Retirement begins with summoning Yuan Tiangang

The suddenly appearing "Good" token seemed to carry an invisible force field, not only interrupting the strong man's fatal blow, but also causing the surrounding restless spiritual energy to stagnate.

The burly man, knife in hand, froze, his sinister grin gone. He stared at the token with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, then warily scanned his surroundings.

"Who's there? Hiding like a coward, get out here!"

The forest was silent, with only the rustling of raindrops on the leaves and our heavy breathing.

No one responded.

But the token stuck in the ground was like an insurmountable chasm, exuding a cold and majestic aura.

The burly man's expression shifted; he could sense the extraordinary nature of the token and the hidden, chilling danger lurking in the shadows.

He gritted his teeth, a hint of resentment and fear flashing in his eyes, but in the end, he slowly put down the knife.

"Hmph! Consider yourself lucky!" He glared at us fiercely, then glanced warily at the "Good" token. With a flicker, he disappeared into the depths of the dense forest without even daring to look back.

Aftermath.

I collapsed into the mud, panting heavily, completely exhausted, my mind blank.

Shadow Eight slid down the tree trunk and sat down, clutching the wound on his chest, staring blankly at the token.

良？

What does this mean?

Who saved us?

What does this token represent?

Countless questions swirled in my mind.

Just then, two ghostly figures appeared silently in front of us.

They were all dressed in matching black outfits, with ordinary faces and restrained demeanor, but their eyes were as sharp as eagles', carrying a coldness and composure that came from countless life-and-death experiences.

One of them glanced at our injuries, then at the token, his voice flat and emotionless: "By order of the Commander, we are to clear out the peripheral scum and recruit usable talent. Are you two willing to join my Bad People?"

Bad guys?

Kagehachi and I exchanged a glance, both seeing shock and bewilderment in each other's eyes.

We've vaguely heard of this name. It's a mysterious organization that has suddenly risen to prominence in recent years. It's powerful and acts in secret, and even established forces like the "Shadow Pavilion" are wary of it.

Why did they save us? And why did they recruit us, two desperate assassins?

"Why...why us?" I asked in a hoarse voice, my voice terribly dry.

The Bad Guy's tone remained flat: "The token has chosen you, it is fate. The Commander sees through the world, knowing that you two have had difficult pasts, but your true nature is not lost, and there is still room for you to be molded. Once you join the Bad Guys, the past will not be investigated, only loyalty and ability are paramount. Resources, skills, and future prospects will all be obtained through your own abilities. No one will take away your merits, nor will anyone sever your will."

His words were like a heavy hammer, striking the still lake of my heart.

Past transgressions are forgotten... only loyalty and ability matter... resources are acquired through merit...

These simple and direct words reveal what we have been yearning for for five years, yet can never obtain in the "Shadow Pavilion"—fairness and a shred of dignity as "human beings".

I looked at the dark "Good" token, which stood there quietly, as if silently telling a different kind of order.

Or should we return to that despairing "Shadow Pavilion," living like zombies until one day we die silently in some corner like today?

Or... seize this sudden, seemingly slim, but possibly the only way out?

I looked at Shadow Eight, and he was looking at me too. On his pale face, a faint light rekindled in his originally dim eyes.

I took a deep breath, endured the excruciating pain, struggled to my feet, and bowed deeply to the two thugs:

"Shadow Seven and Shadow Eight, I'm willing to join the Bad Guys! I'll give my all here!"

……

Meanwhile, in the distant town of Hexi.

Lin Tian was sitting in the courtyard with his legs crossed, watching Shi Yao teach Lin Feng to write.

The little guy held a specially made little calligraphy brush and drew crookedly on a piece of scrap paper, muttering to himself, "Lin...Feng...is...a...hero!"

"Pfft—" Lin Tian almost spat out his tea.

"Who taught you that?"

Shi Yao covered her mouth and chuckled: "I heard Zhang the hunter say that to his son yesterday, and the young master remembered it."

Lin Tian was both amused and exasperated, and rubbed his son's head.

"Alright, alright, you're a hero. Write the Chinese characters correctly first."

At that moment, the "Organization Management" sub-item on the system interface in his mind flickered slightly.

[New members: Shadow Seven (60% loyalty), Shadow Eight (60% loyalty)]

[Note: After being vetted by the peripheral teams and recommended by Team Jiaqi, the Commander-in-Chief approved the recruitment. Has a clean background, meets organizational standards, possesses a resilient character, and is highly malleable.]

Lin Tian glanced at it casually and then closed the interface.

Oh, you've gained two more underlings.

This is just a microcosm of the development of bad people.

It seems the commander-in-chief is doing quite well outside.

He was completely unfazed by it.

He trusts his subordinates to get things done.

As long as it doesn't affect his ability to lie still, it doesn't matter to him whether the Bad Guys take in a hundred or ten thousand.

What he's concerned about now is what to eat for dinner.

Shi Yao's cooking skills are getting better and better, especially her braised pork, which he really likes.

"Shi Yao, how about we make some braised pork for dinner? With lots of sugar."

Lin Tian licked his lips and made the suggestion.

Shi Yao gently replied, "Yes, Master."

Raymond Lam also raised his little hand: "Meat! Raymond wants to eat meat too!"

"Okay, okay, everyone gets a share!"

Lin Tian laughed heartily, picked up his son and lifted him high in the air. The little guy giggled excitedly.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the courtyard, elongating the shadows of the father and son, along with the smiling woman in purple standing beside them, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.

The town remained peaceful.

Under the ancient tree, the old people are still playing chess;

In front of the general store, the monk Ku Hui was still dozing off;

Inside the blacksmith's shop, the clanging of metal was incessant.

From the direction of the school came the sounds of children playing and laughing as they left school.

It was as if all the storms, battles, recruitment, and rises in the outside world had nothing to do with this small town suppressed by the dragon soul.

Lin Tian was very satisfied with this situation.

He was like a marshal sitting firmly in the central command tent. Although he didn't concern himself with specific affairs, he knew that his army was expanding its territory outside, and that was enough for him.

All he needs to do is stay at home, take good care of the kids, eat well, occasionally practice some exercises mainly for digestion, and then lie comfortably, watching the flat spot slowly climb up.

This is the kind of life a time traveler should live!

As for the two newly joined former assassins, named Shadow Seven and Shadow Eight, their joys and sorrows, their despair and rebirth...

Those are all distant stories.

What does this have to do with Lin Tian?

All he needed to know was that the Bad Guys had grown stronger, and that he, this salted fish, could lie down more comfortably. That was enough.