I Stepped on a Bug, and the System Says I Slayed a Dragon?-Chapter 81: Xia He Joins the Star Martial Police Bureau, and Old Qin, Stop Slacking Too
"Teacher, I have a request. Since you’re here, I’m afraid I’ll have to trouble you to approve it."
In the office, Li Zixuan looked at Elder Li before her, took a paper application from her bag, and handed it over.
"What’s this?"
Elder Li took the application, his gaze sweeping over its contents. "A leave of absence application?" he asked in surprise. "You plan on leaving the school, Xuanxuan?"
"Yes."
Li Zixuan lowered her gaze to her tracksuit and said softly, "I want to leave the city to train in the wilderness."
The words had barely left her mouth.
Across from her, Elder Li’s brow furrowed. "Why?" he asked in a heavy tone. "Give me a reason, Xuanxuan."
In the wilderness outside Jianghai City, Star Beasts ran rampant, lurking in the forests and waiting for an opportunity to strike.
The danger there was on a completely different level than in the city; the slightest mistake could mean never returning.
And since Li Zixuan’s family had entrusted her to his care, he had a responsibility to protect her.
"Teacher, you don’t have to try and talk me out of it. I’ll take responsibility for myself."
Li Zixuan’s gaze was firm as she explained earnestly, "Ever since the competition that day, I’ve been at the Postnatal Ninth Realm.
Furthermore, after watching the Grandmaster Realm battle up close in Sword Valley, I had an epiphany and reached the peak of the Postnatal Realm. I’m just one step away from touching the Innate Realm."
"What? This early?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Li’s eyes widened in shock.
Li Zixuan’s current cultivation speed had already far surpassed that of any genius he had ever seen. It was something rarely seen in the world.
How old was she now?
Sixteen? Seventeen?
’To step into the Innate Realm before even coming of age... that’s simply terrifying!’
"The young are to be feared... the young are to be feared..."
Elder Li muttered, leaning back in his office chair, looking dazed. His Dao Heart had nearly been shattered by his own disciple.
The office suddenly fell silent.
After a long moment.
Li Zixuan spoke again, "Teacher, I’ve finally touched the threshold of the Innate Realm. I’m just one step away from crossing over, and this training is the stepping stone I need."
With that, she bowed her head respectfully. "I implore you to approve my request, Teacher."
"This..."
Elder Li tried to dissuade her, a worried tone in his voice. "Xuanxuan, you’re still young, you don’t need to be in such a rush... Besides, with your family..."
"Teacher, I’ve already asked my family."
Li Zixuan suddenly cut in, her voice trembling slightly, "They fully support me in achieving this breakthrough."
"What?"
Elder Li froze, then asked in disbelief, "Your family agreed?"
"Yes."
Li Zixuan nodded.
"This... Sigh... As your master..."
Hearing this, Elder Li was momentarily speechless, not knowing how to respond.
He knew from before that Li Zixuan’s family could be rather extreme. They had placed all their burdens on her, gambling everything on her achieving Great Success in the Sword Dao to revitalize the family.
The immense pressure she was under to succeed was plain to see.
For Li Zixuan to be in such a rush, it was highly likely someone in her family was fanning the flames behind the scenes.
"Xuanxuan, listen to me, some things can’t be rushed..."
Elder Li opened his mouth, wanting to persuade her further.
But Li Zixuan shook her head, refusing. "Teacher, my mind is made up. After that duel, I understood my own shortcomings.
Fundamentally, I lack real combat experience. There’s no killing intent in my swordplay; it’s nowhere near as fierce as Huyan Sword’s. I have to go out and get experience!"
Her resonant words revealed an unyielding decisiveness.
"Sigh, I understand what you mean, Xuanxuan."
Elder Li heaved a heavy sigh and sat back down. "The city is too gentle. It’s true... only by fighting Star Beasts in the wilderness... can you temper true courage."
With that, he raised his aged eyes to Li Zixuan and said calmly:
"What you said makes sense. I can protect you for a while, but I can’t watch over you forever. You have to strike out on your own eventually, Xuanxuan... So go."
Elder Li picked up a pen and signed his name on the application.
"Thank you, Teacher."
Li Zixuan saw this and breathed an inward sigh of relief.
"But, make sure to prepare escape items for your trip. If you run into trouble, your first priority is to run. Your life comes first."
Elder Li handed over the application, adding a few more worried instructions.
"Understood."
Li Zixuan nodded, taking the application form Elder Li handed her. The hand she held it with trembled slightly.
... ... ... ... ... ...
In the days that followed, time passed slowly. Qin Yang continued to enter the Enlightenment Space to deepen his understanding of the *True Understanding of Array Dao*.
Every so often, he would discover interesting arrays that didn’t require any physical formation. By treating his body as a small world, quieting his mind, and focusing his spirit, he could gather a noble and righteous energy.
Moreover, he was also improving the Treasure Gathering Array at his home. He added a number of good materials to it, which caused the amount of Spiritual Charm it gathered to increase.
The effects were quite remarkable.
Pulling all-nighters no longer harmed his body.
Every now and then, he would even find money on the side of the road.
And big bills, no less!
Every day was a delight; life was incredibly comfortable.
One day, Qin Yang was slacking off as usual when he suddenly saw Xia He jog over and slap a badge onto his desk.
"Check it out, Old Qin! The good stuff!"
Xia He said smugly, looking full of himself.
"What is it?"
Qin Yang glanced over. It was a badge from the Star Martial Police Bureau.
’And it even has "Xia He" printed on it?’
"???"
Qin Yang was dumbfounded. He stared at Xia He in disbelief. "When did you join the Star Martial Police Bureau?"
’And the Bureau actually dared to take in a guy like Xia He, who hangs out at the Platinum Han all the time?!’
’I’ve really seen it all now!’
"What, you got a problem with that?"
Xia He crossed his arms and tilted his head up. "Your bro here has had a change of heart. I’ve decided to stop slacking off! From now on, I’m going to work hard at the Star Martial Police Bureau. You could even say I’m serving my country!"
"You..."
Qin Yang was silent for a moment, then slowly gave him a thumbs-up. "Impressive."
’This guy specifically came to the library to slack off and coast through life.’
’And now, after just a few days, he goes and gets a government job behind my back?’
"Old Qin, you should stop slacking off too!"
Xia He declared, picking up the Bureau badge and waving it in front of Qin Yang. "Cultivate hard, and you can get a civilian post too. Then the two of us can slack off together at the Bureau... agh, I mean, work hard!"
"No thanks, I just became a permanent employee here."
Qin Yang waved him off. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in his head. He narrowed his eyes at Xia He. "You... when you got in... don’t tell me you used your money-power, did you!?"
"..."
Hearing this, Xia He fell silent, his heart skipping a beat.
’Holy crap?’
’Old Qin actually figured it out?’
’If my old man hadn’t suddenly gone crazy and insisted on shoving me into the bureau, would I be in this situation?!’
’Isn’t just lying flat and doing nothing the dream?’
’Watching my good bro lie flat every day... makes me so damn jealous!’
"Ahem..."
Xia He coughed, desperately trying to hide his inner thoughts. He patted Qin Yang on the shoulder. "Don’t let your imagination run wild, Old Qin. I didn’t do that! You should stop slacking off and focus on your cultivation!"
"???"
Qin Yang was also speechless at his words.
’I’m about to fucking reach the Venerable realm, and you’re telling me I’m slacking off?!!’
