Celestial Human Diagram

Chapter 335 - 66: Disposal

’Failed?’

Zhao Qian’s expression darkened.

You Xing had a one hundred percent success rate. He also knew that this person had worked for the company before, completing his tasks with the same high efficiency. That was why he’d trusted the man’s abilities.

’But someone like that actually failed?’

’What could be the reason?’

Since the "cleanup" was arranged through a platform, it guaranteed that the Ghost Walker wouldn’t know the client’s identity. But by the same token, he had no way of knowing the specifics of the Ghost Walker’s operation.

He didn’t believe Chen Chuan could have survived on his own. Was it because of protection from the Processing Bureau or Wuyi Academy? Or had some unknown power intervened?

’If it was an unknown power...’

He had once believed that in the fight against the Mutual Aid Association and the Molan Company, Chen Chuan was just a pawn pushed forward by the government. And pawns were just pawns, usually discarded after use.

But what if the pawn wasn’t just a pawn? What if he had already joined one of those factions, or was a member from the very beginning? That would explain You Xing’s failure. And he had to consider the possibility that this incident had already triggered the vigilance of certain departments.

He took a deep breath and decided to wait. Because of his Zhao Family background, government departments had investigated him several times. Although he had narrowly passed each time, many people within the company were dissatisfied with him, including some rivals.

If his personal actions affected the interests of his department or the company, those people would be eager to jump out and attack him. Even the most trivial matter could be blown out of proportion. Now was not the time to give them any more excuses.

He understood clearly that in Central City, the company was the source of his greatest benefits. Only by wearing the "skin" of the company could he protect everything he currently had.

’In any case, I’m operating from the shadows. I still have time. I’ll figure out the situation first.’

After considering all this, he said to the person on the other end, "Not at the moment."

"Understood. Your response has been recorded. The platform is always available should you require cleanup services again. Your deposit will be refunded to your account within three days."

Zhao Qian ended the communication, deleted the records, and stood up. He walked to the window and contacted someone using his Realm Token. After a moment, the connection went through, and a very stiff voice came from the other side. "Boss, what do you need me to do?"

Zhao Qian said, "I need you to investigate something for me, regarding a Wuyi Student. Remember not to alert anyone. Don’t send the information through the platform; deliver it to me personally."

"You’re being very cautious, Boss. Sounds like the target has some background. How much time do I have?"

"I want the results within a month."

"Mmm, what about the other matter?"

"Don’t worry about that for now. This is more important."

"Understood. Await my news, Boss."

After ending the call, he remained standing there, deep in thought.

Footsteps sounded from behind him, and a petite girl of about fourteen or fifteen walked in from outside.

There were visible seam lines on her neck, and scattered flashes of bio-electricity sparked along her cervical spine. The parts of her body from the thighs down were clearly Implant limbs.

She picked up the carafe on the desk, poured a glass, and carried it with both hands to Zhao Qian. Then, she slowly knelt and offered him the drink.

Zhao Qian took it and had a sip. He looked down at her pure, delicate face and said, "Every time I see you, I’m struck by the resemblance. Very good. Just stay kneeling like that."

The girl remained silent.

Zhao Qian turned and walked away, leaving the small figure kneeling there, her reflection cast on the glass curtain wall.

Outside the checkpoint of Central City’s north passage, Chen Chuan arrived in his Gard Car and slowly pulled over to the side of the road.

He looked at the wide road ahead and the city patrol officers making their rounds. This was one of the main passages into Central City. He hadn’t entered the city this way before due to the road blockades, choosing to take a detour around it instead.

Incidents like that weren’t uncommon. Central City was so vast that it was impossible to monitor every corner. Most people without official identification entered the city through the peripheral areas, where smuggling was rampant and various forms of violence were unavoidable.

Never mind those areas; even the checkpoints themselves had been subjected to forced entries and violent attacks. That was why he had come to pick up Gao Ming—more so for the latter’s safety.

He had only been waiting for a little while when he saw a greyish-white sedan drive toward the checkpoint and begin the tedious inspection process. More than ten minutes later, the car slowly drove out.

Just then, the gloomy rain of the past few days began to dissipate. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, spilling onto the road. He reached out, opened the door, and stepped out of the car.

The other car also slowed to a stop. The door opened, and Gao Ming got out from the back seat. He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, smoothed out his long, dark-brown gentleman’s suit, and walked toward him.

Chen Chuan smiled faintly and walked forward, stopping in a patch of sunlight. The two men clapped hands. "Gao Ming, was the trip smooth?" he asked.

Gao Ming smiled. "Just had to wait a bit longer at the checkpoint."

Chen Chuan asked, "Have you found a place to live?"

"The firm arranged an apartment. I’ll stay there for now."

"That’s good," Chen Chuan said. "Once you’re settled, I have something I need to discuss with you."

Gao Ming pushed up his glasses. "Cousin, you’re my number one client. You can tell me anything right away."

Chen Chuan grunted in acknowledgment. "Let’s talk about it when we get back."

He was well aware of his current driving skills, and besides, he was using a temporary pass. So he had Gao Ming get back into his original car while he simply followed behind.

After taking Gao Ming to the firm’s apartment and helping him settle in, they only started talking business once everything was put away. He told Gao Ming about Zhao Qian.

"This man was also a member of the Mutual Aid Association and one of the main planners behind what happened to Senior Brother Shen. Wei Jun’s later actions were just an imitation of his. But even though the Molan Company collapsed and the Zhao Family was destroyed along with it, he managed to escape the reckoning."

Gao Ming said, "Cousin, based on the information you’ve given me, this man has a major corporate background. If we’re going to deal with him, regardless of the method, I’ll first need to gather some necessary and detailed information. That will take some time."

Chen Chuan nodded. He knew this couldn’t be rushed. After all, this time they weren’t facing a lone wolf like You Xing, but a mid-level manager at a large corporation. The resources at his disposal were far beyond what an ordinary Fighter could compare to.

After finishing their business talk, he and Gao Ming chatted about Yangzhi and things back home. They had a meal together before he left the apartment and drove his Gard Car back toward the academy.

He was still on his way when his Realm Token indicated an incoming call. Seeing it was Old Qi, he accepted it. Old Qi’s voice came through: "Brother Chen, I’ve bought the materials you wanted in the requested quantity. They’re all in the warehouse."

Chen Chuan said, "Old Qi, you didn’t run into any trouble, did you?"

Old Qi said, "None at all."

"Good. Thanks for your trouble, Old Qi."

"It’s nothing."

Chen Chuan thought for a moment, then turned the car around and headed toward the warehouse.

The matter of the Raccoon Cat Stone Carving needed to be resolved as soon as possible. Even though the weird tale entity had been sated by You Xing, he deduced that if no rituals were performed for a long time and the entity’s needs weren’t met, it might emerge on its own to satisfy itself. If that happened, the containment might no longer be effective.

That was why he had brought the item back with him instead of just leaving it there.

He drove all the way to Wubei’s warehouse, found the Esoteric Materials, and confirmed that both the quantity and quality were correct. Old Qi was very reliable in this regard.

The next step was to perform the ritual. However, there were many important things in the warehouse, so the ritual couldn’t be held there. But he knew of a suitable place.

He parked the Gard Car there, borrowed the small truck from Wubei, and moved the stone carving onto it. He drove out from there, heading straight for the wasteland where Teacher Wu had originally lived.

This location wouldn’t disturb anyone, and the Domain surveillance seemed to be weaker here because of the area’s inherent problems, making it a convenient place to handle certain matters.

After arriving, he scouted around and finally found a place that looked suitable. He stopped there, moved the Raccoon Cat Stone Carving off the truck, and set it in an appropriate position.

Then he went back to the truck, took down the duffel bag containing the Ritual Materials, and found a spot sheltered from the wind to take out the contents one by one. Finally, he opened the file Director Lei had given him and, following the diagrams inside, began to carefully draw the containment ritual on the ground around the carving.

This time, he drew two ritual patterns in succession. The first was a simple enclosing circle to prevent the weird tale entity from escaping. The second was the more important containment ritual. Having performed it once before, he was more confident this time. In less than two Hours, he had completed both setups.

He checked his work and, seeing no omissions or mistakes, walked over to stand before the Raccoon Cat Stone Carving, his gaze fixed upon it.

This Raccoon Cat Stone Carving was extremely old. He surmised that its original form had been sculpted merely for the convenience of placing offerings and kowtowing; the weird tale entity itself had no fixed form.

However, precisely because the statue was so ancient, it had become a sufficient vessel to contain the weird tale entity. This meant it could be repurposed later.

He reached out and placed his hand on the head of the Raccoon Cat Stone Carving. His gaze sharpened, and a surge of Power instantly permeated it. The stone carving trembled, and fine cracks immediately appeared on its surface.

At the same time, a violent roar echoed in his ears, and his Second Self began to show signs of fading.

After the battle with You Xing, his overlap time had reached two days and ten Hours. The power possessed by his Second Self had also grown closer to that of his main body. But even so, as the weird tale entity was gradually released, the overlap time was being rapidly depleted. The intensity of this assault was the strongest he had ever encountered.

But at the same time, while the weird tale entity was assailing him, it was also constantly stimulating the Mutated Organization throughout his entire body.

As a CRACKLING sound came from the stone carving, pieces of rubble fell from it. Finally, with a CRASH, it shattered into a pile on the ground. At that same moment, a shriek that could almost tear his skull apart pierced his ears.

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