As Chen Ling pondered this, he stepped outside, and a few snowflakes drifted past his eyes.
He paused for a moment, then looked up at the sky.
"...It's snowing?"
Under the blue auroras, snowflakes fell like wisps of cotton. Chen Ling reached out and caught one in his hand. The delicate, crystalline structure slowly melted in his warmth.
"The Aurora Domain is different from other domains. There are no four seasons here—only eternal winter." Chu Muyun stepped out of the house and also caught a snowflake in his hand, his expression slightly puzzled. "But isn't this snow a bit sudden?"
"Is it that unusual?" Chen Ling asked.
"Just a few days ago, there was a torrential downpour, something that hadn't happened in ten years. And now, suddenly, it's snowing... It feels like the weather in the Aurora Domain is becoming more and more chaotic."
Chu Muyun furrowed his brows as he pondered this.
"Brother, the snow is falling so fast!"
Watching the red-robed boy reaching out to catch snowflakes, Chen Ling's eyes softened with warmth. He smiled and said,
"Do you still want to build snowmen every year? Haven't you had enough?"
"This time is different." Chen Yan said seriously. "This snowfall is heavy. Maybe I can build a dozen snowmen at once... We can even pile up a tall platform, and I can practice my opera on it, with the snowmen as my audience."
"Am I not enough of an audience for you?"
"Brother, no one performs opera with just one audience member every time..." Chen Yan pouted. "If I never have an audience, how will I overcome stage fright when I perform at school?"
"...That's true." Chen Ling chuckled and looked up at the sky.
"Then I hope this snow keeps falling."
"If it keeps falling, it'll turn into a snow disaster." Chu Muyun adjusted his glasses, hesitated for a moment, then went back inside to fetch a wool coat. "I need to head out."
Chen Ling and Chen Yan exchanged a glance.
"Will you be back for dinner?"
"Yes."
As Chu Muyun's figure gradually disappeared down the street, Chen Ling checked the time. "I should get going too. The mountain path will be slippery in the snow..."
"Wait!" Chen Yan seemed to remember something and quickly ran back inside. He returned with the cotton coat he had mended overnight and handed it to Chen Ling.
"Brother, I fixed it for you... Be careful on the mountain today. Don't get into any more fights."
Chen Yan's tone was uncharacteristically serious.
Chen Ling examined the coat and found that it looked as good as new, with no trace of damage. He couldn't help but praise,
"Our Ah Yan is so skilled with his hands..."
Chen Yan grinned.
"I'm off."
Chen Ling waved and headed straight for District Two.
The snow was falling as heavily as Chen Yan had hoped. By the time Chen Ling was halfway there, the snow had already covered the soles of his shoes. The icy snow seeped into his feet, chilling him to the bone.
He rubbed his hands together and trudged forward through the snow, muttering to himself:
"Could this really turn into a snow disaster?"
He walked for a long time, and the streets grew increasingly deserted. However, the number of law enforcement officers rushing past on horseback increased.
Dressed in their black-and-red uniforms, they galloped hurriedly in a certain direction, not even glancing at Chen Ling as they passed. The snowflakes, disturbed by their movement, slapped against Chen Ling's face. He wiped his face and looked curiously in the direction they were heading...
"What's going on?"
Chen Ling didn't know and wasn't particularly interested in finding out. As long as these people weren't heading to Frost Street, he didn't care where they were going.
After walking for about three hours, Chen Ling returned to the familiar Ice Spring Street. The ruins had been mostly cleared, and the desolate half-street looked even more lifeless under the blanket of snow.
Just as he was about to find Qian Fan and the others to get his tasks for the day, a few figures hurried over, waving enthusiastically at him.
"Brother Chen Ling!"
It was none other than Qian Fan and his group.
"Officer Qian."
Chen Ling still politely added the title "Officer," as he hadn't completely burned bridges with Qian Fan and the others. It was still necessary to maintain some superficial courtesy.
"What's the task for today?"
"Task? There's no task." Qian Fan waved his hand. "Given your... uh, outstanding performance yesterday, the higher-ups have decided to secure a law enforcement position for you. You can go home today and report to the District Three headquarters tomorrow."
Chen Ling was stunned.
On the way here, he had imagined a thousand possibilities: an ambush by the people of Ice Spring Street seeking revenge, Qian Fan and the others completely turning against him and making things difficult, or being told he was disqualified from the law enforcement exam and sent packing...
But he had never expected to be directly accepted?
That couldn't be... Could Ma Zhong really have taken a liking to his abilities and decided to recruit him?
Chen Ling had only met Ma Zhong once and didn't know much about him. For the moment, he couldn't figure out what the man was thinking...
"From now on, we'll be colleagues." Qian Fan smiled and patted Chen Ling on the shoulder, as if they were long-time friends. "There might have been some misunderstandings between us before. Don't take it to heart, Brother Chen Ling."
"That's right, Brother Chen Ling. Feel free to come to District Two and play cards with us anytime. You're always welcome."
"Ah, I almost forgot... This year's exam is different from previous years. Even though you're a reserve officer, you did help us formal law enforcement officers with three days of work. So the higher-ups decided to give you a subsidy. It's not much, but there's a long road ahead... The salary of a law enforcement officer is quite generous."
Qian Fan handed Chen Ling a small tube wrapped in oilpaper. Chen Ling took it in surprise, peeled back a corner, and glanced inside.
Ten silver coins.
Chen Ling was shocked.
In this world, one silver coin was equivalent to 250 copper coins, and the purchasing power of a copper coin was roughly the same as the yuan in his previous life. This small tube of oilpaper contained the equivalent of 2,500 yuan...
While it wasn't a huge sum, Chen Ling had only worked for two days!
And Zhao Yi, who helped the road bureau with snow removal, worked hard all day, and the two of them only earned 20 copper coins... If the subsidy for two days as a reserve officer was this high, how much would a formal law enforcement officer earn?
Chen Ling gave them a deep look and couldn't help but sigh. Sometimes, respect and courtesy were truly reserved for the strong...
Yesterday, they had forced Wu Youdong to quit. If Chen Ling hadn't possessed [Dance of Slaughter], he would likely have met the same fate... But now, they could only smile obsequiously at him because he had earned the right to stand on equal footing with them.
Chen Ling didn't consider himself some kind of protagonist in a power fantasy novel, someone who could act on the impulse of "You mess with me, I'll destroy you!" and slaughter these hypocrites on the spot... Doing so would be tantamount to declaring war on the entire law enforcement system of the Aurora Domain.
His home was still in Frost Street. He had a younger brother who was about to return to school. He needed the identity of a law enforcement officer to pursue the Path of the Soldier God... From any angle, it made sense for him to go with the flow and let the matter rest.
"Thank you all, then." Chen Ling said indifferently, not looking up.
"Brother Chen Ling, the snow is slippery. Take care on your way back." Qian Fan's smile didn't waver. "The list of promoted reserve officers should be posted around noon today. You can keep an eye out for it on your way back. We'll meet again if fate allows."
Chen Ling responded with a few perfunctory words, then turned and headed home.
As Chen Ling walked away, the enthusiastic smiles on Qian Fan and the others' faces gradually faded, replaced by coldness and disdain.
"That Chen Ling really doesn't know his place." One of the law enforcement officers sneered.
"Once Brother Ma's plan is complete, District Three will undergo a major change... Let's see how long he can keep strutting around then."
"Speaking of Brother Ma, any news from him?"
"Not sure..."
"Judging by the timing, it should be soon."
As they spoke, a figure hurried over from the distance, slipping on the snow and nearly falling.
"He's dead...!"
"Who's dead?"
"Han Meng, the Chief Law Enforcement Judge of District Three, is dead!!" The man stood up and shouted, "Word from District Three says he fought two calamities alone and perished with them!"
"Law Enforcement Judge Ma Zhong has temporarily taken over as Chief Judge and has ordered the immediate lifting of the lockdown in District Three. District Two will follow soon!"
Hearing this news, everyone's eyes lit up!
"It's done!!"
"Are you sure? Is Han Meng really dead?" Qian Fan asked again.
"That's what the message from District Three says. It was delivered by one of Brother Ma's trusted aides."
Qian Fan immediately felt a weight lift off his shoulders, and a wide smile spread across his face.
"With Han Meng out of the way, our days will be much easier."
"The business in Ice Spring Street can finally resume... Go, gather Bone Blade and his crew. Get some dancers and prostitutes too. Prepare good food and wine. Let's throw a celebration feast!
Let them know who they should follow if they want to eat well."
"Got it, Brother Fan!"
---
Chen Ling pocketed the ten silver coins and slowly made his way over the back mountain. The falling snow dusted his black hair with frost.
He had just spent two hours walking from District Three, stayed for barely five minutes, and now had to retrace his steps... By the time he returned to Frost Street, it would probably be noon.
But no matter what, he had received good news and earned ten silver coins. This money would allow him to buy new clothes for himself and Chen Yan, and he could also hire someone to seal the gaps in their house, sparing them from freezing during the snowy days.
"There's still plenty of expectation value. We can live peacefully for a few more days." Chen Ling glanced at the characters flashing in the snow and muttered to himself.
But come to think of it, compared to when he first transmigrated, things had indeed improved a lot... Ever since he wrested control of his body back from the "audience," the "audience" had rarely interfered with his surroundings. Everything was moving in a better direction.
He walked through the snow for a long time until the snow reached above his ankles. Finally, he returned to Frost Street.
He was about to head straight home when he caught sight of a pastry shop preparing to close. On a whim, he stopped.
"Boss, how much is this cake?"
Chen Ling pointed to a delicately crafted cake in the display window.
"Two hundred copper coins." The shop owner looked up and, recognizing Chen Ling, raised an eyebrow. "Ah Ling? What's the occasion? Buying a cake all of a sudden?"
As neighbors in Frost Street, the shop owner knew Chen Ling, but given the Chen family's financial situation, they had never bought anything from the shop before... To be honest, few households in Frost Street could afford a two-hundred-copper cake, let alone a fifty-copper cupcake.
"I passed the physical exam." Chen Ling smiled. "I bought a cake to celebrate. My brother has never had cake before."
"You've been promoted to a law enforcement officer?"
The shop owner exclaimed in surprise, "That's definitely worth celebrating... How about I give it to you for one hundred fifty?"
"Thank you, boss."
"Don't mention it. We'll be counting on you to look out for Frost Street in the future."
The shop owner carefully packaged the cake, tied it with a festive red ribbon, and handed it to Chen Ling with both hands.
Chen Ling took the cake, paid, and headed straight home. After just a few steps, he heard several law enforcement officers galloping past:
"The calamity has been eliminated! District Three is unsealed!"
"The calamity has been eliminated! District Three is unsealed!!"
"......"
As the law enforcement officers' voices faded into the distance, some residents of Frost Street began to emerge from their homes, visibly relieved.
Since the calamity bell rang, District Three had been locked down for five days, and everyone had been on edge. Now that the calamity was dead, life could return to normal... With this thought, even the heavy snowfall seemed more bearable.
When Chen Ling heard this news, his heart skipped a beat.
The calamity has been eliminated?
But he was still here... Could it be A-Yan?!
Chen Ling instinctively quickened his pace, hurrying home. But when he reached his doorstep, he realized his worries were unfounded...
The familiar red-robed boy was squatting at the entrance, carefully rolling snowballs. He stacked them one by one, shaping the outline of a snowman, but his hand slipped, and the two snowballs crumbled into pieces.
Chen Yan sighed, but when he caught sight of Chen Ling approaching from a distance, his furrowed brows instantly relaxed, and he exclaimed with joy:
"Brother, why are you back so early?"
"I passed the exam early, so I came back sooner." Chen Ling breathed a sigh of relief and smiled.
He didn't know what had happened on the law enforcement side or which calamity they had eliminated... But as long as he and Chen Yan were safe, nothing else mattered.
"You passed?" Chen Yan's eyes widened. "Brother, are you really a law enforcement officer now?"
"That's right."
Chen Ling walked inside, placed the cake on the table, and waved Chen Yan over. "This is a rare occasion. I bought a cake. Let's celebrate together."
At the mention of cake, Chen Yan's eyes lit up. He quickly ran inside, his opera robe billowing and scattering snowflakes everywhere. He plopped down at the table and watched curiously as Chen Ling unwrapped the box.
"Brother, this cake must be expensive, right?"
"Not really." Chen Ling smiled. He pulled out a handful of silver coins from his pocket and spread them on the table. "Brother has money now... In the future, our family will have even more."
"So much money." Chen Yan's eyes widened in shock. "This will last us a long time..."
"Perfect timing too. You're about to start school, so this solves the tuition problem."
Chen Ling opened the packaging, revealing a large cream cake. To Chen Ling, the craftsmanship and ingredients of this cake couldn't compare to those from his previous life, but to Chen Yan, it was something he had longed for countless times while gazing through shop windows.
Chen Yan couldn't help but swallow hard.
"Brother... should we wait for Dr. Chu?"
"No need. Who knows when he'll be back? We'll save a piece for him." Chen Ling took out a few candles that came with the cake, stuck them in, and lit them one by one.
The orange candlelight flickered in the room, illuminating the faces of the two boys and the snowflakes swirling outside.
"A-Yan, you blow them out."
"Can we blow out candles if it's not a birthday?" Chen Yan asked.
"Of course... Just make a wish before you blow them out."
"Okay!"
Chen Yan immediately clasped his hands together, bowed his head solemnly under the candlelight, and looked like a devout worshipper.
Chen Ling didn't know what wish Chen Yan had made, but when Chen Yan opened his eyes and smiled at him, his chestnut eyes were as clear as water.
"What did you wish for?" Chen Ling asked.
"I can't say. If I do, it won't come true..."
"Fair enough..."
"Excuse me, is Chen Ling home?"
As they spoke, a figure cautiously approached the door, standing in the heavy snow and peering inside.
"Wu Youdong?" Chen Ling recognized the figure leaning on a crutch and raised an eyebrow in surprise. "What are you doing here? Come in."
Wu Youdong smiled sheepishly and slowly walked inside. He glanced at the cake and candles on the table, his eyes filled with envy...
"I just saw the posted list on the street. You got promoted, huh?"
"Yeah."
"...Congratulations." Wu Youdong's smile was tinged with bitterness. "I thought you'd be forced to quit like me... I never expected you to actually make it."
As he said this, Chen Ling could hear the deep-seated bitterness and helplessness in his voice.
"Brother, who is he?" Chen Yan looked at Wu Youdong curiously.
"His name is Wu Youdong. He's a friend who worked with me in Ice Spring Street these past two days."
Wu Youdong was stunned.
"A friend?" Chen Yan pondered this. "Should we give him a piece of cake too?"
"Of course. We'll definitely give him a piece."
"Will you cut it, or should I?"
"Not yet. The candles haven't been blown out."
As Chen Ling spoke, he waved at the bewildered Wu Youdong. "Youdong, don't just stand there. Sit down and have a piece with us."
"Huh? Oh... okay."
Wu Youdong slowly sat down at the table.
He looked at Chen Ling with a strange expression, then glanced at the empty space beside him...
"Chen Ling..."
"Yeah?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"What?"
"Since when... have you been talking to someone?"
Chen Ling froze.
A bone-chilling gust of wind swept through the room, and the burning candles were instantly extinguished.