Chapter Three: R...Robbery!

While Ye Chen was still immersed in the cultivation of the Breathing Technique, elsewhere, Li Hao appeared at the door of a shabby house in the outer city's workshop district.

The moment he pushed the door open, a pungent stench of rot rushed out to greet him, along with the fierce gaze of a scar-faced man.

“What do you want, coming here so late?”

“Someone bagged a big catch outside the city. Interested in intercepting it?”

“Who does it belong to?”

“Hmph, Ye Chen’s!”

...

Early the next morning.

When Ye Chen woke, he vaguely sensed a faint crackling from his bones. He merely chalked it up to yesterday’s fatigue and thought nothing of it.

He opened the door, pulled over a small stool, and sat at the threshold to process the giant sand rat.

He couldn’t help but wonder what these creatures ate to grow so large... As he worked, this question nagged at him.

Just then, an elderly man passing by greeted him, “Up early to skin a sand rat, eh, Ye Chen? My, this one’s a fat one!

“I saw Li Hao harassing Shanshan again last night.

“Sell this rat, and you two might scrape by a bit longer, but winter’s coming, and prey will be even harder to catch.

“If you can’t put food on the table, remember, just let this old man know. I’ll make sure you and Shanshan don’t starve!”

This area, filled with tin-roofed cheap rentals, was home to people of modest means. Their lives were tough, but they still did what they could to help each other.

Even beasts band together for warmth in winter—how much more should those at the very bottom of society?

After all, you never know when you’ll need help yourself.

Ye Chen didn’t say much, only smiled and nodded in response.

He deftly skinned the sand rat, slicing open its belly along the midline and separating hide from flesh. He worked the limbs free, pulled out the tailbone, then peeled back the head. Severing the connecting tissues in one fluid motion, the skin came off as neat as a cloak.

His skilled hands drew applause from a few neighborhood children squatting nearby, who took the chance to ask for a few sharp sand rat claws as a token reward for their flattery.

At that moment, the iron door behind him creaked open.

Ye Shanshan emerged, pushing a little cart. She caught sight of Ye Chen wiping his hands at the door. Before she could speak, he said, “The sand rat meat is yours; I’ll take the pelt to sell later.”

“For me?” Her expression was a bit odd, then understanding dawned.

There was a much bigger catch at home now, so the smaller one hardly mattered.

Ye Shanshan’s smile was sweet and refreshingly pure, making Ye Chen’s mind momentarily drift.

Meanwhile, the neighbors’ hushed whispers started up again:

“Did you hear? Last night Ye Chen came home with a giant sand lizard.”

“I saw it too! That thing was huge—must’ve taken at least an E-rank Awakened to handle it. When did he get so strong?”

“I saw a bounty notice at the task center a few days ago. That sand lizard should fetch tens of thousands in rewards!”

“Wow... With that much luck, those two won’t have to worry about this winter at all...”

A cold snort cut through the murmurs, but soon was drowned out by even more voices tinged with envy.

...

Dragging the giant sand lizard’s carcass through the streets from the residential area towards the market, Ye Chen was easily the most eye-catching person around.

As he walked across an open space at the boundary between the two districts, a foul stench began to fill the air—a distinct reek of decay.

Turning a corner, he saw five men standing shoulder to shoulder in the middle of the road.

The leader had his shirt open, exposing a muscular chest and a deep scar across his face. His fierce eyes sparkled with disdain and greed. His right hand was wrapped in bandages, and the stench emanated from beneath them.

“Rotten Scar?” Ye Chen muttered with a frown.

He recognized this notorious thug from the workshop district—a man infamous for all sorts of unsavory dealings. Most notably, he was an Awakened, and his right hand was perpetually rotting beneath the bandages. Anything living that it touched would corrode as well.

Usually, he stayed in the workshop district—what was he doing here today?

A scrawny underling jumped out, stammering, “Th-th-this is a r-robbery!”

Then, glancing at Rotten Scar, he added nervously, “B-big catch, boss! L-let’s do it!”

Rotten Scar’s lips curled into a smirk, and with a glance, he signaled the three men behind him.

He had no intention of acting himself; three thugs were more than enough to handle a wilderness hunter like Ye Chen. As for the thin rat-faced boy beside him, he didn’t even count as a threat.

Seeing the malicious grin on Rotten Scar’s face and the three men closing in, Ye Chen immediately understood their intent.

A roadside... robbery!

He let go of the sand lizard’s tail, drew the broken blade at his waist.

At the sight of his weapon, the group burst into laughter.

Rotten Scar flexed his fist and sneered, “Ye Chen, you think you can take on the five of us with a broken knife?

“Where did you find the nerve?”

But to their surprise, Ye Chen calmly sheathed the broken blade.

Afraid?

Yet in the next instant, they were shocked again, for Ye Chen wasn’t surrendering—he clenched his fists and charged straight at the trio.

Had he lost his mind? Facing three men with bare fists, leaving his weapon behind?

In truth, Ye Chen didn’t want to use his blade.

There was an unwritten rule in the outer city: fights were tolerated, but if someone died, the Patrol Bureau would come for you.

More importantly, Ye Chen clearly felt a change in his strength since yesterday—especially when dragging the sand lizard’s carcass earlier. His body moved more easily, more powerfully. The only explanation was last night’s cultivation of the Breathing Technique.

He needed to test himself in battle.

Facing three at once, he showed no fear; in fact, he sped up as he dashed forward.

No fancy moves—just power. Muscles taut, he threw a punch square into one thug’s chest, taking a blow in return.

The struck man staggered back, dropping to the ground with a yelp, clutching his chest and howling in pain.

Ye Chen stood firm, unmoved. Retracting his fist, he brought up his knee, driving it hard into a second thug’s chin.

Teeth clacked together with a loud snap, his head jerked back, stars dancing before his eyes.

His strength had clearly increased—perhaps his endurance too... Ye Chen silently took stock of his body’s changes. After all, real combat was the truest test.

The third thug, witnessing Ye Chen’s sudden burst of power, faltered and hesitated, his courage evaporating as his companions moaned on the ground.

Even Rotten Scar’s brow furrowed deeply at the sight.

...Since when did this kid get so good? No wonder he managed to catch a sand lizard that size!

But in front of me, he’s still nothing!

With this thought, Rotten Scar began to unwind the bandages on his hand.