Start with push-ups to gain experience

It was a little after six in the evening.

The afterglow of the setting sun was like spilled orange paint, smearing wildly across the horizon.

The reflection of the setting sun danced on the car window, casting a hazy, yellowish filter over the street ahead.

Fang Cheng gripped the steering wheel with one hand and slowly drove out of the congested area of ​​Dongdu City, heading towards Wanghu Town in the suburbs.

The scenery along the road gradually changed from neon-lit glass curtain walls to low bungalows and lush roadside trees.

With the car window rolled down halfway, a gentle evening breeze blew in, leaving the city's hustle and bustle behind.

Just now at the fork in the road leading out of the city, he had already dropped Ma Donghe and Hou Peng off at their respective residences.

With the two guys' chatter gone, the car was much quieter.

As the vehicle drove onto the tree-lined road leading to Wanghu Town, the wind blowing into the car began to carry a damp mist.

Looking out through the gaps in the trees, the vast Yulong Lake resembles a smooth mirror.

The sunset glow on the horizon was reflected on the lake, its reflection shattered by the evening breeze, creating dazzling shimmering waves.

The evening rush hour in the town is completely different from that in the city, characterized by its utter chaos.

Electric tricycles loaded with old cardboard boxes wobbled and occupied the motor vehicle lane, while bicycles ringing their bells weaved freely between cars.

Several children, who had just finished school, were carrying their schoolbags and holding freshly bought fried skewers. They were chasing and playing along the way when they suddenly crossed the road.

"squeak--"

A screeching sound of brakes rang out instantly, and a van next to it slammed on its brakes.

The driver, enraged, stuck his head out and unleashed a torrent of abuse at the runaway child.

This kind of road condition is the most torturous.

Most of the private cars in front and behind were stopping and starting, with the accelerator pedal revving abruptly when starting and the brake pedal being applied abruptly.

Despite the chaotic road conditions, Fang Cheng drove with remarkable ease.

After his driving skills reached the expert level, this Land Rover SUV seemed to become an extension of his body.

He doesn't even need to deliberately turn his head to observe blind spots; his brain can instantly plan the optimal route based solely on the vibrations from the chassis and the noise feedback from the surrounding environment.

Fang Cheng casually turned the steering wheel and lightly pressed the accelerator.

The massive vehicle moved like an eel in the water, smoothly weaving among tricycles, pedestrians, and haphazardly weaving electric vehicles.

Every lane change, swerve, acceleration, and overtaking maneuver is executed with pinpoint precision, ensuring that no collisions occur.

The entire driving process was smooth and stable, without any jerking or hesitation.

Fang Cheng's lips curled up slightly as he gazed at the semi-transparent panel in front of him, which only he could see.

[Skill Effect: Driving Intuition]

You have a natural affinity for any mechanical creation defined as a "vehicle."

[Upon contact with the vehicle, you can analyze its mechanical state and perfectly familiarize yourself with its performance limits in just one-tenth the time it takes an average person. During driving, your senses become deeply integrated with the vehicle, allowing you to intuitively predict the driving path and potential dangers.]

This is the amazing special effect you get after advancing your "driving" skill to the expert level.

On the way from the city, Fang Cheng had already experienced firsthand the actual effects of this ability.

He can instantly assess the vehicle's health by sensing subtle vibrations from the steering wheel and the low-frequency roar of the engine.

He knew exactly where the gears were worn out, where the oil pressure was unstable, and even where the power bottleneck was.

When cornering, he can clearly sense every subtle shift in the car's center of gravity and the limits of grip of the four tires on the ground.

When accelerating, he knew exactly how to squeeze out the last bit of horsepower from the machine without causing it to blow up.

He had just passed a construction site full of potholes, but he did not slow down to try and hit it.

Instead, it uses the kinetic energy feedback from the chassis suspension to quickly counter-steer and precisely control the throttle, forcibly changing the body's force balance point and effectively offsetting most of the bumps.

Even while driving this somewhat bulky, rugged SUV, he drove with the smoothness and power of a million-dollar luxury sedan.

Fang Cheng felt that with his current driving skills, he should be qualified to participate in the world's top rally races and achieve a good ranking.

If combined with one's extraordinary sensory perception, the brain can even instantly sketch out an optimal route in the field of vision based on vehicle speed, road width, and the movement trajectory of surrounding objects.

This capability is almost equivalent to having a top-of-the-line intelligent driving assistance system built in.

If he were to be followed by hostile forces in the future, Fang Cheng was fully confident that he could easily outrun them by taking advantage of various terrain blind spots and blind areas.

In fact, this skill's special effect is somewhat similar to Xu Kuan's ability.

However, Xu Kuan's abilities are more inclined towards the modification and operation of all mechanical instruments, while he himself is completely focused on transportation.

Fang Cheng stared at the word "vehicle" on the panel, his thoughts drifting away.

The scope of this definition seems very broad.

Vehicles are not limited to cars.

Since I have an affinity for related mechanical creations.

Does that mean that in the future, whether it's piloting airplanes, speedboats, ships, or even mechs from science fiction novels, we can do it as freely as we do now?
As Fang Cheng imagined himself manipulating complex machinery, his anticipation grew.

A dozen minutes later, the SUV turned onto the familiar cobblestone street.

The dim light bulbs of the roadside food stalls lit up, and the clattering sound of chopping meat on the cutting board reached my ears through the car window.

Several townspeople who had just finished get off work pushed their electric scooters and stopped in front of the stall to pick out braised food.

Fang Cheng collected his thoughts, slowed down, and deliberately avoided an orange cat that was slowly strolling in the middle of the road.

Finally, he parked the car steadily in the open space outside his own yard.

Turn off the engine and remove the key.

He pushed open the car door, stepped out, walked to the back seat, and opened the door.

Two huge military green carrying bags lay quietly on the seats; these were the new recruits' uniform equipment issued by the logistics department.

Fang Cheng leaned inside, grabbed the rough nylon handles with both hands, and easily lifted the package weighing dozens of kilograms out.

He kicked the car door shut, then grabbed his bag and walked into the courtyard.

In the courtyard, several potted plants under the grape trellis had just been watered, and glistening water droplets still clung to their leaves.

The kitchen window was half-open, letting in warm yellow light.

The roar of the range hood, mixed with the aroma of stir-fried scallions and ginger, kept wafting out.

Fang Cheng pushed open the living room door, changed his shoes, and leaned two heavy bags against the storage cabinet by the door.

"Mom, I'm home."

He shouted towards the kitchen.

Two seconds later, the floral-patterned curtain was lifted.

Mother Li Biyun, wearing a dark blue apron, walked out quickly.

She was holding a spatula covered in soy sauce, a few beads of sweat on her forehead, and her cheeks were flushed from the kitchen stove fire.

Upon seeing Fang Cheng changing into slippers, Li Biyun's tired expression immediately vanished, replaced by deep concern.

"Chengcheng, how was your first day reporting to the Special Search Team? Did your superiors give you any trouble?"

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the two large green bags, and she asked curiously:
"What are these? Two huge packages!" Fang Cheng casually unzipped the package to show his mother, explaining:
"They all received uniforms, shoes, and work supplies, as well as some daily necessities."

"Today is mainly for completing the onboarding procedures and going through various testing processes. The Special Search Team has many rules and regulations, and we need to get familiar with them since we're new here, so our specific tasks haven't been officially assigned yet. In a couple of days, we'll also have to participate in the unified new recruit military training."

Just then, a hearty laugh came from the lounge.

Grandpa Li Zhenhua strolled out of the room at a leisurely pace, carrying a purple clay teapot in his hand.

Today, the old man was wearing a loose-fitting silk jacket with a front opening. His gray hair was neatly combed, and he had a ruddy complexion and was in good spirits.

"It's a good thing to have many rules when you work for a government agency! Many rules mean they are organized and disciplined!"

Li Zhenhua walked closer and looked down at the brand-new uniform that Fang Cheng took out of his bag.

He reached out and touched it, as if examining some rare treasure, clicking his tongue in amazement.

"Look at the material of this garment, it's really sturdy. Government-owned items are indeed of high quality; the stitching, the texture, it looks impressive."

At this moment, Uncle Li Dingjian came downstairs, yawning, with a hint of sleepiness in his eyes, as if he had just woken up from a nap.

"Hey, A-Cheng's back? How's it going with his new job at the Special Investigation Team headquarters today?"

Fang Cheng turned to look at his uncle and smiled:

"It's alright, not as serious as I imagined. Besides, with Senior Brother Wei Zheng looking after us, the procedures went smoothly without any obstacles."

Li Dingjian walked over to Fang Cheng, patted him on the shoulder, and gave him a look:
"If you encounter anything you can't handle inside, just tell your uncle. Although your uncle has never worked in the government, he has been in the underworld for many years, and I can still give you some advice on some complicated matters."

Fang Cheng nodded slightly, understanding the meaning behind his uncle's words.

"Alright, alright, stop standing there and go wash your hands."

Li Biyun waved the spatula and gave the order:
"Dingjian, please clear the table and get ready to serve the dishes. Today is Chengcheng's first day of work, a joyous occasion, so I specially cooked a few extra dishes."

Upon hearing the words "celebrated day," Li Zhenhua's eyes lit up.

He quickly placed the purple clay teapot on the coffee table, rubbed his hands together, and looked at his daughter with a fawning smile on his face:

“Biyun, since it’s such a joyous occasion, we must celebrate. This afternoon I went to that old-established restaurant at the edge of town and bought two pounds of top-quality braised beef, as well as a roast duck that’s so fatty it’s practically dripping with oil. Now that we have all these good dishes, how about… we can get some of that?”

As Li Zhenhua spoke, he extended his right hand, pinching his thumb and forefinger together as if holding a wine glass, and his Adam's apple involuntarily bobbed.

Upon hearing this, Li Biyun's smile vanished instantly.

"Dad, don't you know what your blood pressure was last week?"

"The doctor repeatedly told you to quit drinking, but you keep finding excuses every day."

Li Biyun put her hands on her hips, and her tone became stern:

"A few days ago, Dingjian bought a new car, and you said you wanted to celebrate; today, Acheng reported to his new workplace, and you want to celebrate again. I think it's just that little bit of alcohol in your belly that's causing your trouble!"

When his daughter exposed him to his face, Li Zhenhua's smile froze, and he felt a little embarrassed.

He touched his nose somewhat awkwardly and looked to his son for help.

Li Dingjian immediately turned his head, pretending to carefully examine the calendar on the wall, as if he hadn't heard anything.

He dared not provoke his older sister at this time.

Helpless, Li Zhenhua turned his attention to his grandson, hoping to find a final ally.

"Acheng, look at this..."

Fang Cheng walked to the sink, turned on the tap, and carefully washed his hands.

Faced with his grandfather's pleading gaze, he sided with his mother without hesitation:
"Grandpa, Mom is right. Your health is the most important thing. You shouldn't touch alcohol anymore. When I get my salary this month, I'll get you two extra boxes of top-grade Longjing tea. That's good for your health."

Seeing that even his most successful grandson wouldn't help him, Li Zhenhua was completely discouraged.

He walked towards the dining table with his hands behind his back, muttering to himself:

"If you don't want to drink, then don't. Tea is fine too; it's good for cultivating one's mind and body..."

Seeing the old man's discomfiture, Fang Cheng and Li Dingjian exchanged a glance, and the corners of their mouths couldn't help but turn up.

Li Biyun turned around and went back into the kitchen.

A few minutes later, he came out carrying a steaming bowl of pork rib soup.

Dinner was very plentiful.

In addition to the braised beef and roast duck that Li Zhenhua bought, there were also Li Biyun's specialties: steamed sea bass, garlic shrimp, braised chicken, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and a pot of milky white yam and pork rib soup.

The family of four sat around a square wooden dining table.

The chandelier overhead cast a bright light, illuminating the steaming food.

The television was playing the local news channel in the corner of the living room, and the announcer's clear and articulate voice served as background noise for the dinner.

"Acheng, eat more meat."

Li Biyun picked up a piece of the tenderest fish belly meat, carefully removed a few soft bones from the edge, and put it into Fang Cheng's bowl.

Then I scooped him a full spoonful of pork rib soup with a soup spoon.

"Working in a department like the Special Search and Rescue Team means you'll definitely be training a lot, so you need to eat more and take good care of your health."

Li Biyun watched Fang Cheng eat his rice, her eyes filled with tenderness.

Fang Cheng swallowed the rice in his mouth, met his mother's concerned gaze, and patiently explained:
"Mom, don't worry. The medical department is mainly responsible for logistical support, providing physical therapy and checking on injuries for the frontline officers. They don't need to go to the front lines for fieldwork, so it's relatively safe and the workload isn't too heavy."

"Treating the sick and saving lives is a virtuous profession no matter where you are."

Li Zhenhua swallowed a piece of braised beef, nodded repeatedly, and then earnestly instructed:

“Acheng, let me tell you the truth. When you work in a government agency, you don’t need to make any great contributions, just avoid making any mistakes. Don’t try to stand out when something happens. Just do what your boss tells you to do, do more work and talk less.”

"We don't care if you get promoted or make a fortune. We just want you to stay safe and secure in this stable job, understand?"

Although the old man didn't know the full picture of the world of supernatural beings, he was somewhat aware that the Special Investigations Team handled supernatural cases that ordinary people couldn't understand.

"Dad's right, it's better to be cautious."

Li Dingjian took a bite of the roast duck and echoed:
"However, Acheng has always been steady and quick-witted. If something really happens, he knows what he's doing and will never suffer a loss."

His words were both a way of comforting the old man and a way of subtly expressing his trust in his nephew.

As a core member of the Illuminati and the leader's maternal uncle, he knew better than anyone that there weren't many people in the world who could make Fang Cheng suffer.

Looking across the vast city of Dongdu, you could probably count them on one hand.

"I understand, Mom, Grandpa, Uncle, I will take good care of myself."

Fang Cheng smiled and nodded.

He picked up his rice bowl, lowered his head, and took a big gulp of pork rib soup.

The warm soup flowed down the esophagus into the stomach, bringing a comforting warmth.

Listening to his family's simple words of advice, Fang Cheng felt a sense of peace.

No matter how ruthless and decisive he is in the outside world, his hands are stained with blood.

No matter what kind of violent and terrifying power is hidden beneath this seemingly gentle exterior.

Back here, all he needs to do is be an obedient son and a sensible junior.

Because this ordinary little courtyard and his family are his most solid anchor in this world. (End of Chapter)