Linjiang Pavilion, Phoenix Suite.
Outside the window, the river sparkled with night lights, bustling with tourists.
“Captain Li, you’re splashing out, booking a suite at Linjiang Pavilion,” Huang Xiumin teased.
“Thanks to Mr. Lu, we might snag a collective third-class merit. What’s a meal compared to that?” Li Jinglin stood to shake Lu Zheng’s hand.
This was Lu Zheng’s first time meeting Li Jinglin; they’d never crossed paths before.
“You’re too kind. I just happened to be there, pure luck,” Lu Zheng said modestly.
Li Jinglin’s eyes gleamed, sharp and intense, marking him as a formidable figure.
“Sit,” he said, gesturing Lu Zheng to a seat. “Civil servants can’t drink Maotai for public or private banquets, so we’ll have Wuliangye instead.”
“I’m fine with anything!” Lu Zheng replied.
The waiter filled their glasses, and they all raised a toast.
As they ate, the conversation flowed.
Li Jinglin clinked glasses with Lu Zheng, smiling. “Honestly, I’m most curious about your skills. Incredible! How did you train?”
Lin Wan’s bright eyes turned to him too.
Lu Zheng smiled, his explanation rehearsed dozens of times in his mind. Not flawless, but impossible to disprove without evidence.
When all impossibilities are ruled out, you’d have to believe Lu Zheng was telling the truth.
“I’ve loved martial arts novels and TV shows since I was a kid, always dreaming of being a hero,” he began.
Li Jinglin nodded. “Who doesn’t? Every man has a martial arts dream.”
“As a kid, I didn’t think about learning martial arts, just messing around, imagining fights,” Lu Zheng said with a laugh. “Picturing enemies attacking from all angles, and me countering in all sorts of ways.”
“Oh?” Li Jinglin raised an eyebrow.
“As I grew up, I watched routines, self-taught knife techniques online, but kept the habit. Slowly, I got the hang of applying force,” Lu Zheng said, taking a bite of food. “Luckily, my reflexes seem sharp, and being young and strong, my punches pack a bit. Practice makes perfect, I suppose. If someone trained like this for over a decade, they’d probably be just as good.”
The three stared: ⚆_⚆?
That’s it?
Daydreaming, messing about, practice makes perfect, and then invincible?
Li Jinglin chuckled. “I’ve trained for over a decade too, but I’m nowhere near your level.”
Lu Zheng gave a shy smile. *I mentioned my natural reflexes, that’s talent, no explanation needed.*
Li Jinglin had seen footage of Lu Zheng subduing Li Yanjie at a crossroads in one move and knocking out an international fugitive with a single punch in a hotel lobby.
Those moves—fast, ruthless, crisp, and sharp—rivalled top-tier special forces, far beyond what an ordinary university graduate should possess.
As a seasoned detective, Li Jinglin investigated Lu Zheng, but found no record of prolonged absences in his history.
Seeing him now, with fair skin and delicate hands, Lu Zheng didn’t look like someone systematically trained. Li Jinglin could only conclude that the world indeed had geniuses.
“You shouldn’t have studied computer science. With your skills, you should’ve joined the military. With your talent and army training, you’d be a top-tier special forces soldier,” Li Jinglin said.
“No way, I know my limits. I don’t have that kind of skill,” Lu Zheng protested.
“I came from the military, you think I don’t know?” Li Jinglin glared.
Lu Zheng sighed, feeling oddly flattered.
Huang Xiumin smirked, and Lin Wan asked, “Lu Zheng, do you always train alone?”
Lu Zheng nodded. “Yeah, solo. If it weren’t for this incident, I wouldn’t have known I was this good. Daydreaming about fighting martial arts masters doesn’t exactly scream ‘adult,’ feels a bit embarrassing.”
Li Jinglin took a deep breath, clutching his chest, feeling a jab.
Lin Wan and Huang Xiumin, both police officers who trained in fitness and combat, felt like spitting blood at Lu Zheng’s humblebrag.
“Now that you know how skilled you are, what’s your plan?” Lin Wan asked.
“Uh, no plans,” Lu Zheng blinked, unsure of her meaning. “In modern society, fighting’s illegal.”
“Pfft, haha!”
“Lu Zheng, you’re too funny!” Huang Xiumin laughed.
Lin Wan smiled. “You’re still young, with such talent. You could make a career of it, like a combat coach.”
Lu Zheng shook his head. “Not interested.”
Huang Xiumin jabbed, “But you’re unemployed right now, aren’t you?”
Lu Zheng rolled his eyes. “What, go to a combat gym to charm rich older women?”
“That’s a fitness gym. Combat gyms don’t have older women,” Huang Xiumin grinned. “But plenty of young ladies.”
Lin Wan changed the subject. “You’ve trained for over a decade, got any tips or unique techniques?”
“I’ve got some, but never really systematised them, just messing around,” Lu Zheng said.
Lin Wan jumped in. “How about you teach me?”
“Uh, sure.”
“Tomorrow, I’ll take you to a combat gym I go to—fitness, fighting, training, all in one. Check out my skills, then teach me some punches.”
“Uh, sure.”
Li Jinglin blinked, glancing at Lin Wan, then Lu Zheng, catching a knowing look from Huang Xiumin.
It clicked!
Looks like the lads in the team would be heartbroken for a while.
“Great, it’s settled. You teach me, I’ll get you a gym pass!” Lin Wan said.
“No, no,” Lu Zheng waved his hands. “I’ve got money.”
“Then I’ll pay you tuition?” Lin Wan brushed her hair aside, smiling slyly.
“Nah, just get the pass. Let’s call it friends sparring. I’m afraid I’d mislead students as a teacher.”
Huang Xiumin coughed lightly. “Teacher-student vibes are kinda nice…”
Lin Wan shot her a cold glance, and Huang Xiumin gave an awkward smile, falling silent.
The mood warmed, and the conversation grew casual. Li Jinglin, ex-military and a bit tipsy, even sparred lightly with Lu Zheng.
Without standing, just hand movements.
Both times, Lu Zheng grabbed his wrist, leaving him immobile.
“Impressive. Shame you’re not in the system, or I’d transfer you over,” Li Jinglin said.
Lu Zheng laughed. “What era is this? Solving cases has high-tech and veteran detectives, fighting has guns and numbers. Who needs a combat expert?”
Li Jinglin shook his head. “You don’t know the inside scoop. Danger’s everywhere. One more self-defence skill is one more chance to survive.”
At this, Lin Wan and Huang Xiumin fell quiet.
Seeing Lu Zheng’s confusion, Lin Wan added, “Last year, a senior colleague got separated during an arrest and was killed by a suspect.”
“Uh, sorry…” Lu Zheng said.
Lin Wan chuckled. “What’s it got to do with you? Why apologise?”
“Didn’t I bring it up?”
“That was Captain Li, not you,” Lin Wan corrected.
“So…”
Slightly tipsy, Lin Wan’s cheeks were flushed, her eyes like water, her breath fragrant.
“For the sake of our friendship, if you don’t want me getting hurt, teach me well, alright?”
“Alright!”
