# 214
**Chapter 214: The Master**
Following the rugged, narrow path of yellow sand, Lin Qiye dragged his suitcase all the way to the military checkpoint.
Just as he was about to wait for the last bus to take them away, his gaze landed not far ahead—and he froze.
On a side road, a familiar black van was parked. A woman in a red tracksuit and sunglasses leaned against the door. When she saw Lin Qiye, she waved excitedly.
Lin Qiye smiled and walked straight toward her, suitcase in tow.
“Sis Hongying, what are you doing here?” Lin Qiye asked with a grin.
Hongying giggled, rushed forward, and pulled him into a tight hug.
“Naturally, I’m here to pick up our new 136 Squad recruit from camp!” She nearly squeezed the breath out of him. Only when Lin Qiye’s neck was about to snap did she let go, take his suitcase, and continue, “The captain’s been counting down the days since last month, circling dates on the calendar and muttering about how many days until you’re back… like a monk chanting sutras. So annoying.”
Hongying got into the car and shut the door. “Still, everyone’s happy you’re coming back to 136 Squad. Only Leng Xuan kept a straight face, coldly saying something like ‘Our Qiye shouldn’t be sent back to Cangnan—he belongs somewhere higher…’”
In the passenger seat, Lin Qiye scratched his head, already imagining Leng Xuan’s expression as he said it.
Hongying started the engine. Just as she was about to drive off, she paused, turned, and silently patted Lin Qiye’s shoulder.
Lin Qiye blinked. “Sis Hongying… what was that for?”
“…The captain told me to comfort you. Not getting a good rank in training camp isn’t shameful. We all believe in your potential…”
Hongying’s cheeks flushed. “But I… I really don’t know how to comfort people. I tried copying the captain’s shoulder pat, but then I didn’t know what to say… Ugh, this is so frustrating!”
Flustered and embarrassed, she stomped on the gas. The tires kicked up a cloud of dust as the van shot forward.
Lin Qiye gripped the handle and gulped. “Sis Hongying… calm down, calm down!”
By now, Lin Qiye had pieced things together. It seemed the final rankings from the training camp hadn’t been officially released. The 136 Squad assumed he hadn’t ranked high, which was why he was being sent back to Cangnan…
Should he explain?
As he hesitated, Hongying spoke again.
“Actually, we were all supposed to come pick you up today, but something came up last minute. I was the only one free.”
“What happened?”
“There’s a suspected Mystic case on the east side. Wen Qimo, Leng Xuan, and Xiaonan went to check it out. The captain and Old Dog Xiangnan… are meeting an important guest.”
“An important guest?” Lin Qiye asked, puzzled. “What kind of important person comes to Cangnan?”
Hongying smiled mysteriously. “Supposedly, a Human Apex.”
“What?!” Lin Qiye was stunned.
“Surprised? I dropped my chopsticks when I heard.” Hongying shrugged. “They detected what might’ve been a god’s fluctuation near Jinnan Mountain two days ago, so they called in a Human Apex to investigate. Right now, they’re talking with our Cangnan garrison squad. Later, they’ll probably go to the camp to see the Chief.”
Lin Qiye’s heart leapt into his throat. Two days ago at Jinnan Mountain… that was when he’d carried Nyx’s soul and killed the Flame-Vein Earth Dragon in the sky!
Though he, Baili Pangpang, and Instructor Hong had coordinated their stories back at camp and fooled the other instructors, the fact remained: he had killed the Flame-Vein Earth Dragon. If this Human Apex went to Jinnan Mountain, would they find any clues?
“Which Human Apex is it?”
Lin Qiye remembered Wen Qimo once categorized the five Human Apexes by legend: “One Sword, One Rider, One Venerable, One Void, One Master.” Which one had come to Cangnan?
“He arrived in a carriage—probably the Master,” Hongying guessed.
Lin Qiye gave a soft “oh” and lowered his head in thought.
This… could be trouble.
…
Peace Agency.
Underground.
Chen Muye and Wu Xiangnan exchanged glances, both looking somewhat helpless.
Across from them on the sofa sat a white-haired man around fifty. A wooden hairpin held his long hair, and though his face showed age, his eyes were sharp, giving him an air of immortal wisdom.
He lifted a cup of hot tea, took a sip, and set it down gently.
“Master Chen… we really don’t know much about what happened on Jinnan Mountain. For the details, you’d have to ask Yuan Gang,” Chen Muye said carefully.
Master Chen smiled and waved a hand. “No rush, no rush… Don’t rush me out. Is drinking tea and chatting with an old man so unbearable?”
Wu Xiangnan couldn’t help but speak up. “But Master… we’ve been drinking tea with you all afternoon. The sun’s almost down, isn’t it time…”
“No matter, no matter.” Master Chen seemed utterly unbothered.
Seeing he wouldn’t leave, Chen Muye and Wu Xiangnan could only brace themselves and keep him company.
“I hear your 136 Squad has a new Night Watch named Lin Qiye,” Master Chen remarked casually while sipping tea. “Could you two tell me more about him?”
Wu Xiangnan blinked. “Master, you know Lin Qiye?”
“The Dual-God Proxy—naturally, I’ve heard of him,” Master Chen said calmly.
Wu Xiangnan glanced at Chen Muye, who nodded. Wu Xiangnan continued.
“Actually, we first met the kid during the Ghost-Face incident…”
Starting from the Ghost-Face event, Wu Xiangnan recounted nearly everything Lin Qiye had done. The 136 Squad’s evaluation of him was glowing—every three sentences a small praise, every five a big one—practically singing his praises to the heavens.
Master Chen listened quietly, nodding occasionally, his deep eyes unreadable.
When Wu Xiangnan finished, Master Chen set down his cup. “I see… I understand now.”
Just as Wu Xiangnan looked hopeful that the Master might finally leave, Master Chen spoke again. “The tea’s gone cold.”
Wu Xiangnan: …
Chen Muye read the Master’s intent and said to Wu Xiangnan, “Xiangnan, go brew another pot for the Master.”
“Alright.”
Wu Xiangnan picked up the tea set and left the room, leaving only Chen Muye and Master Chen inside.
Master Chen gazed at Chen Muye for a long while, then slowly said:
“Captain Chen… these past ten years, you’ve had it hard…”