Rain slicked streets reflected neon signs like broken mirrors. Yan Luo's hands still tingled from the talisman's pulse. His heart pounded, a metronome of fear and adrenaline.
"Master Su, wait!" he called, but the monk only gave a small nod. "Follow when ready. Control comes with understanding."
Footsteps thundered behind him. Dark suits, sharp shoes, silent but deadly. Syndicate assassins. They weren't just after the talisman—they wanted him.
Instinct took over. Yan Luo bolted, scooter abandoned. The talisman pulsed wildly, tugging at his mind. With a desperate thought, he felt himself… slip.
A flash of someone else's memories hit him—stronger, faster, sharper. He could see the layout of the street, the men's positions, even the safe gaps in their patrol.
He ran through alleyways, walls pulsing with neon advertisements. With each step, he felt the borrowed soul merging more, giving him reflexes he had never known.
A hand grabbed him from the shadows. He swung the talisman instinctively. Light exploded. The figure shrieked and vanished, leaving a charred outline on the wall.
Panting, Yan Luo leaned against a wet brick wall. I… I just killed someone, he thought. Fear gnawed at him. The city had turned into a labyrinth of danger, and he had no map—only the stolen senses of another life.
Then came a soft ping. His phone lit up. A livestream notification from Mei Xinyi: Ghost Market Live. She was streaming black-market soul auctions.
Author Thought: Introduce Mei Xinyi early to create tension—she's an ally, maybe a traitor, and adds urban intrigue.
Yan Luo hesitated. Could he trust someone who made money from people's lives? But he had no choice. He tapped the link.
Her voice floated from the screen, smooth and teasing. "Looking for a lost soul? Or maybe a borrowed one?"
The talisman pulsed again. It seemed… hungry. Waiting. Urging him.
Behind him, shadows shifted. He wasn't safe yet. Not even close.