Chapter 2:The Price Of Kindness
Pain...That was the first thing I felt when I woke up.
Not the sharp, clean kind—this was deep, crushing pain, screaming through every bone and nerve in my body like I'd been shattered and stitched back together wrong. My chest barely rose as I gasped for air, vision blurring as the world spun.
Rain.
I remembered the rain. I remembered standing there, soaked to the bone, still trying to understand what had happened earlier that day—Lu Huang, the shield, the power humming inside me—
—and then I saw them.
Not far ahead, beneath a flickering streetlight, a group of men had cornered a high school girl. Four of them. Grown men. Laughing. Blocking her path as she backed away, fear written clearly across her face.
I should have walked away.
I knew that.
But my body moved before my fear could stop it.
I rushed forward and shoved the nearest man as hard as I could. He stumbled back in surprise, crashing into the others.
"Run!" I grabbed the girl's wrist. "Go! Just go!"
She froze.
For seconds,she stood there shaking, eyes wide, breath shallow.
Then she every eye turned to me.
The leader stepped forward slowly, rolling his shoulders. I could feel it immediately—the pressure, The Aura.
A mana cultivator.
Second Circle.
Not impressive in the grand scheme of the world…
but more than enough to crush a broken kid like me.
"You've got guts," he said calmly. "Pity you won't live long enough to keep them."
The first kick drove into my stomach so hard the air exploded out of my lungs. I flew backward, slamming into the wet pavement. Before I could even curl up, another blow came down—this time straight to my head.
Pain burst like white fire.
Boots followed. Ribs. Back. Legs.
I tried to raise my shield.
Nothing came.
The warmth in my chest was silent.
Blood pooled beneath me, mixing with rainwater, spreading across the ground in dark streaks. My ears rang. My vision dimmed. Somewhere far away, I heard laughter.
"Next time," the leader said, his voice distant, "mind your own business."
Then they were gone.
I woke up two days later.
My body was wrapped in bandages from chest to limbs, every movement sending agony screaming through me. Even breathing hurt.
The familiar cracked ceiling of my warehouse room came into focus.
I was alive.
Beside my bed sat a boy with messy hair and red, swollen eyes.
"Ming Hui?" My voice came out hoarse.
His head snapped up. Relief flooded his face so fast it almost broke him.
"Heavens—you're awake!" he said, voice shaking. "Do you know how long you've been asleep?!"
I swallowed painfully. "No…"
"Two days," he said. "Two whole days."
Shock rippled through me.
Then he pointed toward my old wooden table. On it sat fresh fruit—bright, expensive-looking—and several bottles of medicine I recognized immediately.
High-grade.
My eyes narrowed. "Where did those come from?"
Hui hesitated, then smiled. "The girl you saved."
I stiffened.
"She came yesterday," he continued. "Her name is Luo Shaoqin. She said to give you this… to repay you."
Luo.
That surname alone carried weight.
"She's the daughter of the biggest merchant in this district," Hui said softly. "Her father's at the peak of Foundation Establishment."
I stared at the food and medicine for a long moment. Then, despite the pain, I smiled.
"Good," I muttered. "At least she made it home."
I turned my head toward Hui. "How's your training?"
He blinked. "Huh?"
"Did you unlock Mana Circle One yet?" I asked. "You've been stuck for months."
Hui looked down, embarrassed. "Not yet…"
I exhaled slowly. "Don't rush. You'll get there."
He looked at me, confused. "Why are you smiling like that after almost dying?"
"Because," I said quietly, "once you reach Circle Three… we're free."
His eyes widened.
"I can't cultivate," I continued. "My meridians have been broken since birth. If it weren't for that curse, I'd have already crushed people like them."
I clenched my fist beneath the blanket.
"But you can," I said. "And I'll train you. With everything I know. When you're strong enough, we'll leave this place together. We'll see the world."
Hui's lips trembled. Then he broke down completely, throwing his arms around me.
"I love you, brother," he sobbed.
Pain exploded through my body. "Idiot—!" I yelled weakly. "I'm injured! Trying to kill me again?!"
He laughed through his tears, hugging me tighter anyway.
Outside, the rain finally stopped.
And somewhere deep inside my chest, something ancient stirred—silent, patient, waiting.
Two more days passed, and strange dreams began to creep into my mind.
A strong, metallic, bloody smell filled the air. The surroundings were unfamiliar, drenched in darkness and gore. My body froze in terror at what I saw next—millions of corpses hung from ropes in the sky, swaying gently as if someone invisible pulled their strings.
And above it all, a shadowy figure watched, smiling, clearly taking pleasure in the spectacle.
BAM!
I jolted awake, drenched in sweat. My heart hammered as if it would burst from my chest.
I tried to calm myself, but the image would not leave.
I stayed awake the entire night, staring at the cracked ceiling, Wondering what was that about?