Lin Xiao woke up feeling slightly groggy but quickly shook off the remnants of sleep.
He washed his face and went downstairs, where the familiar scene of his mother making lunch and his sister eating breakfast greeted him.
The routine felt almost surreal, like living in a simulation.
He joined them at the dining table, but before he could even greet his sister properly, she finished her breakfast, said a quick goodbye, and left for school.
Lin Xiao sat there, speechless, as his mother placed a lunchbox and breakfast in front of him. She sat down across from him, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity.
"Lin Xiao, are you okay? You've been so distant lately, and you came home late last night," she asked, her voice soft but probing.
Lin Xiao took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully. "I've joined the basketball tournament, Mom. We have to practice after school, so I'll be coming home late from now on."
His mother's eyes softened with understanding, but there was still a hint of worry. "I see. Just make sure you take care of yourself, okay? Don't push yourself too hard."
Lin Xiao nodded, appreciating her concern. "I will, Mom. Don't worry."
They ate breakfast together in relative silence, the routine providing a sense of comfort.
After finishing his breakfast, Lin Xiao walked to school. He decided that he didn't need to focus on the daily missions anymore, as they wouldn't significantly impact him at this point.
As Lin Xiao reached the school, he saw Chen Manyao still sitting alone and reading.
When she saw him, she gave him a friendly smile, and Lin Xiao nodded back.
He sat down and greeted Zhang Wei and Li Na, who were chatting cheerfully.
Wang Lei, still gloomy as ever, received a greeting from Lin Xiao, but he responded with a half-hearted nod.
The day proceeded as usual, with classes and lessons passing by in a blur.
During the break, Lin Xiao sat under the tree again, hoping Chen Manyao would join him, but she didn't.
This made him a little sad, but he quickly got over it, knowing he had more pressing matters to focus on.
After school ended, Lin Xiao wanted to talk to Wang Lei about his gloominess. Each time he approached him, Wang Lei just dismissed him, saying he was fine.
Eventually, Lin Xiao decided to stop caring and leave Wang Lei to his own thoughts.
...
...
Lin Xiao took the bus to the military base once again. The ride was familiar now, giving him time to think about his next steps.
Arriving at the base, he was greeted by the soldiers who recognized him from his previous visits. He made his way to Li Jing's office, knocking on the door and entering when she called him in.
Li Jing was sitting cross-legged on the sofa.
"Ah, Lin Xiao," Li Jing greeted him, looking up from her paperwork. "How are you today?"
"I'm good," Lin Xiao replied. "What are we doing today?"
Li Jing smiled and put down her pen. "Today, we're going to start your physical training. Follow me."
They left the office and walked through the base, eventually reaching the training grounds. Soldiers were busy with various drills, and Li Jing led Lin Xiao to a secluded area where they wouldn't be disturbed.
"Physical training is crucial," Li Jing explained. "Even with your abilities, you need to be in peak physical condition. We'll start with some basic exercises to build your strength and stamina."
Lin Xiao nodded, ready to begin.
Li Jing started Lin Xiao on a rigorous exercise regimen, designed to test his limits.
"Let's start with some basic warm-up exercises," she instructed. "Do 50 push-ups, 50 sit-ups, and 50 squats."
Lin Xiao immediately dropped to the ground and began the push-ups.
His form was perfect, his arms moving in a steady rhythm as he completed the set with relative ease. Next, he moved on to the sit-ups, locking his feet under a bench and crunching his torso up and down.
Each movement was smooth and controlled, showing his core strength. Finally, he stood and began the squats, his legs bending and straightening in a flawless motion.
Li Jing watched in growing amazement as Lin Xiao completed each exercise without showing signs of fatigue.
She then moved him onto more advanced exercises: burpees, mountain climbers, and planks.
Lin Xiao continued to perform each task effortlessly, his endurance and strength evident in every movement.
"Wow, you are already strong," Li Jing remarked, clearly impressed. "Let's forget this and focus on improving your fighting technique."
She led Lin Xiao to a field where soldiers were training. Li Jing called over one of the soldiers and instructed him to spar with Lin Xiao. "Go all out," she ordered.
Lin Xiao was surprised by the sudden challenge but quickly prepared himself. The soldier lunged at him, throwing a series of punches and kicks.
At first, Lin Xiao focused on defending himself, blocking and dodging the attacks.
However, he soon realized that the soldier's strength was no match for his own.
With a burst of power, Lin Xiao grabbed the soldier's arm and flipped him to the ground, pinning him effortlessly.
Li Jing was speechless. "Why is your strength so high?" she asked, bewildered.
"I've been going to the gym," Lin Xiao replied, trying to sound nonchalant.
Li Jing sighed. "In front of technique, strength doesn't always matter." She then adopted a peculiar stance, her body poised and ready. "Fight me," she commanded.
Lin Xiao hesitated but then moved forward to attack. Li Jing expertly blocked and parried each of his moves, her technique impeccable. Despite his strength, Lin Xiao found it difficult to land a hit on her. He grew more determined, pushing himself to match her skill.
After several minutes of intense sparring, Lin Xiao's persistence paid off.
He managed to break through Li Jing's defense, forcing her to step back.
Lin Xiao pressed his advantage, going all out, and finally, Li Jing's stance was broken.
She stumbled backward, looking at Lin Xiao with a mix of shock and admiration.
"You're incredibly strong," she admitted, catching her breath
Li Jing then said, "It seems like you are ready. Tomorrow, don't go to school. I will talk with your school head; he won't mind. Tomorrow, we will go do your first mission. You will shadow me tomorrow."
Lin Xiao nodded.
"Get some rest tonight," Li Jing advised. "You'll need to be sharp tomorrow. It's going to be intense."
He left the military base, catching the bus back home.