The night was deep, and the dimly lit roads were continuously traversed by driverless vehicles, their relentless movement never ceasing.
Auntie stayed at the hospital to keep company, and cousin Chen Ruizhe happened to be returning to Iron Stone District, so he took Lin Qing with him, which saved on taxi fare.
Inside the car.
After Chen Ruizhe issued the "return home" command and the smart driving system planned the route, the car quickly set off toward Iron Stone District. Meanwhile, he picked up his phone and started messaging old classmates.
Lin Qing sat quietly beside him, looking at the rapidly passing scenes of streets through the car window.
Before long, after Chen Ruizhe sent off his messages and while waiting for replies, he casually asked, "When Yanan asked you to resign earlier, you seemed a bit hesitant? Thinking about becoming a Patrol Officer?"
"I've considered it," Lin Qing nodded, "but I haven't decided yet."
"You saw today how dangerous the job is."
Chen Ruizhe frowned slightly, "Your cousin doesn't want to interfere with your life choices, but still, I'd like to advise you to wait until you apply for Martial Arts Special Student. In the future, you could consider the police or military academy, or even retake the year if necessary."
Saying that, he shook his head slightly, "Yanan suffered because of her education level, that's why she joined the Patrol Team. If her college entrance exam scores had been high enough, she could have directly gone to the police or military academy. Not only is it safer, but the benefits are actually better, even if the promotion is slower."
Lin Qing understood his cousin's point.
Although the urban circles outside the major cities were more chaotic, the police didn't have to go around looking for trouble like Patrol Officers did.
Not to mention the military, in this era with little to no global conflict, the military's deployment was very rare.
But precisely because of this, the path of a Patrol Officer was more suitable for someone with the Entropy talent.
"I'm still considering it."
Lin Qing replied noncommittally, "After all, there's still half a year until the college entrance exams."
"That's true, take your time to think it over." Chen Ruizhe nodded, "But practicing martial arts is never a mistake."
...
The next morning, at the shooting range.
"Bang!"
With today's eighty-first accurate shot, a line of photonic text suddenly appeared before Lin Qing's eyes.
[Gun Master proficiency completed.]
"Finally..."
A hint of a smile emerged at the bottom of Lin Qing's eyes; pretending to look at the target, he called up the Entropy panel in his mind.
The number of preemptive items that could be claimed had been restored to 1/1.
"It's time."
Lin Qing placed the pistol on the table, took off his protective goggles and earplugs, and turned to Coach An, saying, "That will be all for today."
"That's it?" Coach An, still dressed provocatively, seemed surprised.
"I just remembered something I need to take care of at home."
Lin Qing made up an excuse, "Coach, I need to go now."
"Well... okay then." Coach An nodded and couldn't help but ask, "Will you still come back later?"
"Perhaps."
Lin Qing took off the shooting jacket and left without looking back.
...
After returning home.
Having made sure the security door was locked and all the curtains were drawn, Lin Qing then called out the Entropy panel.
The Sunrise Training Method, version 4.6, had already been recorded by the panel, listed among the items that could be preempted.
"Preempt the 'Sunrise Training Method, version 4.6.'"
As soon as his thought materialized, a vast array of cryptic messages surged into his mind.
According to Entropy's calculations, theoretically, to practice the 'Sunrise Training Method, version 4.6' to its limit, he would need to perfectly perform the 24 movements and Breathing Method of the practice, ensuring that the absorbed Mysterious Energy was completely integrated throughout his body, practiced 65 times.
The next moment—
Memories of Lin Qing repeatedly practicing the Sunrise Method flashed in his mind.
With each attempt, he moved from initial awkwardness to gradual proficiency, and even approached perfection, as if every minute detail was beyond reproach.
Simultaneously, his breathing and blood circulation began to change instinctively, with streams of Mysterious Energy fusing into his body, consumed by every cell.
This Mysterious Energy continued to flow, causing his body to transform at a terrifying speed.
His heart thumped as if cheering him on, beating at unprecedented rates, furiously pumping blood throughout his body.
Beneath his trembling skin, it was as if gigantic earthworms squirmed and writhed.
Lin Qing's pupils suddenly contracted, as his entire body was engulfed by intense pain, causing him to grit his teeth, close his eyes, and sit down on the floor.
Enduring in silence.
For a moment.
After all the abnormal phenomena had subsided and become calm, Lin Qing finally opened his eyes.
At this moment, the world before his eyes seemed much clearer, and his hearing seemed different, too—he could even hear the faint sound of sweat dripping onto the ground. He felt an unprecedented surge of energy and a fullness of spirit.
Although he was drenched in sweat and looked a bit disheveled, he was also filled with robust vitality.
"Is this the state after fully mastering the 46 version of the Practice Method?"
Lin Qing stood up and tried a few empty strokes, and with the air being rapidly compressed, there was a swift whooshing sound.
He also tried exerting force with the moves from the Military Combat Skill, feeling significantly stronger than before, which brought a reassuring smile to his face.
It wasn't just an increase in explosive power; the control over his muscles had also improved by a large margin.
As for how much improvement there was—
Lin Qing immediately tested his current strength using the exercise equipment at home.
While he wasn't sure about other aspects, his physical strength had at least doubled from before.
This gave him a sense of transformation.
And a sense of reassurance.
...
"I heard that even after mastering the Sunrise Training Method, one still has to practice over and over again, gradually adjusting to the perfect state before truly approaching the 'First Limit' of the body."
In the bathroom, Lin Qing stood under the showerhead, lifted his head, and let the water wash away the sweat from his body.
According to the official website of the Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall—
The core of the Practice Method was to stimulate the body's potential by adjusting breathing and blood circulation, thereby mobilizing some kind of 'Mysterious Energy' lying dormant within the body.
Legend had it that this Mysterious Energy was the source of evolution.
Only by finding the right approach and entering that miraculous state could one stir the dormant Mysterious Energy within the body through the 24 movements and Breathing Method of the Practice Method.
Initially, it would be very awkward and most of the Mysterious Energy mobilized would dissipate, only through repeated trials could one gradually adjust it to perfection.
"I can achieve perfect practice every time, it shouldn't take too long to do it 65 times..."
Lin Qing silently estimated.
Before this, he hadn't even mastered the 46 version of the Sunrise Training Method.
Yet now, he had suddenly practiced to the limit.
This improvement was immense.
And it was a comprehensive enhancement of his basic physical attributes.
Together with the Combat Skills he had prepaid and completed during the outbreak of the apocalypse in his previous life, his current combat ability was far stronger than before.
"This is only the most simplified version of the Sunrise Training Method, truly worthy of Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall..."
Lin Qing felt a bit amazed in his heart.
Nowadays, there were many martial arts halls around the world, but one could also say that there was only one martial arts hall called 'Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall,' with branches in nearly every city across the globe.
Moreover, for positions related to martial forces such as the public security system, Inspection Bureau, military, and security industry, promotions were mostly based on the rank set by Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall.
It was almost a complete monopoly, and its status was incredibly high.
Even the Intelligent Star Group, a gigantic conglomerate from an Extraterrestrial Civilization, would invest in Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall!
All this was because of the founder of Chaoyang Martial Arts Hall, who was hailed as a hero of Earth!
He was also the universally recognized founder of the strongest martial arts.
"Even the original Chaoyang Method is merely the foundation of Martial Arts."
The more Lin Qing thought about it, the more shocked he felt, "I wonder just how strong that founder is?"
According to what was said, the original Chaoyang Method consisted of 72 movements and an extremely complex and cumbersome Breathing Method. Once fully mastered, it could bring the human body close to its true limit.
However, the prerequisite for learning the original Chaoyang Method was to first master the 77 Practice Method.
"Learning the 46 Practice Method is very cheap, but learning the 77 Practice Method costs money, although it's a bit expensive, at least thirty thousand."
Lin Qing turned off the shower tap casually, "However, I can apply to become an official Patrol Officer tomorrow, and once that's confirmed, I can apply to study the 77 Practice Method for free, no need to waste money."
This was one of the benefits of a Patrol Officer.
Even without discussing 'Combat Skill,' the savings alone would be considerable.
...
After drying his hair and casually tying it behind his head, Lin Qing walked into the living room and picked up his phone.
"Hm?"
Lin Qing suddenly noticed that half an hour ago, a message had come from the Inspection Bureau system.
"All Patrol Officers from the Xiao Shan District branch are to assemble at the Inspection Bureau auditorium by ten o'clock on Monday morning... The inauguration ceremony for the new team captain?"
"Has a new acting captain been appointed so quickly?"
Lin Qing decided to go to the Inspection Bureau earlier tomorrow to apply for his permanent position first, lest he encountered the proverbial 'new broom sweeps clean' scenario with the new official.