"Such a delightful aroma..." Lim Qiye staggered out of the training room, his body aching. The scent wafting from the activity room reignited the embers in his eyes, which had seemed as lifeless as ashes.
A faint smirk played at the corner of Wen Qimo's lips. "Looks like you didn't escape unscathed from this morning's ordeal..."
Lim Qiye headed straight for the activity room. Just as he pushed the door open, he was met with four pairs of reproachful eyes.
"...," Lim Qiye sensed the atmosphere was off. "What's... going on?"
"Nothing, sit down and eat," Chen Muye glanced at him, saying calmly.
"Oh."
As Lim Qiye took his seat, Hongying looked at Chen Muye with pitiful eyes.
"Let's eat," finally, Chen Muye uttered the words everyone had been waiting for.
The others eagerly reached for the food, their eyes reddened as if they hadn't eaten for days.
"Hongying, is the food for the night watch always this good?" Lim Qiye glanced at the table filled with dishes and asked softly.
Hongying replied curtly, "I don't feel like talking to you right now."
After a moment's thought, she added, "I'll talk to you after we finish eating!"
Lim Qiye: ...
"Lim Qiye."
"Here, Captain."
"After today's training, did you gain anything?"
"Yes, I gained a lot."
"Hmm." Chen Muye nodded, paused, then continued, "Is it painful?"
"...A bit."
"Xiaonan, help him with the treatment later."
Xiaonan pouted and nodded obediently. "Okay."
Chen Muye thought for a moment before adding, "You don't have to fully heal him. Just make sure he can endure tomorrow's beatings."
Lim Qiye: ...
Clack!
Two pairs of chopsticks collided in the bone soup, making a slight noise.
The two pairs of chopsticks remained locked in a struggle, each trying to claim a piece of meat.
Hongying and Wuxiangnan stared at each other, their gazes colliding like sparks in the air.
"Wuxiangnan, I saw this piece of meat first," Hongying said, glaring.
Wuxiangnan calmly replied, "But I picked it up first."
"Let go."
"I won't."
"Let go!"
"I won't!"
Clatter...
The sparks between them intensified.
At that moment, Lengxuan, who was quietly eating with a low profile, stared at the piece of meat, reached for his waist...
And pulled out a mini MP5 submachine gun,
Placing it on the table.
"Let go, both of you," he said calmly.
Hongying: ...
Wuxiangnan: ...
Lengxuan casually picked up his chopsticks, took the largest piece of meat, and after hesitating for a moment, placed it in Lim Qiye's bowl.
"Newcomer, eat more. We'll be practicing shooting later," Lengxuan said coldly as he put away the submachine gun.
"Oh? Uh, okay," Lim Qiye didn't react at first, then stared blankly at Lengxuan, who was eating quietly...
Wow,
Now that's what you call keeping it short and to the point!
"Lengxuan, try not to pull out guns at the dining table next time," Chen Muye reminded,
"If it accidentally goes off... we'd waste all this food on the table."
Lengxuan nodded, "Got it."
Hongying and Wuxiangnan exchanged a glance, then obediently lowered their heads to eat.
As Lim Qiye finished his meal, Lengxuan stood up and walked over to him, speaking calmly:
"Full now?"
"Yes."
"Let's go, time to practice shooting."
"Okay!"
Watching the two gradually disappear down the corridor, Wen Qimo sighed deeply and turned to look at Xiaonan.
"Xiaonan."
"What's wrong?"
"Your status as the team favorite has been replaced."
Xiaonan: ￣へ￣
...
"A gun is not just a weapon; it's a manifestation of human ingenuity."
In the shooting range, Lengxuan stood before a neatly arranged array of various firearms, his expression devoid of emotion.
"For mythical beings at higher levels, their utility is minimal. However, for those at lower levels, firearms are often more effective than cold weapons.
Especially for newcomers, learning to use firearms is essential when they lack strong close combat skills."
Lengxuan took a handgun from the wall behind him and placed it in front of Lim Qiye.
"I'll only teach you two things: shooting techniques and the principles of firearm construction. Unless you plan to specialize in firearms in the future, this will suffice for you."
Lim Qiye nodded repeatedly.
"Now, take this gun and shoot at the target over there. Let me see your talent," Lengxuan pointed to a target not far away.
Lim Qiye nodded and picked up the handgun, standing in front of the shooting range.
Taking a deep breath,
Imitating the movements he had seen on television,
Raising the gun,
Aiming,
And firing!
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, and two faces immediately darkened.
Missed the target...
Lengxuan walked to the target, confirming that there were no bullet holes. His expression seemed somewhat unpleasant. "Missing the target at 30 meters? This..."
Lim Qiye put down the gun, coughed lightly twice, "Um... how are my talents?"
Lengxuan glanced at him, then closed his eyes in despair.
"You? You've got no talent whatsoever."
Lim Qiye: ...
...
Back at Hongying's mansion, Lim Qiye collapsed weakly onto the sofa, rubbing his tired eyes.
After a day of training, he had endured both physical and mental torment: first being slashed by the captain, then turned into a sieve by rubber bullets. While the firearms class at night wasn't physically taxing, it repeatedly crushed his pride...
He had no talent for guns, really.
As the night's training ended, Lim Qiye could clearly sense that Lengxuan was even more exhausted than him, and the light in his eyes... was gone.
In the end, Lengxuan even comforted him, saying it wasn't too far-fetched for a beginner to perform poorly, urging him to work hard in the future.
But as he spoke, it turned into Lim Qiye comforting him instead.
"Don't worry, I think my lack of talent is only temporary. With more practice, I'll get better."
"You should have confidence in me, and in yourself. With your marksmanship skills, there's no reason you can't teach me, right?"
"Time, what matters most is time... you need to be patient..."
"Be optimistic. At least within twenty meters, I can still hit the target. There's hope for me!"
...
As Lim Qiye sank into despondency, a figure quietly approached him.
"Little Brother Qiye, feeling tired?" Hongying wore a plush pajama, holding a cup of tea, and smiled as she handed it to Lim Qiye.
Lim Qiye forced a smile, accepting the tea. "Thank you."
"It's not so bad
, actually. Although tired, it's fulfilling." Lim Qiye took a sip of tea, glanced around, and asked, "Where's Xiaonan?"
"She seems a bit upset about you taking her favorite position, so she went back to her room."
"No wonder. When she was treating me just now, she kept pinching me. I thought it was part of the normal procedure," Lim Qiye rubbed the bruises on his arms, suddenly enlightened.
Hongying chuckled.
"Actually, the captain is equally strict with everyone. When I first came here, even though I'm a girl, he didn't hold back at all and made me cry with his harsh training," Hongying looked out of the window, seemingly reminiscing, a smile playing on her lips.
"He's quite tough."
"Not tough, not at all," Hongying shook her head, "The mortality rate of the Night Guardians in Cangnan City has dropped significantly, mainly thanks to the captain. One reason is his own strength, and the other... is that he's responsible enough for the other team members.
The harsher he is on you, the more you'll remember the pain and grow quickly.
He'd rather have his team members hate him than see them die on the battlefield due to insufficient strength... do you understand?"
Lim Qiye fell silent for a long time, seemingly recalling Chen Muye's fierce gaze in the morning, and nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Hongying's lips curved slightly, and she patted Lim Qiye's head like an elder sister, saying softly, "Alright, it's late. Rest early. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
As Lim Qiye bid Hongying farewell and returned to his room, he collapsed onto his bed with a weary body, staring blankly at the empty ceiling.
After a while, he slowly got up from the bed...
Drew his straight sword from its sheath,
One hand gripping the blade, the other the hilt,
Closing his eyes, he recalled every move Chen Muye had used that day,
Under the faint moonlight,
He swung his sword again and again!
"Such a delightful aroma..." Lim Qiye staggered out of the training room, his body aching. The scent wafting from the activity room reignited the embers in his eyes, which had seemed as lifeless as ashes.
A faint smirk played at the corner of Wen Qimo's lips. "Looks like you didn't escape unscathed from this morning's ordeal..."
Lim Qiye headed straight for the activity room. Just as he pushed the door open, he was met with four pairs of reproachful eyes.
"...," Lim Qiye sensed the atmosphere was off. "What's... going on?"
"Nothing, sit down and eat," Chen Muye glanced at him, saying calmly.
"Oh."
As Lim Qiye took his seat, Hongying looked at Chen Muye with pitiful eyes.
"Let's eat," finally, Chen Muye uttered the words everyone had been waiting for.
The others eagerly reached for the food, their eyes reddened as if they hadn't eaten for days.
"Hongying, is the food for the night watch always this good?" Lim Qiye glanced at the table filled with dishes and asked softly.
Hongying replied curtly, "I don't feel like talking to you right now."
After a moment's thought, she added, "I'll talk to you after we finish eating!"
Lim Qiye: ...
"Lim Qiye."
"Here, Captain."
"After today's training, did you gain anything?"
"Yes, I gained a lot."
"Hmm." Chen Muye nodded, paused, then continued, "Is it painful?"
"...A bit."
"Xiaonan, help him with the treatment later."
Xiaonan pouted and nodded obediently. "Okay."
Chen Muye thought for a moment before adding, "You don't have to fully heal him. Just make sure he can endure tomorrow's beatings."
Lim Qiye: ...
Clack!
Two pairs of chopsticks collided in the bone soup, making a slight noise.
The two pairs of chopsticks remained locked in a struggle, each trying to claim a piece of meat.
Hongying and Wuxiangnan stared at each other, their gazes colliding like sparks in the air.
"Wuxiangnan, I saw this piece of meat first," Hongying said, glaring.
Wuxiangnan calmly replied, "But I picked it up first."
"Let go."
"I won't."
"Let go!"
"I won't!"
Clatter...
The sparks between them intensified.
At that moment, Lengxuan, who was quietly eating with a low profile, stared at the piece of meat, reached for his waist...
And pulled out a mini MP5 submachine gun,
Placing it on the table.
"Let go, both of you," he said calmly.
Hongying: ...
Wuxiangnan: ...
Lengxuan casually picked up his chopsticks, took the largest piece of meat, and after hesitating for a moment, placed it in Lim Qiye's bowl.
"Newcomer, eat more. We'll be practicing shooting later," Lengxuan said coldly as he put away the submachine gun.
"Oh? Uh, okay," Lim Qiye didn't react at first, then stared blankly at Lengxuan, who was eating quietly...
Wow,
Now that's what you call keeping it short and to the point!
"Lengxuan, try not to pull out guns at the dining table next time," Chen Muye reminded,
"If it accidentally goes off... we'd waste all this food on the table."
Lengxuan nodded, "Got it."
Hongying and Wuxiangnan exchanged a glance, then obediently lowered their heads to eat.
As Lim Qiye finished his meal, Lengxuan stood up and walked over to him, speaking calmly:
"Full now?"
"Yes."
"Let's go, time to practice shooting."
"Okay!"
Watching the two gradually disappear down the corridor, Wen Qimo sighed deeply and turned to look at Xiaonan.
"Xiaonan."
"What's wrong?"
"Your status as the team favorite has been replaced."
Xiaonan: ￣へ￣
...
"A gun is not just a weapon; it's a manifestation of human ingenuity."
In the shooting range, Lengxuan stood before a neatly arranged array of various firearms, his expression devoid of emotion.
"For mythical beings at higher levels, their utility is minimal. However, for those at lower levels, firearms are often more effective than cold weapons.
Especially for newcomers, learning to use firearms is essential when they lack strong close combat skills."
Lengxuan took a handgun from the wall behind him and placed it in front of Lim Qiye.
"I'll only teach you two things: shooting techniques and the principles of firearm construction. Unless you plan to specialize in firearms in the future, this will suffice for you."
Lim Qiye nodded repeatedly.
"Now, take this gun and shoot at the target over there. Let me see your talent," Lengxuan pointed to a target not far away.
Lim Qiye nodded and picked up the handgun, standing in front of the shooting range.
Taking a deep breath,
Imitating the movements he had seen on television,
Raising the gun,
Aiming,
And firing!
Bang!
A gunshot rang out, and two faces immediately darkened.
Missed the target...
Lengxuan walked to the target, confirming that there were no bullet holes. His expression seemed somewhat unpleasant. "Missing the target at 30 meters? This..."
Lim Qiye put down the gun, coughed lightly twice, "Um... how are my talents?"
Lengxuan glanced at him, then closed his eyes in despair.
"You? You've got no talent whatsoever."
Lim Qiye: ...
...
Back at Hongying's mansion, Lim Qiye collapsed weakly onto the sofa, rubbing his tired eyes.
After a day of training, he had endured both physical and mental torment: first being slashed by the captain, then turned into a sieve by rubber bullets. While the firearms class at night wasn't physically taxing, it repeatedly crushed his pride...
He had no talent for guns, really.
As the night's training ended, Lim Qiye could clearly sense that Lengxuan was even more exhausted than him, and the light in his eyes... was gone.
In the end, Lengxuan even comforted him, saying it wasn't too far-fetched for a beginner to perform poorly, urging him to work hard in the future.
But as he spoke, it turned into Lim Qiye comforting him instead.
"Don't worry, I think my lack of talent is only temporary. With more practice, I'll get better."
"You should have confidence in me, and in yourself. With your marksmanship skills, there's no reason you can't teach me, right?"
"Time, what matters most is time... you need to be patient..."
"Be optimistic. At least within twenty meters, I can still hit the target. There's hope for me!"
...
As Lim Qiye sank into despondency, a figure quietly approached him.
"Little Brother Qiye, feeling tired?" Hongying wore a plush pajama, holding a cup of tea, and smiled as she handed it to Lim Qiye.
Lim Qiye forced a smile, accepting the tea. "Thank you."
"It's not so bad
, actually. Although tired, it's fulfilling." Lim Qiye took a sip of tea, glanced around, and asked, "Where's Xiaonan?"
"She seems a bit upset about you taking her favorite position, so she went back to her room."
"No wonder. When she was treating me just now, she kept pinching me. I thought it was part of the normal procedure," Lim Qiye rubbed the bruises on his arms, suddenly enlightened.
Hongying chuckled.
"Actually, the captain is equally strict with everyone. When I first came here, even though I'm a girl, he didn't hold back at all and made me cry with his harsh training," Hongying looked out of the window, seemingly reminiscing, a smile playing on her lips.
"He's quite tough."
"Not tough, not at all," Hongying shook her head, "The mortality rate of the Night Guardians in Cangnan City has dropped significantly, mainly thanks to the captain. One reason is his own strength, and the other... is that he's responsible enough for the other team members.
The harsher he is on you, the more you'll remember the pain and grow quickly.
He'd rather have his team members hate him than see them die on the battlefield due to insufficient strength... do you understand?"
Lim Qiye fell silent for a long time, seemingly recalling Chen Muye's fierce gaze in the morning, and nodded slowly.
"I understand."
Hongying's lips curved slightly, and she patted Lim Qiye's head like an elder sister, saying softly, "Alright, it's late. Rest early. Goodnight."
"Goodnight."
As Lim Qiye bid Hongying farewell and returned to his room, he collapsed onto his bed with a weary body, staring blankly at the empty ceiling.
After a while, he slowly got up from the bed...
Drew his straight sword from its sheath,
One hand gripping the blade, the other the hilt,
Closing his eyes, he recalled every move Chen Muye had used that day,
Under the faint moonlight,
He swung his sword again and again!
