I Cultivate in a Government Office

Chapter 16: Chapter 16: New Home

The moment he stepped into the community, everything felt different. The hustle and bustle of the outside world was completely filtered away. The path under his feet was paved with some kind of unknown black stone, so smooth it could reflect a person’s silhouette, yet it wasn’t slippery to walk on.

The road was lined with Spirit Plants like pine trees, cypresses, and Jade Bamboo. The Gathering Spirit Arrays buried beneath the trees made the concentration of Spiritual Qi in this area noticeably higher than outside; a single breath was enough to make one feel refreshed and clear-headed.

Yang Wenqing observed his surroundings as he walked. The outer edge of the community was lined exclusively with high-rise buildings, their exterior walls coated in a light gray paint. The face of each building was imprinted with silver runes of various sizes. Some served to reinforce the structure, others to gather Spiritual Qi, and some were clearly practical arrays for regulating temperature and clearing dust.

He hadn’t walked far before arriving at Building Three. The entrance was a pair of heavy doors made of spiritual wood, carved with intricate cloud patterns. He inserted the brass key into the lock and gave it a slight twist. From within the lock core came the faint whirring of mechanisms. The cloud patterns on the door lit up one by one with a soft glow, and then, with a light CLICK, the door opened.

The stairwell was well-lit. The handrail was made of some kind of warm, dark wood, polished to a perfect sheen. He walked up the stairs to the third floor and quickly found his room. This was much more spacious than his old dormitory; there were only five units per floor.

Standing at his door, Yang Wenqing gripped the key. He could feel the Spiritual Qi flowing in the air as he inserted it into the lock.

The key turned, and the door swung open.

The first thing he saw was a small, square living room. Afternoon sunlight streamed in, unobstructed, through the glass door of the south-facing balcony, bathing the entire space in bright, warm light.

The floor was laid with light-colored, wood-grain tiles that felt solid underfoot. The walls were painted a pristine white. Where the walls met the ceiling, he could faintly make out fine silver lines—the runic circuits that formed the basic soundproofing and Protective Array.

The living room was simply furnished. A new set of rattan table and chairs rested against one wall, beside a matching storage rack with clearly defined shelves, spacious enough to hold plenty of items. To his greatest satisfaction, a wide hardwood desk and a chair had been placed by the window—perfect for studying his cultivation notes and official documents in the future.

Yang Wenqing entered the apartment and set down his suitcase, which looked out of place in the clean, tidy space. He took a few steps forward and pushed open a wooden door on the left side of the living room. It was the bedroom. A sturdy wooden bed stood against the wall, already fitted with a thick mattress. Beside it was a wardrobe.

Finally, he walked into the private bathroom he had been dreaming of. A smile spread across his face after just one look.

He then returned to the living room and glanced at the small, open-plan kitchen on the other side. It had its own countertop stove and sink—another feature he’d been hoping for.

Yang Wenqing then walked out onto the balcony and gazed at the professional outdoor training grounds in the distance. After a long moment, he let out a slow breath. He went back inside to unpack his clothes and belongings. He had intended to cook a meal but discovered the stove had no power core.

He immediately went out to the general store by the main gate of the community and bought the most common civilian-grade power core. The device was the size of a fist, its surface inscribed with simple energy-gathering runes. A mere wisp of Spiritual Qi was enough to activate it, providing power to the kitchen stove for several months.

Back in his new apartment, he slotted the core into the receptacle beneath the stove. Listening to the low, steady hum from the stove’s core, the sense of this place truly being his home became even more tangible.

Afterward, Yang Wenqing nimbly prepared a dozen or so rice cakes. He ate them with a side of pickled vegetables, his first meal in the kitchen of his new home. It wasn’t the most delicious meal, but its significance was profound.

After his meal, he rested for a moment, then went into the bedroom. He sat cross-legged on the newly-made bed and began his cultivation.

The moment he entered a state of meditation, he could clearly sense the Spiritual Qi gathering around him was more than double the concentration in his old dormitory. He then immersed himself in his practice, only emerging when the sky outside grew dark and the illumination runes on the distant training grounds lit up one by one, rousing him as if by an internal clock.

A glance at the mechanical clock on the wall told him it was almost time for the seven o’clock get-together. Yang Wenqing got up, changed into a clean set of civilian clothes, carefully concealed his gun at his waist, and pinned his badge to his belt.

As he walked out of Building Three, streetlights along the paths and illumination runes on the buildings bathed the entire community in light, making it as bright as day.

When he reached the street in front of Fengtai Pavilion, he saw that the other members of Squad Two had already gathered. Ye Yong was talking animatedly with Zhu Lin, gesturing with his hands. Wang Yuanfeng, Li Ming, and Zhou Kun were chatting amongst themselves. Captain Xiao Liang and Sister Liu stood off to the side, talking. This was the first time Yang Wenqing had seen his teammates in civilian clothes.

”Wenqing, over here!” Ye Yong was the first to spot him, waving enthusiastically.

Yang Wenqing walked over quickly. Before he could even speak, Ye Yong slung an arm around his shoulder. ”We were just waiting for you! We’ve got to have a proper drink tonight!”

”Now that everyone’s here, let’s head in,” Xiao Liang said. His gaze rested on Yang Wenqing for a moment, and he gave a slight nod.

The group entered Fengtai Pavilion and was led to a private room on the second floor. The room was spacious, with a large round table in the center already laid out with cold appetizers and place settings.

As everyone took their seats, Ye Yong and Zhou Kun steered Yang Wenqing into the seat next to Xiao Liang. ”You’re sitting here today,” Ye Yong said with a grin. ”No arguments.”

Yang Wenqing had no choice but to sit down. ’He wasn’t really used to this kind of occasion, and he was even worse at handling so much attention.’ Fortunately, everyone’s focus was soon drawn to the food and drinks on the table, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Xiao Liang was the first to raise his glass. ”Come, the first toast! To congratulate Wenqing on his breakthrough!”

Everyone raised their glasses in unison. After downing his glass, Yang Wenqing realized that no one had brought their families. ’They probably did that out of consideration for me being here in the county alone.’

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation shifted from congratulating Yang Wenqing to reminiscing about the squad’s past adventures and discussing their future plans.

Ye Yong, the loudest of the bunch, declared he’d be visiting the branch office to freeload off Yang Wenqing from now on, drawing a roar of laughter from the table. Zhou Kun and Li Ming periodically toasted Yang Wenqing, offering words of blessing like, ”To a bright future!” and ”Don’t forget your old brothers!”

Yang Wenqing responded earnestly to each of them. The dinner lasted nearly two hours, and only when the table was strewn with empty plates and glasses did everyone reluctantly get up to leave. Outside, they saw that Sister Liu’s husband had already been waiting for some time. After saying goodbye to her, Yang Wenqing and the remaining teammates exchanged some more idle chatter before finally going their separate ways.

On the way home, Yang Wenqing realized he and Xiao Liang were heading in the same direction.

”Captain, you live in Dongning Community, too?” Yang Wenqing asked.

”Mhm, I’m in Building Five. Been here for some years now.” Xiao Liang nodded, and the two of them naturally fell into step beside each other. ”Are you getting used to the new place?”

”It’s great. The Spiritual Qi is much denser than in my old dorm,” Yang Wenqing answered honestly. He paused for a moment before adding, ”And Captain, thank you for looking out for me this past year.”

Xiao Liang waved it off. ”That was all you. You earned it. Once you get to the branch office, you’ll be on your own. The competition is fiercer there. Keep your head down, work hard, and focus on building a solid foundation. Also, if you have enough money, craft a Gathering Spirit Array as soon as you can. The amount of Spiritual Qi required for the Qi Cultivation Stage is nothing compared to what you needed before.”

”Understood!” Yang Wenqing committed the advice to memory.

They chatted as they walked, with Xiao Liang mostly offering pointers about the details and personal dynamics to be aware of at the branch office. Soon, they reached the entrance of Dongning Community. After verifying their identities, they stepped inside. The lighting within the community was much softer at this hour.

As they neared Building Three, Yang Wenqing stopped. He took the key to his old dorm from his pocket and held it out to Xiao Liang. ”Captain, here... I’m returning this.”

Xiao Liang took the key and weighed it in his hand, his tone tinged with a hint of sentimentality. ”Get a good rest. Don’t be late tomorrow.” He clapped Yang Wenqing on the shoulder, then turned and headed toward Building Five.

Yang Wenqing watched his captain’s back disappear among the buildings before turning and heading upstairs to his new home.

The faint scent of a new home still lingered in the air. He rested for a moment, then cast a Dust Clearing Skill on himself. He sat down in the living room’s rattan chair, lost in thought, and before he knew it, had fallen into a deep sleep.

He woke at the same time the next morning. As usual, Yang Wenqing meditated and performed his Qi Cultivation. When it was time to leave for work, he changed into his crisp uniform, carefully checked the handgun at his waist and the badge on his chest, then pushed open the door. With steady steps, he walked toward the county branch office to begin the brand-new Chapter of his career.