The whole crew was on-site, working—around 40 people were building the shrine at the same time. The deadline was tight, so all the employees had to be concentrated here to finish the project on time.
After a while, a light raindrop fell, followed by many others. The rain was gentle, the drops small.
The sound of tools drilling into wood and hammers striking logs echoed through the area. Dozens of men worked hard, sweat pouring from their foreheads, armpits, and upper bodies. Their clothes were damp, the sweat-soaked areas darker than the original fabric.
Although they were working hard, they didn't seem sad or angry. In fact, they were simply focused on the job, in a flow state—an intense concentration on delivering results on time. Some were definitely slacking off more than others, but no one was standing still.
Then, it happened.
Some workers were near the building's walls, while others were up on the scaffolding.
The ground shook for a moment—but only around the building. Then the base walls cracked and crumbled. First, the sections closest to the ground gave way, and soon, everything collapsed. A cloud of dust rose as the structure fell.
Han stood further away, under an open shed in front of a table covered with large sheets of paper.
He looked up the moment the ground trembled, but in an instant, the tower had already collapsed. The dust wave hit him, knocking him to the ground. When it finally passed and the earth settled, Han opened his eyes and stood up. It had all happened in seconds, but the scene before him was a disaster.
A shadow darted out from the ruins. It was fast—only a blurred afterimage hinted at the person's shape. The figure leaped across the collapsed wreckage, jumping around and in the ruins a dozen times in mere seconds before finally landing in front of Han.
"Remember me, Mr. Han?"
A man in a black hooded robe stood before him. Shadows obscured his face beneath the hood. He pulled it halfway back, allowing the light to reveal his features.
"Huh? You… you are—"
"I took your advice and changed careers. I'm grateful to you. You were right—I should have never bothered with your line of work. Look at me now. I'm fortunate, living in joy. If not for you, I would have never discovered the thrill of my work.
I'm thankful. That's why I wanted to share a piece of my newfound joy with you. I hope you like my present, Mr. Han."
He pulled his hood back over his face and vanished before Han could utter another word.
Han immediately ran toward the rubble, searching for survivors. Nearby onlookers rushed toward the scene—some curious, some shocked, some cautious. But when they saw the lone man atop the wreckage, desperately searching, they ran to help as well.
The shrine had stood in the heart of a busy capital. People had flocked to the site only out of curiosity, but once they saw someone taking action, they instinctively followed. And soon, the entire crowd moved with the same purpose—digging through the debris, searching for the buried, swept up in the momentum of collective effort.
Han called out for survivors as he searched through the ruins. He did so for a long time.