Chapter 22

After spending a relaxing and enjoyable weekend, Qin Chi began his commute back to the military academy.

With the help of two S-rank principals, Qin Chi had forged a C-rank ability user identity at the Mercenary Association. Once at the academy, he didn’t particularly hide some of the documents regarding new teachers’ onboarding. Gradually, the A- and B-rank students he taught figured out that this new teacher could pull out high-level exotic beast corpses at any moment.

What’s so scary about a mere C-rank teacher?

Having grown accustomed to the stimulation brought by high-level exotic beast corpses, some of the troublemakers began to doze off at their desks again.

Qin Chi didn’t intervene; he merely made slight adjustments to the teaching content. In every class, he would play two short clips about ability users encountering mutated creatures during the first and last three minutes.

The pre-class clip showed ability users being harmed by mutated creatures, while the post-class clip showcased ability users successfully defeating those mutated creatures.

The bloody scenes dispelled the military cadets’ drowsiness, while the final victory pulled them back from terror and despair.

“Teacher, where did you get so many live-action videos? I can’t even find them on the mercenary forum.”

Qin Chi smiled, “I have many friends; these were specially prepared for you before I joined.”

“…You really are considerate, but aren’t you afraid of being reported? Some of the footage is quite challenging for our mental health.”

Qin Chi scanned the first-year students, all around sixteen or seventeen years old, and slowly said, “In the current era, ability users will encounter mutated creatures while on missions. Even those who have ways to remain within the base will face the danger of beast tides attacking the base. In other words, no one today can escape the shadow of mutated creatures.”

“Therefore, I hope you can truly understand the dangers posed by these creatures. Only by understanding the danger can you be motivated to strengthen yourselves. Familiarizing yourselves with the structure and attack methods of mutated creatures is essential for countering them.”

“Laziness and sleeping in are your rights. Teaching you this knowledge is my responsibility and duty. If my efforts can help you avoid even one danger in the future, I would feel very gratified.”

The students who were already listening attentively were deeply moved, while those who liked to sleep in exchanged glances, their minds shifting slightly.

Class ended, and the students quickly left the classroom to head to their next lesson.
—
Qin Chi stood at the podium, packing up his teaching materials, and deducted points for usual performance from the two students who had fallen asleep.

As someone entered the classroom, Qin Chi looked up to see the person shutting the door behind them.

Qin Chi smiled, “You’re back?”

Wei Jian, the principal of the Second Military Academy and an S-rank general in his early forties, entered.

Unlike Dong Mingliang, the stout principal of the Third Academy, Wei Jian was slender with refined features, fitting the image of a military academy principal quite well.

At that moment, Wei Jian had removed his military uniform, wearing black trousers paired with a light blue short-sleeved shirt, walking through the campus like an ordinary teacher.

His spiritual entity resembled a snowflake, which lent him a somewhat cold demeanor, though he remained overall peaceful.

He nodded to Qin Chi.

Among the four existing bases, the Northeast and Southeast Bases were both close to the ocean, which was home to numerous exotic beasts. Occasionally, one or two S-rank beasts attempted to land and wreak havoc.

To counter this, the two bases had each constructed three small coastal bases in their nearby waters, sending S-rank generals to take turns garrisoning them, leading the troops to repel the attacking sea beasts.

For over a hundred years, humanity had remained firmly entrenched in the four major bases, developing various new types of weapons while building an army of ability users. Although they hadn’t expanded their territory significantly, the mutated creatures had also failed to breach humanity’s defenses, resulting in a stalemate between the two sides.
—-

After glancing over the student roster in Qin Chi’s hand, Wei Jian smiled and said, “You seem to be quite a competent teacher.”

Qin Chi replied, “After all, I’m being paid a salary. I can’t ruin the academic atmosphere of your Second Academy.”

Wei Jian asked, “How is the recovery process going?”

Qin Chi responded, “So far, everything is stable.”

Wei Jian continued, “Speaking of which, next month, another batch of third-year students will be going for their graduation practice. Are you interested in accompanying them to the A-rank danger zone?”

Qin Chi replied, “Shouldn’t you have your own supervising teacher for that?”

Wei Jian sighed, “We do have someone, but it’s still an A-rank danger zone. The students either lack experience or have bad luck, and not a single group has returned intact. I didn’t want to force this in the past, but this year, since you’re here, I’d like to give it a try. Of course, they’ll still need to face some hardships. You don’t need to protect them too much—just step in when necessary.”

Except for the central district, where S-rank teachers can accompany the elite students of their own academy for practical training, the other eight military academies have no other S-rank teachers besides their principals. Since the principals are also serving military roles, they are too busy to personally oversee the students, and they must be tough enough to allow the graduates to take risks and step into their future roles as soldiers or mercenaries.

Qin Chi said, “I can do that.”

Wei Jian let out a sigh of relief and invited, “How about dinner together tonight?”

Qin Chi replied, “It’s rare for you to be back; you should spend more time with your family.”
—-
At 4:30 PM, Qin Chi drove into the Ping’an community, turned onto a familiar street, and noticed a military-green SUV parked by the roadside in front of Building Five.

He slowed down and, after parking, looked toward the driver’s seat as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

Through two layers of glass, he recognized a somewhat familiar rugged face—it was the bodyguard lieutenant named Jiang Rui.

The fire dragon began to grow restless again.

Qin Chi was used to it. He got out of the car and locked it, even nodding slightly at the observing bodyguard before heading home.

As soon as he entered the foyer, the fire dragon flew out, its dragon head pressing against the gap in the closed curtains, its golden vertical pupils ominously staring at the SUV parked by the roadside: [What is he doing here?]

Standing at the water dispenser, Qin Chi poured himself a glass of water and said, “Chasing after her?”

It had already been over two weeks since the curly-haired woman had come to “meet” Xu Qiao, and now the bodyguard was finally making his move, which was quite restrained.

He went to the kitchen to prepare ingredients, leaving the fire dragon to watch the unsuspecting bodyguard with keen interest.

Busy with his preparations, a fiery line of words floated before Qin Chi’s eyes: [He’s gotten out of the car!]

Qin Chi glanced at his watch; it was exactly five o’clock, which was Xu Qiao’s official end-of-work time. However, from his observations, Xu Qiao usually returned home around 5:30.
—-
At 5:15, after washing his hands, Qin Chi approached the fire dragon and, peering through the gap in the curtains, saw the bodyguard standing tall beside the SUV, backlit and facing the direction Xu Qiao would come from. He stood perfectly still, as if he were at attention or waiting for a superior officer to arrive.

Qin Chi could sense the seriousness with which the bodyguard pursued Xu Qiao.

Having seen many soldiers, Qin Chi had never actually observed a bodyguard pursuing a girl he liked. More accurately, having been sent to the army at sixteen by his father, he had never witnessed anyone’s courtship methods; he hadn’t even had the leisure to watch dramas.

He found it novel and interesting.

Getting off work always brought joy, and at least Xu Qiao felt happy riding her bike home, enjoying the journey even with the blinding sunlight hitting her from behind.

However, this easygoing mood came to a halt when she recognized the tall figure by the SUV in front of her home.
—-
The SUV was parked, and her bicycle was slowly moving forward, the distance closing in. Xu Qiao clearly saw Jiang Rui’s slightly sun-kissed, resolute face and caught his intense gaze following her every move.

He stood so straight that if it weren’t for the movement of his head and eyes, he would have looked like a vividly sculpted bronze statue.

Xu Qiao got out of her car in front of her yard and, facing Jiang Rui’s eager yet restrained gaze, asked, “Did you come to see me?”

After more than half an hour of silence, Jiang Rui swallowed hard and, in a hoarse voice, said, “Not exactly to find you, just wanted to see you once.”

Since making a hospital appointment and sending her home would put pressure on her, he decided to come here once a week just to catch a glimpse and then leave.

“I like you. I won’t give up. I’m willing to wait.”

“Goodbye.”
—-
After a deep moment of eye contact, Jiang Rui turned and opened the car door, getting into the driver’s seat, fastening his seatbelt, and casting one last look at the stunned girl outside before starting the car and driving away.

The faint scent of exhaust quickly dissipated in the breeze, and only then did Xu Qiao come to her senses.

Because of her looks, Xu Qiao had experienced several courtships, from domineering and passionate ones like Zhao Feng to smooth talkers who were off-putting and those who were overly cautious and gentle. But Jiang Rui’s straightforward and restrained approach was a first for her.

It was May 28, another Tuesday.

Considering that Jiang Rui had shown up the previous two Tuesdays, Xu Qiao mentally prepared herself to possibly see him again when she got off work today.

And indeed, Jiang Rui appeared, still in his black bodyguard uniform, standing tall and resolute as before.

He had left too quickly last time for Xu Qiao to ask him anything, but this time, she stopped him as he was about to open the car door after they exchanged glances for a few seconds. She joked, “You don’t even know my personality. Is it really worth it to come all this way?”

Jiang Rui looked into her clear, bright eyes and answered without hesitation, “It’s worth it. As long as it’s you, I like everything about you.”

This was the first time he couldn’t tear his gaze away from a girl, and the first time, late at night when he should have been sleeping, that her figure and smile lingered in his mind.

The joy of their meeting was genuine, and Jiang Rui felt that even if Xu Qiao whipped him with a whip every day, he would still find joy in it.

Xu Qiao was at a loss for words.

The man’s eyes were dark and bright, and his fiery sincerity surprised her, though she didn’t feel any aversion toward him.

Noticing that Aunt Liu from Apartment 202 seemed to have come to the balcony, Jiang Rui quietly said goodbye to Xu Qiao, “I’m leaving. See you next week.”

Xu Qiao replied, “Wait a minute. I need to make it clear that even if you keep coming here, I might not choose you, so I suggest you give up. I heard Aunt Liu say you live in the East District. It’s quite a hassle to make this trip.”

Jiang Rui countered, “It’s not a hassle because I get to see you. Every Tuesday is my happiest day now.”

Xu Qiao sighed.

Jiang Rui got in the car and drove away.

Xu Qiao watched the SUV disappear into the distance, shaking her head as she pushed her bike toward the building entrance.

The curtains in Apartment 102 were drawn, while Aunt Liu on the balcony of Apartment 202 smiled at Xu Qiao and teased her, “I was wondering why Jiang Rui came over at 4:30. I called him, but he didn’t come upstairs. Turns out he was here waiting for you. This kid is really persistent—no wonder he has a powerful spirit.”

Xu Qiao laughed, “Auntie, since you know him well, maybe you should help persuade him. With gas prices so high, it’s really not worth wasting like this.”

Aunt Liu was speechless.

Behind the light golden curtains, the fire dragon turned to the man beside it: [What does this mean?]

Qin Chi patted the dragon’s head, saying, “It means he doesn’t want others to make a joke out of her suitor.”

Fire Dragon asked: [Does she like him?]

After talking for so long, Lotus didn’t even shoot any water arrows at him!

This time, Teacher Qin from the Second Academy didn’t have a definitive answer either.