How come I'm the one being conquered?

"That's true, but night shifts are really tough. I'm worried I won't even be able to stay awake to read."

Bai Jun walked to his desk, took his sidearm out of its sheath, and casually replied, "If you're tired, just sleep. Slacking off a bit is good for your physical and mental health."

"Haha, I can't do that. I'm afraid I'll sleep straight through till tomorrow morning. If I get caught by the candle-holding inspectors from the General Affairs Department, I'll lose two months' worth of salary." Song Yan chuckled nervously and shook his head. Then, as if remembering something, he looked around furtively and asked Bai Jun mysteriously, "By the way, Qing Yan, I have something interesting to tell you!"

"What is it?" Seeing Song Yan's mischievous grin, Bai Jun instinctively took a few steps back.

Song Yan didn't keep him in suspense. "You left early, so you didn't see it. That blockhead Da Hao actually went back with Jing Yan. And I think I even heard them discussing where to eat—Huh? Why aren't you surprised?"

Song Yan, who had been hoping to read some emotion from Bai Jun's expressionless face, found him still looking as placid as ever. Not the slightest ripple of change crossed his cool, clear face, and even his pair of azure eyes remained listlessly half-closed.

Bai Jun raised an eyebrow, sheathed his sword at his waist, and with a perfunctory gesture, used two fingers to pull the corners of his mouth upwards, reading in a sing-song voice, "Wow, is that true!"

"Alright, alright, Young Master Bai, you don't have to force a smile like that." Song Yan waved his hand, leaned back in his chair, and couldn't help but sigh, "But Da Hao has finally opened up. I thought he was going to be single his whole life."

"Yeah, isn't that great?" Bai Jun felt the touch on the corner of his lips with his fingertips, a barely perceptible curve lifting his mouth.

Honestly, he hadn't expected things to actually develop in this direction. He had only intended to tease Da Hao and Jing Yan, who was eavesdropping nearby, but he hadn't expected it to turn into reality by accident.

Still, this was truly an unexpectedly good turn of events.

"Qing Yan… did you just smile?"

In the past two years, very few people in the entire office had seen Bai Jun smile. Even though he was easy to talk to and very amiable, he was still a true ice mountain. While everyone found him puzzling, it also sparked a strong curiosity: what would Bai Jun look like when he smiled?

Song Yan, who always claimed not to care, was actually one of them.

Although the smile was extremely subtle, Song Yan, with his sharp eyes, had still spotted it. No, rather than sharp eyes, it was more like the one eye he usually kept squinted had been surprisingly useful at this moment.

Bai Jun immediately retracted his smile, returning to his expressionless, dead-fish-eyed state. "No."

"Really?"

Song Yan obviously wasn't buying it. He lewdly leaned closer to Bai Jun, mischievously pulling out a Jade Omen. He believed that many female colleagues in the office would be interested in this.

"Impossible." Bai Jun pouted like a kitten and made to leave.

Seeing this, Song Yan quickly blocked Bai Jun's path, cleared his throat with mock seriousness. Just as Bai Jun thought he was about to voice an important opinion, Song Yan suddenly changed his tune:

"Hey, don't be like that, Young Master Bai, smile again for me~" As he spoke, he clasped his hands in front of his chest, wiggled his hips, and adopted a high-pitched, aggrieved tone, whining into Bai Jun's ear.

If Tingyun or Qing Que had acted so coquettishly, Bai Jun would have likely pouted and agreed. But coming from Song Yan, it was simply an assault on his hearing and a visual abomination!

"Does he really think he's cute?" Bai Jun pressed himself against the wall, barely suppressing a wave of nausea. He was completely defenseless against Song Yan's bizarre behavior.

However, the good news was that there was a simple solution to this problem of erratic behavior.

Song Yan seemed completely oblivious to Bai Jun's clenched fists, thinking that Bai Jun pressing himself against the wall meant he couldn't withstand his onslaught. He then took another step forward…

"Eat my Ten Thousand Horsepower Magnetic Field Fist!"

Thwack!

A dull thud of flesh meeting flesh echoed from Bai Jun's right fist and Song Yan's left cheek, which was adorned with a lewd smile. Following that, Song Yan was sent flying backward with a single punch.

The punch had been delivered with all his might. Song Yan hung suspended in the air like a broken puppet, spinning dozens of times before landing. By the time he regained consciousness, his eyes were noticeably clearer.

"Still want to look?" Bai Jun rubbed his right hand and asked menacingly.

"So sorry, my apologies!!" Song Yan pressed his hands together under his forehead, prostrating himself on the ground in a perfectly executed dogeza. "I am deeply sorry for the trouble I caused you. I sincerely apologize and will absolutely never look again."

Hearing his sincere apology, Bai Jun finally put away his dangerous gaze and helped him up with a hint of helplessness. "Forget it, forget it, I'm not going to mess with you anymore. I'm going home."

"Have a good trip!" Song Yan obediently covered his left cheek, nodding rapidly like a pecking chick.

Bai Jun gave him a deep stare, then left the office.

Song Yan immediately collapsed on the ground, clutching his face and wailing. His cries were so tragic they would make the listener grieve and the hearer weep.

After wailing for a while and confirming that there was no sound from outside the door, Song Yan abruptly sat up from the ground and carefully took out a mini Jade Omen from his sleeve.

The screen displayed a photo of Bai Jun pressed against the wall, looking extremely nervous.

"Heh heh heh, Qing Yan, Qing Yan, this is what they call 'one foot of righteousness is met by ten feet of evil.' While I didn't capture your smile, this photo isn't bad either, right?" Song Yan boasted, tidying his disheveled hair as if the pain in his left cheek had vanished. "Oh my, how much can I sell this for? Let's say two thousand credit points per photo. I bet many people will still buy it."

As if envisioning a scene of immense profit the next day, Song Yan grinned lewdly, failing to notice the door that had been quietly opened halfway.

"If you make a lot of money, you have to treat me to a good meal, Mr. Song Yan?"

"Oh ho ho ho, yes, yes, whoever sees it gets a share. But you don't have to thank me, just be grateful to Qing Yan—Qing Yan!?" Song Yan's hearty laughter twisted and distorted instantly. He looked at Bai Jun, who had somehow squatted beside him, propping his head with his hand and listening with great interest. His tongue froze in his mouth, and cold sweat instantly broke out all over his back.

The two stared at each other in silence for a moment, a silence that spoke volumes.

Swallowing hard, Song Yan's teeth chattered, and he could barely speak coherently. The sharp, trembling tone betrayed his fear. "Is it… is it still too late for me to delete it?"

Bai Jun shook his head, smiling gently, and said nothing more.

"Hmph… Then, can we… make peace?" Song Yan, ignoring the cold sweat on his forehead, subtly retreated a few steps behind him.

"Of course… not! Die and atone for your sins, you scoundrel!"

"Yamerooo!!!"

In the evening, the screams that echoed through the Department of Earthly Rulings office in Changle Heaven shattered the rare tranquility.

Chapter 7 I and My Great Katana Will Not Lose

"Hmph, this guy Song Yan really needed to be taught a lesson."

After stretching his muscles for the first time in a while, Bai Jun walked down the street feeling refreshed, a peculiarly shaped fish lantern in his right hand.

As he had been delayed, it was already late. Bai Jun had casually grabbed a flashlight when he left the public office, and now it was proving useful.

The lantern cast a warm yellow light as he stepped onto the bluestone-paved walkway. Bai Jun ambled through the streets of Xianyun Heaven, not taking his usual, predictable route home. Instead, he veered off onto a winding side path that seemed to stretch into the unknown.

It was dinnertime on Luofu, and the number of pedestrians had significantly decreased, adding a touch of coolness to the main street.

The ceaseless, flowing wind swept one or two dry leaves across the bluestone floor. Since it had rained that morning, the ground looked exceptionally clean.

Gazing at the buildings by the roadside, which bore a style similar to those from his previous life, Bai Jun couldn't help but marvel at the resemblances. During the initial period after his transmigration, he had been immensely curious about Xianzhou's civilization. After observing for a time, he found this sense of similarity to be even stronger. It wasn't just the architectural style, but also the customs, festivals, dietary habits, clothing styles, and even modes of thinking that were remarkably close.

If he had to point out a difference, it would only be that Xianzhou's technological level far surpassed his previous life's.

Xianzhou's Crafting Department's industrial assembly lines were no different from those in his previous life. The only unique aspect was that, due to Xianzhou society's extremely slow metabolism and its peculiar insularity, they were rather sluggish in preserving certain customs. In other words, they were quite traditional.

Take, for example, the lantern he was holding. As a portable lighting device, the Crafting Department had fashioned it into the shape of a fish. The hollowed-out fish belly could emit light, and it could even adjust the intensity and direction of the light according to different needs. Perhaps in the eyes of Xianzhou people, this was just an ordinary flashlight. But in Bai Jun's eyes, it was an intricate and gorgeous flashlight that could be called a work of art.

Frankly speaking, Bai Jun preferred Xianzhou's flashlights.

Ascending a long, sloping staircase, the narrowness of the alley soon gave way, revealing a wider plaza. The streets and alleys were brightly lit, and the sounds of bustling vendors were incessant, making it no less prosperous than during the day.

And directly in front of the plaza stood the Lingxing Gate, cast from glazed tiles and sandalwood. In terms of form, it was perhaps closer to a memorial archway.

The sign above it bore a single line of gilded characters—Jiren Alley.

As soon as he stepped in, the air carried the scent of fireworks, mingled with the aroma of food and tea, wafting into Bai Jun's nostrils.

Licking his lips, Bai Jun rubbed his rumbling stomach and began to search for tonight's meal.

The reason he wasn't going home wasn't complicated; it was simply because he was too lazy to cook dinner tonight and refused to go hungry. After much thought, his only option was to come to Jiren Alley to pack some food and make do.

Although Jiren Alley's signature snack street offered everything from traditional dishes to street food, in reality, it was much like other places, selling only those few types of snacks. Yet, when you were in Jiren Alley, it somehow felt quite unique, with a subtle cultural depth to it.

Bai Jun wasn't particularly impressed. He wasn't as particular as the gourmands of Luofu. He simply ordered a bowl of fish balls, a few sesame cakes, packed some spicy dried fish, and grabbed a cup of milk tea to round off his dinner.

As if remembering something, Bai Jun paused on his way home, his gaze drifting towards the east side of the plaza.

Since he was already here, why not stop by his new residence?

Thinking this, Bai Jun, with a dried fish in his mouth, slowly ambled towards his new place as if it were a leisurely stroll.

"Hm?"

His feet, which he thought wouldn't stop until he reached his destination, suddenly halted. Bai Jun's gaze shifted to a streetlamp not far behind him.

The bag fell to the ground, scattering fruit everywhere. An old woman was crouched on the ground, rubbing her ankle.

"Is something wrong?"

The sudden address seemed to startle the old woman. She looked up, her eyes filled with deep wariness.

As an outsider temporarily residing on Xianzhou, she was no stranger to being looked down upon by the genuine, local Luofu residents. To avoid harm, maintaining a vigilant heart was necessary.

However, upon seeing Bai Jun's appearance, even though he had a knife at his waist, the old woman's wariness clearly vanished.

Someone with such looks and demeanor surely wouldn't have any ill intentions towards this old body of hers.

"You seem to be in trouble. Is there anything I can help you with?" Bai Jun bent down and extended his hand to the old woman.

"N-no, you don't have to... How could I let a young master help me..." The old woman waved her hands in refusal, flustered. She tried to brace herself and stand up, unwilling to let her soiled self dirty the young master's hands.

But those fair, slender hands gently supported her without hesitation. "Please don't mind. It's only right to lend a hand to someone in need."

Bai Jun offered a gentle smile, and the old woman's face instantly flushed. The smile from the dashing, handsome young man melted her last defense. If Bai Jun had asked for her pension money at that moment, she probably would have given it all without regret.

But clearly, Bai Jun wasn't interested in her pension. His sapphire-blue eyes sparkled with a craving for something else!

"Ding—"

[Noble Morality Commendation +5]

[15/100]

Yes, this was it!

Hearing the cold yet familiar mechanical voice, Bai Jun's smile grew even brighter, as happy as a child receiving a beloved toy.

But if anyone thought he was doing good deeds specifically for the reward, they would be gravely mistaken!

How vulgar!

So-called sociality and altruism—these are the most distinct characteristics that separate humans from beasts, and the reason why humans are completely distinct from animals!

Why would humans grieve over the death of an unknown creature they encountered on the road? Because humans are such idle creatures. But this is also humanity's greatest virtue—a creature with spare capacity, how wonderful.

Helping others is the right thing to do. If one can receive a proper reward, then this joy will be even sweeter, like a bountiful harvest. Besides, free morality points are not to be missed; how can that be called utilitarianism?

Bai Jun helped the old woman up and escorted her to a nearby medical clinic, even paying for her treatment out of his own pocket.

On his way back, Bai Jun patted his empty frog-shaped wallet and fell into a brief period of contemplation.

Where did my money go?

Although Bai Jun usually didn't pay much attention to his savings and spent money carelessly, it was only mid-month. No matter how much he spent, he shouldn't have run out of money completely. Imagining the miserable life of eating steamed buns and salted vegetables with tofu for the latter half of the month made Bai Jun clutch his forehead in pain and sigh deeply.

Alas, it seemed he needed to go and collect his debt from that blonde kid, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to survive the rest of the month.

Bai Jun put away his pathetic frog wallet, took a sip of milk tea to soothe his taste buds, and thus comforted his empty soul.

It took some time on the way, and by the time he reached his new residence, dusk had already fallen.

Using the key obtained from that outsider, Bai Jun opened the main door and stepped into the pitch-black room with his flashlight. Following his impression from the morning, he walked to the electricity meter and flipped the switch.

Sizzle...

The dark room was bathed in white light, the filament in the incandescent bulb glowing brilliantly.

Simple yet not cluttered, clean yet not messy, cozy yet not cramped...

Looking at the room, whose layout and decoration perfectly suited his taste, Bai Jun nodded in satisfaction. "Mmm, that outsider's taste isn't too bad after all. Alright, I'll forgive him for thinking bad things about me in his heart this morning."

It wasn't that he was narrow-minded, you see? He just held a tiny grudge.

Regarding this house, what was said during the day sounded horrifying, but it wasn't that mysterious. It was merely an exaggeration of emotions and senses, especially for newcomers. They were probably just too influenced by Xianzhou horror movies.

Drip... drip...

An untimely dripping sound echoed, seemingly confirming that the outsider hadn't lied. Bai Jun put down his half-finished milk tea and turned towards the bathroom.

The faucet in the bathroom was already tightened, yet the dripping sound persisted. Even so, Bai Jun's expression remained incredibly calm.

Why wasn't he afraid?

"It seems I really need to have a good discussion with their Jiren Alley Chamber of Commerce about the water valve issues in Jiren Alley. This month alone, it's scared away three or four outsiders."

Tilting his head up, he noticed a subtle valve on the side of the pipe connected to the faucet. He skillfully tightened and closed the valve controlling the faucet, and the annoying dripping sound immediately disappeared.

Bai Jun helplessly brushed the rust flakes off his hands. Solving the problem of aging water valves in Jiren Alley needed to be put on the agenda.

Residents of Jiren Alley all knew that the water valve problem here wasn't new. Due to severe aging, if the valves weren't tightened completely at night, water would always drip along the pipes. Not only was it noisy, but the residual water marks would also accelerate the rusting process, creating a vicious cycle.

Yet, despite this, the Jiren Alley Chamber of Commerce remained stubbornly indifferent, always using excuses like "Don't elevate individual problems to the group!" or, if that didn't work, resorting to "This matter needs to be reported to the higher-ups!" to deflect the issue.

Little did they know, this only caused unsuspecting new residents to think the place was haunted, leading them to flee after only a few days.

The outsider merchant he met that morning was one such victim. Although similar problems had occurred several times before, Bai Jun usually resolved them on the spot. But this time was an exception.