Translator: CinderTL
Several days later, at Banli Port.
The two-masted sailing ship retracted its ropes and set sail once more.
Lei Long, with his thick beard, stood on the deck, dressed in a black leather jacket and woolen clothes, waving goodbye to his wife and daughter who were seeing him off at the port.
"Dad!!"
"Andi will wait for you to come back!!"
The slightly curly-haired little girl, facing the chilly sea breeze with her clothes fluttering, cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted with reluctance.
Her soft voice was carried away by the sea breeze. Lei Long, on the sea, was all smiles, as were the rest of the crew, waving goodbye to their families.
Smiles were predominant, with not too much sadness, as everyone knew this voyage wasn't too far.
Seeing this, the boy Tulin, standing by a carriage on the grey road of the port, dressed in patched clothes, looked on with envy.
The ocean has always been rich in legends, filled with treasures and various historic events.
To join a crew and become a sailor, to be a part of witnessing such events, is something many admire and respect.
But alas... "Just wait a bit longer."
"Once I save up a bit more money, it'll be easier for my mother and sister."
He thought to himself with longing, his clenched fist noticed by Chen Feng, who didn't disturb him but quietly watched the fleet depart.
Under his orders, Lei Long's fleet would first go to Eaglefall Island to pick up the two Mermaids, then head to Merman Bay to trade for the Blue Heart Stone.
He didn't specifically explain about Gata, but privately instructed Lei Long that if they encountered unforeseen dangers, they could throw a few silver coins into the sea.
At that time, his companion would appear to resolve the crisis and ensure their safe passage.
"Let's go."
Withdrawing his gaze, Chen Feng decided not to follow to Merman Bay.
He could feel his time here was coming to an end.
"Uncle, will father come back safely?"
Little Andi had followed along, held by Lei Long's wife, who gave Chen Feng a respectful bow.
With a slight smile, Chen Feng ruffled Little Andi's slightly curly brown hair.
Perhaps due to the special intuition of children, she seemed to sense that the fleet's sudden departure was related to him.
"He will come back," he promised.
"Sha!!"
As if responding to his command, a voice echoed in his mind, it was Gata, somewhat anticipating the silver coins.
The group then boarded the carriage and left the port, with Tulin whipping the horses to return to the garden district.
The red and grey buildings passed by, and along the way, there were serious-looking followers of the Frost Church patrolling the streets, causing unease among many.
"It seems the murderer of the Frost Bishop hasn't been found yet."
"Even ordinary people are being killed, it's terrifying."
Tulin muttered subconsciously, somewhat worried, while Chen Feng remained calm and composed in the back.
The death of the Frost Bishop had a significant impact, but there was no news about the Mermaid incident, it was completely covered up.
The reason was that all the servants in the villa had died on the same day, and it was confirmed that he, the murderer, had killed them all.
He suspected that the forces behind the capture of the Mermaids had manipulated things to cover up the truth.
"Cough, cough..."
Suddenly, a coughing sound reached his ears, and he looked in that direction.
A homeless person had collapsed by the roadside, and there were elderly people supporting each other, occasionally taking out handkerchiefs to cover their mouths and cough lightly.
"Andi, be good, cover your mouth."
Lei Long's wife spoke up, handing Andi a handkerchief to cover her nose and mouth.
The air seemed to carry a faint, unpleasant odor, and the gray sky appeared particularly gloomy.
Chen Feng tilted his head to look at the black chimney. According to Tulin, the factory operated around the clock, and the chimney never stopped emitting smoke.
Duke Charles, Sark Company, Young Master Lund... In his search for the Mermaid, Chen Feng had scanned the entire Banli Port, and this was the only place he hadn't yet visited.
His gaze grew distant as he returned to the garden area.
After sending Tulin and the others away, he walked to a corner, feeling his body grow heavier and heavier.
Until finally, everything became illusory.
A gentle breeze passed by, leaving no trace or shadow behind.
"Huh? Where is Master Feng Chen?"
Tulin, who was nearby, asked in confusion. Little Andi and the others also shook their heads in bewilderment, looking around.
Just then, a procession of carriages slowly approached from the street outside the iron fence, the tuna flags fluttering in the wind, particularly eye-catching.
"Young Master Lund, seven workers at the factory contracted phthisis yesterday, and three of them died."
"What do you think..."
Someone inside the carriage reported in a low voice, the curtain falling to block the outside view.
"Burn them, and make sure the others keep their mouths shut."
"I don't want to see this in the newspapers."
The brown-haired young man in a gentleman's suit said casually, lifting the carriage curtain to glance at the coughing people on the street, his brow furrowing slightly in disgust.
"I understand," the man beside him replied respectfully.
"How about those fleets I asked you to investigate?"
"We've already checked twenty-three fleets, and there are seven more that recently set sail. It will take some more time."
"Too slow. I want answers by the end of this month."
The young man spoke impatiently, lowering the carriage curtain.
"Besides, don't you think the death of the Frost Bishop was too sudden? And those two Mermaids... they've disappeared."
"What do you mean?"
"That person has likely already discovered us and is hiding in Banli Port."
"This is a provocation, understand?"
The brown-haired young man spoke indifferently, a cold glint in his eyes.
Although the suspected fifth-tier Extraordinary One was formidable, with his father around, the other party could never overthrow the Charles Family.
The man beside him shuddered at the words, the more he thought about it, the more he felt the young master's speculation was likely correct.
"I understand."
He no longer argued, determined to intensify the investigation after this.
The young man's eyes returned to their indifferent state as the procession of carriages headed toward the factory.
For a moment, the only sound echoing through the streets was the coughing from both sides.
Until finally.
Buzz! The light in the empty garden corner shifted, and a gray-cloaked woman who had been hiding in disguise revealed herself.
Her eyes filled with anger, she gritted her teeth as she watched the carriage disappear into the distance.
"The Charles Family is truly ruthless."
"They actually killed all those servants..."
The figure in golden armor was despicable, but he had the pride of a strong man, disdaining to kill ordinary, weak people.
But the Charles Family, in their madness to destroy clues and evidence, had slaughtered all the survivors in the villa.
"This won't do. If this continues, more innocent people will be harmed."
"I need my teacher's help."
Her eyes filled with determination, she picked up a curtain to cover her body once more.
In an instant, her figure vanished again.
---
Whoosh!!! The Flying Car cut through the sky, scattering the white clouds.
Skyscrapers stood tall and dense. Chen Feng, standing by the window, withdrew his gaze and looked at his phone.
[Han Chao: Grandmaster Chen, we will depart promptly at 2 PM. Please wait at the Flame Tiger Martial Hall.]
The martial arts exchange in Suro was scheduled for tomorrow, and he, along with Zhou Wuren and others, needed to head to Suro today.
They had previously communicated via messages, so he wasn't surprised.
Soon, he finished packing.
As he stepped out of his room, he saw Chen Yun preparing breakfast. The secret medicinal porridge sent by Cao Tong was already placed on the table.
"Awake?"
"Yes."
Chen Feng nodded and sat down at the dining table.
"I'm leaving Nanjiang today," he said, taking a sip of the hot porridge.
"Alright."
Chen Yun smiled and nodded, unaware of Suro, thinking he was going to Luohe.
The siblings chatted briefly. "Try on the new clothes."
Chen Yun brought out a thick black down jacket from the room.
"You're wearing too little. I checked the weather forecast for Luohe; it's colder than here in Nanjiang."
"I bought this last night when I went out for dinner with Weiwei. It's an extra-large size; it should fit you."
Her gentle concern made Chen Feng pause for a moment, feeling as if he had returned to the early days after his transmigration.
Although he was no longer affected by cold or heat and didn't particularly like the thick, restrictive down jacket.
But, "Alright."
With a smile, he nodded and went to change into the jacket.
"Wow! A down jacket?"
"Really not used to seeing you dressed so heavily."
That afternoon, at the entrance of the Flame Tiger Martial Hall.
Several flying cars were parked there. Lin Hao, dressed in a wool coat and suit, teased with a smile, causing Chen Feng to glance at him.
The long black down jacket had a hood hanging behind the shoulders, reaching down to the knees.
Filled with velvet, it was quite warm, a famous sports brand from Earth, known as the "Mountain Climbing" brand.
The only thing he wasn't used to was the tightness around the shoulders and elbows, feeling as if a big movement might burst it.
"Did Sister Yun buy it for you?"
Lin Hao guessed with a grin, and Chen Feng didn't deny it.
"Yes."
"Good. Suro has had a big temperature drop recently, and I heard the martial arts exchange is near the snowy mountains. I brought a thicker coat too."
The two chatted for a while. Cao Tong and Xu Tingxiao, dressed in thick hoodies and windbreakers, came out carrying suitcases.
One had become Chen Feng's life assistant, while the other was tagging along to Suro to gain experience.
As for Lin Hao.
Two people stood behind him.
One was familiar, the former security captain, Zhou Cheng.
The other was somewhat unfamiliar, a middle-aged man with a square face and a buzz cut, wearing a black trench coat.
"This is our company's security consultant, Mr. Yuan Yueshan."
Lin Hao introduced him, and the man extended his hand, smiling warmly at Chen Feng.
"Pleasure to meet you, Grandmaster Chen."
Somewhat surprised, Chen Feng sensed that this man was actually an Advanced Titanium-grade Cyborg, nearing the peak of the fourth tier.
"Pleasure to meet you."
Without asking further, they shook hands briefly.
He guessed this was one of Lin Hao's hidden connections.
"Where's Liu Bo?"
Chen Feng glanced around but didn't see the white-gloved gentlemanly old butler.
"Liu Bo isn't coming. He's staying in Nanjiang to hold the fort for me."
Lin Hao chuckled softly, "With him here, I can travel with peace of mind."
He blinked, sensing something more in Chen Feng's words.
After returning from Yun Port last time, the mention of Emerald Lifeforms had caused the other party to vanish from Nanjiang for several days.
Combined with the appearance of Yuan Yueshan, he began to form some conjectures.
Whoosh!!! At that moment, an aircraft came into view.
The red maple leaf emblem drew the attention of many passersby, who stopped to watch in surprise.
Shortly after, several fully armed military men appeared.
"Grandmaster Chen, apologies for the wait."
"Please."
Someone spoke, and Chen Feng nodded, leading the team into the cabin where he saw Zhou Wuren seated inside.
Dressed in a traditional gray robe with black patterns, he was accompanied by the disciple Chen Feng had met before.
"Brother Chen!" Zhou Wuren stood up and called out, a smile breaking through his stern expression.
"Old Zhou."
Both men naturally dropped the formalities, perhaps due to their shared life-and-death experience in Yun Port and the funeral of Xie Xiao.
Thus, their address to each other was more intimate compared to other grandmasters.
Then, raising an eyebrow slightly, Chen Feng noticed something amiss.
"Just you?"
He remembered the other had mentioned that a grandmaster from the Saint Sect would be joining them.
"Ah, don't mention it."
"Grandmaster Wu had an accident, got injured, and can't make it this time."
Zhou Wuren said helplessly, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow slightly.
The Saint Sect was the undisputed leader in the northern Martial Arts World. Who dared to injure them? "Last time at Xiang Mountain, that great protector didn't die, which surprised the Saint Sect."
"While searching for clues afterward, Grandmaster Wu was ambushed and severely injured."
Zhou Wuren explained in a low voice, and Chen Feng nodded, understanding the gist.
It was most likely related to the Divine Martial Alliance, which indeed had some depth.
"So, just the two of us?" Chen Feng asked again.
"Of course."
Zhou Wuren looked exasperated, as if the question was unnecessary.
The military man beside them stepped forward with a smile, "Grandmaster Chen, your battle at Xiang Mountain shook the world. Below the Pinnacle Realm, you have no match."
"So we believe that with you here, whether there's one more or one less in this Martial Arts Exchange doesn't matter."
The respect in his tone was unmistakable, and Zhou Wuren, though slightly hurt, did not refute.
He knew very well what it meant to kill a Pseudo-Pinnacle Realm expert.
Hearing this, Cao Tong and Xu Tingxiao were filled with pride.
From a declining sect to now renowned throughout the Martial Arts World of the Red Nation, their Senior Brother was indeed a legend.
Chen Feng, however, remained quite calm, though he nodded in response to the military's respect and esteem.
He then introduced Lin Hao and the others behind him, to which the military man indicated it was fine, clearly having been briefed by Han Chao.
Hum!!! Immediately, the cabin door closed, and a gust of air was stirred.
The aircraft ascended high into the sky, heading straight for the direction of Luohe.
That was the border area adjacent to Suro, where a special city defense checkpoint existed.
"It seems the big sister has already gone to Suro."
Lin Hao said in a low voice, and Chen Feng raised an eyebrow, not entirely surprised.
The Black Crystal Group had extensive connections and always found a way to cross the heavily guarded border into Suro.
Whoosh!!
The gust of air was stirred, and in just over half an hour, the border area between Luohe and Suro came into view.
A white-gray metal structure stood in the middle of a smooth traffic artery, with radar scanning the sky, detecting various electromagnetic signals nearby.
In the vicinity, military camps could be seen stationed, with a significant number of heavy weapons such as armored vehicles and tanks. Some figures in camouflage uniforms stood in orderly formations, even engaged in training.
[Beep! The city defense checkpoint requests communication access!]
"Granted."
The military man nodded, connected to the communication, and after a brief exchange, he took off directly in his aircraft.
Witnessing this scene, the corporate forces below, who had been stopped at the checkpoint and forced to land, looked on with envy and engaged in continuous discussions.
In addition, a young military man looked up, listening to the hushed conversations of his companions beside him.
"He must be going to participate in the Martial Arts Exchange, right?"
"Probably. I heard that Grandmaster Chen from Nanjiang has also been invited."
"Can he handle it? I heard that the martial artists from Suro are quite treacherous. Grandmaster Chen is so young; what if he lacks experience?"
"Idiot, why do you think the higher-ups asked him to step in?"
Various voices reached his ears as he watched the aircraft gradually disappear into the horizon.
The young man in camouflage smiled slightly, sincerely wishing, "Coach."
"May you achieve a resounding victory!"
(End of the Chapter)
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