# 858
# Chapter 859: The Missing "Mask"
"Generally speaking, the Forbidden Ruins we commonly encounter do not possess their own consciousness. The power they can exert depends on both the Forbidden Ruins' sequence level and the spiritual power intensity of the user..."
"Instructor, you said that generally the Forbidden Ruins we encounter don't have their own consciousness. Does that mean there are Forbidden Ruins in this world that do possess self-awareness?"
In the audience, a new recruit asked with confusion.
Baili Pangpang smiled faintly, "Of course there are. Within the Japanese 'Human Enclosure' hidden in the Mist, there exists a special type of Forbidden Ruins called the 'Magatsu Blade.' It possesses an independent self-awareness and can choose its own master. Moreover, even if the wielder's spiritual power is extremely weak, it can still unleash tremendous power..."
As Baili Pangpang lectured, the new recruits below had become completely absorbed. The knowledge he shared mostly came from his own experience and personal encounters—things that textbooks simply couldn't provide. For the new recruits, this was genuine treasure.
Not just the recruits, but more and more instructors had gradually gathered around to listen in.
Just as Baili Pangpang was getting into the swing of things, his peripheral vision caught something in the distance, and his gaze narrowed slightly.
He stood on the podium, his voice cutting off abruptly.
Only then did the new recruits snap back to reality from Baili Pangpang's class, asking in confusion: "Instructor Baili, why did you stop? It's not yet the end of class hour!"
Baili Pangpang didn't answer. He simply raised a hand calmly toward the sky, and the countless Forbidden Ruins in the air rolled into his pocket. The Taiji Bagua diagram beneath his feet收起 as well.
He patted the Crimson Cloak draped over his body and smiled at the new recruits below.
"I'm sorry, everyone. Today's class ends here...
Next, we have something important to attend to."
He descended from the podium and walked slowly toward a certain direction.
The new recruits all turned to look.
Without anyone noticing when it happened, six figures had already stood shoulder to shoulder on the distant grassland. They carried black cases, wore masks, and the Crimson Cloaks fluttered gently in the breeze.
Baili Pangpang lowered his head, pulled a mask from his chest, put it on, and walked to join the six others, his cloak billowing.
Lin Qiye glanced at the recruits below, then turned away. He reached out and tapped the void, and endless clouds surged from beneath his feet, transforming into a massive stream of clouds. Seven figures stood atop the clouds and vanished rapidly into the blue sky above.
The new recruits stared blankly at this scene, their eyes full of confusion.
"Those are the instructors from the [Night Watch] squad..."
"Where are they going?"
"I don't know."
"Probably a special mission?"
"But... they looked so cool doing that..."
Watching those seven figures disappear beyond the horizon, admiration filled the recruits' eyes.
"A special squad, huh..." Li Zhenzhen sat on the ground, gazing up at the endless sky, murmuring to herself, "That... doesn't seem bad either?"
"You don't want to return to Squad 006?" Fang Mo's ears perked up beside her, and he turned to ask.
"I don't know." Li Zhenzhen shook her head. "I just envy them, having comrades they can trust and rely on..."
"Tch."
From behind the two of them, Lu Baoyou spoke coolly, "The weak are the ones who need companions. The strong... one person is enough."
"?" Fang Mo turned to look at him, his gaze turning cold. "Who are you calling weak? You tired of living?"
"You got a problem with that?"
"I'm just pointing it out, so what?"
"Looking for a fight?"
"Bring it on!"
"..."
...
On the Somersault Cloud.
"How was it? Wasn't I super cool just now?!" Baili Pangpang sat on the cloud, excited. "That line 'I'm sorry, everyone. Today's class ends here...'—I've been waiting to use that ever since I was in training camp! Can't believe I finally got to say it!"
Cao Yuan silently rolled his eyes.
"Qiye, you said there was an urgent mission—what's going on?" Shen Qingzhu turned to look at Lin Qiye.
At these words, everyone's expression immediately became serious.
"I'm not entirely sure of the details myself. Commander Zuo has summoned us to headquarters immediately." Lin Qiye paused. "But... it seems to involve the [Mask] squad."
"The [Mask] squad?" Jialan asked, puzzled. "Didn't you say they were on vacation?"
Lin Qiye made a sound of acknowledgment, his gaze landing briefly on Jialan. After a brief moment of eye contact, both of them awkwardly looked away...
Recalling last night's scene, Jialan's cheeks flushed a light shade of red again.
"But it seems something unexpected happened..." Lin Qiye cleared his throat. "In any case, at this particular time, only our squad can spare the personnel to handle it."
"Understood." Baili Pangpang nodded thoughtfully. "Though... since it's the [Mask] squad, it probably isn't anything too serious, right? They're incredibly strong."
"...Hopefully."
The training camp's location was at the edge of Shangjing City. With the Somersault Cloud's speed, they arrived at Night Watch headquarters in mere moments.
Knock knock knock—!
Lin Qiye knocked on the commander's office door, then pushed it open and entered.
The moment they stepped inside, a strong scent of blood hit them. Lin Qiye's gaze swept across a wall still stained with blood, and his brow furrowed slightly.
"You're here..."
Zuo Qing, seated behind the desk, slowly opened his eyes.
"Commander Zuo, what happened?" Lin Qiye asked, puzzled.
"There's a traitor within the Night Watch."
"A traitor?"
Hearing these two words, everyone from the [Night Watch] squad was somewhat shocked.
Of course, this didn't apply to Lin Qiye and An Qingyu. These two had already suspected this possibility beforehand and had prepared themselves mentally. What surprised them slightly was the scale of things based on the current situation—these traitors had apparently caused quite a stir.
"So the training camp raid was related to them as well?" Lin Qiye asked.
"Mm. Fortunately, with your intervention, the new recruits weren't seriously hurt." Zuo Qing paused, then continued, "What I'm worried about now... is the [Mask] squad."
"What's wrong with the [Mask]?"
"The day you received your medals and commendations, the [Mask] squad had just begun their vacation. But the moment they boarded their flight to Hainan, they received a phone call." Zuo Qing took out a document and handed it to Lin Qiye and the others.
"This call was made by the traitor using my phone, and they must have used some ability to disguise their voice. They spoke to the [Mask] squad in my name, saying something. After the plane landed in Hainan, the [Mask] squad went directly to Ningchang County, and from there... they vanished completely..."