It took a while to get fully acquainted with the Night Watchmen’s base, but Miss Casey had been incredibly patient. She didn’t look down on Li Xin even once.
By the end of it, Li Xin had a much clearer understanding of what the Night Watchmen were really about.
And when he walked through Tianjing City again, something had changed.
He couldn’t explain why—but the sunlight felt brighter.
All he’d done was change his clothes, but the way people looked at him was different.
Before, whenever he entered the city, the scorn was constant—everywhere, in every glance. But now?
There was a flicker of something else.
Respect. Or at least, caution.
Not that Li Xin cared about how strangers looked at him. He’d put on the uniform for Aunt Fei and Xueyin to see.
At 1.8 meters tall, his frame suited the gear well. As soon as he put it on, it sharpened his whole presence.
When he walked through the door, Lin Fei and Lin Xueyin both froze, stunned into silence.
When they learned he’d joined the Night Watchmen, Lin Fei didn’t say much. She didn’t show any strong emotion—at least not in front of Xueyin.
After dinner, once Xueyin had fallen asleep, Lin Fei called Li Xin out into the hallway.
“Aunt Fei,” Li Xin began, “at first, I felt the same as you. I thought it was too dangerous, so I didn’t go.
“But I decided to at least check it out—and now that I have, I really think the Night Watchmen are solid.
“Sure, it’s risky—but what isn’t risky?
“Most of all, Captain Luo Jin is someone you can rely on. Opportunities like this don’t come often. And anyway, I’m not trying to play the hero. The Watchmen are full of real powerhouses. No one’s expecting miracles from a rookie like me.”
He paused.
“They also provide family housing. Tomorrow we move into the city.
“Xueyin will be placed in a Grace Class, and the community housing has proper security and clean surroundings.
“We’ll finally be able to live like normal people.”
Normal people.
Lin Fei had nearly forgotten what that even meant. She hadn’t dared dream of such a thing since the day she’d left the city behind.
She’d never resented their current life—not really. But she had resented what it meant for Xueyin.
The Grace Class—officially called the Divine Grace Program—was a free education program created by the City Hall and the Lunar Church.
It was open to children aged 7 to 15, but slots were limited. Even “free” came with strings attached.
Right now, this was exactly what Xueyin needed most.
Lin Fei knew it.
She looked at Li Xin, so full of nervous energy, desperate to reassure her.
So many memories flooded her mind.
The night she found him, soaked and half-dead in the rain, she’d only acted out of instinct—out of a mother’s heart.
And now here he was, standing tall, becoming the pillar of their home.
“Aunt Fei,” Li Xin grinned, pounding his chest. “You can finally dress up however you want. No more hiding behind that tough-guy act to scare people off.”
“Oh, so I only scared you, huh?” Lin Fei raised a fist. “You little brat—you planning a mutiny? Go to bed! We move tomorrow!”
“Aye, ma’am!”
Li Xin dodged the playful punch and darted back to his room.
Trees grow best when they’re replanted.
So do people.
Maybe it really was time to start fresh.
Lin Fei lingered by the doorway, a nostalgic smile tugging at her lips.
She glanced at the corner of the room where a single wooden plank served as their “multi-purpose dining table.”
Then down at her own rough, cracked hands.
She’d once been a proper city lady—graceful, well-kept.
Now…
Moving day should’ve been a massive ordeal.
Li Xin was fully prepared to lug bags and boxes and jars and junk.
But when he saw what Lin Fei had chosen to bring, he realized something.
Aunt Fei understood letting go.
In the end, the three of them packed only the essentials.
Time to face the new life.
Xueyin had been so excited the night before that she barely slept. But youth has its perks—by morning, she was practically glowing.
And then, at the door—they ran into Qi Eight-Blades.
And damn if he didn’t look refreshed.
The past few years had been good to the Spade Crew. Their rep in the underworld had exploded.
In the Underground City, power changed hands constantly. Gang leaders got offed by rivals, or even their own men. Being in charge was a dangerous job.
But Qi Eight-Blades?
He’d endured.
After the Licker incident, his name hit the streets like wildfire.
People were whispering that he might be the next real boss of the Underground.
They said: “No one survives Eight Blades.”
Because this time, it hadn’t just been another turf war.
He’d helped kill a goddamn Licker.
His leg was still wrapped in bandages, and he limped a bit—but his eyes were bright.
He didn’t look like he was dying anytime soon.
And in his line of work, image was everything.
These days, Qi Eight-Blades could feel the respect when he walked into a room.
“Aunt Fei! Moving day, huh? We’re neighbors—I figured I’d lend a hand,” he said, grinning.
Qi Eight-Blades knew one thing for sure: his golden goose was flying the coop.
He had to show some goodwill.
Li Xin was leaving the Underground—and not just leaving. He was joining the Night Watchmen.
That meant connections, status, access.
Not your average rookie.
Li Xin was going places.
Lin Fei, for her part, had no love for gangsters.
Her first encounter with them had involved some creep trying to grope her—until Li Xin beat the guy down.
Qi had punished the offender harshly and kicked him out, and there’d been no more problems since.
But still.
They weren’t the same kind of people.
Li Xin rolled his eyes. “You stupid or something? Since when were we close?”
“Acting like we grew up together…”
Qi Eight-Blades had the nerve to act like he was Li Xin’s elder. Unbelievable.
He’d come alone—no crew.
He knew Lin Fei didn’t like him, and he’d done his homework.
Word was she used to be a real city heiress. Then something terrible happened, and only she and her daughter survived.
“Come on, Brother Xin, don’t be like that,” Qi said, laughing. “We’re all neighbors, right?
“Anyway, looks like you don’t need help.
“But if you ever need to track someone down or dig up dirt—we’ve still got a few tricks up our sleeves.
“The Spade Crew’s got some small operations in the city now… not much, but we’re around.”
He knew exactly how it worked.
Out of sight, out of mind.
Li Xin was loyal—but time and distance wore down even the strongest bonds.
Qi had a few skills, sure—but not many. His real skill was reading people.
And Li Xin?
Li Xin was his ticket up.
No matter what—it was worth sticking close.
“Aunt Fei, check again for anything we missed,” Li Xin said. “I’ll chat with our… neighbor.”
Lin Fei nodded and took Xueyin back inside.
Li Xin led Qi Eight-Blades around to the back alley.
He held up two fingers.
Qi immediately pulled out a smoke and lit one for him.
Li Xin took a long drag and exhaled a perfect smoke ring.
Casey and Aunt Fei usually kept a close eye on him, never letting him near this stuff.
Qi whistled.
“Damn. That’s a pro drag. No way you learned that in a day.”
“Brother Xin,” Qi Eight-Blades said seriously, “you leaving like this—it’s got me nervous. What am I supposed to do now? Can you give me a little direction?”
When it came to someone like Li Xin, Qi didn’t bother with flattery or empty talk. All he needed to do was show loyalty—and prove his value.
“I’m leaving,” Li Xin said, giving him a side glance, “not dying.”
Honestly? He had a soft spot for Qi Eight-Blades.
The guy had rules. He didn’t try to be something he wasn’t. A man lives like a man; a rat lives like a rat.
“You know my principles,” Li Xin said flatly. “There are things you’re not supposed to touch—don’t touch them. Everything else? I don’t care.”
Qi Eight-Blades nodded earnestly. “You know me, Brother Xin. After all these years—haven’t I proved I’m reliable?”
Lately, things had been rough. The city's security was a mess, monsters crawling out of the woodwork. Without a real boss in the area, it just didn’t feel safe anymore.
“Start moving some of your guys into the city,” Li Xin added. “Might come in handy later.”
As soon as Qi heard that, he lit up inside. The big boss hadn’t written him off after all.
He nodded so hard it was almost comedic. “Brother Xin, always thinking ten steps ahead. The way you’ve kept your distance from us—it’s all strategy, right? So the Night Watchmen can’t trace anything back. Genius move.”
He’d already figured it out.
With Li Xin’s ability, he could’ve joined the Watchmen or the Order Academy any time he wanted—so long as his background was clean. No shady transactions with the Spade Crew meant that even under investigation, he’d come out spotless.
And someone like Luo Jin? That guy respected talent—but he loved clean hands.
“Hey, Old Blade,” Li Xin said suddenly. “You know my neighbor’s friend’s great-grandmother lived to be 120?”
Qi blinked. “What? Seriously? Someone in the Underground lived that long? Was she Awakened?”
“Nope.” Li Xin blew out a breath. “She just never meddled in other people’s business.”
Back at the front door, Lin Fei and Xueyin were ready to go.
As soon as Lin Fei caught a whiff of smoke on Li Xin’s clothes, she narrowed her eyes at Qi Eight-Blades.
“Don’t hang around people like him. You’re supposed to be setting an example.”
“You’re absolutely right, Aunt Fei,” Li Xin said solemnly. “These gangsters are nothing but bad habits on legs. No self-restraint at all. I mean, the air in the Underground is already toxic enough—and he still smokes. Dragged me into secondhand smoke, too.”
Qi Eight-Blades’ lips twitched. He didn’t say a word.
That cigarette pack had just been opened—and now it was gone.
(End of Chapter 7)