Water Breathing

Time drifted by in a haze for half a month.

Deep in the tenth month of autumn, the weather had turned chilly.

Inside the dormitory courtyard, a figure danced through the morning mist, slowly retracting his stance as the first light of dawn broke.

[Luck: 34 points (77%)]

Hong Ming checked the panel, his sweat-drenched cheeks brimming with joy.

The hard work of this period had not been in vain; he had finally accumulated his Luck to a new high.

With another day or two of grueling practice, he reckoned he would have enough Luck to solidify Water Breathing.

After drawing water to wash up and tidying himself, Hong Ming left the room, finished his breakfast, and headed straight for the training grounds.

The moment he arrived, he heard a commotion from the drill field far louder than usual, and it didn't sound like the noise of martial arts training.

Walking in and looking around, Hong Ming quickly discovered that the excitement centered around Wang Heng.

"How many appointment documents is this for Wang Heng now?"

"The fourth one."

"Hiss, he hasn't been in the Preparatory Camp long, and he's already received four?"

"Truly terrifying!"

"Sigh, I've been in the Preparatory Camp for nearly ten days and haven't received a single document yet."

"If this keeps up, he'll likely be able to pick any combat battalion in the entire Combat Department he wants."

"..."

Listening to the whispers around him, Hong Ming understood the situation.

This was not the first time such a scene had played out; it had already happened to Wang Heng three times before.

He clearly remembered the third time, the stir it caused had shocked the entire Preparatory Camp.

Even he, who had been burying his head in hard training and ignoring everything outside his window at the time, had been startled and heard of it.

He had thought the third time was the end, but he hadn't expected the fourth to arrive so soon.

I wonder when my document will arrive?

Watching the triumphant Wang Heng, Hong Ming couldn't help but think of himself.

Appointment documents were vital credentials for Water Soldiers in the Preparatory Camp, concerning their future prospects and benefits; naturally, the sooner one received them, the better.

Receiving a document didn't mean being deployed to a battalion early, but it meant having a destination and being able to enjoy that battalion's benefits.

The number of documents one received was directly related to one's potential.

That Wang Heng could secure four alone showed his extraordinary talent, the high regard in which he was held, and his bright future.

After a brief sigh over the gap between people, Hong Ming reined in his thoughts, intending to gather enough Luck in one go.

As he walked, his peripheral vision suddenly caught two familiar figures.

It was Chen Yao and Wen Xin; they had also seen the scene of Wang Heng receiving his document and had stepped forward to offer their congratulations.

Seeing this, Zhou Min, who was beside them, said something to Wang Heng.

Wang Heng simply ignored them, looking past their congratulations and leaving them standing there.

The two women were instantly embarrassed and at a loss for what to do.

Chen Yao's face flushed bright red, whether from shame or anger, it was hard to tell.

Unwilling to stay there and continue making a spectacle of themselves, Chen Yao grabbed Wen Xin and hurried away like an ant on a hot pan.

As they fled in such a sorry state, unmasked laughter erupted from behind them, making Chen Yao feel even more humiliated.

She hung her head, as if she wanted to bury it in the ground like an ostrich, unwilling to face anyone.

Only when the sounds from behind faded did she slow her pace, her expression finally softening slightly.

"Chen Yao, why did you pull me away? I really wanted to scold Wang Heng for his smug, villainous face!"

Wen Xin shook off Chen Yao's arm, spitting out harsh words.

"Forget it."

Chen Yao did not want to create unnecessary trouble; Wang Heng's family was not someone they could afford to offend.

Just as she was about to persuade Wen Xin, she suddenly caught sight of Hong Ming not far away, and her brows furrowed in embarrassment.

"Miss Chen, Miss Wen."

Hong Ming stepped forward to greet them as naturally as if nothing had happened.

Chen Yao nodded stiffly in response.

As if to ease the awkwardness, she changed the subject: "Young Master Hong, I wonder which combat battalion's document you have received?"

"...Not yet." Hong Ming shook his head gently.

These words made Chen Yao's expression stiffen slightly; she asked another question just to keep the conversation going: "What about the Archery Battalion then?"

"Not really," Hong Ming replied after a brief silence.

"..."

Chen Yao was instantly struck dumb, feeling the situation had become even more awkward.

For a moment, she had absolutely no idea what else to say.

"You've been here for half a month already, haven't you received any official notice yet?" Wen Xin interjected at the right moment, sounding somewhat surprised.

Hearing this, Chen Yao immediately reacted, "That's right. Logically, new Water Soldiers in the Preparatory Camp should receive their notices within half a month at the latest. How have you not received yours yet?"

As for this question, not only was Chen Yao clueless, but Hong Ming was also completely bewildered.

Seeing this, Wen Xin reminded him, "You should go to the General Affairs Department and ask. It would be a loss if you delayed too long and had your resources cut off."

The supply of various resources for Water Soldiers in the Preparatory Camp had a time limit.

Force-Nourishing Pills were only provided for free for one month, while the monthly stipend lasted a bit longer, up to three months.

Afterward, these would all be supplied by the respective battalions to facilitate allocation and management.

Hong Ming had long been aware of this, and now, hearing Wen Xin's words, he became even more concerned.

"I remember Shen Lin came to the Preparatory Camp at the same time as you, right? It seems he has already received his notice from the Archery Battalion!" Chen Yao added.

Hong Ming hesitated no longer. Putting his thoughts into action, he bid the two farewell and headed straight for the General Affairs Department.

"Hong Ming's notice? Let me check that for you."

After the clerk on duty at the General Affairs Department replied, he flipped through the register to verify the situation.

He didn't know what he saw, but his movements paused for an imperceptible fraction of a second.

He immediately looked up, his expression returning to normal as he said, "There is no relevant information for you yet. Perhaps the Combat Department hasn't made their selection. You should just wait a little longer."

"Approximately when will there be a result?" Hong Ming asked in a deep voice.

The man shook his head slightly, indicating he did not know.

With no results from his inquiry, Hong Ming had no choice but to return home, tucking the matter away in his mind to focus on his cultivation.

In the meantime, taking advantage of his fatigue, he went to collect a Force-Nourishing Pill.

The effect of the Force-Nourishing Pill could not compare to the Azure Dragon Fish, but it was still superior to ordinary blood-energy medicine.

Consuming it immediately filled Hong Ming with vitality, allowing him to throw himself even more deeply into his endless training.

A setback in the matter of the notice, but a gain in luck.

Two hours later, Hong Ming replenished his missing luck and completed the final piece of the puzzle for solidifying Water Breathing.

He was in no rush to find Wen Xin to solidify the trait; it was currently lunchtime, and the training grounds were already deserted, with no sign of her.

He first went to grab a meal, then returned to his quarters, intending to rest up and go find her in the afternoon.

As soon as he entered the room, Hong Ming suddenly noticed two items placed on the table.

One of them was particularly startling: an exceptionally exquisite pouch, identical in craftsmanship to the one Huang Chun had previously sent!

The other item was an official document, complete in every detail, save for the soldier's name and the battalion name—it was clearly left for Hong Ming to fill in as he pleased!

With both appearing at once, the threat hidden within them was undisguised, feeling almost tangible.

At this moment, the culprit behind the scenes who had prevented him from receiving his notice was obvious, standing out in plain sight.

"Huang Chun!"

Hong Ming's expression darkened, radiating a bone-chilling coldness.

A moment later, he calmed his emotions and regained his composure.

He had long since inquired about Huang Chun's strength; he was a Bright Force martial artist.

They were in the same realm, but the other party had been immersed in this stage for many years, and Hong Ming might not be his match.

The most urgent task was to increase his strength!

Huang Chun's appearance dispelled any thought of rest for Hong Ming, so he turned to go find Wen Xin instead.

[Consumed 36 points of luck, successfully solidified the "Water Breathing" trait.]