# 1504
Chapter 1504: New Squad
Autumn rain, slightly cool.
Beneath the overcast sky, a figure sat on the muddy ground, surrounded by pale tombstone markers standing like a forest, the drizzle pattering against the fallen leaves on the ground, making a muffled sound.
The Night Watch cemetery in Shangjing City was considerably larger than the one in Cangnan City—not because the Night Watch in Shangjing held a higher status, but simply because there were far too many graves here, more than three times the number in Cangnan. Without expanding the cemetery, there simply wouldn't be enough space.
Lin Qiye stood outside the cemetery, watching the figure trembling as he carved inscriptions among the tombstones, his expression complicated.
"It's my first time seeing him cry like this."
"This child Fang Mo has always been emotional. Although the time he spent with them wasn't very long, his feelings for Squad 006 are no less than Li Zhenzhen's." Chen Han sighed.
"How is Li Zhenzhen? What's her condition?"
"She still hasn't woken up. Xu Liao is taking care of her."
They had personally witnessed Li Zhenzhen crying herself unconscious before the five coffins. Even though Lin Qiye and the others had tried their best to comfort her, there was no effect. Li Zhenzhen had grown up following the members of Squad 006 since childhood, treating them as family. Seeing them lying in cold coffins, she simply couldn't bear such a blow.
Lin Qiye nodded slightly, gazing at the figure carving tombstones in the cemetery, and said nothing more.
Today, all Night Watch members who sacrificed on the front lines should have been transported to their respective squad stations... How many more scenes like this were playing out elsewhere?
How many people would end up like Li Zhenzhen and Fang Mo today, Lin Qiye didn't know.
But he knew that after today, another batch of young Night Watch in Great Xia would experience a transformation.
On the gravel path outside the cemetery, a figure walked in dejectedly. Li Zhenzhen's face was deathly pale, her eyes red and swollen. She draped her dark red cloak around herself and walked step by step toward the cemetery in the autumn rain.
"Awake?"
"...Yes." Li Zhenzhen's voice was hoarse. "I need to carve their tombstones..."
Lin Qiye looked at her haggard, weak appearance and sighed. "Go ahead. Fang Mo is already inside."
Li Zhenzhen stumbled into the cemetery, sat down beside Fang Mo, completely unaware of the chill in the autumn rain. She picked up the carving knife and began etching the tombstone piece by piece.
Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen carved the tombstones very slowly. It was their first time seeing off seniors, so every stroke was meticulous. By the time all five tombstones were finished, it was already deep into the night.
"Sorry about that..." Chen Han苦涩地笑了笑，said with a bitter smile. "Tonight's dinner will probably have to be something simple..."
Originally, Chen Han had planned to arrange a grand feast for Lin Qiye and the others, to celebrate their triumphant return from battle. But now, under these circumstances, there was no way a victory banquet could be held.
"No worries. I've already asked Cao Yuan and Jiang Er to start cooking noodles. Those two children have been carving tombstones all day—they must be starving." Lin Qiye said.
"Thank you."
When everyone returned to the courtyard house, several bowls of steaming egg noodles had already been set out on the small table under the eaves. Cao Yuan took off his apron and gave Lin Qiye a slight nod.
Although Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen had been busy all afternoon, neither had much appetite. However, under Lin Qiye's "coercion," they老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老老实实地坐在桌边，老实实地 ate their noodles in silence.
The autumn rain grew even colder in the deep of night. In the vast courtyard house, six people sat around a modest square table. It didn't feel crowded at all—rather, it felt empty and desolate.
If they remembered correctly, the last time they gathered here for a meal, the crowd was so large that even a long table couldn't seat everyone. Seventeen or eighteen people, the lively chatter and laughter loud enough to lift the roof off.
But now, though it was still two squads, the warmth and bustle of that time were gone forever.
Fang Mo finished his noodles in silence, gently set down his chopsticks on the table, and after a long pause, finally spoke: "Lord Qiye... can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
"What does it take to become a member of a special squad?"
Lin Qiye's chopsticks paused. He glanced at Fang Mo in surprise. "You want to join a special squad? Why?"
"I... don't want to stand behind others anymore." Fang Mo's hands, resting on his knees, slowly clenched into fists. "During this war, I stayed hidden in Great Xia's rear the entire time. Even when I reached the battlefield twice, I didn't get to participate in any fighting before being sent back... I know you wanted to protect me, but this feeling—it's just unbearable.
I'm a Night Watch too. Although I'm not strong enough yet, I don't want to be treated like a child and shielded at the very back all the time...
I'm not saying there's anything wrong with being a Night Watch who guards a city. I just want to do more, like you. At critical moments, to be the first to step forward, to become the one standing in front of everyone."
"Me too." Li Zhenzhen put down her chopsticks, speaking just as seriously. "I've been in Shangjing for over a decade. This place is like my home. Staying at home, I can never truly grow strong...
I want to go out and see."
Lin Qiye gazed at Li Zhenzhen and Fang Mo. Both of their eyes burned with unwavering resolve. This definitely wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision—they must have discussed it during the tombstone carving.
"Having two people join a special squad at once is quite difficult." Cao Yuan pondered aloud. "Squad 【Phoenix】 already has eight members and isn't accepting new ones. As for our squad, while it's technically possible for you to join, the duties we handle are far too dangerous for you right now..."
Hearing this, the expressions of both Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen dimmed.
Just then, Lin Qiye, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke: "Actually, there's another way."
"Lord Qiye, you're willing to take us in?" Fang Mo's eyes lit up.
"No." Lin Qiye shook his head. "What I mean is, since you both want to become special squad members... why not form your own squad?"
Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen froze in place.
"【Mask】 Squad has been destroyed, and the 004 designation currently has no special squad under it. You could build your own team from scratch, growing toward special squad status step by step... just like we once did." A nostalgic glint appeared in Lin Qiye's eyes.
"But... with our current strength, can we really form a special squad on our own?" Fang Mo asked, worried.
"What's stopping you? When 【Nightfall】 was first forming, my strength wasn't even as good as yours." Lin Qiye smiled faintly. "Strength is something that can be rapidly improved. The more you experience, the faster you grow.
You're the agent of Great Xia's Golden Immortal, and you carry the White Tiger soul within you. You're more than qualified to serve as a special squad leader."