SWNOVELXO Chapter 36: Jade Organs Completion
Early morning mist shrouded the training ground. Wang Yanfei stood in the center, panting heavily, sweat streaming down his well-defined muscles. Three months of intense training had made his physique more robust, and even his demeanor had become noticeably steadier.
Liu Fu had disappeared without a trace, leaving only faint footprints on the ground. Zhang Yao crouched on one side, fiddling with her equipment, sparks occasionally flashing. Han Zijian stood at the edge of the field, arms crossed, seemingly calculating something in his mind. Xu Jiayin gently wiped her wrist guard, her soft gaze carrying a hint of determination. Li Yucheng leaned against the wall, his fingers tapping lightly on his pant leg, a subtle "zzzt" sound occasionally audible.
"Alright! That's it for today!" Wang Yanfei called out while wiping his sweat. "This is our final training session. Tomorrow, we go straight to the assessment."
"The last training session, and you're still this talkative." Zhang Yao glanced at him and smirked. "Do they assess humor in the test?"
"Don't underestimate humor!" Wang Yanfei replied with a grin. "It's the core of team morale, something you wouldn't understand, Zhang Jie."
"Heh," Li Yucheng chimed in lazily, "Just don't overdo it, or no one will take you seriously."
The group bantered back and forth, the atmosphere light and relaxed. Xu Jiayin finally stood up with a smile. "Enough chatting, let's clean up and go eat. Today's our last proper meal before the test."
They quickly packed up their gear and walked into a familiar little restaurant. The place was small, its "Fu Lai Ju" signboard peeling and faded. The middle-aged owner greeted them warmly. "The usual?"
"Yep, the usual!" Wang Yanfei responded cheerfully.
Before long, steaming dishes filled the table—spicy stir-fried beef, crispy potato slices, sweet and sour ribs—the aroma tantalizing their taste buds. Xu Jiayin chuckled as she looked at the feast. "Finally, some good food. I was starting to forget what real flavor was."
"Then eat up!" Wang Yanfei teased, grinning. "You'll need the energy to keep up with Lin Yi-ge in sparring."
At his words, a faint blush crept onto Xu Jiayin's cheeks. Zhang Yao and Li Yucheng immediately joined in the teasing, making the atmosphere even livelier. Han Zijian lifted his cup steadily and said, "Alright, a toast—to our efforts, and to our victory tomorrow!"
"Cheers!" They clinked their cups, the crisp sound echoing with youthful determination.
The meal was lighthearted and satisfying.
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Back in his apartment, Wang Yanfei dropped onto his couch with a long exhale. Three months of grueling training had drained him, but the tangible improvements in his body reassured him that it was all worth it.
He picked up the remote and switched on the holographic projection screen. The global news channel flickered to life.
"In the Western Nations, riots and violent conflicts have erupted across several major cities due to the extremist group 'Seven Emotions and Six Desires'…"
The broadcast shifted to footage of burning streets and collapsed buildings. The reporter's calm voice narrated, "However, the armed forces swiftly intervened, suppressing the insurrection. The organization's key members have been apprehended. The Western Nations' government has declared martial law and partially closed its borders…"
Wang Yanfei frowned slightly. Groups like this were rarely as simple as they seemed. The name alone—Seven Emotions and Six Desires—suggested something more sinister, perhaps an extreme experiment or an ability-based faction. He shook his head and turned off the news, pushing those thoughts aside.
He stood, stretched his muscles, and walked into his training room. The space was compact yet neatly arranged, with several training apparatus mounted on the walls and a resilient mat covering the floor. At the center of the room sat a smooth jade platform, emanating a faint glow—his dedicated space for practicing Jade Force.
Seating himself on the platform, Wang Yanfei closed his eyes and adjusted his breathing. The Jade Force coursed through his body, guided by his will. He had reached the pinnacle of the Jade Organs stage—his internal organs were now fully jade-infused, forming a natural energy core where Jade Force circulated seamlessly. Every heartbeat resonated with his entire body, surging his vitality to new heights.
Controlling the Jade Force, he directed its flow from his heart to his limbs, then back through his lungs, liver, spleen, and finally to his kidneys. His jade-infused organs operated flawlessly, the energy circulating as if it had always belonged there.
"Just one final step," Wang Yanfei thought. To break through to the fourth stage—Jade Blood—he needed to fully jade-infuse his bloodstream. This process demanded extreme precision, vast resources, and considerable time. The risks were high, but the rewards would be immense.
"No rush. One step at a time," he muttered, immersing himself in his training.
As energy coursed through him, the training room remained tranquil. Wang Yanfei himself resembled a piece of warm jade, radiating a faint luminescence.
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The next morning, at dawn, Wang Yanfei and his team gathered punctually, ready for the scheduled assessment. However, things did not go as planned.
Not far from the assembly point, in the operations briefing room, Instructor Lin studied a newly delivered report, his brow deeply furrowed.
"Change of plans," Lin announced firmly, looking at the team with an air of authority. "An incident occurred on Tai'an Street in District 7—a brutal crime. A man murdered his wife and daughter after they tried to report him. Given the severity of the case, the scheduled simulation test is canceled. Instead, you will be joining the official Guardian Force in handling this case."
Expressions shifted among the team. Wang Yanfei clenched his fists, his resolve hardening. Xu Jiayin frowned slightly, worry flickering in her eyes before she composed herself. Liu Fu remained impassive, as if he had expected this all along. Zhang Yao, on the other hand, looked intrigued. Han Zijian and Li Yucheng exchanged a glance but said nothing.
"You have ten minutes to gear up. Move out." Lin's command snapped them back to the moment.
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Tai'an Street was eerily silent that morning. Wang Yanfei and his team followed their superior into the crime scene for the first time. Lin merely said, "Do your job well. This is your assessment—don't disappoint me," before stepping back beyond the police cordon, leaving them to their task without another word.
Inside the cordoned-off area, the atmosphere was suffocating. Blood splatters marked the floor, trails smearing toward the walls. The air was thick with the metallic scent of blood. Chalk outlines on the ground indicated where the bodies had lain, though the actual corpses remained under white sheets—distorted outlines suggesting an unnatural posture.
"Stay focused," Han Zijian murmured, his voice unsteady.
Zhang Yao took the lead. She crouched down and lifted a corner of the sheet—then froze. A shudder ran through her body as she quickly lowered the cloth and took a step back, her face draining of color.
"What's wrong?" Wang Yanfei stepped forward, tension rising at her reaction.
Zhang Yao gritted her teeth, saying nothing, simply pointing at the covered bodies. Wang Yanfei took a deep breath, knelt, and pulled back the white sheet.