Chapter 1: A Simple Introduction

White lights illuminated the room, and the tabletop was ice-cold; only a glass of water sat upon it, the inner walls of the disposable paper cup covered in water droplets. Two police officers in uniform sat opposite, having explained some things beforehand; now, one asked questions while the other typed to record them.

The camera on the wall behind flickered with a faint red light.

"Name?"

"Chen Shu, Chen as in 'ear-east', Shu as in 'comfortable'."

"Age?"

"Twenty."

"Place of origin?"

"Yuanzhou, Bai City, Jinghai District."

"Specific address."

"Unit 2, Building 3, Qilin Garden, Wutong Road, Jinghai District."

"Occupation?"

"Still a student."

"Do you follow any religion? Have you become a registered Practitioner of the Daoist or Buddhist Sect or anything of the sort?"

"No."

"Do you have any political background?"

"None either."

"Alright, I see here that you purchased a First-Tier Spirit Sea Opening Potion from the Blue Light Company last October; is this true?"

"My older sister bought it for me."

"Did you use it?"

"I have already used it."

"What was the result?"

"The opening was successful."

"Not bad..."

The older police officer raised an eyebrow before continuing to ask: "Then have you learned any Controlled Spells? Or have you come into contact with them in any way?"

"No! How could I?"

"Don't be nervous, it's just a routine interrogation."

"I'm afraid it will affect my Great Exam."

"As long as it wasn't you, it won't have any effect."

"Alright."

"Then I will continue," the older police officer said. "Half a year ago, you and Li Jiatu had some... traffic accident, right? Later, you did not issue him a letter of forgiveness; is this true?"

"True, he was driving under the influence, and I didn't want to sign."

"In the last six months, have you had any contact with him?"

"No."

"Are you aware that he has been released from prison?"

"I am."

"Did you, at 17:13 yesterday afternoon, carry out acts of retaliation against Li Jiatu and his father near the Anning Furniture City in the southern suburbs? I must inform you that if you have indeed broken the law, confessing your crimes truthfully can lead to a lighter or mitigated punishment."

"Absolutely not, and it is completely impossible!"

"Understood." The police officer paused. "Then, where were you at 17:13 yesterday afternoon?"

"On my way home from school."

"Did you leave school early that day?"

"No."

"Oh..."

Chen Shu had excellent grades; usually, during this period, he would receive some preferential treatment at school, but the police officer did not ask further. The target of this attack was already quite obvious; in the end, this was just a routine interrogation, which had to be done according to procedure.

"Last question, did the public security organ ensure your normal diet and legal rights during your interrogation?"

"Yes."

The buzzing sound of a printer began.

"Take the transcript, read it carefully, and see if it is the same as what you said. If there are no problems, sign it and press your print." The police officer turned and pointed to the camera on the wall behind him. "Then say to the camera: 'I have read the above transcript, and it is consistent with what I said.'"

"I have read the above transcript, and it is consistent with what I said."

"Alright."

"Alright?"

Chen Shu turned his head to look at the window on the right; the sky was still bright when he arrived, but now it was dark. Outside, heavy rain was pouring, and raindrops were blown by the wind against the glass, streaming down in lines like little transparent insects.

"Alright, I'll have a colleague take you back so it doesn't affect your studies."

"A police car... it's better not to trouble you."

"We have unmarked cars too."

"I'll just hail a taxi."

"It's fine, it's fine, don't be nervous, don't be afraid. Students like you nearing the Great Exam are the most precious. Your grades are so good, too; if we don't take good care of you, society will condemn us." The older police officer stood up.

"O-okay."

Walking out of the police station gate, the sound of rain suddenly became clear and noisy, and the smell of dust rushed toward him; the steps were all splashed wet by the rain. Standing at the entrance, Chen Shu couldn't help but step back.

"Let's go."

The young police officer held up a black umbrella and put his arm around his shoulder in a friendly manner; the two took a step forward and walked into the rain.

Chen Shu walked with him to an old white sedan; he was already soaked after walking just a few steps.

The car started silently.

Chen Shu still asked with some unease: "Officer Luo, is my suspicion high? You know it couldn't have been me; this is clearly the work of the Puluo people. They have been frequently carrying out these kinds of attacks lately."

"Don't worry too much, focus on preparing for the Great Exam."

"Alright..."

Chen Shu stopped talking and turned his head to look out the window.

The streetscape retreated rapidly in the rain.

It is now late April of year 20, just entering summer.

This is a world with Cultivators, though it has already developed into the modern era, and its current level of civilization is no lower than that of Earth before he transmigrated.

This country is called Yiguo.

The land beneath his feet is located on the southwestern frontier of Yiguo, in Yuanzhou, Bai City.

Bai City is the capital of Yuanzhou, built by a lake; it is a city with a long history that was once glorious, and it is now one of the country's well-known tourist cities.

Last year, relations between Yiguo and Puluo to the southwest became tense, and the Yiguo army marched into Puluo territory. Because of the disparity in size, the Puluo authorities did not dare to turn against their former suzerain state. However, the people of Puluo are naturally fierce and wild, and sects and religious groups run rampant within its borders, leading to Yiguo suffering a succession of attacks from Puluo civilian organizations over the past half year.

Chen Shu is not familiar with Li Jiatu either; their intersection stemmed from a traffic accident half a year ago. But having suddenly heard this afternoon that Li Jiatu and his father were both attacked yesterday, Chen Shu received a summons in the evening.

The method of the attack was clearly the handiwork of Puluo people; this is something a student could not imitate.

Thinking of this, Chen Shu relaxed slightly, his slightly furrowed brow smoothed out, and he focused on watching the scenery outside the window.

Bai City was also one of the first cities to develop in modern times, and Jinghai District is the core area of Bai City, built a long time ago; these streets outside the window and the houses on both sides are covered in the traces of passing time. It was just that the rain was truly too heavy, as if it wanted to wash everything clean, and the mist blurred his vision.

Passing by a factory, one could still faintly see faded red characters on the wall, which read:

The old era has passed, welcome to the dawn of the new era!

The car stopped at the entrance of the residential compound.

The young policeman turned his head and glanced at Chen Shu: "Good luck on the Great Exam! Should I give you the umbrella?"

"No need, thank you."

Chen Shu nodded at him, very politely.

He opened the car door, wind and rain poured in, he lowered his head to carefully look for a place to step, finding it truly difficult, so he simply stepped into the water again. After closing the car door, he hugged his schoolbag tightly to his chest and ran quickly toward the entrance of the residential compound.

Fearing he would get soaked more, the security guard uncle opened the access gate for him in advance.

Finally back home.

"Whew..."

Chen Shu let out a long breath, changed into slippers, brushed his wet hair with his hand, and walked into the living room.

A middle-aged man who looked quite young was sitting on the sofa, holding a Mobile Phone with both hands, the light of the phone reflecting on his face, a fluorescent green.

"Chen Jiaoshou, looking at stocks?"

"You're back."

"Yeah."

"How was it?"

"Just a routine interrogation, they said it's not a big problem."

"Keep a proper mindset."

Chen Shu's father said indifferently, then stopped speaking and continued to stare at his Mobile Phone.

Chen Shu also returned to his room.

"Buzz buzz!"

The Mobile Phone vibrated once.

He opened the chat software; there was a message from his childhood sweetheart—

Qingqing: Did you get rained on?

Chen Shu: A little bit

Qingqing: Just got back now?

Chen Shu: I was delayed

Qingqing: Oh

Chen Shu: No class tomorrow, I'll come find you to hang out

Qingqing: Okay

The next day.

Chen Shu woke up from his bed, his head still a bit dizzy, as if he had had some dreams, and yet as if he hadn't.

It was still dark outside the window, but the city was brightly lit.

The rain had already stopped, and the world was exceptionally clean.

Chen Shu raised his arm to check his watch, then looked out the window again—it was already the second day, but dawn should still be a while away.