Shen Hao woke up to the soft hum of… something.
He opened his eyes slowly, blinking against the bright ceiling lights. The room was white, clean, and filled with faint beeping sounds. The walls were lined with glowing panels, and the window beside him showed a crystal-clear view of Void Gate City's skyline — silver towers, floating platforms, and the faint shimmer of energy lines crisscrossing the sky.
He groaned softly, stretching his arms.
"…Well… I'm not dead. That's a good start."
Mo Han's voice hummed in his mind.
"I would be disappointed if you died from a training assessment."
"Yeah, because that would really ruin your weekend plans," Shen Hao muttered.
He glanced around. The bed he was in felt way too comfortable. The sheets practically hugged him.
"Is this… a hospital?"
"You are in the local city medical center," Mo Han confirmed. "Standard practice for new recruits who survive the Seven Strikes test."
"Well… that explains the lack of pain. They probably injected me with something expensive," Shen Hao said, cracking his neck.
Just as he swung his legs off the bed —
BANG!
The door burst open with a loud crash, smoke dramatically swirling in from the hallway like a bad stage play.
Shen Hao snapped his head toward the door.
"…What the—?!"
From the smoke… walked a familiar figure.
Kael strode into the room, hands on his hips, grinning like a hero entering a theater scene.
"Ah! You're awake! Thank goodness! I was genuinely worried… that you died and ruined the betting pool I started outside."
Shen Hao blinked. "…You WHAT?"
Kael walked over casually, sitting on the edge of the bed. He was wrapped in fresh bandages, a small energy patch glowing on his shoulder.
"Relax — I lost the bet anyway. You survived."
Shen Hao gave him a long, slow look.
"Wow. You're a real friend."
Kael grinned. "Hey, I even bet on you winning. Shows how much faith I had."
Shen Hao shook his head with a faint smirk.
"Yeah. You're a saint."
Kael leaned back on his hands.
"Congrats, by the way. You made it in."
"Barely," Shen Hao said, stretching his arms.
Kael held up his arm, showing his own bandages.
"I took the test again, you know."
Shen Hao blinked. "You did? And…?"
Kael gave him a thumbs-up.
"Failed spectacularly."
"…And you're smiling about that why?"
Kael shrugged. "Eh, I'm used to it. But hey — you passed! That means I've officially met a future legend. Can't be mad at that."
Shen Hao chuckled.
"You're weird."
Kael stood up. "Come on. Now that you're awake, I'll escort you back to the Hunter's Palace. You've got official stuff to handle."
Shen Hao stood slowly, stretching again.
"Well… guess I'm officially in, huh?"
Kael grinned. "You bet. And I'm officially jealous."
The walk back to the Hunter's Palace was… surprisingly peaceful.
Void Gate City hummed with its usual rhythm — skyships gliding between towers, merchants barking out deals, and cultivators from every corner of the universe striding past like they owned the place.
Kael led the way, walking with his usual hands-in-pockets swagger.
"So… did they tell you how long you were out?" Kael asked.
Shen Hao shook his head. "Nope. Was it bad?"
Kael gave him a playful side glance. "About three days."
Shen Hao nearly tripped. "Three?!"
"Relax! You broke some ribs. They had to patch up your meridians. Pretty standard stuff."
Shen Hao groaned. "And here I thought I'd be back on my feet the next morning…"
Kael laughed. "With the beating you took? Be thankful you didn't wake up in a body cast."
Shen Hao shook his head with a smirk.
"You're really good at this whole 'comforting friend' thing, you know that?"
"I practice daily."
They reached the massive gates of the Hunter's Palace — tall silver arches with the crest of the Hunter's Division glowing faintly above.
Kael stopped at the entrance, crossing his arms.
"Well… this is where I leave you."
Shen Hao raised a brow. "You're not coming in?"
Kael shook his head with a grin.
"Nah. The auditions are over. Only official members allowed past this point."
Shen Hao gave him a look.
"You sure? I could sneak you in under my robe."
Kael snorted. "As fun as that sounds, I think I'll pass. I'm already on the 'frequent failers' list."
Shen Hao chuckled. "Fair enough."
Kael reached out and gave him a firm clap on the shoulder.
"Go on. You earned this."
Shen Hao nodded… and stepped through the towering gates alone.
The hall inside was nothing like before.
No crowds.
No shouting.
No thunderous footsteps.
Just a brightly lit chamber — clean, silent… and peaceful.
At the center, behind the wide desk, sat the familiar four-armed clerk.
Unlike last time, he was actually… working.
Shen Hao walked across the quiet hall, footsteps echoing softly against the polished floor.
The familiar counter came into view — and there he was.
The same four-armed clerk from before.
Green skin. Yellow eyes. Two arms writing on a floating screen. The other two? Typing something on a holographic keyboard like his life depended on it.
For a moment, Shen Hao considered walking past silently.
But the clerk looked up… and practically sprang to his feet.
"OH! HELLO SIR! WELCOME!"
Shen Hao stopped mid-step.
"…What?"
The clerk beamed — actually beamed.
"Welcome to the Hunter's Palace, sir! It's an honor to see you again!"
Shen Hao stared blankly.
"…Is this a prank?"
The clerk's grin stretched wider.
"Absolutely not! You are now an officially recognized member of the Hunter's Division! My most sincere congratulations!"
Shen Hao raised a hand slowly. "Okay. Timeout. Weren't you the same guy who practically told me to 'go die quietly' three days ago?"
The clerk's four hands slapped together in a respectful salute.
"I humbly apologize for my earlier… lack of professional courtesy."
Shen Hao blinked. "Lack of—? You called me a joke species."
"An oversight on my part, sir!" The clerk placed a fist in his palm with a polite nod. "Now that you are one of us, company policy requires me to treat you with utmost respect and professionalism!"
Shen Hao stared at him for a long moment… then snorted softly.
"Wow. Never thought I'd be promoted to 'polite treatment' just by surviving seven punches to the face."
The clerk chuckled nervously. "Perks of membership, sir."
Shen Hao shook his head, smirking. "You can drop the 'sir' stuff. Just call me Shen Hao."
The clerk's eyes gleamed. "Of course! How about… Mr. Shen Hao?"
Shen Hao sighed with a hand on his forehead. "That'll do."
The clerk gave him a short bow.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Zerak. I'm the mission handler here — I'll be the one giving you assignments… and handing out your rewards after you complete them."
Shen Hao folded his arms, smirking.
"So basically, you're the guy I bother when I want money."
Zerak grinned.
"Correct, Mr. Shen Hao."
As Zerak finished his ridiculously dramatic fist-in-palm salute,Shen Hao opened his mouth to make a joke…
But before a single word left his lips—
"ZERAK! YOU LAZY FOUR-ARMED LEECH!"
A loud voice echoed across the empty hall, bouncing off the polished walls like a cannon blast.
Shen Hao turned, blinking.
"…Did someone just shout your name… in all caps?"
Zerak's grin froze on his face.
He straightened up, cleared his throat, and mumbled under his breath,
"Oh no… not him…"
From the massive front doors, a tall figure stomped into the hall — followed by several others walking casually behind him.
The man in front — big, broad-shouldered, with a shaved head and arms crossed like he owned the place — pointed straight at Zerak.
"You were supposed to file those mission reports yesterday!"
Zerak raised two hands in surrender… while the other two quickly minimized his floating screens.
"Captain! What a… surprise!"
Shen Hao stood there, watching this unfold with a slow smirk spreading on his face.
"Oh, this is gonna be good…"
Behind the shouting man, a mixed group of cultivators entered — some laughing quietly, some shaking their heads.
One of them caught Shen Hao's eye — a tall woman in dark armor who gave him a curious glance… then whispered something to the person beside her.
Mo Han's voice hummed in Shen Hao's mind.
"Looks like you're about to meet some of the local team… and possibly your future squadmates."
Shen Hao folded his arms, smirking.
"Perfect. Nothing says 'welcome to the team' like watching my mission handler get roasted in front of the entire hall."
The captain pointed at Zerak again.
"We're having a word after this!"
Zerak laughed nervously, throwing Shen Hao a desperate side glance.
"Mr. Shen Hao… please don't tell him how polite I've been!"
Shen Hao chuckled.
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of it… Zerak."