PFC Chapter 376 A Pure Heart Made of Glass (Page 12)
Chapter 376 A Pure Heart Made of Glass (Page 12)
The sky over Shangjing City was overcast, with thick clouds hanging low as if they might fall at any moment.
The Night Watch 006 squad's base is located in an inconspicuous cluster of buildings on the outskirts of the city. The gray-white exterior walls are covered with ivy, making it look like a forgotten ancient manor from a distance.
When Lin Qiye and his group's van stopped in front of the iron gate, raindrops had already begun to patter against the windshield.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, was the first to jump out of the car, his black trench coat fluttering in the wind. He looked up at the gloomy sky, his brows furrowing slightly: "This weather is truly fitting."
Lin Qiye didn't respond. His attention was drawn to a figure by the gate—the man was as burly as a small mountain, wearing the familiar Night Watch uniform, with his hands behind his back, standing as straight as a pine tree.
Even from a distance, you can feel the overwhelming aura of authority emanating from it.
"Instructor Yuan?" Lin Qiye called out uncertainly.
The man turned around, revealing a square face with sharp features.
Time has etched deep wrinkles on his forehead, but it has not diminished the sharp light in his eyes.
Upon seeing who it was, the serious face suddenly broke into a bright smile.
"Hey guys, long time no see!"
That signature booming voice was like a thunderclap, instantly awakening everyone's memories of the training camp.
Yuan Gang—formerly the chief instructor of the Night Watch training camp and now the deputy captain of the 006 squad—strode towards them, his military boots splashing water as they hit the puddle.
"Instructor Yuan, it's been a long time!" Lin Qiye stood at attention and saluted, his voice filled with undisguised joy.
Behind him, Baili Pangpang, An Qingyu and others also bowed, and even the usually carefree Zhang Yun in black stood up straight for once.
As Yuan Gang approached, he looked them over one by one, his eyes sparkling with the satisfaction of an elder.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the scar on Lin Qiye's shoulder, then swept over Zhang Yun's black trench coat, and finally landed on Jia Lan's long silver hair.
“Not bad, they’re all still alive.” Yuan Gang grinned, revealing a row of neat white teeth. “Looks like my training back then wasn’t in vain.”
Rain dripped down his short hair, but it did nothing to diminish his heroic spirit.
He reached out and patted Lin Qiye on the shoulder with such force that Lin Qiye almost stumbled: "I heard you guys caused quite a stir in Huaihai City?"
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, coughed lightly: "Instructor Yuan, it's raining harder outside. Why don't we go inside and talk?"
Yuan Gang then seemed to wake from a dream, laughing and waving his hand: "Look at my memory! Come, come, come in! Captain Shao has been waiting for you for ages."
The group followed Yuan Gang through the iron gate and into the 006 squad's base.
Unlike its unassuming exterior, the interior is simple yet practical.
The corridor is lined with medals of honor and mission photos, recording the glorious history of this elite squad.
In the reception room, the warm light dispelled the chill of the rainy day. Yuan Gang invited everyone to sit down and personally poured hot tea.
Amidst the fragrant tea, he leaned back on the sofa, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces: "Tell me, this trip to Beijing wasn't just about catching up with old friends, was it?"
Lin Qiye exchanged a glance with Zhang Yun in black, and carefully spoke: "Instructor Yuan, we would like to know some things about Sword Saint Zhou Ping, and also follow Commander Ye's instructions to challenge Team 006."
Yuan Gang paused slightly as he poured the tea, and the tea almost spilled over the rim of the cup.
He put down the teapot, his expression turning serious: "Zhou Ping? Why are you suddenly interested in him?"
“We…” Lin Qiye hesitated for a moment, “may need his help.”
Yuan Gang's sharp gaze seemed to pierce through people's hearts.
He was silent for a moment, then suddenly sighed: "Zhou Ping... is indeed extraordinary."
He picked up his teacup, the steam blurring his face: "Do you know what his forbidden realm is?"
The crowd shook their heads.
Yuan Gang's gaze deepened, as if lost in memories: "'A Pure Heart of Crystal,' a forbidden realm unique to Zhou Ping. This ability allows his heart to remain forever as pure as a child's, his mind untainted and immaculate."
"A pure mind?" Baili Pangpang scratched his head. "What does that mean?"
Yuan Gang put down his teacup and gestured with his hands: "It's like... a mirror that's always polished to a shine, never getting a speck of dust on it. It doesn't hold grudges, it doesn't get jealous, and it even has a hard time understanding the complexities of human nature."
An Qingyu pushed up her glasses, the lenses reflecting the light: "What practical use does this property have?"
“Of course.” A hint of admiration flashed in Yuan Gang’s eyes. “The most amazing thing is that he can completely immerse himself in the characters in the novels and gain their abilities by reading them.”
Zhou Ping firmly believed he was a sword cultivator, which is why he acquired the power of the sword.
"What?!" Garan's eyes widened in surprise. "This...this is too amazing!"
"However, it seems that Qi Ye and Zhang Yun can also do it."
Yuan Gang's eyes widened. "What! Really?"
Several people nodded.
Yuan Gang cursed him under his breath, calling him a pervert.
Then Yuan Gang gave a wry smile:
“Zhou Ping’s abilities are impressive, but the price he pays is also high.” His expression suddenly turned serious. “This ability makes him exceptionally… kind. Not just ordinary kindness, but a kind of naive, selfless kindness.”
The reception room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of raindrops tapping on the window.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, leaned back on the sofa, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the armrest, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
“When he was a child…” Yuan Gang’s voice lowered, “Zhou Ping suffered all kinds of bullying because of this ability.”
Lin Qiye's heart tightened suddenly.
He recalled Zhou Ping's eyes, which were always calm as still water; it was hard to imagine what kind of pain was hidden behind them.
“The family’s malice started first,” Yuan Gang continued, each word like a heavy stone. “His parents thought this child was ‘abnormal,’ too trusting of others, and always got taken advantage of.”
They tried to 'correct' him in various ways...beating, scolding, ignoring, and even locking him in the basement.
Moreover, his father was an alcoholic who would beat people when he drank.
Baili Pangpang gasped, his fists clenching involuntarily.
Jialan's eyes were already red, and she bit her lower lip to stop herself from crying.
“It was even worse at school.” Yuan Gang’s voice trailed off. “His classmates realized he never fought back or told on anyone, so they bullied him even more. They tore up his homework, put bugs in his bag, and poured cold water on him in the winter…”
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, suddenly stood up and walked to the window.
His back was ramrod straight, and the lines of his shoulders were as stiff as stone.
Rainwater meandered down the glass like countless transparent tear streaks.
“The most terrifying thing is the malice of strangers.” Yuan Gang, oblivious to Zhang Yun’s unusual behavior, continued, “Some people just can’t stand to see others do well, especially pure people like Zhou Ping. They lie to him, tease him, and even… well, some things are better left unsaid.”
Lin Qiye felt a suffocating pain.
He recalled Zhou Ping's patience when teaching him swordsmanship, and the silent man who always stood quietly behind everyone.
Such a person, to have experienced such a dark childhood...
"Then... how did he become a Sword Saint?" Cao Yuan suddenly asked, his voice hoarse.
Yuan Gang's expression finally relaxed a bit: "Because he was sincere, he learned from novels and became a sword saint through actual combat! The sword is everything to him."
"So his sword..." Lin Qiye mused.
“Yes, his sword is both the sharpest weapon and the strongest shield.” Yuan Gang’s eyes gleamed with pride. “He uses his sword to protect himself, but does not harm others; he uses his sword to cut down evil, but is never blinded by hatred. This is ‘Sword Saint’ Zhou Ping.”
Silence fell again in the meeting room.
Everyone is processing this information and re-evaluating the taciturn swordsman they once knew.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, still stood by the window, his reflection blurred by the rain.
Only Lin Qiye noticed that his fingers had dug deeply into his palm, yet he felt no pain at all.
“Instructor Yuan,” Lin Qiye broke the silence, “is this kind of ‘pure and innocent heart’ really worth it?”
Yuan Gang sighed deeply, his gaze sweeping across everyone's faces: "Whether it's worth it or not is not for us to judge. For Zhou Ping, this is his essence, the meaning of his existence. Without this 'pure heart,' there would be no Sword Saint Zhou Ping today."
He stood up, walked to a wall covered with photos, and pointed to one of them: "Look, this is a photo of him on his first mission."
In the photo, Zhou Ping is still very young, with clear, watery eyes, holding an ordinary longsword, standing in a pile of ruins.
Strangely, even in that environment, his expression remained calm, without anger or fear, only an almost divine tranquility.
“Sometimes I think,” Yuan Gang’s voice was so soft it was almost inaudible, “that perhaps it is precisely because he has experienced so much malice yet still remains pure that he deserves the title of ‘Sword Saint’.”
The rain grew louder, tapping on the roof and windows, like countless tiny fingers questioning the soul.
Looking at Zhou Ping in the photo, Lin Qiye suddenly understood why Zhang Yun in black was so eager to save him—in this corrupt world, people like Zhou Ping are too few and too precious.
“Instructor Yuan,” Lin Qiye stood up, his voice as firm as tempered steel, “we want to see Captain Shao Pingge. We have something very important to discuss with him.”
Yuan Gang's thick eyebrows were raised high, and the scar on his face was particularly noticeable under the light.
His sharp gaze swept over Lin Qiye's tense face, then glanced at the black-clad figure by the window who exuded a dangerous aura, seemingly surprised by their sudden change.
But soon, that weathered face regained its hearty expression.
“Okay, I’ll go call him right now.” Yuan Gang turned and walked towards the door, his broad back almost filling the entire doorway.
Before leaving, he turned back and gave everyone a meaningful look. "However..." A playful smile appeared on his lips. "Captain Shao isn't as easy to talk to as I am."
The footsteps faded into the distance, leaving only the sound of raindrops hitting the glass and the suppressed breathing of the people in the reception room.
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, finally turned around from the window. Rainwater meandered down the glass behind him, and his eyes gleamed with a light colder than the rain.
"Zhang Yun..." Lin Qiye lowered his voice, "Are you sure you want to do this?"
Zhang Yun, dressed in black, did not answer, but simply moved his wrist, his knuckles making a crisp "crackling" sound.
A faint smile played on his lips, yet it sent chills down one's spine.
Footsteps came from the end of the corridor, so light they were almost inaudible.
When the door to the reception room opened again, a white figure floated in—yes, floated in.
Shao Pingge walks in a way that is not like that of ordinary people; it is as if his feet do not touch the ground. His white clothes sway gently with his steps, as if he were a banished immortal descending to earth.
"I heard you're looking for me?" Shao Pingge's voice was clear and cold, devoid of any warmth or grime.
Lin Qiye carefully examined the captain of Squad 006.
He looked to be in his early thirties, with an almost unreal handsome face and skin so fair that you could see the blue veins underneath.
The most striking feature was his eyes—the pupils were a rare amber color, as if veiled by a thin mist.