Lao Li, work hard and if you achieve results, I'll ask the higher-ups to give you a raise.

(March 12th, feeling a bit frustrated. Just when this book was about to take off with over 10,000 readers before its debut, it got reported again and thrown into the "penalty box." If you click on the author’s profile, you’ll see there are no works listed anymore.)

(Good news: it can still come back, but the timing is uncertain.)

(Bad news: since hitting 100,000 words triggers the debut, I can only update 1,000 words a day to stall until it’s out of the penalty box. I need to make sure the debut doesn’t happen while it’s still locked up. You can hold off for a couple of days—it should be out by Friday.)

(Good news: apart from today, which requires heavy editing, any missing words from tomorrow onward will be made up later. The author isn’t slacking.)

Generally speaking, nights in the Origin Realm aren’t safe either. The creatures there don’t observe any "ceasefire."

If anything, the cover of darkness makes ambushes even easier.

That’s why someone always needs to keep watch.

Don’t be fooled by those movie scenes where a master wakes up mid-attack, dodges effortlessly, and looks cool doing it.

In reality, no one actually believes that. Your alertness while asleep is nowhere near your waking state—your brain is resting, after all.

Or, to put it bluntly, those who did believe it are now six feet under.

So around 9 p.m., Su Qi glanced at Liu Yuan, who was lounging on a hammock playing with her phone.

Without a word, he did a quick flip off the hammock and stepped out of the tent.

The veteran actor—let’s call him "Old Li"—was smoking a cigarette, keeping his distance from the students.

Su Qi walked up behind him and gave a light cough as a greeting.

Hearing the sound, Old Li turned around. Recognizing Su Qi, he smirked, took a drag, and nodded in acknowledgment.

"What should I call you?" Su Qi asked.

Old Li waved a hand. "Kid, you’ve already graduated. No need for ‘teacher.’ Name’s Li Hu. Call me ‘Tiger’ if you want." His voice was rough but carried a hearty tone.

"Got it, Old Li."

Li Hu: ???

Whatever. "Old Li" it is. It’s not like he hasn’t been called that before.

Exhaling smoke, Old Li teased, "Su Qi, still got energy to wander around at this hour? Youth really is something."

Su Qi: ???

What do you mean, "this hour"?

It’s only 9 p.m.

Not sleeping counts as "energetic" now?

"Isn’t this normal?"

"That’s why being young is great. Wait till you’re my age and have to recalibrate your sensitivity—then you’ll know the headache."

What kind of nonsense is that?

Su Qi was momentarily lost. Their conversation wasn’t even on the same wavelength.

He found a rock to sit on and cut straight to the point: "How’s the night watch arranged?"

Old Li paused. Right, Su Qi had way more experience in the Origin Realm than these rookies.

"You’re sharp. But don’t worry, I can handle the night watch."

"No training for the students?"

Old Li didn’t answer immediately, just kept smoking, the ember flickering.

Finally, he blew a smoke ring. "Training, sure. But these kids are too pampered."

"I’m afraid they’ll doze off on watch and never wake up. Better if I stay hidden and keep an eye on them instead."

Su Qi smirked. Just as he thought—this teacher had been lurking in the shadows all along. A real old fox.

Su Qi gave Old Li a pat on the shoulder and said, "Keep up the good work, Old Li. If you deliver results, I’ll make sure the higher-ups give you a raise."

Old Li: ???

Wait, since when did Su Qi talk like some kind of boss?

Anyone overhearing this would think a supervisor had come to inspect the work.