Another week passed in a flash.

  Lately, Stirling had seen Night Watch members often in his Three Rivers District. In uniform, they moved in pairs or threes. They wandered the streets looking for something.

  Such unusual behavior naturally caused panic among the residents. But Stirling was surprised to see that once the panic faded, they adjusted. It was like a fish on a chopping block, thrashing for only a few minutes.

  Stirling felt helpless. He could only practice boxing more each day, hoping for a breakthrough.

  One day, upon arriving at the dojo, Stirling heard a commotion in the courtyard. The fellows didn't stay still in the courtyard. They gathered around one person, laughing and chatting. This piqued Stirling's curiosity.

  "Julio, what's happened?" Stirling walked over to Julio and asked somewhat perplexed.

  "Oh! You weren't here last night, Joe Mosley developed horn skin already. That's the milestone of entering the rhino-skin realm by the book! He's only been here for less than two weeks, but there's a good chance he'll succeed within a year!" Julio turned and saw Stirling, immediately explaining with joy.

  Stirling looked at Joe Mosley in the crowd, somewhat astonished.

  At that moment, Joe Mosley's round face lit up, his small eyes narrowing into slits. He must have been on cloud nine.

  "Joe is a rare talent. I felt you were extraordinary when you first arrived. I'll have to rely on you more!"

  "Joe, I was sure you would be the Master's seventh disciple at the beginning!"

  "Joe, let's have a delightful meal at Sean's Lounge tonight! I heard they have a new hot stripper."

  The crowd gathered around Joe Mosley, praising him warmly. This was a sharp change from how they had looked down on this chubby boy before.

  There was one person standing alone in the corner with a stern look, Marshall. He is the only one who provoked Stirling. Today is not a good day for him. His eyebrows were almost furrowed together, evincing that he was in a bad mood.

  Stirling was secretly amused at the scene, but he chose not to join in the fun. Instead, he stood beside Julio, observing Joe Mosley with a keen eye.

  A few thoughts flashed through Stirling's mind, and then he shook his head.

  "All right, gentlemen, keep working hard. Joe is your example!" Even the usually aloof Figo had a hint of a smile on his face today; his scolding was less pronounced.

  After Figo spoke, the group returned to their positions and kicked off their morning practice.

  After breakfast, Master Kim strolled into the courtyard as usual.

  Everyone was boxing in the courtyard. When Figo saw Master Kim coming, he went over and whispered in his ear.

  "Oh?" Master Kim responded with a murmur, then turned to Joe Mosley, who was boxing in the courtyard.

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  Feeling Master Kim's gaze, Joe Mosley's face lit up with excitement, and he, on the down-low, cheered in heart.

  Sure enough, Master Kim walked straight up to Joe Mosley, grabbed his arm, and rolled up his sleeve. Master Kim touched the skin of Joe Mosley's arm, then traced his path down to the back of his neck. He asked, "How many days have you been here?"

  "Master, a full thirteen days," Joe Mosley said.

  "Well, have you practiced boxing before?"

  "My family taught me three-legged cat kung fu, but it was too inferior to be shown," Joe Mosley lowered his head and replied.

  "Well, not bad," Master Kim said, then sat at the stone table in the courtyard. He kept watching the others practice.

  Though it was only people in the courtyard saw Joe Mosley as a true disciple, for sure.

  Master Kim rarely gave praise, so a simple showed Joe Mosley's bright future.

  The expressions on everyone's faces then changed, like a kaleidoscope. Some were envious, some sighed, and some held a faint resentment.

  Stirling, at the back of the courtyard, calculated secretly upon seeing this scene. In fact, he'd been hiding his skills during boxing practice for the past few days, to an awkward point. Since he learned King Kong boxing a few days ago, Stirling's Kim boxing skills have been full of loopholes, like kids playing house. Stirling felt that if he fought them now, except for Figo and the two Rhino Skin samurai. The rest wouldn't last a single blow.

  Of course, this was also why Stirling wasn't rushing to reveal his Rhino Skin progress. He'd almost forgotten the Kim boxing. Now, whenever he got serious, he'd instinctively throw King Kong boxing punches because it had become muscle memory.

  If Master Kim asked him to practice Kim boxing, his secrets would open. He would struggle to explain himself. Inspired by the dialogue between Joe Mosley and Master Kim, Stirling thought of a compromise.

  Swordsmanship.

  Besides King Kong boxing, Stirling now possesses a blade technique. While this blade technique is unremarkable, it's at least an excuse. When Master Kim asks him about it, he can answer that he's been training in swordsmanship since childhood. And that is why he can now activate Aether and blood.

  Stirling didn't add the option when he first improved this blade technique. So, it ended up being common. But to other people, a set of blade techniques indicates martial arts training and a solid foundation.

  Thinking of this, Stirling relaxed a little and continued practicing his boxing.

  A few days passed, and during this time, Pathos Sha had reappeared in the Three-River District. The green-clad Night Watch appeared more and more, even conducting house-to-house searches. Stirling was just about to leave when he heard a knock at the gate.

  The knocks on the gate were resounding and uninhibited. The knocks startled Stirling. But thinking about the rumors he'd heard recently, Stirling had a guess. He rushed to the door and unbolted it.

  Two unfamiliar men stood outside the gate. Both men wore cyan uniforms with white-embroidered clouds on the sleeves and hems. Stirling had seen this type of clothing before; it was the uniform of the Night Watch's Flying Cloud!

  "Luis Chilavert, number 333, Three Rivers District, out-of-state, age 23," one said. He looked at Stirling, opening the door.

  "Yes, sir," Stirling said, a quick smile plastered on his face.

  "Routine check." The two men didn't wait for Stirling to reply. They walked into the courtyard, not caring about his thoughts.

  Stirling saw the two men dash into the courtyard. He thought the Night Watch were as reckless as the rumors claimed, so he followed them straight away.

  The two night watchmen walked around the courtyard first. Then, they entered the inner room. Upon entering, they noticed the quill pen and paper on the table, and one of them exclaimed, "Huh! You live well; you even have so much time for leisure."

  While they talked, their eyes roamed the room. One hand grabbed the hilt of the sword at their waist. Without saying, Stirling's living condition was inconsistent with his status, which is suspicious.

  "Sir, you're joking. This is a habit I've had since childhood. To be honest, I've been so busy with martial arts training lately that I haven't bothered with it anymore." Stirling said calmly, standing behind the two men.

  "Oh? Do you practice martial arts?" The other man spun around, looking at Stirling with a hint of surprise. Most residents of this outer city were impoverished. They couldn't afford tranquilizer pills, except for those tied to the Inner City.

  Stirling could buy stationery, and he could also train in martial arts in the outer city. He must have a lot of money, but his grandiosity didn't seem tied to the Pathos Shrine.

  Thinking of this, the man asked again, "Where do you practice martial arts?"

  "Kim Dojo. Oh, and here's my ID." Stirling pulled his ID badge from his waist and handed it to the man.