vncnus Chapter 6: Only when you're tough enough can the situation be stable!
Chapter 6: Only when you're tough enough can the situation be stable!
Zhao Tianying also secretly gave him the green light: invited top instructors from various subjects to provide one-on-one private instruction. Although each session lasted only one or two hours, the content was all practical and useful.
enough.
Zhou Xiao's absorption ability is astonishingly strong.
The required courses for special agents are numerous and varied: basic knowledge of special agents, intelligence analysis, code making and decryption, operation planning, hand-to-hand combat, covert communications, crime scene investigation, mail inspection, demolition operations, fingerprint comparison, trace identification, telecommunications debugging, vehicle driving, darkroom processing, internal affairs management... nothing is left out.
With the system's assistance, he learned extremely quickly, so quickly that several veteran instructors privately marveled, "Sixth Brother's eyes are truly sharp."
Sixth Brother, you truly live up to your reputation.
That day, after finishing intense training, Zhou Xiao carried an enamel basin toward the bathhouse.
The Military Intelligence Bureau training school was located deep in the mountains in the heart of the city, almost isolated from the outside world. Supplies were scarce, and even bathing was restricted to specific times—male students were limited to 5 or 6 pm, while female students were limited to 4 or 5 pm.
It's just past five o'clock.
Zhou Xiao pushed open the door and went in, still reviewing the key points of the intelligence class during the day in his mind, sorting out the logical chain as he walked.
As soon as he stepped into the changing area, he looked up and saw a figure getting dressed with his back to him.
Her wet hair clung to her neck and fell to her waist; her figure was upright and well-proportioned, with sharp shoulder lines and a perfectly cinched waist.
Indeed, it's very pleasing to the eye.
Although I only saw her back, I could tell that she was no ordinary woman.
Wait... why does this scene seem so familiar?
Isn't this the classic scene from "The Disguiser" where Mingtai and Yu Manli first meet?
But how could it appear alive right in front of me?
Zhou Xiao's heart jolted, and he suddenly came to his senses.
The woman's ears twitched slightly, and she suddenly became alert. Without turning around, she shot towards Zhou Xiao like an arrow released from a bow!
The instant she turned around and looked back, Zhou Xiao recognized her at a glance—
It was Yu Manli.
She took two steps in three strides, closing in like a whirlwind, and swept her leg out like a knife, whistling through the air!
Snapped!
Zhou Xiao crossed his arms and forcefully blocked the fierce whip kick.
Before the momentum could dissipate, Yu Manli twisted her waist and swung her right fist horizontally, striking Zhou Xiao's temple with a powerful gust of wind!
call--
Despite her slender figure, her boxing style is steady, powerful, and precise, without a trace of affectation.
But this offensive was nothing more than a dragonfly skimming the water in Zhou Xiao's eyes.
He tilted his head, lowered his shoulder, and raised his left arm to catch the horizontal strike perfectly!
boom!
The two men moved nimbly and darted about in the steamy bathhouse, exchanging blows and kicks, causing the steam to churn and swirl.
Even though Yu Manli was a top agent of the Military Intelligence Bureau, quick-witted, agile, and resilient, she was like a wave crashing against a reef when facing Zhou Xiao—no matter how strong the force, it couldn't leave a crack. Zhou Xiao calmly countered her moves, advancing and retreating with perfect control, handling the situation with ease.
Seizing the moment when her strength was exhausted and she hadn't yet mustered any new energy, Zhou Xiao swiftly grabbed her forearm with his left hand, twisted and pressed it down, firmly restraining her. His voice was deep but not without a hint of amusement: "Miss, isn't it a bit too hasty to attack as soon as we meet?"
Yu Manli frowned, flipped her wrist, twisted her waist, and immediately launched a counterattack!
Another round of close combat ensued, with fists flying and breaths audible.
No matter how she changed her tactics, she was always firmly suppressed by Zhou Xiao, and was controlled and passive at every turn.
She suddenly lunged forward, her left fist like a cone, aimed straight at Zhou Xiao's heart!
Instead of retreating, Zhou Xiao met her attack head-on, his five fingers like pincers, grabbing her fist and pulling her into his arms—Yu Manli lost her balance and was caught off guard, crashing into his embrace!
call--
She instinctively threw out her right fist, but Zhou Xiao deftly grabbed her wrist with his other hand, keeping it still.
The two were inches apart, their breaths mingling. Zhou Xiao lowered his eyes and smiled, his voice slightly hoarse: "Still want to fight?"
Yu Manli is indeed stunningly beautiful.
Her oval face had sharp, clean lines, and her eyes were clear and bright like springs, with sparkling light dancing in her gaze. Her nose was high and delicate, possessing both the charm of a young girl and a heroic spirit. Her figure was well-proportioned and firm, with the strength of her muscles honed over the years hidden beneath her slender frame, showing no sign of weakness. Her wet hair was jet black and shiny, cascading down like an ink waterfall, loosely covering her thin shoulders, the moisture carrying a faint scent of soap that was refreshing and pleasant.
"Let go!" she hissed through gritted teeth, feeling both angry and embarrassed, yet utterly helpless.
—She really can't beat him.
"Okay." Zhou Xiao released his grip decisively.
Yu Manli quickly withdrew, glared at him fiercely, and turned to leave.
Unexpectedly, after taking only two steps, his foot slipped on the wet ground, his ankle twisted suddenly, and he fell backward without warning!
Zhou Xiao was right behind her, and instinctively reached out to hug her—
She then fell steadily into his arms.
Just as fate would have it.
Their eyes met, and the air suddenly froze.
She lay on her back in his arms, gazing at the distinct contours of his jaw, and her heart skipped a beat.
Just then, light footsteps came from the entrance of the bathhouse.
Mingtai, carrying a washbasin and humming a little tune, skipped in. He was immediately struck by the scene before him, froze, and then covered his mouth to stifle a laugh: "Oh my goodness... I'm blind! I didn't see anything!"
"Let go!" Yu Manli suddenly stood up, glared at Mingtai, and hurriedly left.
Zhou Xiao's lips curled slightly, and he stood still without saying a word.
Mingtai strode forward and gave him an exaggerated thumbs-up: "Zhou Xiao, I'm impressed! You've only been in school for a few days and you've already won over Yu Manli, our military academy's number one 'ice queen'? Amazing!"
According to the original plot of "The Disguiser," Mingtai and Yu Manli were supposed to be partners who would die side by side, and even gradually develop feelings for each other. But the current direction... something seems off?
Zhou Xiao raised an eyebrow: "Are you familiar with her?"
"We know each other!" Mingtai shrugged. "I met her a couple of days after I reported for duty. It's rare to see such a striking girl in military academy, so I figured I'd strike up a conversation and get to know her."
"And what happened? They completely ignored me, treating me like I was a block of wood... oh no, I mean they all had a cold face towards everyone."
"But when she fell into your arms just now, her face—it wasn't cold! Zhou Xiao, your skills are truly amazing! Hahaha!"
Indeed, Mingtai tried to strike up a conversation several times, but was repeatedly met with rejection. His enthusiasm was met with indifference, leaving the young master of the Ming family feeling sullen for several days.
I felt a little better after I found out that she kept everyone at arm's length.
But what happened today made him mutter to himself: Could it be... that I, Mingtai, am really not qualified?
Zhou Xiao said calmly, "This was purely an accident, believe it or not?"
"I believe you!" Mingtai nodded vigorously, then added before he finished speaking, "However—the Military Intelligence Bureau has an ironclad rule: no marriage is allowed during wartime."
The Military Intelligence Bureau's prohibition was absolute: marriage was out of the question until the war was won. All trainees had to sign a pledge before enrollment, and any pre-existing engagements were to be dissolved. Any Military Intelligence Bureau personnel wishing to marry required the personal approval of the Bureau Chief. Exceptions were made only for those sent to occupied territories on undercover missions, to protect their identities. Boss Dai's measures were solely aimed at reducing workload and improving efficiency, preventing family matters from hindering personnel deployment. In the past, some spies did marry secretly; if exposed, they were often imprisoned in Xifeng Prison.
Zhou Xiao listened and shook his head helplessly: "We've only just met, how did we get onto marriage topics?"
marry?
This is completely irrelevant!
Mingtai, however, said with certainty, "Zhou Xiao, you two are a perfect match. A handsome man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven. It's just that she has something on her mind, which is why she always acts like she's unapproachable."
When Zhou Xiao bumped into Yu Manli in the bathhouse, he was startled—this was no coincidence. It was as if the world had subtly changed direction the moment he stepped in.
Since it is a parallel universe, and because he, as an intruder, has disrupted the original trajectory, the so-called "predetermined plot" is like ashes blown away by the wind, and cannot be fully trusted.
Even though he had read "The Disguiser" countless times, he never expected that Yu Manli would be wearing a faded blue cotton shirt, standing in the misty steam, her eyes and brows as cold as an unsheathed knife.
Not to mention Mingtai's casual mutter in private: "Her with me? She wouldn't even bother to give me a second glance."
That evening, the intelligence class began.
The instructor stood in front of the podium, his voice deep and sharp: "Intelligence is not about rote memorization, but about the skills that penetrate to the very core of your being—major studies include intelligence analysis, codebreaking, and reconnaissance behind enemy lines; minor studies include disguise, secret communication, infiltration and camouflage, behavioral psychology, social maneuvering, as well as the properties, proportions, and methods of application of various poisons. Even the 'Thirty-Six Stratagems' must be broken down and transformed into practical applications."
"Today we'll focus on cryptographic communication, which can be divided into plaintext and ciphertext."
"Clear codes rely on numerical calculations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, with endless variations. One misalignment can cause chaos. Cryptographic codes have even more tricks up their sleeves—alkali water development, rice water hiding words, chemical etching, immersion reproduction, fire exposure, nested codes, and taking words from alternate lines... In addition, I will guide you through mastering all of these, including secret codes, gang slang, and lakeside coded language."
Zhou Xiao listened with his back straight and his eyes unblinking.
There are no shortcuts to being a secret agent. Assassination alone is subdivided into methods like drawing blood with a knife, firing a gun silently, strangling with a noose, and using poison to subtly eliminate the threat... More importantly, once the person is down, how do you evacuate them? How do you cover up the crime scene? How do you erase all traces? You have to wipe even the air clean.
After this intensive training, he was like a dry sponge, frantically absorbing the real skills and expertise of the spy profession. His professional foundation grew stronger day by day, and he was only a thin sheet of paper away from becoming a qualified agent.
The progress is so rapid that it's astonishing.
The next morning.
During the action lesson, the instructor was changed to Guo Qiyun.
His gaze swept over Mingtai, Zhou Xiao, and the other trainees, his voice low and deep: "Remember this—agents are not soldiers charging on the front lines, but snakes slithering in the shadows."
"The essence of assassination lies in the word 'hidden'—killing without a trace and destroying without leaving a mark. Let me tell you about an old case."
"In 1930, Tang Shao, the chief traitor, I personally sent him on his way."
Guo Qiyun broke down the operation in great detail: how to scout the location and place spies in the early stages, how to cut off the eyes and ears on the outside, how to plant moles on the inside, how to choose the murder weapon, how to time the operation... He spoke as if he had personally experienced it yesterday, and every detail gleamed with a cold light.
He also laid out in detail the rhythm of internal and external coordination, the appropriateness of personnel deployment, the ruthlessness, precision, and steadiness of the strikes, and the methods of destroying evidence.
"In the end, every task comes down to you – if you're tough enough, the situation will be stable."