Chapter 7: Combat Techniques

The new captain, Xiao Peidong, finished his briefing.

I had expected a new official to light three fires, burning from Lin Qing to Captain Chen, but the outcome turned out completely opposite.

In the end, only a few temporary inspectors who had gotten in through backdoor connections were dismissed.

Yet this also made the patrol officers of the Xiaoshan District Branch realize that Lin Qing, who seemed to have entered through Captain Chen’s backdoor, must have succeeded in the cultivation method.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t qualify as an “excellent talent.”

Since the Chaoyang Martial Arts Gym received investment from Zhixing Group and its founder was elevated to divine status, countless people have tried to master the Chaoyang cultivation method.

But even the simplest Four-Six version of the method has only been mastered by a tiny handful.

Across the entire Xiaoshan District Branch, with nearly a hundred official and temporary inspectors combined, only a select few have succeeded in the method.

Once you succeed, your status immediately changes.

“Lin Qing, you’ve only just been confirmed as a full officer—you lack experience and aren’t ready to lead a team on patrol.”

Xiao Peidong said: “First, join a team and learn. Once you gain experience, pass the patrol assessment, and earn one or two commendations, you’ll be ready to lead on your own. Then I’ll assign you a team.”

Lin Qing had no desire to lead a team anyway and immediately nodded.

“As for which team…”

Xiao Peidong scanned the team leaders, paused thoughtfully, then fixed his gaze on one man and said: “Team Leader Han, you’re experienced and meticulous—take charge of Lin Qing.”

Team Leader Han, though nearing forty with a receding hairline, clearly had been handsome in his youth; his expression remained stern, his posture upright at the front of the formation, silent and motionless, his uniform crisp and immaculate, not a single wrinkle in sight.

Upon hearing Xiao’s assignment, he merely nodded expressionlessly.

Lin Qing couldn’t help but glance at Team Leader Han.

He looked hard to get along with.

Lin Qing only knew he was the leader of Team Two and had barely interacted with him, so he knew little about him.

But he could ask his cousin later at the hospital.

…

After dismissal, Lin Qing followed Team Leader Han to Team Two’s office to meet the other four members of the team.

Walking into the spacious, well-lit office, Lin Qing noticed every item and fixture was arranged with extreme order.

Team Leader Han surveyed the office, as if deciding where to place Lin Qing’s desk, then quickly said: “Sit across from Xiao Qin. I’ll have logistics bring in a new desk.”

Lin Qing nodded.

A slender, short-haired girl beside him smiled and waved at him—clearly, she was Xiao Qin.

“Logistics will also tailor a new uniform for you. Just send them your measurements—you can pick it up tomorrow, along with your shoulder insignia,” Team Leader Han said.

Lin Qing nodded. “Understood.”

“As for duty shifts… you’re young—your priority should be martial training, right?”

Team Leader Han studied Lin Qing, then slightly frowned, reached out, and straightened the collar of his uniform, aligning it perfectly before relaxing his brow with faint satisfaction.

Obsessive-compulsive, huh… Lin Qing was stunned. No wonder the office was as neat as if measured with a ruler.

Team Leader Han withdrew his hand and continued: “You don’t need to report for regular duty. When there’s a mission, I’ll notify you—but keep your phone open, train hard, and don’t waste your talent.”

Lin Qing’s eyes brightened. “Thank you, Team Leader.”

Apparently, Team Leader Han wasn’t as hard to get along with as he seemed.

Team Leader Han thought for a moment and added: “If you have any questions about your duties, ask Xiao Qin.”

Lin Qing nodded and asked: “Team Leader, I heard that once a full patrol officer succeeds in the Four-Six method, they can learn the Seven-Seven method for free?”

Team Leader Han glanced at him. “I’ll apply for you. The bureau will assign you a suitable instructor.”

“Thank you, Team Leader,” Lin Qing said immediately.

The other officers couldn’t hide their envy.

Full patrol officers had this privilege, but only after mastering the Four-Six method—otherwise, it was meaningless.

“By the way, Team Leader.”

Lin Qing seized the chance: “I heard full patrol officers can learn combat techniques. What are the requirements?”

He’d heard too many stories about the power of combat techniques—legends claimed they could turn a person into a half-superhuman, and that was the key reason he joined the patrol system.

Though his physical condition had improved significantly, he’d still have to flee if surrounded by armed opponents.

The cultivation method only enhances base attributes—combat techniques are what truly enable battle.

“Want to learn combat techniques?” Team Leader Han looked at him. “Two conditions: First, master the Four-Six method. Second, earn commendations. Meet both, and you may attempt to learn a combat technique.”

“Commendations?” Lin Qing stared at Team Leader Han.

“Accumulate three Third-Class commendations, and you may attempt one combat technique. Or earn one Second-Class commendation, and you may attempt two.” Team Leader Han said.

He added: “If you earn a First-Class commendation, you may attempt to learn every combat technique in the patrol bureau’s inventory.”

Lin Qing raised an eyebrow.

First-Class, Second-Class, Third-Class commendations cannot be converted into one another.

But in terms of combat technique access, one Second-Class commendation equals six Third-Class ones?

First-Class was out of the question—the entire city’s patrol bureau issued one only rarely.

You’d need to perform extraordinary feats during major disasters, recover massive losses, uncover critical evidence against a massive criminal syndicate, or capture a dangerously wanted fugitive…

Only then might you earn a First-Class commendation.

With his current abilities, even a Second-Class was difficult—he shouldn’t be so ambitious.

Better to focus on accumulating three Third-Class commendations.

…

Since no duty shifts were required, after adding Team Leader Han and the four other Team Two officers as WeChat friends, Lin Qing left the branch and went to Xiaoshan District People’s Hospital to visit his cousin.

“You’ve been confirmed?”

Before Lin Qing could speak, Chen Yanan, lying in bed, had already spoken.

“You knew?” Lin Qing wasn’t surprised.

Chen Yanan was still a team leader, not comatose—how could she not know what happened in the patrol unit? “You thought you could hide it from me?” Chen Yanan studied him. “Not bad. When did you succeed?”

“A while ago,” Lin Qing replied as usual.

As long as he didn’t deliberately show it, no one could tell from appearance whether he’d succeeded—it required a detection device to confirm.

“Then why didn’t you tell me? Yesterday you said you were quitting—today you suddenly got confirmed without a word?” Chen Yanan frowned at him.

“Because I never intended to join the patrol system.”

Lin Qing used his prepared excuse: “If I’d told you yesterday I planned to get confirmed, you wouldn’t have agreed, would you?”

Chen Yanan looked at her missing right leg and fell silent.

True.

She’d been injured so badly in yesterday’s mission—she still felt fear recalling how close she’d come to death.

If Lin Qing had declared his intention to join the patrol path yesterday, she definitely wouldn’t have approved.

Chen Yanan sighed. “If you never wanted this path before, why change your mind now?”

“A sense of crisis.”

Lin Qing said seriously: “I want to learn combat techniques, but I can’t enter the martial arts gym. The military and police systems take too long to climb. The only way I can learn combat techniques quickly is through the patrol system.”

Chen Yanan fell silent.

A sense of crisis? Yes—she’d protected Lin Qing too well, leaving him untouched by real danger.

Yesterday’s injury must have shaken him.

Perhaps… this child secretly wants to avenge her?

“Fine. Since you’ve decided, I won’t stop you.”

Chen Yanan took a deep breath, looked at Lin Qing, and said firmly: “But remember—no mission is worth your life. Always stay alert to danger.”

“I know,” Lin Qing nodded.

His awareness of danger surpassed even the most battle-hardened veterans.

Not just because of his survival experience in the apocalypse, but because the Entropy-Reversal interface’s “Current Order Level” provides early warnings.

As an ordinary person, he survived for years in the apocalypse mainly because of this.

(End of Chapter)