When We Were Young, We Thought the Stars Within Reach

A brown-haired youth in sunglasses leaned against the shelves of Ji's General Store, a cigarette dangling from his lips as he played with a small metal disc engraved with strange symbols.

"Boss, what is this?"

Ji Qinglin took a sip of tea. "Sharp eyes, little brother. This is a Life Compass from the Old Era. When you don't know which path to choose in life, spin it on your fingertip, and it will naturally point you in the right direction."

"But I don't recognize the symbols on it."

"The meaning of the symbols is something you give them."

The youth nodded as if enlightened, quite satisfied with Ji Qinglin's explanation.

Ji Qinglin, meanwhile, instinctively stepped back a few paces, putting some distance between them.

Good thing he isn't from the Old Era. Otherwise, after hearing me spout such nonsense, he'd smash this fingertip spinner right into my face.

"I'll take it. How much?"

"Fifty Red Coins."

Shen Bixin, who had been waiting impatiently at the door, cursed, "You damned profiteer! Such a tiny piece of crap, and you're selling it for that much? Why don't you just rob people?"

Rather than getting angry, Ji Qinglin smiled. "Ma'am, even if I were robbing people, I wouldn't rob members of the Defense Mobile Team. Wouldn't that just be asking for trouble?"

"You know us?"

"I don't, but this little brother forgot to take off his armband."

The Defense Mobile Team was the private hired security force of Ancheng Defense Company in Bangkok.

Times were unstable these days, and with cultivation, many individuals had gained enhanced abilities.

To protect themselves, many wealthy people not only funded Qi Practitioners, but also hired the Defense Mobile Team and called for aid whenever they needed it.

The Defense Mobile Team was also one of the few organizations still permitted to carry guns in this era of gun bans. After all, after North America split apart, people had finally understood the importance of banning firearms.

"Sis, relics from the Old Era aren't cheap."

After saying that, the youth handed the banknote to Ji Qinglin.

"Boss, if you get any similar relics, contact me. I'm interested in all of them."

"Much obliged, much obliged. No problem. What should I call you, little brother?"

Caw, caw—

At the sight of the money, Coal Boss hopped about excitedly, spread his wings, and flew onto the table beside the brown-haired youth.

"My name is Shen Bitao. Boss, your black-feathered chicken is really cute."

As Shen Bitao introduced himself, he stroked Coal Boss's black feathers.

"I'll remember that, Brother Shen. My Coal Boss recognizes people. Drop by the shop whenever you have time, and he'll become even more familiar with you."

Shen Bitao gave a farewell greeting and was about to leave when Coal Boss suddenly leaped up, flew onto his shoulder, and tugged hard at his clothes.

"What? You can't bear to see me go? Boss, your bird understands people?"

Shen Bixin snorted.

"More like he can't bear to see the God of Wealth leave."

Ji Qinglin stepped forward and picked up Coal Boss.

"Sorry about that. Maybe the little fellow has taken an interest in you. But Brother Shen, animals sometimes have unusual instincts. So if you don't have anything urgent today, I'd suggest that once you get home, you try not to go out again."

He could spin wild tales about money, but when it concerned fortune and misfortune, he had to watch his words.

There was no tale in this age of an animal keeping its master from leaving, so Shen Bitao naturally paid it no mind. Still, he replied politely, "Thanks for the reminder, Boss. I'll come again another day."

After the siblings left the General Store, Shen Bixin reminded him, "There are all kinds of people in this city. Don't reveal your identity so easily, and don't spend money so lavishly."

"I know, Sis. But we're half among the upper class now, aren't we? What's wrong with helping out the common folk a little?"

As Shen Bitao spoke, he pulled out another cigarette. Before he could light it, Shen Bixin took it away.

"Didn't you promise to smoke less?"

"Come on, Sis. It's not convenient to smoke while I'm working. You won't even let me enjoy one when I'm off duty?"

The siblings were both outstanding members selected by Ancheng Defense Company. The younger brother handled tactical rescues, while the older sister handled medical rescues.

Every client faced different circumstances, but with the company squads' exceptional capabilities and the Defense Mobile Team's reputation, their problems could usually be solved as easily as a blade splitting bamboo.

The salary Ancheng Defense paid them was enough to match the dangers they dealt with each time. After all, between life and money, the wealthy would still make a choice; those without money didn't need to choose, since there was nothing for them to choose.

Ancheng Defense used a tiered service system: Bronze members received house-call medical care; Silver members received one house-call rescue; Gold members received one location-based rescue during working hours; and the highest Platinum tier received one emergency rescue regardless of the time.

The company's flagship service was its Platinum package, which promised to get clients out no matter what.

Thanks to their high income, the siblings lived rather well in Bangkok.

Shen Bitao liked the job for more than just the money. More importantly, he felt that, just as the company advertised, he could save people from fire and water like a hero.

This sense of realizing his own worth made the young Shen Bitao never regret pulling clients out of danger time and again.

Shen Bixin was not as hot-blooded as her brother. She simply hoped to give him a better life.

To ensure Platinum clients had personnel available around the clock, the Defense Mobile Team used a rotating shift system.

Beep, beep, beep, beep—

The alarm lights in the office lit up again.

The siblings had only just changed clothes after returning to the company for their evening shift when the alarm sounded—a Platinum client's emergency call.

"Wait for me!"

Shen Bitao said excitedly as he quickly put on his combat gear.

Shen Bixin likewise gathered her emergency medical supplies. Together with three other prepared members, they boarded a helicopter and headed for the client's location: an abandoned building outside the city.

In Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, as well as most other regions, the gun ban imposed far stricter requirements on Qi Practitioners than on ordinary people. It even stipulated that installed prosthetics could not contain firearm-type weapons.

The authorities naturally did this for the sake of stability. Qi Practitioners were already powerful individuals; if they were armed with guns as well, there would be no way to manage them.

Considering the cost-effectiveness of hiring powerful Qi Practitioners, Ancheng Defense naturally chose to employ ordinary people. Their weapons also could not be too powerful, or the resulting damage would be more than the company could bear.

Thus, aside from their protective gear, the Defense Mobile Team members used only firearms and functional weapons.

Each helmet bore a number, marked with the ancient English letters A, B, C, D, and E. They did not call one another by name during missions; the company explained that it made communication easier.

The helicopter landed on the roof. The five-person squad, carrying their gear, swiftly descended the stairs. Explosive sounds rose from below through the stairwell, though their source could not be identified.

Screams were mixed into the blasts, and the squad could only tell that there were quite a few people below.

The client was clearly in a terrible situation. The squad quickened its pace, and after running down only three floors, they encountered their employer. His suit was torn, he limped along with what appeared to be an injured leg, and two equally bedraggled underlings were beside him.

The three looked like they had just escaped a battlefield in North Africa, their faces filled with panic. At the sight of the Defense Mobile Team, the client sighed in relief even as he complained.

"Thank God! What took you so long?! Get me out of here!"

Shen Bitao, wearing the A helmet, made a hand signal. The squad immediately surrounded the client, while B and C—Shen Bixin—helped him move upstairs.

The two remaining underlings also wanted to follow, but the client waved them off.

"Don't rush up yet! Hold them back for me!"

The two underlings exchanged looks, neither saying a word. They were clearly Qi Practitioners too, but they seemed extremely wary of whatever was in the stairwell.

Shen Bitao fired two Tang Sect Prosthetic Virus Bullets and tear gas grenades into the stairwell, then turned back to ask, "How many are there?"

"Just one fucking guy! One fucking freak of a dead monk."

Shen Bitao was also curious how one monk had managed to reduce them to this state. Judging by the situation, they had likely already lost many people downstairs.

But now was not the time to satisfy his curiosity. The Defense Mobile Team's foremost duty was to ensure the client's safety, so Shen Bitao continued directing the squad as they led their employer upstairs.

Crack—

They had only gone up one floor when a bolt of blue-violet lightning slashed upward from the stairwell below, striking the floor slab beside them and blasting away a large chunk of concrete.