"How does one upgrade?" Qing Ling's eyes gleamed with sudden clarity.
"Sorry, I can't answer that."
"Why not?"
"It's the rule."
"Who made this rule?"
Officer Huang smiled but offered no further reply.
"My turn," Gao Yang raised his hand, eager as a student with a burning question.
"Go ahead."
"How can I meet them?"
Officer Huang froze for a moment, then chuckled, "You’re quick on the uptake, aren't you?"
"Flattering, but with my feeble abilities, if I’m not sharp-witted, I can’t even be a proper slacker." Gao Yang mused, "Officer Huang, is there an organization above you? Are these rules set by them?"
Officer Huang nodded, sighing, "In truth, I’m not exactly part of the organization—just an auxiliary. They reach out to me when they need something, treating me like a tool. I don't have the authority to speak with them directly. But every now and then, I manage to pick up a useful tidbit during handovers."
His expression turned serious, "But they forbid me from spreading any of it. If they find out, it won’t end well for me."
"Why not join the organization?" Gao Yang asked. "With your current position, wouldn't that give you an advantage?"
Officer Huang smiled sheepishly, "Because I’m too weak."
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"Weak…? You?"
Gao Yang felt a sudden pain in his knee.
"I couldn’t pass the organization's assessment. For now, I’m still in the probation period, and there’s no telling when, or if, I’ll become a full member." Officer Huang gazed out the window, "It’s a mysterious organization, operating in extreme secrecy. Even the awakened, who are far stronger than us, tread cautiously for survival."
"I see."
"But," Officer Huang turned back, "Now that you two are here, I’m considering giving the interview another shot—assuming you both want to join."
"I do!" Gao Yang immediately agreed and glanced at Qing Ling.
Qing Ling, her face cold, asked, "If we join, will we learn how to upgrade our talents?"
This woman… Does she care about anything besides getting stronger?
"Of course."
"When’s the interview?" Qing Ling pressed.
"Don’t rush. Sometime in the next couple of days, I’ll keep you posted." Officer Huang glanced at his phone. "Enough for now, I’ve got to take my wife for an ultrasound."
Gao Yang teased, "Aren't you supposed to be working? Skipping out on your duties, huh?"
"You have no idea how delightful it is to slack off..." Officer Huang was still laughing one moment, but the next, his face darkened. In an instant, he pulled his gun, aiming it at the door. "Who's there?!"
Qing Ling, closest to the door, spun swiftly, conjuring a Tang blade in her hand and driving it into the door without hesitation.
"Screech—"
She withdrew the blade and shook her head, "No one outside."
Gao Yang was stunned!
What if there had actually been a beast behind that door? What if she had stabbed a person by mistake?
She really was the type to prefer killing a thousand wrongly than letting one slip by.
Officer Huang slowly lowered his gun, "Seems I was just being paranoid. My nerves have been on edge lately."
Placing his cap back on, Officer Huang said, "Alright, let’s call it a day."
...
For the rest of the day, Gao Yang remained calm.
He would occasionally open his system in his mind, checking his luck points. There hadn’t been any sudden increase, meaning his surroundings were still safe, and his awakened identity remained undiscovered.
Then, he resumed idling.
After evening self-study, Gao Yang headed home alone.
The late-night streets were eerily silent. The rain had stopped, but the roads were still slick with moisture. Pools of water glistened under the neon lights, looking like portals to another world.
"Plop." Gao Yang stepped into one of the puddles, pausing mid-stride.
Something felt... off.
A chill ran down his spine: Someone was following him.