Chapter 2: Chapter 2: City Defense Bureau
The summer mornings in Qianjiao County were quite cool.
At the intersection of the only three main roads in the county’s East City District, there was a bustling breakfast spot. The shop had three stalls: one sold congee, side dishes, and steamed buns; another sold soy milk, fried dough cakes, and other convenient foods; and the last one sold all sorts of sweet breakfast pastries.
"Smells so good!"
Yang Wenqing swallowed hard, took a swig of cool water from the canteen at his waist, and forced himself to look away from the tempting steamed buns. After taking another hard bite of the somewhat tough rice cake in his hand, he quickened his pace toward East Third Street. His destination was the most iconic building on the street: the Public Security Office.
He was just starting his career at the Public Security Office. Aside from the slightly low salary, there was nothing wrong with the place.
As Yang Wenqing crossed the road, he heard the crisp chime of a bell from deep down another street. It was a rail bus. An earthy-yellow light flowed and flickered from the vehicle’s undercarriage, and a closer look revealed that it was hovering just above the tracks.
Yang Wenqing’s pace quickened unconsciously. The bus was scheduled to arrive at the intersection at 7:50, and he had to clock in at the Public Security Office by 8:00.
By now, all the shops on both sides of the street were open for business. They mainly sold leather products, and most had signs that read ’Wholesale’.
"Wenqing!"
A voice suddenly called out.
Yang Wenqing turned and saw a young man also dressed in a trainee City Defense uniform.
"Ah Yong!"
Yang Wenqing greeted him politely. It was Ye Yong, a member of his squad who had just started last week.
Ye Yong was on the other side of the street. After calling out his greeting, he hurried over, pulling a meat bun from a paper bag and stuffing it into his mouth.
Seeing this, Yang Wenqing swallowed the last of his rice cake, chugged a large mouthful of water, and quickened his pace toward the Public Security Office to avoid awakening his own appetite again.
The reason for his financial strain was his overwhelming debt. Every month was a struggle of robbing Peter to pay Paul. He had borrowed the money—a total of 50,000 yuan—from his Clan’s Ancestral Hall when he was admitted to the city’s Police Academy.
He had only managed to secure the loan from his Clan thanks to his reputation as a genius. He had shown great intelligence in the clan’s school since childhood. Later, when he began practicing Qi Cultivation with the other clan disciples, he was the first to achieve Qi Sensing. At sixteen, with the help of a clan elder, he drew his first Talisman.
The sum might not seem like much, but his current monthly salary was only 1,200. After deductions, his take-home pay was just over 1,000. He had to use 800 of that to repay his debt. With a younger brother and sister at home, his parents couldn’t spare him a single cent; they could only arrange for someone to bring him some rice and flour each month.
As he neared the main gate of the Public Security Office, more and more colleagues appeared on the street, including some senior sergeants. Yang Wenqing greeted his seniors as he hurried inside.
The front courtyard of the Public Security Office was open to the public, so it was always rather lively. The back courtyard, however, was much stricter. Guards were stationed at both entrances twenty-four hours a day, and an Array monitored anyone entering to ensure the aura on their chest insignia matched the one on record.
The back courtyard contained several office areas. In the middle of the courtyard was a parked Flying Shuttle. At full speed, it could reach any part of East City within a minute and provide support to the West District, the furthest part of the county, within ten minutes.
As Yang Wenqing entered the back courtyard, Ye Yong caught up to him. He had already finished his breakfast, and the paper bag he’d been holding was nowhere in sight.
"Wenqing, isn’t today your promotion ceremony?"
Ye Yong’s voice was tinged with eagerness and envy.
Yang Wenqing nodded. He had completed his one-year internship. Soon, a chevron would be added to his shoulder, his salary would increase by 300 a month, and he would be one step closer to escaping poverty. He would also be granted the authority to enforce the law and carry a firearm.
This world was not a safe place. A handgun was standard issue for every official officer.
When he got off work yesterday, his direct supervisor, Xiao Liang, captain of the Second Patrol Squad, had specifically told him not to be late this morning, as the Director himself would be conducting the ceremony.
As they spoke, the two of them walked toward an open-doored room on the far left side of the courtyard. The moment they stepped inside, they were hit by the smell of vanilla. They were long used to it. The first thing they did after entering was to clock in on the jade slip Array by the door.
"Xiaoyang, you’re finally here."
A woman’s voice rang out, and a middle-aged woman walked over.
She had a full figure, and her light-blue City Defense uniform was neat and tidy. Fine lines had appeared at the corners of her eyes, which held a look of both competence and gentleness. Her hair was tied back in a simple bun, with a few stray strands falling beside her ears. The insignia on her shoulders—a crossed sword and shield—marked her as a Senior Sergeant.
She walked toward Yang Wenqing as she spoke, a police cap in her hand. When she reached his side, she deftly placed it on his head.
"Sister Liu." Yang Wenqing quickly stood at attention and adjusted the cap that had just been plopped on his head. It was his, but no one wore them home after their shift.
"The Director himself will be conducting the ceremony in a bit. Look sharp. This is a big deal," Sister Liu instructed him seriously. Then, she looked at Ye Yong. "You too, look sharp. Go put on your cap."
Just as she finished speaking, three official officers and one senior officer walked in one after another. With that, everyone from Patrol Squad Two was present, except for Captain Xiao Liang.
Just as Sister Liu was about to say something, the four who had just entered shot a look at the three already in the room. They then hurried to their respective desks, grabbed their police caps, and properly put them on.
Yang Wenqing immediately understood what was happening. Just as Sister Liu stepped aside, two more people entered.
"Director!"
Everyone, including Yang Wenqing, called out in a respectful tone.
The man in the lead was none other than Wang Ren, the Director of the East City Public Security Office. He wore a pure white uniform with a single, eye-catching silver star on each shoulder board, and a row of service ribbons adorned his chest next to his insignia.
Behind Director Wang Ren was Xiao Liang, Captain of the Second Patrol Squad. He also wore a light-blue uniform. His shoulder insignia featured the crossed sword and shield, plus a single chevron, marking him as a Senior Sergeant—the highest rank for a lower-echelon officer.
Wang Ren’s gaze swept over the room, pausing for a moment on Yang Wenqing. He then walked to a space that had been deliberately left clear at the front of the room and looked at Yang Wenqing. His voice was loud but affable. "Xiaoyang, come here."
Yang Wenqing remained calm, walking before the Director under the watchful eyes of his colleagues and snapping to attention with a salute.
Wang Ren returned the salute and took a small, square box wrapped in dark blue velvet from Xiao Liang. He opened it to reveal a brand-new set of shoulder boards lying inside. A silver "V"-shaped chevron was clearly visible on the light-gray background.
"Xiaoyang, from this day forward, you are an official officer. In the future, you must be devoted to your duty and protect the peace of this district." Wang Ren’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was exceptionally clear in the quiet room.
As he spoke, he personally removed the blank trainee shoulder boards and replaced them with the new ones.
"Yes, Director!"
Yang Wenqing puffed out his chest, his voice firm.
Wang Ren clapped him on the shoulder. "Do good work."
A round of applause filled the room. After it died down, Captain Xiao Liang stepped forward, smiling as he handed Yang Wenqing two documents. "Here are your firearm license and your law enforcement credentials. Keep them safe; it’s a real pain to replace them if you lose them. You can pick up your gun from the equipment room later. I’ve already issued the authorization."
"Thank you, Captain!"
Yang Wenqing once again stood at attention, saluted, and accepted the two documents.
After that, Director Wang Ren offered a few more words of encouragement to Yang Wenqing before leaving the room, escorted by Xiao Liang.
The moment the director left, Ye Yong sidled up and enviously touched the chevron on Yang Wenqing’s shoulder. "Wenqing, you have to treat us tonight."
Sister Liu interrupted, "Don’t go to all that trouble. I’ve already ordered two roast geese from Li’s. Just remember to pick them up after your patrol at noon."
Yang Wenqing breathed a sigh of relief at her words. He wasn’t afraid of much these days, except for sudden expenses. Although he had already set aside money to treat everyone, it wasn’t a generous amount. Two roast geese were well within his budget.
"Thank you, Sister Liu,"
he said in a low voice. The rest of the squad members then loudly congratulated Yang Wenqing.
After the congratulations died down, Xiao Liang returned to the room. He glanced around and said, "Alright, everyone get ready."
"Yes, sir!"
As they responded, everyone except Sister Liu headed toward the locker room inside. There was an incense table at the entrance, which was the source of the vanilla scent in the room.
The locker room was enclosed by four solid walls, their surfaces shimmering with flickering Array Runes. The lights on the ceiling were bright, and in every corner, there were Recording Arrays.
Yang Wenqing went to his locker first. He took out his tactical belt and put it on, then retrieved two longswords—one long, one short—and attached them to it. Next, he put a metal bracer on his left wrist. This bracer was a defensive Array and standard issue for every officer. Lastly, there were handcuffs engraved with special runes.
"Wenqing, you go get your gun first. We’ll wait for you in the courtyard," Xiao Liang instructed after holstering his own sidearm.
"Alright, Captain!" Yang Wenqing replied. He then pulled on his police gloves. A faint cyan light flickered across their surface, indicating they were also enhanced with a Runic Array, designed to help officers quickly draw Talismans.
The equipment room was the third room on the left in the back courtyard. Upon entering, one was met with a solid metal wall with a service window in the middle. Inside the window sat a middle-aged man with the shoulder boards of a Senior Sergeant.
"Brother Hai!"
Yang Wenqing took the initiative to greet the sergeant when he looked up, offering a polite smile. This sergeant was from the same Clan as him, though they were distant relatives, outside the five degrees of mourning.
"Wenqing, here to pick up your gun, right? I already have it ready for you."
Yanghai smiled. When Yang Wenqing reached the counter, he immediately produced a brand-new holster containing a revolver. Its official designation was ’Basic Type-B Model 3 Handgun,’ with an effective range of under thirty meters.
As Yang Wenqing took the gun, Yanghai produced a small box of ammunition. "Here are six bullets. One of them is an Explosive Bullet. Keep them safe."
"Alright."
Yang Wenqing replied earnestly. He took the handgun from the holster, switched off the safety, and loaded the bullets. After exchanging a few more pleasantries with Yanghai, he left the equipment room.
The Second Patrol Squad was already assembled in the small courtyard. Without waiting for the captain’s summons, Yang Wenqing jogged over. Captain Xiao Liang glanced at the holster on his waist before forming a hand seal for a Spell. As the Spell took shape, his chest insignia flashed with a white light.
"AHEM."
The clear sound of a cough immediately echoed in Yang Wenqing’s ear, followed by Sister Liu’s voice. "Everyone good?"
It was the Bureau’s communication device.
After everyone responded in turn, Xiao Liang looked at Yang Wenqing and asked, "The first spell you learned was the Immobilization Spell, right?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Good. You’ll be with Li Ming. He’s mastered the Purifying Heart Spell. You two will patrol Sector 3."
