C7 Chen Zhuya

Gu Xian's eyes fluttered open, and it took a full two seconds for him to disengage from the relentless combat state he'd been in.

At the training camp, he had sparred endlessly with the formidable Blade 12, and only after finally besting it could he emerge.

He noticed Old Chen was still at the table, sculpting clay figurines as if hardly any time had passed at all.

It felt as though he had merely dozed off in bed, yet he was aware that an indeterminate stretch of time had elapsed within the confines of the camp.

Surprisingly, there was a beautiful girl in the room besides Old Chen, a presence Gu Xian was certain hadn't been there upon his arrival. When had she materialized?

She seemed to notice him stirring and glanced his way.

Her figure was striking, dressed in a sleek black suit and a silver-gray pencil skirt, complemented by black-framed glasses. Her hair was gathered casually at the nape of her neck, secured with a hairpin, her natural beauty unenhanced by makeup, exuding an air of grace.

She gave Gu Xian a composed, generous once-over with her large, luminous eyes, careful not to disturb Old Chen, and gestured for him to step outside for a conversation.

Gu Xian obliged and followed her out.

"You're Gu Xian, aren't you? Surely, you know who I am," she said, her tone cool and detached.

"I don't," Gu Xian replied.

The girl paused, taken aback. Gu Xian caught a glimpse of her fingers clenching her clothing, a fleeting tension before they relaxed.

"My grandfather just mentioned you. I'm Chen Zhuya. I was passing by on company business and decided to drop in to see him," she maintained her composed demeanor.

"Hello."

"Let's skip the small talk. I have only one thing to discuss with you," she said, nodding towards the room. "My parents passed away when I was young, and it was Grandpa who raised me. He mentioned you arrived today and seems to think well of you."

"I have a fondness for Old Chen, too."

"Save it. Spare me the pleasantries. Look, I don't know who sent you or what you're after, but I've made it abundantly clear before—do not use my grandfather as a means to an end. I won't stand for it. If you don't want any trouble, I'd suggest you leave now."

Chen Zhuya raised a finger, her tone decisive. "Listen, if I want to, within one hour—just one hour—any mech pilot in Aelley would be at my beck and call, ready to break your arms and legs. You're just a scrawny little boy; I doubt you've ever thrown a punch in your life. Why wade into this trouble?"

Gu Xian blinked, taken aback. "Is that a threat?"

Her voice dropped, dark and ominous as the night itself. "If that's what you want to call it, then yes."

"I think you're mistaken. I'm only here to work and make some money."

"At your age, you want to work here?" Chen Zhuya let out a cold laugh and shook her head. "Mechanic work is grueling and exhausting. How could someone as young as you bear such hardship? Stop lying. There's no need to deny it. Just tell me who's backing you and then get lost!"

"Believe what you want," Gu Xian replied, his patience wearing thin. "Is there anything else? If not, I'm off to have a chat with Old Chen."

"You're dismissing me?"

Gu Xian had no more patience for her. If she weren't Old Chen's granddaughter, she'd be out on her ear already.

"Do you even know who I am? The company I work for? The caliber of experts I'm acquainted with? Don't fool yourself into thinking I wouldn't lay a finger on you just because you're young! Keep your distance from my grandfather, got it?"

With a resounding thud, Gu Xian slammed the door shut. The last person who dared threaten him was now pushing up daisies.

He pondered for a moment, considering Old Chen's feelings; he couldn't bring himself to harm her just yet.

Chen Zhuya's nose nearly collided with the door as it slammed.

She raised her slender middle finger to adjust her glasses, glanced at the time, and frowned.

She had no time to squander on this fool. She'd handle his case after her visit to the Security Department.

Old Chen was too trusting, always getting duped. It wasn't the first time, but with her here, things would be sorted out.

She scoffed to herself. He didn't know what was good for him. She'd find someone to put him in his place later. By the looks of him, he was probably still in school, unacquainted with a real thrashing.

He was slight of build, with thin arms and legs. I had to remind them to handle him gently, to spare his life.

...

Gu Xian paid no mind to Chen Zhuya, spouting a string of nonsense for no apparent reason. He couldn't pinpoint where the issue lay.

Upon entering the room, he saw Chen admiring his freshly completed clay sculpture, seemingly oblivious to the quarrel that had taken place outside.

Approaching Chen, Gu Xian patted his shoulder; he had questions for him.

Chen looked up and offered Gu Xian a smile.

Gu Xian responded with an approving thumbs up to the sculpture.

Chen's face softened, the lines of age easing.

"Chen, I need to ask you something." He brought the orange cat sculpture closer, pointing to its claws. "What's this? Where did it come from?"

The grayish-white crystal on the cat's nails was unmistakably the reason Gu Xian had ended up at the training camp. He was eager to uncover the issue.

Chen fiddled with his wristwatch, and a blue holographic screen emerged, displaying clear text—evidently under the command of Chen's brainwaves.

"I stumbled upon this while cutting through the steel structure. It struck me as odd, so I kept it."

"All of these pieces?"

"No, just this one," Chen indicated the grayish-white crystal stained with his blood. "The others are random stone shards I found that merely resemble it."

"Could you extract this piece for me?"

Chen, puzzled by Gu Xian's request, nodded nonetheless.

With Chen's meticulous effort, the fragment was eventually removed.

Gu Xian expressed his gratitude with a smile, taking a closer look at the fragment in his hand.

It was an exact match to the one he had seen at the training camp.

Clutching it, Gu Xian thought of entering the Eon Training Camp, and the sensation returned.

He hastily willed himself to withdraw.

Only then did the unsettling feeling of his soul stirring dissipate.

So, it was real—a shattered keepsake?

What connection existed between the training camp that raised me and the Eon Training Camp? Why did the initial scene begin with that crabapple tree?

Was the training camp founded because of the Eon Training Camp?

Or, as in his consciousness, was the Eon Training Camp actually concealed beneath the training camp?

Gu Xian shook his head with force, casting aside the swarm of questions that buzzed in his mind.

Regardless, he was done with the training camp. Whatever the answers might be, he refused to dig any deeper. Let those secrets stay buried deep underground.

Dead civilizations should rest in peace. After all, Gu Xian was no archaeologist.

He nonchalantly tossed the fragment under the bed.

"Life is wonderful. Good night, Old Chen," he said.

Old Chen flicked off the light, and his response shimmered on the light screen, "Indeed it is. Good night, Gu Xian."

The dormitory was slowly enveloped in darkness.

Somewhere in the vast void, beneath the tree that had turned to ash, the real Eon Training Camp was persistently attempting communication through its mechanical synthesized voice.

"Establishing communication number 2. Communication rejected. Establishing communication number 2. Communication rejected... Beep. Initiating Plan B. Accessing gene number 2. Commencing analysis. Analysis complete. Initiating Plan B..."

...

Vian's brother-in-law, George, was the captain of the Security Department's premier investigation team. A bright and accomplished graduate of Silverston University.

George held Vian in high regard, not just as his brother-in-law but also for Vian's extensive military background.

To an investigator of George's caliber, Vian's history was an open book.

Vian made it a point to share a couple of drinks with his brother-in-law every day.

Today, George was late coming home, and Vian was nearly dozing off.

"Why so late?" he glanced at the clock.

"Don't even start," George exhaled wearily, "Out near Aelley, they found a lifeboat in the wild, emblazoned with the Siron Royal Family's insignia. I did some digging – no royal family members were in the area at that time. It's definitely a decoy. Someone's smuggled themselves onto our planet B-183."

"Smuggling? Is it a big issue?"

"It all depends on who the smuggler is," George said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "Looks like we're in for a busy time ahead. Did you hear about the Deep Blue Corporation sending someone over?"

"Deep Blue Corporation? What for?"

"They've delivered a new batch of police mecha, aiming to phase out the old models. They've sent representatives to ensure the performance meets our expectations."

George chuckled and shook his head as he brought it up. "You'd never guess who showed up."

"Who?"

"Chen Zhuya."

"Old Chen's granddaughter?" Vian burst into laughter. "I heard she joined Deep Blue a while back, but I never imagined she'd come so far. Didn't she catch up with you?"

"Forget about it," George dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Young folks have some odd ideas. I just can't relate to them, so I stick to business."

"Their ideas are certainly out there." A few drinks in, Vian's mind wandered to the day's events and the youth named Gu Xian.

"With no kids of your own and surrounded by middle-aged men at the site, where do you get these reflections on youth?" George teased, serving Vian a piece of bass. "Focus on the food and ease up on the booze."

"There is a young man, actually," Vian said, his face reddening. "He came in for an interview today."

"Really? A youngster willing to put up with that kind of hardship?" George said, shaking his head with a smile. "My Joanna is around a big star and wouldn't dare get her fingers sandy."

"That's different. Joanna's job demands it. But this kid, he's something else. Climbing up buildings like a spider, he's got real talent!"

"Climbing buildings?"

"I've got a video. I'll show you." Vian searched for the video to show George.

George's eyes widened in amazement. "Can you believe a young guy did this?"

"You still doubting? I've got his file right here." Vian passed Gu Xian's information to George, attempting to speak in a butchered version of Old English, "A tough guy, you know."

George, also feeling the effects of the alcohol, stared blankly and tapped his head as he looked at Gu Xian's photo. "Odd, I feel like I've seen him somewhere before. Gu Xian, that name rings a bell. Very strange."

"You've heard of him?" Vian, his mind sluggish with pride, boasted, "Now you believe me, don't you? You see, I wasn't fibbing."

"Where have I heard that name before? It's so odd." George pointed at Gu Xian in the photo, who seemed to be gazing back at him. "I'm sure I've seen him somewhere!"

"Really?" Vian swirled the wine in his bottle.

"Yes, really!" George collapsed against the chair, his mind racing. "Let me think, just let me think."

After a moment, Vian prodded, "Got it yet?"

George's snoring was the only reply.

It wasn't until the alarm clock's insistent beeping the next morning that George stirred, groggily making his way to freshen up.

The bathroom echoed with the sound of running water, which stopped abruptly, followed by George's sudden shout, "I've got it! I remember who he is!"

He pounded back into the room, half his beard still covered in shaving cream.

Shaking Vian awake, he urged, "Wake up, quick! There's a huge problem! I've figured out who he is!"