# 95
Chapter 95 – A Worthy Rival
The black flames slowly receded, revealing the skin beneath. Cao Yuan tugged at the [Scroll of Seal] around his neck; the crimson in his eyes faded, and he broke into violent coughs.
Lin Qiye released the tape in his hand and finally exhaled.
Cao Yuan in his berserk state was ridiculously strong. If Lin Qiye hadn’t had two forbidden artifacts on him this time—and if his divine aura hadn’t countered [Black King's Annihilation Slash]—the victory wouldn’t have come so easily.
Bare-chested, Cao Yuan lay on the ground, gasping for air. His gaze settled on Lin Qiye, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“It really is you…”
“What?”
“There aren’t many people in this world who can suppress [Black King's Annihilation Slash].”
“Is that so? If I’m not mistaken, the Mask Squad captain could too.”
“It’s different. You can wash away my sins.”
“What are you talking about?”
Lin Qiye’s brows knit together; he couldn’t grasp Cao Yuan’s meaning. Cao Yuan simply shook his head, climbed to his feet, and said nothing more.
Instructor Han walked over, studying Lin Qiye for a long moment. “Hurt?”
“No.”
“Good.” Instructor Han paused, then gave Lin Qiye a thumbs-up. “That move was beautiful!”
Lin Qiye smiled faintly.
Instructor Han reached out to help Cao Yuan up. Just as Cao Yuan opened his mouth, Instructor Han shook his head to stop him.
“Say nothing. This incident is entirely my fault—I forced you to draw your blade. It has nothing to do with you.”
Cao Yuan, ready to apologize, found his words blocked. He sighed helplessly, pressed his palms together, and bowed slightly.
“Amitabha.”
Moments later, a stream of fully-armored instructors arrived in haste. Seeing the devastated training platform, they frowned.
Instructor Han stepped forward, gave a brief explanation, and they finally relaxed.
“Instructor Hong… I think I’m just not cut out for teaching.”
Instructor Hong pulled Instructor Han aside. Han exhaled a long, gloomy sigh.
“It’s your first day on the job and you already want to quit?” Instructor Hong raised an eyebrow.
“I’ve realized that teaching students and fighting enemies are two completely different things. Out on missions I can charge alone against a horde; no matter the danger, I won’t even frown.
But after just a few minutes here… I’m a mess and nearly caused a training accident.”
Looking at Han’s depressed face, Instructor Hong couldn’t help laughing.
“I think you have a real gift for teaching. Out of 239 recruits you picked three: the young master of the Baili family, the Seraph proxy, and the highest of the ultra-high-risk cases…
That’s not random luck—it’s legendary!”
“Stop teasing me, Instructor Hong.” Han rubbed his nose, embarrassed.
“Honestly, some of us instructors might beat you in one specific melee area, but none are as all-round as you. You’re proficient with every weapon—sabre, spear, sword, halberd.
At this stage the fledglings don’t need a specialist; they need someone who’s mastered everything to help them find their own style. The rest of us can’t do it. In the whole Great Xia Night Watch, only Han Li has that ability.”
“But I—”
“There are only a few troublemakers among them. Getting to witness these monsters grow is a rare privilege, don’t you think?” Instructor Hong gazed into the distance, the corner of his mouth lifting.
“Aren’t you curious what these monsters will look like when they walk out of this camp?”
Han Li started, instinctively turning toward the recruits. The image of the youth with bandaged left hand and blade in right flashed through his mind.
After a moment of silence he nodded.
“All right, I’ll try again.”
Instructor Hong smiled and clapped Han’s shoulder twice.
“Go on, the rookies are waiting.”
Han nodded, took a deep breath, and strode back to the field.
When he returned, the restless recruits fell silent.
Han swept his gaze over them, took another wooden sabre from the rack, stepped onto the half-ruined platform, and resumed.
“The strike we just covered is fast, but still lacks force…”
The entire morning was dedicated to melee training. After demonstrating several sabre techniques, Han moved on to two-handed sabre, sword, spear, even a bit of hidden weapons.
Since this was their first contact with cold arms, the session remained lecture-heavy. Kind-hearted, Han let them all sit and listen, finally giving the tormented freshmen a rest.
By the time his throat was dry, it was lunch.
When the recruits reached the canteen hoping for better, they found the same white buns and raw meat—and nearly cracked. Some retched on the spot.
The sharp-eyed noticed a tiny plate of… pickled vegetables in front of each seat!
Despair turned to delight.
“Brother Qiye, has Grandpa Sun in the canteen grown a conscience? He actually gave us pickles!” Baili Pangpang stuffed pickles into his bun and bit down gratefully.
“No idea. All I know is this tiny dish won’t last two bites,” Lin Qiye counted the pickle strips, face dark.
Just then a figure quietly slid to their table.
Cao Yuan silently pushed his pickles toward Lin Qiye, chewing raw meat. “For you.”
Lin Qiye froze; Baili Pangpang’s eyes bulged. “Bro, these are pickles! You don’t want them?”
“If Lin Qiye wants them, he can have them.”
“…” Baili Pangpang’s jaw dropped. “You know what that’s called?”
“What?”
“A boot-licker.”
“I’m happy to.”
“…”
Lin Qiye was silent a moment, then said slowly, “If this is about this morning, there’s no need. I wasn’t hurt—”
“No, Lin Qiye.” Cao Yuan shook his head, looking straight into his eyes.
“I just… purely want to lick you.”
Lin Qiye: …
Baili Pangpang’s body shook; his gaze at Cao Yuan changed instantly.
Damn—
this guy’s a serious rival!