"Is Ten-Slayer really that strong?"
Down in the basement, Li Hao still found it hard to believe.
Ten-Slayer didn't sound all that impressive.
Taking on ten men at once—did it really deserve such exaggeration?
From what he knew, some veteran inspectors seemed capable of doing that as well.
"Strong?"
Liu Long sneered coldly. "To me, it's naturally weak! But to you, a Ten-Slayer realm martial master could slaughter several of you without breaking a sweat!"
Nearby, petite Yun Yao said softly, "Li Hao, don't look down on any martial master. Slaying ten is what earns one the title of martial master. Breaking through a military formation of ten men and wiping them all out—that is what it means to be a Ten-Slayer! Facing ten men at once is entirely different from killing ten men in a sequence of one-on-one duels."
Liu Long remarked indifferently, "Explaining too much to him is pointless. Chen Jian, go teach him what a martial master is!"
"Me?"
The massive Chen Jian scratched his head with an honest, clumsy look. "I'm no good at attacking, and my speed is really slow. This kid's speed is actually decent."
Their specialties lay in different areas.
Li Hao was even slightly faster than him, while Chen Jian excelled at defense.
"Just give it a try!" Liu Long furrowed his brows slightly. "Play with him for a bit. You specialize in defense, not offense, which means you won't accidentally kill him!"
*Fine then!*
Hearing that, Li Hao felt a sting of wounded pride. So they picked a shield guard to test him just to keep him from getting killed.
Even so, Li Hao felt an itch to fight.
Every man possessed a competitive streak and an urge to test his mettle.
He had no idea how formidable this fat Chen Jian truly was, but given the man's sheer bulk, Li Hao figured that even if he couldn't win, his agility would at least prevent Chen Jian from laying a hand on him, right?
Chen Jian offered a simple, honest smile. Glancing at the eager Li Hao, he said, "Shall we spar a bit, then?"
He then added, "I'm the weakest in our squad—useless at everything except defense! You practice the Five Animals Ape Art, so you're quite nimble. I might not be able to keep up with you..."
Li Hao eyed him warily. If the man hadn't said that, it would have been fine, but hearing it... Li Hao suddenly felt uneasy.
*This fat guy couldn't actually be a monster, could he?*
Liu Long snapped impatiently, "Aside from defense, Chen Jian is the weakest in the squad when it comes to speed, offensive power, and breakthrough ability. If you're unwilling, I can have Wu Chao step in!"
Li Hao glanced at Wu Chao and shook his head.
*Forget it!*
That skinny fellow clearly moved like greased lightning. He was the squad's scout, sharper than a monkey. Li Hao knew his own limits; against Wu Chao, he might not even graze a sleeve.
"Here I come, then!"
Chen Jian took a step forward, his movements visibly slow.
Li Hao wasted no more words. The moment he assumed the opening stance of the Ape Art, Chen Jian's palm—large as a woven cattail fan—came sweeping toward him.
Without a second thought, Li Hao leapt into the air, retreating backward.
That palm looked heavy as lead.
Seeing Li Hao leap, Chen Jian didn't hesitate. His movements didn't look fast, yet he casually shifted a step to the right. The next instant, Li Hao's face changed.
That was his exact landing spot!
He hadn't leapt straight back!
Midair, Li Hao frantically kicked his legs, trying to leverage the air resistance to alter his trajectory, completely devoid of grace.
True martial arts never had much elegance to begin with.
The Ape Art was still bearable; some of the other forms in the Five Animals Art looked utterly foolish, requiring one to crawl and scramble on all fours, which looked even worse.
A guileless smile spread across Chen Jian's chubby face, as though he had foreseen it all along.
This had nothing to do with superior reflexes or raw strength; it was purely combat experience.
Anyone who fought supernaturals without abundant experience would have died long ago.
While Li Hao flailed his legs to shift his position against the air, Chen Jian unhurriedly took two casual steps. By then, Li Hao had exhausted all momentum and plummeted straight down.
This time, he landed less than a meter in front of Chen Jian.
They were practically nose to nose!
The instant Li Hao's feet touched the floor and felt the solid ground, just as he prepared to spring away, a massive palm filled the corner of his vision—the very same palm from the start.
*Smack!*
A crisp, resounding crack echoed through the room!
Li Hao flipped through the air and crashed to the floor with a dull thud.
Chen Jian hadn't struck his face; he had slapped the side of his neck, leaving behind a vivid red welt.
At that moment, Li Hao was completely dazed.
It felt as though his neck had snapped!
His mind went blank, his head spun, and everything below his neck felt temporarily numb.
All that jumping, all that maneuvering in midair, only to be slapped senseless in a single blow.
He was utterly bewildered!
Chen Jian, still wearing his simple and honest expression, looked down at his broad palm, then at the fallen Li Hao. He gave an awkward, sheepish chuckle and turned toward Liu Long and the others.
"I... I didn't expect him to react so slowly..." Chen Jian muttered self-consciously. "And I didn't expect him to jump right from the start. Boss, you've said before that leaping into the air when you lack sufficient strength is courting death... I never thought I'd actually witness it today."
Lacking the strength to back it up, leaping into the air meant that once an opponent blocked your retreat and anticipated your landing spot, you were entirely at their mercy.
In real combat, that was a cardinal sin!
Even a Hundred-Breaker martial master would rarely leap into the air unless absolutely necessary. Doing so left every vital point exposed, stripping away any chance of mounting a counterattack.
Keeping one's feet planted firmly on the ground was the first rule every martial master had to etch into their mind!
Yet Li Hao, relying on the Ape Art and assuming his speed and agility gave him an edge, had jumped right out of the gate—only to get batted down instantly!
...
The entire basement fell dead silent.
Only Chen Jian's awkward, stammering explanation hung in the air.
Li Hao kept his head lowered, his face burning crimson. For someone who prided himself on his intellect, today had dealt him a massive blow.
He had considered himself reasonably capable, only to be effortlessly swatted away by the squad's shield guard. Had the man not pulled his blow, Li Hao had no doubt his neck would have been snapped in two!
Just moments ago, he had thought that even if he couldn't slay ten men, he could surely handle five or six. Now, that delusion was completely shattered.
In this instant, clarity washed over him.
*I'm... not a martial master. Strictly speaking, I'm just a half-baked amateur who practiced a few moves, someone without a shred of combat experience—a bona fide rookie. I've been overestimating myself all along!*
Recalling last night, he had even entertained the thought: *If I draw my gun fast enough, could I kill the Red Shadow and the person behind it?*
Thinking back on it now... how naive!
How utterly childish!
...
The others exchanged glances, looking from Liu Long to Li Hao with strange expressions.
*Did the kid suffer a mental breakdown from that strike?*
*His psychological resilience seems terribly fragile!*
Liu Long frowned slightly as well. While he had intended to knock Li Hao down a peg, that hadn't been his primary motive. Above all, he had wanted Li Hao to understand that the enemies they faced were far more formidable than he imagined.
Instead, a single sparring match seemed to have shattered Li Hao's confidence entirely.
Li Hao remained prostrated on the floor, making no move to get up. Was he truly incapable of accepting such a defeat?
*Is that all he's made of?*
A faint trace of disappointment flickered in Liu Long's eyes. He had assumed that even if Li Hao lacked martial prowess, his intellect, composure, patience, and resilience were top-tier. After all, Yuan Shuo had taken him on as an apprentice, and the boy had spent an entire year secretly investigating a case for a friend. Liu Long had believed Li Hao was worth grooming.
Had his life been too smooth sailing? Could someone like him endure real hardship?
While Liu Long pondered, Li Hao pushed himself up, rubbing his sore neck, a bashful look on his face.
He looked just like an ordinary young man.
In truth, he was still very young; had he not dropped out, he would still be a student at the Ancient Academy.
"I always thought I was special, smarter than everyone else. I got into the Ancient Academy, became Professor Yuan's student, joined the Inspectorate without a hitch, and cracked open cases... I felt like I could do anything, and do it well..."
Li Hao shook his head, a bitter smile tugging at his lips. "Only today did I realize that when it comes to fighting, I'm completely worthless! I've only studied the Ape Art for three years, and I spent the past year slacking off. How could I ever compare to you veterans? Brother Chen, you must have trained in martial arts for many years, right?"
Chen Jian replied with an honest nod, "Sixteen years! I started late, when I was twelve."
"..."
Li Hao was struck speechless.
Not because the man had trained for sixteen years, but because... he was only twenty-eight!
*Are you kidding me?*
*You're only twenty-eight?!*
The first time Li Hao laid eyes on the chubby man, he assumed Chen Jian was at least around forty. To find out he was merely twenty-eight?
He had no words!
Li Hao kept the thought to himself, displaying only a helpless smile. "My teacher once said that martial arts depends first on talent, and second on diligence! Diligence matters even more than talent! Sixteen years of dedicated training... Regardless of whether I have talent, with my habit of slacking off two days for every one day of practice, the fact that Brother Chen didn't slap me to death is entirely thanks to him holding back!"
Chen Jian gave an embarrassed laugh. "Don't say that, you're actually quite impressive. Even though I held back, I still used thirty percent of my strength. Taking a slap from me without passing out, only staying on the ground for a bit—that's genuinely impressive."
"..."
*Is that supposed to be a compliment?*
Li Hao looked at him, wondering if the seemingly honest, burly fellow intended any hidden meaning.
*A shield guard used thirty percent of his strength and merely knocked me flat instead of killing me—is that something to be proud of?*
Just then, Liu Long spoke up: "Good to see you've come to your senses. I was thinking that if that single slap made you want to quit, I'd grant your wish. It seems you still have some grit after all."
His tone turned cold and detached once more. "However, I want you to remember: Chen Jian is merely a Ten-Slayer martial master, and a defensive one at that! Every single supernatural is far more formidable than him! You couldn't even evade Chen Jian's strike, so don't even dream of escaping alive from a supernatural.
"Of course, you just joined, so being weak is normal. For now, you are merely a reserve member. Aside from serving as bait when we deal with the culprit behind the self-immolation case, your primary duty... will be strengthening yourself and helping us analyze and organize intelligence!"
He didn't expect Li Hao to be of any real use right away.
Not in the slightest!
With that, Liu Long tightened his trench coat, glanced at the others, and promptly instructed, "Liu Yan, show this kid the ropes and help him understand the situation! We don't want him dying pointlessly on our next mission."
"Don't worry, Boss, I'll take good care of him!"
Liu Yan laughed brightly. Li Hao hesitated, wanting to speak, but thought better of it. Whoever it was, it didn't matter.
Right now, he was the absolute rookie of the Demon Hunting Squad.
Even Chen Jian, the self-proclaimed weakest member, could effortlessly swat him dead. What right did he have to complain?
As for the medic, Yun Yao, Li Hao didn't intend to pry. She looked gentle and frail, but who knew what lay beneath the surface? In this world, the frailer someone appeared, the more terrifying they often proved to be.
At least he had some familiarity with Liu Yan; they had spoken a few more words together.
Liu Yan beamed at Li Hao. "Little Li Hao, come chat with your big sister in my office. It's too stifling down here."
Li Hao thought for a moment before speaking up: "Captain Liu, there's no rush for that."
He then turned to Liu Long. "Captain Liu..."
"You have permission to call me Boss!" Liu Long stated with icy pride, as though being allowed to call him 'Boss' were an extraordinary honor.
Li Hao said nothing. Under someone else's roof, he had to bow his head. Boss it was.
"Boss, the killer who murdered Zhang Yuan probably realized we're investigating him after the commotion we caused last night. I've studied the case files: every incident occurred on an overcast, rainy day, which seems to be the killer's chosen timing... It has been nearly a year since the last murder. Based on the timeline, the upcoming rainy spell in a few days might be when they strike again."
Liu Long gave an indifferent nod. "I know! I will make preparations. Are you trying to say the next target will likely be you, and that you're afraid?"
Li Hao remained silent.
"Rest easy!"
Liu Long offered no lengthy explanation, only reminding him, "Your current priority is to learn more, understand more, and keep yourself alive! As for dealing with the mastermind behind the self-immolation cases, we will handle it!"
Li Hao had no choice but to trust them.
Besides, he doubted Liu Long was eager to throw his own life away.
With that, Liu Long strode out, with Wu Chao and Chen Jian following closely behind. Yun Yao didn't join them; she gave Li Hao and Liu Yan a polite nod before heading deeper into the basement.
Liu Yan glanced at Yun Yao, then caught Li Hao staring after her. A teasing smile played on her lips as she chuckled softly, "Little guy, is chatting with your big sister that stressful? Don't go setting your sights on her; isn't your big sister much nicer?"
"Captain Liu misunderstands!"
Liu Yan chuckled again. "Misunderstanding or not, it doesn't matter. It was just a reminder! A medic... being a medic in our line of work isn't something just anyone can do! For people like us, ordinary wounds don't require a medic. A medic holds an extraordinarily vital role in our squad, tasked with a duty no one else can fulfill."
Li Hao's interest was piqued instantly. Curious, he asked, "What duty?"
Right now, Li Hao was eager to learn about everything; only by grasping the full picture could he keep up with the rest of them.
"Extracting mysterious energy!"
Liu Yan spoke with a smile, yet her eyes harbored a faint hint of dread.
*Extracting mysterious energy!*
Li Hao was taken aback.
Ordinary people couldn't perceive mysterious energy. As for whether supernaturals could... they probably could, but none of the people present were supernaturals. Clearly, extracting mysterious energy was no simple feat.
Yet Yun Yao could do it!
Just as Liu Yan said, Yun Yao was indeed a cornerstone of the squad. They hunted supernaturals precisely to strip away their mysterious energy; without Yun Yao, the squad would lose its very purpose.
Even someone as bold and uninhibited as Liu Yan felt wary of her.
Li Hao committed this to memory.
This squad might appear to consist of ordinary mortals, but none of them were simple. Anyone who made it into this unit was a dangerous character.
"Let's go, stop staring!"
Liu Yan gave Li Hao a playful nudge with her foot and laughed. "Stay away from that woman! She's harder to deal with than the Boss. You can still joke around with the Boss, but around her, keep your mouth shut!"
Li Hao nodded obediently.
He behaved with complete compliance, feeling as though he had returned to a year ago when he first entered the Confidential Records Office. Back then, he had been just as meek and quiet, never speaking out of turn, simply playing the role of the humble rookie.
He did whatever he was told!
A year later, he remained just as modest, yet everyone in the Confidential Records Office spoke highly of him, with not a single bad word muttered behind his back. That was enough.
...
Following Liu Yan, the two returned to her sixth-floor office.
They had only spent half an hour in the basement, yet stepping back inside this office—which had felt intimidating earlier—now brought Li Hao a peculiar sense of security, far better than down below.
*Thud!*
Liu Yan flopped heavily into her chair with zero regard for decorum, propping her legs up on the desk, gesturing for Li Hao to take a seat.
Once Li Hao sat down, Liu Yan spoke in a casual tone, though her words carried serious weight.
"The Boss told me to brief you on the basics... but I don't really know where to begin. After all, everything is second nature to me. How about you ask the questions? Whatever you want to know, just ask, and I'll answer!"
Li Hao's expression turned solemn.
He might act polite, but when it came to gathering knowledge, he wouldn't hesitate. Getting straight to the point, he asked, "Captain Liu, how does one become a supernatural?"
"There are two paths!"
Liu Yan was just as straightforward, explaining directly, "First, by birth! Some people are naturally capable of absorbing mysterious energy. Without cultivation, without deliberately guiding energy into their bodies, their flesh naturally possesses a foundation of mysterious energy that grows on its own. These individuals are known as Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters!"
*Heaven-Blessed Divine Masters!*
Li Hao memorized the term.
"Second, channeling energy into the body! This is the conventional route of advancement: absorbing mysterious energy, undergoing its baptism, and awakening one's own mysterious energy. These supernaturals form the mainstream; it's the path the vast majority must take! Across the entire supernatural system, they are known as Starlight Masters!
"Mysterious energy glitters like starlight, and acquired supernaturals absorb this energy, so they proclaim themselves to have descended under the illumination of starlight."
*Starlight Masters!*
Li Hao committed that to memory as well.
So the supernatural system was divided into two major categories based on their origins?
"Are there only these two paths?"
Liu Yan nodded. "Strictly speaking, we fall under the second category. We want to advance into the supernatural realm by channeling mysterious energy into our bodies, becoming Starlight Masters. We don't count as a third path."
She paused in thought, then added, "However, rumor has it there is another way to advance."
Li Hao's interest deepened. "What way?"
Liu Yan smiled brightly. "It's said that certain powerful supernatural items can directly alter a person's physical foundation, allowing them to step into the supernatural realm! In other words, transforming into a supernatural by relying on external objects."
Li Hao's heart skipped a beat!
*Supernatural items!*
Did the Starry Sky Sword and the stone saber count?
Liu Long likely knew, or at least suspected, that these items were in his possession. Yet why hadn't he mentioned them? Was he harboring secret plans, or did he genuinely not care?
The next moment, Liu Yan continued, "Of course, the reason this method is rarely mentioned is that it's exceedingly difficult. First, the supernatural item must be immensely powerful, which ordinary people have no hope of obtaining. Second, supernatural items are said to have restrictions; not just anyone who acquires one can undergo the transformation. I don't know the specifics—the Boss might, but it's not something you need to concern yourself with anyway."
Li Hao said nothing, merely nodding.
Steering away from the topic, he asked, "Then what did the Boss mean earlier about matching supernaturals and channeling energy into the body?"
"Everyone has a different constitution and different aptitudes. Supernatural power isn't a single element; it takes many forms. Take the Boss, for instance: he excels at offense, but even he doesn't know what kind of offensive power suits him best. Is it lightning? Fire? Ice? In short, he doesn't understand which elemental affinity he might possess. In such a situation, absorbing an incompatible type of mysterious energy makes it exceedingly difficult to unlock the supernatural lock inside his body!"
"Supernatural lock?"
"It's what we conventionally call the supernatural barrier! Whether it physically exists, I couldn't tell you. The Boss mentioned that within the Night Watchers, they say everyone possesses a lock that seals the mortal realm away from the supernatural! Only by opening this lock can you step into the supernatural realm!"
Li Hao understood.
*Unlocking the supernatural lock!*
This was the goal these mortals pursued.
Li Hao stopped inquiring about supernaturals for the moment, moving directly to a more crucial question: "Captain Liu, if I want to advance into a supernatural, is there a way?"
"Channeling energy into your body. But right now, you'll hardly get a share of mysterious energy—unless we kill the culprit behind the self-immolation case, and we see if we can secure a portion for you..."
Liu Yan spoke bluntly: "It all depends on your contributions! It's not a matter of 'I'm weak, so I deserve more.' The Demon Hunting Squad is very fair on this front: whoever contributes the most gets the largest share."
Li Hao nodded in understanding.
"Then how can I..."
"You want to know if there's a way for you to grow stronger?"
Liu Yan smiled and nodded. "There is! Before advancing, if you have no way to step directly into the supernatural realm, you can strengthen your martial arts! You're currently too weak, but there are actually plenty of ways to build your strength."
Li Hao leaned forward, anticipation in his eyes.
Liu Yan pondered for a moment before explaining, "First, relentless bitter training on your own!
"Second, a high-grade martial arts technique. Your Five Animals Art is actually quite remarkable. Master Yuan was, after all, a Hundred-Breaker martial master back in his day, which speaks for itself. Furthermore, the Five Animals Art is exceptionally well-rounded, covering offense, defense, and endurance."
Li Hao nodded. That was true; the Five Animals Art comprised five distinct forms, and he had only learned the Ape Art.
"Third, external aid!"
Liu Yan smiled. "This external aid primarily refers to mysterious energy. Even if mysterious energy entering the body fails to unlock the supernatural lock, it can still temper and strengthen one's physical constitution. The body is the foundation of everything! With a robust physique and powerful vitality, paired with a formidable martial art, you will naturally become far stronger!"
*Mysterious energy!*
Li Hao's thoughts raced. *I... actually have that!*
*The sword-infused water!*
"Of course, mysterious energy isn't the only form of external aid; there are many other ways to enhance your strength! For that... perhaps you can turn to your teacher."
Li Hao blinked. "What do you mean?"
Liu Yan laughed merrily, a playful twinkle in her eyes. "As the head of the Ancient Civilization Exploration Department, he has explored countless ancient ruins. While the Night Watchers certainly claimed the lion's share of the spoils, they always left him a few pieces to keep him appeased! And ancient ruins hold the greatest treasures! Weak as you are, if your teacher gifts you a few good items, the benefits would be boundless!"
Li Hao remained silent. How could he have the gall to ask his teacher for treasures?
What a joke!
"Hahaha, don't be shy! It's not just your teacher; our Demon Hunting Squad has good stuff like that too!"
Lowering her voice, Liu Yan whispered, "Take your big sister's advice: as long as you prove your worth to the Boss and show you're worth investing in, he won't be stingy! Having killed several supernaturals, and being the core enforcement arm of Silver City, we have our own little slush fund."
Li Hao blinked, catching her drift!
After a moment's thought, Li Hao asked, "Sister Liu, aside from one's own perception, are there any clear indicators of an increase in strength? For example, reaching the Ten-Slayer realm—does that come with noticeable changes?"
"Changes?"
Liu Yan paused, then chuckled. "There are, but a martial master's strength ultimately comes down to real combat and genuine skill! Down in the basement, behind that passage, there's a practical combat training room. You'll understand once you step inside. When you can clear the first trial in there, you will officially be a Ten-Slayer! It means you possess the strength to head-on slaughter an elite ten-man squad!"
*A combat training room?*
Li Hao noted this down, his curiosity piqued once more.
He looked at Liu Yan again. Aside from these things, weren't there any other benefits or assistance to joining the Demon Hunting Squad?
Sensing his gaze, Liu Yan was momentarily stunned. When she realized what he was hinting at, she burst out laughing, shaking her head. "You little rascal, you aren't nearly as naive and honest as you pretend to be!"
Li Hao offered a pure, innocent smile, murmuring, "It's all in the name of justice!"
*In the name of justice!*
Liu Yan's smile faded. After a long pause, she shook her head with a sigh. "You certainly know how to use what you've learned! I can't give you other resources since you've only just joined. However... the firearms in my office are yours to take. Take as much as you can carry! It's all entirely legal and compliant. Right now, you probably need these more than anything. Cultivating personal strength isn't something achieved overnight. Your big sister has trained in martial arts for nearly twenty years, and this is all I have to show for it..."
Li Hao nodded. *Twenty years? How old were you when you started?*
The woman before him looked to be around thirty; could she actually be pushing forty?
Naturally, Li Hao didn't dare ask.
These people casually tossed around having trained for ten or twenty years, which was intimidating in its own right. Li Hao understood how grueling martial arts was; it demanded immense suffering. Over the past three years, even when he claimed to be slacking off, he practiced the Ape Art whenever he had free time. He had snapped seven or eight sets of gymnastics rings at home, bruising and battering himself half to death on numerous occasions.
Afterward, Li Hao asked several more questions, and time slipped away unnoticed.
It wasn't until Liu Yan reminded him that it was almost time for lunch that Li Hao reluctantly brought his inquiries to an end.
The more he learned, the deeper his yearning grew!
If stepping into the supernatural realm immediately was impossible, then making progress in martial arts to gain some self-preservation capability was certainly the next best thing.
*Sword-infused water is a treasure. I need to brew more of it, and drink more of it!*
Li Hao felt the soothing coolness radiating against his chest. This might well be his only chance to rapidly close the gap between himself and the others.
Chapter 15