Chapter Six: The Enforcement Squad

Immersed in his martial arts training, Chen Xian hardly noticed the holidays slipping away. He felt as though time were flying by; with the clear progress he was making, he wished he could devote every waking moment to his practice.

Early in the morning, Chen Xian sat with his father. From the kitchen came the sounds of his mother preparing breakfast. Watching her busy figure, a warmth spread through his heart. Today was the final day before the start of the new semester; he had already booked his ticket and planned to head to his university immediately after the meal. His father, Chen Guoan, had taken a day off specifically to see him off. As for his younger sister, Chen Qiqi, as a third-year middle school student, her schedule was far less flexible; her semester had begun days ago, and she was likely already in class.

"Xian'er," his father said, looking at him, "though I don’t know much about martial arts, I do know that training requires a balance of tension and relaxation. You shouldn't be blindly obsessed with it. I’ve noticed you’ve been buried in your training lately; you should take some time to unwind."

Chen Xian nodded. "Don't worry, I'll be reporting to school tomorrow. I'll have plenty of time to rest then."

Chen Guoan patted his son on the shoulder with a smile. "Fair enough. Since I don't understand the craft, I'll leave the discretion to you."

Just then, his mother emerged from the kitchen with breakfast. Chen Xian quickly stepped forward to help. "Mom, let me take that."

"No need, Xian'er," she said, waving him off. "Go wash up. We can leave as soon as you're done eating—it’s over an hour’s drive."

After breakfast, Chen Xian and his father headed to the station. Outside, the place was a sea of people—a surging tide of students returning for the start of the term. Seeing the lively scene, the tension Chen Xian had been holding in his mind due to his rigorous training eased significantly. Checking the time, he realized the train would be arriving soon.

"Dad, you should head back now. The train is coming, and I need to get inside," Chen Xian said, waving to his father.

"Take care on your journey," Chen Guoan replied, nodding before turning back toward the way they had come. Chen Xian watched his father disappear into the crowd.

"Beep..." The horn sounded, signaling the train's arrival. Chen Xian gathered his belongings and headed toward the ticket gate.

***

Seated on the train to Tianlan, Chen Xian felt a sense of calm. In the Great Xuan Empire, there were thirty-six states, and each boasted one top-tier university. Tianlan University, where Chen Xian studied, was the premier institution in Su Province. Among the thirty-six top universities, there was a distinction between liberal arts and martial arts; twelve were designated as Martial Academies, dedicated to teaching martial theory and cultivating warriors, while the other twenty-four focused on various other fields and professions. Tianlan University was one of the latter.

In Great Xuan, those wishing to study martial arts usually turned to martial arts schools—where Chen Xian had learned his craft. Beyond that, one could join major martial arts sects or the Martial Academies. Joining a major sect required exceptional aptitude and a stroke of destiny; more importantly, they preferred to take in children whose bones and constitution were not yet fully formed, raising them within the sect from a young age. For someone older, that path was closed.

While there were many citizens in Great Xuan with good natural talent, very few ever managed to enter a major sect, which spoke to the difficulty of such a path. The third option, the Martial Academies, differed from other universities in their recruitment, drawing most of their students from middle school or even elementary school. It was rare for a high school student to gain admission. Graduates of these academies typically joined the military or other official organizations, which was why they were often referred to as military academies, and their instructors were mostly retired veterans.

The train began to roll forward. Chen Xian leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, visualizing a white crane in his mind to nourish his spirit.

"Dear passengers, please note that we are approaching our destination. Please remain steady," the attendant’s voice echoed through the cabin. Chen Xian opened his eyes and gazed out the window. The hour had passed in a blink. Once the train pulled into the station, he gathered his luggage and stepped out onto the platform.

***

Chen Xian checked the time—it was still an hour before noon, so he decided to head straight to his living quarters. Because of his training, he didn't live in the student dorms; instead, he had rented a place nearby, which was much more convenient for his practice.

Just as he was about to set off, he noticed a large number of Enforcers standing on the platform in the distance. This was an unusual sight. The Great Xuan Enforcement Agency was established specifically to deal with martial artists—maintaining order and apprehending those who committed crimes. Their presence clearly signaled that something out of the ordinary had occurred.

Thinking this, Chen Xian quickened his pace toward the exit. Whatever was happening, it had nothing to do with him, and it was never wise to gawk at matters involving martial artists. To an ordinary person, a warrior was a dangerous force, and Chen Xian had no desire to be caught in the crossfire. "I just hope this is resolved quickly," he thought.

As he moved through the crowd, snatches of conversation drifted to his ears. He paused, listening intently.

"Did you hear? A gang of bandits caused trouble in Jiang Province and supposedly injured a lot of people. It stirred up the Enforcers, and now they’re fleeing toward our area."

"What? I hadn't heard anything about that!" someone nearby exclaimed in disbelief.

Chen Xian’s eyebrows arched. If they had drawn the attention of the Enforcers, these bandits were undoubtedly martial artists. To dare to injure people in such a brazen manner—they were truly bold. In Great Xuan, the legal consequences for a martial artist who committed a crime were vastly different depending on whether they injured anyone. Using martial arts to harm civilians was a grave offense; at best, one would have their cultivation stripped, be fed and housed by the state for life, or at worst, face execution. It was precisely this strict legal code that kept the warriors of Great Xuan in check, preventing them from bullying the weak at will. It was also why the common people didn't fear martial artists with the same terror seen in ancient times, ensuring the safety of the general public.

For this group to commit crimes in Jiang Province and dare to draw blood—they had clearly crossed the red line of the Great Xuan law. With these thoughts in mind, Chen Xian continued to follow the flow of the crowd, heading toward the station exit. On the platform, the Enforcers stood with sharp gazes, their weapons in hand, continuously scanning the moving sea of people.