STG 32
Chapter 32: The Night Watchman
Lin Qiye’s expression grew increasingly odd as he looked at Wen Qimo.
Wen Qimo chuckled softly. “Just teasing you. I could see how tense you were in there—wanted to help you relax a bit.”
His gaze softened as he met Lin Qiye’s eyes. “After all, no one could walk away unaffected after witnessing such a brutal battle, let alone a high school student.”
Lin Qiye froze.
He pressed his lips together and remained silent.
Wen Qimo wasn’t wrong. Even Lin Qiye himself hadn’t realized just how frayed his mental state was.
Watching Zhao Kongcheng die in battle, fighting the Ghostface King alone, leaving the small, broken home he’d lived in for over a decade, joining the unfamiliar and dangerous Night Watch…
Though mature for his age, at his core, he was still just a teenager.
Under such overwhelming changes, the weight on his shoulders had nearly crushed him.
“While you were sitting there earlier, I could tell you weren’t doing well. And it wasn’t just me—Hong Ying noticed too. That’s why she offered to let you stay at her place, why she suppressed her own grief to joke around with the captain and deputy captain.
“You’ve just arrived, so you don’t know her well yet. But once you do, you’ll realize…
She’s just too kind.”
Lin Qiye’s mind flashed back to Hong Ying’s tear-streaked face when he’d carried Zhao Kongcheng’s body out of the rain. Now, recalling her gentle smile earlier, he could see the sorrow hidden beneath it.
But… if she was already grieving so deeply, why bother comforting him?
“Actually, it wasn’t just me and Hong Ying. Aside from Xiangnan—who’s as dense as a brick—and Leng Xuan the ice block, everyone else noticed too. The captain’s just too tsundere to show it openly, so he subtly let Hong Ying lighten the mood. Xiaonan’s too shy to speak up.”
Wen Qimo turned and continued climbing the stairs, his voice casual.
“Maybe before coming here, you imagined the Night Watch as a group of cold, mechanical killing machines. But the longer you stay, the more you’ll realize… that’s not the case at all.”
Lin Qiye followed Wen Qimo to the first floor, passing through the disguised front office of the agency before stepping outside.
It was now deep into the night.
The usually bustling Heping Bridge was silent and empty, the rain-slicked pavement glistening under the dim streetlights. Of all the shops along the bridge, only the Heping Agency’s lights remained on.
“Before coming, I thought the Night Watch would be some massive organization, stationed in a secluded military zone with fighter jets and tanks, the kind of place that holds drills all the time,” Lin Qiye murmured, gazing at the quiet streets.
Wen Qimo paused, then burst out laughing. “Funny—that’s exactly what I imagined too before joining. Blame all those sci-fi movies.”
He looked up at the hazy moonlight. “But while there’s no military zone or tanks, the Night Watch is a massive organization.”
“Then why are there only six people here?”
“The Night Watch doesn’t operate like the military,” Wen Qimo explained. “A centralized base might be efficient for management, but it has one fatal flaw—terrible mobility.
“For example, if a mythical creature appears in Cangnan today, local police would need to confirm it, relay the info to a base in the capital, wait for review, and then dispatch a team here. Even the fastest response would take two days.
“And in those two days… countless people could die.
“So the best solution is to station a Night Watch team in every city. When signs of a mythical creature emerge, the local team handles it immediately.
“And we—we’re Cangnan’s stationed team.”
Lin Qiye nodded thoughtfully. “No wonder your roles are so clearly divided—each with your own expertise.”
“Exactly. From frontline fighters to combat support, long-range specialists to strategists… everyone has their strengths, and we complement each other. That’s the standard setup for every stationed team.”
“What if a city faces a threat its local team can’t handle?”
“Then they request backup from the special teams.” Wen Qimo held up four fingers. “Across Daxia, aside from the stationed teams, there are four special squads. They aren’t tied to any city, but when a local team encounters an insurmountable crisis, they deploy.
“They don’t have team numbers—just codenames. That’s the honor reserved for special squads.”
“Special squads…” Lin Qiye’s curiosity piqued. “Have you ever seen one?”
“Not in person. But two years ago, three ‘Hai’-level mythical creatures appeared simultaneously in neighboring Huaihai City, nearly causing a catastrophe.
“Then, the six-member special squad codenamed ‘Masquerade’ showed up overnight—and wiped them all out by dawn.”
A hint of awe flashed in Wen Qimo’s eyes. “They say when the sun rose the next morning, the bay was dyed red with the creatures’ blood… and the ‘Masquerade’ squad had already vanished to their next mission.”
“That does sound pretty cool.”
“Right?”
“What does it take to join them?”
“Strict requirements, of course.” Wen Qimo sighed. “First, special squad members must be at least peak ‘Chuan’-level.“
“Peak ‘Chuan’… What’s the highest realm among your six?”
“The captain. He’s ‘Chuan’-level too, but miles from peak.” Wen Qimo continued, “But realm alone isn’t enough. You need uniqueness.“
“What kind of uniqueness?”
“Something that sets you apart from other Night Watch agents. Like possessing an ultra-high-risk Forbidden Ruin—top 80 in sequence. Or mastering a skill to its absolute peak—grandmaster-level swordsmanship, for example. Or… being a deity’s agent.“
“Deity agents count as ‘unique’?”
“…What kind of outrageous question is that?” Wen Qimo shot Lin Qiye an envious glare. “Just because you’re the Seraph’s agent, you think deity agents grow on trees?”
“They don’t?” Lin Qiye asked blankly.
“Of course not!” Wen Qimo had never met someone so shameless. “Deity agents aligned with humanity are incredibly rare. Across the entire Night Watch, there are only eight or nine—mostly in special squads or leading major city teams. They’re pivotal figures.
“Damn, I’m jealous of you, kid.”
Wen Qimo rarely swore, but this time, he couldn’t help it. “You… your potential is sky-high. Once you grow stronger, a small city like Cangnan won’t be able to hold you.
“Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up leading the Night Watch in the capital. Or join a special squad and travel the world—could even become a special squad captain.
“Anyway, your future… is limitless.“
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