Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques-Chapter 180 - 174: Arrival

The new Saint Awakening, Zhou Yuanjue.

Ning Muqing was momentarily stunned to hear the name.

Just moments ago, she had been discussing that very name with Gu Qiuman. She never expected to get a call from her superior right after.

When she heard the word "assistant," she hadn't considered it might be for someone at the Saint Awakening Level. Her first thought was that she must have somehow offended her superior to be demoted to a menial position. She was preparing to refuse, no matter what it took, but it seemed that was not the case at all.

An assistant was an assistant, but serving a Saint Awakening Martial Artist was a completely different matter. How many Martial Artists in the entire country had reached the Saint Awakening realm? Even for someone like her, who believed herself to be just one step away, how many could actually cross that final chasm?

To be by such a person's side meant a chance to glimpse the mysteries of the Saint Awakening Realm, to observe their lifestyle and cultivation methods, and to broaden her own horizons. Whenever she encountered problems on her Martial Dao path, she could ask for guidance. This would be incredibly beneficial for her own cultivation. Moreover, the status that came with the position was far higher than that of a regional squad leader.

This was not an easy opportunity to come by.

"What's with the silence? You don't have to force yourself, you know. If you're not willing, we can consider someone else. We'll keep your position as a regional squad leader open for you."

The voice on the other end of the line said with a chuckle.

"Not at all!"

The words tumbled out of Ning Muqing's mouth before she could stop them. She immediately felt she had sounded a bit too eager and had lost her composure. Quickly reigning in her spirit, she adopted a calm, detached tone. "Since these are the organization's arrangements, I will, of course, follow orders."

"That tone... sounds like you're still a bit upset. Maybe we should reconsider..."

Her superior's hearty, teasing laughter came through the phone.

However, Ning Muqing hung up before he could even finish.

When she returned to the private room, she saw Gu Qiuman looking her way with clear, bright eyes.

"Another mission?"

Gu Qiuman asked curiously.

'Looks like you'll be getting that autograph after all...'

Ning Muqing thought to herself. She wouldn't say that to Gu Qiuman, of course. Otherwise, the bigmouth would tell who knows how many people. She put on a stern expression and said in a cold, serious tone:

"It's classified. No comment."

...

...

Early the next morning, Zhou Yuanjue packed a few things, ready to depart for Shangjing. Lei Yi was traveling with him. As a member of the Military Department, Lei Yi also needed to return to Shangjing now that the Kunlun incident was winding down.

Lu Zhen from the Southern Secret Inspection Bureau was also accompanying them.

ROOOOAR!

With a thunderous roar from its engines, the military plane took off from the temporary military base and soared into the sky.

Inside the cabin, Zhou Yuanjue and Lei Yi were chatting casually.

TAP! TAP! TAP!

Following the sound of footsteps, Lu Zhen found Zhou Yuanjue, a file in his hands. He was currently acting as Zhou Yuanjue's temporary assistant.

"I'm from the Southern Secret Inspection Bureau. After I've escorted you to Shangjing, I'll be returning to my post to resume my duties. Someone else will be taking over as your assistant. Headquarters has already selected a good candidate. Here is their file. If you're not satisfied, you can request a replacement at any time."

Lu Zhen handed the file to Zhou Yuanjue with a serious expression.

To be honest, he wasn't disappointed about not being able to stay by Zhou Yuanjue's side. As a Symbiont, not a pure Martial Artist, there was a limit to what he could learn from Zhou Yuanjue. Besides, compared to being an assistant, he much preferred charging into the front lines and staying with the Southern Secret Inspection Bureau to protect that territory.

"An assistant?"

Zhou Yuanjue nodded. He knew it was inevitable. He held an honorary position at the Secret Inspection Bureau and wouldn't be involved in much of the day-to-day work. The assistant would serve as a necessary bridge between him and the Bureau, making the position indispensable.

He took the file from Lu Zhen's hand.

Ning Muqing: Former squad leader, Special Operations Team, Shangjing Branch, Northern Secret Inspection Bureau. Second daughter of the Ning Family of Shangjing Prefecture. Age: 25. Practiced martial arts from a young age, achieved Mastery of Fist Techniques at twenty and joined the Secret Inspection Bureau. Currently a top-tier Martial Artist, one of the top 16 competitors in the Northern Martial Arts Tournament...

There was an ID photo of Ning Muqing at the top of the file, but Zhou Yuanjue skipped right past it and began reading the detailed information about her background.

Zhou Yuanjue was slightly surprised after reading Ning Muqing's file.

The Ning Family seemed to be a major, powerful clan in Shangjing Prefecture. In other words, this Ning Muqing was the scion of a wealthy family—a second- or third-generation elite.

Generally, children from such families are born with silver spoons and face countless temptations. While these families typically provide a strict upbringing and an elite education—meaning the children are usually low-key, self-disciplined, hardworking, and motivated, not the perverse, violent caricatures often seen in novels—it was still exceedingly rare for one to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to the path of the Martial Dao.

After all, their elders held high positions. Growing up, these children were steeped in the ways of social maneuvering, learning to borrow the power of the masses. They came to believe that true strength lay in holding authority, which alone could move mountains and part seas.

Once they had tasted the convenience of authority, how many could still firmly believe in the supreme power of the individual—a power capable of breaking the bounds of modern society? In the eyes of many great families, martial arts was for mere brutes. A brute's courage was useless in the grand scheme of things.

But this woman was different. Despite being from a great family, she had reached the level of a top-tier Martial Artist and become one of the top sixteen in the Northern Martial Arts Tournament. Talent alone couldn't account for that. It required immense perseverance, determination, and conviction.

The fact that she was a woman made it all the more remarkable.

This piqued Zhou Yuanjue's interest. Even he had encountered very few female Martial Artists.

"So? Do you want a replacement?"

Lu Zhen asked.

"No need. She's the one."

Zhou Yuanjue said as he handed the file back to Lu Zhen. His assistant wasn't just a pretty face, which satisfied him. It showed that the Secret Inspection Bureau Headquarters had put genuine thought into their selection.

...

...

「3:30 PM. Shangjing Prefecture, Northern Suburbs Secret Inspection Bureau Military Base.」

A military plane touched down on the runway. After a short dash, it slowly rolled to a stop.

Ning Muqing stood there in her Secret Inspection Bureau uniform. The uniform accentuated her flawless figure, a result of years of rigorous training.

Other leaders from the Secret Inspection Bureau stood beside her. On the other side was a welcoming party from the Military Department.

Her expression was serious, her eyes fixed on the plane as it came to a halt nearby. The welcoming party immediately moved forward.

The cabin door slowly opened, and two figures emerged. One of them, a young man, immediately caught her eye.

He was tall and handsome, with shockingly broad shoulders. His every move seemed connected to the environment around him. As his eyes swept over the crowd, everyone present subconsciously lowered their heads. He seemed to possess an aura that made him difficult to look at directly.

Even someone as powerful as her felt a sense of inadequacy in that moment—an unconscious pressure on her spirit and mind.

She knew, in that instant, who he was.