Chapter 161: Feeling Down

Shi Ji had finally made up his mind to become a hero and was all set to start raking in the cash. But after arriving at the registration office, he was met with an unexpected setback. It was infuriating.

When he shouted out his frustration, it caught the attention of others. One person even clenched his fist and swung at Shi Ji.

“You punk! How dare you insult the Star Alliance? I’ll teach you a lesson!”

The person attacking Shi Ji sounded familiar, like he’d heard that voice somewhere before. Shi Ji turned around, raised his right hand, and easily caught the large fist coming his way.

Both of them then got a clear look at each other’s faces.

The man who attacked was a big guy, and when he saw Shi Ji, his eyes widened in surprise.

“It’s you!”

Shi Ji nodded, “Oh, it’s you, big guy.”

Lin Xinyan stepped forward, “So it’s you, Gatekeeper.”

The man was an A-rank hero who served as the Gatekeeper, the same one Shi Ji had sent to the hospital earlier.

After realizing they knew each other, the Gatekeeper withdrew his fist. Once Shi Ji and Lin Xinyan explained why Shi Ji was upset, the Gatekeeper understood and seriously explained some of the hero promotion rules. Although he was a Gatekeeper, he couldn’t do anything about the Alliance’s policies. He could only comfort Shi Ji and suggest he try again next time.

The Gatekeeper was a straightforward person, and Shi Ji found him likable.

Since the Star Alliance had temporarily closed the registration process, there was no choice but to wait and come back another time.

As they left the Star Alliance, the Gatekeeper called out to Shi Ji and Lin Xinyan.

“Hey, about what happened last time, please don’t spread it around. I don’t want to be that embarrassed, so I’m counting on you.”

The shadow that Shi Ji had cast over him last time hadn’t fully lifted. Running into Shi Ji several times after that was already humiliating enough, and since they’d likely cross paths often if Shi Ji became a hero, the Gatekeeper hoped the embarrassing incident wouldn’t be made public. After all, he still had to maintain his reputation in the Star Alliance.

Lin Xinyan nodded with a smile, agreeing to keep quiet, while Shi Ji remained silent.

On the way back, Shi Ji sighed, “Ugh, what a wasted trip. If only I’d come to register yesterday. I got too careless.”

Shi Ji only vented a little about the minor inconvenience at the Star Alliance; he wasn’t one to let something like that bother him for long.

Lin Xinyan tried to comfort him, “Don’t worry about it. It’s only a matter of time. With your strength, I’m sure you’ll get promoted quickly.”

“That’s true, but I can’t help feeling a bit off. I wonder if there’s any monster nearby I can take my frustration out on.”

Shi Ji was just speaking off the cuff, but as soon as he finished, it was as if fate intervened. The ground shook, and a crack in the road ahead opened up, revealing the head of a monster.

Without even bothering to identify the monster, Shi Ji noticed it and was ready to vent his anger. Seeing the monster’s head pop up right in front of him, Shi Ji landed a punch.

Boom!!!

His punch sent the monster’s head right back underground, and green blood gushed out.

At that moment, Lin Xinyan’s wristband received an alert from the Star Alliance.

“Notice: A monster has appeared in the eastern main road of the central area. Rank: Nether-level. Nearby B-level or higher heroes, please proceed to engage.”

Lin Xinyan looked around. This was indeed the eastern main road of the central area, and with no other monsters in sight, it meant that the monster Shi Ji had just punched back underground was likely the one mentioned in the alert.