Era of Mist

Shi Tiexin stood before the mirror, looking left, then right. He was incredibly satisfied.

’Just look at him. Look at this handsome young man in the mirror. *This* is what I’m supposed to look like! Confident, radiant, and brimming with vitality. If I just tilt my head up and let my face catch more light, doesn’t it instantly reveal a look of thick eyebrows, big eyes, and righteous dignity?’

’Even though I’m tall with a large frame, my face hasn’t gotten distorted from the size increase. A quick grin... hmm, my facial muscles are pretty flexible, too. I can make all sorts of kind and friendly expressions, making people think I’m just a masculine, tough, and dashingly handsome guy.’

’Don’t I look heroic, extraordinary, steady, and reliable at first glance?’

’This is how I’m meant to look.’

’Thinking back, when I first arrived in Champion Scholar Stone’s body, I was terrifying. I had a stern look on my face all day, my skin barely saw any light, and the area below my hairline was constantly cloaked in shadow. I looked creepy no matter how you sliced it. Forget other people—even I almost jumped out of my skin once when I looked in the mirror.’

’I still remember it vividly. One dark night, I was heading back from studying and passed a bathroom. I glanced unconsciously into the mirror—and holy shit! Who was this terrifying guy with a face like cast iron?! Holy crap, is he glaring at me? That glare is even scarier than his resting face! Could this be one of those legendary campus bathroom ghost stories?!’

’That murderous aura, that overwhelming Evil Qi, that brimming ferocity... this, this, this!’

’Huh? Wait... I think that’s me...’

’Jeez, I almost gave myself a heart attack!’

’But you can’t really blame me. With a face like that, even someone with nerves of steel would shudder at first sight!’

’A second look would make you shudder again.’

’And if you kept looking, you might just keep shuddering...’

But now, Shi Tiexin worked his facial muscles into a smile. ’Mm-hmm, I finally don’t look like a savage beast baring its fangs, ready to kill and tear something to shreds.’

’I’ve figured it out!’

Facing the mirror, Shi Tiexin finally understood the secret to his one-second transformation from ferocious to handsome. The key was the lighting! ’With plenty of light on my face, making it bright and clear, I have thick eyebrows, big eyes, and an air of righteousness. But with little light, like on a dark and stormy night, I’m so scary that I’d terrify King Yama and make even ghosts despair at the sight.’

’Let’s test it. I’ll lower my head and add some shadows... Yep, already starting to look scary.’

’Still seems to be missing something... I’ll harden my expression!—Hooooly shit, that’s enough to make your liver quiver!’

’Alright, from now on, I’ll just stick to being a handsome, sunny guy.’

Once he was ready, Shi Tiexin saw a big, bald head.

"You look good. This’ll do." Situ the Bald patted Shi Tiexin’s shoulder. "Let’s go. We should get going early. It’s always better to be early than late." He urged him again and again, "Remember, make a huge impression! You have to make a huge impression!"

"Okay." Shi Tiexin nodded forcefully, adjusted his expression to his ’heroic and extraordinary’ mode, and strode out of the Orphanage gates, full of confidence.

Situ the Bald didn’t need to say another word; Shi Tiexin had already psyched himself up.

’Work, earn money, pay off my debts!’

’Practice calligraphy, break through, cultivate!’

’Oh, right. And if the people at the security company take a liking to my handsome face and treat me a little better, maybe give me some perks or offer a better position, that would be perfect.’

’Will it happen? Who knows, good things are bound to happen. That Captain Chen might be the ’in’ Situ the Bald set up for me. Maybe he’ll look out for me a bit.’

As these thoughts ran through his mind, Shi Tiexin broke into a slow jog.

The food here was effective at replenishing stamina and didn’t taste bad, but it was sorely lacking when it came to nourishing one’s essence. Shi Tiexin didn’t know why that was, but after a full meal, he at least had enough energy to travel on foot.

Although Mu Yuan District was one of the less prosperous areas, it was still part of the Space City, and its residential zone was quite large. Shi Tiexin knew of Xiongan Security. Ever since he’d become old enough to work, he had been looking for jobs in Mu Yuan District and had always eyed the company’s imposing building with a bit of envy.

Before long, Shi Tiexin arrived at the entrance of the building and was immediately stopped by a guard wearing intimidating epaulets.

"What’s your business?"

"I’m here to see Captain Chen."

Perhaps because he hadn’t quite adjusted from his previous persona, Shi Tiexin unconsciously let some of his "Big Brother Tie" aura slip out. As a result, the guard at the door didn’t dare to underestimate him and said very politely, "He’s here right now. Please have a seat in the lobby, sir. I’ll call him down."

Shi Tiexin sat in the lobby, thinking how great the service was. The young receptionist was pretty, with a soft, sweet smile, and she even politely brought him a glass of water!

This was the first time in his job-hunting journey that something so nice had happened. In the past, he’d only been met with cold sarcasm or looks of disdain. ’Xiongan Security really lives up to its reputation as a major corporation; they’re even this polite to someone here for a work trial.’

Of course, it was also possible the receptionist didn’t know his situation and mistook him for a client here on business.

Before long, Captain Chen appeared.

The man appeared to be in his forties. He was tall and powerfully built, only half a head shorter than Shi Tiexin and still standing over six-foot-four. His skin was quite dark, suggesting he was of mixed heritage, though his features were predominantly East Asian. He wore a tank top, and his exposed arms were covered in solid muscle. The fibers were so defined they looked like tightly pulled cords, giving him a formidable appearance.

Captain Chen’s gaze was piercing; he didn’t mistake Shi Tiexin for a client. "You’re the one Situ Zhennan sent over?"

Shi Tiexin immediately shot to his feet, standing perfectly straight. His voice was loud and clear, and thanks to the enhancement from his Basic Rhetoric skill, it sounded much more pleasant than before. "Shi Tiexin from the Orphanage, reporting for duty!"

"Mm."

Shi Tiexin’s crisp, no-nonsense demeanor might not have impressed Captain Chen, but at least it didn’t displease him.

That was good enough.

"I don’t know if Situ Zhennan made things clear, so I’m going to go over it again, and I’m only saying it once." Captain Chen had a military air about him and spoke very directly. "During the trial period, we provide meals, but not lodging. Your work location will be assigned. There are three rotating shifts—morning, afternoon, and night. You will be required to work the night shift, and you are not allowed to sleep during it. Any questions?"

Shi Tiexin immediately puffed out his chest. "No problem!"

’If I had a problem, they’d just tell me to get lost. Who’d give a damn about one guy like me? Besides, with my current mind-art cultivation, I really could stay up all night much better than before.’

"During the trial period, your wages are calculated and paid daily. No delays, no arrears. However, if you violate company policy or client rules, your pay will be docked accordingly, and you could even end up owing us. The pay is ten value points per day. Any problem with that rate?"

’Ten value points a day... assuming I work twenty-eight days a month, that’s two hundred and eighty points a month.’

’Compared to what the nurses at Central Hospital made, that rate was an absolute joke.’

’But nursing was a skilled profession. Not counting temps, every official nurse was at least a formal student with a cultivation at the third level of Basic Mind-Art or higher. Every single one of them was several times stronger than Shi Tiexin. For an expendable, cheap laborer like him, ten points a day was actually quite generous.’