Chapter 57: The Selection Begins
Chapter 57: Chapter 57: The Selection Begins
That morning, Tang Wen got up as he always did. A breakthrough in his Primordial Pile Technique was imminent, so he practiced a bit longer, leaving later than usual.
By the time he put on his weights and arrived at the plaza of the Underground Palace, he found no one was practicing their stances.
They were all standing in neat rows, listening to Elder Xia speak:
"...So, today’s assessment will be held at the ground-level plaza in the Inner City! After breakfast, anyone who wants to participate in the selection should stand over here. Alright, you’re dismissed. We’ll assemble here to register in an hour and a half."
The selection!
It was finally starting!
This was the selection for Commander. In theory, anyone could sign up.
Elder Xia had just mentioned that the war against the Black Mountain Battalion was essentially over.
The troublemaking gangs from outside the region had all been eliminated.
Their Flame Camp had won the war.
The war was won.
And with it came the opportunity to become a Commander!
The crowd couldn’t help but break into excited chatter, discussing who had a chance of being selected and whether they should sign up themselves.
Tang Wen half-listened, relieved to hear the war was won. He found an empty spot at the back of the plaza, dropped his shoulders, sank into his stance, and began practicing his Horse Stance Technique in a state of Meditation.
Amid the crowd’s discussion, someone happened to glance back, saw Tang Wen, and couldn’t help but exclaim in shock:
"Holy shit! He’s still training with weights today?"
His voice was loud, and after he shouted, the crowd slowly turned to look at Tang Wen.
The plaza of the Underground Palace fell much quieter in an instant.
They stared at Tang Wen with complex expressions.
Tang Wen didn’t open his eyes; he was used to seizing every available moment for his Martial Arts Training.
’Otherwise, when you finally run into a powerful enemy, it’ll be too late to lament about wasting time and letting down the Attribute Panel.’
’That would be like trying to turn over a new leaf at your own funeral—far too late.’
’The enemy isn’t going to let you go home and train for three years before you have your final showdown.’
Tang Wen’s center of gravity was like mercury—dense and fluid. His entire body seemed to be floating on waves, rising and falling in a slow, perfect rhythm.
Even someone who had never practiced Martial Arts or held a Posture Stance would find a certain beauty in his training.
In the plaza, some people snickered, some shook their heads, some of their faces darkened, and a few even felt the urge to walk over and kick him.
But they just slowly turned and left the Underground Palace.
An hour later, Tang Wen appeared in the cafeteria.
He was no longer wearing his weights.
A nearby Forbidden Guard’s smile vanished:
"See? I knew it. He’s been training so hard, he’s definitely going to join the selection."
"Great... I bet the Commander selection spots are going to be taken by those two."
"They haven’t even fought yet! We won’t know until they do."
"Fight? Hah!"
"..."
Tang Wen paid no mind to the others’ stares. He greeted the people he knew and sat down at a table with his sister, An Lei, and Zhang Lin.
"You’re not wearing your weights. Saving your strength for the selection, I see?" Zhang Lin’s voice was pitched just right—not too loud, not too soft.
Tang Wen picked up a maize bun and took a bite. He gave a noncommittal response, asking back, "What about you? Are you participating as well?"
Zhang Lin nodded emphatically. "Captain, my short-term goal is to make team captain first. What about you?"
The people nearby who heard this perked up their ears.
Tang Wen glanced at him. "To be honest, I don’t really want to leave the Underground Palace. The food and lodging are great here, and I don’t have to do anything all day except my Martial Arts Training. If I run into any problems, I can go straight to Elder Xia. You have no idea how comfortable it is."
Zhang Lin chuckled. "Jeez! Find you a wife and you’d be happy to stay here for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you?"
Tang Wen suddenly thought of Zhou Bing, remembering what he’d seen in the cave that night... It was a sight he still couldn’t forget.
’Having a wife like that wouldn’t be so bad.’
’Wait, what am I even thinking?’
’Martial Arts Training is what’s most important.’
After the meal, back in the plaza of the Underground Palace, Tang Wen, Zhang Lin, An Lei, and many Forbidden Guards he didn’t recognize—about twenty or thirty people in total—stepped forward to register for the selection.
"Alright! Members of the Hunting Team who’ve been staying here temporarily, you can pack your things and head home!"
"The regular Guards’ assessment is this morning. The selection will begin at 2 PM. Don’t be late."
The assessment was for the Hunting Guards and the Forbidden Guards, meant to check the progress of their recent Martial Arts Training.
It was like a student’s final exams or an office worker’s performance review.
Performing poorly and failing to meet quotas meant getting your allowance or salary docked!
It was the same for the Hunting Guards and Forbidden Guards. The assessments were recorded. If you failed once—say, your strength or speed had declined—you’d be put on probation.
After a period of time, you’d be reassessed. If you still didn’t pass, you would be demoted to the regular Guard Battalion.
You could only apply to return once your training was back up to standard.
It was a bit like being held back a grade in some schools.
Bad grades?
Just pay to repeat the grade.
Didn’t do well on your college entrance exams?
Just pay for another year of cram school and try again.
The two siblings didn’t have many belongings. They packed up Zhou Bing’s clothes, bundling them up into a large parcel.
Tangtang walked ahead with one bundle on her back, while Tang Wen followed behind, carrying two.
Returning the same way they had come.
The siblings took the same tunnel as before.
They reached home and set about cleaning the house and yard. By the time they finished the flurry of chores, it was already noon.
Tang Wen was just about to take his sister to the Hunting Battalion to scrounge up some lunch.
Suddenly, the door to their house opened.
"Sister Bing?!" Tangtang cried in delight. She ran over and threw her arms around Zhou Bing, jumping up and down with joy.
The Ice Beauty smiled and returned Tangtang’s hug, but after about three seconds, she let go.
"Huh?" Tangtang blinked. ’I still had so much more to say.’
But when she looked again, Zhou Bing had already turned, opened her arms, and launched herself at Tang Wen, wrapping him in a tight embrace.
HISS!
’What a body.’ Tang Wen’s Adam’s apple bobbed. After a moment’s hesitation, he wrapped his arms around her waist in return.
’Sister Bing, we’ve been through life and death together. You can’t keep testing me like this.’
’I can handle anything... except temptation!’
Meanwhile, Tangtang’s mouth hung open, a delighted twinkle in her eyes.
"Let me hold you for a bit."
"Mm, okay," Tang Wen replied, enjoying his blissful agony.
When he’d first transmigrated, he was as thin as a reed. But after several Attribute enhancements, he’d finally reached a height of one meter seventy.
But standing before the Supermodel-Level Zhou Bing, he still seemed to fall short.
His face was buried in her fragrant softness, and he couldn’t stop his hands from holding her tighter and tighter.
Tangtang had already counted to three hundred in her head. Seeing that the two still hadn’t separated, she tiptoed over and quietly closed the door.
But the wooden door let out a CREAK, snapping them both back to reality.
Zhou Bing sensed Tang Wen’s... reaction. Blushing, she quickly turned away to speak with Tangtang.
Tang Wen bent over, pretending he’d forgotten something, and hurried back into the house. He only emerged a short while later.
"Was your trip dangerous?"
"It was an expedition, you know how it is."
"Which means it was dangerous."
Zhou Bing just gave a resigned smile.
The three of them chatted on their way to the cafeteria for a meal.
After lunch, the trio left the Hunting Battalion’s cafeteria and strolled leisurely toward the Inner City plaza.
Along the way, they ran into many comrades and Forbidden Guards.
Tang Wen and Zhou Bing were constantly greeting people.
To their surprise, Tangtang also knew quite a few people and exchanged pleasantries with several acquaintances.
As two o’clock approached, the assessment for the Hunting Guards and Forbidden Guards was drawing to a close.
Tang Wen, Zhou Bing, and the others participating in the selections for team captain and Commander entered the grounds.