How many people live a glamorous life during the day, just as many toil in humble jobs at night.
Outside Xuanzhu County, under the large locust tree by the riverbank, White Night draped in a gray robe leaned against the decayed trunk, quietly watching the distant village lights. The pungent stench from the dark river seemed to have no effect on him.
It seemed that White Night had a lifelong connection with the night.
His father was a night soil collector. At night, he followed his father on deliveries, usually setting out in the early hours when everyone was asleep and returning before dawn, delivering night soil to the estates outside the county. The estate servants would then use it for farming.
Those days weren’t all that hard. Sure, there was a smell, but you got used to it, and collecting night soil was pretty lucrative—making ends meet wasn’t an issue. Moreover, the streets were empty at night, lights dazzling; when his father pushed the cart, he could run around beside it, the streets feeling as vast as the world, never-ending.
Later, the dung boss demanded more ’manure money’ from the collectors. A quarrel ensued, and his father was beaten to death with a dung shovel. Just a few days after his father’s death, the family’s money was taken by his aunt and uncle, though at least his uncle arranged the burial and took White Night in.
His aunt was very kind but somewhat timid, while his uncle loved gambling and smoking, often coming home to berate his aunt for not bearing a son or resorting to violence. White Night realized his presence caused his aunt more beatings and coincidentally, the Jing Mansion was recruiting a long-term servant. White Night then sold himself into the Jing Mansion.
Sometimes life isn’t so forced; at twelve, he could do many things, like working as a laborer or at the docks... but ultimately, a servant job that provided food and shelter was more suitable for him.
Actually, the servant life at Jing Mansion wasn’t too bad. In essence, they only needed to serve Young Master Jing Zhengwei. They usually just managed the mansion. By then, White Night had grown, and with proper nourishment, he looked tall and handsome, standing out among the servants.
If Jing Zhengwei had special preferences, maybe White Night could quickly rise to prominence. Unfortunately, Jing Zhengwei had none, and White Night’s looks did not earn him any special treatment—at least the steward didn’t favor him.
He went back to his old work—doing all the laborious, dirty work assigned by the steward at nighttime, such as cleaning toilets and collecting night soil, going to the market to buy fresh ingredients before dawn, and taking night shifts...
The reversal of day and night didn’t break White Night physically; instead, it made his skin whiter and whiter.
"Your skin is so white, I’m so dark."
"You’re not dark; you have a healthy wheat color, golden like grains, shining beautifully in the sun."
"Humph, smooth talker, did you learn this from the market ladies?"
"Staying up so late, be careful the chief steward catches and scolds you."
"I can’t sleep. Can’t I come out to look at the moon?"
"True, anyway, you’re so dark, just hide to the side, the chief steward can’t see you..."
"I heard Miss Shuangye will bring me a late-night snack, I’ve been waiting."
"Hee hee, I hid it sneakily, but it’s already cold..."
"Is it? But it still tastes sweet."
"I’ve contacted the White Night Organization and confirmed the key’s location. I also know the guards’ patrol at night..."
"Do we really have to go? Actually, we’re temporarily safe in the Jing Mansion..."
"Even if we don’t leave now, we will eventually! Chief Shen won’t allow subordinates to collude; he’ll kill us! Brother Yao, if we don’t seize the chance now, we’ll surely regret it later!"
"Alright then, let’s go!"
"What to do, what to do? Why is Chief Shen over there? We can’t take that route!"
"Brother Yao, calm down, didn’t you say we have other routes?"
"Yes, we can leave Jing Mansion through two small paths, but we might be spotted by the guards."
"How about this? We each take a path, smaller targets are harder to notice. Afterward, we meet at the designated place!"
"But you don’t have much experience moving at night. If I’m not there—"
"Don’t worry, I’m dark enough; the guards won’t see me. Let’s go quickly, it’s getting late!"
White Night suddenly snapped awake, finding a group of masked people beside him. The voice of the person speaking to him sounded very familiar: "Deceitful Needle?"
"It’s me." Yin Minghong said, "All thirteen participants in tonight’s ’Silver Shard’ plan are present."
White Night bowed respectfully: "I’ve been awaiting this."
Yin Minghong asked: "What happened just now? You seemed lost in thought, staring into the distance. Is something wrong?"
"Nothing... just recalling some past events." White Night shook his head, "It won’t affect tonight’s plan."
He took out his pocket watch and said, "Everyone synchronize your time, recall your action plan. Once we break into Half City, we must strictly adhere to each of our timelines. Even if others encounter unexpected situations, stick to your own timeline to prevent implicating yourself and others!"
"Everyone take out your pocket watches and set the time to exactly 12 o’clock."
The White Night Walkers silently adjusted their watches. White Night glanced at them: "You are all my seniors, so I’ll skip the pleasantries. I’m in charge of this ’Silver Shard’ operation simply because I am more adept at night actions and familiar with Half City’s layout."
"Just like the operation name ’Silver Shard’, we must scatter like fragmented silver. We are only fourteen, but we face the entire factory district and Patrol Execution Guard’s patrol; to keep them off-guard, we must strike each area quickly, accurately, and ruthlessly!"
"Regardless of whether the operation is completed on schedule, once the time is up, all personnel must evacuate! Do not linger, lest it harms others and oneself!"
"Finally, as your backup, I have something to tell you."
White Night masked himself and said, "I will be at the agreed place, ready to extract you all. But if anyone hasn’t returned by the designated time..."
"I will come back to find you."
Yin Minghong slightly frowned, "Frost Needle, there’s no need—"
"There is." White Night shook his head, "Waiting is not an excuse to give up when someone doesn’t show up; it’s an excuse to turn back."
"After all, when I’m waiting for someone, maybe someone is also waiting for me to save her."
White Night didn’t give Yin Minghong a chance to dissuade further. Bending down, he picked up a pebble and forcefully hurled it towards the river, causing several rings to ripple out.
"Follow me, Silver Shard operation, commence!"
After speaking, White Night dived into the dark river like a fish, followed closely by thirteen White Night Walkers, silently nearing Half City under the cloak of darkness.
On the other side, in Half City’s factory district, inside Jing Family’s factory, several martial artists hidden among the machines checked their pocket watches and donned their masks.
"The time has come, Gold Shatter operation, commence."