That evening, Chen Fan arrived at the Chen residence.
Old Master Chen’s wrist moved with power, his calligraphy’s force penetrating the paper.
"Storm is coming," the four characters exuded an atmosphere of desolation and oppression.
"Xiao Kai is coming to the capital to fight Watanabe Kai in a duel. The official stance is not to intervene, but a large number of troops will be deployed to maintain order," the Old Master said.
Chen Fan nodded and replied, "I've already heard this news. It must have been orchestrated by someone with ulterior motives, aiming for a specific purpose."
"Watanabe Kai was invited by the Shen family," the Old Master stated. "The Shen family has good relations with Japanese financial groups and has cooperated with them before. Watanabe Kai was invited under the guise of cultural exchange between the two regions."
"As for the enmity between these two martial arts masters, there isn't much personal grievance. However, there was animosity in the previous generation. Xiao Kai's family was destroyed by the Sakura nation's army during the war years. Xiao Kai's father escaped alone and vowed revenge."
"And Watanabe Kai?" Chen Fan inquired.
"Watanabe Kai's grandfather was the commanding officer responsible for the destruction of the Xiao family!"
"After nearly a century, they still cannot let go of these national grievances and family feuds. It is quite unexpected!"
If that was the case, the duel between these two martial arts masters had a very solid reason.
But Watanabe Kai had been in Dahua for more than just a day or two; he had reportedly been here for nearly a month.
Xiao Kai only arrived in the capital today. Did he only just learn of the news?
"I asked you to come back so you could be careful," the Old Master said. "I don't know what you've investigated, but at a time like this, it's possible the enemy intends to use martial arts masters against you!"
Chen Fan naturally considered this possibility.
Regardless of the incident with the Feng family, they wouldn't spread the word. Not many people should know what he did at the Feng family's.
However, the matter of the Guankou Ghost Market should have made the Brotherhood realize how difficult it was to kill him. It wouldn't be strange for them to employ martial arts masters.
Furthermore, Chen Fan's meticulous investigation was getting closer to the Brotherhood's core secrets. If the Brotherhood was driven to desperation, a fight to the death would be perfectly normal.
While Chen Fan was still pondering, the Old Master took out a jade pendant and handed it to him.
The jade pendant was ancient in design, pure and smooth.
"Grandfather, what is this?"
"It was given by someone in the Beihai Pavilion. With this jade pendant, you can ask her for help!" Chen Fan blinked in surprise, then smiled. "Grandfather, how many more secrets and means do you have hidden that you haven't told me?"
"That's all. I've given you all my last resorts."
The Old Master smiled and said, "My old face might still hold some value, but I can't possibly go begging for favors anymore."
"There's no need."
Chen Fan felt a pang of emotion and said, "Grandson has made you worry too much. This time, I will not lose."
Old Master Chen smiled kindly. "I know, I know. That's why I'm giving you everything of the Chen family. In your hands, the Chen family will be even more glorious than it was in my old hands. I have always believed this."
"It's getting late, you should go back. I see a storm brewing in the capital, and our Chen family's prodigy should soar like a roc, rising ninety thousand li."
The Old Master stood up and said, "The nation, the vast world, a nation's war god, should not only be invincible on the battlefield but should sweep through everything elsewhere!"
Chen Fan rose, bowed deeply, and strode away.
He didn't go home but headed directly to the Dawn Squad's base.
It was late, but the squad members were all at the base.
Chen Fan asked Ye Cheng to retrieve all the files and told them to rest, while he himself pored over the ever-increasing volume of data, his gaze deep and stern.
He read through everything at lightning speed, processing all the documents one by one.
Piece by piece, the files, the resumes of individuals, and their simple social networks were imprinted in his mind, like slides being filtered, refined, and woven into many invisible lines of connection.
Much of this data was linked to the police and special departments' databases, making it extremely extensive.
As dawn approached, he closed the files, picked up a pen, and began writing names of people he knew or didn't know on a blank sheet of paper.
From Shen Tinghao and Du Fumin to Yu Fuguo, from Xiao Kai and Watanabe Kai to Ji Cang, from Shang Changkong to Wu Sihai...
The page was filled, with lines of connection crisscrossing each other.
Then, he was suddenly alarmed and called Shang Wushuang again.
The phone still went unanswered. Something seemed to have happened to Shang Wushuang; she was being prevented from contacting the outside world, or rather, him.
As the sky brightened, he left the base and drove to the Feng family's private collection hall.
After waiting for a few minutes at the entrance, a member of the Feng family opened the door to the hall.
"Mr. Chen, Miss does not live here!"
The man looked at Chen Fan. He was around fifty, impeccably dressed in a suit, and resembled a butler.
In fact, he was indeed the Feng family's butler, Feng Jiu, whom Chen Fan had met a few times before.
"Butler Feng, I have a few questions."
Chen Fan said.
"Mr. Chen, please ask directly. I will tell you whatever I know," the butler replied.
"Does Butler Feng know about the Hero Alliance?" Chen Fan asked.
The butler nodded. "Yes, it's an alliance within the ancient martial arts world. It has existed for a very long time, and our Feng family is considered one of its members."
"Please elaborate."
Chen Fan narrowed his eyes.
"Let's go out for breakfast," Feng Jiu suggested. "Mr. Chen, this is a long story."
Chen Fan nodded.
The two walked towards a nearby noodle shop.
"The Hero Alliance is a loose martial arts confederation. It's difficult to pinpoint its exact origins."
"It was initially said to be created to cope with certain pressures and dangers. Those who have studied it believe it might have emerged in the late years of an ancient dynasty, when various forces contended for dominance and heroes emerged. This martial arts alliance came into being then."
"Once a new dynasty was established, the rulers would inevitably not allow such a martial arts alliance to have too much influence, thus using methods of division, appeasement, and suppression against the Hero Alliance, leading to its decline!"
After ordering two bowls of noodles, Feng Jiu continued. "The Hero Alliance truly began to develop and expand, influencing the modern era, during the late years of the previous dynasty. You, Mr. Chen, likely have a general understanding of that history: the end of an imperial dynasty, foreign invasions, and the populace caught in a fiery ordeal."
"Many ancient martial artists emerged. Some fought to protect the nation, driving out foreign powers, while others revolted to overthrow the corrupt dynasty and forge a new path. The Hero Alliance thus regained its brilliance!"
An elder like Feng Jiu, when recounting the past, was far more detailed than Shang Wushuang.
"However, at that time, firearms were rapidly developing. Even martial arts masters couldn't influence the course of the world with ancient martial arts alone."
"Regardless, the Hero Alliance did have a significant impact on the general trend of the time. Warlords and overlords who rose to power often had skilled protectors and support from ancient martial arts factions."
"Especially during that war of national defense, many individuals from the ancient martial arts world shed blood and sacrificed themselves to defend the nation, attempting to turn the tide!"
The noodles were served. Chen Fan ate his noodles while listening to Feng Jiu's old stories.