Joining the Night Watchers

The downpour was the curtain, the old district the stage, and a fierce battle was underway.

Even though Lin Qiye was a newcomer without any training, he still managed to block the Ghost Face King's attacks with precision.

He had not even made it out of the starting village, yet here he was facing a mythical creature of the River Realm. He quickly came to understand that, without Zhao Kongcheng wearing the Ghost Face King down and Wang Quan beating it within an inch of its life, he would have stood no chance against this monster.

Blade met claw, sending sparks flying. The Ghost Face King's attacks seemed to be growing stronger.

"Little Wang, the kid isn't going to get hurt, is he?"

"A cornered beast still fights! The more it wants to live, the harder it'll struggle!"

Zhao Kongcheng looked worried. Even with decades of fighting skills and extensive experience, he had barely managed to exchange a few blows with the Ghost Face King.

"He can do it!"

"A God's Agent is seriously strong!" Wang Quan stared into the distance, his eyes blazing and his voice brimming with confidence. After all, he had fought both [Mask] and [Phoenix].

Sure enough, scarcely had those words left his mouth when Zhao Kongcheng witnessed a sight that filled him with both envy and awe.

Those blazing golden eyes were like two solar furnaces. Even from more than ten meters away, he could still feel their scorching heat.

The Ghost Face King visibly froze.

Having only just entered the Lamp Realm, Lin Qiye could already cow the River Realm Ghost Face King.

"Holy shit, Divine Ruins are fucking incredible!"

"I'm so jealous!"

"Uncle Zhao, you're not bad yourself. You lasted that long without dying!"

"Uh!"

"If you don't know how to talk, you can keep your mouth shut!"

"Hahahaha!"

Hearing the two of them laughing and chatting nearby while he fought for his life made Lin Qiye furious.

Stay calm!

I have to stay calm!

He reminded himself again and again, seizing the instant the Ghost Face King froze to slash viciously at its neck.

A pale blue blade gleam flashed past, leaving a graceful crescent suspended in the pouring rain.

The Ghost Face King had been beheaded!

I won!

Lin Qiye was overjoyed after his first clash with a mythical creature.

Then something bizarre happened.

The headless Ghost Face King unleashed a killing blow, its bloodstained claws shooting toward Lin Qiye's heart like an arrow loosed from a bow.

In that instant, he saw it. He understood!

The Ghost Face King's weak point was that pale ghost face. Unfortunately, it was already too late.

Too late?

No!

With one foot in hell, teetering on the brink of death, an unprecedented survival instinct erupted within him. That desperate desire to live became power.

His majestic golden eyes once again burst with searing divine might, and Lin Qiye's reaction speed rose to a whole new level.

The straight blade sliced through the curtain of rain, leaving an afterimage. As its edge cleaved through the pale ghost face, the Ghost Face King let out a shriek, its piercing cry filled with unwillingness, confusion, and despair.

Its ruined body crashed to the ground. The ghost face shriveled like a deflated ball and rolled to Lin Qiye's feet.

He distinctly felt wisps of warmth flow along the straight blade and into his body.

Only after hacking at the corpse more than a dozen times did he finally relax completely. As the adrenaline faded, his legs gave way, and he slumped into the muddy water, panting heavily.

"Bastard!"

"Did you know this monster's weak point all along?!"

"Why didn't you tell me?!"

Lin Qiye turned back and glared furiously at Wang Quan.

"Huh?"

"Weak point?"

"Isn't its whole body one big weak point?"

"Taking out trash like this is a piece of cake!"

Wang Quan spread his hands. His infuriating expression left Lin Qiye seething. If he could have beaten him, he would definitely have given this jerk a vicious thrashing.

"Fuck!"

"You absolutely knew!"

Still cursing, Lin Qiye lay back and let the rain fall onto his face. Though he appeared angry, an indescribable sense of satisfaction filled his heart.

I protected my family!

"Little Qiye, have you made up your mind?"

Wang Quan walked over to Lin Qiye with his hands in his pockets and asked.

Lin Qiye remained silent. He turned his head aside, his gentle gaze passing through the gradually thinning curtain of rain to settle on his little home.

That's right!

I'm too weak!

So weak that without other people's help, I'd lose my family!

Today's monster was only the first. Life is a long road, and it certainly won't be the last.

Aunt, A-Jin, Little Black Scab!

I'm sorry I can't stay with you.

"Oh, right!"

"If you join the Night Watchers, the authorities will make protecting your family a priority!" Wang Quan added at just the right moment.

Those words dispelled Lin Qiye's worries. He nodded and said:

"I'll join you!"

"But in ten years, I want to come back and be with my family!"

Zhao Kongcheng was stunned. As far as he remembered, members weren't allowed to leave the Night Watchers.

"Of course. Once you've mastered your power and reached a certain level, you can do whatever you want!"

Wang Quan peeled off a candy wrapper, popped a blackcurrant lollipop into his mouth, and savored it.

"Then I'll keep getting stronger, until no one can hurt my family and no one can hold me back!"

"That's right, that's right! That's the spirit!"

Wang Quan crouched beside Lin Qiye and nodded approvingly. "Even better if you can replace the Commander-in-Chief. That old bastard keeps docking my pay. He's worse than a heartless capitalist!"

Listening to their conversation, Zhao Kongcheng nearly spat blood. All he wanted was to become a general, yet these two kept talking about the Commander-in-Chief.

And what did he mean by replacing him?

Why did this smell like a rebellion?

"Little Wang, I don't mean to lecture you, but don't lead the newcomer astray."

"Young people shouldn't aim too high. Keep your feet on the ground and take things one step at a time!"

At that, Wang Quan sprang to his feet and pointed at the sky, declaring with soaring confidence:

"The young should be bold and spirited! There is nothing in this world we cannot do!"

That was Wang Quan-a confident man.

"All right!"

"I really am getting old!"

Zhao Kongcheng let out a long sigh, overcome with emotion.

Just then, an engine roared in the distance. A black jeep barreled through the downpour, executed a perfect drift, and came to a steady stop beside Zhao Kongcheng.

He looked closely and asked in confusion, "Didn't this car end up in a ditch?"

"You've got the nerve to bring that up?"

The front door opened, and Chen Muye, dressed in a fitted black trench coat, opened an umbrella, his eyes full of resentment.

"Where's the Ghost Face King?"

"Look!" Zhao Kongcheng stood, patted his soaking-wet backside, and pointed a short distance away.

"Thank goodness Little Wang came here on vacation. Otherwise, the consequences would've been unthinkable!"

"Uncle Zhao, are you still alive?" Hongying called in a tearful voice as she burst out through the rear door.

Zhao Kongcheng: "..."

"Are you blind, you little brat?"

"Wow!"

"You're still alive! Awesome!"

Hongying's face lit up with delighted surprise.

"Little Wang got here in time!" Zhao Kongcheng explained, pressing a hand helplessly to his forehead.

"Wang Quan, thank you!"

"I'm so glad you're here!"

Hongying usually treated Old Zhao like her own father, so she was deeply grateful.

With a duang, Wang Quan, who was still showing off in front of Lin Qiye, was sent flying before he could react, struck by a trembling, soft, squishy "semi-truck."

Since Hongying harbored no malice whatsoever, his "Stopping Power" did not activate.

"Sorry!"

"I didn't mean to!"

Watching Wang Quan fly away, Hongying blushed, filled with regret.

The corners of Lin Qiye's mouth curled upward in satisfaction as he muttered, "Show-offs get struck by lightning. Serves you right, you white-haired bastard!"

"Hey!"

"I have excellent hearing!"

"What did you say?" Lin Qiye immediately played dumb.

Once the Logistics Department arrived, every member of the 136 Squad headed back. This time,

Everyone returned safely-not a single person missing!