```
It wasn't clear whether it was because of the special identity of the victim or some other reason, but the sheriff arrived very quickly, completely void of the sluggishness often depicted in movies where they only show up after the criminal has left.
In just about five minutes, the sound of police sirens was incessant in the parking lot of Rui Zhu Hotel, with an impressive turnout of more than a dozen vehicles all at once; the mobilized police force was quite exaggerated.
Not long after the police cars arrived, several ambulances also made their way, their sirens blaring almost simultaneously with the police's arrival.
"... That's the situation in detail."
Xue Jing sat on a bench inside the ambulance, his upper body bare, covered with shocking wounds.
Two nurses were handling scissors, cotton swabs, bandages, antiseptics, and other items with utmost care, tending to the temporary treatment of his injuries.
A uniformed middle-aged sheriff was taking notes, writing down everything Xue Jing described.
"So you mean to say, you took down that monster single-handedly?" the middle-aged sheriff asked.
After giving it some thought, Xue Jing nodded and said, "You could say that."
Others hadn't really been of much help; only Pei Tiancheng had managed to land a punch on the cockroach, but it was almost ineffective.
Once he stepped in, there simply wasn't any chance for the others to intercede. They couldn't match the reaction speed, and given the severely limited visibility, fighting the cockroach monster was like delivering food on a platter.
"Okay, I've recorded everything here; thank you for your cooperation," the middle-aged sheriff said as he closed his notebook and put away his pen, then patted Xue Jing on the shoulder where there were no wounds.
"Truly, a young hero..." he remarked with emotion.
Xue Jing smiled and asked, "Sir, you're from law enforcement, experienced and knowledgeable, do you know anything about the origins of this monster?"
The sheriff hummed in affirmation, seemingly hesitant, and then chose his words carefully before saying, "I can only tell you that this thing is probably related to the Intersecting Boundaries."
Compared to the young man before him who had personally killed the monster, he knew much more about the origins of the creature.
As early as a month ago, people from 'higher up' had come down to Qingcheng to investigate a smuggling gang involved with the Intersecting Boundaries.
It was rumored that the smuggling gang carried something extremely dangerous. If not dealt with swiftly, it could even escalate into a city-destroying crisis.
Thus, all the unusual cases that had occurred in Qingcheng over the past month had drawn high-level attention from the Public Security Bureau, and this was why they dispatched such a large police force immediately upon hearing of a 'monster' sighting.
This time... they might have finally caught a lead.
The middle-aged sheriff glanced at Xue Jing.
It would only be a matter of time before those people came to question the young man.
"Intersecting Boundaries..." Xue Jing nodded, as expected.
Such a monster was either the creation of a mad scientist from a biotech company, or a mysterious product of the Intersecting Boundaries—certainly not a natural creature.
"That will be all from me here. You take care of your injuries. We might give you a call later to ask some questions, or summon you to the Public Security Bureau. I hope you'll cooperate then," said the middle-aged sheriff.
Xue Jing agreed, "Of course."
The middle-aged sheriff gave a few more instructions before turning to leave.
By this time, a considerable duration had passed since the alarm was raised.
One after another, expensive sedans kept arriving at the hotel's parking lot, out of which many well-dressed middle-aged individuals stepped.
They found their children and engaged in conversation, still shaken by the events.
In addition to these people, there was also a short-haired female journalist in office attire, holding a recording pen and interviewing several individuals. A cameraman with a camera followed behind her.
Everyone she interviewed pointed in the direction of Xue Jing.
```
"Alright, big sisters, that's enough. I have urgent matters and need to head home now," said Xue Jing, as he glanced at the female reporter approaching.
The two nurses, who had been tending to his wounds and unintentionally stroking his chest and abdominal muscles, quickly responded, "No, your injuries are quite serious. You should come with us to the hospital first."
The other nurse nodded repeatedly, "Yes, yes."
Xue Jing smiled but said nothing, picked up his tattered shirt from the chair beside him, draped it over himself, and jumped straight out of the ambulance.
Ignoring the nurses' discouragement and attempts to make him stay, he took a few swift steps and sped away from the parking lot.
He certainly did not want to end up on the news, as his family seeing him injured would surely worry them to death.
Shortly after Xue Jing left, a sedan hurriedly drove into the parking lot, and a middle-aged man with a look of panic descended from the vehicle.
"Ying Yang! My son! Where is my son? Has anyone seen my son? Why hasn't he called me?" he frantically asked among the crowd.
Someone, unable to bear it, said softly, "Uncle, Ying Yang, he's already..."
The middle-aged man shuddered, squatted down in agony, and covered his face with his hands.
...
At the Hidden Dragon Dojo, in the Heart-Nourishing Room,
Xue Jing, wearing only a pair of shorts, sat on a single bed while Zhu Shanying held a transparent medicine bottle, occasionally pouring liquid medicine onto his hand to apply on Xue Jing's wounds.
"How could this have happened? It was just an ordinary security task, and yet such a monster appeared. Junior brother is really unlucky," muttered Zhu Shanying while applying the medicine.
"The tasks for the dojo are inherently dangerous, accidents like this are unavoidable," responded Li Qi, sitting in a wheelchair, shaking his head before reassuringly adding,
"Fortunately, you survived, and even turned misfortune into a blessing by successfully mastering a powerful technique of our Hidden Dragon School. Indeed, for martial artists, the edge between life and death is the best form of tempering."
After a moment of thought, Xue Jing said, "Master, there's more."
"I think... I've grasped the essence of the Hidden Dragon School."
Li Qi was momentarily stunned.
Then, as if realizing something, he quickly wheeled himself to Xue Jing's side, reached out, and grabbed Xue Jing's wrist, channeling his power into his body.
This time, although Xue Jing did not think to resist, his body involuntarily reacted; his power surged within him, a faint sound of a dragon's chant emanated, and it forcibly pushed Li Qi's hand away.
Far from being shocked, Li Qi was overjoyed and laughed heartily,
"Dragon, you've raised a dragon within you!"
Zhu Shanying, puzzled, asked, "Master, what are you talking about?"
It took a while for Li Qi to stop laughing before he explained, "To hide a true dragon soaring through the clouds, one must nurture a hatchling within oneself. Your junior brother has fostered the 'dragon' within his flesh!"
"He has infused his spirit and heart into the Dragon Qi, integrating it into his physical body. The mind and body unite, power circulates and roils as if it were a living dragon, even possessing a sort of 'consciousness' to some degree."
"From now on, practicing martial arts is no longer just training but nurturing the dragon within. That is the true core of our Hidden Dragon School!"
Li Qi's gaze towards Xue Jing could not have been more satisfied.
"Little Jing, you've obtained the key to 'breakthrough'."
...