Chapter 31: You Are So Damn Adorable

The director gazed at Gu Changqing, who sat across the desk with a look of insolent indifference. A flicker of anger rose in his chest, but he suppressed it. After a moment’s consideration, he spoke, “You know yourself whether these are empty promises. I trust your judgment.” He took a badge from his drawer, set it on the desk, and pushed it toward Gu Changqing. “You’ll get a clearer picture over there—they explained more in detail. Take a trip to headquarters, and you should be able to decide for yourself.”

Gu Changqing picked up the badge and examined it. It was shaped like a bird with outstretched wings, poised for flight, but what stood out most were its eyes—each inlaid with a black onyx gem, giving the uncanny impression of being watched, both sinister and forbidding. He already had one just like it on his desk—a Chongming Bird.

Gu Changqing grinned, feigning innocent mischief. “Just teasing you earlier, Director. I hope you don’t mind?” He laughed. “I’ve spent so long here, I’m deeply attached to the security bureau! If possible, I’d love to earn a security pension one day!”

The director’s expression finally softened a little. He said, “Once you arrive, show them the badge. Someone will come to receive you.”

Gu Changqing left with an easy smile. “I’ll go have a look, then!”

As he stepped out, he curled his lip in disdain. He loathed nothing more than being fed empty promises—he’d learned that lesson the hard way. After all, he’d once been a naive youth. Back in those days, he’d been a troublemaker—fighting, bullying, extorting pocket money from his dozen or so siblings... but he had still been innocent. Then his own father set him up. After that, he understood two truths: If you want something, go after it yourself—never wait for others to hand it to you. And never trust the promises others paint for you; only what you hold in your hands truly belongs to you.

Memories of being taken advantage of flashed through his mind, and Gu Changqing felt his fists clench. His father, after all, could be utterly ruthless at times. He kicked the wall in the corridor.

Boom!

On the other side of the wall, several members of Team Three jumped to their feet in shock, staring at the gaping hole and at Gu Changqing on the other side.

“Just remembered something that made me happy... Don’t mind me!” Gu Changqing said airily, then strode away.

Downstairs, as he reached his car and was about to open the door, a window rolled down on a car nearby, revealing a woman’s face behind a pair of rimless glasses. She looked about thirty, with short hair and an efficient air.

“Gu Quan’an? I’m with the Sentinels. You should know who we are. Care to find somewhere to talk?”

Gu Changqing looked at her and replied with a smile, “The Sentinels are actually waiting outside the security bureau for me...”

Clearly, the Sentinels were well-informed—they already knew he was back.

“There’s a teahouse just outside. Let’s talk there.”

With that, Gu Changqing closed his car door and headed to the teahouse, ordering a private room. Once they were seated, the woman introduced herself. “Let me introduce myself. Bai Mi. I’m in charge of external relations and recruitment.”

“Before we begin, may I ask what kind of ability you awakened?”

Gu Changqing was unfazed. A blood serpent slithered from his palm, coiling around his forearm.

“Blood... What exactly is that? Can you explain?” Bai Mi immediately noticed the faces writhing in anguish on the surface of the blood, and frowned. Those tormented faces looked disturbingly sinister.

Earlier, the two samples they’d brought back—after testing—had proved to be remnants of a spectral artifact, a second-grade one, at that. This meant his combat ability was considerable, and his power was highly effective against such entities. Awakened individuals were rare to begin with, and many of their abilities came with limitations or were unsuited for dealing with supernatural threats—for example, those who strengthened their bodies physically.

But the Sentinels had found workarounds. They had an arsenal of specialized equipment for dealing with the spectral, enabling their awakened to fight on equal footing with such threats.

“It’s just resentment,” Gu Changqing replied with a faint smile. “Can we get to the point? I don’t like beating around the bush. If I join the Sentinels, what can you offer me?”

“Awakening is not the end, it’s just the beginning. Here with us, you can grow,” Bai Mi replied. “You should know: in Southern Chu, we have the greatest understanding of awakened powers. With the support of the royal family, we lack for nothing in resources. You’ll find better opportunities for growth here.”

Gu Changqing raised an eyebrow. As he’d suspected, the Sentinels were backed by the royal family.

“I’m asking: if I join, what do I get?” He crossed one leg over the other and leaned back.

“Access to internal knowledge and experience on awakening, and some equipment tailored for your abilities. As for more—well, that depends on what you can do for the Sentinels.”

“Our organization has a comprehensive internal system. If you perform well, you’ll be rewarded accordingly—including rare items that can further enhance your strength!”

Bai Mi fixed him with a steady gaze. “But perhaps you’re mistaken. It’s not the Sentinels who are desperate for you to join. Your ability is rare, but not especially powerful. Those who control the five elements, the forces of yin and yang, or mental attributes—those are the truly formidable ones. And I know you’re assembling a team of awakened, but compared to the Sentinels, your group is hopelessly inexperienced.”

“The ones you’ve recruited—if I’m being blunt—are not up to the task. So, you don’t have many choices. The Sentinels are your best option.”

In her view, Gu Changqing clearly overestimated himself.

Gu Changqing’s eyes narrowed. He slapped the table and burst into raucous laughter, shaking with amusement. So, a cultivator like him was being looked down upon by the Sentinels!

After a while, he finally spoke, still laughing, “You’re really something else!”

Then he turned and walked out.

Bai Mi only shrugged as she watched him leave. If Gu Changqing had controlled the five elements—water, fire, metal, wood, and so on—she might have offered him the highest terms. But blood? To her, it was no different from controlling one’s limbs. For example, there was someone in Sentinel logistics who could control their own hair. According to the Sentinels’ internal research, awakened individuals could only control their own bodies or non-living objects. Thus, those who could only control their own bodies were considered mediocre, less promising even than those who simply enhanced their physical form.

Gu Changqing drove straight to the police headquarters, a broad smile on his face the entire way.

The director had said that the special team at headquarters would rival the Sentinels in future potential.

But Bai Mi’s attitude made clear she thought the headquarters’ awakened team was worthless.

Their attitudes alone revealed the disparity between the two sides.

But that didn’t matter.

If the Sentinels were so impressive, then let’s wait and see!

Let’s see if, one day, I can beat you all at your own game!