Lay down the butcher’s knife and become a Buddha on the spot.
Amid his tangled thoughts, Ji Tan suddenly caught a flash of insight. This was a world inside a novel; everyone here was a character in a book. Could the status refer to the kind of person he was supposed to become at each stage along his path to becoming a Buddha’s Son?
What was the quickest way to become a Buddha? Lay down the butcher’s knife and become a Buddha on the spot, of course. But before you could lay down a butcher’s knife, you first had to become a butcher.
So that was it!
Suddenly, Ji Tan heard a faint crack somewhere deep inside his mind. It was as if something had broken through a shackle, allowing him to touch a tiny corner of the iceberg that was the world’s fundamental nature.
A joy rising from his very soul spread through his body. Ji Tan closed his eyes, only to discover that he could still vaguely “see” what was happening around him. He sensed that his older brother was sitting down, and that a bird was flying past the window. His hearing expanded at the same time: he could hear the upstairs couple talking, the child next door knocking over a stack of building blocks, even the faint electrical leakage from a television socket…
When Ji Tan opened his eyes, the extraordinary hearing and perception vanished, almost as if he’d imagined them. The pendant on his chest flew up and transformed into the translucent golden book. A line of writing rapidly appeared across its pages.
【Inspiration increased! Current Inspiration: 5. Grade: E. Status: Butcher.】
The minus sign after E was gone. That meant he’d advanced to the middle of E-rank. So integrating his power required more than acting in a way that suited his status. Did he also need to understand the mysteries of his Sequence?
“Does Inspiration refer to those extra senses I just experienced?” Ji Tan asked.
【Place your hand on the book and supply favor-power to obtain an answer.】
“Tsk. A-Qiang, you really haven’t changed at all. A job the size of a fingernail, and you demand a mountain of computing power.” Muttering to himself, Ji Tan placed a finger on the page.
Power was immediately drawn from him. Ji Tan felt weak, but this time his legs didn’t give way beneath him. Apparently the upper limit of the power he could store had risen; even after paying for one question, he had some left.
【Inspiration: literally, a response from the divine, the arc-light of creation. It is positively correlated with the strength of one’s skills.】
Ji Tan stared at the answer for a long moment without understanding it. “Give me an example.”
More power was drawn away. Ji Tan lost his balance and fell back onto a chair.
“Who are you talking to?” Ji Sinan came over and glanced at the illusory golden book. The white words rushed into his eyes. With a sudden muffled groan, he bent over, clutching his head.
“Brother!” Ji Tan jumped in fright. Forgetting the book entirely, he hurried to support his older brother.
An alarm went beep, beep. The yellow number on Ji Sinan’s wrist dropped from 53 to 51, flashing continuously as though it were about to slide toward the dangerous threshold of 50.
“Brother, Brother, look at me!” Ji Tan settled his brother onto the chair and crouched in front of him so he would look at his face. “Repeat after me. Once upon a time, there was a mountain. On the mountain stood a temple, and in the temple lived an old monk…”
“Once upon a time… there was a mountain…” Ji Sinan slowly began to recite. His attention shifted, and the yellow number on his wrist finally stopped at 51. It no longer flashed.
Ji Tan let out a breath of relief.
In his panic, he’d remembered that reciting fairy tales could stabilize someone’s sanity reading. He’d made his brother repeat one in a desperate attempt to help, never expecting it to work.
So ordinary people could lose sanity merely by seeing occult knowledge, just as they would if they saw a monster. He’d have to be careful from now on and make sure his brother wasn’t exposed to it.
“I’m all right, I’m all right.” Ji Sinan patted his younger brother’s head twice in a perfectly symmetrical fashion. Without looking at the book again, he got up to make dinner.
Only then did Ji Tan summon the golden book again and resume reading.
【Example: Xie Xi and Xie Nan are both middle C-rank, but Xie Xi has an Inspiration value of 350 while Xie Nan’s is 500. Therefore, Xie Nan is stronger than Xie Xi.】
Ji Tan understood. Besides improving his slaughtering skills, he would also have to raise his Inspiration. But Inspiration was so abstract that he had no idea how to increase it.
The moon rose and set. He slept through the night without a dream.
There was no word from Xie Zhi all night. He finally called in the morning to say he was still busy, and that Ji Tan could keep riding the motorcycle for now; Xie Zhi would come and collect it later.
Ji Tan was more than happy to take care of Xie Zhi’s flashy motorcycle. He first dropped off his visibly reluctant older brother at work. “I’ll pick you up this afternoon. We’re going to get your injection.”
The two-million loan had already been deposited into Ji Tan’s account. He intended to take his brother for the injection that very day, before anything else could go wrong. His work schedule still required him to butcher fish at the supermarket in the morning, so he arranged to meet his brother and Xie Zhi, who had strongly insisted on going along, at the hospital that afternoon.
Tom’s Supermarket was operating as usual.
The suspension and rectification notice issued by the Trade Bureau had only taken partial effect. The supermarket’s premium-catch business was shut down, and an enormous seal had been posted on the outer door of the refrigerated container.
Lu Ren and Manager Zhang were still being held at the Public Security Office. The fresh-food section was quiet and deserted. Only Uncle Yan stood at the fish-cutting counter, unhurriedly butchering an ordinary squid.
The wall-mounted television was showing the morning news.
“Breaking news. Another unlicensed taxi driver was found murdered in our district last night, under bizarre circumstances. Residents are advised to use licensed taxis when traveling after dark.” Holding a microphone, the reporter delivered the announcement from the scene of the crime.
The footage showed a heavily pixelated corpse, charred black and impossible to make out clearly.
“Goodness, doesn’t that body look as if there’s no flesh left on it?” A customer waiting for their fish pointed at the television in alarm.
Ji Tan looked more closely. Personnel from the Public Security Office had carried the body out to photograph it, then covered it with a sheet. The human shape beneath the cloth was visibly sunken, nothing like the build of a grown man. It looked like a dried-out corpse stripped of flesh and blood.
“Your fish is ready.” Uncle Yan drew the customer’s attention back to the counter and handed over the cleaned, bagged squid. There was weariness in his voice.
Only then did the customer recover from the fright. Taking the fish, they couldn’t help complaining, “What are the Public Security Office and the Order Administration Bureau doing? It’s been days, and they still haven’t caught the killer!”
Other customers who had seen the report began talking among themselves, equally unhappy with the progress of the investigation.
“Uncle Yan, let me take over.” Ji Tan put on a waterproof apron and took the fish knife.
Uncle Yan didn’t argue. Leaning against the water tank, he yawned. “My daughter’s illness flared up in the middle of the night. I haven’t slept a wink.”
Ji Tan felt a twinge of guilt. “Uncle Yan, if you need money, just ask. I still have some savings.”
Now that the premium-catch business had stopped, Uncle Yan could no longer earn fifty thousand for a single job. Butchering ordinary fish for his basic salary probably wasn’t enough to cover his daughter’s medication.
“Don’t worry.” Uncle Yan patted his shoulder. “The big boss upstairs is trying to find a solution. The business might reopen. In the meantime, I’ll take some other jobs. I can manage for now.”
Ji Tan nodded without asking what those other jobs were. Uncle Yan had his own ways of earning a living.
Seeing his discretion, Uncle Yan couldn’t help laughing. “It’s no secret. You could register with Killed Yet? too. Become one of their killers and take fish-butchering jobs at customers’ locations.”
Ji Tan: “Huh?”
So Uncle Yan had been talking about jobs from Killed Yet?.
After finishing the work he had on hand, Ji Tan installed the Killed Yet? app under Uncle Yan’s guidance. He entered his identification-card number, and the system automatically recognized him as an Orderbearer.
【Registration successful. You are now a killer. Please visit Killed Yet? headquarters within three days to have your rank assessed.】
Ji Tan scratched his ear. Apparently he couldn’t accept orders until he’d gone in person to have his rank evaluated.
“Uncle Yan, could you take me along on an on-site fish-butchering job first?” He wanted to familiarize himself with the procedures.
Although Ji Tan possessed Slaughtering Mastery, he still wanted Uncle Yan to show him how people normally butchered frogfish. He didn’t want to frighten customers with some extraordinary technique of his own invention. He could originally have learned at the supermarket, but with the premium-catch business suspended, he had no choice but to ask Uncle Yan to teach him out in the field.
“Sure. I’ll take you when I get an order.” Uncle Yan agreed readily.
Just then, the person in charge of the supermarket approached with a short, stocky middle-aged man. “This is our new fish butcher. He’s taking over Lu Ren’s shift.”
Lu Ren and Manager Zhang were almost certainly going to be fired.
After everyone exchanged greetings, the person in charge rubbed his head, which seemed to have grown even balder, and spoke to Ji Tan. “You’re a senior fish butcher now, so we’ll raise your monthly salary to eighty thousand. If you butcher premium catches in the future, you’ll get the same rate as Ah Yan. How does that sound?”
Eighty thousand! Ji Tan certainly had no objection to a pay raise. “Let Uncle Yan handle the premium catches. If he’s too busy, he can pass a few on to me. But will our premium-catch business really be allowed to reopen?”
The person in charge looked completely confident, without the slightest trace of worry. Crooking a finger, he beckoned both men closer and said mysteriously, “This business belongs to Mr. Beichen.”
“Hiss!” Uncle Yan drew in a sharp breath.
Ji Tan had no idea what was going on, but joined in with a “Hiss!” of his own.
Thoroughly satisfied with their reactions, the person in charge hummed a little tune and walked off with his hands behind his back.
“Who’s Mr. Beichen?” Ji Tan whispered to Uncle Yan. Surely this wasn’t something every ordinary person was expected to know, or the manager wouldn’t have waited until the new butcher was out of earshot to tell them.
Uncle Yan explained in a low voice, “Mr. Beichen is the lord of Beichen District, just as the Crown Prince is the lord of Xili District. They’re both A-rank demigods, among the most powerful figures in all of City A.”
Lords! So that was what they were.
No wonder Ji Tan had always felt that the mysterious Crown Prince stood above everyone else in the Western District. It turned out he was a top-tier figure in the Crown Prince Sequence, the true ruler of the entire Western District.
“That’s enough. Demigods aren’t people small fry like us should discuss.” Uncle Yan was guarded when it came to such powerful figures and didn’t dare say anything more.
Ji Tan wisely shut his mouth and asked no further questions.
The new fish butcher was diligent. Before it was even time for the noon shift change, he voluntarily took the knife from Ji Tan and let him take a break.
Ji Tan and Uncle Yan went to have lunch.
The two squatted in the alley behind the supermarket, eating and chatting.
Suddenly Uncle Yan’s phone rang. An electronic voice announced, “Ding! You have a new order. Would you like to accept it?”
Ji Tan’s eyes lit up. He shoveled down his remaining food in a few bites. As soon as Uncle Yan tapped the accept button, Ji Tan sprang to his feet too. “I’m coming! I’m coming too! I’ve got a motorcycle!”
Uncle Yan burst out laughing. “That’ll work nicely.”
So Uncle Yan changed into ordinary clothes, brought along his fish-butchering tools, and climbed aboard the dazzling, multicolored motorcycle. The two sped toward the city center, near the area controlled by the Crown Prince, and stopped outside a luxurious hotel.
Carrying Uncle Yan’s tools for him, Ji Tan went upstairs with him to the entrance of a banquet hall.
It was an engagement banquet. The hosts had managed to buy a frogfish and invited their Orderbearer guests to enjoy it in a smaller private room. The preparation area where the fish would be butchered was right next door.
While Uncle Yan butchered the fish, he explained a few things about Orderbearers to Ji Tan.
To advance from E-rank to D-rank, one only needed to consume ten kilograms of fish flesh. After D-rank, however, advancing further required an incalculable amount. Uncle Yan didn’t know exactly how much. Naturally, nobody could eat that much in one sitting, and it wasn’t safe to eat too much at once either.
If your rank wasn’t high enough, you couldn’t integrate the flesh, and your life could even be at risk.
That was why Orderbearers bought fish flesh in batches, digesting and integrating it little by little. Whenever there was a high-class wedding like this one, they were eager to attend and enjoy some frogfish for free.
After all, this was the highest standard of hospitality.
Ji Tan helped clear away the scraps, cut the flesh into portions, and brought it to the table. The relatives and friends ate until their faces glowed, thoroughly pleased. Only after everyone had finished the frogfish did they open the folding doors at the side, rejoin the ordinary guests in the main hall, and watch the engagement ceremony.
“Little brother.” Someone among the Orderbearer guests called to Ji Tan softly.
Ji Tan turned around. “Sister Qiao.”
“My best friend is getting engaged today, so I came to join the fun.” Lawyer Qiao grinned, caught hold of Ji Tan, and whispered, “Don’t leave yet, either of you. There’ll be little gifts when it’s over.”
Only an idiot passed up free stuff. Both fish butchers were short on money, so when they heard the ceremony would last only half an hour, they naturally decided to stay. They found a place to tuck themselves away near the cold buffet. Ji Tan took a plate of little cakes and shared them with Uncle Yan.
The engagement venue was decorated like a dream, full of flowers and crystal ornaments.
The bride, in a lavish white mermaid-style wedding gown, stood at center stage beside the groom in a suit and polished leather shoes, his hair slicked back and his face powdered. The emcee was passionately recounting their love story. As tender, melancholy music played, he announced, “May the two of you exchange your engagement rings.”
At that very moment, someone shoved the main doors open with a bang and shouted, “President! Something’s happened to Miss Shuangshuang!”
“Pfft!” Ji Tan sprayed the juice straight out of his mouth.
You cannot be serious. What kind of trashy idol drama was this?
The groom’s expression visibly darkened. Ignoring the ring the emcee was holding out to him, he immediately pulled out his phone and made a call, his voice full of anxiety.
His words carried through the emcee’s microphone, clearly audible throughout the hall.
“Shuangshuang, don’t be afraid! I’m coming right now! Don’t do anything stupid!” The groom practically roared into the phone before hanging up and turning to leave.
The bride grabbed him, trembling all over with anger.
The emcee had already turned off the microphone and ducked toward the edge of the stage. Ji Tan was hiding quite close to the dessert table, but he still couldn’t make out what the couple were saying. His curiosity was unbearable, so he simply closed his eyes and used his Inspiration to “listen.”
“I’m in the Ruler Sequence. I need the help of a White Moonlight to advance safely. You can understand that, can’t you?” the groom explained impatiently to the bride.
“I can tolerate her existence, but does she absolutely have to cause trouble at a time like this?”
“Nothing can happen to Shuangshuang. I have to go!” The groom violently shook off the bride’s hand and strode away.
The person who’d burst in with the news was probably some sort of secretary. After an awkward bow to the bride, they hurried after their president, leaving the trembling bride and a hall full of embarrassed guests.
“W-will there still be little gifts?” Ji Tan swallowed his last bite of cake and poked Uncle Yan, who was still wolfing down food. “Uncle, maybe we should leave.”
If a fight broke out in a moment, he didn’t want the two of them, mere fish butchers, to get caught in it.
Uncle Yan nodded, stuffed two individually wrapped pastries into his pockets, and prepared to make his escape.
The banquet hall erupted in chaos as friends and relatives from both sides began blaming and cursing one another.
The two had only just hurried back into the smaller room.
“Wait.” The bride suddenly chased after them and stopped Ji Tan. “You. Come be my groom.”
Ji Tan: “Huh?”
The bride looked at Ji Tan’s fresh, graceful appearance, like a willow beneath the spring moon, and grew even more satisfied. “You. Definitely you.”
“N-no, ma’am, that really isn’t appropriate.” Ji Tan shook his head like a rattle. “Don’t do anything rash. I’m just a fish butcher.”
“What’s wrong with being a fish butcher? Fish butchers are Orderbearers too!” The bride knew these two had been sent by Killed Yet?, which meant they had to be Orderbearers capable of butchering frogfish.
Ji Tan was left speechless. Was that really the point?
“You won’t have to take responsibility. Just help me get through this ceremony, and I’ll give you a hundred thousand. Doesn’t Killed Yet? offer that service?” the bride demanded as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
“Does it?” Ji Tan turned helplessly toward Uncle Yan.
Uncle Yan nodded honestly. “It does.”