# 474
Chapter 474 – Crashing the Party
Deep in the night.
The moonlight was hazy.
A window on the edge of the warehouse was gently pushed open; a figure slipped out, hoisted a suitcase onto its back, and glided away like a phantom.
In the darkness, sentries posted around the military base stood ramrod-straight at their posts, night-vision goggles in hand, scanning the surroundings. Static crackled from the walkie-talkies at their waists.
“All units, report status.”
“Unit One, no anomalies.”
“Unit Two, no anomalies.”
“Unit Three—”
After every team had checked in, the voice on the other end exhaled in relief.
“Stay razor-sharp. Under no circumstances is the Sword Saint to slip away. I’m not asking you to stop him—just spot him and report immediately. This is Commander Ye’s direct order. If the Sword Saint vanishes again, we’re all in for it. Clear?”
“Clear!”
The sentry on the elevated platform holstered his radio and was raising his night-vision goggles when an invisible strand of sword-energy smacked him between the eyes.
His vision went black and he crumpled, unconscious.
Every sentry along that sector dropped at the same instant. A silhouette flashed across the sky and in a blink reached the perimeter.
Zhou Ping dragged his suitcase, quietly pulled down his black mask, and, seeing the open ground ahead, let out a long sigh.
Now no one can tattle on me to Ye Fan…
Honk—honk—honk—!!
Headlights speared the darkness, dozens of dazzling beams locking onto him like arrows of light, arranging themselves into a half-circle that lit the place brighter than a concert stage.
Thirty-plus black Mercedes, hidden until now, rumbled to life and rolled slowly toward him.
Zhou Ping stood petrified in the glare, staring in utter bewilderment.
How could there be so many Mercedes lying in ambush…?
He’d picked this direction at random!
“A-hem, Senior Sword Saint, leaving in the middle of the night without a word…”
From the darkness behind him, five figures vaulted the base wall, black cases on their backs, and landed in front of the cars. Their long shadows crisscrossed the floodlit ground.
The slightly pudgy one stuffed his hands in his pockets and spoke with theatrical resignation.
“You…” Zhou Ping gaped. “How did you know…?”
“Senior, have you ever considered,” Lin Qiye said seriously, “you’re ridiculously easy to read? Even Jialan guessed you’d bolt tonight—of course we prepared.”
Jialan turned and glared at him, cheeks puffed.
“But how did you know I’d leave this way?” Zhou Ping asked, bewildered.
“Great question!” Baili Pangpang chuckled, produced a walkie-talkie, and pressed the button. “All units—lights on!”
Vroom-vroom-vroom—!!
Hundreds more Mercedes ignited their high-beams around the base, forming a perfect ring. Whichever direction Zhou Ping had chosen, he couldn’t have escaped the glare.
Zhou Ping: …
“Good thing last week’s dividend hit the account,” Baili Pangpang shrugged, half-smiling. “I cleared out every Mercedes for rent or sale in Huaihai City, plus a hundred more from the next town. Grand enough?”
“Pangpang, I just remembered something.”
“Hmm?”
Lin Qiye mused, “When exactly are you reimbursing us for the suits?”
“…Is this really the time, Qiye?”
“Fair point.”
Lin Qiye looked up, smiled at Zhou Ping, and swept a hand over the sea of cars.
“Senior, pick whichever one strikes your fancy—we’re starting Phase Three of training.”
……
One day later.
Xining City.
Six figures stepped from a private jet. Baili Pangpang slid off his sunglasses, surveyed the ancient-flavored city, and raised an eyebrow.
“Xining… always wanted to visit. We’ve gotta stay a few extra days.”
“We’re here to train, not sightsee.” Lin Qiye pulled out a file. “Night Watch Team 009, stationed Xining—seven members. Captain Huang Yuande, vice-captain Shan Mei, and a fighter named Jiang Liu are Sea Realm; the other four are all River Realm…
Three Sea, four River—should be quick. We can hit the next city early.”
He turned to Zhou Ping, who was studying his shoes. “Senior, opinion?”
Zhou Ping flinched, wrestled with himself, and mumbled, “I… think the five of you could beat them without me.”
“But later teams will need you to negotiate,” Baili Pangpang leaned in. “Consider this practice—if talks collapse, no big deal!”
“Right, Senior, just a rehearsal.”
After more coaxing, Zhou Ping’s head drooped lower and lower, but at last he nodded helplessly.
“F-fine… I’ll try.”
They followed the address to an old residential compound, rolled down a ramp to the underground level, and stopped before a tiny shopfront labeled “Cainiao Post.”
“Qiye, Team 009 runs a courier side-gig?” Baili Pangpang blinked.
“Why not? Our old 136 office used to mediate seventy-year-old grannies’ love spats,” Lin Qiye said evenly. “When no ‘mysteries’ appear, garrison teams can moonlight.”
Baili Pangpang nodded.
Everyone turned to Zhou Ping at the rear.
“…” Zhou Ping’s mouth twitched. “I… don’t know what to say…”
“Just state our business.”
“O-okay…”
He hovered at the door, mustered courage, and pushed inside.
In the cramped shop, a middle-aged man stacking packages looked up and smiled. “Hello, I’m courier Huang Yuande. Pick-up code?”
“I… I don’t have one.”
“Oh? Sending a parcel, then? Where to?”
“…I’m not sending anything either.” Zhou Ping finally squeezed the words out.
Huang Yuande eyed him suspiciously. “So what are you here for?”
Zhou Ping hesitated. “I’ve… brought people to crash your place.”