Chapter 1505
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Chapter 1505 New Squad?
The autumn rain was slightly cool.
Under the gloomy sky, a figure sat on the muddy ground, surrounded by pale tombstones standing like a forest. The fine rain fell on the withered leaves covering the ground, making dull tapping sounds.
The Nightwatcher Cemetery in Beijing was much larger than the one in Cangnan. This wasn’t because Beijing’s Nightwatchers held higher status, but simply because there were too many tombstones here—almost three times more than in Cangnan. If the cemetery hadn’t been built larger, it couldn’t have accommodated so many markers.
Lin Qiye stood outside the cemetery, watching the trembling figure carving inscriptions among the forest of tombstones, his expression complicated.
“This is the first time I’ve seen him cry like this.”
“Fang Mo has always been an emotional person. Although he didn’t spend much time with them, his feelings for Squad 006 are no less than Li Zhenzhen’s,” Chen Han sighed.
“How is Li Zhenzhen? How’s she doing?”
“Still unconscious. Xu Liao is taking care of her.”
They had witnessed Li Zhenzhen crying until she fainted in front of those five coffins. Even though Lin Qiye and the others had tried their best to comfort her, it had no effect. Li Zhenzhen had grown up with the members of Squad 006 since she was little and considered them family. Seeing them reduced to cold coffins lying on the ground was a shock she simply couldn’t bear.
Lin Qiye nodded slightly, watching the figure carving tombstones in the cemetery without saying anything more.
Today, the remains of all Nightwatchers who had sacrificed themselves on the front lines should have been sent to their respective squad stations… How many places would scenes like this be playing out?
Lin Qiye wasn’t sure how many people would be like Li Zhenzhen and Fang Mo today.
But he knew that after today, another large group of young Nightwatchers in Great Xia would undergo transformation.
On the gravel path outside the cemetery, a figure approached in a daze. Li Zhenzhen’s face was extremely pale, her eyes bloodshot. Wrapped in her dark red cloak, she walked step by step toward the cemetery in the autumn rain.
“Awake?”
“…Yes.” Li Zhenzhen spoke hoarsely, “I need to carve their tombstones…”
Looking at her haggard and weak appearance, Lin Qiye sighed, “Go ahead. Fang Mo is already inside.”
Li Zhenzhen’s figure stumbled into the cemetery and sat down beside Fang Mo, completely oblivious to the cold autumn rain. She picked up the carving knife and began to carefully engrave the tombstone.
Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen carved slowly. It was their first time sending off their seniors, and they were extremely meticulous with their work. By the time they finished the five tombstones, it was already deep into the night.
“I’m sorry…” Chen Han smiled bitterly, “Tonight’s dinner will have to be simple…”
Chen Han had originally planned to arrange a feast for Lin Qiye and his team to celebrate their victorious return from the battlefield, but under the circumstances, a celebration was clearly impossible.
“It’s fine. I’ve already asked Cao Yuan and Jiang Er to start cooking noodles. These two kids have been carving tombstones for half the day—they must be quite hungry,” Lin Qiye said.
“Thank you.”
When everyone returned to the courtyard house, several bowls of steaming egg noodles were already set on the small table under the eaves. Cao Yuan took off his apron and nodded slightly to Lin Qiye.
Although Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen had been busy all afternoon, neither had much appetite. However, under Lin Qiye’s “coercion,” they obediently sat at the table and silently began eating their noodles.
Lin Qiye, Cao Yuan, Chen Han, and Xu Liao took their seats in succession.
The chill of the autumn rain deepened in the night. In the spacious courtyard house, the six people sat around a modest eight-immortals table. It didn’t feel crowded; rather, there was a sense of emptiness and desolation.
The last time they had gathered here to eat, there were so many people that even a long table couldn’t seat them all—sixteen or seventeen people crowded together, their laughter and chatter loud enough to lift the roof.
But now, with two teams present, the previous liveliness and clamor were gone.
Fang Mo silently finished the noodles in his bowl and gently placed his chopsticks on the table. After a long silence, he finally spoke: “Lord Qiye… may I ask you something?”
“Go ahead.”
“How can one become a member of a special squad?”
Lin Qiye’s chopsticks paused. He looked at Fang Mo in surprise. “You want to join a special squad? Why?”
“I… don’t want to stand behind others anymore.” Fang Mo’s hands on his knees slowly clenched. “During this war, I was always hiding in the rear of Great Xia. Even when I reached the battlefield twice, I was sent back without participating in the fighting… I know you wanted to protect me, but that feeling is really hard to bear.
I’m a Nightwatcher too. Although my strength isn’t enough yet, I don’t want to always be protected like a child at the back…
I’m not saying being a city-stationed Nightwatcher is bad. I just want to do more, like you. To be the first to stand up at critical moments and become someone who stands in front of everyone else.”
“Me too,” Li Zhenzhen put down her chopsticks and said with equal seriousness. “I’ve stayed in Beijing for over ten years. This place is like my home. If I stay home, I’ll never truly become strong…
I want to go out and see the world.”
Lin Qiye looked at Li Zhenzhen and Fang Mo. Both had unwavering determination in their eyes. This was clearly not a sudden impulse—they must have discussed this while carving the tombstones earlier.
“Having two people join a special squad at once is quite difficult,” Cao Yuan said thoughtfully. “The Phoenix Squad already has eight members and won’t be taking new ones. As for our squad, although you could join, our duties would still be too dangerous for you…”
Hearing this, both Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen’s expressions dimmed.
At that moment, Lin Qiye, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up. “Actually, there is a way.”
“Lord Qiye, are you willing to take us in?” Fang Mo’s eyes brightened.
“No,” Lin Qiye shook his head. “What I mean is, if you both want to be special squad members… why not establish your own squad?”
Fang Mo and Li Zhenzhen froze.
“The Mask Squad has been destroyed, and there’s no special squad under the 004 designation anymore. You could form your own team, start from scratch, and gradually work toward becoming a special squad… just like we once did.” A hint of nostalgia appeared in Lin Qiye’s eyes.
“But… with our current strength, can we really form our own special squad?” Fang Mo asked worriedly.
“Why not? When Nightfall was first formed, my strength wasn’t even as good as yours,” Lin Qiye smiled slightly. “Strength is something that can improve quickly. The more you experience, the faster you’ll grow.
You are the proxy of Great Xia’s Golden Immortal and carry the White Tiger’s soul—that’s enough qualification to serve as a special squad captain.”
