Shangjing City.
Night Watchman Training Office.
“What? This time the new recruit training is scheduled in Cangnan? Where is Cangnan?” Yuan Gang looked at the document in his hand, stunned.
In front of him, a man lazily lying on the reclining chair behind the office desk stretched and sat up with his eyes half-closed. There was a cross-shaped scar on his forehead.
He was Shao Pingge, the captain of Team 006 of the Night Watchman stationed in Shangjing City.
“A small city in the southeast, next to Huaihai City.” Shao Pingge thought for a moment and answered.
“But… wasn’t the training always held in Shangjing in previous years? Why suddenly change to Cangnan this year?” Yuan Gang frowned.
“Who knows what the higher-ups are thinking.” Shao Pingge stood up, poured a cup of water with a kettle, and leisurely lay back down. “We… oh no, you just need to follow orders. You are the vice captain of our Team 006 and the chief instructor for the new recruit training in previous years. Can’t you handle a change of environment?”
“Of course I can.” Yuan Gang shook his head repeatedly. “I just don’t understand why the sudden change of location. Clearly, the equipment and facilities here are readily available. Now they have to be transported to Cangnan… Isn’t this making trouble out of nothing?”
“The higher-ups have their reasons for doing so. We just need to follow orders. It’s not something we should know… Don’t ask too much.”
“Alright.” Yuan Gang sighed.
“The logistics department’s efficiency is such that they can set up a complete training base in Cangnan before dawn tomorrow. You should also get ready with your team for departure.” Shao Pingge took a sip of tea.
“Yes.” Yuan Gang thought for a moment and continued, “While I’m not in Shangjing, can you keep things in order and not cause any trouble?”
Swish!
A slipper sole was thrown from behind the office desk. Yuan Gang slightly dodged, and then Shao Pingge’s cursing came from behind the desk.
“Hey, Yuan Gang, who do you think you are looking down on? Am I not the captain of the Shangjing team? Am I just eating for nothing?”
Yuan Gang chuckled, threw Shao Pingge’s slipper out of the window, and then walked out of the office door in a grand manner.
Shao Pingge cursed loudly!
…
Guangshen City.
A luxurious clubhouse.
“Cangnan? Where is Cangnan?” In an extravagant VIP massage room, a chubby man in a bathrobe lay on the sofa, looking at the notice in his hand with surprise, and turned his head to ask.
Behind the door of the VIP room, five burly bodyguards stood expressionlessly. In front of them, a butler with a monocle bowed slightly and said gently, “Master, Cangnan is a small city in the southeast.”
“Wasn’t it always in Shangjing before?”
“It seems that there has been a change in policy this year. It looks like your itinerary will also have to change. I will arrange it right away.”
The chubby man thought for a moment, put the grapes back into the bowl, and waved his hand.
“Book a flight for tomorrow, I’ll leave tomorrow!”
The butler was taken aback, “Master, isn’t it too rushed to go tomorrow? You don’t have to worry about the accommodation. We have arranged the best dormitory for you with the Night Watchman. They will give us face.”
“Guangshen is too boring. I want to meet new friends!”
“…Master, after you arrive there, it’s better to speak Mandarin as much as possible, otherwise they may not understand.”
“Mandarin?” The chubby man thought for a moment. “That’s right, if there’s a language barrier… I won’t be able to make real friends!”
After saying that, he patted the young woman who was massaging his feet. “Alright, go rest. I’ve enjoyed enough in these past ten years. It’s time for a different life…”
He stood up, stretched lazily, and his fat body trembled slightly.
“Cangnan? I won’t go!”
…
Mount Jiuhua.
Buddhist chants filled the air, and the fragrance of incense wafted.
A old monk wearing a kasaya walked through the wooden corridor, the prayer beads in his hand turning slightly, his eyes calm as water.
Finally, he stopped in front of the door of a meditation room.
He reached out his hand and lightly knocked on the door twice, then pushed it open.
Inside the meditation room, there was only a bed, a table, and a meditation cushion. On the largest wall, the words “Calm the Mind” were written in black brushstrokes, elegant and seemingly gentle, but hiding a world-shaking killing intent.
The black-haired young man on the cushion slowly opened his eyes.
“Cao Yuan, your letter has arrived.” The old monk bowed in a Buddhist salute, then took out an envelope from his sleeve.
The black-haired young man stood up slowly, took the envelope, and opened it to read for a long time.
“Cangnan…” he murmured to himself, then looked up at the old monk and respectfully asked, “Master, do you think… should I go?””Benefactor, you have been meditating in this Buddhist temple for five years, and the demonic nature in your heart has been suppressed. This old monk believes… it’s time for you to leave.”
A hint of hesitation appeared in the young man’s eyes, “But, the sins I carry…”
“Killing is a sin, saving the world is a merit. When merits and sins offset each other, one can attain peace.” The old monk’s eyes were deep and profound. He put his hands together and calmly said,
“Staying in this temple, even if you meditate for decades, a sin is still a sin… Benefactor, it’s time to let go.”
The young man was silent for a long time, also putting his hands together and bowing deeply.
“Thank you for your guidance, Master.”
“Benefactor Cao Yuan, this old monk has one more thing to remind you.”
“Please speak, Master.”
“On your journey to Cangnan City, you may encounter a noble person. If you can seize the opportunity, not only can you wash away your sins in this life, but you may also attain enlightenment.”
“A noble person?” Cao Yuan’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, “Does this noble person… have any characteristics?”
“Two trees stand tall, eight gods minus one, ten years into the night, ferrying the world.” The old monk closed his eyes, put his hands together, and his voice rang out like an ancient bell,
“——Amitabha.”
Cao Yuan’s eyes were full of confusion, but he still carefully remembered these words and bowed in return.
“In that case…” Cao Yuan looked up at the sea of clouds on the mountain peak outside the Zen room, put his hands together, and calmly said:
“I will go…”
……
Inside the van.
Lin Qiye glanced at the silent crowd and quietly shrank his neck.
The atmosphere was a bit awkward.
“Cough cough…” Wen Qimo coughed lightly, breaking the silence first, “Well, Qiye, the train tickets can’t be refunded… It’s not your fault, don’t worry about it.”
Chen Muye, sitting in the passenger seat, looked a bit green.
“Uh… we should think of something positive! Right! For example… we can visit you anytime since we’re so close to your training camp in Cangnan City!”
“The training camp is closed, we can’t get in.” The driver, Wu Xiangnan, spoke in a low voice.
“…” Wen Qimo paused, “At least, we’ve bought everything we need, like down jackets, thick blankets, hand warmers, large scarves…”
“Qimo… You don’t need these in Cangnan’s winter.” Hong Ying reminded him in a low voice.
“Shut up!” Chen Muye glared at Wen Qimo, feeling as if his heart was bleeding.
After hesitating for a moment, he turned his head and looked at Lin Qiye with hopeful eyes,
“Qiye,
Could you go and see…
if these can be returned?”