldn't say what had changed. He just seemed more spirited.
Meng Chuan used to spend all day researching how to break through the limits of Guoyi Fist, which made him seem a little gloomy. Now he seemed full of vitality.
Women really did notice different things from men. His aunt came out of the kitchen wearing an apron and cried out in delight at the first sight of him.
"Oh, Chuan'er! How come your skin looks better after only one day away?"
Meng Chuan smiled and explained:
"I ran into a Heavenly Demon last night. It scared me so badly that my face turned white."
With Meng Chuan safely home, the family ate lunch amid laughter and conversation.
After lunch, Meng Chuan couldn't wait to get back to his room and practice martial arts, but his uncle stopped him.
"Master Luo said you need to rest for a while longer. Don't train just yet. Your health comes first. There'll be plenty of time to practice once you've recovered."
"I'm fine, Uncle. I'll show you."
With that, Meng Chuan threw a few punches, using Ming Jin's force-generating technique. Crisp cracks rang through the air.
"Is that... Ming Jin?"
"I think so. I just figured it out."
Meng Yongzhi nodded again and again, delighted.
"Good lad! I'd only learned how to use Ming Jin when I passed my third level. You've picked it up so quickly. You must've reached the rank. Remember to get your Qi-Blood tested again at the martial arts school this weekend."
"Oh, right, Uncle. Police Chief Long said you should bring me to the Qindu Branch Bureau at the end of the month to collect the reward. It adds up to 300,000 yuan."
Before you continue