Tutoring

"Ding-dong—welcome!"

A crisp electronic chime sounded as Lin Qiye pushed open the door to the office and walked inside.

The moment he entered, he froze.

On the sofa in the storefront sat an elderly woman in her fifties. One hand held a cane while the other adjusted her reading glasses, and she gestured animatedly as she described something.

"...I'm tellin' ya! My old man, he's usually not like this!

Back when we went out, he'd always hold my hand, scared somethin' might happen to me. But ever since last week, he's been actin' like this!

He must've got another woman outside!"

Across from her, Hong Ying rested her chin on her hands and listened with rapt attention, occasionally responding in surprise.

"Huh? He really went that far?"

"Mhm, mhm, I think you're right, ma'am!"

"That's so awful of him!"

"Don't worry, our office is definitely taking this case!"

"..."

Beside her, Wen Qimo sat with a serious expression, maintaining a warm, pleasant smile.

"I think you're right, ma'am..."

"I think you're right, Hong Ying..."

"Yes, I think you're both right..."

Seeing Lin Qiye standing dazedly at the entrance, Wen Qimo gave him a look, rose to his feet, and followed Lin Qiye toward the back of the storefront.

Hong Ying remained where she was, chatting enthusiastically with the elderly woman.

"Wh-what is going on here?"

Once they entered the stairwell leading to the basement, Lin Qiye finally could not hold back his question.

"Hm? Normal work?"

"I thought the storefront upstairs was just a cover. You actually have real business?"

"Qiye, you still don't understand us well enough." Wen Qimo patted his shoulder. "Cangnan isn't exactly big, but it isn't small either. Mysterious incidents do happen, but there are only five or six of them a year.

With all of us here, when there aren't any mysterious incidents to handle, all we do is train, chat, and brag. Wouldn't that get boring?"

"So you expanded into investigating extramarital affairs?" Lin Qiye's expression turned extremely strange. "For an elderly woman in her fifties?"

"She's sixty this year."

"..."

"Look, taking on a few minor commissions in our spare time gives us something to do and lets us earn a little extra money. Isn't that great?"

"I see..." Lin Qiye fell into thought. "Other than investigating extramarital affairs, what other services do we offer?"

"We do. Our range of services is broad—very broad!" Wen Qimo's eyes lit up. "Rescuing cats and dogs stuck in trees, tutoring children below middle-school level at home, providing legal aid to people who need help, rescuing trafficked children while we're at it, and sometimes putting on masks to subdue criminals robbing banks..."

"Wait, isn't that range of services a little too broad?" Lin Qiye stared wide-eyed. "Rescue, education, law, relationship issues—you're even competing with the police for their work?"

"Standard procedure."

"I'm suddenly curious. Which one of you knows law?"

"Leng Xuan. Before joining the Night Watchmen, he got a doctorate in law from the University of Political Science and Law."

Lin Qiye: ?(??? ?)?

The two arrived at the underground recreation area. Wen Qimo patted his shoulder. "Oh, right. The captain said that once you arrived, you should go find him at the training ground."

"Where is it?"

"Go straight down the corridor ahead until you reach the end."

"Alright."

Lin Qiye passed through the recreation room and headed down the corridor.

He had not noticed it the last time he came, but only now did Lin Qiye realize just how enormous this underground space was.

Corridor after corridor, room after mysterious room—Lin Qiye made a rough estimate, and the whole place was at least as wide as two streets.

At last, Lin Qiye reached the end of the corridor. A large iron door stood before him.

He pushed the door open. Beyond it was a vast, bright training ground, at least the size of three football fields!

"Did they... dig out the entire bottom of the canal?" Lin Qiye muttered to himself.

Seeing Lin Qiye arrive, Chen Muye, who had been sitting in meditation at the center of the training ground, opened his eyes and beckoned him over.

"Captain."

"Mm. What do you think of this place?"

"It feels... a little too different from what I expected." Lin Qiye answered honestly. "Upstairs, it's just an inconspicuous little storefront, but down here there's such a massive space. It feels like something out of a science-fiction movie."

Chen Muye nodded slightly. "This place was built decades ago by the owner of a Forbidden Ruin with Earth Element Affinity, so such a massive project never disturbed the surface."

"I see."

"Oh, right. Some of the paperwork regarding your joining the Night Watchmen has arrived. It's stored in the archives; if you want to read it, go get it yourself." Chen Muye paused.

"However, your saber, cloak, and insignia won't be issued until you enter training camp. For now, use this blade."

Chen Muye handed Lin Qiye a straight saber from behind him. Lin Qiye accepted it and examined it, spotting three small characters beneath the hilt.

—Zhao Kongcheng.

"This is..." Lin Qiye looked up in astonishment.

"Old Zhao's blade," Chen Muye said calmly. "You were the kid he chose. He died in battle, so his blade will be entrusted to you."

Lin Qiye fell silent for a moment, then quietly tightened his grip around the hilt. "Alright."

Then he asked in confusion, "But didn't you say I'm only a provisional member right now? Why would I need a saber?"

"There's still over a month before training camp begins. We can't waste that time—we'll teach you a few things." Chen Muye slowly rose to his feet, looked at Lin Qiye, and continued.

"After all, you'll be joining Team 136. If you perform poorly at training camp, it'll make us look bad."

Lin Qiye: ...

For some reason, Lin Qiye suddenly felt like a student with poor grades being forcibly sent to cram school by his elders...

"Fine. Then how should I train?" Lin Qiye did not hesitate. Even if Chen Muye had not brought it up, he would have sought him out and asked him to teach him how to fight.

His life was his own.

Slacking off now was simply a slow death.

"Practice saber techniques with me in the morning, learn how to use your Forbidden Ruin with Wen Qimo in the afternoon, and learn firearms from Leng Xuan at night." Chen Muye took two bamboo sabers from the weapon rack nearby, one in each hand.

"Pick up your blade. We're starting."

Lin Qiye glanced at the straight saber beside him and said in astonishment, "Captain, mine's a real blade!"

"Doesn't matter." Chen Muye walked toward Lin Qiye expressionlessly, holding both bamboo sabers. "Either way, the result will be the same."

For some reason, Lin Qiye's heart tightened, and he vaguely sensed something ominous.

He picked up the straight saber from the ground, drew it from its sheath, and took a deep breath.

"Captain, I'm coming."

Chen Muye nodded. "Come on, then."

Lin Qiye's gaze sharpened. Clenching the hilt, he charged toward Chen Muye at top speed!

Three seconds later, his screams echoed throughout the underground chamber...