Chapter 0001: Selection

There was a chilling cold about him that sent shivers down her spine, mixed with a hint of a sweet metallic scent, reminiscent of blood

With a loud bang, a thunderclap echoed, and a flash of lightning split the sky, illuminating the dark alley. Large raindrops began to fall, and before Song Qingxiao could raise her hand to shield her head, she saw a figure in a raincoat braving the thunder and walking towards her through the waterlogged ground.

She was certain of this in her heart, but the next moment she heard the young man speak: "You, Youqi, go resolve the trouble"

She assures that this job was not easy to come by and that she fought for a long time to obtain it

His curiosity is not particularly strong, nor does he have a meddlesome personality. He can see that Song Qingxiaoming is clearly afraid, yet her actions are in stark contrast to her fear

She spent the day in a state of anxiety, only letting out a long sigh of relief after finishing work

However, if this group of troublemakers consists of immature adolescents, it may pose some difficulties

I will resolve the issue as soon as possible

A thought flashed through her mind, immediately followed by another thought that exploded in her mind: "Should I enter the trial of God?"

No one is willing to cause trouble or get into trouble here

There are two small alleys left to her home, and it becomes very dangerous in the west of the city after nightfall. She quickened her pace as the sound of distant thunder rumbled in the air, growing louder and louder, signaling the sudden arrival of a torrential downpour

Ten minutes ago, a report was received regarding Changyan Street on the east side of the municipal hall. Upon receiving the news, Song Qingxiao hurried over swiftly

Song Qing felt her whole body tense up as the person drew closer. His tall figure made the narrow alley seem like a place where Song Qing had nowhere to hide

In her youth, she once dreamed of being admitted to this top university of the empire, and after graduation, becoming a sought-after talent in various industries

He doubted whether this woman could resolve the trouble. Song Qingxiao was wearing a set of ill-fitting patrol guard uniform, her figure was very slender, her complexion pale, and her long, heavy bangs obscured half of her eyes. When she spoke, there was a sense of fragility about her. From her appearance, she seemed unrelated to the job of a guard.

Song Qingxiao's body fell to the ground convulsing, as a menacing thunder accompanied by lightning struck down. She saw the figure of that person, the corner of the raincoat being lifted. That person hummed a little tune as they left, and from the sound, it seemed to be a young man around thirty years old.

"Get lost!" a fierce-looking young man warned, "Don't meddle in other people's business!"

The young boys gathered around, and she tried to straighten her back, resembling a rabbit that had wandered into the jungle

She is a person with no way out; no matter what, she must resolve this troublesome matter

Changyan Street is located at the junction of the east and west in the center of the imperial city. The far west side of the city is known as a chaotic area, famously referred to as the "slum," characterized by filth, disorder, and poor conditions. Various forces are intertwined here, and crimes frequently occur; sometimes, even when the police are called, the guards may not be willing to come.

Generally, various factions are well aware of their stance towards the authorities, and disturbances do not extend beyond their own territories, nor do they approach Changyan Street. After all, there is a technological university here, and the people of the Empire tacitly regard this area as the domain of the Shi family

The mother, who is an alcoholic, has accumulated a significant amount of debt at home. She urgently needs a job to support herself. The profession of a patrol guard is often in a state of shortage due to long working hours, low wages, and certain dangers. Consequently, it is inevitable that the recruitment criteria may be relaxed, allowing her to avoid being turned away from this job due to her father's background file.

It is located at the center of the entire imperial capital, very close to the Science and Technology University where the Shi family resides. If the turmoil affects the university, it may provoke the displeasure of the royal Shi family

Women with rare noble lineage and exceptional skills are often selected by superiors during their time at school, trained, and subsequently assigned to work in special departments

If there are no unforeseen circumstances, bloodshed and conflict are inevitable

The character who can walk this path alone at night is not to be trifled with. She tries to hunch her shoulders, attempting to diminish her presence. As the person approaches closer, about to brush past her, she still grips her fist tightly. In the next moment, she feels that person raise their arm. Song Qingxiao feels as if a giant python has coiled around her neck. She reaches out to grab that hand, but the person, holding a dagger, thrusts it towards her throat

A respectful response came from the front of the car seat, the car door was opened, and the woman sitting opposite the young man slightly furrowed her brows.

"Disperse, disperse!" There are about ten people gathered here. Song Qingxiao raised her voice and shouted, "No disturbances are allowed here, please leave immediately!"

He should have calmly averted his gaze, but from the girl's uniform and the situation before him, he could infer the general circumstances.

Song Qing could discern the displeasure in the middle-aged guard's eyes; she moved her lips slightly and whispered, "It will not allow the unrest to affect this place"

The entire imperial guard system also employs female staff, but most of the women who enter the system are engaged in clerical work, unrelated to patrolling or resolving disputes

Unfortunately, some things cannot be achieved through effort alone; the doors here will not open for her

The sun is obscured by layers of dark clouds, creating a sense of impending storm. The towering buildings at the entrance of the technology university owned by the Shi family loom into the clouds, making Song Qing appear small and ordinary.

This girl is going to finish!

Song Qing felt a sinking sensation in her heart. If today the crowd causing the disturbance were a group of adults, invoking the name of the Shi family and using intimidation, it is possible that these individuals would fear the Shi family and leave quickly.

The students admitted to the University of Science and Technology are the most outstanding talents of the empire; every individual who enters and exits here possesses an extraordinary demeanor. Even the guards at the school gate carry a sense of superiority, looking down with a discerning attitude when conversing with Song Qing.

At this time and place, seeing someone dressed like this is not a good sign; she instinctively lowered her head, and the wind and rain lashed against her, causing Song Qingxiao to shiver involuntarily

Everyone here is more physically robust than her. She is wearing a guard's uniform, which appears quite ridiculous in the eyes of this unruly group of youths. The crowd was momentarily taken aback and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

When she was on her way home, it was already very dark, and the weather was unusually hot and humid. The weather forecast had predicted thunderstorms for the day, and she needed to get home before it started to rain. She had no money, and getting sick after being caught in the rain would be a significant burden for her

The job of a patrol guard is unrelated to her field of study. She just graduated this year, having studied diligently and achieved excellent grades during her time at school, but all of this has not been of much help in her job search

Song Qing ran very quickly, and the words of the campus security guard sounded like a warning bell. She arrived at the scene of the commotion in just a few minutes

This is Changyan Street, right next to the Shijia University of Technology

The young boys were captivated by her words and instinctively turned their heads.

Due to the commotion, several vehicles in the distance were stopped.

She resembled a grasshopper devoid of any power to resist, her fingertips merely brushing against that person's long fingers, whose hands were soaked by the rain, cold as if devoid of any warmth

The significant loss of blood has caused her pupils to begin dilating, is she going to die

Who is this person, and why does she want to kill her? Numerous questions made her eyes widen

As she turned and hurried towards the site of the disturbance, she brushed past many of the proud individuals entering the campus, feeling as insignificant as an ant, and hardly noticeable

The strong thumb gripping the dagger seemed to have an additional protrusion. She had not yet figured it out when the person turned the dagger, clearly intending to sever her life.

After her strenuous efforts, she obtained a two-month probation period; however, the personnel in the guard team were quite dissatisfied with her. The captain had previously warned her that if she failed to complete her work and received complaints, the team might ask her to leave.

Today, a group of ruffians gathered here, and judging by their age, they seem quite young, exuding a sense of naivety and ignorance of the world.

"An alarm has been received; there is a scuffle over thirty meters around the corner. As you know, this is a technological university," the guard said with a hint of pride. "We cannot allow the disturbance to affect this place; otherwise, the city government will receive complaints from the school"

I understand

The woman sitting opposite him in the car noticed his gaze and, following his line of sight, also observed the scene, lazily stretching her arms

Her previous judgment was mistaken, as she witnessed the youths causing a disturbance scatter under the strong intervention of the cavalry. Song Qing, dressed in loose police uniform, had a pale face, filled with a sense of relief after surviving the ordeal. She withdrew her gaze and glanced at the young man beside her, and as she lowered her eyelids, her expression turned cold.

Although the times are rapidly developing, her humble origins and ordinary lineage, coupled with her father's early criminal record, have left a stain on her profile, making it inevitable that she would be excluded from secure and comfortable positions within the municipal department

In the middle of the street, a young man in a black car casually glanced out the window and saw a girl surrounded by a group of fierce youths, as if she were about to be torn apart.

Among the patrol guards, there are indeed women who are strong and formidable, not inferior to men. The guards at the school truly do not understand how the security department could recruit such a seemingly frail woman this time.

To this day, the birth of constitutional monarchy has significantly diminished the influence of the royal family; however, the royal family still possesses immense prestige, status, and wealth. Their noble lineage provides substantial support, ensuring that the family remains firmly at the top of the social hierarchy.

That person seemed to be very confident in themselves, striking successfully and then immediately withdrawing, as blood gushed forth from the wound in their throat, quickly being washed away by the rain

On her first day of work, Song Qingxiao almost encountered an accident, but fortunately, the matter was resolved satisfactorily. She was on edge the entire day, yet did not receive any complaints

She lifted her head, her tone extremely light, yet it conveyed an undeniable sense of determination within it