Patrol Bureau Intern

"Senior Sister, watch my fist."

Xiao Wang shouted and threw a punch straight at Wen Lujia's face.

Wen Lujia stood where she was, barely even looking at Xiao Wang's fist.

But just as Xiao Wang's fist was about to touch the tip of her nose—

Her body flashed, and she struck out with her palm, aiming directly at Xiao Wang's chest.

The next second, Xiao Wang was sent flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground five meters away.

He had been defeated in one move.

The entire exchange had taken less than two seconds. Xiao Wang had not even seen clearly how Wen Lujia had thrown that palm strike.

"Senior Sister, didn't I ask you to go easy on me?"

Xiao Wang sat on the ground, rubbing his chest and pretending to be in pain.

He did not hurt at all, but he knew that palm strike had dealt considerable damage, because wisps of black had begun to appear in the bead's color.

"She already went very easy on you," Wei Zhongxing said from the side. "If she'd used a fist just now, even with only half her strength, every one of your ribs would've been broken. Using her palm was practically giving you support."

After hearing Wei Zhongxing say that, Xiao Wang became even more aware of how terrifying the combat power of a martial artist who had broken through the first martial limit was.

"Did you hear that? It wasn't that I didn't go easy on you. You're just too weak."

As she spoke, Wen Lujia walked over to Xiao Wang and held out her hand.

Xiao Wang took her hand and got to his feet. "So does that mean I should thank you for going easy on me, Senior Sister?"

"Of course."

"Thank you for going easy on me, Senior Sister."

Xiao Wang solemnly bowed and cupped his hands toward Wen Lujia.

"No need to thank me. Get up."

Wen Lujia also solemnly extended her hand and lifted Xiao Wang's arm slightly.

Then Wen Lujia went back to sit beside Wei Zhongxing.

"Well?" Wei Zhongxing asked.

"Passable, I suppose. Arranging an internship shouldn't be a problem. Did you teach him the Tiger Guard Fist, Teacher? How long has he practiced it?"

"Less than a month."

"Less than a month?!"

Wen Lujia showed a hint of surprise upon hearing that.

"Hehe, didn't expect that, did you?"

"It is somewhat unexpected. Reaching the Divine stage in less than a month is quite impressive. Even in the entire Mount Yuan Martial Arts Academy, that would count as exceptional talent."

"Hehe, it really isn't easy to get you to call someone exceptionally talented."

"Now I know why you, Teacher, who never take disciples, accepted him."

"Well? Has your teacher's eye for talent not worsened?"

"It has worsened somewhat. After all, he's still a bit behind me. Hahaha."

Wen Lujia laughed heartily after saying that.

Then she turned to Xiao Wang and asked, "Would you like to intern with the Patrol Bureau's Fourth Squad?"

"Does the internship pay?"

Wen Lujia: ???

"Did you fall into a money pit or something? If that suspect the other night hadn't had a bounty on him, would you not have helped catch him?"

Senior Sister really gets me.

"Slander, Senior Sister. That is absolutely slander. I already said that I'm a law-abiding citizen of Yuanshan Outer City. If I see a wanted criminal, I'll definitely help catch them."

Wen Lujia rolled her eyes at Xiao Wang.

Do you really think having big breasts means I have no brains?

No, my breasts aren't even that big.

"There's pay. Interns normally receive seventy percent of the salary, but considering you still have classes and all, it'll be reduced by another thirty percent. It'll be around 5,000 Federation Credits a month."

"5,000 Federation Credits?!"

"What, you think it's too little?"

"No, no."

The salary truly exceeded Xiao Wang's expectations. His foster father, Zhou Zhengxiong, worked himself to the bone every month and only took two days off, yet he earned only around 5,000 Federation Credits a month.

As an intern, Xiao Wang would not even need to work a full day, yet he could earn as much as his foster father.

And judging by Wen Lujia's words, a full Patrol Bureau employee earned at least 10,000 Federation Credits per month.

"No wonder everyone in the outer city wants to join the Patrol Bureau. It really is one of the best jobs in the outer city," Xiao Wang thought.

"If you have no objections, come find me at the Patrol Bureau tomorrow. I'll get you registered as soon as possible. This is a coveted position that a lot of people have their eyes on, so we need to secure it quickly."

"Thank you, Senior Sister."

"Just thanking me with words? I helped you this much."

"I'll treat you to a meal."

"Fine. Remember, you owe me two meals now."

Xiao Wang: ...

Just then, Cheng Hu came out of the kitchen carrying dishes.

"Dinner's ready."

After washing his hands, Xiao Wang helped carry the dishes from the kitchen to the main room.

The five of them soon gathered around the dining table in the main room.

"Jiajia came to see me today, and I'm happy. Let's have a drink. Bring out my liquor."

Cheng Hu brought over the liquor and poured everyone a cup.

Wei Zhongxing raised his cup. "There are quite a few good things to celebrate today, and we should count them properly. Congratulations to Jiajia on becoming a Patrol Squad captain, and congratulations to Xiao Wang on becoming a Patrol Bureau intern and breaking through to the Divine stage of the Tiger Guard Fist. Come, raise your cups."

After Wei Zhongxing spoke, everyone raised their cups and clinked them against his.

They ate and chatted, never putting down their drinks.

After his first cup, Xiao Wang barely drank any more.

He had seen the color of the bead in his mind growing darker and darker, so he did not dare let his guard down.

After several cups, they were all slightly tipsy.

Once they had finished eating and cleaned up, they sat down again outside the main room to digest their food.

The full moon hung high in the sky, its bright light spilling into the courtyard and forming a dividing line of light and shadow.

The moonlight contrasted with the lights on the magnificent inner city wall in the distance, each setting off the other.

After resting for a while, Wen Lujia got up to say goodbye.

"Master, I'll head back first. I'll come see you again next time."

"Don't keep running over here when there's nothing going on. It's not like you have nothing better to do."

"I'm leaving first. Junior Brother, walk me home."

"Huh?" Xiao Wang looked at Wen Lujia in surprise. "Senior Sister, surely no one in the outer city would dare stop you."

"You never know. Besides, I drank alcohol. My head is still all dizzy."

"But..."

"Are you walking me home or not? I'm a girl too, you know."

Xiao Wang: ...

"You brat, she helped you so much. What's wrong with walking her home?" Wei Zhongxing said from the side.

Hearing that, Xiao Wang could only stand up and leave the martial arts hall with Wen Lujia, walking side by side toward her home.

As they walked down the street, Xiao Wang asked Wen Lujia, "Senior Sister, did you call me out alone because you had something you wanted to tell me?"

"No. What could I possibly have to say?"

"Huh? Then did you really just want me to walk you home?"

"Yes. What's wrong with that? Isn't it perfectly normal for a boy to walk a girl home at night? I'm a girl too, you know."

"Yes, yes, Senior Sister, you're a girl. But there's something I'm curious about."

"What is it?"

"If we run into a robber later, will you protect me, or will I protect you?"

Wen Lujia turned to glance at Xiao Wang. "Don't ruin the mood."

The two continued walking side by side down the street, their shadows stretched long by the streetlights.

Wen Lujia tilted her head at times, making the shadow of her head overlap with Xiao Wang's. Then she would separate them again, wave her hand, and make it seem as though she were slapping Xiao Wang's face.

"Hahaha, look, I'm slapping you."

Xiao Wang: ...???

"Senior Sister, how old are you?"

"Older than you, anyway. Come on, call me Big Sister and let me hear it."

As they walked, Wen Lujia's legs suddenly went weak, and she nearly fell. Xiao Wang immediately caught her.

"The alcohol's hitting me. I'm a little dizzy."

As Wen Lujia spoke, she naturally wrapped both hands around Xiao Wang's arm.

"Senior Sister, you aren't pretending to be drunk, are you?"

Wen Lujia did not answer. In any case, her grip on his arm only tightened.