Xiaoshan District People’s Hospital.
By the time Lin Qing arrived at the ward, his cousin Chen Yanan had already been moved out of surgery and was lying in her hospital bed.
She, who had always appeared tall, capable, and physically robust, now looked visibly frail. Her face was pale, her usually neat short hair was disheveled and matted, and thick bandages were wrapped all over her body.
Their aunt sat beside the bed, her eyes red and swollen from crying, peeling an apple.
Cousin Chen Ruizhe stood with his back to the door, facing the window. He was silently watching the distant metropolitan area through the night, still wearing his suit; he had evidently come straight from the office.
The room was silent, the atmosphere stifling.
"Cousin."
Lin Qing closed the door, walked to the bedside, and frowned. "How are you? How did you get so badly hurt?"
Chen Ruizhe turned around, glanced at Lin Qing, and let out a silent sigh without speaking.
"It’s nothing," Chen Yanan said, knitting her brows slightly. "What about you? Why are you running over here alone in the middle of the night?"
"Enough," their aunt said, her eyes reddening again. "Look at the state you’re in; why are you still worrying about Xiao Qing?"
Lin Qing knew his cousin had always treated him like a younger brother, and that she was just changing the subject. He didn't take it to heart.
He frowned and asked, "Cousin, you’re so skilled, you’ve mastered 'Combat Techniques,' and you’re armed. It was just a routine patrol task tonight—how could this happen?"
The *46th Edition Chaoyang Practice Method* from the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall, as a foundation for physical conditioning, was so widely disseminated that the authorities practically wanted everyone to learn it.
However, the "Combat Techniques" used for actual fighting were rarely shared.
There had long been a rule: anyone who was not a student at the martial arts hall, or part of the public security or military systems—anyone not permitted by law—was forbidden from learning them. Otherwise, they would end up in prison.
This was primarily because Combat Techniques were so powerful that they posed a threat to social order.
As a captain of the Patrol Team, Chen Yanan, having mastered Combat Techniques, could easily take on a hundred ordinary armed thugs. How had she ended up like this?
Chen Yanan fell silent for a moment before saying, "The inspection task tonight was going smoothly, but we happened to unearth an escaped convict from the Qinghu Island Prison."
"A convict from the Qinghu Island Prison?" Lin Qing’s expression shifted.
Qinghu Island Prison was one of the three highest-security prisons in the country. With its high walls, dense electrical grids, strict surveillance, and countless armed forces and high-tech facilities, it was impenetrable.
This era was not a century ago; escaping from prison had long been a fantasy found only in movies. Forget Qinghu Island Prison; even in lower-security facilities, it was nearly impossible for unarmed prisoners to break out.
And yet, a prisoner had actually escaped from Qinghu Island?
"It’s not what you’re imagining. That convict didn't escape on his own," Chen Yanan said, leaning back against the bed and shaking her head. "But he was truly formidable. I was nowhere near his match. If it weren't for the fire support from my team, I would have suffered more than just these injuries."
Lin Qing knew there were classified matters within the patrol system that his cousin couldn't disclose. Furthermore, given that the current Order Level was 0.3, he knew this world was far more dangerous than what he had witnessed.
"Just these injuries?"
His aunt couldn't help but look at her daughter, her voice trembling. "You were hurt so badly last night. The doctors said that if you’d arrived any later, they wouldn't have been able to save you. We don't even know if your leg can recover, and you’re still brushing it off?"
"Mom," Chen Yanan said helplessly, having no response.
Only then did Lin Qing notice that the white quilt lay perfectly flat over Chen Yanan’s right leg. There was not a single fold; the contour of the leg was entirely absent. The hollow space beneath the quilt seemed to hide a limb that was no longer there.
"Cousin, your leg..." Lin Qing couldn't help but ask.
Although he had only inherited the memories of his predecessor, the fusion of those memories made him feel deeply. His predecessor had a strong bond with Chen Yanan, and he felt as though he might cry right then and there.
"That leg was kicked to pieces by the fugitive. But he took two bullets from me; even if he didn't die, he won't be having an easy time," Chen Yanan said, shaking her head. "I'll just swap it for a mechanical leg later."
Lin Qing frowned deeply. "Prosthetic technology isn't fully mature yet, and neuron connection rates are generally low. This..."
His cousin had always yearned for martial arts. Once she replaced her leg with a mechanical one, it was hard to say how much of her ability would remain, and further progress would be impossible.
"What are you thinking? Even on one leg, I could still beat you up," Chen Yanan said, glancing at him with a faint smile. "But Xiao Qing has grown up and become much steadier. I thought you were going to start blubbering."
"...Cousin," Lin Qing said, feeling helpless. "You should worry about your leg."
"Let's try to get her a good mechanical prosthetic," Chen Ruizhe said, frowning. "I have a classmate in the third hospital of the Binhai Metropolitan Area who works in medicine. I can ask him about the situation."
He looked at his sister's severed leg and continued in a deep voice, "Also, since you were injured in the line of duty, I checked—your workers' compensation cap is 800,000, and with the disability subsidies from the patrol system, you’ll get up to 60 months of your salary. If we scrape some money together, we should be able to get a high-end mechanical prosthetic."
Lin Qing pondered this. His cousin’s salary was 12,000 a month. If she received the maximum disability subsidy, that would be 720,000, which, combined with the insurance, would indeed cover a decent prosthetic. But he had heard that truly top-tier mechanical prosthetics cost millions.
Her family didn't have that kind of money; their financial situation had only improved over the last few years after she was promoted to captain.
"See? That settles it," Chen Yanan said with a laugh. "Relax, everyone. Technology is changing every day. In a few years, who knows? Mechanical prosthetics might become indistinguishable from the real thing. Maybe even limb regeneration, like a salamander, won't be impossible."
"Stop being so careless..." Their aunt wiped her tears, glaring at her daughter.
"You really do need to be careful," Chen Ruizhe added sternly. "Replacing a mechanical prosthetic is a hassle. I’ve heard that readapting can lead to neurological issues, so we should get the best one we can the first time. I happen to have over 300,000 in savings we can use."
"Brother, isn't that money for when you get married?" Chen Yanan asked, frowning. "Just get me something decent."
"Have you seen the divorce rates these days? What marriage?" Chen Ruizhe shot her a look. "Shut up and listen to me."
Chen Yanan scratched her head, at a loss.
Lin Qing watched silently from the side, knowing that his few thousand dollars wouldn't be of any help.
"By the way, Xiao Qing," Chen Yanan said, turning to look at him. "The day after tomorrow... wait, it’s already Sunday morning. Anyway, on Monday morning, remember to go to the Patrol Bureau and apply to resign."
"Resign?" Lin Qing was slightly stunned.
"I won't be able to serve as captain for a while," Chen Yanan explained. "There’s no suitable candidate in the team, so the higher-ups will likely parachute in a newcomer to act as interim captain."
She eyed Lin Qing and added, "You know that even as a temporary, non-roster patrol officer, you’re not qualified. When I was here, I could let you tag along, but once the new interim captain arrives, they’ll want to secure their position, which means they might start looking for my mistakes. You understand?"
Lin Qing nodded thoughtfully.
Chen Yanan was injured and couldn't perform her duties. Even if the mechanical leg recovered well, that was months away. During that time, if the acting captain performed well, it would be normal for them to be confirmed in the position.
They were essentially competitors.
For the acting captain, scoring merits or digging up the mistakes of the previous captain would be beneficial for their promotion. And he, the temporary officer shoehorned into the team, was a mistake.
"But I’m already in the Patrol Bureau. Even if I'm non-roster, won't there be a record of me after I resign?" Lin Qing asked.
"There is a file record," Chen Yanan nodded. "But since you’re just a temp, it’s not a big problem. As long as you resign before the new captain takes office, you won't be caught in the crossfire, and you can avoid being given a hard time."
Lin Qing realized what she meant.
He knew, however, that the file record already existed; the problem was already there and inevitable. But his cousin was mainly trying to keep him from being targeted by the new captain.
Still... he had already decided to walk the path of a patrol officer.
"...I understand," Lin Qing nodded slightly, not refusing.
Even if he said he could be confirmed in the role or was confident in rising to the level of the Patrol Department, given his cousin's current tragic state, her family would only urge him to give up. He couldn't reveal the existence of the Anti-Entropist Panel, so there was no point in arguing.
"Oh, and..." Chen Yanan added, "A new black-market gang called the Blue Scarf Gang has arrived in Tieshi Street lately, and they’ve been quite active. The Patrol Bureau and the police have been keeping an eye on them. Word is the leader has some real skills, so try not to go out alone at night."
Lin Qing nodded. He then asked, "Cousin, with your current situation, what if your old enemies..."
"Don't worry," she interrupted before he could finish, gesturing upward with a meaningful expression. "There’s already protection."
Lin Qing didn't fully understand, but it was likely a secret of the patrol system he didn't have the clearance to know.
"Alright, go back now," Chen Yanan closed her eyes. "I just finished surgery and need to rest. Don't overthink things; just focus on school."
***
The night was deep. On the dim road, driverless cars streaked by in an endless stream.
Their aunt stayed to accompany her daughter, and since Chen Ruizhe was heading back to the Tieshi District, he took Lin Qing with him, saving on taxi fare.
Inside the car, Chen Ruizhe gave the command to "go home." Once the smart driving system plotted the route, the car sped toward the Tieshi District. He picked up his phone and began messaging his old classmate.
Lin Qing sat quietly, watching the street scenes flash by outside.
A moment later, after sending the message, Chen Ruizhe asked casually, "You seemed a bit hesitant when Yanan asked you to resign just now? Thinking of walking the path of a patrol officer?"
"I’ve thought about it," Lin Qing nodded. "But I haven't decided."
"You saw for yourself today just how dangerous this job is," Chen Ruizhe frowned. "I don’t want to interfere with your life choices, but I want to advise you: wait and sign up for the martial arts track, then take the police or military academy exams later. If that doesn't work, repeating a year is fine too."
He shook his head slightly. "Yanan suffered because her academic credentials weren't high enough, which is why she ended up in the Patrol Team. If her high school scores had been higher, she could have gone straight to a police or military academy. It would be more stable, with better benefits; the climb would just be slower."
Lin Qing understood his cousin’s meaning. While order was chaotic outside the metropolitan areas, the police didn't have to hunt for trouble like the patrol officers did. As for the military, in this era of no global wars, their deployments were rare. But precisely for that reason, the path of a patrol officer was more suitable for the talents of an Anti-Entropist.
"I'm still considering it," Lin Qing replied. "I still have half a year until the college entrance exams."
"That’s true, take your time," Chen Ruizhe nodded. "But training in martial arts is never a mistake."
***
The next morning, at the shooting range.
*Bang!*
Following his eighty-first precise shot of the day, a line of light-textured text appeared before Lin Qing’s eyes.
【"Master Marksman" has been completed】
"Finally..."
A smile flickered in Lin Qing’s eyes. Pretending to check the target, he activated the Anti-Entropist Panel in his mind. The number of pre-payable projects had returned to 1/1.
"That’s it."
Lin Qing placed the pistol on the table, took off his goggles and earplugs, and turned to Coach An. "Let's call it a day."
"So soon?" Coach An, who was dressed in her typically daring attire, looked surprised.
"I just remembered I have something to take care of at home," Lin Qing said, using a casual excuse. "Coach, I'm heading out."
"Oh... alright," Coach An nodded, though she couldn't help but ask, "Will you be back?"
"Perhaps."
Lin Qing took off his shooting jacket and walked away without looking back.
***
Back home, after ensuring the security door was locked and pulling the curtains shut, Lin Qing called up the Anti-Entropist Panel.
The *46th Edition Chaoyang Practice Method* had long been recorded by the panel in the pre-payable section.
"Prepay for '46th Edition Chaoyang Practice Method'."
As his intent shifted, a massive amount of unknown information surged into his mind.
According to the Anti-Entropist’s deduction, to theoretically push the *46th Edition Chaoyang Practice Method* to its limit, he needed to perfectly execute the 24 movements and the breathing technique, ensuring the absorbed Mysterious Energy was fully integrated into his body. He would need to practice it 65 times.
The next moment, memories of him repeatedly practicing the method flooded his mind.
With each attempt, his initial awkwardness vanished, and the technique became skilled, then near-perfect, as if every minor detail had been perfected. Simultaneously, his breathing and blood circulation changed instinctively. Strands of Mysterious Energy infused his whole body, being devoured by every cell.
The energy poured in, and his body began to transform at a terrifying rate.
His heart pounded like a war drum at an unprecedented frequency, pumping vast amounts of blood throughout his body. Under his trembling skin, it felt as if giant earthworms were writhing.
Lin Qing’s pupils constricted. He felt a sharp, agonizing pain, but he gritted his teeth, closed his eyes, and sat on the floor, enduring it in silence.
A moment later, the anomalies ceased.
Lin Qing opened his eyes. The world looked much clearer, and his hearing seemed heightened; he could hear the faint sound of sweat dripping onto the floor. He felt an unprecedented surge of energy and mental clarity.
Although he was drenched in sweat and looked a mess, he was brimming with vitality.
"Is this the state of having fully mastered the 46th Edition?"
Lin Qing stood up and tried a few shadow-boxing strikes. With the air being compressed rapidly, a whistling sound filled the room. He tested his military combat techniques, and the power behind them was significantly stronger than before. A relieved smile appeared on his face.
It wasn't just an increase in explosive power; his control over his muscles had also improved drastically.
As for the specific improvement—
Lin Qing immediately used his home training equipment to accurately test his strength. He wasn't sure about the rest, but his raw strength had at least doubled.
It gave him a sense of transformation. And a sense of security.
***
"They say that even after mastering the Chaoyang Practice Method, one must repeat it over and over, gradually adjusting to a perfect state to truly approach the body's 'First Limit'."
In the bathroom, Lin Qing stood under the showerhead, letting the water wash away his sweat.
According to the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall's website, the method’s primary function was to adjust breathing and blood circulation to stimulate the body's potential, thereby mobilizing a certain "Mysterious Energy" that lay dormant within.
Legend had it that this energy was the root of evolution.
Only by finding the knack and entering that marvelous state could one use the 24 movements and breathing method to mobilize it. Initially, it was very clumsy, and most of the energy would dissipate; only through constant attempts could one reach perfection.
"I can perform a perfect practice every time, so 65 times shouldn't take too long..." Lin Qing calculated.
Before this, he hadn't even mastered the 46th edition. Now, he had leaped straight to the limit. The improvement was immense. And it was a comprehensive upgrade to his basic physical fitness. Coupled with the combat techniques he had pre-paid for and completed during the apocalypse in his previous life, his real-world combat capability was far higher than before.
"And this is only the most simplified version of the Chaoyang Practice Method. It’s no wonder they are the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall..."
Lin Qing was filled with awe.
There were many martial arts halls around the world now, but one could also say there was only one: "Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall." Its branches were everywhere. In industries involving force—public security, the patrol system, the military, private security—promotions were mostly based on the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall's grading standards.
They held a near-total monopoly and had an absurdly high status. Even a massive conglomerate like the Zhixing Group, which came from extraterrestrial civilization, invested in them!
All of this was because of the founder of the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall, hailed as Earth’s hero, and the pioneer of the world's most powerful martial arts.
"Even the Original Edition Chaoyang Practice Method is just the foundation."
Lin Qing felt increasingly shaken the more he thought about it. "I wonder how strong that founder actually is?"
It was said that the original edition consisted of 72 movements and an incredibly complex breathing system. Once mastered, it could push the human body toward its true limit.
However, the prerequisite for practicing the original edition was to first master the *77th Edition Practice Method*.
"The 46th edition was cheap, but the 77th edition costs money. It’s a bit pricey—at least 20,000 to 30,000."
Lin Qing turned off the faucet. "But I can go to the Patrol Bureau tomorrow to apply for a permanent position. Once I’m in, I can apply to learn the 77th edition for free. No need to waste money."
That was one of the perks of being a patrol officer. Even ignoring the "Combat Techniques," the money saved alone was significant.
***
After drying his hair and tying it back, Lin Qing walked into the living room and picked up his phone.
"Huh?"
He noticed a message from the Patrol Bureau system that had arrived half an hour ago.
"All patrol officers of the Xiaoshan District Sub-bureau are to gather at the Patrol Bureau auditorium on Monday morning at 10:00... For the inauguration ceremony of the new captain?"
"They decided on an interim captain that fast?"
Lin Qing decided to head to the Patrol Bureau early the next morning to apply for his permanent position before the new captain could start imposing their authority.