Chapter 22: Awakening

The next morning.

“What?”

Lin Qing stared at Team Leader Han in surprise and asked: “Camel died? Killed at Iron Stone Bar? When?”

“The exact time isn’t confirmed yet, but it was probably last night.”

Team Leader Han glanced at him and said: “I heard you had a conflict with the Blue Scarf Gang yesterday morning?”

“Yes.” Lin Qing nodded. “I happened to catch them collecting protection money, so I made a few sarcastic remarks—but Camel respected me enough to just leave without collecting.”

Team Leader Han gave a slight nod. “After all, you’re the Patrol Officer of Iron Stone Street. He’d naturally give you face.”

“But why would Camel suddenly be killed?”

Lin Qing frowned. “Could it be gang warfare? He fought underground bouts—his strength should’ve been decent, right?”

“Hard to say.” Team Leader Han said. “The forensic report from the Gongan Bureau concluded he was killed by a single throat slash. Though the body was burned, making weapon identification difficult, the fact that there was only one wound proves the killer’s strength.”

Lin Qing thought for a moment. “When I encountered the Blue Scarf Gang yesterday, Camel was with a huge brute—terrifying strength. He bent an iron railing with one punch. Could it have been him?”

Team Leader Han shook his head slightly. “He’s dead too. His palm was slashed, and he too was killed by a single throat cut.”

“Also dead?” Lin Qing exclaimed.

“The killer is extremely strong.”

Team Leader Han whispered: “Likely a master at Captain level.”

Lin Qing suddenly understood. “No wonder the Gongan Bureau didn’t summon me.”

“Once the forensic report came out, it was clear it wasn’t you—you’re nowhere near that level,” Team Leader Han shook his head.

In his view, Lin Qing had only recently mastered the 4-6 version of the training method, still far from its limit, and had learned only one combat technique, taking five full days just to enter the beginner stage.

A technique at merely the beginner level offers almost no boost to actual strength.

That level of power is bottom-tier even among the group leaders of the Xiaoshan District Branch, let alone anywhere near Captain level.

“Then what’s the temporary mission the Bureau assigned us?” Lin Qing asked.

“Didn’t you see the reorganized members of the Blue Scarf Gang?”

Team Leader Han said: “We’re ordered to assist Group One in searching Iron Stone Bar and its surroundings, controlling suspicious individuals. The Gongan Bureau is still reviewing surveillance footage, but so far, no leads.”

Lin Qing nodded.

Just as he expected.

……

Before long, it was afternoon.

After the patrol team finished searching the area around Iron Stone Bar and sent all Blue Scarf Gang members away as suspects, the Blue Scarf Gang, which had only been established one day, was dissolved once again.

[Order Level increased by 0.1]

After assembling the team, Lin Qing looked at the Order Level of 0.8 and felt satisfied.

In his past life, he lived in a completely stable, peaceful era where the highest Order Level was only 0.9.

Now, it’s not much different.

In his understanding, there are two key factors to raising Order Level.

One is expanding one’s circle of life—or social stratum.

Ordinary people’s circles are so small; no matter how stable, they likely can’t reach Level 1.

The second is eliminating unstable factors within one’s circle: potential threats, disturbances to order, and so on.

Both require sufficient strength.

With strength comes status, the ability to eliminate threats and quell chaos.

That evening, Lin Qing received good news.

“Lin Qing, the Bureau has arranged a trainer for you. Starting tomorrow, you can begin learning the 7-7 version training method.”

“It’s a bit late, but you’re lucky—this trainer was once an external student at Chaoyang Martial Arts Gym.”

……

January 12, 11:00 a.m.

Lin Qing arrived at Blue Sky Martial Arts Training Center on time, as scheduled by the Branch.

Although Chaoyang Martial Arts Gym dominated the scene, there were still training centers teaching basic martial arts techniques, specializing in foundational instruction.

Blue Sky Martial Arts Training Center promoted itself with the slogan: “Our trainers are Chaoyang Martial Arts Gym students,” and the marketing worked well—its student numbers clearly showed strong popularity.

After confirming his reservation, Lin Qing walked to the private training room at the end of the second floor.

This trainer, who had signed an agreement with the Patrol Bureau, was named Tan Yanwen.

He appeared to be in his early twenties, unremarkable in appearance, yet when seated cross-legged on the floor, he radiated a calm, composed aura—clearly a martial arts master. “Tan Instructor, hello. I’m Lin Qing, Third-Class Patrol Officer of the Xiaoshan District Patrol Branch.” Lin Qing greeted politely.

“Hmm.”

Tan Yanwen sized up Lin Qing, then nodded slightly. “I heard you’re only eighteen. How long did it take you to master the 4-6 version of the Chaoyang method?”

“If I count seriously, maybe a few months?” Lin Qing deliberately understated it—he knew no one could verify.

“Not bad. Your talent isn’t outstanding, but it’s not far off.” Tan Yanwen murmured. “You can learn the 7-7 version—you have a reasonable chance of success.”

Lin Qing knew the term “outstanding” referred to Chaoyang Martial Arts Gym’s talent classification tiers.

Ordinary, Outstanding, Exceptional.

Those with Outstanding talent were accepted as external students at Chaoyang.

As for internal students, they remained mysterious—even Exceptional talent wasn’t enough.

Lin Qing couldn’t help asking: “Tan Instructor, I heard almost all Outstanding talents can master the 7-7 Chaoyang method. Is there hope for the original version?”

“Talent is just innate ability—it doesn’t determine much.”

Tan Yanwen shook his head slightly. “Without enough effort, even in Chaoyang, there are people who haven’t mastered the 7-7 version by twenty, and are eventually asked to leave.”

He didn’t elaborate further, stood up, and said: “Let’s begin now. I have other matters at noon. You’ll come to me every morning at ten, end at twelve. I’ll teach you at most three days—if you still can’t learn it after that, there’s nothing more I can do.”

“Understood.” Lin Qing nodded.

“The 7-7 version builds on the 4-6 version’s movements but makes them more complex, while the breathing technique becomes simpler.”

Tan Yanwen said: “I’ll deliberately exaggerate the breathing changes. I’ll demonstrate slowly first, then at normal speed. Watch carefully, memorize the general flow, then I’ll break it down step by step.”

With that, Tan Yanwen began demonstrating.

Lin Qing watched closely, memorizing every movement and its precise coordination with the breathing.

Two demonstrations ended.

Tan Yanwen looked at Lin Qing. “Try it yourself. I’ll correct you move by move.”

Lin Qing nodded and immediately began mimicking.

After one attempt, Tan Yanwen was surprised—the young patrol officer had made almost no mistakes, only slight inaccuracies in the coordination of breathing and movement.

“Your memory is excellent. Your body control is excellent.”

Tan Yanwen murmured in admiration. “You probably won’t need to come tomorrow. Two more lessons should be enough for you to master it.”

Twenty minutes later.

“Already very standard.”

Tan Yanwen nodded slightly. “Now, you must adjust on your own—try to find the state that unlocks more of your body’s potential to absorb greater amounts of mysterious energy.”

“Understood.” Lin Qing nodded.

He also noticed the 7-7 Chaoyang training method had been recorded on his panel.

All he needed now was to complete the combat technique “Agility,” and he could directly pre-claim the 7-7 Chaoyang method! “Time’s still early—we haven’t even reached the two-hour standard.” Tan Yanwen smiled. “I didn’t expect teaching today would be this easy.”

He sat down on the floor. “If you have something to do, you can leave. If not, you can stay and chat—we still have time left.”

Lin Qing thought for a moment. “I’m curious—if you don’t mind, could you tell me what it takes to join Chaoyang Martial Arts Gym?”

“You want to join?” Tan Yanwen asked.

“Everyone wants to live in the Urban Circle, right?” Lin Qing admitted frankly.

He naturally wanted to live in the safer, more stable Urban Circle—his Order Level would surely rise significantly.

“It’s not as good as it sounds.”

Tan Yanwen shook his head. “External students aren’t allowed to live in the Urban Circle—they only get access passes. And if you don’t enter the internal section before twenty, you’re asked to leave.”

He glanced at Lin Qing. “If you want to live in the Urban Circle, you must enter the internal section—but the difficulty… hah…”

His light laugh sounded like self-mockery—or perhaps mockery of the young man’s naive dreams.

“Enter the internal section before twenty?”

Lin Qing immediately asked: “What qualifications are needed to enter the internal section?”

“The internal section doesn’t care about talent.” Tan Yanwen shook his head. “The key is ‘Awakening.’”

“Awakening?” Lin Qing asked curiously.

Tan Yanwen fell silent for a moment, then whispered with a tone of resignation and longing: “Either ‘Genetic Awakening’—breaking the genetic chains—or ‘Psychic Awakening’—extremely rare, breaking mental barriers.”

He paused, then added jokingly: “Of course, there’s said to be another kind of Awakening—almost mythical.”

“What?” Lin Qing looked at him intently.

(End of Chapter)