Chapter 25: An Unexpected Joy

Wang Xi frowned slightly after hearing Yu Zizi’s words. The joy of receiving the prize money was somewhat dampened.

He had researched online and knew there were several prerequisites for participating in the Professional Brave Assessment. Aside from the mandatory cultivation technique card, one also needed an Amateur Brave Qualification Certificate. There were no requirements for rank; it served purely as proof of qualification.

In short: you could be mediocre, but you could not have nothing.

Amateur assessments were held every six months, while professional ones were held once a year. Even after registering, there was a screening and waiting period. If he missed this opportunity, he truly didn't know how long he would have to wait to become a Professional Brave.

Wang Xi sighed inwardly. Although his physical fitness surpassed that of an ordinary person, his injuries were not light; it would take at least ten to fifteen days to move normally. He definitely wouldn't make it to next week's assessment.

Wang Xi pondered for a moment. Perhaps once the 100,000-credit reward from the Public Security Bureau arrived, he should just buy an artificial universal card for rapid healing. Such cards were notoriously expensive, but he felt this was money he couldn't afford to save if he wanted to participate in the assessment as soon as possible.

Just then, Yu Zizi pulled up a chair and sat down, saying to the young man on the hospital bed:
"I have a suggestion, you might want to hear it."
"Please go ahead, Superintendent Yu." Wang Xi looked up.

The purple-haired superintendent adjusted her glasses and said:
"You killed Park Hong and contributed to Gu City. I can use the name of the Public Security Bureau to recommend you to the Brave Association. With this credential and honor, you will be able to skip the Amateur Brave Assessment and directly participate in this year's Professional Brave Assessment."

Wang Xi’s eyebrows shot up. This was possible?

Yu Zizi continued: "The failure and mortality rates of the Professional Brave Assessment are not low. If you hadn't proven your strength in this case, I wouldn't have made this suggestion."
"If that’s the case, then that would be perfect," Wang Xi said hurriedly. "I agree to this arrangement."
"Good." The purple-haired woman stood up. "Then take good care of your injuries during this time and prepare yourself. This year's Professional Brave Assessment is next month."
"Thank you, Superintendent Yu," Wang Xi thanked her.

Yu Zizi nodded and slowly left the ward. When the door clicked shut, Wang Xi let out a long breath and smiled.
"I suppose this is a blessing in disguise, right?"

...

In the afternoon, Wang Xi was browsing study materials for the written exam on his phone when there was a knock at the door. Unexpectedly, it was his colleagues from Cupid Housekeeping. They arrived with flowers and fruit baskets, making quite a scene.

Besides Zhu Yuhe and the others, there was also a middle-aged woman in a slim-fit suit. She was introduced as Yang Fu, the supervisor of the cleaning department. They had heard that Wang Xi had been in a car accident while on duty and, under strong pressure from leadership, had come to visit. Of course, the latter was the main reason.

After some small talk, the supervisor, Yang Fu, sent the others away and remained in the room alone. Wang Xi had already guessed the reason.

As expected, the gaunt-faced supervisor wore a seemingly enthusiastic fake smile and said, "Xiao Wang, you must have heard about Lin Zhifeng, right?"
"Yes, it seems Brother Lin was taken away by the Public Security Bureau," Wang Xi nodded, feigning hesitation.

Yang Fu pondered for a moment. "This involves some disreputable matters, so please try not to spread it, Xiao Wang. And don't talk about what really happened during your fieldwork yesterday..."
The supervisor then revealed a look of regret. "Lin Zhifeng brought this upon himself, but you, as a newcomer, were devastated by him. Not only were you injured, but you'll also miss next week's Amateur Brave Assessment. On behalf of the company, I have come specifically to comfort you, our excellent employee."

"The company has approved a compensation of 100,000 credits, plus an additional month of paid leave," she added with a smile, waiting for Wang Xi's response.

The other colleagues assumed it was just a car accident, but Yang Fu, as a senior executive, certainly knew the truth. A department deputy supervisor stealing and colluding with underground forces to hire killers to harm subordinates would have a negative impact on Cupid Housekeeping's reputation. Yang Fu’s visit was false; silencing Wang Xi was the truth.

But to Wang Xi, this was not a bad thing. Lin Zhifeng was arrested, and the death penalty was the only outcome. Benefiting from this incident was an unexpected joy.

"Don't worry, Supervisor Yang." Wang Xi picked up a peach from the fruit basket, wiped it, and took a bite, juice dripping down. "My biggest flaw is that I have a very tight mouth."
"Hehe." The woman in the grey suit watched the young man sucking on the peach juice and covered her mouth with a laugh. "Tight is good. That way everyone is comfortable, isn't it?"

...

Cupid Housekeeping was as efficient as ever. That evening, the 100,000-credit compensation was transferred to Wang Xi's personal account.
"Balance: 101,400."
Wang Xi looked at his phone and grinned.

Lying in the hospital bed, he impatiently opened the e-commerce platform "Flying Hat" and searched for magic stones.
"Today's magic stone price: 104 credits/gram."
The price had dropped by 1 credit.
"Buy!"
Wang Xi immediately ordered 500 grams of magic stones, using the hospital room as the shipping address.

A few hours later, around 10:00 PM, a nurse delivered the package. Wang Xi thanked her, and once she left, he opened the wooden box to retrieve the purple stone ingots protected by black foam. This piece was significantly larger than the last one, about half the size of a palm and an inch thick.

Wang Xi absorbed it silently.
「Energy: 700」

He closed his eyes. In his mind, there were three glowing orbs: two white and one green. They were the card pools of the caravan guard "Polk" and the wanted criminal "Park Hong."

Wang Xi first drew the two white cards. The results were a "Poisoned Flying Dagger" item card and an "Armed Longsword" equipment card. Both were one-star white cards that could not be upgraded. Wang Xi was somewhat disappointed. He already had better equipment and felt these were not worth keeping, so he shattered both white cards into experience points and fed them all into the "Randall Body Tempering Method."

During this process, he had a sudden inspiration. He tried to shatter the "Solomon General Firearms Battery," but it was completely impossible. The Chaos system showed no reaction to this card, as if it were beneath notice.
'A pity...' Wang Xi sighed. If this card could be shattered into experience, it would mean he could achieve rapid growth by mass-purchasing cheap artificial cards. But as it turned out, Chaos only recognized the genuine article. No matter how beautiful or sweet an artificial card was, it was not the same as the original.

「Randall Body Tempering Method (Cultivation Technique Card)」
「Quality: White One-Star (Upgradable)」
「Experience: 83/100」

The two one-star white cards had earned him 30 experience points. Seeing that his Body Tempering Method was about to level up, Wang Xi was in a good mood. He immediately drew the last green card.

"The prey's heart hides between its ribs, like a ladybug stuck in a spiderweb. Every struggle and throb is a tolling death knell... I hear you."
Park Hong's hoarse, cold voice echoed in Wang Xi's mind.

「Heartbeat Listener (Skill Card)」
「Quality: Green One-Star (Upgradable)」
「The killer doesn't remember which corpse he obtained this from, but it has accompanied him for a long time. He became increasingly obsessed with the thrill of the hunt, for he could listen to the heartbeat of his prey in fear.」
「After use, you gain a special perception that allows you to determine the target's location by listening to their heartbeat. This card consumes a small amount of stamina each time it is used.」

Wang Xi was surprised. He had seen this card before. After Park Hong died, it was among the cards that materialized from his corpse, but Wang Xi hadn't taken it, and it was eventually confiscated by Superintendent Yu as evidence. Now, Wang Xi had obtained it through drawing.
'Does this count as a copy?' he thought, opting to activate it directly.

A green light flashed. Wang Xi felt a new ability manifest in his body and, following his instinct, closed his eyes. His vision plunged into darkness.
*Thump-thump, thump-thump...*
Clear heartbeats reached him, and rhythmic red lines appeared in the darkness, only a few meters away. But the red line remained stationary.
'It's the patient in the next room,' Wang Xi realized.

He tilted his head slightly, expanding the range of his ability, and more chaotic heartbeats poured in. Some were still, some were moving, some were overhead, some were downstairs... In this building, whether nurse or patient, as long as they were within twenty meters of Wang Xi, their movement trajectories were under his control.

'A very strong card.' Wang Xi opened his eyes and smiled. This card was more supportive and suitable for tracking, warning, and investigation.
'No wonder I couldn't shake off "Black Mamba" Park Hong's pursuit back then...' he muttered to himself.

Finally, Wang Xi took out a deep, pitch-black card and examined it closely.
——「Chekhov's Gun」
A unique, unknown card.

The back of the card featured irregular black crystalline patterns. The front showed a dimly lit small room where a man in a suit was hunched over a desk, writing with his back to the viewer. The entire image was in black and white, like an old photograph.

As he watched, Wang Xi suddenly heard a voice quietly ring in his mind:
"Time is the best teacher, but unfortunately, it kills all its students..."
It was a mature and gentle male voice.

Wang Xi's pupils contracted. He saw that the figure on the card had begun to move. The man turned his head slowly, revealing a face in his thirties. A smile appeared on his handsome features behind a monocle.
"So, young man, please do not wait for opportunities, but go and create them."
"Are you... the great writer Mr. Chekhov?" Wang Xi asked in surprise, trying to keep his voice low.

The man shook his head.
"I am neither a great writer nor Chekhov. I am merely a handgun that wanted to be a doctor. You may call me Doctor Anton."

A handgun that wanted to be a doctor... Wang Xi was speechless. Moreover, why would a card have the ability to communicate? Was this a hidden effect unique to black cards? He didn't understand.

"Young man, I see that this world is sick. You are still very weak, and death, which could appear at any moment, might take you away..." the man calling himself Doctor Anton said earnestly.
"Go and create opportunities, become stronger. When that time comes, I will help you treat this world."