Right now, Luo Jin’s desk looked like a mountain made of files. He still had a few open cases that needed closing, but what he couldn’t get off his mind was the Abyss Worm incident.
The odds of Abyss Worms showing up in the Daoyuan Realm were supposed to be incredibly low. And yet, over the past few years, they just kept cropping up around Tianjing—again and again—and they’d already caused several massacres.
Too many of his brothers had died at the hands of those things.
He didn’t think it was a coincidence anymore. No, it felt orchestrated—like someone was deliberately creating chaos. The worst part was, even after all these years, he had zero leads.
Tap tap tap~ tap tap tap.
The soft click of little leather shoes echoed through the hallway. Frilly lace-trimmed socks peeked out from beneath a lady-like dress.
When Luo Jin looked up, Casey was already walking into his office, carrying that subtle floral perfume she always wore. Her lips were a vivid, glossy red.
“Captain,” she said playfully, “I did knock.”
Luo Jin gave her a look and gestured helplessly at the tower of files in front of him. “Do I really have to read all of this?”
“Yes,” she answered sweetly. “That’s the core data from the Order Academy and a pile of disciplinary matters from the Ethics Bureau. The High Archbishop personally requested you start from these—he said it’ll help you shake the tree and scare the monkeys.” She grinned. “Also, there’s someone waiting outside… said you told him to come.”
Luo Jin raised an eyebrow. “Who?” he asked. “And what’s with that face?”
Night Watchmen didn’t really have friends. When your job was dealing with monsters and psionic disasters, most people smiled on the surface but did everything they could to stay the hell away. No one wanted to get caught up in spooky shit.
Casey hesitated, her lips twitching. Luo Jin narrowed his eyes.
“Just say it. Since when are you the type to mumble?”
She took a breath. “Some young guy. Says he’s your nephew. Goes by the name Li Xin. Captain… he’s not your secret son, is he?”
Her big eyes sparkled mischievously, like she was trying to see right through him.
Luo Jin nearly choked.
He’d lived his life walking on thin ice—his reputation was all he had left.
“Secret son my ass. That sneaky little brat’s my cheap nephew—let him in already. Not that old, but sly as hell.”
He didn’t think too much of it. Probably just some clerk refusing to let the kid in, so Li Xin pulled the ‘nephew’ card. Good thing he hadn’t said “secret son,” or that would’ve stuck to him like mud in the crotch.
Not long after, Li Xin strolled into the room with a sack of smoked meat. As soon as he stepped inside, he bent low at the waist with a bright, cheerful smile.
“Captain Luo! It’s an honor to meet you—I’m here to register.”
Luo Jin stared at him flatly. “Oh? Then show me just how honored you are.”
Li Xin flinched a little at the cold response and gave a sheepish cough. “Ahem. This is something Aunt Fei asked me to bring… some wild game.”
“It’s been a week. You move at lightning speed, huh? At this rate, anyone would think you were coming to claim the throne, not sign up for work.” Luo Jin snorted.
“I swear, Captain, you’ve got it wrong!” Li Xin looked wounded. “I was gonna come sooner! But you saved my life—I couldn’t just show up empty-handed, right? Thing is, I’m broke as hell, so I figured I’d go hunt something proper as thanks. Turns out, my luck was trash—I got lost, fell into a ravine, lost all my gear… barely made it out alive. Diana must’ve been watching over me.”
Luo Jin’s eyes flicked over the cuts on Li Xin’s face and neck, the bruises on his arms and legs.
They were fresh.
You didn’t get that kind of scarring unless you’d been in a real fight out in the wild. Even Luo Jin, with all his years, felt a little guilty. Maybe he’d gone too hard on a kid who clearly went through hell.
“…Fine. I’ll take the meat. Sit down.” He hadn’t planned to accept the gift—but now he had no choice.
Just then, Casey walked in again with a cup of tea. She eyed Li Xin up and down, her gaze suddenly sharp.
This kid got Old Luo to accept a gift? Hmm.
She was definitely going to run a second background check.
“Thank you, Miss. You’re very elegant.” Li Xin accepted the tea with a sincere smile.
Anyone else would’ve pissed Casey off with that line. She’d heard it too many times.
But coming from a half-grown, honest-faced kid like this?
She couldn't help but smile and press her lips together.
Today she’d gone with her full ‘lady’ look—lace dress, polished leather shoes, soft curls, delicate sapphire pendant at her throat. The whole outfit took over an hour to put together. And finally, someone noticed.
Unlike certain people who didn’t know how to use their eyes.
“If you’ve got something to say, say it to your uncle,” she said kindly. “He talks tough, but he’s got a soft heart. Just likes to scare people.”
“Thanks, Miss. I know my uncle’s just not great with words, but he means well,” Li Xin said earnestly. “Sorry I only brought one gift today. Next time, I’ll bring something for you too. Nothing fancy—just home-cooked wild game.”
“I’ll be waiting, then.” Casey chuckled and reached out to ruffle his hair.
Off to the side, Luo Jin watched the whole thing with a crooked smile.
This little brat sure knew how to play people.
“Li Xin,” Luo said finally, “I think your abilities are solid. Ever thought about joining the Night Watchmen? You should know, awakened individuals like you don’t have a lot of options. Either serve the authorities, or end up dead in a gutter.”
“Sure!” Li Xin answered immediately.
“…Huh?” Luo Jin blinked. He’d expected at least some pushback. A few polite refusals, maybe a second round of smoked meat. Something.
Most folks hated the idea of joining the Watchmen. Can’t blame them.
“I mean it,” Li Xin said. “I’ve never been against joining. It’s just… I had to think about my family. Captain, I figure you already looked into me. I need to ask—if I join the Watchmen, can you help me get Aunt Fei and Xueyin out of Blackwater?
“It’s not safe for them there. My sister’s old enough for Grace Class now. And if something happens to me… if I die in the line of duty, I want to know they’ll be okay.”
Luo Jin was silent for a few seconds. He let out a long sigh.
He really didn’t know if bringing this kid into the Watchmen was the right thing to do.
“Being a Watchman is dangerous,” he said. “But rookies like you won’t be thrown into the fire right away. At least, not usually…”
His old face warmed slightly. That’s the same line his captain had used to recruit him.
“Every Watchman in the city gets a unit in the public housing program. Worst case scenario—you die—the unit goes to your next of kin. If you don’t want housing, we can give you a relocation stipend instead.
“And your salary starts at five silver lira a month. Bonuses are separate.”
That was a lot of money. More than most families made in a year.
On the Daoyuan Continent, lira was the standard currency.
1 silver lira = 100 lira
1 gold lira = 10 silver lira
For smaller amounts, they used “glass beans.”
1 lira = 10 glass beans, only valid within the Lilon Unified Kingdom.
“And remember—we’re Watchmen, not a suicide squad,” Luo added. “Your safety comes first. I don’t want you thinking this job’s all about dying for the cause.”
Li Xin blinked. His eyes lit up like stars.
“Captain! How do the bonuses work? If I do a great job, can I earn more?”
Luo Jin: …?
“Ahem. Well, bonuses are based on mission difficulty. The Watchmen issue them, sometimes the Church does too. And if the job benefits City Hall, they’ll throw something in as well.
“A good team member can pull in seven or eight silver lira a year in bonuses, easy.”
Li Xin licked his lips.
Damn. Dangerous? Whatever. He loved danger.
No—he loved selfless sacrifice. Totally different.
Suddenly, even Luo Jin’s weary old face looked rugged and handsome to him. A battle-scarred veteran, full of wisdom.
He nearly messed up. Thought Luo Jin was just another cranky relic from the system. But no—this was a golden ticket.
He didn’t mind the risk. He just didn’t want to be cannon fodder in someone else’s shadow war. He wasn’t scared of death—just of being a nameless number on some agent list.
“Yes, Captain!”
Li Xin straightened up like a soldier. “I’m willing to join the Night Watchmen! I’ll fight to protect Tianjing with everything I’ve got—until my dying breath!”
Luo Jin let out a low chuckle.
Back in his day, he and his comrades had joined the Watchmen for faith—for justice under the moonlight. This kid? He was refreshingly honest.
“Alright. Go find Casey. She’ll walk you through the rules and issue your uniform. Weapons and equipment come later—once you’re settled in and pass the initial skills test. Oh, and here—”
He slid a small pouch across the desk. “One month’s salary in advance.”
“Yes, Captain! Thank you, Captain!”
Li Xin could hardly keep the grin off his face. He’d expected to join some shady death cult. Instead, he’d stumbled into a legit operation—with a reasonable boss, no less.
“Go on.” Luo Jin gave him a rare smile. It had been a long time since he’d seen a kid with that kind of spark.
Just as Li Xin stepped out the door, he poked his head back in.
“Captain—you’re really handsome!”
“This little brat.” Luo Jin shook his head, amused.
Definitely worth investing in.
But truthfully, bringing Li Xin into the Watchmen wasn’t just about recruitment. Luo Jin had a larger game in mind. He’d been reviewing files for days, getting a clearer picture of the Order Academy.
Everything on the surface looked clean, respectable—even righteous. But that only meant one thing: it was all too clean.
No obvious weak points. No leverage.
He needed a new pair of eyes—untainted ones. Eyes that could see what he couldn’t from his position.
He’d keep watching.
Li Xin found Casey already waiting for him.
“Miss Casey! We meet again.”
Casey couldn’t help but smile at the sweet-talking new recruit.
“I’m Casey. I handle logistics for the Night Watchmen. Which is a fancy way of saying I do the grunt work. Whatever you need, you come to me.”
“You’re basically our head steward, then,” Li Xin said cheerfully.
Technically not her title—but in truth, she was the backbone of the place. His words pleased her immensely.
“Are all Night Watchmen Awakened?” he asked.
“That’s the baseline requirement,” Casey nodded. “Though not everyone’s built for combat.
“Captain Luo runs a tight ship, but it’s not like other places with a million rules.”
She handed him a small pouch. “Here’s your advance pay. Now, come on. Let me show you around.”
Casey led him through the Night Watchmen’s headquarters.
The north wing held the Prayer Room, with a plaque above the entrance that read:
Under the Moonlit Night, Justice Endures.
“Li Xin,” Casey said, “as of today, you’re one of us.
“The Night Watchmen live by one creed: uphold justice.
“These words were left to us by Grand Chancellor Luther. They’re not just a slogan—they’re our faith.”
Li Xin repeated them softly. “Under the Moonlit Night, Justice Endures.”
Casey smiled. “We greet each other with the Cross-Finger Salute. Raise your right hand—middle finger crossed over the index. Like this. Say it with me.”
She demonstrated the salute.
“Under the Moonlit Night, Justice Endures.”
Li Xin followed, fumbling a bit before getting his fingers aligned.
“Put some heart into it! This is your first time,” she scolded playfully.
“Under the Moonlit Night, Justice Endures!” he repeated, voice firm.
“Good. Ceremony complete,” Casey nodded. “Now let’s check out the rest.”
Next to the Prayer Room was the conference chamber.
To the west, the training grounds—where agents practiced firearms and melee techniques.
To the east, logistics and equipment.
In the logistics wing, an elderly tailor with squinty eyes took his measurements. The custom uniform would take a few days to finish. For now, Li Xin was handed a standard-issue set in a close-enough size.
As a Watchman, he’d be eligible to receive a personalized melee weapon of his choice.
He would also be issued a Hextech Anti-Demon Rifle—a specialized gun capable of firing arcane-sealed silver bullets.
Those bullets, forged from refined mythril, were deadly against invisible and cryptid creatures.
But all that would have to wait—until Li Xin completed his training.
(End of Chapter 6)