Just as the entire venue of police officers was still marveling at Kiana's godlike "Qinggong," whispering amongst themselves as if they had seen a living protagonist from a Wuxia novel, a deep, resonant voice—one that seemed to carry its own background music—came from the entrance of the training ground.
"Good skills! That's not just some Qinggong; that is top-tier combat awareness! I reckon even if we dragged out the ace of our SWAT team, they might not have that kind of reaction speed!"
The crowd automatically parted to the sides, making way. A tall woman with well-defined muscles strode in with large steps. She sported a sharp, short haircut and wore a black SWAT training uniform. Her sleeves were rolled up high, revealing bronze forearms marked with several conspicuous scars. Even as she simply walked over, the gust of wind she brought with her seemed to carry the scent of gunpowder.
"Instructor Lewis!"
"Captain Lewis!"
The surrounding officers immediately stood at attention and saluted. Their eyes held not only awe but also the excitement of anticipating a good show. This was the legend of the Arc City police force, Lewis, known as the "Devil Instructor."
Rumor had it that before retiring, she was the captain of a certain ace special forces unit, capable of slaughtering her way in and out of a den of vicious drug traffickers seven times with her bare hands. Since she took over the SWAT team's training, these young lads had been drilled until they cried for their parents, wishing they could carve the name "Lewis" onto their headboards to ward off evil. However, the arrest success rate had also skyrocketed in a straight line.
"Lew... Lewis?" Kiana's eyes went wide. This Valkyrie had once appeared in St. Freya's textbooks. However, because her image was too... well, rugged, a certain joke circulated among the students of St. Freya regarding the definition of a "True Valkyrie": capable short hair, broad and powerful palms, a resolute gaze, a physique honed by high-intensity training, dark skin from exposure to the elements, and a simple yet practical combat suit...
Clearly, this Lewis fit those conditions perfectly.
"Is this that 'Counterpart' you mentioned earlier?" Kiana exchanged whispers with Su Yu.
"Uh, in a sense, the world really is small." Su Yu couldn't help but shrug helplessly. "As you learn more about this world later, you should discover many similar flowers."
"But they aren't the 'them' from that world, right?" Kiana said softly.
"You can't exactly say that either." Su Yu's answer stunned Kiana for a moment. "At least, in some aspects of their personality, there should be similarities." He smiled. "Like Mei—isn't she very gentle with you? And Kevin... that guy used to be even more rash than you."
"More... rash than me?" Kiana opened her mouth but couldn't imagine it. That "Counterpart" of hers, that handsome white-haired guy who looked somewhat cold, was actually more rash than her in the past? Wait, ptui ptui ptui! Almost got confused there! In what way am I rash?! Smelly Su Yu, finding ways to curse me!
"If there's a chance in the future, I'll take you to see other 'Counterparts,'" Su Yu smiled. "But I think you have to pass this hurdle first. This Instructor Lewis is probably coming for you."
Kiana didn't speak. Back in her previous world, she had actually wanted to see other powerful Valkyries. Although there was no Honkai in this world, and although this Lewis was just a Counterpart, she could tell the other party possessed real skills. To train to this level in a world without Honkai was indeed worthy of the name "Valkyrie."
Lewis didn't care about the reactions of those around her at all; she stopped in front of Su Yu and Kiana. Those sharp eyes stared dead at Kiana, like a hunter spotting an extremely rare beast. That was the scent of a peer—or rather, a powerhouse.
"Little girl, those moves just now... beautiful. Truly beautiful."
Lewis walked up to Kiana, glanced at Su Yu, and let out a "Hoh."
"Your physical constitution is decent, but it's a pity you can't compare to your Junior Sister."
Su Yu's expression remained unchanged, but he was secretly startled—this Lewis's eyes were indeed sharp enough. However, judging from Lewis's words, his current physical fitness should be no less than that of a well-trained soldier. Of course, his actual combat power was probably much lower. After all, the only thing he knew how to fight with was probably the "Sixth Set of Radio Calisthenics for Primary and Secondary Students."
All strength and no technique; looks like I need to find time to train. I feel like my current life is drifting further and further away from the initial lying-flat days of carrying the Unmodeled Kitty Set. But how did that saying go? Ice tea tastes better when two people drink it.
"Did you hear that? They really are Senior Brother and Junior Sister? Instructor Lewis rarely praises anyone. It seems this Tai Xu Sect really has hidden dragons and crouching tigers."
"I thought this was a plot that only appeared in novels. I've really learned something today."
"Has this world finally evolved into something I can't understand?"
Several officers whispered among themselves.
Lewis looked Kiana up and down, her eyes growing brighter the more she looked. "Stable lower body, fast reactions, no wasted movements. This is definitely not some flowery showmanship trained in a gym; this is instinct fed by actual combat."
She grinned, revealing a set of white teeth, exuding a wild charm. "Since you're an expert from the Tai Xu Sect, what's the point of just hitting balls? That stuff is for training kids' hand-eye coordination. Come, exchange a few moves with me."
Saying this, she took off her jacket directly, revealing a tight black tank top underneath, and casually tossed it to a nearby officer. Lewis rolled her wrists, making loud cracking sounds. "Don't worry, I know my limits. We'll stop at the point of contact."
Dr. Mei pushed up her glasses, but her gaze went past Lewis and landed on Su Yu. She was asking for Su Yu's opinion. After all, Kiana was brought by Su Yu, and she had that special restriction on her. If she got broken or went berserk, no one could bear the responsibility.
This sudden invitation to battle tightened Su Yu's heart. Unlike the pitching machine, this was real-person PK! And looking at Lewis's stance, she was clearly a trained martial artist. If Kiana couldn't hold back and punched this police legend into the sky...
"Um, Instructor Lewis, this is a bit too..." Su Yu quickly stepped forward, trying to block Kiana. "My Junior Sister just came down from the mountain; she doesn't really understand the rules of sparring. Besides, she's tired from the physical test just now..."
"Tired? Does that look like she's tired? She hasn't even panted once." Lewis laughed heartily, directly ignoring Su Yu's excuse. She looked at Kiana, her eyes full of provocation. "What? Is the rule of the Tai Xu Sect to only hit dead objects and not living people? Or are you looking down on a crude person like me who only knows Military Boxing?"
This sentence stepped precisely on a Kaslana's landmine. Although the current Kiana had restrained herself a lot, becoming the "obedient Little Junior Sister," the belligerent factor flowing in her blood could not be completely suppressed. Retreating in the face of a challenge from a strong opponent was never an option for her.
Kiana gently pushed aside Su Yu, who was blocking her way. "Senior Brother, it's okay."
She looked at Lewis, a long-lost fighting spirit igniting in her heterochromatic eyes. "Since the Senior is offering to teach me, then I respectfully accept."
"Good! Straightforward!" Lewis shouted, cutting the chatter and assuming a standard combat stance.
The atmosphere on the sidelines was instantly ignited. The officers held their breath one by one, afraid of missing a single detail. Even the young officer who had just been chatting with the front desk lady took out his phone to record. But soon, someone reminded him that this was an internal top-secret video, so he awkwardly deleted the recording and sat down obediently.
Dr. Mei silently retreated to a safe distance and signaled the staff to turn on the high-speed cameras. This was precious sample data.
"Watch out!"
Before her voice even faded, Lewis had moved. Immobile like a mountain, moving like thunder. She didn't use any fancy probing moves; a standard straight punch went right for Kiana's face, the wind it generated making Su Yu's cheeks sting even from meters away. This was the legendary "Killing Skill"—simple, efficient, lethal.
Facing this heavy and powerful punch, Kiana didn't use fancy footwork to dodge like before. She simply sank her shoulders slightly, her left hand shooting out like lightning to precisely clasp Lewis's wrist, guiding it backward with the momentum. Four ounces moving a thousand pounds.
Lewis only felt a force that seemed soft but was actually irresistible, causing her center of gravity to shift. But she was a veteran of a hundred battles, after all; she changed moves extremely fast, borrowing the momentum to launch a sweep kick at Kiana's lower body. If it were an ordinary person, this kick would definitely fracture bones.
But Kiana seemed to have predicted her move long ago. The moment Lewis kicked out, Kiana actually rose into the air. Unlike the wire-flying in Wuxia movies, it was a backflip that defied gravity, like a swallow turning over. She even had the leisure to adjust her posture in mid-air, her feet lightly tapping on Lewis's sweeping leg. Borrowing the force to rise again, she landed lightly three meters behind Lewis.
"Hoh! What handsome Qinggong!" Lewis's eyes shone even brighter. That tap just now—she felt like she hadn't kicked a human leg, but a hard steel plate, shocking her shin into numbness. This little girl's physical constitution was simply a monster!
"Again!" Lewis yelled excitedly and charged up once more. This time she held nothing back—grappling, wrestling, even killing moves from military combat arts came out frequently.
Kiana, however, remained in a state of ease throughout. She didn't use any power beyond common sense, relying purely on technique and reaction to circle around. Although the Kaslana Gun Kata focused on guns, the taijutsu part was also a practical killing technique that fused the strengths of a hundred schools. Under Kiana's deliberate control, these moves originally used to kill Honkai Beasts turned into a highly ornamental "dismantling of moves."
Although teammates often said Kiana was a complete brute, that combat instinct etched into her bones wouldn't change. Moreover, half of the current Kiana's external brain was with Su Yu, and the other half was with herself. A Kaslana brain driven to desperation would run at full load with overclocked power—otherwise, how do you think she survived during the time Siegfried disappeared?
Dismantling, blocking, offloading force. With every contact, Lewis felt like her strength was punching into cotton, or hitting a spring—nowhere to apply force.
"Bang!"
With a final exchange of fist and palm, both retreated a step simultaneously. The exclamations from the officers hadn't stopped, and now thunderous applause erupted; clearly, they felt this wonderful duel was truly pleasing to the eye.
"Honestly, I couldn't even see their movements clearly at some points."
"As expected of Instructor Lewis, the Bane of Evil!!"
"That little girl has real skill too, actually managing to fight Instructor Lewis to a draw."
A draw? Su Yu shook his head secretly. Unlike others, he didn't need a high-speed camera to see their movements clearly. Although he was a novice who had only watched martial arts movies, it didn't stop him from seeing who was strong and who was weak.
Lewis was panting heavily, her forehead covered in sweat, but her face brimmed with an extremely carefree smile. In contrast, Kiana, apart from her bangs being slightly messy, wasn't flushed or breathless. The zipper of her tracksuit hadn't even come loose, and she even had the leisure to pat the dust off her sleeves.
The difference was clear. Obviously, Kiana had gone easy on her—like, really easy.
"Refreshing! Damn refreshing! I didn't expect to meet two good seedlings in a row this year; truly, the waves behind the Yangtze River drive on those before!" Lewis wiped the sweat from her face without caring about her image, strode up to Kiana, and raised her hand to pat her shoulder.
Su Yu was startled and wanted to warn her, but he saw that Kiana didn't dodge. instead allowing that broad, thick hand to pat her shoulder.
"Little girl, with skills like yours, it's a waste to be some hidden hermit!" Lewis looked at Kiana like she was looking at an uncut piece of jade. "How about it? Interested in joining our SWAT team? I can get a special approval! I've been in the force for so many years and haven't seen anyone with such handsome moves. As long as you come, I'll even give you my position as captain!"
"I can apply for special recruitment for you! Official establishment, household registration, housing—I'll solve it all! Then we'll be colleagues, and I guarantee you'll achieve great things! Criminals? In your hands, wouldn't they be like chopping vegetables?"
This was a personal invitation from "Bane of Evil" Lewis! And it came with an official post and a house! The surrounding officers were so envious their eyes were about to fall out; this was simply reaching the heavens in a single step!
Kiana was stunned. She looked at the sincere look in Lewis's eyes, and a warm current surged in her heart. Before, due to her Herrscher transformation, she was an object of fear and pursuit everywhere. But now, someone actually acknowledged her and accepted her because of her power, even inviting her to become a companion protecting the city.
This feeling... was really good. But...
She subconsciously turned back to look at Su Yu standing on the sidelines. The man who had been watching her the whole time, silently inching forward two steps after every round of exchange, always ensuring he was at the edge of the safety distance. She couldn't leave him. If she joined the SWAT team, it meant she would have to risk her life in the future. If it were just her, it would be fine; she wasn't afraid of death. But she couldn't let Su Yu step into danger, nor could she bring trouble to him because of her identity.
That idiot Senior Brother who couldn't even lie well to protect her needed her protection. Although her sense of justice as a Kaslana made her somewhat tempted, in the current Kiana's heart, the most important thing was still the man who would buy her pizza, stay up late to make games for her, and lie to the whole world for her.
"Um..." Kiana scratched her head, looking somewhat troubled. "Instructor Lewis, thank you for your kindness. Really, but..."
"Junior Sister is currently still in the cultivation stage; her mind is not yet settled, so she shouldn't enter the secular world too deeply." Su Yu stepped up at the right moment, standing naturally by Kiana's side and blocking Lewis's overly enthusiastic gaze.
"Wow, look at that protective manner! That's too sweet!"
"Senior Brother and Junior Sister, I ship this CP! I want a Senior Brother like that too!"
"Isn't this spoiling her too much? While they were fighting just now, I saw that handsome Senior Brother clenching his fists the whole time, more nervous than if he were on the field himself. His face went pale."
"More than that, after every round of testing, he rushed over immediately, afraid his Junior Sister had bumped or hurt herself. Tsk tsk, young people these days..."
Su Yu pretended not to hear the gossip and smiled gently at Lewis, looking every bit the agent of a worldly hermit. "The Master has orders: enter the world to cultivate, but follow destiny. If she forcibly joins the establishment, I fear she will be tainted by too much karma, which is unfavorable for the cultivation of her state of mind. This is a great taboo for martial artists."
This mystical speech stunned Lewis. Karma? Cultivation? State of mind?
"You young lad, you speak in sets of theories. But I always feel like I've heard 'cultivation' and 'state of mind' somewhere before. Hiss, where did I hear it?"
Forget it. Although she didn't understand, it felt very impressive—as expected of a hidden sect!
"However..." Su Yu changed the subject, not closing the door completely. After all, this was a very good official backup route. "Our school has always taken upholding justice and chivalry as its duty. Although she cannot officially take a position, if Instructor Lewis encounters any tricky, vicious cases that violate the harmony of nature in the future..." He glanced at Kiana. "I believe Junior Sister will not stand idly by. After all, eliminating violence and bringing peace to the good is the duty of us martial artists."
This was called retreating to advance. It left a way out for Kiana—after all, they needed to eat in the future, and being a vigilante was a decent career path—and it also gave Lewis enough face without making a definitive refusal.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Lewis's eyes brightened even more. "Good! Refreshing!"
She slapped Su Yu's shoulder heavily. Su Yu felt half his body go numb. If this were before his body enhancement, that hit would have been enough to make him suffer.
"Young man, your physique is sturdy enough, but how come you can't compare to your Junior Sister at all? What's going on?"
"I, cough, I came down the mountain earlier. After all, that ancient martial arts stuff isn't something just anyone can handle." Su Yu awkwardly made an excuse, but Lewis just laughed.
"Understood! For your Junior Sister to train to this level, she must have suffered a lot. Ordinary people indeed can't stand it." The straightforward Lewis didn't dig into the holes in Su Yu's story. Everyone had their own little secrets, not to mention there was a scholar like Dr. Mei endorsing them. As long as Kiana didn't break the law, she was a lawful citizen, so let her be.
"Since that's the case, I'll register a Vigilante identity for Sister Kiana first! No need to clock in for work usually; I'll contact you if there's a big case! Don't worry, the bonuses and benefits will be substantial! Assisting in solving cases and acts of bravery all have heavy rewards!"
Hearing the words "Heavy Rewards," Kiana's eyes instantly turned into the shape of gold coins.
Bonuses! Then she could buy lots of delicious pizza and cakes! She could also buy new clothes for that idiot Su Yu who rotated between two sets of clothes on weekdays, or change to a better graphics card! In short, with money, she could do many, many things in this world!
If Su Yu could hear her inner thoughts, he would probably be moved to tears, just short of kneeling down and shouting "Adoptive Mother is above me." Don't ask if it's embarrassing to call an underage girl "Adoptive Mother"; the answer is Char Aznable meme +1.
"Then it's a deal!" Kiana agreed happily, the smile on her face even more brilliant than when she won the match just now, pure as a child.
Looking at the girl smiling without any haze under the sunlight, appearing to no longer be shrouded by the shadows of the past, Su Yu also breathed a sigh of relief in his heart. Not just for the household registration, but to let her find her own value and place in this world. Even if she couldn't leave him yet, one day, this kitten would grow into a true lion.
And he just needed to guard this final safety distance before that day arrived, becoming her most solid shield.
"Oh, right!" Lewis finally seemed to remember something, her eyes lighting up. "I was wondering why those words sounded so familiar! It was the previous specially engaged vigilante at our Arc City Police Station. Her family owns a martial arts dojo, and everyone in it is an expert."
"Hoh, at that time, an A-rank wanted criminal just happened to cause trouble where she was working, and she pinned him to the ground with a backhand. But apparently, because the wanted criminal made a huge mess, that kid's part-time job fell through. However, my daughter says she seems to be working part-time at a convenience store now?"
Su Yu: "?"
Convenience store front desk Xiao Hua has arrived. The world really is small.
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