# 455
Chapter 455 – Sword Saint
Cao Yuan: ……
“You’re giving it to me?” Lin Qiye was taken aback.
“Yeah. The moment Old Cao draws his blade he goes berserk; even if we handed him this sword he wouldn’t know how to use it. You handled it pretty smoothly last time, so it’s yours!” Baili Pangpang said as if it were only natural.
“But I don’t know how to use a sword either…”
“You don’t have to fight up close. Just treat it as a tool.”
“…All right.”
Lin Qiye accepted 【Prayer Abyss】, etched a summoning array on the hilt, and set it aside.
“So, where’s that teacher?”
They chatted a while longer until Cao Yuan glanced at the time and couldn’t help asking.
Baili Pangpang pondered. “Maybe his six-hand van broke down on the road.”
“…Not impossible.”
“What level would a teacher have to be for Commander Ye to pay a huge price to get him?” Baili Pangpang began guessing. “Another Human Apex?”
“Probably not,” Cao Yuan said thoughtfully. “Human Apex stand outside the Night Watch system; Commander Ye shouldn’t be able to order them around. Besides, we’re just a nameless squad that’s already lost the qualifications to become a special team—hardly worth a Human Apex coming to teach in person.”
Lin Qiye nodded in agreement.
“It’s past two a.m. now; I doubt that teacher’s coming tonight. Let’s turn in.” Lin Qiye checked the time and told the others.
Everyone was already dead tired; Jialan had even dozed off on his shoulder. Relieved they could finally stop waiting, they nodded and headed back to their rooms.
The lights went out, plunging the warehouse into darkness.
…
Half an hour later.
A figure slowly pushed open the warehouse door.
Carrying a sword-case on his back, he stepped inside; moonlight stretched his shadow long across the floor.
“So this is the place…” He looked around, muttering.
Then, as if noticing something, he crouched and brushed the floor with a fingertip.
A thin layer of dust clung to his skin.
“Floor’s filthy…”
“Ventilation’s poor.”
“Rust on the walls needs treating.”
“Plates aren’t washed clean either.”
“…”
Like a ghost he drifted through the entire warehouse, frowning slightly.
“Looks like I’ll be working overtime tonight…”
…
Next morning.
Dawn.
Urgent knocking woke Lin Qiye. He got up and opened the door to find Cao Yuan wearing a strange expression.
“What’s wrong?”
“Qiye… the place is haunted.” Cao Yuan finally squeezed the words out.
“What?!”
“Come see for yourself.”
Cao Yuan led him straight to the kitchen across the hall.
“I got up for morning practice and went to make breakfast. The moment I stepped in, I saw—”
They pushed the door—and Lin Qiye froze.
Last night they’d been too late and, with no immediate need for the kitchen, hadn’t cleaned; it had been a mess.
Now it looked brand-new, as if freshly renovated. The once grease-coated, dusty floor didn’t have a single speck; every wall tile gleamed.
Lin Qiye walked to the sink and stared at the stack of plates—pure white, polished to a shine.
“I remember these plates had carved patterns…” he said, face twitching. “Where’re the patterns? How’d they turn into plain white dishes?”
“Creepy, right?” Cao Yuan said solemnly. “I’m a Buddhist; a real ghost wouldn’t scare me. But this kind? Never seen or even heard of one. Honestly… I’m stumped.”
Shhhk, shhhk…
A faint sound came from outside.
They exchanged glances and sprinted toward the open central area of the warehouse.
The moment they arrived they froze again.
Was this the same warehouse?
The floor reflected their figures like a mirror; every rust stain on the walls had vanished; stale air was replaced by the fresh scent of detergent; even the ceiling was spotless.
In the empty space a young man gripped a mop, sleeves rolled up, dragging the floor with utter concentration.
Sensing them, he looked up—panda-dark eyes strikingly clear.
He pressed his lips together, conflicted, and after a long pause spoke softly:
“Um… hello.”
…
Five minutes later.
Open area.
Lin Qiye, Baili Pangpang, Cao Yuan, Jialan, and An Qingyu stood in a line, eyeing the unremarkable young man with odd expressions.
“Qiye, he couldn’t be…” Baili Pangpang nudged Lin Qiye, puzzled.
Lin Qiye gave a slight nod.
“Doesn’t look like it,” Baili Pangpang muttered.
The youth wore a black shirt with sleeves neatly rolled; water droplets still clung to his hands. Head lowered, shoulders hunched, he had no presence at all—more waiter than Night Watch.
“Um… who are you?” Lin Qiye ventured.
“Ye Fan hired me to be your comprehensive-education instructor. I meant to arrive earlier, but last night that six-hand van broke down halfway.”
“I’m Zhou Ping,” he added. “Ping as in ‘plain and ordinary’.”
Zhou Ping?
They exchanged blank glances—never heard the name.
“Uh, good morning, Teacher Zhou!” Baili Pangpang greeted obediently, about to continue when Zhou Ping suddenly flinched.
“Please don’t call me teacher.” He seemed uncomfortable.
Not “teacher”? Then what?
“How should we address you?” Lin Qiye asked. “Do you hold any post in the Night Watch?”
Zhou Ping shook his head. “I’m not Night Watch, and I have no rank.”
Lin Qiye froze, sharing a shocked look with An Qingyu.
Commander Ye had paid a huge price… for someone outside the Night Watch?
Then could he actually be…
Zhou Ping thought for a moment. “If you’re not sure what to call me, you can do like everyone else—just call me Sword Saint.”