Captain Walker was stunned: “Impressive, impressive, David Thompson, go ahead and give it a try…”

I silently stepped forward, took a brand-new Han sword from Nathan Lincoln, raised it slightly, and with a crisp “crack,” the blade sliced cleanly through the concrete slab!

Frank Lincoln was dumbfounded: “Good kid, let’s keep competing!”

But Nathan Lincoln said, “Third brother, there’s no need to compete anymore. David Thompson is more than twice as strong as you!”

“Big brother, what do you mean?” Frank Lincoln looked puzzled.

Nathan Lincoln walked up, pointed at the sword’s edge, and smiled: “Third brother, although you cut through the concrete slab, your sword’s edge is already nicked. Now look at the sword David Thompson used—it’s made of exactly the same material, but after cutting through the slab, it’s still perfectly intact. Don’t you see the difference?”

Frank Lincoln was astonished: “Why is that?”

Nathan Lincoln smiled faintly: “You used brute force to drive the blade through the obstacle, but he used qi, wrapping the blade in airflow to cut through. The real edge is the qi, not the steel. Do you understand? All right, David Thompson, you’re recommended by Captain Walker, so I don’t need to check your background. Tomorrow, you’ll accompany my daughter to report at Liuhua University. She’s starting her freshman year, and you’ll be a freshman too. In the afternoon, someone will help you complete the enrollment procedures…”

“Liuhua University… freshman year…”

My mind was a mess. I said, “Mr. Lincoln, I’m already 25. Do you really think it’s appropriate for me to start as a freshman?”

“No problem, you might look a bit mature, but what matters is having a young heart!”

Me: “……”

……

Just like that, I stumbled out of the gym, holding Xiaohei in my arms, and sat in the police car. Captain Walker earnestly advised me: “Liuhua University is a famous aristocratic school, basically a place for people to polish their credentials. Let me tell you, your tuition is being paid by our bureau. If you end up with seven failing grades at the end of the semester and have to retake them all, you’re dead meat!”

I regretted it immediately: “I don’t want to take this job anymore…”

“There’s no way out. If you break the contract, I guarantee you’ll spend ten years in jail!”

Me: “……”

……

Since I had a new job, I needed a new mindset. I got 10,000 RMB in cash from Captain Walker. Hmm, I’ll just find a place to live near Liuhua University, and deal with everything else later!

Carrying my bedding and luggage, I arrived in front of Liuhua University. From a distance, I could see the park-like campus, beautiful and magnificent. Hugging Xiaohei, I walked around the campus, then went into a nearby residential area to look for a new place to stay. I saw some ads on the utility poles, dialed a number, and soon went over. I knocked on the door, and a 100-kilogram auntie opened it with a smile: “Here to see the room? Come on in!”

I walked into the room and frowned. The living room floor was covered with fruit peels, which was bad enough, but there was even a used condom. My first impression was extremely bad—especially bad!

“How’s the environment here? Is it noisy at night?” I asked.

I had to be careful about this. My previous living situation was unbearable; that neighborhood was absolutely unfit for humans!

Especially my old room—I always fantasized that the neighbor was a 34D beauty, but it turned out to be a beer-bellied uncle. That would’ve been fine, but he played the erhu at three in the morning every day!

Last week he played “Wang Xiao’er Herds Cattle,” and this week he switched to Zhang Yusheng’s “The Ocean”!

I worked early, middle, and late shifts in rotation, and still had to be tormented by him at night! If “The Ocean” could take away my sorrow, it should take him away first!

I raged in my heart for a long time. The landlady looked at me and smiled: “The environment’s pretty good, not too noisy. Don’t worry, go check out the room…”

I nodded. As soon as I walked into the room, I heard the headboard banging against the wall next door, along with a woman’s moans. My face turned red—I’d never even had a girlfriend, this was too much!

……

“How much is this room?” I asked.

“Three bedrooms and a living room, this is the last room. Monthly rent is 400 yuan, three months’ rent plus one month’s deposit, total 1,600 yuan!” the landlady said.

I shook my head: “Isn’t that too expensive? This kind of place is 400 a month?”

Landlady: “That’s the going rate here. It’s the same in other neighborhoods, not expensive. Take it or leave it, if you don’t want it, I’ll rent it to someone else.”

I frowned, paced to the window, pulled back the curtain, and saw a girl across the building singing with no clothes on.

I turned around decisively: “I’ll take this room!”

……

Early the next morning, I woke up, got dressed, and left with a small bag. This would be my temporary little nest!

August 25th, the day for new student registration at Liuhua University.

When I arrived at the school gate, it was already packed with people.

My phone rang—it was Captain Walker. He told me to wait for him on the right side of the gate. After meeting up with Captain Walker, I looked around at the crowd and asked, “Captain Walker, the person I’m supposed to protect—what kind of person are they?”

Captain Walker gave a mysterious smile: “I’m not too sure, but rumor has it… Nathan Lincoln’s woman is a super beauty, even prettier than those movie stars!”

I nodded: “That’s good then…”