Once all the medals have been distributed, the next step will be the distribution of exclusive equipment for each Night's Watchman.
"Zheng Zhong."
"Mo Lan."
"Li Shaoguang."
"Cao Yuan."
"..."
On the training platform, several instructors stood in front of several sealed metal boxes, calling out names one by one according to the list. Those whose names were called received their equipment in order.
"Bai Li Tu Ming."
"Lin Qiye."
After Lin Qiye's name was announced, he immediately stepped onto the stage to collect his equipment.
Unsurprisingly, it's the standard Night's Watch three-piece set: Starblade, cloak, and emblem.
After receiving the equipment, Lin Qiye, like the others, first put on the cloak. The dark red cloak was made of an unknown material, soft and comfortable, and felt weightless when worn. The size was also just right.
Immediately afterwards, he gripped the hilt of the Star Blade. The familiar feel and weight were no different from the other standard-issue swords he had used before. The only difference was that the three small characters "Lin Qiye" were engraved on the blade of the straight sword.
Lin Qiye used two swords, but he did not apply for another sword because he had another one at home, which was engraved with "Zhao Kongcheng".
Finally, there is the emblem.
The weighty feel, the intertwined swords, the starry sky background... After examining it carefully for a while, Lin Qiye turned it over. At the bottom of the four familiar lines of small characters, the three characters "Lin Qiye" were also engraved.
This is proof of his Night's Watch identity.
After everyone had received their gifts, Yuan Gang, standing on the stage, slowly began to speak:
"I think you all already know that these three items are standard equipment for us Night's Watchmen, but perhaps few of you know what they represent."
"Straight sword, cloak, emblem... Why these three items? Why not add other things like boots, gloves, or a hat?"
"Because they are the most special."
"The straight sword, also known as the Star Sword, is made from a material of extremely mysterious origin. Some say it is meteorite iron from outer space, some say it is mutated iron ore from the mist, and some say it is top-quality divine iron taken from the Great Xia Divine Weapon Treasury... I don't know, and no one in the entire Great Xia knows, except for the people who forged these swords."
"Its origin is unimportant; what matters is that it will never break, never rust, never melt, never freeze. No external force can break its internal structure. From the moment it was forged, it has been eternally fixed in this shape, including the names engraved on it."
"It is a 'blade' you can absolutely trust to attack!"
"The cloak is made of cutting-edge nanotechnology materials. While ensuring comfort, it can effectively resist harsh environments such as cold, heat, humidity, and germs. It is like a universal protective suit, helping you to isolate yourself from external influences during combat."
"However, it is not sturdy; it is just a cloak, not armor. If the cloak is damaged in battle, you can request to send it back to headquarters, where a specialist will sew it up for you, and it will be returned to you the next day."
"It is a defensive 'shield' that helps you adapt to various environments."
"As for emblems... they have only one purpose: mutual destruction!"
"It can unleash a person's full potential in a short period of time. Those without forbidden realms will gain forbidden realms, and those with forbidden realms will improve their realm. It can give you a possibility, a chance to fight to the death, maintain your dignity, and create a chance for your teammates to survive!"
"It is the 'faith' that defends the dignity of your death."
Yuan Gang took a deep breath and spoke slowly.
"A 'blade' for attack, a 'shield' for protection, and a dignified death. This is the best weapon we can give you."
"The new recruits... no, the new generation of Night Watchmen, looked down at their equipment and fell silent."
Three pieces of equipment, no more, no less, but they embody the continuation and prosperity of a nation.
Yuan Gang stood ramrod straight, looking at the audience filled with dark red, and solemnly began to speak:
"The oath-taking ceremony...begins!"
Splash!
A gust of wind blew by, and a red flag fluttered on the flagpole standing on the martial arts stage.
The entire audience was solemn.
Yuan Gang clenched his right fist, gripped the emblem tightly, and placed it over his heart. His left hand rested on the hilt of the straight sword at his waist. His deep and resonant voice echoed throughout the training ground.
"I, Yuan Gang, swear under the red flag of Great Xia..."
Everyone simultaneously gripped their emblems in their right hands, placed them in front of their chests, and held their sword hilts with their left hands, speaking with imposing force.
"I, Wang Li..."
"I, Li Shaoguang..."
"I am Wen Qingqing..."
"I am Deng Wei..."
"I am Li Liang..."
"I, Cao Yuan..."
"I, Baili Tuming..."
"I, Lin Qiye..."
"..."
Ultimately, everyone's voices converged into one sentence.
"—Swearing an oath under the great red flag of the Great Xia Dynasty!"
Yuan Gang continued, "If the darkest night ever comes!"
"—If the darkest night ever comes!"
"I will stand before ten million people!"
"I will stand before ten million people!"
"Sword drawn, facing the abyss!"
"—Sword drawn, facing the abyss!"
"Blood stains the sky!!"
"—Blood stains the sky!!"
Their fists were clenched tightly, their eyes filled with excitement, determination, and fortitude. These four lines of text would be forever etched in their hearts, just as they were etched on their knives.
The silkworms that had entered the cocoon finally emerged, and from that moment on, they became the Night Watchmen.
Growth may be that simple....
"They're gone."
"They're gone."
"I'm leaving too..."
"Take care, and be sure to come visit me next time!"
"Haha, don't worry, I'll treat you to drinks then!"
"Old Wang! Don't die! Did you hear me?!"
"Damn it, I'm tougher than you. I'm not that easy to kill. Wait until I'm a captain in a couple of years, then I'll treat you to drinks!"
"..."
In the dormitory building, one familiar figure after another dragged their luggage, suppressing their reluctance, and said goodbye with laughter and banter.
This year-long gathering has finally come to an end.
"Qi Ye, I'm leaving." Outside the door, Cao Yuan, dragging his suitcase, looked solemnly at Lin Qi Ye. "Remember to find me in Huaihai City."
Lin Qiye smiled and said, "Don't worry, just be careful on the road."
"Waaaaah... Qiye, I'm leaving too. Don't miss me if I don't sleep with you!" Baili Pangpang said reluctantly, his eyes red, with several bodyguards carrying his luggage behind him.
"Don't say things that are so easily misunderstood." Lin Qiye sighed helplessly. "After returning to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, don't be too indulgent, or you might run into trouble during a battle."
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing." Baili Pangpang patted his chest confidently. "You absolutely have to come visit me in Guangzhou or Shenzhen. Just one phone call and I'll arrange everything for you: private jets, five-star hotels, beautiful ladies... I guarantee it'll all be taken care of!"
Lin Qiye said, half-laughing and half-crying, "Okay, I'll go."
Baili Pangpang, accompanied by his bodyguards, kept turning back to look at Lin Qiye as he went, then, as if he had just remembered something, he called out to Lin Qiye from afar:
"Oh, right, I put your things under the bed, remember to get them! There are some for your sister too!"
Lin Qiye was taken aback. After Baili Pangpang walked away and returned to his dormitory, he took out a huge gift box from under his bed...
A whole box full of male Rolexes. The remaining box contains extremely expensive women's watches from various renowned brands; most feature dark color schemes, sparkling diamonds, and moon-and-star motifs.
"This kid..." Lin Qiye chuckled and cursed, then hesitated for a moment before solemnly putting it into his suitcase.
He stood up, took one last look at the dormitory room, dragged his pink Peppa Pig suitcase, and walked outside.
Gradually, fewer and fewer people left the training camp, and the dormitory building became increasingly empty. Before they knew it, the entire training camp had fallen into a deathly silence.
The dim sunlight shone on the training field, and the empty training camp exuded a faint sense of sadness.
Dormitories, canteen, shooting range, training ground...
The familiar buildings receded into the distance, and soon after, Lin Qiye, dragging his suitcase, returned to the front of that large iron gate.
He looked up at the large characters on the iron gate, and the scene of first stepping through this gate resurfaced in his mind...
Lin Xi Chen was already waiting at the front gate, dragging her IV stand and luggage along; she waved and loudly called out his nickname. "Stinky brother! Let's go!!"
"I'm leaving," he murmured, dragging his suitcase as he stepped out the door.
This is the training base for recruit No. 039, where the twin spent a year.
They were the first new recruit here and now they were the last watchman to leave this place.