Saturday.
Outside the gates of the branch bureau in the central district, Yang Wenqing was talking with an on-duty police officer. This was Song Yu, a classmate of his from the Police Academy.
After chatting idly for a while, Song Yu lowered his voice and said, “Have you heard about Liao Feng?”
Yang Wenqing shook his head and asked with a puzzled expression, “What happened to him?”
“His family set up a Spirit-Gathering Formation for him, and even hired three Daoist cultivators who had reached the Fifth Refinement to help him break through to the Qi Refining Realm. Unfortunately, he failed in the end. Now he’s taken an extended leave to recuperate at home. Who knows if he’ll still have a chance to recover.”
Song Yu looked deeply regretful, but there was a trace of satisfaction hidden in his eyes.
This Liao Feng had been a prominent figure at the academy. Rumor had it that his family had connections with the municipal bureau, and after graduation, he had been directly recruited by the municipal bureau. No one knew how many people had envied him.
Hearing this news, Yang Wenqing’s resentment over not being able to break through directly to the Qi Refining Realm the night before last eased considerably. After exchanging a few more words with Song Yu, he headed toward the branch bureau’s main gate.
The branch bureau compound was a cluster of grayish-white buildings with a unified architectural style. Around the perimeter stood a nearly three-meter-high bluestone wall, its surface engraved with intricate runes.
The main gate was made of heavy ironwood, with an enormous police emblem hanging above it. Police officers stood guard on both sides. Although he had his connection with Song Yu, Yang Wenqing still had to present his badge and state his purpose before he was allowed inside.
Beyond the gate was a broad plaza paved with massive bluestone slabs. Faint spiritual light could be seen flowing through the gaps between them. In the center of the plaza stood a statue holding a sword upright, and on its base was engraved the police bureau’s motto.
At the far end of the plaza, to the left and right, stood relatively low auxiliary buildings, with only a few people entering and leaving at the moment.
Directly facing the plaza was a seven-story main building. Yang Wenqing’s destination was not the main building, but an independent structure at the end of a corridor to its right. It was a three-story building shaped somewhat like an octagonal tower. To the right of the tower’s door hung a wooden plaque with black characters on a white background: “Qianjiao County Police Branch Bureau, Folklore Section.”
This was where the police system internally stored and taught basic incantations and cultivation methods.
As he approached the tower’s entrance, a faint scent of sandalwood mixed with the smell of old paper drifted over. A detection formation had been set up at the doorway. Spiritual light swept over Yang Wenqing’s badge, and only after confirming his identity and clearance did the formation’s glow turn from red to green.
The interior of the tower was spacious. The first-floor hall was brightly lit, with pearls embedded in the dome above that gave off a soft white light. Around the hall stood rows of tall bookshelves, upon which were placed jade slips of various colors.
In the center of the hall were several circular counters. Behind them sat several clerical police officers in dark-blue uniforms, their epaulettes all indicating at least senior police rank.
One of them, a female officer around forty years old with a gentle face, looked up at Yang Wenqing. Her gaze fell on the epaulettes on his shoulders, and she asked, “Here to receive your second incantation?”
“Yes.” Yang Wenqing stepped forward and respectfully handed over his badge. “I’d like to apply to study the Golden Light Body-Protection Incantation.”
The female officer took the badge and placed it into a recessed slot on the counter. The slot lit up faintly. A moment later, she nodded and took out from beneath the counter a palm-sized jade slip that was pale gold all over. Its surface shimmered like rippling water, and at its center was carved a complex rune.
She picked up the jade slip and said to Yang Wenqing, “Do you see the green circle in front of the counter? Stand inside it first.”
Yang Wenqing did as instructed and walked into the green circle before the counter.
The female officer came out and looked Yang Wenqing over briefly from left to right, then returned behind the counter. She raised the jade slip in her left hand while rapidly forming a hand seal with the other. Following her movement, the edge of the green circle immediately lit up with a soft white glow, forming a pillar of light that enveloped Yang Wenqing.
“Close your eyes, focus your mind, and empty your sea of consciousness,” the female officer reminded him.
Yang Wenqing immediately complied. Soon, he felt a gentle yet irresistible force pass through the pillar of light and softly probe into his consciousness.
At the same time, the female officer tossed the pale-gold jade slip in her hand into the pillar of light.
The jade slip did not fall to the ground. It hovered before Yang Wenqing’s brow, the watery sheen on its surface flowing rapidly. The complex rune at its center seemed to come alive, leaving the surface of the jade slip and transforming into a three-dimensional pattern formed entirely of golden light.
“Go!”
The female officer gave a light shout and changed her hand seal.
That golden rune, as if guided by something, suddenly shot toward Yang Wenqing’s brow.
Immediately afterward, Yang Wenqing sensed that a new spell seal had appeared deep within his memory. He was not surprised, because back when he had studied the Immobilization Incantation at the academy, the method had been more or less the same.
When Yang Wenqing’s memory stabilized, the pillar of light around him dispersed, and the jade slip landed back in the female officer’s hand with a snap.
“That’s it.” The female officer’s voice called Yang Wenqing out of his introspective state. “Practice diligently after you return. Remember, this method is not to be passed lightly to outsiders.”
Yang Wenqing gave a military salute and thanked her, then left the hall impatiently. He could hardly wait to return to his dormitory and try imprinting the new spell seal.
But just as he reached the plaza in front of the branch bureau, he was stopped by two classmates from the same cohort walking toward him—and they happened to be two of the few good friends he had made at the Police Academy.
These two had also come to receive new spell seals. After the three of them chatted for a few moments, Wu Qi, who was standing to Yang Wenqing’s left, suggested, “It wasn’t easy for us to get together. How about we go have a drink?”
He was Yang Wenqing’s friend from the same dormitory. His family background was about the same as Yang Wenqing’s, and his theoretical grades had always been near the top of the class. Unfortunately, he had little talent for cultivation. The reason he and Yang Wenqing had become friends was that both of them liked reading historical documents.
“Let’s go shooting instead.”
Liu Rong, on the other side, made his suggestion. As he spoke, he looked at Yang Wenqing. “I’ve improved quite a bit recently. How about we compete again?”
The reason this man had become close to Yang Wenqing was target shooting. With the deductions from his Golden Core world, Yang Wenqing could grasp the trajectory of any new gun after firing no more than five trial shots. Liu Rong had been very unconvinced and would often drag Yang Wenqing into competitions. As time passed, the two had naturally become familiar with each other.
Yang Wenqing knew Liu Rong’s personality very well. If he didn’t agree, he could forget about having any peace for the rest of the day.
“Fine, then let’s go shooting. Same rules as always—the loser treats everyone to lunch.”
“It’s a deal!”
Liu Rong rubbed his fists together, looking full of confidence.
Chatting and laughing, the three turned toward an independent courtyard behind the main building. This was one of the branch bureau’s internal training grounds, with a dedicated shooting range. Using their badges, they easily completed the usage procedures and received standard-issue revolvers for practice, along with a small box of ordinary bullets.
Yang Wenqing skillfully loaded the bullets, raised the gun, took aim, and fired. For the first five shots, he deliberately slowed down, carefully feeling the trigger weight, recoil, and ballistic characteristics of the practice gun in his hand.
Starting from the sixth bullet, his shooting became extremely stable. Every shot hit the bull’s-eye.
Liu Rong, beside him, had indeed improved considerably. His shooting rhythm was steady, and most of his bullets landed within the nine-ring area. Occasionally, he even hit the ten-ring. After finishing one round, he looked at Yang Wenqing’s target paper. The dense cluster of bullet holes in the ten-ring made him click his tongue despite himself. “You really are a monster!”
Wu Qi did not shoot quickly, but he strove to keep every movement standard. His results hovered around the eight-ring mark.
The three took turns, exchanging shooting tips with one another. The atmosphere was harmonious. In the end, the result was no surprise: Yang Wenqing won by a slight margin.
Although Liu Rong complained that he refused to accept it, he still honored the bet readily.
At noon, the three sat down at an old noodle shop near the branch bureau and ordered three bowls of the house specialty braised pork noodles, along with a plate of braised dried tofu and a plate of cold shredded kelp salad.
When the steaming noodles were brought over, Wu Qi picked up a chopstickful of noodles, blew on them, and asked in a low voice, “Have you guys heard about Liao Feng?”
Liu Rong bit into a piece of braised dried tofu and mumbled indistinctly, “Heard about it. Tsk, tsk, seriously…” He shook his head. Unaccustomed to speaking ill of others behind their backs, he did not continue.
Yang Wenqing silently ate his noodles. Liao Feng’s experience was like a warning bell, making him even more determined to proceed steadily and surely.
Liu Rong swallowed the dried tofu in his mouth, looked at Yang Wenqing, and asked, “What did you receive for your second spell seal?”
“The Golden Light Body-Protection Incantation.” Yang Wenqing did not hide it.
“Good choice. Staying alive comes first,” Wu Qi said in approval. “I’m planning to receive the Light Body Incantation. In the future, I’ll be able to run faster when chasing criminals.”
Liu Rong chuckled. “I’m planning to choose the Sharp-Eye Incantation. Next time we shoot, just watch how I beat you!”
New book seeking recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, investments, tips, and comments. Give me some comments, big shots. The contract has already been submitted, so those big shots who want to invest should hurry up. During the new book period, please remember to keep reading, everyone. I’m counting on you all.