Chapter 17: Patrol Corps

Lin Qing felt a numbness in his hand, as if he’d touched an electric gate—his entire arm began trembling uncontrollably, and half his body shook along with it.

Chen Yanan gripped his hand tightly to prevent him from pulling away, saying, “Try now while you can.”

Lin Qing forcibly closed his eyes and once again visualized the brilliant, dazzling lightning.

Spirit cannot affect the external world, but it can influence one’s internal state.

It’s like the surge of strength in moments of extreme anger or overwhelming survival instinct—what’s affected is hormone secretion.

The mental state induced by visualization can theoretically also influence the body’s mysterious energy.

After days of trial, Lin Qing’s internal mysterious energy had already begun mimicking bioelectricity, but it always fell just short.

So, before the visualization faded, he still had a chance to enter the realm.

Now, Chen Yanan was actively consuming her own mysterious energy, converting it into bioelectricity to help him feel the sensation—and that brought him closer to that state.

Suddenly—

Chen Yanan felt a current pass over Lin Qing’s skin, her hand went numb, and she was instantly thrown back.

“Did it really work?” Chen Yanan exclaimed, stunned and delighted.

Lin Qing slowly opened his eyes, staring at his palm—it looked no different than usual, but now he could clearly sense the mysterious energy within his body, as if it could mimic bioelectricity at any moment.

He had finally entered the realm.

“Sister, thank you,” Lin Qing smiled faintly.

“What’s there to thank me for?”

Chen Yanan sighed in amazement: “You were already just a hair’s breadth from entry. No wonder a little help from me was enough—you succeeded mainly because of yourself.”

“A difference that small—who knows if you could’ve succeeded before your memories faded?” Lin Qing shook his head.

“Regardless, getting in is what matters. With gradual adaptation and practice, you’ll master the Min Technique in no more than a year or two,” Chen Yanan smiled.

A year or two? Lin Qing silently called up the Entropy Reverser interface—there, the Min Technique now appeared among the pre-claimable items.

Successfully recorded.

Now, he only needed to wait ten more days, after completing the Four-Six Version training, and he could pre-claim the Min Technique!

A year or two was too long.

It was said that, under identical conditions, the faster one entered a technique’s realm, the higher their compatibility and talent.

He entered on the fifth day—only after Chen Yanan pushed him—meaning his compatibility and talent were merely average.

But that didn’t matter. As long as he entered, it was enough.

“During tomorrow’s exam, you can note in the supplementary section that you’ve already entered the technique.”

Chen Yanan reminded him: “That’s a bonus point. That way, even if your written score is low, someone observant might notice and offer you advantages.”

“Advantages?” Lin Qing frowned.

“Just add it,” Chen Yanan said.

Lin Qing nodded.

…

December 25, morning.

Every patrol division in Lin’an City began its monthly professional examination.

Probationary confirmation and promotion to Patrol Corps generally required passing this exam.

First came three written tests: political literacy, foundational theory, and professional ability—all primarily memorization.

Lin Qing had already pored over all the relevant books; the exam questions weren’t hard, just scattered, but if he tried, he could easily score at least 280 out of 300.

But deliberately making mistakes, he estimated he’d scored only 150.

The afternoon tests covered combat, shooting, physical fitness, equipment, and professional skills.

The patrol corps promotion exam, including written and practical, totaled 800 points—560 was the passing mark.

Given Lin Qing’s combat and shooting skills, both were perfect scores; his physical fitness test was based on the Four-Six Version Morning Practice, which he’d fully mastered, so that too was perfect.

Equipment and professional skills were easy once familiar—even without a perfect score, he could easily get 80.

“Total around 610.”

Lin Qing silently estimated his score—had his cousin not told him to underperform on the written test, he could’ve easily hit 700.

But ranking didn’t matter—passing was all that counted.

…

Just three days later, on the morning of December 28, the exam results were posted.

Lin Qing’s final score: 614.

“Congratulations, new Patrol Corps officer!” “Lin Qing, when are you forming your team?”

“From now on, it’s Team Leader Lin.”

“Team Leader Lin owes us dinner tonight!”

After learning his score, the members of Team Two all offered congratulations—even though they’d expected him to pass, none anticipated it would happen so fast.

“Congratulations,” Team Leader Han also offered a rare smile.

“Team formation won’t happen until mid-next month,” Lin Qing shook his head. “For the next half-month, I’ll still need you to guide me in Team Two.”

He wasn’t in a hurry—he continued his daily routine: three practice sessions, patrols, and mastering the technique.

Before long, 2120 had passed.

…

This era seemed to have no New Year’s Eve celebrations; Lin Qing simply had late-night snacks with a few colleagues from the patrol bureau after finishing his duty, calling it a New Year’s toast.

On January 1, 2121, a senior official from the city patrol bureau arrived, joined by the district bureau chief, Team Leader Xiao, and the head of the Political Work Section.

The district chief personally awarded his rank and appointed Lin Qing as Team Leader of Team Seven, completing all formalities—Lin Qing was now officially a Level Three Patrol Corps officer.

And at just eighteen years old!

This was uncommon.

Other team leaders spoke to him with complete equality and friendliness.

Unmarried women from other departments and teams suddenly encountered him far more often, their smiles multiplying.

This confirmed the saying—

When you’re strong enough, you’ll find the world grows kind to you.

His new Patrol Corps uniform and shoulder insignia were quickly prepared; his salary rose to 7,000 yuan, and all benefits improved.

Of course, none of this mattered to Lin Qing.

What mattered most was…

Firearm authorization! The patrol bureau’s standard sidearm was the unified Revolver M500—a pistol powerful even by old-era standards, and still formidable today.

His cousin carried the same weapon, far more powerful than standard firearms.

Though ineffective against escapees from Qinghu Island Prison, it could kill even a team leader who’d mastered the Gang or Earth Element techniques.

Unfortunately, no wanted criminals had been caught lately, and no opportunities for merit had arisen.

Team Leader Han remained calm.

“Don’t worry. As long as your patrol work is excellent and you commit no errors, you’ll earn a Third-Class Merit after one year.”

Lin Qing could only hope that new recruits to his team would include some second-generation officers looking to pad their records.

…

Inside the second-floor team leader’s office.

Xiao Pei sat at his desk, studying the proposal for Team Seven’s formation, then glanced at Lin Qing’s appointment file, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“Already a Patrol Corps officer so soon…”

He tapped his fingers on the desk. “But he didn’t give his bounty earnings to Chen Yanan, and he hasn’t taken any money from Han Linsong lately—looks like Chen Yanan no longer needs his help…”

He was still only acting team leader.

If Chen Yanan returned with her strength intact and he hadn’t been confirmed, he’d be demoted to deputy or reassigned as team leader elsewhere.

“The tasks assigned by Yuan Hong… I must stay in Xiaoshan District to carry them out.”

After a long pause, Xiao Pei made his decision: “Fine. I’ll make sure Lin Qing’s Team Seven operates alongside Han Linsong’s Team Two—keep him from earning too much.”

…

January 5.

Lin Qing was practicing the final session of the Four-Six Version Morning Practice at home.

Several days ago, the high-energy slow-release fluid had run out.

But he was only a few sessions short of completion—he wouldn’t buy another set, waiting until today.

【Four-Six Version Morning Practice completed】

As he finished the final session, those words finally appeared before Lin Qing’s eyes.

The number of pre-claimable items returned to 1/1.

Lin Qing didn’t hesitate—he focused his intent: “Pre-claim the Min Technique!”

(End of Chapter)