Qimo

Wu Xiangnan heard Lin Qiye's answer, and his brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

Just as he was about to ask something else, Hong Ying suddenly sat upright. Her reddened eyes fixed on Wu Xiangnan as she shouted angrily:

"Wu Xiangnan! What do you mean by this?!

Zhao Kongcheng is dead! Our teammate is dead! Yet you're still refusing to let this go!

Don't you feel even a shred of grief?!"

Wu Xiangnan opened his mouth. After a brief pause, he spoke calmly. "I'm deeply saddened by Old Zhao's death too, but the truth is just as important."

Hong Ying glared at him fiercely, her chest heaving violently. She gave two cold laughs, slammed the Black Box in her hand heavily onto the floor, then turned and walked toward the basement exit.

Wen Qimo, standing nearby, wanted to say something to calm her down, but then he felt someone tug at his sleeve. He turned around in confusion.

Si Xiaonan stood beside him and shook her head.

"So, those things at the scene..."

"Xiangnan, enough!"

Wu Xiangnan was about to press Lin Qiye further when Chen Muye, the captain who had been standing at the edge of the room, suddenly spoke up and cut him off.

"Lin Qiye has already made himself very clear. As for the details... there's no need to keep digging. This matter ends here." With his hands in his pockets, Chen Muye walked behind Wu Xiangnan and patted him on the shoulder.

Wu Xiangnan turned around in astonishment. Seeing the unquestionable look in Chen Muye's eyes, he hesitated for a long while before nodding helplessly.

Chen Muye walked to the sofa opposite Lin Qiye and slowly sat down.

"Now that Zhao Kongcheng's matter is settled, it's time we talked about you, Lin Qiye."

"About what?"

"As far as I know, Zhao Kongcheng invited you to join the Night Watchmen, but you refused. Later, he even told us he had lost track of you. If you hadn't come out carrying Zhao Kongcheng's body, we might never have found you again...

So why do you want to join the Night Watchmen now?"

Chen Muye gazed into Lin Qiye's eyes, his own gaze unfathomably deep.

"To repay a favor," Lin Qiye said calmly.

Chen Muye froze. "A favor?"

"I made an agreement with him. I would join the Night Watchmen." Lin Qiye paused. "But I have one condition."

"What condition?"

"I'll only stay with the Night Watchmen for ten years. After ten years, I'll leave."

At Lin Qiye's words, everyone present froze, their expressions immediately turning strange.

"The Night Watchmen aren't community volunteers. Once you join, you can't leave. So regarding those ten years... I can't agree to that. No one in the entire Night Watchmen organization can make you that promise."

Lin Qiye was about to say something when Chen Muye continued:

"However, if, ten years from now, you have the ability to leave the Night Watchmen on your own and leave its higher-ups powerless to stop you, then that's another matter.

In short, if you want to leave the Night Watchmen through official channels... no chance!"

"Fine." Unexpectedly, Lin Qiye nodded without hesitation. "If I can't leave after ten years, then that's my problem."

Hearing Lin Qiye's almost lawless answer, Si Xiaonan and Wen Qimo's mouths fell open in astonishment. Even Leng Xuan, who was as cold as an iceberg, had his eyelids twitch as he gave Lin Qiye a few extra looks.

"In that case, I'll submit your application to join the higher-ups right away. But until you complete the training camp, you won't count as an official member."

"Training camp?"

"The Night Watchmen are a semi-militarized organization. Before officially joining, all newcomers must undergo a year of centralized training, where they learn hand-to-hand combat, firearms, combat deployment, how to use Forbidden Ruins, and other skills."

"When does it start?"

"Every September, which is one month from now. Until you finish the training camp, you can only be considered a temporary member of our team." At that point, Chen Muye seemed to remember something and solemnly reminded him, "Temporary members don't get room and board."

Lin Qiye: ...

No room and board?

Weren't the Night Watchmen supposed to have great benefits? How could they be this stingy?!!

"Then... where am I supposed to stay for the next month?" Lin Qiye panicked.

Go back to his aunt's house? No, no, no. If he went back, there was a ninety-nine percent chance he would never be allowed out again. She might even take the whole family and run away...

But he definitely had to notify his aunt, at least to let her know he was safe. So he planned to write her a letter saying that he had enlisted in the military, which would reassure her somewhat.

But the problem now was that the Night Watchmen wouldn't let him stay here. Was he supposed to sleep on the streets?

"It's fine. You can stay at my place."

Just then, Hong Ying, who had been secretly hiding behind the door, poked her head out and said softly, "My place is pretty big. Giving you a room won't be a problem."

"Hong Ying, didn't you leave in anger?" Wen Qimo's eyes widened.

"I, I... I remembered I forgot something, so I came back. Is that not allowed?!" Hong Ying glared at her, strode into the room, picked up the Black Box from the floor, then turned and glared at Wu Xiangnan again.

Wu Xiangnan: ...

Under Wu Xiangnan's speechless gaze, Hong Ying walked over to Lin Qiye and said gently, "Qiye, don't worry. Now that you're a member of our squad, your big sis will look out for you!"

"Temporary. He's a temporary member," Chen Muye corrected seriously. "And neither of you may necessarily be older. You can't just casually call him little brother."

"Captain, you're too rigid!" Hong Ying stuck out her tongue at Chen Muye, tore a slip of paper from the table, wrote down an address, and stuffed it into Lin Qiye's hand.

"Qiye, I still need to go practice shooting. If the paperwork's done later and you can't find me, just head back on your own first."

Hong Ying's face was very close to Lin Qiye's—close enough for him to clearly catch the faint fragrance on her body and see her eyelashes trembling slightly...

Those clear eyes watched Lin Qiye with a smile, like a pool of autumn water amid a forest of golden maple leaves—limpid and captivating, yet full of warmth.

It had to be said, Hong Ying was very beautiful.

Fair skin, a delicate nose, crimson lips, exquisite features, ample...

Lin Qiye promptly shifted his gaze away.

For some reason, two blushes rose to his cheeks.

In all his life, this was the first time he had been this close to a girl—especially a girl as natural and vivid as Hong Ying.

"Th... thank you, Sister Hong Ying."

"Ahahaha—!" Hong Ying suddenly sprang to her feet and laughed excitedly, startling Wu Xiangnan behind him.

"Why are you acting so crazy?" Wu Xiangnan said irritably.

"None of your business!" Hong Ying pouted. "Who told our new little brother to call me so sweetly..."

The corner of Lin Qiye's mouth twitched slightly, and he instinctively turned his head aside.

Just then, Wen Qimo approached with a smile. "Hong Ying, stop bullying the newcomer. Qiye, come on. I'll show you around and tell you a bit about the Night Watchmen."

As though granted a pardon, Lin Qiye followed Wen Qimo out the door and headed up the stairs toward the ground floor.

"Qiye." In the stairwell, Wen Qimo suddenly spoke.

"What is it, Senior Wen Qimo?"

"Ahem... don't call me senior. That makes us sound too distant, and I'm probably only two or three years older than you." Wen Qimo scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "Just call me by my name, or call me Qimo like they do."

"Alright."

"Actually, I have a presumptuous request." Wen Qimo stopped and looked seriously into Lin Qiye's eyes.

"What is it?"

"Tonight... can I stay at Hong Ying's place with you? I've wanted to go for a long time."

Lin Qiye:...