Chapter 1

"Hey, wake up! Wake up!"

Zhang Wen felt someone slapping his cheeks, quite forcefully.

"Quick, wake up!"

The person slapping him increased the force, and Zhang Wen suddenly jolted awake.

Struggling to open his eyes, he saw a large face right in front of him.

He quickly moved his head back, but it hit something solid with a "thud" — it was a wall behind him.

"Hehe, awake now?"

The person in front of him was smiling.

Zhang Wen winced in pain and nodded in response, "Sigh, yeah."

Suddenly, the person's smile stretched: "Sleeping on duty, do you still want your pay this month!"

"Aiwen, quickly apologize to the captain!"

Someone nearby reminded him. Although still groggy, Zhang Wen guessed that the person in front of him was someone important, probably his superior, and mumbled an apology.

"Hmph!"

The captain pointed and said, "Open the door quickly!"

Zhang Wen looked in the direction of the captain's finger and saw a wooden door.

The person who had spoken up for him was wearing a loose, ill-fitting military uniform, the same style as the captain's.

However, he had no shoulder badges, just a plain gray uniform with a five-pointed star on his cap.

"Am I a prison guard?"

Zhang Wen felt around his waist and found a key. After rubbing his sore head, he turned and walked to the door.

The lock was old-fashioned. He inserted the key and turned it lightly, and the lock clicked open.

He pushed the door open, and inside was an iron gate. After opening the iron gate, he found himself in a small courtyard.

There were a few small cells inside.

Chains, handcuffs, branding irons, nail boards, and whips were all present.

A place for private torture, not a clean spot.

After a quick glance, Zhang Wen turned around and heard the soldier who had helped him say with a smile, "Captain, did you catch them?"

"Just one, to be executed tomorrow." The captain stretched and said, "These bandits, all red-eyed and fearless. If it weren't for the guns, we wouldn't scare them at all."

Zhang Wen followed the captain's gaze and saw a thin, yellow-faced man. The man noticed Zhang Wen's gaze and glared back. Zhang Wen's heart trembled; the man's eyes were fierce, definitely a killer.

The bandit was tough, not uttering a word even in the cell.

After locking the cell, the captain and his men left, and Zhang Wen stood back in his original position.

The soldier who had helped him asked, "Aiwen, what's wrong today? You usually sleep so lightly, but today you couldn't be woken up?"

"Nothing, just a bit dizzy, probably coming down with something."

"Today the captain is happy about catching the bandit. Normally, he would have given you a couple of boots as a reward." The soldier leaned against the wall, licking his lips, "When we change shifts, want to go for tea?"

"Thanks, but I need to go home and sleep, I'm dizzy." Zhang Wen declined.

The soldier didn't insist, muttered a few more words, and started dozing off against the wall.

He wasn't the original "Aiwen" and had no idea where home was. Recalling, he had been playing a game at home, took a nap, and woke up here.

In a strange place, he seemed to have become a soldier.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, thinking about his next move. Guarding a prison wasn't a promising job, and the equipment was all from the same era.

The bandit still had a long braid.

It must be the Republican era.

A time with guns, chaos, and death. He was just an ordinary person, unnoticed in the 21st century, and even in the Republican era, he had no standout skills.

Becoming a boss, a young master, or a warlord like those in穿越 novels was out of the question. He had to be realistic.

As he was thinking, his vision blurred, and a screen appeared.

"Sign-in?"

The first page was a sign-in, with seven slots.

Zhang Wen thought, and the first slot lit up, and something flew out.

Clank~

His pocket felt heavier.

Zhang Wen reached in and felt: "Silver coin?"

He closed his eyes again, returning to the screen, but he couldn't sign in again.

He examined each slot carefully.

The first slot contained the silver coin he had received, ten in total.

The second to sixth slots were also silver coins, with more and more money.

The seventh slot contained a pistol.

"Sign-in location: prison?"

Zhang Wen glanced around, realizing he couldn't do more, but thought, "This looks like a game."

Games often bind users with daily sign-ins, and he had abandoned many games because of the daily tasks.

"There shouldn't be just this much."

As he thought, another screen appeared.

"Name: Zhang Wen"

"Realm: Mortal"

"Experience: 0/100"

Zhang Wen opened his eyes, confirming his companion was still sleeping, and closed his eyes again.

The screen turned to "Skills."

This was much simpler.

It had only two skills.

"Marksmanship: Beginner (4/100)"

"Appraisal: Beginner (0/100)"

After some exploration, he found more options like "Pets," "Dungeons," and "Map," but they were all empty.

Zhang Wen opened his eyes: "I'm a mortal, so are there immortals?"

He looked at the rifle beside him and thought, "Appraisal."

"Hanyang 88 rifle (not very useful)"

The "Appraisal" skill's proficiency increased to (1/100).

"Each use increases proficiency. With this system and enough bullets, couldn't I become a gun god?"

Becoming a gun god in this chaotic era would give him a chance to survive.

With effort, he might even end up in history books, a multiple-choice question for future generations.

"I don't know what year it is."

Zhang Wen glanced at the snoring soldier.

"Appraisal"

"Liu Er (Mortal)"

As soon as the appraisal was successful, Liu Er's eyes snapped open: "Who! Who!"

"Liu Er, what's wrong?" Zhang Wen asked, feigning ignorance.

"I felt someone sprinkle cold water on my collar, and I jolted awake!" Liu Er looked at Zhang Wen, "Wasn't it you?"

Zhang Wen shook his head immediately, "I was just standing guard. Who would have the time to sprinkle cold water on you?"

"You're right." Liu Er nodded, "I'll take a quick nap. Wake me if the captain comes!"

"Sure thing," Zhang Wen nodded.

When Liu Er closed his eyes again, Zhang Wen sighed:

"This appraisal skill isn't reliable. Does it need to be upgraded?"

It could only identify Liu Er as a mortal, but mortals vary greatly, and startling people was a big issue.

If he couldn't use it stealthily, it would be a big problem.

After about half an hour, the shift change finally came. Zhang Wen, feeling his rumbling stomach, left the police station with Liu Er.

They parted at the gate. It was still bright outside, but he would have to come back for the night shift.

He felt this job couldn't continue.

But he had to wait, until the seventh day to get the pistol. Without a gun, he wouldn't feel secure.

Standing at the intersection, looking at the distinctly Republican-era street, Zhang Wen couldn't calm down.

"Really! I've crossed over."

Feeling the silver coins in his pocket, he walked aimlessly. People on the street avoided him like the plague.

A teahouse was in front of him. He patted his stomach, which growled.

He had money, and he would sign in tomorrow to return it. Today, he needed to treat himself, celebrating his crossover.

Before he could sit down, the teahouse owner approached: "Brother Three, anything I can help with?"

Zhang Wen guessed "Brother Three" referred to him.

The owner wore a new silk robe, no wrinkles, with a long braid hidden under a skullcap.

His face was chubby, and he walked with a "thud, thud."

In the Republican era, many people starved, and being fat was a sign of good fortune. Being well-fed was a blessing, let alone being fat.

To be fat, one had to be idle and well-fed, which was rare in most families.

"Bring some food."

Seeing the owner's hesitant expression, Zhang Wen took out a silver coin. From his knowledge, a silver coin could buy about thirty pounds of rice or ten pounds of pork, varying by region.

In a big city, a regular job paid about five to ten silver coins a month.

In this small town, it would be less.

Moreover, the work was tiring, and the food was expensive, leaving little savings.

Seeing the money, the owner's face brightened: "Please wait, upstairs, please."

Money talks, and the food was quickly served.

Beef, white rice, and a small stir-fried egg.

The owner returned: "Brother Three, the remaining money can cover the wine you owe from last time."

Hearing this, Zhang Wen understood why the meal was so "simple." He had been in debt.

"Alright, got it."

Zhang Wen waved and started eating.

His mouth was greasy, and the food was gone.

He burped contentedly and stepped out of the teahouse, only to see a familiar face.

It was the "captain."

The captain was following a girl in a pink dress, fawning over her, making Zhang Wen feel inferior.

"Too familiar! Too familiar!"

Zhang Wen hadn't noticed before, but now the captain's face and the girl's face were very familiar.

"Whatever."

Zhang Wen appraised them.

"Aiwei (Mortal)"

"Ren Tingting (Mortal)"

"Captain Aiwei! And Ren... Tingting!"

Seeing Captain Aiwei rubbing his neck and shouting, "Who, who!" Zhang Wen quickly retreated into the teahouse, waiting for them to leave before coming out.

"Big trouble."

Captain Aiwei and Ren Tingting meant this wasn't just the Republican era but a spiritual world.

"Mr. Vampire Hunter!"