Chang Le ran.
The ragged pouch thudded against his back with every step, heavy with stolen fortune and danger alike. He didn't stop until his shack came into view—leaning crookedly at the edge of the settlement like a drunk afraid to fall over.
He slammed inside, shoved the wooden bar across the door, and sagged against it, chest heaving as if his lungs might burst.
Only then did he breathe.
His hands shook as he tore into a strip of dry ration and chewed without tasting. The food felt like ash in his mouth. By the time he swallowed, night had fully claimed the sky.
The oil lamp was empty.
He stared at it for a moment, then let out a tired breath and collapsed onto the narrow bed. Above him, moonlight slipped through a broken section of roof, cutting pale ribbons across the room.
His thoughts churned.
The pills.
The money.
The way the crowd had stared.
Had he pushed too hard today?
Selling those pills so openly—was it stupidity or desperation? Probably both.
He clenched his jaw. He had no backing, no training, no roots in this world. A nobody with sudden wealth was a walking corpse. Anyone with eyes would notice.
A dog barked.
The sharp, furious sound sliced through the night.
Chang Le stiffened.
It was Old Zhang's yellow mutt—the one that guarded the far edge of the village. The animal was notorious. Once it started barking, it didn't stop until someone was bleeding or gone.
But tonight…
The barking cut off mid-snarl.
Silence swallowed the sound like a blade through flesh.
A chill ran from Chang Le's heels up his spine.
That dog didn't shut up. Ever.
Something was wrong.
His heartbeat thundered in his ears as he rolled off the bed and crept toward the door. He didn't light a lamp. He didn't dare breathe too loudly.
If someone had followed him…
If someone had been watching…
He was already dead.
Slowly, carefully, he reached for the door.
The scent of blood drifted through the cracks.
His fingers froze.
Outside, a shape stood in the courtyard.
Tall. Still. Watching.
Moonlight traced the outline of a man
standing with unsettling calm, a long sword resting in his arms. The blade's sheath gleamed faintly, polished and lethal. His face was swallowed by shadow.
Then he smiled.
White teeth flashed.
"Sharp instincts, kid," the man said softly. "Too bad you noticed too late."
Chang Le's stomach dropped.
"H–Honored sir," he stammered, forcing himself to bow as deeply as his shaking legs allowed. "What… what brings you here so late?"
The man stepped forward.
His boots made no sound on the dirt.
"Advice," he said lightly. "And maybe a little charity."
Moonlight slid across his face—young, maybe late twenties, sharp eyes like a hunting hawk. The kind of man who smiled when things died.
"Hand over the pills," he continued. "And tell me where you found them. Do that, and I'll make your death quick."
Cold flooded Chang Le's veins.
So that was it.
He'd been hunted.
He forced himself to breathe slowly, even as panic clawed at his throat. Fighting was suicide. Running was worse. Begging wouldn't save him.
Only one thing might.
Greed.
He dropped to his knees, forehead slamming into the dirt.
"Please! Please spare me!"
His voice cracked convincingly as he shoved the pouch forward with both hands.
"I found them by accident—on Twin-Peak Ridge! A cave, hidden behind vines. I swear I didn't steal them from anyone! Just pills and some old books I couldn't even read!"
The man's eyes gleamed.
Chang Le continued desperately, words tumbling out.
"I sold most already! This is all that's left—nine hundred and twelve pills! Take them! Take everything! Just let me live!"
The intruder snatched the pouch and flipped it open.
His breath hitched.
Even someone half-blind could feel the power sealed inside those pills. They weren't fake. They weren't diluted.
They were real.
His expression shifted—greed sharpening into hunger.
"And the cave?" he asked softly. "Where exactly is it?"
Chang Le swallowed hard.
"Deep in Twin-Peak Ridge. Dangerous terrain… beasts everywhere. I barely escaped. The books are still there, but I don't understand a word of them."
The man studied him, eyes cold.
"Lie to me," he said quietly, "and I'll peel you apart piece by piece."
Chang Le slammed his forehead to the ground again.
"I wouldn't dare!"
Then, as if struck by sudden inspiration, he looked up with forced eagerness.
"Honored sir, why not take a few pills first? They're powerful. Strengthen yourself before going out there. It'll be safer."
The man hesitated.
He'd examined the pills earlier in the market. They were genuine. He'd even seen others benefit from them.
Night travel in monster territory was dangerous.
And if these pills could boost him further…
He snorted.
"Fine."
He sat down casually in the dirt, uncorked the bottle, and poured several pills into his palm.
"Try anything," he warned, "and you die screaming."
Chang Le nodded frantically.
The man swallowed three pills at once.
Instantly, his posture stiffened. His breathing deepened. Power surged through him, raw and intoxicating. His eyes widened in delight.
"Good," he murmured. "Very good."
He took another.
Then another.
Chang Le's heart pounded as he watched.
This was it.
The pills were flawed—fatally so. Their power came at a cost. The first doses strengthened the body. The next overloaded it. The ones after that.
He just needed time.
The intruder grew increasingly absorbed, consuming pill after pill, energy rolling off him in visible waves. His face flushed red. His breathing grew ragged. Still, he laughed.
"I've never felt like this," he said hoarsely. "This… this is destiny!"
He didn't notice the way his veins darkened beneath his skin.
Didn't notice the tremor creeping into his hands.
Didn't notice Chang Le slowly backing away, every nerve screaming.
Minutes passed.
Then more.
The man's movements grew stiff. His laughter turned strained.
He swallowed again—and gagged.
"What… what kind of pills are these…?"
His voice cracked.
Sweat poured down his face. His muscles spasmed violently, bones popping beneath the skin. He tried to stand and failed, collapsing onto his knees.
Chang Le held his breath.
The man screamed.
His body convulsed as power surged out of control, tearing through flesh that couldn't contain it. Veins burst. Blood streamed from his nose and ears. His eyes bulged with disbelief.
"You—YOU—!"
His scream cut off mid-word.
With a final shudder, he collapsed face-first into the dirt.
Silence returned to the courtyard.
Moonlight bathed the corpse.
Chang Le didn't move.
Not for a long time.
When he finally dared to breathe again, his legs nearly gave out. He crawled backward, trembling, until his spine hit the wall.
It worked.
He was alive.
Barely.
He stared at the dead man, then at the empty pill bottle in his hands.
Man dies for wealth.
He swallowed hard.
Tonight, he had gambled everything.
And won.
But he knew the truth.
This was only the beginning.