Chosen: Beyond Fate

No one dared speak, not even Ji Jue. Even Lei Yaoxing, who had been watching from a distance, had his expression falter for a moment, as though he had sensed something was off.

But he did not even have time to think, because a second car had already stopped at the entrance. It was a luxury vehicle on the same level as a top-tier Lumina model, like those used by important heirs when traveling.

A rather ordinary-looking, slightly chubby man stepped out. Aside from his high-end luxurious attire and the expensive watch on his wrist, there was nothing particularly remarkable about him, yet his arrival made the atmosphere tighten once again, even more so than before.

Lei Yaoxing shook hands with the visitor. “Long time no see, Mr. Tong.”

The CEO of the Tong Corporation gave a slight nod and had someone present a wreath. “Since my father said that he and Mr. Lei once knew each other, he asked me to come and see him off.”

Lei Yaoxing paused briefly, then stepped aside. “This way, please.”

Thus, Tong Shengnian[1] walked in, lit two sticks of incense, joined his hands in silent prayer for the deceased, and, like the others, declined the emcee’s invitation to rest in the side hall.

Instead, he turned and walked toward the back of the venue. Under Ji Jue’s rapidly twitching eyelid, he sat down beside the elder of the Radiant Church.

The next vehicle was an imperial Shadowflare, which was understated yet still quite luxurious. The driver opened the door for a middle-aged woman with short hair and a stern makeup style.

Ji Jue had seen her before at Professor Ye’s workshop. Back when Professor Ye had introduced her to him, Ji Jue had smiled so brightly he looked like a kindergarten child, because she was the Cliff City branch manager of the Craftsmen Association’s Taiyi Ring, a full-authority representative!

After offering incense, she too did not leave. Instead, she walked toward the back, sat down beside the elder, exchanged a few brief greetings, nodded at Ji Jue, and then fell silent.

A chill went down Ji Jue’s spine.

The arrivals that followed were all heavyweight figures, such as the local branch president of the Starcore Association, the mayor’s confidential secretary, the governor’s special envoy, a senior manager from Everline Bank, and the representatives of Universal Heavy Industries and United Borderless Communications Group.

And finally, a car that completely ignored all etiquette stopped at the entrance of the farewell hall. It wasn’t anything particularly luxurious or shabby, but that hardly mattered, because it bore the emblem of the Cliff City Security Bureau.

A young man stepped out, adjusted his sleeves before striding inside. He ignored Lei Yaoxing completely, cared nothing for Lei Wuye, and didn’t even bother to offer incense. He did not even glance at the coffin, his expression permanently blank. His rather handsome face carried a cold indifference that kept everyone at a distance of thirty thousand miles away as he walked in without the slightest concern.

And so, under the angry gazes of many, he walked to the back, greeted Tong Shengnian, then sat down right beside Ji Jue. Ji Jue’s expression twitched once, twice. At this point, he just wanted to lower his head into his shoulders like Chen Yubo.

Before he could have a chance to switch seats, he heard a voice beside him. The cold man turned to look at him with a faintly friendly look.

“Ji Jue?”

“Uh... hello?” Ji Jue nodded, studying the unfamiliar face. “You are...?”

“No need for honorifics. I’m Tong Shan.” The acting head of Cliff City Security Bureau’s interim leadership shook Ji Jue’s hand. “Before coming here, Ms. Wen specifically asked me to look after you. But now it seems I don’t need to interfere.”

“Uh...” Ji Jue instantly relaxed, feeling all the pressure vanish.

Good lord, with such a big shot sitting right next to him, even if Lei Yaoxing pulled out a knife, not a single hair on him would be harmed. He felt fully safe and secure.

Just as he was about to climb the social ladder and casually say “we’re on the same side,” Tong Shan added, “It’s not just Ms. Wen who talks about you often, but also my foolish little sister.”

Ji Jue instinctively felt something was wrong. “Huh? What did she say about me?”

Tong Shan paused, the corner of his mouth curling up. “She often brought up the Quote Guy. I don’t need to repeat what she said, do I?”

Ji Jue’s eyes twitched without end.

Of course. He should have known. He should have absolutely known. Nineteen years of spotless reputation, and then one misstep was all it took for an eternal stain on his life.

Can we please just stop bringing that up?! Why does it suddenly feel like this is going to haunt me forever?!

“Ahem... You’re making me laugh,” Ji Jue said.

To his surprise, Tong Shan instead shook his head very seriously. So serious that Ji Jue even began to suspect he wasn’t joking at all. “I don’t think it’s funny. What you said was great, and you did a good job too. In this day and age, there are too few people who dare to speak their true thoughts and actually act on them in a grounded way. Are you interested in joining the Security Bureau?”

“Uh...” Ji Jue’s eyes were still twitching. He wanted to say he was already an informant, but in front of this person, being an informant probably didn’t even count as being “related” at all.

Tong Shan added, “I know the Second Division has a lot of messy problems, but you don’t need to worry. The First Division is always open to you. No, with your abilities, you might even be able to go straight to the Third Division.”

Apart from logistics and finance, the main force of the Cliff City Security Bureau was divided into three core departments, commonly referred to in shorthand as one, two, and three. Normally, what people encountered was the Second Division, which was also the largest and most complex among the three. It was the Public Security Division responsible for maintaining order across all districts of Cliff City City, which was why Wen Wen jokingly called herself a “street cop.”

The First Division was the Operations Department overseen by Tong Shan. It reported directly to the bureau director and was essentially the elite civil service force of the Federation, responsible for city defense and the protection of important figures.

Dominated by Origin-type Chosen Ones, its internal management and discipline were far stricter than anything in the Second Division, and its benefits and compensation were absurdly generous. Independent followers of Origin dreamed of passing the civil service exams just to get in, and once inside, they could secure stable government positions. Only people in the First Division could access the Federation’s orthodox Origin matrix and various inherited techniques.

The Empire and the Federation were the world’s only two major Origin strongholds.

As for the Third Division he mentioned, it was the smallest yet also the most mysterious branch. Also known as the Technical Division, it handled the upkeep of important facilities in Cliff City City, including but not limited to large-scale war fortifications, various alchemical constructs, as well as divine engineering and forbidden creations. Its personnel were backed by the Federation’s supply system and rarely worried about material consumption.

If this had been half a year earlier, getting even one offer from any of these would have made Ji Jue so happy he could barely stand. But now, somewhat unexpectedly, he felt completely indifferent.

Tidesound Workshop is my home. In my heart, Professor Ye is my only teacher, my only sun!

Ji Jue shook his head without hesitation. “I’m still focusing on my studies for now, sorry.”

Tong Shan nodded slightly, not surprised, and simply handed over a business card with both hands while saying solemnly, “If you are interested, contact me anytime.”

“Sure.” Ji Jue carefully put the card away, only then noticing that the atmosphere in the farewell hall had become increasingly heavy and oppressive.

Unknowingly to him, the entire room was already filled with seated guests. Looking around, there were people from all walks of life, people of all ranks and statuses, but strangely enough, none of them were from Cliff City’s local circle.

First came an elder from the Radiant Church, then Tong Shengnian of the Tong family, followed by the Taiyi Ring, and then Tong Shan, the acting bureau director of the Security Bureau. It was like heavy stones being thrown into a pool of water, stirring up turbulent undercurrents.

With all of them seated here, this funeral was no longer simply an internal matter of Cliff City. Rather, it felt more like... an interrogation?

A sudden, inexplicable suspicion rose in Ji Jue’s mind. Perhaps only this kind of explanation could account for everything that had been happening.

The half-month-long shadow war had simply gone on too long.

And as the conflict spiraled out of control, what it affected was no longer limited to Cliff City. The Radiant Church’s hospitals and relief efforts, the Tong family’s business and operations, the Taiyi Ring’s material transport and contraband control, the Starcore Association’s neutrality and cohesion, the functioning of the municipal government, the governor’s office security, and most importantly, the order and stability of Cliff City itself had all been affected.

Indeed, as long as humanity still existed, chaos and disorder were inevitable in the wilderness. But now, the blood spilled in that wilderness had become far too much, overflowing beyond its boundaries and seeping into the wider world, reaching everyone’s doorstep.

It was only when yet another visitor arrived, offered incense, and took a seat that the entire mourning hall fell into complete silence, so quiet that everyone could hear a needle if it dropped.

The middle-aged man, who bore some resemblance to Tong Shan, sat down calmly. He wore a casual suit, his demeanor relaxed and somewhat unruly, carrying a distinct charm. After nodding toward Tong Shengnian, he casually patted Tong Shan’s shoulder and sat beside him. “Shan, long time no see.”

“Fourth Uncle,” Tong Shan replied solemnly, nodding in greeting.

“Hey, relax a bit. I was even debating whether I should address you by title. Wouldn’t that be more interesting?”

Fourth Uncle waved it off with a grin, completely unconcerned with formality. “After Hua went home last time, she was so mad she ate several extra bowls of rice. Your sibling relationship really is entertaining.”

Nearby, Ji Jue and Tom kept their eyes forward and noses straight, sitting properly and not daring to breathe too loudly, shrinking back obediently. The moment the man appeared, Ji Jue had already noticed the badge on his chest. It was a pin from the Haizhou Reading Enthusiasts Club.

It looked like an innocent, harmless hobby group, but who could guess that this club was actually the largest intelligence exchange organization composed of Aether Chosen Ones in all of Haizhou?

The man addressed by Tong Shan as Fourth Uncle was none other than a Chosen One of the Tong family, the head of the Haizhou Reading Enthusiasts Club, Tong Ting[2]. By attending the funeral, he essentially represented all Aether Chosen Ones in Cliff City.

Among the many visitors present, the Tong family accounted for three spheres of representation: the industry, the Security Bureau, and the Aether Path. This alone offered a faint glimpse into just how terrifying the Tong family’s influence truly was, despite how low-profile they usually appeared.

Somewhat unexpectedly, unlike Tong Hua, who was brash and headstrong, Tong Ting didn’t activate his Aether Eye, nor did he glance around with curiosity. After exchanging a formal greeting with Ji Jue and offering a couple of polite compliments about the younger generation, he said nothing else.

As more and more visitors arrived, offering incense before either taking seats or leaving, the originally spacious mourning hall had become so crowded that there was no longer anywhere to sit. The busy staff even prepared to bring in extra stools, but Lei Yaoxing, who had remained silent the entire time, raised his hand and waved them off.

There would be no more guests. Or rather, the final guest had already arrived before him.

“Sorry, something came up on the way, and I arrived late.” A man in a wheelchair, his face slightly pale, coughed twice before instructing the attendant beside him, “I asked someone to buy some fresh flowers on the way here. Please arrange them on the altar.”

Behind him, an elderly man with a missing arm closed his umbrella. From the tip, thin strands of rainwater dripped down, faintly tinged with red.

“Brother!”

At the very back, the withdrawn Chen Yubo finally looked up. After recognizing the visitor, his eyes lit up, and he was on the verge of tears. Apart from him, no one else spoke. Only the faint sound of wheels rolling across the floor cut straight into the air of the funeral hall. The hall remained otherwise silent as the rain fell softly outside.

Before the coffin, Chen Xingzhou looked up calmly and greeted Lei Yaoxing. “Long time no see. Young Master Lei, how have you been?”

It was as if the past and present clashed. From the humid, stifling wind in the distance, a flash of lightning cut across the dark clouds, followed by a rolling thunder from the heavens.

The roar of nature echoed all around.

1. The surname 童 is relatively uncommon. In the Hundred Family Surnames, it is ranked 111th.

The name 盛年 Shengnina literally means “one’s prime years” or “the height of flourishing age,” evoking someone in the peak of strength, influence, and capability.

To me, the name feels dignified and authoritative without sounding overly aggressive. It suits a composed, high-ranking figure such as a family patriarch, political operator, business magnate, or someone whose power comes less from brute force and more from accumulated status, experience, and control. ☜

2. The surname 童 is uncommon (as I explained in a previous footnote) and gives the impression of an old family lineage or someone raised within a cultivated environment. The given name 听, meaning “to listen,” feels restrained, observant, and unusually quiet for a male name.

Rather than projecting force or ambition directly, it suggests someone who watches, hears, and understands more than he says. ☜