# 335
**Chapter 335: Captain**
Seeing the cloak and Straight Blade, Lin Qiye didn’t relax in the slightest. He kept his eyes locked on the newcomer, ready to strike at any moment.
Even though this was the standard Night Watch uniform, that didn’t mean someone couldn’t use it to deceive others. In a situation like this, it was better to be overly cautious.
“No need to be so tense,” Ye Fan said with a smile. “Let me introduce myself. I’m Ye Fan, Commander-in-Chief of the Great Xia Night Watch.”
Commander-in-Chief of the Night Watch?
Hearing those words, Lin Qiye’s brow furrowed even deeper.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Night Watch, suddenly appearing in some random corner of the ocean? And from the looks of it, he had been waiting for them…
“How do we know you’re really who you say you are?” Lin Qiye asked calmly.
Ye Fan smiled and pointed toward Cao Yuan. “He can vouch for me.”
Lin Qiye, Baili Pangpang, and An Qingyu were all stunned. They turned to look at Cao Yuan, who had already lowered his Straight Blade and was nodding in confirmation.
“That’s right. This is Commander Ye. He’s the one who transferred me from the Purification Chamber to Mount Jiuhua.”
“If you still don’t believe me, you can check our Coat of Arms.” Ye Fan pulled out his emblem from his pocket. Beneath the symbol, the name “Ye Fan” was clearly engraved.
Lin Qiye and the others exchanged glances, their expressions turning awkward as they quietly put away their weapons…
This was their top boss!
The leader of the entire Great Xia Night Watch, one of the five Human Apex!
If they had actually fought just now, things would’ve gotten *really* messy.
“Ahem… So it *is* Commander Ye,” Lin Qiye coughed, clearly embarrassed. “We didn’t recognize you earlier. Sorry for the offense…”
Ye Fan waved it off with a smile. “Staying alert at all times is a good thing.”
“Commander Ye, are you just passing by, or…?”
“I came here specifically to find you.”
“…”
Lin Qiye’s mouth twitched slightly.
He had only broken out of prison—why was even the Commander-in-Chief coming after him?!
As if reading his mind, Ye Fan shook his head. “Don’t worry. I’m not here to punish you. Even if you hadn’t escaped the Purification Chamber, I would’ve released you today.
In fact, I should thank you for helping Master Chen hold the line. If those prisoners had gotten out, it would’ve been a real headache.”
Only then did Lin Qiye finally relax.
“Then, Commander Ye, why are you looking for me…?”
Ye Fan sniffed the air and smiled. “Are you grilling fish? Mind if I have a skewer? Let’s sit and chat while we eat.”
Lin Qiye blinked.
A few minutes later, five figures sat around the deck of the ice boat, each gnawing on a grilled fish.
Baili Pangpang gave Lin Qiye a suspicious look, beginning to wonder if he could see the future. Otherwise, why had he speared exactly five fish…?
Lin Qiye himself was puzzled. He had only sensed four fish with his mental perception—where had the fifth one come from…?
Then he thought of something. He glanced at Ye Fan, who was happily devouring his fish, and his expression turned strange.
Could it be…
Ye Fan finished his fish with relish, let out a satisfied sigh, and wiped his greasy hands on his cloak.
“Not bad. Now, let’s get down to business.”
The four of them immediately straightened up.
“Lin Qiye,” Ye Fan said, his gaze locking onto him. “What do you think of special teams?”
“Special teams?” Lin Qiye blinked, clearly not expecting the question. After a moment, he said, “A group of extremely powerful individuals tasked with specific, high-level missions?”
Ye Fan nodded in agreement.
“Then what do you think about leading one?”
*Pfft—!*
“Cough cough cough—!”
Baili Pangpang nearly choked on his fish, pounding his chest in shock as he stared at Lin Qiye.
An Qingyu and Cao Yuan were equally stunned, turning to look at Lin Qiye.
“Me? Lead a special team?” Lin Qiye’s voice rose in disbelief. “But… all the current special teams are doing fine. And I’m nowhere near their level.”
“You misunderstood,” Ye Fan said calmly. “I’m not asking you to replace any current captain. I’m asking you to form a *new* special team—and be its captain.”
Lin Qiye seemed to catch on. “The fifth special team?”
“Exactly,” Ye Fan nodded.
“Mysterious entities are appearing more frequently across Great Xia, and they’re getting stronger. The current special teams can no longer maintain stability like before.
Great Xia is in a unique position. We need a new team to fulfill the role of the fifth special team. Its formation is urgent.
And the most critical part of forming a new team… is choosing the right captain.”
“But why me?” Lin Qiye couldn’t help but ask. “I’ve only been in the Night Watch for a little over a year. I’m just River Realm. There are plenty of veterans stronger and more experienced than me.”
Ye Fan smiled and shook his head. “Do you know what matters most in a special team captain?”
“Strength? Decisiveness?” Lin Qiye guessed.
“No,” Ye Fan said seriously. “It’s *potential*. A special team is made up of Great Xia’s most promising talents. In the eyes of others, every member is a genius—a freak. They possess powerful Forbidden Ruins and grow at terrifying speeds.
The captain must be the *ultimate* genius. The *ultimate* freak. He must be able to lead the entire team, to push them forward, to walk ahead of everyone else.
The farther and faster the captain goes, the harder the rest will strive to keep up. Only then can the team’s strength skyrocket—and become Great Xia’s top force.”
Ye Fan looked straight into Lin Qiye’s eyes and said, word by word:
“You, Lin Qiye… are the most promising young talent in the entire Great Xia Night Watch.”
“You *are* the one destined to be the captain of the fifth special team.”