Mohist Knight Guard Base / Taking a Master

On the outskirts of the battlefield, Yan Jinghong had watched the entire fight without offering Si Ming any advice, acting as a gentleman who watched a game without interfering. In his view, Si Ming's approach had been far too crude, and he had failed to make use of the Profound Armor's capabilities.

The Heaven-Soaring Armor was meant to enhance mobility. It offered little additional defense and protected only vital areas. Meeting an opponent head-on was the most foolish thing one could do, pitting one's own weakness against the enemy's strength.

Taking to the air was not a good way to make use of the Heaven-Soaring Armor's mobility. A person might seem free in the air, but they would actually lose their cover and leave their movements plainly visible to the enemy. And because of inertia, their trajectory could easily be predicted even if they changed direction.

The best approach, therefore, was to hover close to the ground, using the terrain to maneuver and dodge when necessary, or else give up hovering altogether and use the thrust to increase speed and bursts of acceleration to disrupt the opponent's predictions.

Compared with running the armor at full power in flight, this approach could greatly reduce True Qi consumption, activating it only when necessary. That way, a bleeding-out tactic was entirely feasible as well.

But none of that mattered. Yan Jinghong knew full well that, for Si Ming, winning this fight was the greatest gain of all—a transformation that a thousand pieces of gold could not buy.

"Congratulations on defeating your opponent."

Si Ming caught his breath and said weakly, "Fortunately, I didn't fail you. I didn't disgrace the Mohist School's Profound Armor."

Yan Jinghong smiled and asked, "So, are you willing to join the Mohist Knight Guard?"

So it really was this kind of routine... but routines are king.

"I'd be honored."

Chapter 15: Mohist Knight Guard Base

After spending a week recovering from his injuries at home, Si Ming could hardly wait to set out for his appointment at the Mohist Knight Guard branch base.

The Mohist Knight Guard was an exceptionally unusual government department. Si Ming could find no department with a similar function among the government agencies of his previous life. On one hand, they safeguarded national security, performing the duties of armed police and special police, fighting off Demon Beast tides and capturing super criminals. On the other, they were permitted to accept private commissions. As long as a task passed review, anything from protecting arms shipments to mediating disputes between neighbors fell within their scope of work.

From the first perspective, the Mohist Knight Guard resembled a league of superheroes from Western movies, fighting powerful enemies and protecting civilians. They were idolized and enjoyed a status above ordinary affairs.

From the second, the Mohist Knight Guard was a mercenary organization and an all-purpose agency. They would not go so far as to risk their lives for anyone with money, but they would take on any task that did not involve breaking the law. Of course, it was also common for a commission's reward to be so low that no one was willing to accept it.

The first kind of task was an order from the state and had to be completed; failure to carry it out brought severe punishment. The second kind was optional, a way for members to earn extra money that they could take or leave. After all, pay for rank-and-file Mohist Knight Guards was generally low.

The Mohist Knight Guard was divided into four ranks according to authority: Heavenly Ultimate, Earth Venerable, Human Exemplar, and Attendant.

Only Spirit Transformation experts could serve as Heavenly Ultimate Mohist Hero Guards. At present, only twenty names were public on the official roster. Whenever someone retired or died in the line of duty, a new Spirit Transformation expert would take their place. There were so few positions because, first, not every Spirit Transformation expert was willing to serve the state; second, not all of them were willing to appear in public; and third, Su State did not want to reveal all the cards in its hand to other countries.

An Earth Venerable Mohist Knight Guard needed ten thousand Chivalry Points, regardless of cultivation realm. Even if someone gathered ten thousand Chivalry Points through personal connections, they would still be recognized. There were currently more than 1,900 registered.

A Human Exemplar Mohist Knight Guard needed Internal Energy Level Eight, a juren degree, and a passing score on the relevant ability tests. Once they took up the post, they received benefits equivalent to those of civil servants.

An Attendant Mohist Knight Guard only needed to pass an ability test, and those with a useful skill could even be exempted. They made up the rank and file of the Mohist Knight Guard and were also the most numerous, numbering no fewer than a million. But they had practically no benefits and received only a subsistence wage each month. Their status was like that of extras lingering around film studios: the vast majority had dreams, but very few ever achieved them.

There was no fixed order of promotion through the Mohist Knight Guard's four ranks. Even without Level Eight Internal Cultivation, a person could obtain Earth Venerable status directly upon reaching ten thousand Chivalry Points.

Mohist Knight Guard bases varied in style from place to place. In Tange City, they often had to fight Demon Beasts, and when scattered Demon Beasts attacked, citizens would also deliberately lure them toward the base. As a result, the base frequently needed renovation, and its architectural style was the closest to modern.

Si Ming arrived at the magnificent building and stepped through its automatic doors. A bustling wave of noise and heat struck him at once. The hall was a sea of people, with both the number and density of the crowd matching a big-city train station from his previous life.

Enormous display screens hung on the walls to either side, scrolling through task listings one after another. Some were private commissions, some came from companies, and others were official government commissions. The latter were extremely popular, however, and were often snapped up as soon as they appeared, without even completing a single pass across the screen.

Many people stood beneath the screens, looking for commissions they liked and were qualified to undertake. Others used search terminals to filter tasks themselves. Once they found a suitable commission, they would ask a receptionist at the counter about it and then contact the client. If both sides agreed, they signed a simple contract.

For some very simple tasks, clients handed contracts they had already signed directly to the Mission Management Bureau. This eliminated the need for a meeting, saving time and making things convenient for both sides.

This was only the front hall, however, where Attendant Mohist Knight Guards earned extra money. Human Exemplar Mohist Knight Guards occasionally appeared as well, but neither Heavenly Ultimate nor Earth Venerable guards would stoop to such work. Even when they accepted private commissions, they waited for clients to approach them, and sometimes they could not be bothered to meet someone without an introduction from an acquaintance.

Si Ming spoke to the front desk and proved he had an appointment. After he waited there for a while, a young girl came running over.

"You're Si Ming, right? Sorry for the wait. Please follow me."

The girl was short, no more than 1.5 meters by Si Ming's estimate, with a small, delicate figure. Her round face made her seem approachable, and she had bright, spirited eyes, graceful eyebrows, a straight nose, and faint dimples in her cheeks. She wore denim shorts that exposed her slender, supple legs, and she bounced as she walked, giving the impression that she was full of vitality.

Si Ming followed the girl inside. After they passed through a security checkpoint, the surroundings changed abruptly. The smooth, bright marble and glass were gone, and with them the modern aesthetic, replaced by a steampunk style.

Huge machines, turning gears, and intricate circuits were painted mostly in cool colors, giving an impression of strength and rigidity. Tesla coils, flashing with electric arcs from time to time, added a touch of fantasy to the cold world of steel.

Si Ming looked around curiously, with no intention of pretending to be composed. He was a country bumpkin to begin with; in his view, fighting his curiosity and pretending to be worldly was pointless.

He had originally worried that the legendary Mohist Knight Guard base would turn out to be an ordinary office—the greater the expectations, the greater the disappointment. In this world, the Mohist Knight Guard base was a symbol of mystery and power, like the hero bases in superhero movies. Even the previous owner of his body had been full of curiosity about it, longing for the day he could see inside for himself.

But considering that the Mohist School had always prized simplicity and practicality, Si Ming thought an ordinary office was quite likely. After all, there was a huge gulf between dreams and reality, and some novels he had read often poked fun at situations like this: a supposedly grand and impressive base would turn out to be tucked away in some inconspicuous corner.

Fortunately, the Mohist Knight Guard base lived up to his expectations and even far surpassed them. It was like a castle unearthed from ancient ruins, perfectly matching children's dreams.

As Si Ming looked around, he noticed the girl stealing glances at him from time to time, so he asked, "What's wrong? Is there something dirty on my face?"

The girl looked startled at being caught, but quickly put it out of her mind and giggled. "It's nothing. But everyone says Senior Startling Rainbow Beyond the Heavens might be taking his first disciple, so I was curious what kind of genius could win that great man's favor."

Si Ming recalled how he had just behaved like a country bumpkin and asked with a little regret, "Now that you've seen me, are you disappointed?"

"Not at all! You're just as I imagined, handsome and talented. I completely understand why Senior Yan wants to take you as his disciple. Missing out on you would definitely be his loss!"

As though to make herself more convincing, the girl clenched her fist and waved it emphatically.

Si Ming was taken aback. He knew he had a handsome face, especially after a month of training had left him looking vigorous and heroic instead of frail as before. But how could she tell he was talented? Could it be that my talent is already written on my forehead?

He studied the girl's expression and saw that she was serious, not flattering him insincerely.

Could I be getting my first brain-dead fan before I've even become a star?

Si Ming subconsciously glanced at the girl's chest and could not help sighing inwardly. Flat chests are Evil Dao!

Chapter 16: Taking a Master

Since she was not his type, Si Ming responded to the girl with lukewarm politeness, keeping a level head. He had not expected that acting like such an "aloof idol" would only inspire greater adoration from a fan. After talking with him, the girl became even more enthusiastic.

Through their conversation, Si Ming learned that the girl's name was Zhong Lingxiu. She was sixteen, two years older than him, and worked as a research assistant at the Mohist Knight Guard base, occasionally running errands as well.