[Librarian's Monocle (Rare Item): One of countless replicas worn by the Librarian's avatars. Even mass-produced, it remains precious. Return it to the true Librarian in the Library after completing the chapter for generous rewards.]

  [Guardian Bookmark (Consumable): Obtained after successfully repelling an invasion. Gift this to a "Book Friend" to be summoned when they're invaded, allowing joint defense.]

  Lin Xun carefully examined the item descriptions.

  The information these two items revealed was undeniably significant.

  First, upon completing a chapter, you are returned to a pce called the ‘Library.’ Meanwhile, the Guardian Bookmark mentioned gifting it to a Book Friend.

  Book Friend was likely the equivalent of adding a friend in the game, meaning the game had a social system. That would make the Library, which one returns to after completing chapters, a social hub for Apostle pyers.

  “I wonder how many Apostles exist in real life.”

  [The bookshelves on the second floor vanished along with the bck-robed old man. The entire hall was now empty, leaving only a spiral staircase leading to the third floor of the tower.]

  [Do you wish to proceed to the third floor of the tower?]

  [You ascend the staircase to the third floor of the tower.]

  [In the hall stands a heavily armored knight in full metal pte armor, resting both hands on a greatsword. Behind his blood-red cape is a golden treasure chest. On the chest of his armor is engraved a corrupted Blood Sun. Clearly, he is a core combatant of the Blood Sun Church: a Padin of Discipline.]

  [The Padin of Discipline’s crimson eyes lock onto you, and you feel a heavy pressure.]

  [What will you do?]

  [1. Silently chant, “It can’t see me, it can’t see me…” and retreat to the second floor of the tower.]

  [2. Raise your dagger and strike with all your might, show it the meaning of cruelty.]

  [3. Praise the Sun.]

  Seeing the words “heavy pressure” in the text, Lin Xun grew cautious.

  He didn’t rush to fight, but instead prudently reverted to his usual tactic, Praise the Sun.

  [You raise your hand to gaze at the ceiling, clicking your tongue in admiration from time to time…]

  [But it seems there is no Blood Sun visible within the tower.]

  [The Padin of Discipline draws his two-handed greatsword and charges toward you…]

  [You have died!]

  ???

  Lin Xun hadn’t expected that the usually foolproof fttery function would backfire so badly this time.

  The screen once again dispyed those familiar blood-red words, “You have died.”

  [You open your eyes to find yourself reborn as a feeble wandering soul inside a ruined church…]

  The church still held the Shells of the Choir Sister and the Guardian Knight. Since they had not died, he could possess them without cost.

  But Lin Xun didn’t continue pying. He put down his phone.

  Using either the Knight or Sister Shells, he figured he wouldn’t even make it to the tower before being overwhelmed by a monster horde.

  He could only wait until night, when his soul strength recovered, then reshape the Blood Sun Cultist Shell to take on the mini-boss on the third floor.

  With that thought, Lin Xun opened his writing software and resumed the grueling task of churning out 4,000 words a day.

  Inside the rental apartment, the sound of ccking keys rang out...

  Ring ring~ ring ring~

  Lin Xun stopped typing and gnced at the incoming call. The contact read “Boss Lady.” He hurriedly answered.

  “Hello, Boss Lady, what can I do for you?”

  “You brat, show some respect and call me Mom!” came the voice of a middle-aged woman through the receiver.

  “Okay, Mom, just get to the point. I’m writing right now, you’ve totally killed my inspiration.” Lin Xun switched to speakerphone and resumed his rapid typing.

  “Look, I’m just saying… Can that stuff you write really earn any money? I think you’d be better off coming back to the store. You’d make more there than burning the midnight oil on those stories.”

  His mom’s voice nagged on through the phone.

  “Enough, enough. Boss Lady, if this is what you’re calling about, I’m hanging up.”

  Thankfully, Lin Xun hadn’t told his parents about applying for the civil service exam. If he’d bombed the interview and gotten their hopes up for nothing, it would've been worse.

  His parents owned a small supermarket.

  Back in the day, the supermarket business had been thriving. They made their fortune running a small store.

  But in recent years, the supermarket industry had been in decline. Several new stores they opened ended up failing miserably, shut down one after another, losing all the money they’d invested.

  “Fine! You don’t want to come back, whatever. Your second aunt introduced a girl, you’re going to meet her…”

  “You little brat, I’m warning you, if you dare refuse, then get your butt back home to run the store.”

  Lin Xun twitched the corners of his mouth. This must be what Lu Xun meant by the "offer to tear off the roof so they'll settle for windows" theory… The Boss Lady lived up to her name.

  “…”

  “She’s a great girl, you better not act like you’re too good for her!”

  “Your second aunt even showed me her photo, baby face, real sweet-looking. Petite girl with a big chest and hips, definitely good for childbearing. Just a smidge less pretty than your mom back in the day… I’ll send you a photo ter, she’s adorable.”

  “The kind of adorable where one punch makes you cry for hours?” Lin Xun couldn’t help but quip.

  “Watch your mouth. That girl works for the Public Security Bureau and has an official position. If anyone’s getting punched, it’s you. No one at home can control you, so I’m finding you a wife…”

  "Whoa, women only slow down my—" sword-drawing speed went unsaid as she hung up.

  Moments ter, a text arrived.

  “Tomorrow afternoon, 1:30, at Shede Teahouse.”

  “Lu Caiyi. Female. 22 years old. 160 cm. Bachelor's degree. Works as a public security officer at the West City branch. Official employment. Monthly sary: 8000. Owns car and house. Only child. Parents are…”

  His mom had professionally arranged the time and pce, even compiled a list of stats.

  Only the photo at the end of the message kept loading, never appearing.

  “Looks like the girl must not be much to look at, Mom’s already pying tricks.”

  Lin Xun gnced at it and replied, “Got something tomorrow, let’s reschedule.”

  Then he went back to writing...

  He had no intention of going to the blind date.

  Rather than waste time meeting girls, he might as well write a few more chapters to earn some manuscript fees.

  Though he’d bombed the civil service interview, he still had to fight for his livelihood.

  After a long while, the arduous writing session ended. Two epic 2000-word chapters done. Lin Xun nodded in satisfaction and hit publish.

  Outside the window, night had fallen. It was nearly game time.

  He quickly logged into The Book of Salvation.