Chapter 14

Days gradually settled into calm.

Lin Qing's life fell into a rhythm: after finishing his first technique practice each morning, he went to the branch station's vault to consume the High-Energy Sustained-Release Liquid; he practiced techniques exactly three times daily, then went out on patrol duty at night.

Whenever he had free time, he flipped through professional books on patrol work, preparing for the professional exam at month's end.

He had already requested a long leave from the school; with the patrol bureau's official seal, the school naturally approved it immediately.

Unfortunately, during these few nights of patrol duty, he never encountered another good fortune like that first time.

A week passed very quickly.

【Your Third-Class Merit and bonus have been approved. Come to the bureau before 2 PM this afternoon; the Director will also give you a public commendation.】

"Finally, it's here."

Seeing the WeChat message sent by Team Leader Han, Lin Qing couldn't help but sigh with relief. "I'll learn the combat technique today."

Although this matter was certain, he still felt uneasy until it was actually in hand.

2 PM.

"Director."

This was Lin Qing's second time meeting Xiao Shan District Branch Station Director Kou Guoyong; the last time had been at the inauguration oath ceremony for Acting Captain Xiao Pei.

Kou Guoyong was nearly fifty; twenty years ago he had also been a patrol team captain, but now he had grown quite fat, his appearance and demeanor resembling the stereotypical image of a leader, always maintaining an affable smile.

"Captain Chen's cousin? Not bad."

Kou Guoyong smiled warmly and personally handed the medal and certificate to Lin Qing, while reporters and photographers were present to record the moment.

The other members of Team Two also received commendation certificates, adding a line to their files.

Of course, these were all matters of face.

Actual material rewards were quite meager: a personal commendation rewarded only two thousand yuan, and a Third-Class Merit five thousand yuan; it was passable.

Lin Qing didn't care much; what he valued most was the combat technique represented by the Third-Class Merit, and that fifteen-thousand-yuan bounty.

After a series of procedures, signing and stamping, the fifteen-thousand-yuan bounty finally arrived in his account.

His account balance reached an unprecedented six figures, yet before this fifteen thousand had even warmed up, Lin Qing immediately transferred one hundred and forty thousand to Team Leader Han.

Then, Team Leader Han transferred two yuan back to him.

"What is Team Leader doing?" Lin Qing was somewhat confused.

"69,999 for one group, two groups make 139,998; you gave me two yuan extra," Team Leader Han said seriously.

Lin Qing: "..."

After the public commendation ended, Team Leader Han went upstairs to talk with the Branch Station Director, while Lin Qing and several other team members waited in the Team Two office.

"Thanks to you, I earned two thousand yuan and a certificate for free."

Qin Qin said with a smile: "I saw Team Leader was quite happy when receiving the money just now."

"I thought Team Leader didn't care about money," Lin Qing said, surprised.

"How could that be?"

Qin Qin said: "Team Leader has a family to support, and Team Leader's daughter is attending university in the Metropolitan Circle. Although there aren't many expenses now, if she later obtains a residence permit for the Metropolitan Circle, even with housing subsidies, the rent expenses will be considerable."

"Attending university in the Metropolitan Circle?" Lin Qing was astonished.

"Exactly," Qin Qin said with an envious expression. "Her future is much brighter than that of a patrol officer."

"By the way."

Lin Qing suddenly asked in confusion: "When I heard the Director's oral commendation just now, why did he only mention the fugitive Jiang Chengwu? Didn't we also capture the Blue Scarf Gang that sheltered him?"

Qin Qing glanced around, leaned over, and lowered her voice: "I'll tell you secretly: the leader of that Blue Scarf Gang, Luo Tuo, hasn't been convicted yet; he is only suspected of a crime, but the Public Security Bureau has never found concrete evidence."

"No concrete evidence found? How could that be?"

Lin Qing frowned slightly and said: "There should be surveillance in the bar, right? Moreover, the lampshade explosion definitely involved tampering; there should have been some kind of remote control device. Luo Tuo and that fugitive should have had private contact as well. Can't any of this be traced for evidence?"

"Nothing can be traced; it's as if everything was wiped clean."

Qin Qin shook her head and said: "The Public Security Bureau is investigating with full effort, but if things continue like this, once the thirty-day limit for criminal detention passes, they will have to release him."

Lin Qing fell silent.

Recalling that the Order Level had risen by merely 0.1, he understood somewhat in his heart.

The Blue Scarf Gang had disbanded, but Luo Tuo, the founder of the Blue Scarf Gang, had not been captured; the source of chaos and the threat still existed, so the Order Level had risen by only 0.1.

"Is there some power protecting Luo Tuo?"

Lin Qing guessed silently, "Surveillance and traces were all erased; even the Public Security Bureau couldn't find anything..."

If things continue like this, when will the Order Level reach Level 1?

After Team Leader Han and the Director finished their talk and came down, without saying much to the team members, he took Lin Qing to the second floor to apply for learning the combat technique.

"Can one learn combat techniques right here at the branch station?" Lin Qing couldn't help but ask.

"Of course."

Team Leader Han said: "The key is applying for learning authorization. Once the application is approved, the General Bureau will transmit all the relevant data and content of the combat technique over, and you will be able to study it in the secret room; at that time, someone will guide you."

"Secret room?" Lin Qing realized. It wasn't ancient times anymore; learning cultivation techniques or the like didn't require specifically going to certain places to peruse secret manuals.

Information that books can carry can equally be carried by images transmitted over the network.

Arriving at the second floor, Team Leader Han led him down a long corridor, passed through an electric grid gate at the end, and arrived before an elevator door.

"You go down; someone will guide you when the time comes," Team Leader Han said.

Lin Qing nodded, walked to the elevator entrance, pressed the single downward button beside it, and nearby, two black surveillance cameras rotated slightly, their lenses focusing on him, seemingly verifying his identity.

Then, a slightly hoarse voice suddenly rang out:

"Look up, and undergo iris recognition."

Lin Qing raised his head and saw a silver camera extend above, silently locking eyes with him.

Immediately, the elevator doors opened.

Lin Qing stepped inside and found no control panel inside the elevator, yet it was clearly being guided downward.

Soon, the elevator stopped.

After the doors opened, Lin Qing saw a corridor made entirely of glass and silver metal, far more futuristic than the outside.

At the same time, that slightly hoarse voice came again: "Walk to the hidden chamber at the end."

Lin Qing immediately headed toward the end of the corridor, and soon saw the wall ahead slowly split open, revealing a dim hidden chamber.

As he entered the chamber, the wall behind him closed again, sealing it completely.

In total darkness, beams of light suddenly flared, projecting onto one wall as lines of text.

Name: Lin Qing

Gender: Male ID Number: 330109210210303612 Patrol Number: 3301758 Rank: Level One Patrol Officer Merit: Three Third-Class Merits...

The projected content was unmistakably Lin Qing's personal information, along with his photograph.

"Level One Patrol Officer Lin Qing, let me warn you in advance: during your study period, you must not damage anything inside this chamber. When time expires, you must leave."

That slightly hoarse voice sounded again.

"Understood." Lin Qing nodded.

The hoarse voice echoed through the chamber: "You have three records of Third-Class Merit; you may choose one combat art to attempt learning."

As the voice spoke, Lin Qing noticed lines of text projected onto all four walls—front, back, left, and right.

【Beast Series】

Based on various beast forms, this art allows you to refine form into the body; the more beast forms you integrate, the greater the power of the combat art. Each beast form visualization represents one combat art. You currently possess six beast form visualizations.

Note: The Beast Series has immense potential, but each individual combat art is weak. After mastering all six beast forms, you must train at Chaoyang Martial Hall to learn subsequent beast forms.

【Free Body Series】

Divided into six combat arts: 【Speed】, 【Agility】, 【Strength】, 【Precision】, 【Rigidity】, 【Flexibility】. Though each excels in its own domain, when all six are unified, they become nearly perfect.

Note: The Free Body Series is the foundation of one of the top three combat arts in Chaoyang Martial Hall. Its difficulty is extreme; the success rate for entry is only 4.1%. It demands utmost insight and control. If your insight is sufficient and your control precise, progress will be rapid. Otherwise, you may not even enter. Consider carefully.

【Divine Transformation Series】

Divided into six combat arts: 【Eye】, 【Ear】, 【Nose】, 【Tongue】, 【Body】, 【Mind】. Focused on perception...

【Five Elements Series】

Divided into...

"Twenty-three combat arts?"

The descriptions of these four series floated before Lin Qing's eyes, with detailed explanations beneath each art.

He immediately focused intently on reviewing each combat art.

"Let me remind you."

That hoarse voice spoke: "Once you choose a series and enter it, you should thereafter prioritize arts from the same series. Avoid learning arts from other series."

Lin Qing pondered and asked: "Because these arts were split apart, right? The four series were originally four complete combat arts?"

"You guessed correctly."

The hoarse voice said: "They were deliberately broken down into simplified parts to reduce difficulty. The true, complete versions—even for inner hall students of Chaoyang Martial Hall—require immense effort to master."

Lin Qing thought for a moment and asked: "Is there any complete, unsplit combat art here?"

He only needed to enter one to use the Entropy Reverser's advance. If he could learn the complete version, that would be best.

"... No."

The hoarse voice fell silent for a moment, then said: "Even the split versions are extremely difficult for you. Complete versions? The full visualization, formed by multiple spiritual realms, is beyond your reach—you cannot even enter, let alone withstand the spiritual strain."

"What about First-Class?" Lin Qing asked.

The hoarse voice replied: "Even with First-Class Merit, you may only learn these four series. At most, you will be permitted to observe three other special cultivation methods."

"Special cultivation methods?" Lin Qing was curious.

"Ask me when you earn First-Class Merit." The hoarse voice urged: "Hurry and choose, kid."

Lin Qing slowly turned, studying the twenty-three combat arts on all four walls, sinking into thought.

Which one should he choose?

(End of Chapter)