The Way of Restraint

Chapter 197: The Guardian Angel’s Tests

For most experts skilled in combat and physical training, Su Jie, having entered the “Living Dead” realm, is a superhuman.

If someone enters the “Living Dead” realm after the age of thirty, their physical abilities wouldn’t have improved so much. Moreover, in the entire world, it’s impossible to reach this realm at thirty; forty is still a possibility.

Thirty is the age of establishment, just beginning to stand on one’s own two feet.

Forty is the age of no longer being confused, only now having no more doubts about life and knowing which path to take.

Fifty is the age of knowing one’s destiny; only at this moment, entering the “Living Dead” realm, can one truly have a solid foundation.

Su Jie entered the “Living Dead” realm at only eighteen years old, not even twenty yet. At this time, his physical functions haven’t reached their peak, but his foundation has suddenly become incredibly strong, like a sapling being further fertilized—he’s bound to be invincible.

At this moment, Su Jie also learned many things. After entering this realm, he studied even more diligently, absorbing various kinds of knowledge into his mind. He realized his luck, but also felt some regret. If he had had this mindset before the age of fifteen, and cultivated to his current state using the best methods of the Typhon training camp, he could probably sweep across the world.

Ancient masters possessed this mindset, but their bodies lacked scientific training and conditioning, hindering their physical development and preventing them from unleashing their extraordinary abilities. Modern times are different; the combination of mindset and scientific training leads to a significant improvement in overall quality.

Take the 100-meter sprint record, for example. The world record in 1896 was 11.8 seconds, set by American Thomas Burke. Today, that’s the standard for a sports student.

This demonstrates the immense evolution of human physical capabilities over the past century.

While completing this assessment, Su Jie multitasked, calculating his physical fitness, data, and reaction time, treating the assessment as a training exercise. Such opportunities were rare; he wouldn’t normally have the chance to train like this.

This training session undoubtedly required a considerable investment of manpower, resources, and facilities.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh…

After reaching the safe zone, Su Jie put Cass down. He was unharmed and said smoothly, “Miss Cass, my assessment went fairly well. What score would you give me?”

Cass, finally recovering from her shock, checked the time: “The allotted time was ten minutes, and you completed the task in just two minutes! Unbelievable! Even the top instructors at the training camps would have a hard time doing that.”

“So-so,” Su Jie nodded. He knew that the better he performed, the more likely he was to be noticed by Larry’s team.

Nine minutes later, Qin Hui emerged from a nearby street, protecting the bl@ck examiner, Moka.

Qin Hui had some blood on him, clearly from being hit by rubber bullets, but nothing vital. Moka, whom he was protecting, was completely unharmed and had also passed the assessment.

But compared to Su Jie, he was far inferior.

The black interviewer, Moka, was also quite surprised to see Su Jie, as he noticed Su Jie had no injuries and seemed to have already passed the test.

Qin Hui’s eyes narrowed sharply when he saw Su Jie’s condition, but he quickly took out a first-aid kit and skillfully bandaged and stopped the bleeding, demonstrating his extensive battlefield experience and impressive abilities.

“Both of you have passed the assessment. Next, we will proceed to the fourth round,” said Cass, leading the two back to a spacious area in the basement, a place resembling a banquet hall.

“You all did very well in the first three rounds of assessments,” said Cass. “Identifying the murderer, finding the poison, and protecting your employer. With these abilities, you are perfectly capable of becoming Mr. Larry’s bodyguards. However, Mr. Larry may face very powerful enemies, and in some situations, you cannot carry any weapons; it will all be hand-to-hand combat. Therefore, you will also need to undergo a test of your individual combat skills. Next is the banquet combat exercise. Moka and I will still be the ones you protect. While eliminating the enemies, you cannot accidentally injure anyone, otherwise you will still be eliminated.”

As she spoke, she had Moka take Qin Hui to another simulated banquet hall, while Su Jie stayed behind.

With a clap of her hands, many people entered, quickly transforming the space into a grand banquet hall. Music played, and many men and women toasted and chatted.

Cass, ​​disguised as Mr. Larry, chatted and laughed with the people, while Su Jie followed beside her.

“These people are much stronger this time; they seem to be special agents who specialize in assassination missions,” Su Jie noticed several powerful individuals almost instantly. He no longer judged people by their appearance or details, but by his intuition. He could sense a person’s strength, hostility, and even react with the fierce alertness of a wild animal encountering its predator.

This was true sixth sense, the essence of “supernatural senses.”

Suddenly, someone approached Cass.

Su Jie didn’t use stones or hidden weapons, as this test focused on hand-to-hand combat. In the complex environment of a banquet, the goal was to eliminate the enemy cleanly and efficiently, avoiding any friendly fire.

Facing the person’s advance, Su Jie moved swiftly, blocking their path. His arm extended, his fingers poking under the person’s armpit with incredible speed—a move called “Long Ape’s Arm Probing.”

The person immediately lost consciousness and was about to collapse when Su Jie quickly hooked them and gently lifted them onto a sofa, without causing a commotion.

At the same time, two or three other people approached Cass, attempting to assassinate her. Several even stepped forward to block Su Jie’s advance.

Su Jie seemed to have anticipated this. With a slight slide, his movements were as swift as a basketball superstar’s dribbling and dodging, impossible for anyone to intercept.

He instantly reached Cass. The three men who had attacked her seemed paralyzed, about to collapse, but Su Jie simply pulled them aside.

Cass’s eyes widened in astonishment. As the interviewer who had arranged this assessment, she naturally knew exactly what was going on.

Those being assessed were highly skilled mercenaries, trained as special agents. If they had infiltrated the banquet to assassinate her, they could have caused immense chaos and a sensation.

Yet, they had been silently and effortlessly dealt with by Su Jie, bare-handed.

“Is this man human or a god?” A powerful thought surged in Cass’s mind: “With this man protecting the boss, he’s absolutely safe. I must make this man the boss’s bodyguard. I have a feeling that perhaps all the crises the boss faces will be resolved by this man!”

Su Jie’s miraculous performance since his arrival had finally led to a qualitative change in Cass’s mind.

A feeling of regarding Su Jie as a “Guardian Angel” arose in Cass’s heart.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Su Jie weaved through the banquet, eliminating two more armed special agents, completely clearing the venue.

“Alright.” Cass pressed the bell, and all the disguised individuals withdrew, leaving only seven or eight special agents sitting in chairs, still somewhat dazed.

“This round was ten times more difficult than the first assessment. How did you manage it?” Cass couldn’t help but ask.

The first round of the interview involved identifying and subduing armed individuals from fourteen people.

Now, the fourth round required identifying seven or eight skilled individuals within a banquet, subduing them without causing a stir, and, more importantly, protecting the employer.

Su Jie had accomplished all of this perfectly.

Cass knew that the difficulty level of this round was so high that no one had been able to do it yet.

From the adjacent banquet hall came the sounds of fierce fighting, seemingly Qin Hui engaging in combat, which only subsided after more than ten minutes.

Qin Hui emerged, his face ashen.

He and Su Jie returned to the lounge, facing the four interviewers.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Qin Hui, you failed this round of the assessment. According to our contract, your interview fee will not be refunded. However, since you were injured during our assessment, after careful consideration, we have decided to refund your interview fee and also provide you with medical expenses. Please sign this document now.”

Kathy presented Qin Hui with a document to sign. 

Qin Hui looked at Su Jie and asked, “Did he pass the assessment?”

“Yes, Mr. Qin Hui,” Cass nodded. “Mr. Su Jie passed all four assessments flawlessly. You, on the other hand, were injured in the third assessment, almost exceeded the time limit, and failed the fourth. Although you subdued the assailant in the end, the assailant injured the hired hand and caused chaos, resulting in your direct failure and disqualification.”

“I’d like to make a suggestion,” Qin Hui said. “Mr. Su Jie’s strength isn’t as great as you think. How about this: I’ll have a hand-to-hand combat with him. If I win, I hope you’ll change your opinion of me, what do you say?”

“I agree to this suggestion,” the white interviewer said.

“That’s not in accordance with the rules,” Cass objected.

“Cass, ​​we are the interviewers and have the right to adjust some assessment content on the spot. I think this assessment is quite good; it can reflect true strength,” the Asian interviewer said.

“I agree too,” the bl@ck interviewer, Moka, said. 

“Sure.” Su Jie was open to all comers. He knew he had thwarted Qin Hui’s plans this time; Qin Hui’s face exuded a ruthless aura, and he wouldn’t let anyone who stood in his way get away. Of course, he wasn’t afraid.

“Alright then.” Cass also wanted to gather more data from the two of them.

She led them to a fighting room.

“Su Jie, do you dare to fight me with weapons?” Qin Hui asked.

“Whatever, you can use weapons, I’ll be unarmed.” Su Jie smiled, but these words made Qin Hui’s face turn slightly pale.

“Please give me a military dagger,” Qin Hui said to Cass.

Cass pulled a dagger from her boot and asked Su Jie, “Mr. Su Jie, are you sure you don’t need it?”

“Absolutely not,” Su Jie said. “Miss Cass, you can give Mr. Qin Hui two daggers; I’m afraid one won’t be enough for him.”

“Su Jie, you’re too arrogant!” Qin Hui moved swiftly, lunging at Su Jie, the dagger flashing coldly, slicing him in two.