A Gaze from the Shadows

Having been a member of the Second Division for some time, Wang Xun has begun training as Punishment Force Reserves.

After these days of intensive training, Wang Xun has largely adapted to this training intensity.

Before dawn, a sharp whistle rang out from the longhouse.

The team quickly assembled, and what followed was a hellish endurance test.

They need to carry special weights that can suppress Reiatsu and run at full speed in complex training grounds.

Wang Xun quickly understood why the Punishment Force was known for its Shunpo and Hakuda.

Every step felt like wading through mud, and you had to constantly deal with unpredictable traps and mechanisms.

Many newcomers drop out because they cannot withstand this intensity of training.

If they ultimately fail to meet the training objectives, they will receive a notice of dismissal from the team for failing to meet the requirements.

However, this training was not particularly difficult for Wang Xun.

He mingled among the crowd, constantly picking up the experience fragments dropped by his teammates; though few, they were better than nothing.

Fortunately, he could also gain a lot of experience from the training grounds of the official team members. His experience in Spiritual Might, Shunpo, and Hakuda was steadily increasing.

Strangely, during the training breaks these past few days, Wang Xun would inexplicably feel a subtle, almost imperceptible gaze fixed on him.

But when he stopped and looked around, he always found nothing, as if it were an illusion.

This day was for live-fire combat training.

Wang Xun was randomly assigned to a free-for-all offensive and defensive drill involving several teammates.

The moment the instructor's voice rang out, the three reserve team members rushed towards Wang Xun from different directions in perfect unison.

Wang Xun stood still until the moment the attack was about to strike, at which point his figure swayed slightly.

There was no violent burst of Reiatsu, and no fancy moves.

In his eyes, the movements of these reserve players were full of flaws.

Wang Xun's movements were so concise and precise that they were outrageous. It was as if he had already calculated the attack routes and strength of each person, and he knocked them down with just a few punches and kicks.

In the blink of an eye, the encirclement collapsed.

They are no longer on the same level.

The sidelines quieted down considerably as the reserve players gained a clear understanding of Wang Xun's abilities during this time.

This is an existence they cannot reach.

Wang Xun also seemed somewhat disinterested.

The attacks of these reserve members, in terms of speed, strength, and coordination, were inferior to those of the ferocious prisoners in the Maggot's Nest.

It is also incomparable to Soi Fon's swift and relentless offensive.

As a result, Wang Xun even collected fewer experience fragments.

The instructor in charge of the practical training stood on the sidelines with his arms crossed, his eyes sharp as a vulture.

He initially observed it as a routine matter, but the more he looked, the more his brow furrowed.

After observing him for the past few days, this newcomer Wang Xun seems too relaxed.

This level of training was not intense enough for him.

Where did this monster rookie come from...?

"Alright."

The instructor strode up to Wang Xun and looked him up and down.

"Wang Xun, starting tomorrow, you will no longer need to participate in the reserve team's regular combat training."

Amidst the puzzled looks of the crowd, the instructor continued.

"This level of training is meaningless for you. I will report your situation and apply to have you included in the reserve selection process for the official team ahead of schedule."

He paused, looked at the other team members, and his tone became stern again.

"Everyone see this clearly, what the difference is! After we're dismissed, practice on your own! Wang Xun, come here for a second."

The crowd dispersed amidst shock and complex emotions, and the instructor led Wang Xun to a corner.

He stared at Wang Xun, and hesitated for a moment.

"Let me be frank, your foundation is solid beyond what a newcomer should have, and your combat instincts are outstanding. Staying in the reserve team is a waste of time."

"Furthermore... I know you too. Captain Shihoin gave you special advice, and based on the assessments I've conducted over this period, and my judgment, you are fully capable of fulfilling the duties of a formal member of the Punishment Force."

"However, the training difficulty and the level of danger of the missions for official team members will be completely different, so be mentally prepared."

"Understood, thank you, Instructor."

Wang Xun bowed, which suited him perfectly.

"Alright, the notification should come down in a couple of days. Keep up the good work."

The instructor nodded and turned to leave.

Then, the instructor quietly went around to a tree not far away, looked at the empty ground, and then looked up at the tree trunk.

No, is it just my imagination?

He scratched his head, then turned and left.

After he left, a figure emerged from the bushes and stood behind the tree again.

Soi Fon didn't know why she did that either.

Soi Fon held her breath, her Reiatsu almost vanished, and she nearly merged with the shadows.

She crossed her arms, her eyes fixed on the figure in the training field, her feelings a mix of emotions.

The scene from that day's assessment has been repeatedly and unexpectedly flashing into her mind lately.

Soi Fon felt like something furry was scratching her heart—a little itchy, a little annoying.

The sensation of the punch that struck her ribs still seemed to linger, and the strange, expectant look in this guy's eyes afterwards fueled her inexplicable anger.

As Yoruichi Shihōin's most loyal follower, Soi Fon is determined to become Lady Yoruichi's sharpest assistant, and she is equally demanding of herself to the point of being almost obsessive.

Any possibility of becoming stronger attracted her like a magnet.

In particular, the concept of physical techniques that Lady Yoruichi had mentioned before, which perfectly integrated the burst of Reiryoku from the Kidō into Hakuda, deeply attracted her.

She had been groping in the dark for so long, yet her progress was still slow, like trekking through a fog.

But this Wang Xun, after just one exchange, seemed to have figured out the trick, and even caught up with my development progress?

He must have noticed something, and perhaps he has even come to some realization that she herself is not yet clear about.

If he manages to develop this ability first, he'll steal the spotlight and attract a lot of attention in front of Lady Yoruichi.

What does all my hard work over the past long period of time amount to?

The moment the thought arose, it made her restless and uncomfortable all over.

What bothered her even more was the uncontrollable urge to explore that followed.

She was unwilling to accept it, but she couldn't help wanting to know how he had done it.

I want to know his opinion on this ability, or whether he has a more mature approach.

I want to know if I can get any inspiration from him to break through my bottleneck.

This conflicting feeling left Soi Fon feeling uneasy for a long time.

So much so that after finishing her official duties, she would often find herself inexplicably drawn to the training ground, hiding in the shadows to observe.

They were trying to glean some clues from Wang Xun's training.

However, it was all in vain; she found nothing.

"Tsk."

Soi Fon smacked her lips lightly, feeling a slight annoyance at her sneaky behavior.

Just as this tangled and unsettling frustration reached its peak, the whistle blew to signal the end of training.

It's dinnertime.

Soi Fon watched Wang Xun's departing figure, stood frozen for a few seconds, then pursed her lips, lifted her foot, and strode towards the cafeteria.