Don't Use That Move in Training Again

The enormous crash from the basement shook the entire building, alarming Hongying and Wen Qimo, who had been helping an elderly woman with her relationship problems.

The two hurried downstairs to see what had happened.

But as soon as they reached the entrance to the Training Ground, they both stopped in their tracks, staring at the crack in the wall in bewilderment.

"Captain? It was just training. Was that really necessary?" Wen Qimo was at a loss for words.

"Yeah, Captain, little brother Qiye is still just a rookie. Even if he is a God's Agent, he's only in the Lamp Realm. You're in the River Realm, and you're already going all out in your first spar with him? How come I never saw you use this much force when I joined the squad? You're going to bring the whole building down!" Hongying's tone was mildly reproachful.

For one thing, she didn't think the captain needed to use his real skills against Lin Qiye. For another, if he really did bring the building down, their group of Nightwatchers would have nothing left to live on!

They could only see Lin Qiye's back, while Chen Muye was facing them. The expression on the captain's face was quite something.

There was conflict, surprise, and a trace of doubt.

After a long while, he slowly spoke. "I didn't make that crack in the wall."

He raised the bamboo swords in his hands to show them. Both had snapped after he had put his strength into deflecting the Blade Aura Lin Qiye had sent at him, leaving them completely unusable.

"What? You didn't do it? How is that possible? Then who could have—" Hongying didn't believe Chen Muye at all, until she saw Lin Qiye standing in place, slightly out of breath but still facing away from them.

"Qiye! Were you the one who made that slash just now?" Wen Qimo couldn't help exclaiming.

Chen Muye nodded silently.

Good grief. I just got a little serious and tried to force Zhou Meng, the second personality inside Lin Qiye, to come out. Who knew Zhou Meng wouldn't show up, but instead I'd force out a killer move like that!

So that's how he chopped off the Ghost-Faced King's head, like Zhao Kongcheng said?

And even more unbelievably, Lin Qiye didn't have a blade in his hand at the time! In other words, he delivered the blow that took off the Ghost-Faced King's head with his bare hand!

No blade in his hand, but a blade in his heart?

Never mind me—even among those with Forbidden Ruins specializing in cold weapons, there can't be many who've reached that level, can there?

But the kid doesn't look like he knows how to use a blade. His fundamentals are practically nonexistent. During our spar just now, he was fighting purely on instinctive reactions.

How could two such contradictory things be true of him at once?

Another possibility occurred to Chen Muye in an instant.

Could this have something to do with that Zhou Meng?

But Lin Qiye flatly denied it and said he didn't know anything about Zhou Meng. I can't really keep pressing him. Should I call headquarters again to check?

Headquarters had also said they knew nothing, and had only told him to keep following up and make sure Lin Qiye didn't lose control. If Zhou Meng appeared again, he had to find a way to communicate with him.

Chen Muye looked at the enormous crack in the wall again and felt a splitting headache coming on.

At my realm, I was actually forced to avoid taking a new Lamp Realm recruit's Blade Aura head-on. Looks like I still need to improve.

At that thought, Chen Muye's expression suddenly dimmed.

I'm already a "dead man." What improvement is there to speak of? It's already a blessing that I can use the aura of the Hall of Yama to keep Shiva's Curse, which destroyed Cangnan City, hidden.

Good thing I didn't take that blow head-on. If it had really triggered my original strength and exposed the existence of Shiva's Curse, the consequences would have been unthinkable!

But Lin Qiye, standing across from him, and Hongying and Wen Qimo, who had just arrived, had no idea what their captain was thinking. Their attention was entirely fixed on the enormous crack.

"Qiye, not bad! With the power behind that slash, if you'd put a little more force into it, you might really have brought this building down! How about another spar with big sister later?" Hongying praised him, patting him on the shoulder.

"You nearly brought the building down on your first day of training. If you train a few more times, I can't even imagine what you might do!" Wen Qimo said with a laugh.

Although Lin Qiye was responding to the praise from the two beside him, he was no less astonished than any of them.

A few days ago, when he faced the Ghost-Faced King, he had possessed a powerful weapon in the Star-Splitting Art. But he had been continuously using Starry Night Dancer and Dark Night Flash, and had used Michael's divine might once to break through Zhao Kongcheng's Boundless Airspace, before using the Star-Splitting Art barehanded to cut off the Ghost-Faced King's head. It had drained nearly all his mental power.

This time, however, he had used the Star-Splitting Art while holding a high-quality steel blade and in peak condition.

He had originally swung the blade with roughly two-thirds of the force he had used to cut off the Ghost-Faced King's head.

And he had nearly brought the building down!

Zhou Meng, what the hell did you give me? You call this a damn Blue Trait? The Star-Splitting Art—if my realm keeps rising, could I really split a star someday?

This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous. Good thing I didn't use my full strength. If I'd accidentally injured the captain with that blow, how would I have explained it to everyone in the 136th Squad?

Lin Qiye, the first person in Nightwatcher history to put two of his squadmates in the hospital to recover from their injuries as soon as he joined.

I'd be nailed to the pillar of historical shame!

And if that slash had brought the building down, what would I have paid for it with? There's such a huge space beneath this office, and the canal is right above it!

At that thought, Lin Qiye couldn't help shuddering.

Looks like I'd better ask Brother Meng for a clear explanation, or test these Trait abilities in the Mental Hospital first, before using them outside. Otherwise, if I really cause trouble, I'll be the one bearing the consequences, not Zhou Meng!

"Ahem, Qiye, let's stop this morning's training here. That slash just now was very good. However, there are still some problems with it. Your movements were too wide, and you didn't swing fast enough. Although it was very powerful, an opponent could easily read it and counter it. I'll continue training you in those areas! Don't get complacent because of that one slash, understood?" Chen Muye tossed the completely ruined bamboo swords aside and stepped forward to speak to Lin Qiye.

"Yes, Captain!" Lin Qiye hurriedly stood at attention and answered.

"Also, although I don't know how you pulled it off, don't use that move in training again. It's a little dangerous."

"Oh, and remember to clean up the place. Hongying, Qimo, you two stay and help Qiye with it." Chen Muye added that, then strode out of the Training Ground without looking back.

He left behind a miserable Lin Qiye, along with Hongying and Wen Qimo, who had been dragged into it for no reason.

"The captain's definitely using his position to get back at you! That slash scared him! Is this the power of a God's Agent? Hahahahaha!" Hongying roared with laughter.

Outside the Training Ground, Chen Muye made another call. "Hello? Chen Muye of the 136th Squad here. Um, could you send someone with an earth-and-wood-type Forbidden Ruins ability over? Yes, yes, that's right. The building's about to collapse, and it needs reinforcing—"