Honorary Chief Instructor

Moonlight cradled the old district gently like a mother's arms. On a rooftop somewhere, Lin Qiye sat at the edge, with a clear view of his home.

Wang Quan stood with one hand in his pocket, gazing steadily into the distant sky as he quietly enjoyed his lollipop and let the evening breeze wash over him.

"Thank you!" Lin Qiye said suddenly, a hint of sadness in his voice.

"Oh, come on!"

"We're buddies. It's no big deal!" Wang Quan waved it off, utterly unconcerned.

"What, I'm not your disciple anymore?" Lin Qiye exhaled and joked.

"You could be!"

"In your dreams!" Lin Qiye rolled his eyes at Wang Quan. He really couldn't stomach taking someone roughly his own age as his master. It just felt strange.

"Oh!"

"Well, I've already bragged about it!" Wang Quan looked utterly shameless, even a little smug.

"You..." The words caught in Lin Qiye's throat. He had never met anyone this shameless in his life, yet the guy was practically perfect in every other respect. Heaven really was blind.

-Don't judge me just because I'm a sheep~

-The green grass smells sweeter because of me~

-The sky grows bluer because of me~

The familiar ringtone rang out. Lin Qiye frowned, spread his hands helplessly, and muttered, "When is this guy going to change his ringtone? So childish!"

A moment later, a fist slammed down on his head, sending an electric jolt of tingling pain through his whole body. Wang Quan swore, "It's called childlike innocence! What the hell do you know?"

"Hello!"

"Who's this?"

"Why aren't you sleeping this late at night? What's wrong with you?" Wang Quan sounded slightly tipsy.

"Are you trying to start a rebellion?"

"Drinking while on assignment? I'm docking a year's pay!"

Ye Fan didn't indulge him either. His voice boomed like thunder, and he sounded ready to curse eighteen generations of Wang Quan's ancestors.

"No, hang on. I'm here on vacation. What's wrong with having a little drink?" Wang Quan looked bewildered.

"Ahem!" Ye Fan cleared his throat a few times, his tone turning formal. "You are hereby appointed honorary chief instructor of the 039 New Recruit Training Base."

Then his tone shifted. "Now you're on assignment. Who the hell said you could drink?"

Wang Quan finally caught on. The old bastard simply wanted an excuse to chew him out.

"What honorary chief instructor? What are you talking about?"

"This year's training has been moved to Cangnan City."

"Oh!" Wang Quan wasn't surprised at all. It had been inevitable; the only question was when they would notify him.

"Coordinate with the Logistics Department shortly. They'll arrive in Cangnan at one in the morning!" Ye Fan's tone grew serious. He was always like that when discussing official business.

Wang Quan glanced at the Submariner on his wrist. It was nine in the evening.

"Where?"

"Around Jinnan Mountain!"

"Understood!"

Beep, beep, beep-!

The call ended. Wang Quan turned to Lin Qiye and asked, "How do I get to Jinnan Mountain?"

Lin Qiye asked, "What for, this late at night?"

"Picking someone up!"

"Try your navigation app. It should be on the map." Lin Qiye was baffled. Who would he be picking up deep in the mountains in the middle of the night?

Wang Quan opened the map and searched. Sure enough, it was there, though it really was out in the remote wilderness.

"I'm off!"

With that, he leaped straight off the rooftop, leaving behind one impressive parting silhouette and Lin Qiye standing dumbfounded in the wind.

"Fuck!"

"If you leave, how am I supposed to get back?!"

Only belatedly realizing the problem, Lin Qiye shouted into the empty air.

Upper Capital, Night Watchers training office.

A man reclined lazily in a lounge chair behind his desk. A distinctive cross-shaped scar marked his temple.

He was Shao Pingge, captain of Team 006, the Night Watchers team stationed in Upper Capital.

Knock, knock, knock!

After a series of knocks, a burly man walked in. He looked at his captain, countless questions in his eyes. "Where's Cangnan City?"

"Why aren't we holding it in Upper Capital?"

"All the equipment is here. Aren't we just making trouble for ourselves?"

This imposing man with so many questions was Yuan Gang, chief instructor for the upcoming training and vice-captain of Team 006.

"What, getting nervous?" Shao Pingge slowly sat up, his eyes slightly narrowed.

"Can't train them somewhere else?"

"Of course I can!" Yuan Gang shook his head.

"As for why... well... I don't know either. Orders from above. We just need to carry them out!"

"Cangnan City, huh!"

"A little place in the southeast. I remember it's near Huaihai City."

"Oh!"

"Then I'd better get going. The higher-ups are really pushing us!"

"Will you be able to hold things together without me, Captain?"

"Hah..."

"You're asking for a beating!" Shao Pingge's eyes widened, and he swung a slipper at him, but Yuan Gang easily sidestepped it.

"Tsk!"

"Go ahead and dodge!"

"I'm telling you, that brat is in Cangnan too. The commander personally appointed him honorary chief instructor."

"Who?" Yuan Gang looked puzzled.

"Check the group chat!"

"Which group?"

"'Who Wants to Kick That Bastard Wang's Ass!'" Shao Pingge said quietly.

"Holy shit!"

"That guy from [Daybreak]!"

Yuan Gang exclaimed and immediately opened the group chat.

[It's Lonely Being Invincible: (a selfie of Wang Quan on the summit of Jinnan Mountain) Brothers, I'm the honorary chief instructor for this year's training. They won't even let me vacation in peace. Clearly, the organization trusts me too much.

Wang Mian: I'm out here risking my life. Why the hell are you on vacation?

I'm Going to Smash That Bastard Wang's Skull (Phoenix Team captain): Fuck! Why?! What exactly are you showing off for? Bastard!!!

Whirlpool: Bro Quan, when did you go to Cangnan?

It's Lonely Being Invincible @I'm Going to Smash That Bastard Wang's Skull: Sis, be gentler, or you'll never find a husband.

I'm Going to Smash That Bastard Wang's Skull: Get lost!!!

It's Lonely Being Invincible @Whirlpool: Little bro, I've been here for ages. With all those missions I handled in one month, I earned this.

Shao Pingge: Take good care of our Yuan.

It's Lonely Being Invincible: When's Gang getting here?]

Yuan Gang: "..."

Why did he suddenly feel like quitting?

"Captain, I can't beat him!"

"That's normal!"

"And I hear he's broken through to the next realm."

"What?!"

"That guy has way too many tricks up his sleeve. Can we really trust him as chief instructor?"

"It's honorary. Make your arrangements however you normally would."

"Sigh!" Yuan Gang let out a long sigh, already feeling sorry for the recruits. Yet he was also a little excited. Wang Quan really knew how to train people.

The next day, morning light broke through the clouds. The rotors of a heavy armed helicopter shredded the shafts of sunlight as it slowly descended onto the helipad, whipping up dust and sand.

Off to one side, several men in military uniforms stood firm in the fierce wind, heads high and chests out, their expressions unchanged.

The helicopter's cabin door slowly opened, and Yuan Gang stepped out with a black case strapped to his back.

The men who had been waiting saluted in unison and called out in strong, confident voices:

"Good morning, sir!"

Yuan Gang strode toward them, his gaze sweeping the surroundings. A trace of concern flashed in his eyes when he realized that man wasn't there. Without dwelling on it, he asked:

"Is the training camp finished?"

"Reporting, sir! Construction was completed at six. The training camp is ready for use!"

"Good!" Yuan Gang nodded.

A moment later, a thunderous boom came from the direction of the training camp, and everyone immediately went on alert.