Era of Mist

"This is the hundredth year of the New Era, and the Tumu Castle City Hall has decided to make this a ’Year of Culture’ by launching a series of cultural activities. One of the larger events is the Citizen Calligraphy Competition, spearheaded by City Hall’s cultural department. The scale of this competition is impressive, the rewards are generous, and most importantly, the judges are true professionals."

"I heard Tumu Castle paid a hefty price to invite renowned calligraphy masters all the way from the inner solar system!" Tao Zhongming said, a look of longing on his face. "I’m something of a calligraphy enthusiast myself. Even though I don’t know which master is presiding, masters from the inner solar system are all recognized for their high skill! If my own handwriting wasn’t too terrible to show anyone, I’d sign up just for the experience!"

’Calligraphy masters from the inner solar system?’

’Impressive scale, an event everyone’s aspiring to join?’

Shi Tiexin was lost in thought. ’A competition with famous masters as judges and huge rewards would surely have a lot of credibility. If I could actually take the top prize in a competition like this, I’d reap both fame and fortune.’

’Just like Little Dog said, if I really made a name for myself through the competition, the price for writing business cards for people definitely wouldn’t be one point for ten anymore.’

’So, for a competition this good, where do I sign up?’

Just as Shi Tiexin was about to ask, the workshop door was thrown open with a CLANG. Shi Tiexin turned his head and saw it was Old Wei, his wrinkled old face beaming with delight as he rushed in. "Brother Shi, quick, hurry! Come with me, something good has come up!"

"Something good?"

’Why have so many good things been happening lately?’

"Yes! Time is tight, so come with me first. We can talk on the way!" Old Wei grabbed Shi Tiexin’s arm and started to pull him out, but Shi Tiexin, ever cautious, asked one more question, "If I leave now, will it be a problem for my post?"

"Don’t worry about little things like that, just come with me. Captain Chen is waiting for you!" Old Wei slapped Shi Tiexin on the shoulder. PAT. PAT. "Captain Chen himself is giving you a leg up. You’ve really lucked out! But time is tight, so hurry and come with me!"

’Captain Chen?’

’Giving me a leg up?’

’A good thing?’

’It couldn’t be that... "related work," could it?’ Beads of sweat started to form on Shi Tiexin’s forehead.

"Big Bro, go on, don’t worry! I’ll cover for you!" Si Chongtian waved his hand cheerfully. "Let’s get in touch after you’re done. Hey, can I come back and stay at your place tonight? We can sleep foot-to-foot!"

PTHH—!

Shi Tiexin heard Old Wei choke beside him.

He took a deep breath, not knowing how to respond to the eccentric guy, and could only follow Old Wei out silently and quickly.

Just outside the main gate of the Meat Processing Plant, a car was parked with the muscular Captain Chen standing beside it. He glanced at Shi Tiexin and, without another word, gestured with his hand. "Get in!"

Shi Tiexin looked Captain Chen up and down, thinking he didn’t quite look like the kind of hormone-peddling middleman who profits on the side. ’Besides,’ he thought, ’this was officially relayed through Old Wei, so it can’t be anything too outrageous.’ He opened the car door and got in.

As the two burly men, both averaging two meters tall, sat down in the car, the chassis immediately sank by more than an inch.

The vehicle started up silently, then accelerated rapidly, driving off with a WHOOSH.

Even now, a hundred years into the New Era, with its highly advanced technology, ground transport—especially in a place with flat terrain like Tumu Castle—still consisted mainly of personal vehicles with round tires. Of course, the environmental standards here were extremely high, so you couldn’t find any of the internal combustion engines from that other world-line. Instead, everything uniformly used silent, exhaust-free clean energy. At the same time, due to the miniaturization of energy and power modules, the design of the vehicles was also vastly different from that other world-line.

But the speed was still impressive.

The sky-rails were large and heavy, so their speed was limited to eighty kilometers per hour to avoid problems. But personal vehicles were small and light with a low drag coefficient, so their speed limit was relaxed to one hundred and ten kilometers per hour.

Captain Chen drove like a maniac, flooring it to top speed in the blink of an eye.

Silence filled the car.

The scenery flashed by. Shi Tiexin realized the car seemed to be speeding toward the Upper City District. A CLANGING sound came from overhead as the car passed under the belly of a sky-rail, quickly leaving it behind.

Even now, Shi Tiexin still had no idea what this so-called "good thing" was.

But he was naturally calm and cautious, so he still didn’t ask.

He could hold his peace, but Captain Chen chose this moment to speak.

"How exactly do you know the young master of the Si Family?" Captain Chen glanced at Shi Tiexin. "I hear you two are on good terms."

’Heh, so that’s what this is about.’

’I was wondering why Captain Chen would think of me when a "good thing" came up. This is why. Even if Gou Danzi didn’t deliberately look out for me, the ripple effect he creates is enough to have a major impact on my life.’

’Perhaps this is a microcosm of what it means to have the status of the powerful.’

’Of course, the "powerful" one isn’t Little Dog, but his father—uh... Old Dog Egg? Anyway, it’s because his father has such an exalted status that he gets to enjoy privileges everywhere. I’m just on a lower tier, yet I’m still affected this much.’

’The sheer scale of such a powerful figure’s influence is truly enviable!’

’If I acknowledge this connection, I’m sure even more and better opportunities will be waiting for me.’ But after a moment of silence, Shi Tiexin said with a deadpan expression, "We’re just ordinary friends who happened to cross paths."

Captain Chen scoffed internally. ’Like hell I believe you! Old Wei just messaged me. Young Master Si is planning to go home with you to sleep foot-to-foot, and you call that "ordinary friends who happened to cross paths"?’

"True or not, it doesn’t matter. I’ve found a good gig for you this time, so don’t say I never look out for you afterward." Captain Chen explained simply, "In two hours, the Tumu Castle Provincial Exam will be held at Tumu No. 1 Academy. Our Xiongan Security has taken on the ceremonial, guard, and support duties for this exam, and I plan to slot you in."

’The Provincial Exam?’

’Today is actually the day of the Provincial Exam?’

Shi Tiexin felt a flicker of longing, then asked in confusion, "Shouldn’t people have been formed into groups and trained for something like this long ago? Why are you pulling someone in at the last minute?"

"We did train in advance, but someone can’t make it at the last minute, so we have to find a replacement to fill his post." Captain Chen offered a brief explanation. "The guy got into a secret realm duel with someone yesterday. He wasn’t paying attention and didn’t realize his opponent was in the Sharp Qi Realm. He got beaten into three pieces. They sent him to the hospital the moment he came out of the secret realm, and he still hasn’t woken up."

Shi Tiexin immediately understood.

’Beaten into three pieces in a secret realm? Good heavens, Sharp Qi Realm masters are no joke. Liu Qigang is at the Peak of Sharpness. It seems he wasn’t bragging when he said he could shatter my skull with one palm strike.’

"The Provincial Exam duty is only two hours. The job’s done by noon. You’re free to do whatever you want in the afternoon, and we’ll count it as a full shift worked. For this special assignment, the company will give you an extra thirty-point bonus. Do a good job." Captain Chen looked at Shi Tiexin. "Little brother, just wear the security uniform for now, don’t worry about any rental fee. Later on, remember to mention this to Young Master Si. Make sure you remember!"

As he said this, Captain Chen’s usually stiff expression softened.