Chapter 6 - Just another day

A/n: The reversion is complete, sorry guys to those who already read them. I ask my cousin to fix it so that it won't be chaotic, having too much flashbacks and more cleared out line of the plot and all, so you can enjoy your self now.

T/L: yeah luckily i saw this.

Note: Hello to All webcomic readers, Like i said I've deleted the previous phasing because it chaotic, and also i update daily in Wattpad app... That's all guys and i appreciated and

Thank you for reading this fanfiction.

T/L: Wow.... What about me?

Xian's pov.

Xian slumped against the door of his small apartment, letting out a long, exhausted sigh as he locked it behind him. He kicked off his shoes haphazardly, dropping his work jacket on the nearby chair, and shuffled into the cramped kitchen. Reaching for a glass, he poured himself water, chugging it down before setting the glass down with a loud clink.

"Work with LGD, she says. Just another day in paradise," he grumbled, running a hand through his hair. His eyes flicked to the small clock on the wall. Midnight. He was exhausted, but his mind buzzed with everything that had happened. He couldn't shake it off. "All because I wanted a stupid cup of coffee during break time. How did I even get involved?"

Flashback

The sun blazed high above Lungmen, and Xian had taken a much-needed break from his job at the repair shop. He strolled to a nearby coffee shop, enjoying the rare breeze. He wasn't far from work but far enough to feel a sense of escape from the clanking tools and constant hum of machinery.

As he sipped his coffee outside, the peaceful afternoon shattered with a sudden screech of tires and a deafening crash just down the street. A sedan slammed into a light pole, sending sparks flying. Xian stood, heart pounding, as people around him screamed and scattered. His instincts screamed to run, but he stayed rooted, scanning the scene.

Three figures burst from the wreckage. The suspects—two armed with pistols and one carrying a suspicious-looking bag—darted into the crowded street.

"LGD! Freeze!"

Ch'en's authoritative voice cut through the chaos as she and a group of Lungmen Guard Department officers arrived on the scene. Weapons drawn, they moved with precision. Ch'en led the charge, her sword gleaming in the sunlight as she blocked the suspects' escape path.

Xian ducked behind a parked car, heart racing. Why is it always me in the wrong place at the wrong time?

The suspects fired indiscriminately, forcing civilians to scatter. Ch'en deflected bullets with her sword, advancing with calculated steps. "Neutralize them, now!" she ordered her team.

Two LGD officers flanked the suspects, trading gunfire. Ch'en, with her swift reflexes, cut through their defensive line, slashing at the one wielding the bag. The suspect stumbled but managed to throw the bag into a nearby alley.

Xian's eyes widened. A bomb? He peeked from his cover. He could see the faint red blinking from the bag. His engineering instincts kicked in.

Before he could overthink, he darted towards the alley, keeping low. Ch'en, catching sight of him, yelled, "Civilian! Get back!"

Ignoring her, Xian skidded to a stop beside the bag. His hands trembled, but he forced himself to focus. He had worked with electronics before, but never under this kind of pressure. Pulling out a pocket multi-tool, he began prying the device open.

The bomb had several wires connected to a digital timer. He had seen enough movies to know this wasn't a straightforward red-or-blue-wire situation. His mind raced as he analyzed the setup. This isn't just tech. It's using something more... intricate.

Bullets whizzed past the alley as LGD officers held off the suspects. Ch'en was holding her ground but still glanced in Xian's direction. "I swear, if you blow us up—!"

"I'm working on it!" Xian shouted back, focusing intensely. Sweat dripped down his face. He traced the circuit lines, identifying what appeared to be a makeshift energy stabilizer. Smart but sloppy. He disconnected a critical wire, shutting down the device just seconds before the timer hit zero.

The blinking stopped. Xian sat back, panting. "Defused. You're welcome!"

Ch'en narrowed her eyes but offered a curt nod. She then focused on the remaining suspects, knocking one out with a swift kick while her officers restrained the others.

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Xian lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind still racing. He had just narrowly avoided death, managed to defuse a bomb, and been dragged into an absurd situation with the LGD. Yet, despite his best efforts to unwind, his thoughts kept circling back to the same nagging question.

How did I not see it?

He rubbed his face in frustration, eyes squeezed shut as he replayed the scene from earlier. The image of Ch'en standing over him while he defused the bomb, her stern expression, the way she had watched him work—everything clicked now. Of course she had known he was the one who had disarmed it. She had been right there the entire time, her gaze fixed on his every move. She hadn't looked surprised at all when the timer had stopped. In fact, she had nodded to him, a silent acknowledgment of his work.

I'm such an idiot.

Xian groaned, bringing his hands up to his face, feeling the heat of embarrassment flush through him. Why didn't I pick up on that? He scolded himself. I should've known. She must've been watching me closely. That's why she didn't freak out when I was messing with the bomb. She knew the whole time.

Am I really this dense?

He let out a long, exasperated sigh. This wasn't the first time he had overlooked something that should've been obvious. It wasn't just about Ch'en's watchful eye, but about his entire behavior today. He'd let himself get so caught up in the chaos, so flustered by the whole situation, that he had completely failed to see the simple facts in front of him.

"When did I get so... stupid?" he mumbled aloud to no one in particular, his voice tinged with frustration. "I should've realized that she was waiting for me to make a move. She doesn't need to waste time with someone who can't see the obvious. I need to change this... fast."

His mind wandered, recalling the way he'd acted during the encounter, how he'd ignored Ch'en's direct involvement and played it off as if she hadn't already figured everything out. It wasn't just about the bomb or his lapse in judgment; it was about his entire approach to things—overthinking the unnecessary and underestimating the straightforward.

He let out a small, irritated laugh at himself. It's like I'm becoming more of a fool every day.

With a sigh, he rolled over on his side, trying to push the thoughts away. No, I've got to fix this. He wasn't some reckless kid anymore. I need to start paying attention to details, thinking more logically. Control... control everything, especially my thoughts.

The conversation with Ch'en kept echoing in his head. The way she had looked at him, so calm, unfazed by his bumbling. She's sharp. She knows things... and here I am, messing up left and right. What does that say about me?

Xian sat up in bed, his thoughts slowing down for the first time since the incident. No more mistakes like that. No more getting caught off guard.

He leaned back, adjusting his pillow, his mind still buzzing but beginning to settle. I'll need to focus. On my skills, on my mental state. And on my behavior. Next time something like this happens... I need to be prepared. No more stumbles. I've got to stop second-guessing everything and just act, but act smart.

With a heavy sigh, he closed his eyes, the weariness finally catching up to him. Tomorrow, I'll start fresh. Study harder. Focus on control. No more stupid mistakes. I'll figure out the tech... figure out how to use my abilities without getting distracted. And next time I meet Ch'en— He smirked a little. —I'll be ready for her.

------

As the day wound down, Ch'en sat in the driver's seat of her car, one hand gripping the steering wheel, the other resting casually on her lap. The city streets of Lungmen were bustling, but her mind was far from the usual noise of the city. Her focus was elsewhere, turning over the events of the day as she made her way home.

The problem with the bomb had been handled efficiently, thanks to Xian's unexpected involvement. She hadn't been sure at first what kind of person he was, but now... now she was starting to piece together who he might become. He's not a fool, she thought, her gaze briefly drifting to the rearview mirror before returning to the road. But he's a little... too distracted sometimes.

I wonder why he didn't realize I knew he was the one who defused the bomb. She smiled faintly to herself. I suppose it's because he was so focused on the task at hand. It wasn't important to him that I saw. That's a strange kind of logic, but I suppose I can appreciate it.

She turned onto a quieter street, her thoughts shifting to the bigger picture. He's got potential, more than he realizes. If he keeps pushing himself, he'll go far.

A small, thoughtful pause settled over her. She hadn't been blind to the way he handled the situation with the bomb—his quick thinking, his calm in the face of pressure. Despite his lack of training or experience in this kind of work, he'd done something right today.

Ch'en's lips quirked up slightly. Maybe he'll prove useful after all.

Her mind then turned to the more immediate matter: What happens next? She'd promised him freedom for his role in helping with the bomb, but there was still a lingering question about what to do with him. He was no typical civilian, and if she was honest, she had more questions about him than answers. Would he continue to work with her in the future? Could he be trusted? She had her doubts, but he had shown enough potential to make her think twice.

But for now, Ch'en mused, her gaze returning to the road, there's nothing more to do except let him figure things out on his own.

She shook her head slightly. As for any kind of reward—he wouldn't expect it anyway. That's not why he did it. Still... She couldn't help the small smirk that tugged at her lips. I wonder what kind of reward he thinks he deserves for all of this.

But she didn't linger on the thought for long. There were bigger things to focus on, more important tasks ahead. She let the thought drift away, sinking back into her professional demeanor as she navigated through the familiar streets, her attention narrowing on her journey home.

In the quiet of her car, she allowed herself one final thought. I'll keep an eye on him. See what he does next.

And with that, she turned the corner, disappearing into the fading light of the evening.

------

Xian's daily life had undergone a subtle but profound shift. As the days passed, his role at work remained the same—managing the shop, fixing cars, appliances, and gadgets—but there was now an additional layer to his routine. After his encounter with Ch'en, he had reluctantly agreed to help her, becoming an unwitting spy for the LGD. Their meetings had turned into a strange new pattern. Every evening, Xian would meet with Ch'en, often at a quiet café or a remote part of the city, and hand over the information he'd managed to extract from his workplace.

But the process was harder than Xian had anticipated. Initially, when he agreed to spy for Ch'en, he thought it would be simple. After all, he had access to a wealth of equipment and data. However, he soon realized that his abilities were still far from refined. The objects and gadgets he could break down and understand didn't come with a user manual, and there was no database telling him exactly what they could do. It was like coding a program with no instructions. To reverse-engineer and create new tech or extract vital information, Xian needed to understand the core functions of each object.

At first, this was a frustrating task. He'd sit in his shop, surrounded by half-dismantled machines, trying to decode their components. The process felt like trying to decipher a foreign language, and at times, he'd feel like he was getting nowhere. He was able to understand the what, but the how and why were still a mystery. It was as if his powers allowed him to see the potential of these objects, but without the full understanding of how to manipulate them. Like coding a computer program with just a few lines of incomplete code, the end result was often useless unless he had more information.

As his skills grew, so did his understanding. Over time, Xian figured out that he could replicate or reassemble objects, but it came at a cost—his energy reserves were limited, and without enough raw materials, the process was often more draining than rewarding. For all his newfound abilities, Xian was still weak, and his raw power was nowhere near as impressive as the machines and gadgets he could create. This discrepancy only made him more determined to improve himself physically.

So, each evening, after giving Ch'en the information he'd gathered, Xian would go home, lock the door, and get to work on his swordsmanship. The sword had become his new obsession. His system, though primitive and lacking in the flashier features like a shop or gacha function, was still a valuable tool. It tracked his progress, allowing him to see how his skills were evolving. The system didn't offer him instant solutions or powerful weapons, but it did ensure that his progress wouldn't be lost, and that was something he could rely on.

The process wasn't easy. Swordplay required discipline, strength, and precision—three things Xian had always taken for granted. But now, with his abilities tied to his physical strength, he understood the importance of training his body just as much as his mind. His system tracked his movements, his accuracy, and his endurance, allowing him to pinpoint exactly where he needed to improve. It wasn't glamorous or quick, but Xian knew he was becoming stronger, one swing at a time.

While his nights were spent honing his skills, his days were a blur of espionage. Every time he sat down with Ch'en, he was forced to come up with new ways to extract information without raising suspicion. And that wasn't always easy. His workplace had become more and more tense as Ch'en's suspicions grew. Xian found himself slipping flash drives with crucial data into his jacket pocket, all while trying to stay under the radar.

It wasn't long before he was almost caught.

Today, as Xian worked on yet another routine task, he felt the familiar tension building. He'd been tasked with extracting a specific set of files from the company's server. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary, just another piece of data that could potentially lead to something bigger. But this time, something felt off.

He had successfully copied the files to a flash drive, carefully tucking it into his pocket, when he heard footsteps approaching from behind. His heart skipped a beat, and a bead of sweat trickled down the back of his neck. He turned slightly, pretending to focus on a complicated piece of machinery, as the footsteps grew louder.

He quickly assessed his surroundings. No way to escape through the back door. His best option was to keep acting casual. He muttered under his breath, pretending to tinker with the device in front of him, as if he hadn't just been in the middle of a covert operation.

"Xian?" a voice called out.

It was one of his coworkers, who had apparently walked up behind him without his notice. Xian froze for a split second, his mind racing, trying to think of a plausible excuse. He couldn't afford to get caught now.

"Oh, hey," Xian said with a strained smile, trying to sound casual. "Just working on this... thing. You know, some new equipment for the shop."

The coworker didn't seem suspicious, but Xian's pulse was still racing. He had to keep the appearance of normalcy, just a few more seconds. The coworker nodded and went off to do his own work, but Xian could feel his muscles tense as the flash drive burned a hole in his pocket. He had barely managed to escape without raising any alarms.

Once the coast was clear, Xian exhaled deeply, wiping sweat from his brow. He needed to be more careful. He couldn't afford to make mistakes like this again.

The Complaint and Ch'en's Logic

That evening, Xian sat across from Ch'en at their usual meeting spot. He handed her the flash drive, his mind still preoccupied with the close call at work.

"Got the files you wanted," Xian said, trying to sound nonchalant, but the stress was evident in his voice. "But it's getting harder to get this stuff without raising suspicion. Someone almost caught me today. I barely managed to cover it up."

Ch'en took the flash drive, examining it for a moment before looking up at him. Her sharp eyes didn't miss the tension in his expression.

"You're getting careless, Xian," she remarked, her voice calm but firm. "You can't afford to be sloppy like that. If they catch you, everything we've worked for will be compromised."

Xian let out a frustrated sigh, rubbing his temples. "I know, I know. It's just... getting more difficult. Every time I think I've figured it out, something else goes wrong. I almost got caught today. I'm starting to wonder if I'm even cut out for this."

Ch'en raised an eyebrow, her tone suddenly more thoughtful. "It's not about being 'cut out' for this, Xian. It's about adapting. You're learning. You're not just gathering intel; you're learning how to think like someone who's in control. The only way to improve is through mistakes. Just make sure you don't make the same one twice."

Xian looked down, biting his lip. She was right, as usual. His tendency to panic and overthink had always been a problem, but it was something he needed to work on if he wanted to survive.

"What about the stuff I found today?" Xian asked, his voice lowering slightly. "It's... it's something serious. But I found something dangerous. Something I don't think we can afford to ignore."

Ch'en's expression didn't change, but her eyes sharpened with interest. "What did you find?"

Xian hesitated. Should I tell her? He thought about the risks, the potential fallout. The discovery was too risky, too dangerous to reveal so easily.

"I'll tell you later," Xian said finally, his voice tight. "I just... I need more time to process it first."

Ch'en hesitated for a moment and nodded, as if she understood. "We'll talk when you're ready. But don't wait too long. Time is not on our side."

Xian's mind raced, but he said nothing more. The discovery he'd made was far too serious to share without proper consideration. And tonight, for the first time, he realized that there were some things even Ch'en wasn't ready for—things that could change everything.