Learning Assignment

Yang Wenqing's arrival at the precinct this time clearly drew an unprecedented amount of attention. That was because he was young yet held the rank of senior police sergeant, which meant he was a young Qi Refinement Practitioner.

The Operations Division's offices were in the precinct's main building, but Yang Wenqing did not know exactly where. The main building was far more complicated than the East City Public Security Station, so after a moment's thought, he headed toward a room beside the lobby marked "Information Desk."

Several young people in auxiliary security uniforms were speaking with visitors inside the information desk. As soon as Yang Wenqing entered, an auxiliary female security officer approached him. Her gaze swiftly swept over his rank insignia before she asked, "Hello, how can I help you?"

Yang Wenqing showed her his badge and replied evenly, "Hello. Could you tell me how to get to the Archives Division?" According to procedure, he needed to report to the Archives Division, where someone from the Personnel Office would take him to the Operations Division.

The female security officer stepped to the doorway of the information desk. "It's on the first floor. Go into the corridor on the right, and you should see the signs."

She pointed toward the right-hand corridor.

"Thank you," Yang Wenqing said.

After thanking her, he quickly headed down the right-hand corridor. Just as the female security officer had said, he immediately spotted the "Archives Division" sign. Inside was a large shared office area, and with a sweep of his eyes, he easily found the Personnel Office.

A middle-aged female police officer wearing glasses received him.

After checking his transfer order and identity information, the female officer stamped a document, then instructed a young security officer beside her, "Xiao Li, take Sergeant Yang to the Operations Division."

"Got it, Sister Yang."

The young security officer stood up, greeted Yang Wenqing, and headed outside. They went toward the corridor on the left side of the first-floor lobby, where they could see a passage leading to the training grounds at the rear. On the other side of the passage was a stairwell leading upward.

When they reached the third floor, the corridor was even quieter. They stopped at a door marked "Office Area" at the end of the hallway and gently knocked.

"Who is it? Come in yourself!"

It was a man's voice, sounding somewhat impatient.

The two pushed open the door and entered. Inside was an office area similar to that of the Second Patrol Squad, only much smaller. There were three workrooms on the left, all occupied by people busy with their work. On the right was a small reception area, and directly ahead stood a half-open office door bearing a sign that read "Division Chief's Office."

"Xiao Li, bringing in a newcomer?"

A female security officer with the rank of senior security officer rose from the desk outside the division chief's office and asked.

The young security officer called Xiao Li nodded and walked straight to the half-open office door, pushing it open and entering. He came back out less than ten seconds later, after which a voice called from inside, "Xiao Song, bring him in."

The female security officer at the office door seemed to remember something. She picked up a file that had been prepared long ago, walked over to Yang Wenqing, compared the file with him, then smiled warmly. "You can call me Sister Song. Come with me."

By then, the young security officer named Xiao Li had already slipped away without a sound.

As Sister Song spoke, she walked to the half-open office door and gently knocked.

"Come in!"

The voice inside was calm and steady.

Sister Song glanced back at Yang Wenqing, then pushed open the door. However, she stopped after only two steps and respectfully said, "Deputy Division Chief Li, Sergeant Yang Wenqing has arrived."

There were two desks in the office, but only one was occupied. An elderly man with the rank of senior police sergeant sat there. He lifted his eyelids to glance at Yang Wenqing, then shifted his gaze back to Sister Song. "Give me the file. Go attend to your work, and remember to close the door."

"Yes!"

Sister Song stepped forward and placed the file atop the documents on Deputy Division Chief Li's left. She then properly withdrew from the office and closed the door as instructed.

"Come sit."

As Deputy Division Chief Li picked up the file and began reading through it, he pointed to the chair in front of his desk and spoke to Yang Wenqing.

Yang Wenqing did as told and went over to sit down. He knew who this Deputy Division Chief Li was. In the Operations Division, he was in charge of internal affairs and regulations and had always been known for his strictness, while the division chief was chiefly responsible for training and operations.

"According to regulations, the division chief should have personally handled your matter. But it's the start of the year, every factory has just resumed operations, and the port is in complete chaos. The division chief needs to lead the Operations Division's personnel on round-the-clock patrols, so your matter has fallen to me."

"Do you understand?"

Yang Wenqing promptly replied, "I will follow the arrangements."

Upon hearing this, Deputy Division Chief Li gave Yang Wenqing a formal once-over, his eyes carrying a probing quality. Then he said:

"For the next half month, your core assignment will be study. There are two areas. First, the fundamentals of tactical command for forces under one hundred people. You need to understand how to assess the situation when facing enemies of different sizes and types, how to use terrain, how to deploy personnel, and how to form effective encirclements, assaults, interceptions, and defenses."

"Second..."

Deputy Division Chief Li's tone grew heavier. "Specialized criminal investigation methods. Crimes committed by Qi Refinement Practitioners are completely different from ordinary cases. You need to learn how to identify, preserve, and analyze special evidence, how to track criminals who have used magical methods, and how to use regulations and the law against them."

He leaned forward slightly. "In half a month, there will be an internal assessment, mainly a written examination to test your grasp of this theoretical knowledge. There will also be a sand-table exercise, and I will be your opponent."

"Do you understand?"

"I understand. I will give it my all," Yang Wenqing answered seriously, sitting straight.

Deputy Division Chief Li seemed fairly satisfied with his attitude. He put down the file, rose, and walked to an iron filing cabinet against the wall. Taking out a key, he opened one of its doors, revealing neat stacks of books and documents wrapped in kraft paper.

He pulled out a thick stack, apparently more than a dozen volumes, returned to his desk, and dropped them before Yang Wenqing with a bang.

"These..." Deputy Division Chief Li patted the pile of books, "are what you need to get through over the next half month: Fundamentals of Squad Tactics and Analysis of Battle Cases, Outline of Command for Low-Intensity Urban Conflicts, Introduction to Identifying and Tracking Spiritual Energy Traces, Overview of Qi Refinement Practitioner Criminal Psychology, Interpretations and Case Studies of Criminal Law: Qi Refinement Practitioners..."

He rattled off seven or eight titles in one breath, and every one looked substantial.

"Take these back. Within half a month, you must not only finish them, but commit them to memory." Deputy Division Chief Li's gaze settled on Yang Wenqing. "With the mental capacity granted by your Qi Refining cultivation, memorizing these basic theories by rote will not be difficult as long as you are willing to put in the effort. You only need to memorize them. You can learn how to apply them through future work."

Yang Wenqing could not describe how he felt at that moment. His expression was slightly complicated, but beneath Deputy Division Chief Li's watchful gaze, all he could do was stand and gather the stack of books into his arms.

"All right. We'll meet again in half a month. During that time, you may arrange your own schedule as you see fit."

"Yes, Deputy Division Chief Li. I'll take my leave, then."

"Go." Deputy Division Chief Li waved a hand, sat back down, picked up another document, and did not look at him again.

Carrying the books, Yang Wenqing steadily walked out of the division chief's office. When Sister Song outside saw him emerge with such a huge stack of books, a knowing smile flashed through her eyes. Yang Wenqing nodded to her, then carried this "weighty" assignment out of the Operations Division's office area.