Celestial Human Diagram

After the Gard Car passed the last checkpoint out of Central City, the kaleidoscopic lights gradually receded, fading into the night behind Chen Chuan and Lu Fang.

Within minutes, both of their Realm Tokens deactivated one after the other, and they each reached up to take them off.

Chen Chuan turned on the radio, and upbeat music filled the car.

Lu Fang said, "I’ve gotten so used to the Realm Token. It feels strange not to be using it now." He glanced back and sighed. "It’s been over a year already, just like that."

As he spoke, he turned back around to face Chen Chuan. "I’ve never forgotten what you told me, Junior Chen. In a place like Central City, you have no future without power. You can’t do the things you want to do."

"I’ve been working hard all this time, and I believe that one day, I’ll be able to obtain the knowledge I seek on my own."

Chen Chuan asked, "Senior Brother, what stage are you at now?"

Lu Fang thought for a moment. "Still a long way to go. If I’m being optimistic, I think I’ll need at least another one to two years of hard work."

Chen Chuan nodded. ’A typical graduate from Wuyi Central City General Hospital could reach the Third Limit after three to four, or maybe four to five years of training. After all, regardless of their background, they were all talented individuals recommended from various regions.’

’But that’s only if they have an ample supply of resources.’

’Lu Fang has received a lot of medicine from me and isn’t lacking in talent, but reaching the Third Limit still won’t be that easy for him.’

’However, he has advantages others can’t match: his willpower is incredibly firm, his intentions are pure, his desire for strength is intense, and he has a clear goal. Plus, he’s still in his prime.’

’So as long as he doesn’t run into any personal setbacks, there’s a good chance he’ll eventually make it.’

He said, "Senior Brother, there’s something I said to my classmates when I left the academy."

Lu Fang nodded. "I’ve heard it." He looked ahead at the National Path stretching into the infinite distance and said in a powerful voice, "For our generation, there are no boundaries ahead."

Chen Chuan smiled and stepped on the accelerator. The car picked up speed, its headlights piercing the darkness ahead as it raced forward to the rousing beat of the music.

By a little after six in the morning, bathed in the light of the early morning Sun, the two were already approaching Yangzhi City. Just then, Chaoming let out a high-pitched cry.

Lu Fang looked at the light streaming through the car window. He hadn’t felt it much on the way, but now, a desperate urge to see his family welled up inside him.

The car passed smoothly through the checkpoint, leaving with a salute from the Patrol Officer. It drove from the Yangzhi City South District into the city proper. Along the way, they heard the incessant crackling of firecrackers, and shops were adorned with colorful lanterns and banners. The air was filled with the atmosphere of the New Year.

Chen Chuan then said, "I don’t know where you live, Senior Brother. Let me take you home."

Lu Fang shook his head. "No, it’s alright. Just drop me off at the station, Junior Chen. I can get back on my own."

Chen Chuan didn’t insist. He pulled over in front of a tram station and let him out. Getting out himself, he opened the trunk to help Lu Fang with his things and handed him a gift box. "Senior Brother, take this with you."

Lu Fang was taken aback. "This is..."

Chen Chuan smiled. "Didn’t you leave something for me in the trunk too, Senior Brother Lu? The New Year is almost here. Happy New Year, Senior Brother Lu."

A smile spread across Lu Fang’s face. He stopped being polite and accepted it. "Alright, I’ll take it then. Thank you, Junior Chen. Happy New Year. If you have time during the holiday, I’ll treat you to tea."

Chen Chuan smiled and said, "Just call my home phone, Senior Brother."

Lu Fang nodded.

After they said their goodbyes, Chen Chuan got back in the car, gave him another wave, and started the engine, driving toward the Patrol Bureau Family Area.

He had sent a telegram in advance, so as the car turned in from the main road, Nian Fuli and his aunt figured he would be arriving around this time. The whole family came out to the entrance of the alley to wait for him.

Noticing the Gard Car approaching, Yu Wan’s face lit up with joy. She gently tugged Nian Fuli’s sleeve. "Old Nian, Chan’Er is back."

Nian Fuli said, "I see him, I see him."

The car pulled up and stopped. The door opened, and Chen Chuan stepped out, dressed in the uniform of an Execution Captain. He said, "Aunt, Uncle, why did you all come out?"

Yu Wan said, "It’s just a few steps. It’s no trouble for us."

Nian Fuli looked at his uniform and asked, "Xiaochuan, did you get promoted again?"

He examined the epaulets closely. ’Good heavens,’ he thought, ’an Execution Captain of the Processing Bureau. That’s a double promotion! He’s already a rank higher than Director Guan.’

’In terms of rank alone, only the Administrative Chief of Yangzhi City is one level higher than Chen Chuan.’ He couldn’t help but sigh, "Promotions sure come fast in Central City."

Yu Wan nudged him with her elbow. "That’s because Chan’Er is capable. You think you can get that far just by sucking up?"

"Cousin got promoted again!" his younger cousin, Nian Mo, clapped his hands. Then he looked up and asked, "Dad, when are you getting a promotion?"

Nian Fuli’s gaze fell on him. "Is your homework finished?"

Nian Mo immediately lowered his head and started kicking at the ground. His younger cousin, Nian Lu, raised her hand. "I finished mine!"

Nian Fuli tapped Nian Mo’s head with his pipe. "Look at your cousin, then look at your sister. Don’t just fool around all day."

Chen Chuan chuckled to himself. He opened the car door again, and Chaoming leaped out. The two little ones gasped "Whoa!" and rushed over, circling around Chaoming excitedly.

After grabbing the rest of the things from the trunk, the family, laden with bags of all sizes, headed inside, greeting neighbors from the family area along the way.

After they had passed, the neighbors started chattering among themselves.

"That uniform of Xiaochuan’s, it’s like a greatcoat. He looks so impressive! It doesn’t look ordinary. Did he get promoted again?"

"I’m telling you, what rank is that? Look at the epaulets, he’s got one more star than Director Guan. Don’t tell me he outranks Director Guan now?"

"How could that be? How old is Xiaochuan?"

"Age?"

Someone scoffed, "That doesn’t matter. Captain Nian’s nephew is a Fighter who tested out of Wuyi, a student of the Central City General Hospital. In the last two years, Yangzhi has only produced one like him. Plus, he’s serving in the Central City Processing Bureau. Is it any wonder he’s getting promoted so quickly?"

"The Nian family is really going to prosper now."

As Chen Chuan and Yu Wan’s family stepped through the front door, a high-pitched voice suddenly called out, "Happy New Year! Welcome home, welcome home!"

It was the miniature parrot they had bought last year.

Nian Fuli said, "This little thing’s beak never stops moving."

Yu Wan retorted, "And isn’t everything it says what you like to hear?"

After setting the items down on a table and sorting through them, Chen Chuan presented the gifts he had prepared for Nian Fuli’s family. This time, he gave Nian Fuli a finely-crafted mechanical watch.

’Things like this don’t have much of a market in the lower districts of Central City, but people from the middle and upper echelons love to wear them, making it a perfect gift.’

Besides a few trinkets, he also brought Yu Wan another set of skincare products from the Cyan Bag Jade Workshop, like the one he brought last time. He wasn’t a Drug Tester anymore, but his status was different now, so getting them wasn’t difficult.

Yu Wan said, "I haven’t even used up the last one yet, and you bought more, Chan’Er. Don’t waste your money like this next time."

Chen Chuan smiled and agreed. He then distributed gifts to his younger cousins, giving them water guns, skateboards, and some large stuffed animals.

As he took out the items one by one, he finally produced a carefully folded and sealed package. "This is for the family," he said.

He didn’t say what it was. Nian Fuli looked at it, gave it a squeeze, and immediately knew what it was. He instructed Yu Wan, "This is a thoughtful gift from Xiaochuan. Take it and put it away safely."

Seeing his attitude, Yu Wan didn’t ask any questions. She just nodded and took the package to put it away.

Next, the family sat down together and chatted about things that had happened in Central City and Yangzhi City over the past half-year. But they mostly listened to Chen Chuan, as not much had changed in Yangzhi.

In contrast, Central City had advanced information networks and a large population, with new and strange things happening all the time. Even if Chen Chuan hadn’t experienced them personally, he could quickly learn about them from the news channels.

They talked until noon. After lunch, Nian Fuli said, "Come on, walk with me to help digest the food."

The two of them went outside. Nian Fuli asked, "Xiaochuan, how did you get promoted again?"

Chen Chuan said, "The Bureau gave me an opportunity."

Nian Fuli was emotional. "To become an Execution Captain at your age... I can’t even imagine how far you’ll go in the future." He added, "Xiaochuan, was that Protective Clothing you gave us earlier?"

Chen Chuan smiled. "It’s an Anti-stabbing Suit made by the Fusion Boundary Company. It’s fine for everyday wear."

Without an Armor Certificate, even a Patrol Officer from the Patrol Bureau couldn’t wear Protective Clothing unless they were of a certain rank and on a mission. Anti-stabbing Suits, however, were not subject to this restriction.

This particular Anti-stabbing Suit skirted the line a bit. Its protection level was slightly higher than standard models, capable of stopping some small-caliber bullets. However, since the buyer wouldn’t theoretically know its true capabilities before using it, there was no risk of any problems arising from owning it.

Nian Fuli understood immediately upon hearing this, but he was concerned about something else. He asked, "Why did you bring this back?"

Chen Chuan replied, "The Bureau told me that someone came here asking about me. Uncle, working for the Processing Bureau in Central City, it’s inevitable that I’ll offend some powerful groups and people."

As a captain in the Patrol Bureau himself, Nian Fuli naturally understood this. He said in a low voice:

"Yangzhi City isn’t small, but this family area is full of familiar faces, inside and out. We can sniff out a stranger from several streets away. Besides, ever since Instructor Wen came back, he’s been living here in the family area. You don’t need to worry too much about it."

"Is that so?"

Chen Chuan was slightly surprised. ’But if Instructor Wen is living here, then there shouldn’t be a problem,’ he thought. He then said, "I didn’t know where Instructor Wen was living. He gave me some guidance the last time I was back. I should pay him a visit before or after the New Year."

Nian Fuli pointed in a direction. "He lives over in the Central District, in the courtyard that used to belong to Vice Han, the one who followed the Old Company Commander. He should still be at the Bureau for the last two days of the year. He’ll definitely be back on the thirtieth. You can visit him at the start of the New Year."

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