Ding-dong!
Welcome!
A crisp electronic chime sounded as Gu Tianchen and Lin Qiye entered the Peace Agency.
On the couch, an elderly woman was pouring her heart out to Hongying.
Spotting the two, Wen Qimo led them to the basement.
"What's going on?" Lin Qiye asked, curious.
"Can't you tell? This is the Night Watchmen's daily grind," Wen Qimo said with a smile.
"Your daily grind is catching cheating husbands for grannies?" Lin Qiye asked.
"Of course not just that. Our agency handles a wide range: rescuing cats and dogs, offering legal aid, nabbing homewreckers, taking down thugs and creeps…" Wen Qimo said earnestly.
"Uh… legal aid aside, do you guys actually know the law?" Lin Qiye asked.
"What kind of question is that? We're Night Watchmen—of course we know the law. Plus, we've got Leng Xuan, a law doctorate from the University of Political Science and Law," Wen Qimo said proudly.
Lin Qiye: 〣( ?Δ? )〣
"I've got a question," Gu Tianchen said.
"Go ahead," Wen Qimo replied.
"Why's Leng Xuan, a law doctorate, a sharpshooter instead of a mage?" Gu Tianchen asked.
Wen Qimo: (||?_?)
"First, lawyers aren't called mages. Second, Leng Xuan has no Forbidden Ruin, so he can't be a mage," Wen Qimo said, exasperated.
"Enough chit-chat. The captain's waiting at the training arena."
"Where's that?" Lin Qiye asked Wen Qimo.
"Gu Tianchen's been there. Follow him."
Gu Tianchen led Lin Qiye to the end of the corridor.
The space inside was massive—three football fields' worth!
Lin Qiye gaped. "How… did they pull this off?"
Gu Tianchen grinned. "I asked Sister Hongying last time. She said an earth-based Forbidden Ruin user built it."
In the arena's center, Chen Muye, meditating cross-legged, beckoned them over.
"Your Night Watchmen paperwork's been processed. Want to see it? Check the archives. As for cloaks, blades, and emblems, those get issued during training."
"For now, use this blade."
Chen Muye handed Lin Qiye a straight sword.
Lin Qiye examined it. Beneath the hilt were three characters: Zhao Kongcheng.
"This is…"
"Old Zhao's blade. You're the kid he chose, so it's yours to keep," Chen Muye said.
Lin Qiye nodded solemnly.
"And this is your weapon."
Chen Muye passed Gu Tianchen a Han sword with a pale blue edge.
Gu Tianchen took it, noting the three characters under the hilt: Wu Xiangnan.
"The vice-captain's sword?"
"He doesn't need it right now, so it's yours to hold. Lose it, and he says he'll settle the score himself," Chen Muye warned.
"Don't worry, Captain. I won't lose it."
"Good," Chen Muye said, grabbing two wooden swords from the weapons rack. "You've got a month before training camp. Until then, we'll give you rookies some basic drills."
"Mornings, blade practice with me. Afternoons, Forbidden Ruin training with Wen Qimo. Evenings, shooting drills with Leng Xuan."
"No more talk. Training starts now. Both of you, come at me."
Chen Muye brandished the wooden swords.
Lin Qiye looked stunned. "Captain, we've got real blades here."
"No matter. The outcome's—"
Before Chen Muye could finish, Gu Tianchen lunged with the Han sword.
Clack!
Chen Muye deftly parried with a wooden sword, smirking at Gu Tianchen. "Kid, that's a bit unsportsmanlike."
"Mercy to enemies is cruelty to yourself. Sweat more in training, bleed less in battle," Gu Tianchen said.
"Not bad resolve."
Whack!
The next second, Chen Muye's wooden sword smacked Gu Tianchen's arm.
Unfazed, Gu Tianchen grinned at Chen Muye. "Captain, skip breakfast?"
You asked for it, kid!
Whack! Whack! Whack!
Chen Muye unleashed his Pond Realm strength, driving Gu Tianchen back.
Lin Qiye, attempting a sneak attack from behind, got caught in the onslaught.
With years of combat experience, Chen Muye battered the rookies with his wooden swords, leaving them bruised and battered.
Their blades flew from their hands repeatedly.
"Again!"
Gu Tianchen scooped up the Han sword, charging Chen Muye tirelessly.
Lin Qiye, trembling from pain, waved Gu Tianchen off. "You go first. I need a breather."
Without Lin Qiye's distraction, Chen Muye focused on Gu Tianchen, handling him with ease.
"Argh!"
"Ouch!!"
"Damn it!!!"
Within a few exchanges, Gu Tianchen's sword was knocked away again, earning him another thrashing.
"Again!"
Gu Tianchen retrieved his sword for the umpteenth time, charging at Chen Muye.
Chen Muye shook his slightly numb arms, watching Gu Tianchen rush forward, a faint smile on his lips.
This kid's tough as hell!
…
Afternoon.
Wen Qimo sat in the Forbidden Ruin training field, bored, waiting for the rookies.
Creak!
The door opened, and Gu Tianchen waved cheerfully. "Brother Qimo, I'm here."
Wen Qimo nodded with a smile, then frowned. "Where's Qiye?"
Creak!
The door opened again, and a battered Lin Qiye limped in.
He stumbled, nearly falling, but Gu Tianchen swiftly caught him.
"Thanks…" Lin Qiye said, utterly drained.
"No problem," Gu Tianchen said, beaming.
"Heh…"
Lin Qiye let out a cold laugh. If Gu Tianchen hadn't taunted the captain about skipping breakfast, he wouldn't have been beaten so badly…
"Damn, Qiye, you… sparred with the captain?" Wen Qimo asked.
Lin Qiye nodded.
Wen Qimo glanced at the bruised and battered Lin Qiye, then at the inexplicably energetic Gu Tianchen. "Did the captain single you out for a beating?"
Lin Qiye shook his head, pointing at Gu Tianchen. "No, we both trained together."
"Then how's he fine?"
"You won't believe this, but he took more hits than me. Yet after a meal, the guy's bouncing around like nothing happened," Lin Qiye said, eyeing Gu Tianchen like he was some kind of freak.
Wen Qimo: 〣( ?Δ? )〣
…
Fresh from a shower after a sweaty training session, Chen Muye stepped out, ready to eat.
"Xiangnan, hasn't the takeout arrived yet?"
Wu Xiangnan's face darkened.
"You won't believe this, but I ordered for eight people, and Gu Tianchen devoured it all. If Lin Qiye hadn't snatched half a portion in time, he'd be starving for Qimo's training."
Chen Muye: ⊙▽⊙
***
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