Chapter 002: The Jinyiwei are armed with licenses to kill

At this time, it may not be appropriate to drink, as we are still on duty. Gao De cautiously shifted the topic, knowing that once this old man started talking, a few glasses of liquor would not suffice to satisfy him. Moreover, the tavern is too dim; I prefer to drink tea in a bright tea house

Gao De had both hands tucked into the pockets of his half-sleeved coat, hunching his body as he followed behind the old man, making a quick dash across the tram tracks to the other side of the street

To diligently serve in the Jinyiwei, seeking not for merit but only to avoid mistakes. To honestly muddle through until retirement, living a peaceful life in this messed-up world, such is the lowly life goal of Gao De

The gaze, like an invisible tentacle, clung to the waitress behind her, causing the old man's head to turn almost completely around, swaying and wobbling, until Gao De softly coughed, prompting him to turn back.

This is a world of extraordinary powers, as well as a world of advanced technology. No matter how strong a single ability user may be, they cannot contend with a nation that possesses airplanes, tanks, and artillery. Even when faced with the mere presence of a pistol-wielding Jinyiwei, ability users would not act recklessly. Behind the Jinyiwei stands not only the government but also the emperor.

The patrol officer searched! The old man waved his pistol, shouting fiercely: "Who was that person just now? The one who went in!"

It should just be a misunderstanding, "Gao De followed the old man towards the bar, not believing that the second possibility truly exists. "It is most likely a hidden pawn of the Bingma Division.

Having followed my master for over a year, there is still some tacit understanding. Gao De did not draw his own pistol; the revolver is standard equipment for plainclothes officers, primarily used for intimidation. The Black Star automatic pistol is standard for the Jinyiwei, and the accompanying Jinyiwei license is also referred to as a license to kill

Therefore, it is better to be safe than sorry, on the grand day of the new emperor's ascension, no amount of caution is excessive. The old man said while shaking his wine glass, It should be fine, we can handle it, we have already managed to get things in order recently. Those that cannot be managed are of no concern to us, as those mysterious individuals above are keeping a close watch.

It turns out to be a task, but Gaode is even more confused. "The West City Yamen of the Seven Cities Military Command is nearby, how could there be a problem?"

There are indeed exceptions; the pinnacle of the extraordinary beings is legendary, and above the legendary are the saints. They are all non-human entities unafraid of firearms. The old man is right; when encountering such individuals causing trouble, it is meaningless to run or not.

Gao De turned his head and pretended to adjust his featherless hat, not out of embarrassment, but out of fear that a button might pop off and hit his face

After being vacant for ten years, Gao De sighed quietly, the memory of that little face had become extremely vague.

What is troubling you, my friend

He replied dismissively: "It's nothing, I had a quarrel with my sister, that girl always keeps me on my toes"

Ultimately, it is merely a memory from childhood, with many details now unclear

The bartender and the waitress crouched down, embracing each other, staring at one another. Suddenly, the television screen, which was displaying the majestic figure of Mount Zu, was interrupted by a flurry of static and switched to the host.

"Mind your own business!" A very irritated voice came from inside the door; it was his sister, Gao Miao. "I'm still sleeping, don't disturb me!"

Just as the conversation was getting lively, the old man suddenly fell silent, and Gao De cautiously resumed his role as a drinker

Upon seeing the master, the old man was quite perceptive and noticed that Gao De was not in a good mood

Gao De shook his head, shaking off the somewhat time-space disorientation; after all, this was not the world of Earth. Time here seemed to have come to a standstill. From childhood to adulthood, there were always gloomy clouds overhead, and the streets were always filled with white smoke. In his childhood, foreign taverns and pastry shops were everywhere, with the only change being their relocation from one place to another

What is the mole on the moon, Brother Gaode?

This girl, Xiao Gaode, is four years old. In her childhood, she was always a little shadow, but as she grew older, she began to resent Gaode. After their father passed away, Gaode took over the family responsibilities, and she also attended a girls' school, right at the onset of her rebellious teenage years. She only looked at him properly during their arguments, as if they were sworn enemies.

The weak reincarnation technique also granted Gao De another benefit, which is a tall, fair-skinned, and beautiful appearance, perfectly resembling a supermodel. For Gao De, this is not considered a valuable asset; it indeed provides significant convenience in working in the red-light district, yet the various troubles from avoiding lonely wealthy women and even the brothel madams leave him with a headache

Gao De suddenly realized that the old man revealing the gun had the same intention. Pretending to be an undercover officer, he aimed to intimidate those who might cause trouble. If it were a difficult character, he would not bother with a mere patrol officer.

The old emperor, who reigned for eighty-two years, has passed away, and the old prince, after fifty years, has finally been promoted to his rightful position. ... Once these busy days are over, the old man will retire, and he too will transition from an apprentice to a formal worker, following in his master's footsteps, step by step towards ... . ... retirement

An old man entered a shop, and Gao De glanced at the neon lights above the door, where the blue eyes and red lips of a stunning blonde beauty alternately flashed. The sign was inscribed in both Aurangzeb script and Bartok script, reading "Distant Sea Tavern"

Memories of childhood surge forth, evoking a subtle sense of unease in Gao De. In his past life, he was a single dog; will he still be one in this life?

She is a little girl about five or six years old, a mischievous child, but under the guidance of Gao De, she quickly became his little fan

The spirit tablet of the late emperor has been sent to the ancestral mountain, where the royal family members and civil and military officials have gathered in the mourning hall to pay their respects under the leadership of His Highness the Crown Prince. A black-and-white television hangs above the bar, broadcasting news about Master Gao De and his disciples coming here to squat. The coronation ceremony is taking place at the Temple of Heaven; viewers, please do not leave, as our reporters from Zhongjing Television will provide updates at any moment.

The bartender and the waitress shook their heads in confusion, both claiming they had not seen anything. The old man pushed them to squat behind the bar and called out to Gao De. "Prepare to call for backup"

The wooden-framed glass door closed with a crisp jingling sound, and the hustle and bustle of the street transformed into the background noise of a radio broadcast

This small courtyard has been passed down through more than ten generations, covering an area of over 300 square meters. The backyard features a two-story building equipped with a toilet and running water, while the front yard includes a living room, a pavilion, and a small garden. The neighboring courtyard is similar, but it is overgrown with vines and weeds, having been uninhabited for many years

Gao De drew his handgun with one hand while holding the communicator with the other, following the old man into the workspace behind the bar.

What was it called? Oh, Xiaoli, no wonder I can't remember, it's such a common name

Isn't the star beneath our feet also round and large? Then why don't we fall off it

Early in the morning, Gao De was knocking on the door and shouting, "What nonsense broadcast are you still listening to? Can't you read more books?"

Gaode raised his glass: "To the pension!"

Gao De and the young girl became childhood sweethearts, spending a year in innocent companionship. The story took a clichéd turn when the young girl vowed, "When I grow up, I will marry Brother Gao De." In another clichéd twist, the day after she made this declaration, the young girl tearfully bid farewell to Gao De and moved overseas.

Whiskey

"Your distant sea golden rum, young master," said the waitress in a low-cut maid outfit as she just took her seat, leaning forward with her body, her eyes shimmering with a captivating allure more intoxicating than the amber-hued liquid.

She is just stubborn, and Gao De did not criticize her further. He followed the iron ladder down to the end of the corridor, glancing habitually at the neighboring courtyard.

Nothing was discernible, only a faint glimmer of yellow light, yet it was not distinctly layered. This is also a situation frequently observed in Gaode. This result indicates two possibilities: one is that there is nothing unusual, and the other is that the opponent's power exceeds his observational limits

The liquid goes down the throat, sour and bitter, which Gao De does not like at all

You should wait until you have a family before thinking about this. Have you really considered the daughters of those thousand households and guerrillas?" After downing a cup of wine, the old man opened the box of conversation labeled "Marriage Pressure." "Whoever you marry, your life will be stable, and you won't even need a pension. Don't tell me you, young man, have such high standards that you look down on others, still dreaming of marrying a princess?"

Gao De did not abandon the necessary caution; he crossed his arms and feigned hesitation, entering a state of "out-of-body experience" to observe the traces left by the cloaked figure

Are those stars really larger than the sun

"For the new emperor!" The old man raised his wine cup, "For the Ming Dynasty!"

Feeling the hard metal that made his ribs ache, Gao De felt somewhat reassured

"Just go take a look, it really isn't our place to deal with it." The old man pointed to the handgun, encouraging his apprentice. "With this thing, at least we can save our lives, as for something more powerful..."

"You are not yet twenty years old, so don't try to learn everything from me." The old man laboriously pulled out the revolver that was stuck against his belly and slapped it on the table, "There's no other way; this place is a bit strange, and I haven't figured it out yet. Just in case, we need to stay here today."

"How realistic it is! Back in the day, I was also a young Pan An in Xicheng," the old man smacked his lips and sighed about the passage of time, "The treatment I received was no worse than yours, kid. Well, perhaps just a tiny bit worse."

The old man spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. "If it's someone from above who wants to cause trouble, it makes no difference whether we sit here or run away; the consequences will be the same. We might as well take a chance."

"Lingling is just like this," the old man said with a sense of empathy regarding his granddaughter, launching into a tirade typical of the elderly. "These girls nowadays are truly outrageous! A thousand years ago, not only would they not talk back, but they would also get a spanking for making noise while eating!"

That was still in the innocent years of his youthful fantasies, when one night he admired the rare clear moonlit scene of Zhongjing in the corridor, only to be hit on the head with a barrage of small stones thrown from the neighboring yard.

The old man spoke of matters concerning the heavenly family, which the common people often chatter about, yet for Gao De, these were things far above the clouds, and he listened with indifference

The old man sat in the corner, his fingers tapping on the table to urge him on

Their figures and faces were wrapped in cloaks, and a suspicious individual, covered in dubious traits, swaggered past their table and entered the workspace behind the bar, while the bartender and the receptionist remained indifferent.

Today your school is on holiday, right? Stay at home and do not run around!

When it was the old man's turn, he received a service characterized by a light luxury and minimalist style, along with a complimentary ginkgo eye. The old man stared intently, his nostrils flaring rapidly, and his wrinkled orange peel-like face seemed to have sunk into a crevice.

Gao De smiled innocently, this joke is truly amusing

"Trouble is like this; the more you try to avoid it, the more it comes your way." The old man spat and said, "The foreigners' wine is really terrible, far worse than our strong liquor."

Have the taverns of the foreigners opened up to this place?

"Could it be that he is a psychic?" Gaode is not making excuses; the breeze brought by that person carries a strange chill, quite unsettling.

Speaking of princesses... Princess Mo Li is already a grand princess, and I heard she has returned this time as well. She is not even as old as you, yet she is destined to end her life like her great-aunt, becoming a daughter of the holy mountain, what a sin

The host spoke with a trembling voice, nearly fainting from nervousness

Breaking news, the coronation ceremony has been temporarily interrupted. Our reporters are waiting outside the Heavenly Temple for further updates

A thousand years ago ... the changes in this world have indeed been slow