Next morning.
The alarm had just sounded.
Cheng Ye turned over and got up. Ever since he stopped being oppressed by Information Skills, his sleep quality had skyrocketed, and he felt refreshed upon waking.
After freshening up, he picked up his bag and prepared to go downstairs. Just as he reached the door, he saw Wang Kang also coming out with his own bag.
"Why are you up so early today?" Cheng Ye paused, slightly surprised.
"Brother Cheng, itās been over a week since I was on duty; I canāt afford to be lazy anymore."
Wang Kang scratched the back of his head and smiled sheepishly.
These days, Cheng Ye had been so busy at the Mechanical Bureau that he hadnāt had time to train with Wang Kang.
At first, he enjoyed it, sleeping in until ten every day.
After breakfast, heād train at the training field until four in the afternoon, spending the rest of the time at Cheng Yeās behest, soaking himself in the Survival Library reading.
Life was fulfilling enough, but over time, his routine inevitably became more regular.
His wake-up time, especially, unknowingly adjusted to 6 a.m. alongside Cheng Ye.
"Perfect timing, Iām heading to see Director Miao later, do you want to join me?"
"Count me in!" Wang Kang immediately nodded without hesitation.
After going downstairs, Cheng Ye didnāt head directly to the Public Works Bureau; instead, he first took Wang Kang around to the parking lot behind the community.
When six brand new cars appeared before their eyes, Wang Kangās eyes widened, and he reflexively exclaimed:
"Wow..."
"I got these, how are they? Not bad, right?"
Cheng Ye opened the door of one of the transport vehicles and gestured to him, "Letās go, Iāll take you for a spin before we head over."
"Good, good, good!"
Wang Kang immediately leapt into the car, his smile never leaving his face.
Though he didnāt know the value of a car in the Buffer Zone or the cost required to own one, just the rarity of seeing them there was enough to excite him.
The car started and moved in the direction of the Public Works Bureau.
Wang Kang clung to the window, occasionally poking his head out, his eyes brimming with curiosity like a child discovering a new world.
"Youāve been in cars before, why so curious?" Cheng Ye couldnāt help but joke, seeing him like this.
"Thatās different! Iāve only been on buses before; thereās nothing as comfortable as this."
Once the car entered the parking lot of the Public Works Bureau, Cheng Ye reversed the vehicle to park, plugged in the charging cable to replenish the pendantās energy.
While charging, they both took the opportunity to stretch and move around the open space, loosening their muscles.
Cheng Ye casually took out his Defense Communication device and called Miao Yang, setting up a time for upcoming training.
Upon hearing it was Cheng Ye calling, Miao Yang immediately agreed, full of anticipation in his voice.
"Brother Cheng, I listened to the evening broadcast last night. It said the second round of Satellite City construction is about to start. Will you be involved this time?" During their break, Wang Kang couldnāt help but ask about this matter.
Cheng Ye shook his head slightly upon hearing this: "Hard to say, depends on the checkpointās arrangement."
Not being part of the first batch was normal, considering the high pressure at the time, the checkpoint would have prioritized sending more experienced people.
But if heās not in the second batch, that would mean the plans for Dapo Town arenāt currently favored by the authorities.
Although Cheng Ye was not in a hurry due to preparations for the caravans, the real development still needed to rely on Dapo Townās industry.
If there was no movement in Dapo Town, the profit heād earn could be very meager.
"Why, do you want to come with me?"
"No way, during your assessments, you never called me along." Wang Kang scratched his head again, his tone embarrassed, yet soon his face lifted, eyes full of pride, "But Director Miao said I have a lot of talent. Iām likely to forge my Martial Body in about half a month!"
"Not bad, looks like you havenāt been slacking."
Cheng Ye nodded slightly.
Even back when the previous version of Cheng Ye and Wang Kang were in the Inner City, he could tell that Wang Kangās physical talent was a cut above the average person.
Now that heās undergoing systematic training, heās certainly not disappointed.
It typically takes no less than two months for an average person to forge a Martial Body; those with better talent can shorten it to around a month. Based on this, Wang Kangās talent is only slightly inferior to the top-tier elites.
At this pace, it probably wonāt take him a year to complete refining the Four Forces and start Muscle Training.
Once the charging value bounced back to 56%, Cheng Ye unplugged the charger and drove to the training field.
The open area in the rear was spacious, parking a car there wasnāt a hassle.
It did, however, once again surprise Miao Yang considerably.
"This does kind of feel like the early 2000s, driving around in style."
Cheng Ye thought to himself.
Though he was born in that era, he didnāt have many concrete memories, yet now he caught a faint taste of the stories heād heard.
The three of them walked into the training field laughing, mostly with Miao Yang and Wang Kang conversing along the way.
At times chatting about recent training progress, at others mentioning the earlier-than-usual start of Blood Dragon Corps recruitment.
"Thereās just too many people coming in from outside; recruiting new soldiers can help ease some of the settlement pressure. Iāve heard they plan to train thirty to fifty thousand people this time," Miao Yang said with a somber tone.
"That many?" Cheng Ye was a bit surprised.
"Indeed." Miao Yang sighed, "This year the situation is particularly unique; the area Happiness City needs to defend is at least ten times larger than previous years. Just in the last few days, there have already been three consecutive Tide Level infection waves passing through, if winter really comes..."
His words trailed off, suddenly pausing, unable to hide a trace of worry in his gaze.
He never mentioned these things to Wang Kang, because even if Wang Kang knew, he couldnāt help, instead it would only add to the anxiety.