Chapter 1: To Live as a Hero Among Men
Daxia, Jincheng.
An all-terrain Syao troop transport roared its engine, racing toward the site of the demonic disaster.
Inside the vehicle, Ren Jie, clad in orange fireproof gear and burdened with over twenty kilograms of equipment, sat at the rear.
The faces of the trainee Syao officers were tense and anxious, their youth written in every furrow of their brows.
Suddenly, a phone ringtone shattered the oppressive silence: “Baby, what are you doing~mua~Are you there~Are you asleep~Baby, what are you doing~Why aren’t you replying~”
Ren Jie’s eyes lit up immediately. He quickly pulled out a phone so battered its screen resembled a spider’s web.
“Hey? Got a problem? Find Ren Jie, guaranteed to solve it. What’s up, dear?”
Everyone’s gaze was drawn to him, their faces twitching.
What kind of ringtone is that?
“Tutoring your kid? No problem, I can do that. My college entrance exam score just came out—full mark is 750, I got 745. This year’s top scorer in Jincheng is me. Check if you don’t believe it!”
Now the whole carriage was in an uproar.
Is this for real?
A total score of 745 in the college entrance exam, and instead of going to university, you’re here risking your life with the Syao Training Squad?
Are you insane?
Lin Huairen scoffed, “Blowing smoke, aren’t you?”
Tian Yu checked DouNiang Encyclopedia, his lips twitching, “It really is Brother Jie… damn—”
Lin Huairen grumbled, “Who in District 69 doesn’t know Ren Jie’s name? The ultimate part-time prince—he’ll do anything for money except things that break criminal law. Highest record: twenty-seven part-time jobs at once. I even saw him in the Red Romance KTV’s dance troupe—he was the lead dancer!”
Everyone listened, their faces twitching. Twenty-seven jobs at once? Where does he find the time? Is he a time management master?
Yet Ren Jie paid no mind to everyone’s attention. As soon as he hung up, another call came through. He grew even happier and answered quickly.
“Zhang Sister? What? The second child at home has no milk again? Alright, alright, I’ll definitely come over tonight if I’m free!”
Everyone was dumbfounded.
Tian Yu looked puzzled, “The kid’s got no milk. What use is it if you go?”
Ren Jie spread his hands, “I’m a lactation specialist. Got a professional license. With special massage techniques, I can help the child get fed.”
At this, Tian Yu dropped to his knees, clutching Ren Jie’s hand, face solemn.
“Master, please teach me! I’m not interested in money, I just want to learn this skill! No one should let a child go hungry!”
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Slap, slap—
In the blink of an eye, half the carriage was kneeling.
Wei Pingsheng, sitting at the head seat, couldn’t stand it any longer. He cleared his throat, and the team members quickly sat up straight.
Wei Pingsheng’s gaze toward Ren Jie was full of helplessness. He knew a bit about Ren Jie’s family situation—this kid had it tough.
“We’re almost at the demonic disaster site. Form up, check equipment!”
The red light flashed in Wei Pingsheng’s mechanical left eye as he scanned the team.
“Repeat the mission objectives!”
“Seal off the site, evacuate civilians, rescue and transfer trapped citizens, and assist the Demon Suppression Division in subduing the demon. Minimize casualties!”
Everyone responded in unison.
Wei Pingsheng narrowed his eyes. “Good! You’re all trainees, and I know most of you only signed up for a chance at the Spirit Awakening Gene Injection after you’re made official!”
“Your performance on external missions is recorded in your assessment scores—the more people you rescue, the greater your chances of becoming official!”
“But remember! The premise of saving others is protecting yourself. If you can’t protect yourself, you can’t protect anyone!”
“And another thing! Don’t face the demon directly, unless you want to die. Demon hunting is the Demon Suppression Division’s job; don’t meddle unnecessarily!”
“Remember everything I’ve taught you!”
The carriage echoed with a loud response.
“Yes, Instructor!”
The troop transport drifted and braked sharply. The team members leapt out like fish.
But as soon as they stepped out, they were shocked by the scene before them.
The entire Hanhai Dragon City residential area was ablaze. Countless Syao officers in orange uniforms rushed about, cordoning off the site and rescuing civilians.
People were constantly being carried out of the disaster zone—severe burns, broken limbs, soaked in blood...
The roar of demons and the clash of weapons could be faintly heard, deafening.
The night sky was lit by fire, the full moon hung high, yet its light could not be seen.
Blue Star’s spiritual energy revival had lasted two hundred years—after the Great Cataclysm and race wars, human civilization had been crushed, only to rise from the ruins.
Yet humanity had lost the sea, the sky, even the moon.
To this day, demonic disasters remained the primary threat to civilian safety.
Wei Pingsheng stared, wide-eyed.
“What’s the Demon Suppression Division doing? A third-tier Lava Giant Demon, and they still haven’t taken it down?”
He’d brought these trainees intending to wrap up the incident, but the disaster had escalated unexpectedly.
Someone reported, “Captain Wei, the Demon Suppression Division is short-handed. Most have gone outside the city for demon-clearing missions. Support will arrive later.”
“Damn—why now of all times? So who’s fighting the demon?”
“Seems to be a young girl from the Demon Hunting Academy. She’s a Favored by the Gods!”
Wei Pingsheng gritted his teeth, hoping she could hold out, then turned to his trainees.
“What are you waiting for? Follow me into the fire and rescue people!”
But the trainees’ legs had turned to jelly. They were all teens or young adults—none had seen anything like this.
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Just standing outside the cordon, the heat battered their faces, stinging their skin.
Are we really supposed to charge in?
What if we die?
At that moment, a Syao officer, his body charred by smoke, rushed out of the burning building carrying a woman.
The woman was covered in blood, but ignored her wounds, struggling desperately.
“Please! Save my child, he’s still inside, hasn’t come out yet, he’s so young!”
The officer’s sweat-soaked face was full of distress.
“Sorry, ma’am, I understand how you feel, but the fire in Building 27 is out of control and its structure is unstable. It’s no longer safe for rescue!”
The mother wailed in despair, her eyes locked on the burning building, fighting to rush back in.
“Let me go! Please, let me go, I have to save him! He’s my child!”
All the officer could do was hold her back.
Such scenes were everywhere at demonic disaster sites.
Ren Jie withdrew his gaze from the mother, silently put on his breathing mask, and gripped his fire axe and crowbar.
He strode toward the burning Building 27.
Tian Yu shouted, eyes wide, “Brother Jie? Where are you going? Aren’t you afraid of dying? We’re only trainees!”
Ren Jie didn’t look back, raising his fire axe high, his voice resolute.
“I know it’s dangerous, but some things must be done by someone. We’re Syao officers—we carry burdens others cannot!”
“To live as Ren Jie, to die as a hero among ghosts!”
“This world... needs heroes!”
Seeing Ren Jie’s figure heading into the fire, Tian Yu and the others felt a sting in their noses, moved despite themselves.
Lin Huairen even felt ashamed.
Yet after just a couple steps, Ren Jie suddenly stopped, turned to Wei Pingsheng.
“Uncle Wei, just to be sure, according to Syao Hall regulations, Chapter Two, Article Thirteen: rescuing civilians from a demonic disaster earns a reward of two hundred per person, stackable with no upper limit. This applies to trainees, right?”
Wei Pingsheng paused. “Yes, it does...”
Ren Jie’s eyes hardened, and he charged toward Building 27, shouting,
“I’m going—”
“I’ll be the hero!”
And plunged headlong into the sea of fire.
Tian Yu and the others were speechless.
Hero, my ass—you’re just after those two hundred credits, aren’t you? Must you be so obvious?
Two hundred per person? You’re risking your life for that?
(ps: New book launch! First day, ten thousand words in one go! Hope everyone enjoys the binge—don’t hold back, just dive in! Remember to add it to your shelf and give five-star reviews~ Hope you catch up to the latest chapter today, urge Qingfeng to update, because tomorrow will see another furious update—ahahaha~ Don’t stop me, I’m not crazy!)