Joining the Night Watchers

"Explain what?"

If Gu Beichen hadn't looked so earnest when he asked, Xu Le would have suspected he was doing it on purpose.

"Ahem, an upright person like me has no interest in free club visits or getting paid to poop. What I really wanted was for you to explain the Night Watchers' social standing and future career prospects, Beichen."

Watching Xu Le say things he didn't mean with such a serious face, Bai Jing grew even more pleased with him. She pushed Gu Beichen aside and said bluntly:

"What this kid wants to know is how many hours a day he can slack off, and what caliber of clubs he can visit for free. As for his supposed career prospects, he's really asking whether he'll have to do fieldwork."

Warmth filled Xu Le's heart. Captain gets me!

"Captain Bai, how could you think that? Am I really that shallow? You've misunderstood me."

Bai Jing had no intention of dwelling on the subject:

"All right, all right. As a clerical employee, you won't have to do fieldwork.

Team 6 can give you all the conditions you want.

There'll even be a few extra perks, like the occasional bribe from Lighthouse City's citizens and any private jobs you take on.

As long as they don't interfere with your work, we won't ask questions.

The Night Watchers can also help with the housing relocation and survivor benefits you want.

Do you understand?"

Hearing this, Xu Le narrowed his eyes. Such generous terms-Bai Jing was determined to recruit him!

The added housing and survivor benefits were clearly about Old Zhou. They really had investigated his background thoroughly.

Xu Le understood that joining the Night Watchers meant undergoing their political vetting.

This investigation was merely part of that process.

Xu Le wasn't as touchy as the protagonists in television dramas, flying into a rage just because someone investigated him.

His background was clean. He was simply an overseas student, so he wasn't afraid of being investigated.

If they hired him without checking his background and history, that would be truly suspicious.

When a high-level security agency didn't check your background, there was probably only one reason.

They were planning to send you to your death.

After another round of serious consideration, Xu Le looked at Bai Jing rather bashfully:

"Then, when can I start work?"

"Eight tomorrow morning."

"And right now?"

"You can go home now. Get some rest and bring your things over tomorrow morning. We'll arrange accommodation for you. Let your school know, too. The Night Watchers' administration will also notify them."

"All right. Is there anything else?"

"No. Go home, and remember to come to work tomorrow."

Xu Le nodded and walked out of the Night Watchers' branch office with a calm expression.

Once he disappeared from their sight, Bai Jing voiced her approval.

"Did you two see that? He was practically bouncing as he walked, but he didn't make a sound all the way to the door. He must have been bursting. That's what you call keeping your composure. You two need to learn to stay composed like him, understand?"

"Understood," Wang Shu and Gu Beichen answered together.

Just as Bai Jing had predicted, the moment Xu Le stepped outside, he jumped with excitement, his walk turning into a bizarre little dance.

He rushed outside the branch office's perimeter wall, scooped up the black cat sitting on the railing, and kissed and squeezed it:

"Hahaha! Starting tomorrow, I'm a civil servant! Let's see who dares raise their voice at me now!"

"Watch where you're going! Can you afford to pay for my clothes if you get them dirty?" a fierce, heavyset middle-aged woman shouted at Xu Le.

"Sorry," Xu Le apologized immediately.

Meow!

The black cat seemed ready to snarl at the woman, and Xu Le hurriedly held it back.

The black cat looked at Xu Le, its little eyes seeming to ask:

"Why are you such a coward?"

Xu Le merely gave his trademark wave of the hand:

"This isn't cowardice. It's a rational retreat, so I can live safely and freely. One of the keys to a carefree life is staying away from toxic people. That fat woman is seething right now. If you start trading insults and she charges over and stabs you a couple of times, who could take that?"

The black cat still looked utterly contemptuous.

Even two nearby passersby couldn't stand watching. One pointed at Xu Le:

"I really admire people like him. He can even make being a coward sound reasonable."

Xu Le ignored them. I'm already a civil servant. You mere mortals can keep being jealous.

When he reached the intersection, a Steam Tricycle stopped in front of him:

"Twenty cents to the bridge. Want a ride?"

Hearing those somewhat familiar words, Xu Le touched the comforting twenty-odd dollars in his pocket and smiled faintly:

"Let's go."

After getting off at the bridge, Xu Le crouched at the far end of the Suspension Bridge over the Moat and gazed down at the Lower City.

He had only been here for a few days, yet it felt as though a long time had passed.

"Starting tomorrow, my new life and job begin!"

Meow!

The black cat seemed to sense the shift in Xu Le's mood and nuzzled its head against his hand.

Xu Le turned back with a smile and headed toward the school.

Academic Affairs Office.

The administrative assistant looked at Xu Le in astonishment:

"You joined the Night Watchers?"

The assistant's voice was loud enough that everyone in the Academic Affairs Office heard the exclamation. Even the director couldn't help glancing over several times.

Their shock secretly delighted Xu Le, but he maintained a calm expression as he said:

"Yes, I joined the Night Watchers. But I've already earned all my credits, so it won't affect my graduation."

"All right, understood."

The assistant looked at Xu Le with mixed feelings. Perhaps this was simply the gap between people.

Xu Le hadn't even graduated, yet his career had already reached heights the assistant could never attain in an entire lifetime.

"All done."

"Thank you."

Under everyone's stares, Xu Le left the Academic Affairs Office with the black cat.

It was already rather late when he returned to the dormitory. He pushed open the door to find Zheng Wen exercising by the balcony.

He had tied a dumbbell to a wooden practice blade and was swinging it over and over.

Sweat streamed down his cheeks and arms. He seemed to have been practicing for a long time.

Noticing Xu Le's return, Zheng Wen hesitated before finally pointing at the double-edged greatsword wrapped in black cloth beside Xu Le's bed:

"Xu Le, that should be a Night Watcher weapon, right?"

Xu Le had no intention of hiding anything in response to Zheng Wen's question:

"No. It's something our teacher Zhang Zhe left behind."

"Something he left behind, huh."

Of course Zheng Wen understood what that meant. Xu Le's teacher had died.

But Xu Le himself had survived. Wasn't that strange?

"Then why did you survive?"

That's a hostile question!

Xu Le raised his head slightly, put the black cat under the covers, and nudged it farther into the bed.

"Why shouldn't I have survived?"

"Which classroom were you in?"

"A7."

Hearing Xu Le's answer, Zheng Wen's pupils immediately contracted.

He had heard all the stories circulating around school that day.

The angel who saved his companions, the butcher who slaughtered Oddities.

When he heard those stories, he had thought that if he possessed the butcher's strength, perhaps his two roommates wouldn't have died.

Zheng Wen looked at the greatsword beside Xu Le's bed, then at Xu Le himself, his expression shifting repeatedly:

"Why you? What makes you deserve it?"

"Why shouldn't it be me?"

Zheng Wen suddenly clenched his fists as an inexplicable surge of anger rose within him.

He threw his wooden blade aside and punched at Xu Le.

Faced with Zheng Wen's sudden attack, Xu Le actually felt as though he had expected it.

He instantly expended some of his emotions to enter the tranquil state and dodged Zheng Wen's heavy punch.

Once he entered the tranquil state, Zheng Wen's already unimpressive speed became even slower in Xu Le's eyes.

Although Xu Le had never trained in martial techniques, he had the enhancement provided by the Veteran's Soul, a gundo relic. His physical abilities were no worse than Zheng Wen's, and his technique was actually superior.

The second punch swept past the tip of Xu Le's nose. He had already seen through Zheng Wen's attack pattern.

He didn't challenge him or demand to know why he had attacked.

Of course, he had no intention of holding back, either.

Dodging another punch, Xu Le kicked Zheng Wen in the knee.

The precise strike made Zheng Wen stumble instantly, nearly sending him to the floor.

The pain kept him from focusing for a moment. By the time he looked up again, Xu Le's fist was already slamming into his face.

Thud!

The heavy punch knocked Zheng Wen straight to the floor.

Then came Xu Le's silent fists.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

He straddled Zheng Wen and punched him again and again, pounding away until his fingers were covered in blood and Zheng Wen's face was almost an unrecognizable mess.

Only then did Xu Le slowly stop.

"Come to your senses?"

Zheng Wen turned his head aside in shame. He didn't understand why everything had changed overnight.

His friends were dead, and someone he had once looked down on had become stronger than him.

What use am I? What have I even been training for all these years?

Lying on the floor, Zheng Wen began crying again. This was the second time he had cried in front of Xu Le.

Xu Le ignored him. After going to the bathroom and giving his hands a quick wash, he began packing his clothes, books, and assorted belongings.

Zheng Wen watched it all.

"You're leaving?"

"Yes. I joined the Night Watchers."

Zheng Wen froze, then understood. While everyone else had been chatting and joking, Xu Le had quietly become a Night Watcher?

"So... you've been working hard in secret all this time. No wonder you never came along whenever we invited you out."

The praise made Xu Le blush a little, but he didn't explain.

Once Xu Le finished packing, the black cat poked its head out and happily nestled in his arms.

Just as he was about to turn on the light and rest, Zheng Wen spoke again:

"Xu Le, will it be like this again?"

"I don't know."

Xu Le knew he meant the Black Tide, and he truly didn't know whether future Black Tides would be like this one.

"If it is, what should we do?"

"Try to leave yourself some options."

"Options, huh. Thanks, Xu Le. I'll work harder from now on."

Xu Le gave a hum of acknowledgment.

Zheng Wen said nothing more, and neither spoke for the rest of the night.

The next day, Xu Le left the dormitory carrying a woven burlap sack full of his belongings, with the greatsword on his back.

Something as fancy as a suitcase was too expensive. That could wait.

Watching Xu Le leave, Zheng Wen suddenly called out:

"Xu Le, I'll definitely become a supernatural! Wait for me!"

Xu Le waved without even turning his head.

"Sure!"

The black cat perched on his shoulder waved as well, though who it was waving at was anyone's guess.

The young man and the cat finally left the school.