The next morning, Zhao Letian donned his official uniform with care:
A dark blue, narrow-sleeved robe with a round collar, black trousers, and polished leather boots.
The insignia on his chest depicted a seahorse galloping over waves, framed by golden embroidery—denoting his rank as a ninth-grade martial officer.
At his waist, the regulation saber had been replaced with his treasured Yazi sword, sheathed and gleaming.
Standing straight, his left hand resting on the sword's hilt, Zhao tilted his chin slightly upward. Flashing a playful V-sign at his reflection in the bronze mirror, he smirked. The stern uniform erased his delicate aura, replacing it with a more imposing presence.
After strolling through the bustling East Market, Zhao arrived at the Dali Temple headquarters, where Lou Tingyu, true to his word, personally escorted him to the Third Division. The commander of the Third Division assigned a trusted officer to guide Zhao to Team C's quarters and announced his appointment as their leader.
The officer, surnamed Liu, maintained a professional distance. Introducing Zhao to his team members, Liu began listing their names and roles.
The five men before him were the same ones Zhao had overheard at the mutton soup stall the previous day:
Zhang Xiao, the deputy leader, a middle-aged man with a weathered face, known for his iron-hard physique and formidable boxing skills. (Fourth Realm, mid-stage)Du Chunfeng, a portly, ever-smiling man skilled in poisons and hidden weapons. (Fourth Realm, mid-stage)He Yong, a scar-faced swordsman with a fierce demeanor. (Third Realm, early stage)Wang Xian, a tall, silent man with sharp eyes, also a swordsman. (Third Realm, early stage)Wang Hang, the youngest and smallest of the group, affectionately called "Little Five." (Second Realm, bone-refinement stage)
When it came time to introduce Zhao, Liu hesitated, his hand suspended mid-air.
Zhao broke the silence with a casual grin. "Zhao Letian, First Realm, skin-refinement stage. I use a sword."
Liu's face twitched. After an awkward pause, he added, "Our new captain is also a gifted poet, known for his refined talent."
This prompted mixed reactions. Zhang Xiao grunted dismissively. "A poet? Sounds like someone for the White Robe Division."
Scarface muttered under his breath, "Even the gatekeeper, Old Niu, is at the Second Realm."
Little Five, wide-eyed, blurted, "Wait... weren't you the guy from the mutton soup stall yesterday?"
Liu cleared his throat loudly, silencing the murmurs. "From today onward, Team C will report directly to Captain Zhao. Zhang Xiao, you'll collect the team's assignments shortly."
With that, Liu exited, leaving behind a room charged with unease.
Du Chunfeng, ever the peacemaker, smiled slyly, gesturing toward the innermost desk. "Captain, that's your spot."
The others shot him disapproving looks, but Du remained unfazed, his smile unwavering.
Zhao nodded, walked to his desk, and sat down, exuding a calm authority. "Take a seat, everyone," he said warmly.
Scarface scoffed. "Who are you calling 'brother'? You're probably the youngest here—barely grown any whiskers!"
Zhang Xiao intervened with a stern glare. "Scarface, mind your manners."
Ignoring the tension, Zhao turned to Du Chunfeng. "What's the team's usual routine?"
Du leaned back lazily. "Mornings start with roll call. Under the old captain, we'd train for a bit before patrolling. Our designated area is the East Market. Every month, on the fifth and fifteenth, we pick up assignments. If a task is tricky, patrols are postponed."
Zhao tapped the table thoughtfully. "Convenient timing—it's the fifth today."
Zhang Xiao grumbled, "Captain, why don't you familiarize yourself with the protocols while I handle the assignments?"
Scarface chimed in quickly, "I'll go too."
Little Five eagerly volunteered as well. Without waiting for permission, the three left the room, with Wang Xian silently following behind.
Now, only Zhao and Du remained.
Zhao chuckled. "Yesterday, I overheard your conversation. Why didn't you leave with the others?"
Du shrugged. "I'm different from them."
"Oh? How so?"
"For one, I enjoy frequenting brothels. Those girls are skilled at what they do—pleasing their clients is an art in itself."
Zhao nearly choked. "Is that a compliment or an insult?"
Du's expression remained earnest. "Think about it. You've got talents too. Just because you lack martial prowess doesn't mean you're useless. Let's skip the formalities—how about I call you Brother Zhao?"
Zhao laughed. "Fair enough. And you? No ambitions beyond wine and song?"
Du hesitated before leaning in conspiratorially. "Actually, I do have one dream. Promise not to laugh?"
Zhao raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Lowering his voice, Du whispered, "I want to marry a fox spirit."
Zhao blinked, momentarily stunned. "Well, that's... unique."
Du grinned, emboldened by Zhao's lack of judgment. "See? You get me. I figure not all spirits are bad. Just like people, there are good ones too, right?"
Before Zhao could reply, Zhang Xiao returned with a grim expression, tossing a mission scroll onto the desk.
Du's face fell. "No way. A Five-Coin task?"
"Five-Coin?" Zhao asked.
Du explained: "Tasks are ranked by difficulty. Copper missions are for basic patrols and demon hunts, silver for more dangerous assignments, and gold for the most perilous endeavors. Each rank has five levels, with Five-Coin being the toughest for copper missions. This is... bad news."
The room grew heavy with tension.
Wang Xian immediately stood up. "I'm not risking my neck. Captain Zhao, I'm taking sick leave." Without another word, he left.
Scarface quickly followed suit, dragging Little Five along.
Now, only Zhang Xiao and Du remained.
Zhao turned to Zhang, his gaze steady. "And you?"
Zhang hesitated before replying earnestly. "Captain, I suggest asking the higher-ups to assign a different task. This one's... unreasonable."
Zhao looked at Du. "Can I do that?"
Du smirked. "You're the captain. Of course, you can."
Zhao slammed the table. "I'm new, not spineless! If the higher-ups assigned this, we'll handle it. If you're too scared, I'll take it on alone!"
Zhang sighed heavily. "Good luck, Captain." He turned and left.
Zhao turned to Du, throwing an arm around his shoulder. "Brother Du, at least you stayed. Let's grab some drinks and brainstorm this mission!"
Du grimaced. "The truth? I was ordered to look after you. But fine—lead the way, Captain Genius."