Book 4, Chapter 189: A Clear Contract To Control You

Chen Chuan picked up the contract and gave it a quick read. Most of the clauses listed were restrictions for national-level martial artists.

National martial artists were the official term for martial arts masters.

There were multiple restrictions on their use of power.

For example, if a national-level martial artist were in a city or anywhere around the area, without clear authorization or an emergency situation, they couldn’t use large-scale destructive power and hurt or threaten people.

What exactly were classified as emergencies?

Large-scale commotions like insurrections, major accidents, serious political situations, or other problems could be dealt with by local forces and did not qualify. Emergencies were only threats against national security, war, regional natural disasters, and invasions.

While within cities, national-level martial artists’ movements had to be recorded by public security departments and administrative supervisory bodies.

While the restrictions were strict, Chen Chuan noticed that most of the clauses directed their activity within cities.

Most martial arts masters didn’t stay in cities. Even Yao Zhiyi, the chancellor of Martial Valor University, was stationed long-term in the merged space.

This was to be expected, since if martial arts masters wanted more energy for training, it was best for them to go to the merged space. The contract also explained why martial arts masters could barely be found in Jibei Road’s Central City, and Chen Chuan was pretty sure the situation was the same in all Central Cities.

This wasn’t a bad thing. After all, martial arts masters were practically nuclear weapons. Most of their friends and families were also living in the cities. While the contract restricted their power, it also protected their friends and families.

In all, coordination among all parties and security control measures had more pros than cons.

Besides, restrictions weren’t one-sided. Due to certain quirks and shortcomings that national-level martial artists might face, they could run into special circumstances. In order to ensure their interests were protected, they could make requests and add them to their city’s laws and the terms of their contract. They could also ask the National Martial Artists Council to make amendments.

After flipping through everything, Chen Chuan noticed a clause at the end. “Class Five?”

“Yes,” Can Miao replied. “Usually, when a national-level martial artist first signs a contract with us, they start with a Class Six contract and face even stricter restrictions. For example, they need to regularly submit training reports so that the government can monitor them as well as keep records.

“They also need to periodically receive a psychological evaluation to make sure that they haven’t been corrupted during their training, that nothing went wrong with their mind, and that they’re not showing any symptoms of transcendent cognitive disorder.”

“What’s that?”

“In general terms, after a national-level martial artist reaches the Fourth Limit, they sometimes think that they’ve become a higher being and no longer acknowledge their country or original species. They also look down on them.

“Such people are vulnerable to resonation with certain creatures in the merged space and certain existences from the other world. If we don’t interfere in time, they join forces with them and harm our world.

“Many such cases have appeared over the past hundred years, and in the long distant past, such people were everywhere. That’s why all the countries in the world pay close attention to this and have their own methods to deal with it.”

Chen Chuan nodded. This was highly likely to happen, especially to those who walked the path of the mental form or other form. If they were unable to maintain their true form further down their path, they might stop treating themselves as human anymore, which was already bad enough. If they ended up thinking of themselves as an existence from the other world, this would have serious consequences.

Can Miao continued, “Class Six contractors are observed for a period of time ranging between a few months to a few years before their classification can be changed.

“Since you’re working in the Resolution Department, have contributed greatly to the country, and have always held yourself back when you were in danger, even after becoming a national-level martial artist, the leaders have discussed it and decided to give you a Class Five contract.”

This was quite close to what Xue Shou had said. Chen Chuan met Can Miao’s gaze. “I have a question.”

“What is it? We’re here today to discuss it all with you. If you have any requests or suggestions, we’ll try to reach an agreement with you,” Can Miao said politely.

Chen Chuan set the contract on the table. “I have an unrestricted defense permit. Is it still effective even when I’m bound by the contract?”

Can Miao smiled before schooling his face. “I’ll be frank with you. The unrestricted defense permit is above the restrictions. You still have the right to defend yourself when you’re in danger.

“A national-level martial artist without the unrestricted defense permit would have to comply with the contract and not do anything that breaks any of the clauses.”

Amusement flashed in Chen Chuan’s eyes as he understood what this meant. It was the Great Shun Republic’s way of taking care of its own citizens.

While the government was putting restrictions on him on the surface, they were deliberately leaving a loophole for anyone who had graduated from Martial Valor University.

Among national-level martial artists bound by the contract, those with the unrestricted defense permit would obviously have an advantage over the others while fighting against domestic and external threats.

When Chen Chuan stayed quiet for a while, Can Miao prompted him. “Mr. Chen, do you have any other questions?”

“Not for the time being,” Chen Chuan replied.

“We’ve provided you with a detailed explanation on how to contact us on the contract. If you run into any problems or have any questions in the future, you can call us. We’ll answer the questions and solve those problems for you.

“Speaking of the unrestricted defense permit, we’d like to tell you something ahead of time. Since you’ve performed outstandingly during the battle in Jibei Road’s merged space, the state might give you a Class A unrestricted defense permit. It will be effective forever.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Chuan’s expression changed a bit, and he nodded. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

This was great news. The Class B permit was only effective for ten years, while the Class A permit lasted forever. This meant that he wouldn’t need to take the test again.

“You’re welcome. Since you have no other questions, it’s time to sign the contract. Before this, we have one last question. Do you need to include any unique circumstances into the contract?” Can Miao asked.

Chen Chuan knew that Can Miao was really asking him whether any of the things he gave up on or embraced would bother the world around him. “I don’t need it.”

Can Miao nodded. It seems like his sacrifice was a personal one and wouldn’t bother anyone.

He said nothing else. Instead, he took a scroll from his assistant and spread it on the table.

Chen Chuan could see complicated, lightly-colored, beautiful ritual array patterns beneath the letters. There was also a nice scent coming from the scroll. All the clauses Chen Chuan previously saw were written neatly row after row.

The assistant handed him a brush already dipped in ink. Can Miao pointed at a certain spot. “You just need to sign your name here, Mr. Chen.”

Chen Chuan took the brush. He might not use brushes often, but martial arts masters had immaculate control over every part of their muscles, so he adapted to it the moment he took the brush and wrote his name above the signature line.

The moment he finished, he sensed something seeping into his mind. At the same time, he noticed a barely noticeable pattern of dots form on the purlicue of both his hands.

This was something similar to a mental mark and was invisible to the naked eye, but he could detect it immediately with his mental sense.

Once he signed the contract, Can Miao relaxed and smiled. “Thank you for being so cooperative, Mr. Chen, but we need to make a few more things clear with you. A martial arts master’s biofield rejects and melts away the ritual, so its effects dwindle away. In order to make sure it doesn’t lose its effects completely, we’ll need you to sign a new contract every year.

“If you were to violate any of the rules during this period of time, we might demote you based on the situation. If you were to obey the rules, contribute to the nation, or do something outstanding, we might promote you. The National Highest Security Advisory Board is the only one who has the right to explain the details to you, though.

“Also, these people will tell you about the ritual.”

He waved to the masked individuals in the corner.

One of them came forward. “Allow me to explain the situation. You can’t act like you’re obeying the rules. Once you sign the contract, they become true restrictions. If you break any of the rules, they will damage your body and mind.

“You’re offering your life force to the ritual so that it can restrict your strength. The more rules you break, the more life force will be taken from you, and the greater restrictions you will face. The amount of damage you take will also increase. That’s why you should do your best not to break any rules.”

Chen Chuan understood. The most important thing to martial arts masters was their life force. Since the ritual used it up, their losses would keep piling up from fighting back against the contract.

The masked man continued, “If you run into any emergencies or unexpected dangers, you don’t have to worry. The ritual is activated based on your understanding of the world around you. If you’re truly in danger or someone is trying to use the clauses to hurt you, the contract won’t restrict your strength.”

Chen Chuan pondered this before turning to the masked man. “If that’s the case, I have a question. I know some ways to trick the perception of the self. Will the contract still be effective then?”

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