# 531
**Chapter 531 – 007**
Lin Qiye still harbored doubts about the truth of those words.
But for now, he could at least confirm that the being behind the Crimson-Eyed Black Shadow meant him no harm.
Once he sorted this out, Lin Qiye’s attitude toward the shadow softened. He nodded, pulled a contract—well, more of a labor agreement—out of thin air, and handed it over.
The Crimson-Eyed Black Shadow didn’t hesitate for a second. Without even glancing at the terms, it signed its name.
The ancient contract ignited in midair. The cell imprisoning the shadow slowly opened, and a cyan caretaker uniform materialized around it. On the chest of the uniform, a nameplate gleamed:
—007.
The shadow looked down at its new attire, a flicker of joy in its eyes. It bowed deeply to Lin Qiye.
“Director Lin, Caretaker No. 007 is at your service.”
“Do you have a name?”
“Please grant me one, Director.”
“...” Lin Qiye’s gaze settled on its crimson eye and black pupil. After a moment, he said, “From now on, you’ll be called Hei Tong (Black Pupil).”
“Thank you, Director.”
“Go introduce yourself to the other caretakers and patients. I’ve got things to do.” Lin Qiye waved him off.
Hei Tong nodded and headed upstairs.
After a couple of steps, he paused. Hesitating, he turned back.
“Director Lin... that person is entangled in too much. His fate threads are too tightly bound. Trying to change his destiny... the price is one you can’t afford.”
Lin Qiye knew exactly who “he” was.
Zhou Ping was the Human Apex, Great Xia’s strongest combat force. To alter his fate would require an equivalent sacrifice.
Hei Tong didn’t want Lin Qiye to take that risk.
After all, he was the one chosen by *that* existence.
Lin Qiye didn’t look back. He simply took two steps forward, his white coat fluttering as he vanished into thin air.
---
**Shangjing City.**
Rain drizzled steadily.
This grand and bustling city was the heart of Great Xia, its political center. Even under gloomy, cold skies, traffic clogged the roads and pedestrians filled the streets.
The flames of civilization and technology burned fiercely beneath the rain.
A low rumble of thunder rolled through the clouds.
Cold raindrops splattered against the windows of a sleek, extended black Lincoln as it weaved through traffic.
“So this is Shangjing...” Cao Yuan murmured, gazing out the window.
“Hey, Bro Shen, you ever regret it?” Baili Pangpang asked Shen Qingzhu. “If not for the Jinnan Mountain incident, you’d’ve been a member of Shangjing’s 006 Squad for two years now.”
Shen Qingzhu sat on the leather sofa, glancing calmly out the window.
“I am who I am. No ‘what ifs.’ No need for them.”
Baili Pangpang shrugged. “Fair enough.”
“One last round, and this comprehensive training is officially over,” Baili Pangpang muttered. “Wonder if the Sword Saint wrote to 006 Squad.”
“He probably did,” An Qingyu said. “But 006 Squad leads all Night Watch teams nationwide, aside from the special ones. The Sword Saint’s letter might sway them a bit, but not much.”
“Definitely won’t get the 007 Squad-style welcome,” Cao Yuan added.
“A fair fight sounds good too.”
As they chatted, Lin Qiye, who had been sitting silently with eyes closed, slowly opened them.
“I have something to say.” His tone was grave.
Everyone fell silent and turned to him.
“What is it, Qiye?” Baili Pangpang asked.
Lin Qiye’s gaze swept across them. After a pause, he spoke slowly:
“Sword Saint Senior... is in danger.”
---
**Shangjing City.**
006 Squad Headquarters.
Yuan Gang, dressed in military uniform, held a file in hand. With steady, efficient steps, he stopped outside the office door.
*Knock knock knock.*
He tapped lightly.
“Come in,” a lazy voice called.
Yuan Gang entered. The office had a simple Chinese aesthetic—clean, elegant furniture. A mountain of files towered on the wide desk.
Behind the pile, a man slowly sat up from a recliner. A cross-shaped scar marked his temple.
“Captain, the kids have arrived in Shangjing,” Yuan Gang said, standing tall, voice deep and clear.
Shao Pingge raised an eyebrow, as if recalling something.
“Oh, the fifth reserve team mentioned in the Sword Saint’s letter?”
“Correct.”
“Good. Is the training ground ready?”
“All set. Due to a special ops meeting this afternoon and two unresolved ‘mystery’ cases, we’ve scheduled it for 9 a.m. tomorrow,” Yuan Gang said, checking the schedule.
“Fine.” Shao Pingge nodded. “As the Sword Saint requested, we won’t interfere. Let the other seven squad members handle it...
Oh, didn’t you say... most of them were your students?”
Yuan Gang smiled. “Yes. Lin Qiye, Baili Pangpang, Cao Yuan, Shen Qingzhu—all from the class two years ago. Jiang Er was last year’s top student.”
Shao Pingge chuckled. “Old Yuan, you’ve trained another batch of monsters. This’ll be your second special team, huh?”
“They’re not a special team until they pass this test,” Yuan Gang said seriously. “I won’t go easy.”
“Knew you’d say that.” Shao Pingge reclined again. “But still, you were their instructor. Don’t you want to grab a drink, catch up?”
Yuan Gang hesitated, then sighed.
“Forget it. Too much work. No time for drinks...”
Shao Pingge glanced at him, then silently covered his face with a file.
“You’re too rigid. Always by the book. Great for work, but terrible for your mindset.
At our level, mindset is everything if you want to advance.
Do what you want. The world won’t stop spinning if you take a break. Night Watch has plenty of talent. You think it’ll collapse without Yuan Gang?”
Yuan Gang froze. “But... these are all squad tasks. If I don’t do them, will you?”
He shook his head. “No, if I leave them to you, the entire Night Watch will probably shut down tomorrow...”
Under the files, Shao Pingge’s mouth twitched.
He cursed under his breath, tossed the file aside, and stood up.
“Yuan Gang, I *am* the captain of the Shangjing Squad. You make me sound like some lazy good-for-nothing...
You! Go drink!
I swear, I *can* handle this damn paperwork!”