The First of the Month

August 1st...

Ring-ring-ring-ring!!!!!

Slap!

Xu Ai swatted the alarm clock away, then slowly opened her hazy eyes, lifted the blanket in a daze, and sat up.

"Haaa~~~ I'm still so sleepy..."

The consciousness space didn't have a sense of fatigue, nor did it affect the outside world, but her original physical state remained unchanged.

Last night, she had gone out for dinner with Xu Xin and Liu Ting. They ended up playing too late, and without realizing it, it was already two in the morning. By the time they got back, it was past three...

Patting her cheeks, she gathered her spirits, jumped out of bed, found a sports bra, a T-shirt, and some athletic wear in her closet, and headed into the bathroom.

"Liu Ting?"

Xu Ai looked at the girl sitting on the toilet in astonishment and couldn't help but call out.

Oh, right! They had stayed out so late last night that Liu Ting had simply decided to stay over at their place.

Yeah, and she was sleeping with her!

"Ah, I forgot to lock the door."

Liu Ting gave an awkward smile, still a bit groggy from sleep. Fortunately, there were only girls in this villa.

"It's fine, it's fine, go ahead."

Xu Ai waved her hand, calmly placed her clothes on the rack, and began to brush her teeth and wash her face.

After finishing in the bathroom, Liu Ting came over to help. She first brushed out Xu Ai's messy hair, and then...

Xu Ai looked on in bewilderment at the hands pressing against her chest.

"I'll help you, it'll be faster."

Liu Ting reached her hands under Xu Ai's armpits and unbuttoned her pajamas.

Really? Why did this feel a little bit off?

Under Liu Ting's somewhat forceful insistence, Xu Ai brushed her teeth while cooperating by stretching out her arms to make it easier for Liu Ting to undress her.

She wasn't wearing anything under her pajamas, so once they were removed, Xu Ai's proud upper body was exposed, only to be immediately covered by the sports bra Liu Ting held.

Wait, the pajama pants... never mind...

Before Xu Ai could stop her, the pajama pants had already been pulled down by Liu Ting, leaving her no choice but to lift her feet to let Liu Ting take them off.

With Xu Ai actively cooperating, the athletic pants were put on, though she put on the T-shirt and the rest of the athletic gear herself after finishing her morning routine.

After washing up, Xu Ai and Liu Ting went to the dining room, where Xu Xin had already prepared breakfast.

"Xiao Ai, how are you feeling about your preparations?"

"You should be asking yourself that..."

Xu Ai looked at Xu Xin speechlessly. Under her relentless day-and-night coaching, Xu Xin had finally managed to master the Micro Level footwork just before the combat assessment, though she still hadn't succeeded in reaching a 2x force amplification...

But whatever, it was just a combat assessment. All the targets were H-level monsters, the weakest grade. With Micro Level footwork and the combat suit specifically prepared by the Xu family, as long as she didn't do anything suicidal, she should be able to clear it easily... probably?

"Sis, you can't go soft when you're killing monsters..."

"I won't, don't worry."

Xu Xin insisted that with her cooking skills, she had truly seen blood before—well, she had killed fish!

Xu Ai gave Xu Xin a big hug and a good morning kiss—on the cheek, that is...

"Wow, this looks so delicious!"

Liu Ting looked at the three plates of breakfast on the table, which were a feast for the eyes and nose, and couldn't help but head toward the most lavish portion.

"Hey? Wait."

Xu Xin stopped Liu Ting and pushed Xu Ai toward that seat instead.

"This one is prepared for Xiao Ai. She has her combat assessment today."

"Then I won't stand on ceremony."

After sitting down, Xu Ai picked up a piece of bacon and a fried egg, smiling triumphantly at Liu Ting.

Liu Ting rolled her eyes at her and sat down in front of another breakfast plate.

"When I have my combat assessment, I want Sister Xin to make me a breakfast of love, too!"

"Sure, on the day of your combat assessment, I'll make you a hearty breakfast."

Xu Xin nodded with a smile.

Ever since they moved out for school, her "first time" had been taken by Xu Ai—ahem, her first time cooking, that is.

Since then, she had been responsible for the daily feeding of Xu Ai. It was just one more person to feed, simple enough.

Xu Ai checked the time. Although it was still early, considering the travel time, they needed to get going soon.

"Sis, let's eat quickly."

Picking up her chopsticks, she quickly finished her porridge and fried dough sticks.

Xu Xin was a bit slower, but she also finished her meal quickly.

"Sorry for making you watch the house, little Tingting."

"Call me Sister Ting!"

Liu Ting threw a pillow with a 'thwack', hitting the door that Xu Ai had just closed.

By the time Xu Ai reached the lobby of the martial arts building, many Quasi-Martial Artists had already gathered there, and Xu Gang happened to be among the team leaders.

"Brother!" ×2

"You two finally made it."

Xu Gang walked over with a smile, but before he could say much, a young man trotted over and said to him:

"Young Master Xu, the team leader says it's time. Both young ladies have arrived, so let's head out."

"Alright, let's go."

Xu Gang nodded, then led Xu Xin and Xu Ai back to the lobby to take the many Quasi-Martial Artists who had been waiting for a long time to the train station.

By now, many Quasi-Martial Artists had already gathered at the train station. Xu Ai took a look and noticed that the ones leading them were martial artists from the Thunder Dojo.

"Looks like we arrived quite early."

The only group missing for the actual combat assessment was the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

As for the military, most of their soldiers already possessed the strength of Advanced Warriors and had been clearing out monsters alongside the main forces, so they already had plenty of experience fighting monsters. Therefore, as long as their physical fitness reached the level of a Quasi-Martial Artist, they didn't need to participate in the actual combat assessment and could be issued a martial artist certificate directly.

The team leader from the HR Alliance was clearly an acquaintance of the team leader from the Thunder Dojo. After greeting Xu Gang and telling him to take charge of his team, he walked over to chat with the other man.

They waited for a while alongside the martial artists from the Thunder Dojo before the Extreme Martial Arts Hall finally arrived late.

Luo Feng and Yang Wu followed at the very back of the group, looking quite conspicuous; after all, Luo Feng was a genius recruited in advance by the Extreme Martial Arts Hall.

The team leader from the Thunder Dojo waved at the team leader from the Extreme Martial Arts Hall, and after the two exchanged a few pleasantries, they each led their respective teams onto the train.

The three teams were assigned to separate carriages: the Extreme Martial Arts Hall was at the front of the train, the Thunder Dojo was in the middle, and Xu Ai and her group were at the very back.

Xu Ai and Xu Xin sat together, watching the carriage screens display recruitment advertisements from various organizations, each boasting about their own advantages.

For instance, the Extreme Martial Arts Hall had the world's number one powerhouse and the domain-wielding Hong; the Thunder Dojo had the world's second-ranked powerhouse and Thor, who possessed the world's highest force exertion amplitude; the military offered the best treatment and the most secure safety for martial artists; and the HR Alliance was the wealthiest.

Looking at it this way, the HR Alliance actually seemed a bit low-tier...

Thinking this, Xu Ai couldn't help but smile awkwardly. As a member of the Xu family of the HR Alliance, it really wasn't right for her to think that way.

However, her family was indeed quite wealthy...

The train traveled for over an hour before reaching its destination. The carriage doors opened, and the Quasi-Martial Artists stepped off one by one. Xu Ai and Xu Xin waited until the end before slowly walking down with Xu Gang.

"This way, don't scatter!"

Guided by a squad of soldiers, the massive crowd of Quasi-Martial Artists entered the military camp designated for the actual combat assessment.

After the officer's welcoming speech, the Quasi-Martial Artists naturally found a place to wait quietly, while the team-leading martial artists all headed to the hall in the military base specifically reserved for receiving martial artists.

As for Xu Xin and Xu Ai, they naturally followed Xu Gang; there was no reason for them to stay in the plaza and bake in the sun.

"Old Second, long time no see."

Xu Gang laughed as he stepped forward to hug an officer. Looking at the one bar and two stars on his shoulder, he was a First Lieutenant.

"Call me Second Brother, stop calling me Old Second all the time."

The officer punched Xu Gang in the chest and then began to laugh as well.

"Right, let me introduce you."

Xu Gang pulled Xu Xin and Xu Ai over and said to the officer, "These are my younger sisters, Xu Xin and Xu Ai. They're here to participate in the Quasi-Martial Artist assessment today. They're Quasi-Martial Artists under 18, the geniuses of our family—you have to help me look after them."

"That goes without saying. Your sisters are my sisters, leave it to me."

The officer looked at Xu Xin and Xu Ai and nodded with a smile.

"I was your brother's college roommate. My name is Jiang Zheng; you can just call me Brother Zheng."

"Hello, Brother Zheng."

Xu Xin and Xu Ai smiled and shook hands with Jiang Zheng, while Xu Gang continued his introduction:

"This Old Second is the most successful one from our dorm. He's already a Low-level War General. Unlike me, who had so many resources poured into me and is still just an Advanced Warrior—it's so embarrassing."

"I told you to call me Second Brother. Besides, being a Low-level War General was a month ago; I'm a Mid-level War General now."

"A Mid-level War General at 25, tsk tsk. You'll be able to get another promotion once you rack up some more merits," Xu Gang said with a smile.

"It's not that simple; I still have to grind it out slowly," Jiang Zheng replied with a smile.

In Swallowed Star, military ranks are mostly tied to strength. After all, in this era where monsters run rampant, only those with sufficient strength have the opportunity to earn merits. For a War General, it is quite simple to earn enough merit to reach the Lieutenant rank.

However, reaching the Field Officer rank is a bit more troublesome. With Jiang Zheng's strength as a Mid-level War General, he really can only grind it out slowly if he wants a secure promotion.

Of course, there is a faster way, but it requires risking one's life by participating in one or two beast tide battles and surviving until the end, which would also earn enough merit for a promotion to Field Officer.

"Right, the combat suit and weapons I asked you to help bring in earlier—you have them ready, right?"

"I have, how could I forget what you asked of me?"

Jiang Zheng made a phone call, and before long, a dashing female soldier walked over carrying two suitcases and two long swords.

Xu Ai could clearly sense that after this female soldier appeared, Jiang Zheng's mood inexplicably brightened.

If even Xu Ai could notice it, Xu Gang, being Jiang Zheng's best friend, naturally couldn't miss the change in him.

He looked at this beauty who could easily be called a military flower, then looked at Jiang Zheng, and couldn't help but perk up, winking and gesturing at Jiang Zheng.

"Ahem... Second Brother, who is this?"

"Alright, cut that goofy look."

Jiang Zheng rolled his eyes at him, then pulled the female soldier over.

"Let me introduce you. This is my girlfriend, Wu Rui. And these three are my best friends from university, Xu Gang, and his two younger sisters, Xu Xin and Xu Ai."

"Hello everyone, I'm Wu Rui, Jiang Zheng's girlfriend."

Wu Rui said with a smile to Xu Gang and Xu Ai.

"Hello, Sister-in-law."

Xu Gang shook hands with Wu Rui with a grin, then quickly let go.

After the group exchanged a few pleasantries, Jiang Zheng said to Wu Rui:

"Xiao Rui, why don't you take Xiao Xin and Xiao Ai to your room? These combat suits and weapons are what Gangzi prepared for them; they are going to participate in this Quasi-Martial Artist examination."

"Mm-hmm, alright."

Wu Rui smiled, greeted Xu Xin and Xu Ai, and led them toward her room.