Hiss... It Really Hurts

Around four in the afternoon, Lu Yibai finally woke up.

His nocturnal lifestyle had officially begun.

From this moment on, he was the owner of a bar.

The bar didn't have a name originally. According to Lin Xiaoqi, Ji Dekeng had no intention of actually running the bar; he merely used it as a base of operations, a hidden identity within urban life.

This was the point Lin Xiaoqi disliked the most.

The Night Watchmen organization was quite generous internally, assigning a business to each regional leader. He heard they even provided social insurance and a small monthly allowance.

However, relying solely on the allowance wasn't enough to live comfortably.

Many Night Watchmen were quite capable, with plenty of them successfully managing the businesses assigned by the organization.

The organization strongly encouraged this, promoting self-sufficiency and prosperity. After all, it was about being a hidden presence within the city.

Lu Yibai was different. He and Lin Xiaoqi were kindred spirits.

Why wouldn't you run a perfectly good bar and make money?

In the 21st century, what was holding back outstanding young people like them?

Poverty!

Although he didn't have any specific ideas for running the bar yet, the first thing they needed to do was give it a name.

After discussion, they finally decided to name the bar: Answer.

There were two reasons for this name.

First, it was a speakeasy bar. Finding the hidden mechanism was akin to finding the answer.

Second, the name also carried the metaphor of, "You come with troubles and confusion seeking to drown your sorrows, and my drinks will give you the answer."

Currently, there were many young people in society with limited education and a deep love for the arts.

Wondering if that sounds like you?

Lin Xiaoqi was one of those people, which was why she really liked the bar's name.

Of course, they couldn't dedicate all their energy to running the bar, as they both had missions to attend to.

They needed to maintain the prosperity and stability of their area.

Last night, Lin Xiaoqi had even taught Lu Yibai some lines.

She took out her phone, switched it to selfie mode, and used it as a mirror.

Then, she put on a haughty and cool expression and said:

"This area, I've got it covered. You understand?"

After speaking, she looked at herself on the phone screen and smiled with satisfaction.

"Yeah, super fierce!"

Lu Yibai, watching from the side, was completely baffled. How bored must this girl's life be! He certainly couldn't say lines like that.

Today, he was going to move all his belongings from his rented apartment to the bar.

His and his father's old house had been demolished, and his rental lease was about to expire anyway.

The second floor of the bar had four rooms, which was more than enough.

Only Lu Yibai and Lin Xiaoqi lived on the entire second floor.

There used to be a cat here.

Lin Xiaoqi's codename, "Night Cat," was because she owned a small black cat.

While touring the second floor, Lu Yibai even saw the cat's bed.

"Lin Xiaoqi, where's your cat?" Lu Yibai asked curiously.

Lin Xiaoqi casually waved her hand. "Went out for some training."

Lu Yibai didn't understand why a cat would need training, nor why Lin Xiaoqi was so unconcerned about her pet being missing.

Lu Yibai had no ulterior thoughts about living under the same roof as a beautiful woman like Lin Xiaoqi.

Even ten of him standing together wouldn't be able to handle a few blows from Lin Xiaoqi.

After hitting him, she'd probably say, "None of you can fight!"

When Lu Yibai arrived at the entrance of "Answer Bar" with his suitcase, the entrance was still filled with a pile of rain gear. The difference was that of the four black umbrellas on the table, only three remained.

The one with the dragon and snake carved on its handle had been taken by Ji Dekeng.

When Ji Dekeng left, he didn't take any extra luggage, only that umbrella and his small folding stool.

The handles of the four umbrellas were the switches for the hidden mechanism. As soon as they were gently touched, the secret door would open. It was unclear how it was made; it was very mysterious.

He gently touched the cat's head carved on the umbrella handle, and the wall slid open.

He dragged his suitcase inside.

Boss Lu's new life had begun.

For the past few days, the bar has been temporarily closed because Lu Yibai has been cramming knowledge about the Night Watchmen.

Actually, the so-called Night Watchmen are quite similar to cultivators or espers. As they cultivate, they will possess all sorts of abilities.

However, as a member of the Trash Protagonist School, Lu Yibai can only walk the simplest path of "Body Refining."

"Boss, look." Lin Xiaoqi said, rolling up her sleeve to reveal a small section of her fair arm.

"Boss, what do you see?" she asked.

"Your skin is very good, very fair," Lu Yibai said seriously.

"You know your stuff! Boss!"

Lu Yibai: "..."

Get to the point, sis. You're supposed to explain something else to me!

Lin Xiaoqi took out a small knife and pointed to her fair arm, saying to Lu Yibai, "Boss, do you want to make a cut here?"

"Wouldn't that be a bit perverted?" Lu Yibai asked.

"That's right, then I'll do it myself."

What the heck!

As soon as she finished speaking, after a slightly piercing sound, the small knife snapped.

Of course, if it were her hand that snapped, this would be a masterpiece whose style could change on a whim.

"The path of Body Refining is actually that simple. Our skin is still like normal people's skin—smooth, soft, supple, elastic, and delicate to the touch..."

After using a lot of tempting adjectives, Lin Xiaoqi added, "But it's impervious to blades and bullets."

Impervious to blades and bullets, my ass! I thought you were going to ask if I wanted to touch it?

"Is every part of your body like this?" Lu Yibai asked curiously.

"Once a certain level is reached, it is indeed like this. Any part of the body is like this, including eyeballs and the like."

As she spoke, Lin Xiaoqi stretched her proud figure.

This was a bit scary.

She was a complete human weapon!

And... are you sure about any part?

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

"But... the process shouldn't be that easy, right?" Lu Yibai asked.

"Clever!"

As the lowest-level spirit body, the path of Body Refining was not that easy either.

According to Lin Xiaoqi, the cultivation method of Ji Dekeng's lineage was completely tailored for this physique. It was probably created by some senior who possessed the "protagonist's fate," but the process would be quite arduous.

Every cultivation session would be very painful.

"How painful?" Lu Yibai asked.

Lin Xiaoqi rested her chin on her hand, seemingly unable to find a suitable adjective for a moment.

After thinking for a while, she said, "Boss, you're a guy, so I don't know how to describe it to you. The initial pain during cultivation is the lowest, comparable to menstrual pain, and it's all over your body."

Menstrual... pain...???

As a man, he truly couldn't understand how painful it was for the time being.

Not until he tried cultivating.

After entering a meditative state as taught by Lin Xiaoqi, it took less than two minutes for his body to tremble slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

His brows were tightly furrowed, and sweat began to break out on his forehead.

Although some small points of light were gathering within his body, the process of gathering was incredibly painful.

As one of the few men who had experienced "menstrual pain," he really wanted to tell all the straight guys out there:

It really, really hurts like hell!

(ps: Second update. If you have a book list, please add this book. New books need care~)