Chapter 35: Are You Here to Make Excuses Again?

“Remember, anything can happen when you’re on a mission. I’ve taught you a few things, but time was too short—what you’ve learned is just the surface.”
“If you don’t want your family to collect a pension, you’d all better be careful!”

In the main hall of the Choming headquarters, everyone else was standing there in standard-issue uniforms, their faces betraying unease. Li Tiefeng paced before the group, lecturing as he walked.

Truth be told, he was nervous as well. On one hand, he himself had only encountered a few anomalous entities. On the other hand, everyone else here was a complete rookie—the training period far too brief, with the longest being two months. Some, like Qiao Wenxia, had only arrived two weeks ago.

He took his responsibility seriously and didn’t want anyone getting hurt.

“Still can’t get through on the phone?” Gao Wenxin stood off to the side, her expression unreadable as she watched Li Tiefeng scold the others.

“No connection…” Li Yue replied.

“When it gets through, have him catch up on his own,” Gao Wenxin arched a brow, gave Li Yue a few instructions, and walked outside.

“Everyone, move out!”

As the group stepped outside, the roar of an engine grew closer. A red sedan, tires screeching, fishtailed to a stop right in front of them at 120 kilometers per hour.

Gu Changqing pushed open the car door and grinned at Gao Wenxin. “Traffic jam even in the dead of night—it took forever to get out. Luckily, I’m not late!”

Gao Wenxin glanced at him. “Where’s your uniform?”

“You said it was an emergency. I left as soon as I could—no time to go back for it.” Gu Changqing was wearing a blue jacket, beige pants, and a new belt.

Bought by Meng Xi, costing over ten thousand altogether.

In his good mood, he’d just thrown another fifty thousand as he left.

A man’s words are kindest before his death. Before Jin Manfu died, he’d truly repented and gifted Gu Changqing a large sum of money—over a million in cash, of which half had already been spent. Just that day alone, a trip to the mall had cost him hundreds of thousands.

On his way here, he’d been considering selling those stocks—certificates worth over six million, enough to last a month or two.

But living off one’s savings is a dead end. With his family’s business acumen, he’d long since figured out how to make more money.

Gao Wenxin shot him a glare and headed toward the row of parked SUVs.

Gu Changqing watched her back, then waved at Qiao Wenxia. “You know how to drive?”

“Come drive my car!” he said, then slid over to the back seat.

Qiao Wenxia, beaming, sat in the driver’s seat at last—finally a chance to get close to the new, dashing team leader. But as soon as she got in, she caught the scent of perfume in the car.

Orchid, by the smell of it.

Did the dashing team leader have a girlfriend? Not that it mattered—her best friend had always said, “With the right effort, there’s no wall that can’t be toppled.”

Qiao Wenxia followed the convoy of SUVs.

Gu Changqing asked, “What’s the situation?”

“A thick fog suddenly appeared in the Garden Residential District of Qingjiang. Several buildings are shrouded, and it’s said there are screams coming from inside.” Qiao Wenxia’s voice was both nervous and a little excited.

Awakening powers, joining the training, then going on a real mission with so many others—it gave her a true sense of purpose.

“Captain, if I’m in danger, you’ll save me, right?”

“I’ll make sure your pension reaches your family,” Gu Changqing replied blandly.

He knew Qiao Wenxia’s ability: she could turn anything she touched into metal. More defensive than offensive.

Zhuo Zhipeng was strong, with a ton of strength, though he was slow.

Tan Li’s ability was enhanced senses.

Attack, defense, and perception—Gao Wenxin had put real thought into assembling this team, creating the foundation of a solid unit.

But the White Secretary from the Guards wasn’t wrong either. These people were only a notch above useless.

Gu Changqing figured Gao Wenxin just wanted these rookies to have an immersive experience alongside their dull training. He guessed the anomalous entity this time wouldn’t be too strong, but not too weak either…

Maybe he could get a good meal out of it.

After a dozen minutes, Gu Changqing felt a sense of déjà vu as he looked out the window.

When he saw the entrance to the district ahead, realization dawned—this was exactly where he’d arrived when he first came to this world.

The neighbors had been kind, lending him a set of clothes. Had he asked for money, they wouldn’t have refused, either.

Now the area outside the complex was cordoned off, with crowds in pajamas—clearly evacuated from their homes mid-rest.

The first two buildings inside the complex still had lights in the windows, but behind them, the rest were swallowed by a thick, white mist.

The convoy parked along the road and everyone got out.

The director of the local Security Bureau approached with his team to greet Gao Wenxin.

“What’s the situation?” Gao Wenxin asked, looking into the distance.

“The fog is still spreading—it swallowed another building. There’s no sound coming from inside the mist. Some people didn’t get out in time; we don’t know how they’re doing.”

“Following your instructions, we haven’t sent anyone else in, but the first three security officers haven’t been heard from.”

The director from Qinghe District frowned deeply, his face grim. Such a major incident in his jurisdiction—how could he feel at ease?

“It’s up to five buildings now, and at the rate it’s spreading, it’ll swallow two more in ten minutes. But those two have already been evacuated door to door…”

Gu Changqing listened in, then asked, “Feather-level or Calamity-level?”

“Judging by the current situation, it’s Feather-level—probably more than one,” Gao Wenxin replied.

Gu Changqing’s smile grew even wider. Even the security officers couldn’t help but glance at him—grinning like that at a time like this was more than a little inappropriate.

His thoughts were simple—thank you, bounty of nature.

By his calculation, an ordinary person’s vigor amounted to 1, which, when absorbed, became 0.1 spirit energy.

A regular Yu family disciple’s vigor was about 30–40, converting to 3–4 spirit energy.

Those with greater strength—like the one who’d blocked several of his shots with a blade—were close to the stage of marrow cleansing, with vigor around 90–100.

The awakened one who could control flesh and blood had about 200, though vigor didn’t equate to power, only to how much he could absorb in return.

That one’s actual strength was less than the top Yu family disciples—his ability was just more bizarre.

A Feather-level entity, though, started at 200 vigor. An entity that could swallow entire buildings—Gu Changqing suspected it might reach 2000.

“Captain Gu, for you,” Li Tiefeng tossed him a walkie-talkie and a signal flare.

“The radio might not work in the fog. If you’re in danger, use the flare—just twist the base and pull.”

Gao Wenxin handed over a hand-drawn map of the complex and explained, “The incident started in these two buildings, and now the fog covers five…”

“You two, each take a team and investigate these buildings. Any problems?” she asked, looking at Gu Changqing.

Gu Changqing could devour anomalous entities, but only if he found their true form. His ability wasn’t suited for direct confrontation; that was Li Tiefeng’s domain, with his bodily enhancements.

“If you’re in danger, send the signal—I’ll back you up.”

“Remember, this is just to help you bond with your teams and to give them firsthand experience. Don’t take unnecessary risks.”

Gu Changqing grinned, baring white teeth like a beast about to feast.

One hand in his pocket, he tossed the signal flare and walkie-talkie to Qiao Wenxia, then strode toward the main gate.

He hadn’t gone far before two sports cars sped up and stopped near Gao Wenxin.

Five people got out.

Two were familiar faces to Gu Changqing: the long-legged woman in a tight suit, and the man with glasses.

The other three included a gaunt, sharp-featured man with a cold expression, a girl of sixteen or seventeen in a striped tank top and headphones, chewing gum as she got out, and a plain-looking woman around thirty.

The gaunt man sneered at Gao Wenxin, “What, learning to fly before you’ve even grown your feathers?”

He swept a contemptuous gaze over the Choming team, their faces still soft with youth—like a flock of helpless chicks.

Gao Wenxin’s eyes flashed with anger, but before she could retort, Gu Changqing’s voice rang out, unrestrained.

“Well, here to mop the floors again, are you?”

The new arrivals’ gazes turned sharp as blades toward Gu Changqing.

Hands in his pockets, posture relaxed, Gu Changqing called over to the security officers, “Hey, someone get our friends from the Guards a few mops.”

He looked at the Guards. “Good work, showing up so early to clean. Make sure you scrub it nice and spotless, alright?”

Laughing heartily, he turned and noticed several security officers fully armed with guns and grenades. His eyes lit up. These might not help against anomalous entities, but you never knew what might happen with the Guards around.

In a blur, Gu Changqing was in front of the officers, snatching two grenades and a flashbang. “Brothers, I’ll borrow these for a bit!”

The officers tried to cover their grenades, but too late—the items were already in Gu Changqing’s hands.

“When you’re at home, rely on your parents; out here, rely on your colleagues. We’re all in this together, no need to be stingy!” He tossed the grenades and flashbang in his hand, heading into the complex.

Qiao Wenxia and the others hurried after him.

Li Tiefeng shot a silent glance at the Guards, then led his own team inside as well.

…

“He’s handsome enough, but his mouth is filthy,” the gum-chewing girl remarked.

“Want me to teach him a lesson?”

The gaunt man cast a cold glance at Gu Changqing, then said to Gao Wenxin, “Do your rookies even know their own limits? Be careful you don’t lose your lives.”

“No need for your concern,” Gao Wenxin replied with a sweet smile. Gu Changqing might be brash, but she rather enjoyed it.

“At least two high-level Feather entities—and you’re sending these?” the gaunt man sneered.

A single high-level Feather entity required at least two fourth-tier Awakened to handle, and there were two here. Two third-tier Awakened leading a bunch of rookies?

“Well, since you’re so confident, we’ll leave this opportunity to you!” the gaunt man laughed, signaling his team to stay and watch.

Anomalous entities were valuable resources for Awakened organizations. If the Choming Department, backed by the security system, grew stronger, it would not only threaten the Guards’ influence but also deprive them of resources.

He was happy to see the Choming team suffer heavy losses, then swoop in to pick up the pieces.