002 Career Panel

"Alright, today's lesson is over for now,"

In the training hall, Coach Zhang announced the end of the Sandboxing practice.

Instantly, the thirty-something students dispersed on the spot.

They each grabbed their belongings and headed towards the changing room.

Bai Xiao noticed Guo Hao seemed to have been specifically called aside by the coach to stay behind, possibly for some important words. He didn't have the habit of eavesdropping, and soon, dragging his exhausted body, he walked outside.

After changing into his usual clothes, a set of black sportswear, Bai Xiao arrived at the marble-fronted hall, the air filled with the scent of disinfectant. He frowned, lifted the blue canvas bag on his right shoulder, and quickly exited the door.

It was now half past three in the afternoon.

The sun was still intense, the sky cloudless, clear, and deeply blue.

Bai Xiao walked onto the grid-like red brick pedestrian path and proceeded along the green belt. Five minutes later, he bypassed a bus shelter and a billboard and stepped onto the platform. Just then, a bus arrived, right on time.

...

"Beihai Road station, please exit from the back door."

With a voice prompt, the bus door squeaked slowly open.

A black-haired young man in sportswear stepped down.

"Tianxia Federation, Nanjiang Province, Huai Shui City, Xuanshan District, then Beihai Road," Bai Xiao shook his head, "not one name is familiar..."

This world was somewhat familiar yet strange, and he found it slightly unsettling.

"After sweating so much today, first thing's a shower back at the rented place."

Near the university town, Beihai Road, number 136.

In a small rented house, the sound of water gushed from the bathroom.

Under the orange-yellow light, pitter-pattering, a steady stream of water fell from the showerhead.

Bai Xiao tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and let the water wash over his face.

He quietly maintained this posture like a monk meditating under a waterfall, completely still, for over a minute. As the stickiness washed off, Bai Xiao moved to the washbasin.

There were toiletries on the surface of the washbasin, above which was a mirror.

Under the bright light, the mirror reflected Bai Xiao's upper body.

Height 177 cm, a normal adult body, not much muscle definition. Walking closer towards the mirror, one could see Bai Xiao's somewhat handsome face, with its relatively pronounced features, straight and sharp brows and eyes.

Pity about the skin, rough and darkened by wind and sun exposure.

"If my skin were better, I could be considered handsome by normal standards,"

Bai Xiao glanced at the mirror, then bent down to grab shampoo.

Pitter-pattering...

The pale blue shampoo touched his wet, broken hair, casually scrubbing out white foam. Water rushed down, and the foam followed, flowing down to the floor.

After a while, Bai Xiao turned off the shower, picked up a towel from the metal rack beside him, and wiped the drops of water from his body and face. Thirty seconds later, he stood in front of the mirror while toweling off his hair and paid attention more intensely.

On his retina, a dim screen suddenly appeared.

The screen gradually became clear, enveloping the view.

It displayed a panel similar to a game character's.

[Character Panel]

[Character: Bai Xiao]

[Age: 24]

[Status: Exhausted]

[Profession: Delivery Worker]

[Four Attributes: Power, Speed, Physique, Will]

[Power: 10.0]

[Speed: 9.6]

[Physique: 9.8]

[Will: 10.8]

This was a game Bai Xiao played in his previous life. Unexpectedly, after transmigrating, he brought it with him, becoming something akin to his innate talents.

Triggering the profession, unlocking the profession, leveling up the profession.

Above was essentially the function of this character panel.

The only regret for Bai Xiao was that he hadn't brought the hacks he used to install and download while playing this game. Otherwise, it would have been a game-changer.

"The Fighter profession has been triggered, but not fully unlocked,"

"Right now, I only have the Delivery Worker profession."

He stepped out of the bathroom, quickly turning off the light.

Three minutes later, inside the rented place.

Bai Xiao, dressed in a black sportswear with white stripes, stood beside the bed.

He switched on his phone, and it was already 16:05.

The lock screen displayed messages, and he pressed his fingerprint then clicked in.

[Sakura Bird Bar (Security Department Manager)]: Something came up today, opening time will be adjusted forward by 15 minutes, starting at 20:45.

[Xiao Tang]: Bro, out of living expenses, please help...bowing.jpg.

[Nanjiang Mobile]: Dear customer, your 2020 year 6...

After a glance, Bai Xiao first replied to the Security Department Manager: Understood.

In this era, university graduation means unemployment.

The original host didn't graduate from a prestigious university, so after graduation, he worked two jobs, one as a part-time delivery worker, and the other as a nightclub security. And training at White Bird Martial Arts Hall was his hobby.

People often seek ways to vent under pressure.

Some turn to drinking, others to clubbing, and yet others to singing.

But the original host's way of venting was sweating it out, punching.

After replying to the Security Department Manager, Bai Xiao looked at the next message.

Xiao Tang, Bai Tang, the original owner's younger brother. However, not a blood-related brother, as Bai Tang was a baby picked up and raised by the original owner's parents until he went to college.

But last year, a car accident took the lives of the original owner's parents, leaving no pillar to hold up the family. Only the grandparents, who lacked the ability to work and lived in the countryside, and Bai Tang, who was still attending university, remained. The entire burden of the family fell on Bai Xiao alone. This was also why the original owner had been under great pressure recently.

After pondering for a moment, Bai Xiao clicked to check the bank account balance.

3096.52

Both coins and bills, decidedly meager.

A few days ago, the original owner had just paid the tuition fee for martial arts training at the dojo, and just yesterday, had also paid fifteen hundred for rent, leaving hardly any money left in hand.

Bai Xiao looked at the account balance and hesitated for a moment.

In the end, he still transferred a thousand to Bai Tang.

2096.52

It hurt a bit.

Honestly, if it weren't for the fact that Bai Tang's academic performance was indeed excellent in university, the original owner would definitely have made this kid work part-time to earn his keep.

The screen flickered slightly.

[Xiao Tang]: Thanks, bro!!! Cry.jpg

Bai Xiao didn't reply, adhering to the original owner's reserved and taciturn persona.

With a light press of a finger, he exited the chat interface.

16:10

"It's about time."

Bai Xiao grabbed his phone, charging bank, and keys, and hurried downstairs.

Tap, his sports shoes touched the sun-heated concrete outside.

He raised his hand to his brow, squinting as he looked outside.

This was an old residential area, but fortunately, it had always been well-managed. In the round flowerbed in front, there were still marigolds of a bright orange color, with a light fresh floral scent in the air. A few old men were moving a table, playing Go under the shade of the trees in the flowerbed, and discussing from time to time.

Bai Xiao took a deep breath and walked toward the parking shelter nearby.

One minute later.

Click, the key inserted into the lock hole, turned clockwise.

Bai Xiao's ride, a Hummer electric bike that had been used for five years and was peeling paint, started up. The bottom and the tires were covered with mud stains.

Clearly, it had seen better days.

Bai Xiao sat on the electric bike, pulled out his phone, and opened an app named "Hungry Rider." He received orders from here; he was not a full-time worker, so he could only grab orders. Fortunately, Bai Xiao chose to log in around dinner time when many users placed orders.

From four in the afternoon to just after eight, he could usually receive delivery orders during these four hours. He could earn about 2500 to 3000 a month.

Enough for all his personal expenses from rent to meal costs.

"Today's first order, Nanjiang Business University..."

"Let's go."

Compared to the original owner.

At this moment, Bai Xiao felt very motivated while delivering food.

Naturally, the reason was the delivery man profession panel displayed before him.

[Profession: Delivery Man LV.1 (39/100)]

[Skill 1: Electric Bike Driving LV.1 (86/100)]

[Skill 2: City Route Mastery LV.1 (62/100)]

The skill with the highest experience points was electric bike driving, nearly at level two.

Bai Xiao was very good at driving.

Whoo...

The hot wind blew against the helmet as the Hummer electric bike set off.

Time passed bit by bit, and it was now 8:10 in the evening.

The sky of Huaisui City had turned a deep indigo, stars scattered and hidden among the clouds, like secretive eyes peering down at the earth.

Bai Xiao was about to deliver the last order of the day.

The electric bike passed through an alley and arrived at a somewhat secluded factory.

When he was still a bit away from the delivery location.

The profession panel in front of Bai Xiao lit up slightly, and he slowly stopped.

[Your professional skill "Electric Bike Driving" has gained +10 experience.]

[Your professional skill "Electric Bike Driving" has advanced to LV.2]

[Skill 1: Electric Bike Driving LV.2 (1/200)]

"Having such a panel that records experience points in real time, even in dull work, brings me a bit of motivation and fun..."

A flash of genuine feeling crossed his mind.

Sometimes, what people fear is not seeing a goal, not seeing the endpoint.

But when the target is visible to the naked eye, everything is different.

Starting the electric bike again, Bai Xiao quickly arrived at the factory entrance.

He put away the key and took out the fried chicken ordered by the customer from the insulated box.

He walked into the factory, placed the items at the security post, and came out again.

As Bai Xiao passed the factory entrance, he noticed several missing person posters attached to the nearby utility pole. He paused to scan them; they all spoke of people who had gone missing, accompanying the descriptions of height and appearance with photos.

What caught the most attention was.

These people had all disappeared recently.

"May 16th, May 22nd, May 28th..."

"Recently... So many people have gone missing?"

Bai Xiao withdrew his gaze with a puzzled look and quickly headed toward his bike.

He needed to go home for a shower and then off to his night job as a part-time security guard.