Year 535 of the Epoch of Dawn Calendar, early summer.
Yuzhou, Lincheng. Afternoon.
Bai Fan felt that today was abnormally hot. The sullen sunlight clung to his spine like a layer of hot, sticky film.
Cicadas buzzed from every direction, making his eardrums throb.
But he had no room for complaint.
He was squatting in an abandoned factory on the southern outskirts of Lincheng, facing a freshly dead Skeleton Beast.
The stench of rot, rust, and sweetness mixed together, seeping through the filter of his protective suit and into his nostrils.
Bai Fan frowned, suppressing the acid rising in his stomach.
The walls were covered in a black mass of flies.
They were unusually quiet, no buzzing, just collectively tilting their heads, all staring in the same direction.
At the corpse beneath his hands.
This Skeleton Beast had a massive frame, shaped like a canine, but more grotesque and deformed than any wild dog.
Purple-black blood had already pooled on the ground, slowly coagulating in the muggy air.
Bai Fan tightened his grip on the woodcutter’s knife.
He swung.
Splat! Blood splattered onto his goggles.
He didn’t stop. One cut after another, precision strikes at the joints.
This was the touch he had honed over years of work—knowing where the bone gaps were, how to sever the ligaments, even with his eyes closed.
The flies in the corner tucked their little hands together, like a silent audience.
“Phew—”
Bai Fan wiped the blood off his goggles and let out a long breath.
This godforsaken place, this godforsaken job, but he had no choice in the matter.
A man burdened with a sky-high debt could become a De-husker, processing Skeleton Beast corpses to pay it off.
At least he didn’t have to go into the Abyss Hollow to die.
Suddenly, his movements paused.
The bone plate over the chest area… wasn’t right.
Bai Fan squinted, gently pried with the tip of the knife.
Plop.
Something rolled out, falling into the pool of blood.
He crouched down, brushing aside the blood.
A thumb-sized crystal lay there, murky dark purple, its surface pitted and uneven, faintly emitting a weak glow.
“What is this?”
He picked it up and brought it close to his goggles.
Staring at the purple gem, a word suddenly flashed through his mind.
“Ethereal Crystal?”
The moment the words left his mouth, his heart leaped.
If it really was that…
Then he was rich.
Ethereal Crystals were rare resources unique to the Abyss Hollow. Pure ones were priceless, and even impure remnants like this could fetch an astonishing price on the black market.
Bai Fan stared at the crystal in his palm, his breathing growing rapid.
Just then—Rumble! The rolling shutter behind him was roughly yanked open.
Bai Fan jolted, instinctively stuffing the crystal into the side pocket of his protective suit.
He turned around, and a towering shadow was already closing in.
He instinctively stepped back, nearly tripping over debris.
The man was burly, dressed in a black suit, with a hideous scar running across his face.
Seeing Bai Fan’s panicked expression, he grinned.
“What are you panicking about?”
Bai Fan froze. Recognizing the man, his breathing steadied slightly.
“Brother Feng… why are you here?”
Brother Feng was Master Mo’s most notorious enforcer.
Whenever someone overdue on their debt, he would personally pay a visit, using physical persuasion to convince them to pay up.
As for those who refused to cooperate, they ended up in the hospital.
“The moment I came in,” Brother Feng crossed his arms, sneering, “I saw you frantically stuffing something into your pocket.”
Bai Fan’s heart sank.
“It’s… nothing.”
“Show me.”
“It’s just a worthless trinket.”
“I don’t like repeating myself,” Brother Feng narrowed his eyes.
The air seemed to freeze.
Bai Fan felt like he was being stared down by some large carnivore.
If he hesitated even a second longer, a fist would land on his face first.
He quickly reached into his pocket and handed the item over.
Brother Feng took it, looked down, and saw a half-dried black cigarette butt in his palm.
“What the hell is this?”
Bai Fan scratched his head, showing an embarrassed smile. “Bach Cigarettes. I heard it’s an expensive brand. Found it on the street, planning to sell it as scrap for some cash.”
Brother Feng stared for two seconds, then burst out cursing: “Damn it, what unlucky crap!”
He tossed the cigarette butt to the ground.
“You pick up what others have smoked? Don’t you know it brings bad luck?”
‘I’m already unlucky enough, a little more won’t hurt.’
Luckily, he did have a habit of picking up random little things. Save them up and exchange for a few bucks—enough for two meals of steamed buns.
He bent down, picked up the cigarette butt, and said with a smile, “A mosquito’s leg is still meat. Better to care about the money for food now than worry about invisible bad luck.”
Brother Feng snorted coldly, his gaze suddenly turning mocking.
“Like father, like son. Seeing how pathetic you are, I can roughly guess why your parents couldn’t pay their debts and skipped town.”
Bai Fan froze mid-motion. The factory suddenly fell silent.
“Huh?” Brother Feng raised an eyebrow.
For a split second, he thought he saw the boy look up, something in his eyes almost surging out.
But when he looked again, Bai Fan was still bowing his head, standing there silently.
“They didn’t skip town,” he said softly. “The news said they just disappeared. They’ll come back.”
In his pocket, the boy’s knuckles had turned white from clenching.
Brother Feng laughed even louder. “Hahaha! After all these years, you still believe that? Even if they’re alive, they’ve been gone for so long without a word, leaving you alone in a shithole like this to pay off their debts—”
He waved his hand, his sneer deepening. “Anyone with half a brain can guess what kind of people your parents are.”
“Stop it.”
“The hell? What kind of tone is that?”
“I said, stop.”
“Fuck, you little—”
Bam!
Bai Fan suddenly grabbed a Bone-Splitting Axe from beside him, the sharp blade pointing straight at Brother Feng.
“I said, shut the fuck up!”
The air froze.
In that moment, Brother Feng finally saw it clearly. It wasn’t an illusion.
There really was a tiger or a wolf hiding in the boy’s eyes.
After years of silence, it had finally bared its fangs.
If he took one more step forward, this kid would pounce, and it would be a fight to the death.
Brother Feng’s Adam’s apple bobbed. He suddenly felt a little dry in the throat.
Fighting to the death with a lunatic like this wasn’t worth it. If he actually killed the kid, who would pay the debt?
If he injured him, it would affect the repayment progress, and Master Mo wouldn’t let him off either.
He forced out a smile that looked uglier than crying.
“Heh… just a joke, don’t take it seriously. What parent doesn’t love their own child? They’ll definitely come back for you.”
Bai Fan said nothing, just gripped the axe, staring at him.
Brother Feng took a step back on his own.
“Let me remind you of something. Master Mo will be here soon. He has something to discuss with you.”
The boy replied coldly, “Master Mo’s payment period for this month is still a few days away. I won’t be late.”
“Heh, I know,” Brother Feng said with a forced smile. “Out of all the debtors, you’ve always been the most punctual. Never late. Master Mo isn’t coming for that.”
Bai Fan asked, “Then why?”
Brother Feng glanced at the Skeleton Beast corpse behind him, smelling the sweet, rotten stench in the air, and frowned.
“First, put down the axe. Master Mo is already here. Don’t hold a weapon in front of him, or his gun won’t show mercy.”
Bai Fan was silent for a moment. Much of his anger subsided.
He knew Brother Feng was telling the truth.
Master Mo was a real big shot in Lincheng’s underworld. Smuggling, gambling dens, black market deals—he did whatever made money.
The gun on him never left his side.
Bai Fan put down the Bone-Splitting Axe.
“Follow me.”
Brother Feng visibly relaxed and turned to walk outside.
Bai Fan didn’t follow immediately. He waited for his racing heart to calm a little before stepping out of the factory.
As he crossed the threshold, the sunlight stabbed into his eyes like knives.
He instinctively squinted and raised a hand to shield himself.
In the open space sat a pitch-black Laster limousine, like a steel beast lying in wait.
Brother Feng was bent over by the car window.
Just then, a familiar dull ache flared deep in his chest, like something burning in his lungs.
“Cough—cough, cough!” Bai Fan doubled over, bracing one hand on his knee.
“What’s wrong with you?” Brother Feng turned back.
“Nothing.” Bai Fan wiped the corner of his mouth, a smear of dark red staining his fingertips.
He subtly tucked his hand into his sleeve, straightened up, and took a deep breath.
“Come here.” Brother Feng beckoned. “Master Mo has something to say to you.”
Bai Fan walked toward the car.
The window rolled down slowly.
An old face appeared—gray temples, crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes, but his eyes were still sinister and sharp.
Bai Fan had seen this man many times.
He knew that countless people’s fates in Lincheng were held in the hands of this man’s eyes.
He stopped a step away from the window and bowed his head.
“Greetings, Master Mo.”
Master Mo glanced at him dismissively.
“Good work. You’ve turned out more valuable than I initially thought.”
Bai Fan kept his head low, his voice respectful. “Thanks to the opportunity Master Mo gave me.”
That was the truth. Becoming a De-husker was indeed possible only through Master Mo’s gray channels.
“Look up.”
Bai Fan raised his head slightly, but still didn’t dare meet his eyes.
Master Mo sneered. “Don’t be nervous. I won’t eat you.”
Bai Fan didn’t answer.
He had heard too many rumors about Master Mo. It was said that most of those who crossed him ended up at the bottom of the river.
Slap.
Something hit his head.
Bai Fan caught it instinctively—a wad of cash.
“This is your pay for the week.”
He squeezed it. Thicker than usual. Much thicker.
“Thank you, Master Mo.”
“Don’t thank me.” Master Mo’s tone was flat. “After deducting the debt, interest, broker fees, and protective equipment rental, this is what you deserve.”
Bai Fan stared at the cash in his hand, hesitating for a moment.
“Master Mo, at this rate, how much longer until I can pay off what my parents owe you?”
The moment he finished speaking, the air seemed to freeze for a second. Bai Fan keenly noticed that Master Mo’s eyes seemed to turn colder.
“Pay off?” Master Mo said indifferently. “What you owe me is far more than that. Even if you work as a De-husker for another thirty years, you won’t finish it.”
Bai Fan’s heart sank.
Thirty years.
Or even longer.
‘Was I going to be trapped in this stinking de-husking factory for the rest of my life?’
‘No. Absolutely not.’
He suddenly gritted his teeth. The thought that had been burning in his chest for a long time seared his throat like a hot coal.
He looked up at Master Mo.
“Master Mo, I’ve been attending Night School for two years. Soon I’ll be eligible to take the University College entrance exam.”
He paused.
“Could you let me take the exam?”
Brother Feng was stunned. Master Mo frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“You’re right,” Bai Fan took a deep breath. “If I keep working as a De-husker, I won’t make you much money. Why not defer my debt as an investment in me? Once I get into university, I can pay you back faster.”
“Presumptuous!” Brother Feng barked. “Kid, you dare to negotiate with Master Mo?”
Bai Fan ignored him. His gaze passed over Brother Feng and locked onto Master Mo in the car.
He waited for an answer. Master Mo was silent for a long time.
Bai Fan’s chest grew heavier. His palms began to sweat.
Master Mo spoke.
“Kid, this isn’t the era of the Federation’s reconstruction. College students aren’t as valuable as you think. Many graduates from second-rate colleges earn less than a De-husker.”
Bai Fan looked up. He felt his heart about to leap out of his throat, but he didn’t back down.
“I want to take the exam for Tianqi Academy.”
The air suddenly became still. Brother Feng’s eyes widened; he even doubted his own ears.
Even Master Mo raised an eyebrow.
“Tianqi Academy?”
“Do you know what kind of place that is?”
Bai Fan’s tone was firm. “Yes. It’s the No.1 Academy of the Northern Federation.”
“And what makes you think you can get in?”
Bai Fan didn’t hesitate.
“Because my parents used to teach there. If they could get in, so can I. And—”
He paused, his gaze once again turning simple.
“I have to get in.”
Master Mo stared at him.
“Why?”
Bai Fan was silent for a moment.
“Because they disappeared there. I want to know the truth.”
Wind blew across the open space. Everything inside and outside the car fell silent.
Brother Feng was a little dazed. This was the first time he had heard Bai Fan mention this.
Master Mo quietly regarded the boy before him.
After a long time, he suddenly smiled.
“Heh, what makes me believe you?”
Bai Fan met his gaze. This time, he didn’t look down.
“Master Mo, you started from the bottom of Lincheng. You climbed from nothing to where you are today.
Back then, did you believe you would reach this point?”
The air froze. Brother Feng even forgot to breathe.
The next moment, Master Mo suddenly threw his head back and laughed.
“Hahahaha—” The laughter echoed across the open space, slowly dying down.
He fixed his gaze on Bai Fan. “Kid, you’ve got some fucking nerve.”
“So investing in me won’t be a loss,” Bai Fan said without backing down.
Master Mo’s eyes grew brighter.
Finally, he nodded.
“Alright, I’ll give you a chance.”
Bai Fan’s heart raced.
“Thank you, Mast—”
“Not only that,” Master Mo interrupted him, a slow smile spreading across his lips.
“If you can complete a task for me, I’ll wipe out your entire family’s debt.”
Brother Feng’s face changed drastically.
“Master Mo!”
Master Mo waved his hand, silencing him.
Bai Fan was also stunned, even doubting if he had heard correctly.
“Really?”
“Of course.”
Master Mo leaned back in his seat, his gaze meaningful.
“But nothing in this world is free. Before that, you’ll have to do something for me.”
Bai Fan’s heart pounded. He looked at him in disbelief.
He couldn’t quite believe such a windfall was falling from the sky.
“What is it?”
Master Mo grinned, revealing a smile that sent a chill down the spine.
The smile carried a hint of danger, and also a hint of anticipation.
“You’ll know when the time comes.”