The night was silent, with a cold wind blowing.
A mass of dark clouds circled around, obscuring the bright moon in the sky, leaving only two or three bright stars shining.
In Donglai County City, on the deserted street, two shadows were lengthening under the firelight.
The two wore blue uniforms, with swords at their waists, and occasionally inspected the surroundings while holding lamps.
One of them, slightly older, a middle-aged man with a short beard, sniffled with a cold nose and shivered in the chilly wind.
"Hiss, why is it so cold today? Had I known, I'd have asked my wife to prepare a thicker coat," he said.
Song Changming glanced at the thin figure beside him and didn't say anything.
No matter how cold it was at night, the patrol work had to continue.
The lamplight flickered, his gaze swept over the alleys on both sides of the street, and he silently estimated the time—it should be about midnight.
[Today's Evaluation: A dull day, Lifespan +5, temporary status gained: 'Mediocre']
"As expected." Song Changming detected the prompt message that appeared in his mind on time, his face unchanged.
This was his twelfth year in this world, and the memories of his past life had become increasingly blurred in his memory.
He only remembered that he probably died suddenly working overtime late at night, and then crossed over to this place.
With a single thought, a small floating translucent panel appeared before him.
Name: Song Changming
Lifespan: 36,002
Spirit: 7
Root: 10
Related Constitution: Fear of Water (Grey)
This relatively simple attribute panel had traveled with him since the crossing and had long been researched thoroughly by him.
The lifespan displayed on it was 36,000 days, nearly a hundred years of life!
Even in the era of his previous life, a hundred-year lifespan was considered very long for ordinary people, with very few actually living that long.
And in this world, it's even more so; by ordinary standards, living to sixty is already considered a happy funeral, a cause for celebration, and hardly anyone dares to hope for a century of life.
In fact, he is currently considered eighteen years old, and these past eighteen years are not counted in that.
The 36,000 days represent his remaining lifespan.
As long as he lives each day, he can accumulate a certain number of days to his lifespan.
Simply put, the longer he lives, the more his remaining lifespan will grow.
Day after day, accumulating bit by bit, he has amassed nearly a hundred years of life.
This unique ability of his is undeniably strong, as long as time continues to pass, theoretically, he is an immortal existence!
When he initially realized this, he couldn't help but think more, despite his joy.
In his previous life, he died suddenly at a young age when his career was just taking off, ending his short life abruptly.
But in this life, he possesses a seemingly inexhaustible lifespan, which, in his view, feels like compensation from the universe.
Of course, if he wants to genuinely be immortal, the prerequisite is that he doesn't court death.
With this ability, he can resist the relentless erosion of time, but accidents and diseases still exist that could take his life.
Therefore, over the years, he has remained cautious, speaking and doing less, never proactively seeking trouble, and always prioritizing stability.
Until today, as Song Changming looked at the column in his panel showing his lifespan, a neat 36,000 days, he felt a sense of accomplishment, and a great weight lifted off his chest.
"Finally, it's all set..."
From the beginning of his crossing, he understood that his ability had another powerful aspect.
By consuming 36,000 days of lifespan, regardless of the severity of the disease or any other cause of death, he could come back to life!
Initially, when he crossed over and revived, it almost expended the remaining lifespan days of his two lives combined, leaving him with less than ten years.
It was only through accumulation that he managed to return to this lifespan count.
"Now with a life secured, I can finally afford to make some changes, no longer needing to deliberately avoid everything..." Song Changming calculated secretly, his thoughts gradually becoming active.
After living in this world for more than ten years, he had long integrated into it.
Though he had been unremarkable, that didn't mean he was willing to continue living like this forever.
It's important to know that this world is not ordinary...
While he was thinking, he suddenly heard some shouting from ahead, and Song Changming immediately looked in that direction.
At the corner of the long street, several figures appeared out of nowhere, entangled and fighting with each other.
Upon seeing this, Song Changming instinctively grabbed Li Fu'an beside him.
Li Fu'an only then noticed a group of thugs suddenly emerging ahead, shuddering in fear, almost dropping the torch in his hand.
"It's the Qinghe gang!"
Having lived on Houli Street for ten years, Li Fu'an was familiar with it and immediately recognized the identity of one of the gangs fighting.
"Don't bother with it, let's go. Report this to the Patrol Armor Bureau and let the Patrol Captain decide whether to send out patrols." Song Changming decisively said.
Although he had been a Night Patrol for slightly over a year and was still somewhat of a rookie, many years of working principles never allowed him to intervene in such dangerous events, nor should he even take an extra glance.
Moreover, the rules here are like this.
Though they were from the Government's Patrol Armor Bureau and carried swords at their waists, they were only capable of deterring low-level petty thieves and ordinary citizens.
The city gang conflicts were not something they could meddle with.
Simply put, their status wasn't adequate.
"Alright, let's go! Let's go! Your sharp eyes are a blessing." Li Fu'an, coming to his senses, turned and left, fearing to be caught in the crossfire.
Donglai County City has eight main streets, dividing it into eight major districts, each served by a Patrol Armor Bureau responsible for local security management.
Currently, Song Changming was a Fire Patrolman of the Houli Street Patrol Armor Bureau, his status barely counted as a governmental clerk.
Soon, they dropped their night patrol duties and hastily returned to the Patrol Armor Bureau.
Already, other Night Patrols were reporting the gang clash, and their return was rather late.
Patrol Armor Bureau at late night was unlike during the day when it's crowded. Only a few patrol guards in armor were sitting by the candlelight eating dried fruits and chatting freely.
Even hearing the Night Patrols' reports, they showed no concern, their expressions calm without a trace of tension.
On a long wooden bench varnished over, a robust figure lay there, squinting, casually waving his hand.
"I'm already aware of this. Have everyone return, tonight you'll rest. Tomorrow morning, there'll be tasks for you."
Song Changming and a few Night Patrols heard and immediately left.
Houli Street Patrol Guard Bureau had a clear hierarchy, with the Director at the top controlling everything.
Under the director, there were six Patrol Captains, and on the bench was one of them.
The Director wasn't present, so certain matters were decided by these few Patrol Captains, and the Fire Patrolmen could only comply.
"Thanks to those gangs, I get to leave early tonight. Let's head back for some hot alcohol to warm up." Leaving the Patrol Armor Bureau, Li Fu'an seemed in good spirits, and after saying farewell to Song Changming, he went on his way.
"There's so much commotion, tomorrow morning there'll probably be many corpses to collect. Better head back to wash up and sleep."
"True."
A few Night Patrols talked briefly and went home.
Song Changming yawned and headed off in a different direction.
Despite working around Houli Street, his home was not there.
Houli Street was considered prosperous in the city, so the housing there wasn't within his family's means.
Quickening his pace, he passed through streets and alleys, deliberately avoiding the scene of the gang fight, taking nearly an hour to walk.
Approaching the edge of the city, the street environment around gradually worsens, large houses disappear, and pavilions and towers vanish, leaving only scattered old stone and wooden houses.
Baiyi Street, the most rundown and peripheral district among the Eight Major Districts.
Those living here generally have no status background or financial power, just the lower class.
It was now deep into the night, and the whole of Baiyi Street was shrouded in darkness, people living here mostly work from dawn and rest at dusk, the night was for sleep.
Passing through some lanes and a crooked old tree, a few stray cats and dogs occasionally howled.
Soon, several partitioned small houses appeared in front, with mud plaster at the bottom and wood covering above, encircled by a solid fence.
Song Changming glanced around briefly, confirmed there was no anomaly, and went to his parents' house; hearing the gentle resting sounds within, he felt relieved to return to his own room.
Though a Patrol Armor Bureau was established in Baiyi Street, its security situation was still the worst, with numerous stealing thieves.
City gangs would at least follow rules.
These aimless petty thieves were unpredictable, recently even their family's few chickens were stolen, showing it.
After a quick wash, Song Changming lay down on the wooden bed, placing his carried sword beside the pillow.
This was a habit of his; though not a bona fide swordsman, usually he never parted from his sword, which provided him with more security.
"Save more money, time to plan properly..."
Looking at the sword beside the pillow, gaining confidence as if having an extra life, he contemplated many things before gradually falling asleep.
...