Li Xin had quietly gone home long ago and then slept. In his dreams, the dice seemed to want to turn, but it was quickly controlled. Even in his dreams, Li Xin could instinctively control it. This was the result of years of gaming.
The sky was just getting light, and Aunt Fei had already prepared breakfast. At this time, Li Xin was already up, either exercising or going hunting. Although she couldn't understand those strange exercises, she knew Li Xin was very capable. Bird eggs, goat milk, mixed grains sprinkled with scallions, all of which were Li Xin's favorites. As for little Xueyin, she was still blowing bubbles and sleeping soundly, her small mouth smacking as if dreaming of delicious food.
"Aunt Fei, leave these for Xueyin. I'm in great shape."
"Eat if I tell you to. We've been having a surplus lately; business is good. Nothing happened yesterday, right?" Aunt Fei asked with some concern, knowing something happened to Li Xin.
"Nothing happened that's related to us. I'm going hunting for a few days today. Oh, right, if any official comes, just tell them the truth." Li Xin, worried about Aunt Fei, mentioned that his awakening was known by the Night Patrol, thinking the other party was busy with such tasks and might have already forgotten him. There was no need to deliver himself to their doorstep, and even if they hadn't forgotten, he'd deal with it when the time came.
Lin Fei nodded, actually not thinking this was a bad thing. If he could secure a formal, respectable job, it wouldn't be bad. But she also knew that good jobs rarely reached the residents of the Underground City.
Li Xin took his homemade crude weapon to hunt. Though crude, they were precisely selected and crafted from Mutated Beast parts, not very pretty but very practical. They were more useful than spending money on swords and such. As for the Hex-Tech weapons used by people like Luo Jin, they were most likely exclusive to higher-ranking Night Patrol and not something a poor person like him could covet.
Even a crime boss like Qi Badao couldn't afford them... but then again, there's no comparison. Among gangs, using knives like him was rare and a sign of incompetence.
Li Xin set off. Familiar with the forest outside the city, hunting there was also a relaxing affair. Without needing to disguise himself, he could gallop and hunt freely in the forest. It was unclear if it was an illusion, but the prey here seemed to be gradually decreasing. Often, he had to venture deeper, yet even in the dense forest, nothing could be found, as if the creatures were hiding from him.
The forest was a restricted zone for ordinary people, with only adventurers and hunters daring to enter. Carrying a Bone Spear and a custom Dagger at his waist, Li Xin took a deep breath as if to fill his lungs with air. Then, he extended his right hand, and a white dice appeared and began to roll under Li Xin's watchful eyes to foretell his hunting harvest.
It wasn't that Li Xin was foolish enough to use it without cause, but after a long period of possession, he realized the Divine Relic couldn't always remain unused. Moreover, he was curious to study this item, and hunting was undoubtedly the best occasion. Even if it got out of control, it wouldn't be dangerous.
"Today's harvest will be abundant."
The white dice spun rapidly while Li Xin watched intently. When he went to the city yesterday, Xueyin had noticed a set of Sasha Skirt in the storefront. Although she didn't voice it, Li Xin saw the longing and restraint in the girl's eyes. As a girl, she didn't even own a pretty dress. Li Xin hoped to gain something today.
If the dice wobbled and rolled erratically, it was an ineffective result.
The smaller the number, the more negative the result; the larger, the more positive. Five meant uncertainty but wasn't an ineffective result. This was what Li Xin had mastered so far.
One point??
Effective result.
Li Xin felt things would go wrong. Before he could regain composure, waves of intense headaches hit him. Squinting against the ripping pain, he was now much more adept at coping than initially.
What chilled him was the number. One point appeared rarely, signifying he would surely return empty-handed from this trip, maybe even losing something.
Without any hesitation, he turned and left with his bag. The best choice was to lock himself indoors and sleep it off.
Zzz~~
An overwhelming stench suddenly filled the air, as if some seal had been broken. Whose animal was so inconsiderate? He hadn't walked far when he stepped into a trap. Damn it, who set this trap?!
Grasping the edge of the pit, Li Xin looked down at the sharp wooden spikes and leaped up, landing into another heap. Not daring to pause, he tightened his grip on his Bone Spear and Dagger, one hand holding each. These were all he owned, and having weapons was certainly better than being unarmed.
He walked on as the light grew dimmer, and the ravens overhead cawed. Li Xin looked up, and the ravens vanished with a swish... Where was home again?
Meanwhile, the Black Water District was a picture of harmony. Despite being part of the Underground City, it had its unique scenery and bustling activity. Lin Fei began her day's work, neighbors stopping by for small talk, some inquiring about Li Xin, others about her. Nearby, little Xueyin read a book. Though the Church had the Divine Favor Grace Class, it was established for the city residents. The Underground City had no such privilege, so Lin Fei usually taught Xueyin to read. Li Xin's hunting schedule was unpredictable—sometimes one or two days, other times over ten days.
Despite having been through it many times, Lin Fei remained on edge. There was no choice, as Li Xin's hunting income accounted for 80% of their livelihood. Her modest earnings could hardly sustain their current "luxurious" lifestyle.
The first night she met Li Xin was also the hardest night of Lin Fei's life. She brought young Xueyin to the Underground City on a bitterly cold, rainy night. The boy lay in the gutter, barely alive, his eyes meeting hers but not seeking help, his mouth firm with determination, as if wanting one last glance at the night sky. Unable to leave it alone, she carried the little one and brought the big one to the Underground City, barely managing to settle in. She still didn't know how they survived those first few days.
Li Xin was resilient, enduring continuous high fevers and somehow recovering. Initially helping with house chores, one day he returned with wild rabbits and ducks, and since then, there was always meat at home, and their lives gradually improved.
His hunting quickly drew the attention of the Spades Group overseeing this area. Lin Fei once thought their good days were over, but soon, the Spades Group stopped their harassment, and no one came by this part anymore.
Days passed. Lin Fei never mentioned it, but her eyes constantly glanced towards the door. It had been four days, and he still hadn't returned. Without Li Xin, even lively little Xueyin seemed lackluster.
During these past days, Luo Jin was also busy day and night, transitioning into Canon Law School work and familiarizing himself with its various matters. Dealing with many high-ranking officials, he couldn't be as casual as during his time with the Night Patrol; several times, he felt like quitting.
Not that the Canon Law School lacked appeal; it was certainly respectable, safe, and offered greater opportunities. Living under the sunshine was certainly better, but the social niceties and protocols were truly cumbersome. Luo Jin was gritting his teeth adjusting and trying to understand the situation at the Celestial Capital Canon Law School. The data from the Church was quite overwhelming.
His appointment to the Canon Law School meant rectifying discipline and representing the Moon God's Court's image and influence. He needed to be accountable to both higher and lower levels. He actually wanted to bring some trusted people over, but the Night Patrol and Canon Law School were two different systems, with the School having disdain for the Night Patrol, thinking them as covert operatives for dirty, tough jobs—not the same type of people. If not for significant internal problems, it wouldn't have fallen to Luo Jin.
Whom should he bring? It was a headache. Although he'd been at it for years, mastering the art of survival, all his subordinates were impetuous fools.
Then again, if they weren't impetuous, who would be a Night Patrol?
At this moment, the sound of heels echoed. Kathy arrived dressed in a new pink uniform, with a delicate little hat adorned with a white feather, exuding elegance with a hint of playfulness, incongruent with the surroundings.
This wasn't a uniform of the Night Patrol; they didn't have such an income. Everyone knew Kathy didn't rely on her salary to make a living.
"Captain, here are the investigation materials you requested," Kathy's sweet voice rang out.
No matter the type of superior, with such a subordinate, one's mood couldn't be bad. "Investigation materials? There's nothing going on lately, right? You should leave work early to date, then marry and have children. The prime age for girls is before 27."
"Captain, where do you get such experiential advice for a forever bachelor?" Kathy smiled slightly, placing the materials on the table. "Or should the Captain employ some sneaky office policy on me?"
Luo Jin's mouth twitched, unable to provoke her. "Ahem, whose investigation materials?"
"Li Xin, the Awakened from the Underground City. He's an interesting person," Kathy said, having reviewed the materials.
Hearing Li Xin's name, Luo Jin paused before remembering. Damn, he told the kid to come find him, but this kid treated his words like air...