4 a.m.
The streets were pitch-black and deserted.
Most people were hiding at home, asleep. Occasionally, someone would wake in the middle of the night and find themselves unable to sleep soundly, but they still wouldn't dare go outside. All they could do was draw the curtains, sit quietly at the bedside, and listen to the occasional gong ringing in the distance.
Being a Night Watchman was not a respected profession. In fact, many people looked down on it.
But their role was irreplaceable.
As long as people could still hear the familiar beating of gongs and drums, along with the set slogan, everyone would feel at peace. It meant that everything was normal and no danger had occurred.
This was a residential building of more than twenty stories in Black Mountain County. Most of its apartments were occupied.
Old Jin was a middle-aged man in his forties.
Because he had lived with his days and nights reversed when he was young, he had developed neurasthenia in his later years. Not only did he have trouble sleeping and often suffer from insomnia, but even the slightest disturbance would startle him awake. It was extremely painful.
Fortunately.
His son was an Awakened.
Although the peak of the First Order was nothing special in other cities, in a small place like Black Mountain County, it was enough to secure a decent official position.
Thus, as an old father, Old Jin had benefited from his son and been assigned a relatively easy job.
So he could nap during the day and slack off a little without anyone bothering him.
If not for that.
Given the workload most people in Black Mountain County faced now, he would have died from overwork long ago.
"Sigh... It's four."
"Not bad. I must've slept for about five