Bai Yunfei endured the intense pain throughout his body, slowly sitting up from the ground. He stared blankly at the ferocious youth before him.
"I... how could I have done such a thing? Just now, it felt like those actions were completely natural... What's wrong with me?" Bai Yunfei was fully awake now, but recalling his attitude toward the young lady earlier, he couldn't believe he had acted that way...
Were these rich young masters and ladies someone he could afford to provoke? People like them never valued the lives of commoners like him!
At this thought, Bai Yunfei struggled to his feet with difficulty. Not daring to look at the pair across from him, he bowed deeply. "Miss, I'm sorry... I truly didn't mean to offend. I beg your forgiveness, overlook this fool's mistake..."
"Forgive you?! You lowly peasant, how dare you touch my Meng'er? You'll pay with your worthless life!!" Zhang Yang sneered, glaring at Bai Yunfei as if he were already dead. He strode forward, veins bulging on his right fist. With each step, his arm seemed to swell thicker.
Bai Yunfei lifted his head slightly. The moment his eyes met Zhang Yang's, a sharp pain stabbed through his mind. A tremor from the depths of his soul swept over his entire body, causing him to collapse back onto the ground. In his eyes, Zhang Yang transformed into a terrifying demon, claws outstretched. One gentle squeeze, and he would be crushed like an ant.
"Zhang Yang, stop... Did I ever say I wanted him dead?" Just as Yunfei felt he was about to break, a heavenly voice rang out, instantly lightening the oppressive weight on him.
Zhang Yang halted and turned to Liu Meng, puzzled. "Meng... Liu Meng, this scum offended you. Doesn't he deserve to die? Let me teach him a lesson to vent your anger."
Liu Meng frowned slightly, shooting Zhang Yang an annoyed glance. "I am not 'yours.' Watch your words..." She glanced back seemingly casually before adding, "Besides, this man seems dazed, not like he was faking it. And though he offended me, there's no need to take his life..."
Bai Yunfei stared at Liu Meng dumbfounded, his expression vacant. "She... is pleading for me? Such a reasonable young lady of wealth... like an angel..."
"Plus, he took quite a kick from you and is badly injured. That's punishment enough." Liu Meng glanced at the fallen candied hawthorn skewer Yunfei had bought earlier. Her eyes flickered with unspoken thoughts, and she smiled faintly at him. "Haha, besides, he already compensated me with the candy. You just knocked it away..."
Seeing her smile, Yunfei's heart raced uncontrollably. Warmth spread across his cheeks, and his thoughts grew hazy again. "She... is so beautiful..."
Zhang Yang's eyes darkened with malice at Liu Meng smiling at a commoner. "We can't let him off that easily! At least chop off one of his hands! I—"
"Yang'er!" A stern voice abruptly cut him off. The middle-aged man who had been trailing them stepped forward.
"Father!"
"Uncle."
Zhang Yang and Liu Meng both greeted respectfully—this was Zhang Yang's father, the head of the Zhang family, Zhang Zhenshan.
"Meng'er is right. As a Soul Master, how can you demean yourself by squabbling with such riffraff? Killing him in public would disgrace our Zhang family!" The man clearly disapproved of his son's actions, his tone scolding.
Hearing Zhang Yang mention chopping off his hand, Bai Yunfei had panicked. Now, relieved by the elder's words, he sighed internally. But suddenly, Zhang Zhenshan swept his gaze over him. In an instant, Yunfei felt as if plunged into an icy abyss. His very soul trembled under a pressure countless times stronger than Zhang Yang's, making every breath a struggle.
This sensation vanished as quickly as it came. Yunfei gasped for air, sweat beading and dripping from his face.
"Your mother awaits our return. Do not delay further," Zhang Zhenshan said, noting his son's lingering resentment. "If you're still unsatisfied... let the servants teach him a lesson."
Zhang Yang dared not argue. Shooting a glance at his attendants, the group resumed walking toward the city.
Two attendants stayed behind, advancing on Bai Yunfei with menacing expressions. Having heard Zhang Zhenshan's words, Yunfei knew he couldn't escape the beating. Resistance would only worsen his injuries, so he curled up, shielding his head and face, enduring their kicks and punches.
In the distance, Zhang Yang, now several steps ahead, cast an imperceptible glance back, jealousy burning in his eyes. But when he turned to Liu Meng, he resumed his polished young master persona, eagerly pointing out landmarks of Luoshi City.
...
Bai Yunfei dragged his battered body home, inch by agonizing inch. He pushed open the rickety door to reveal a cramped room. Inside, only a crude bed stood—roof holes gaped overhead, spilling moonlight that banished the darkness.
Everything of value had long been sold off, including the adjoining room.
Sitting on the bed, Yunfei stared blankly at the ceiling. Rubbing his bruised and swollen injuries, tears welled up uncontrollably—anger, humiliation, helplessness. But what could he do? Nothing changed...
His fingers brushed the pendant at his chest, and the tears slowed. It was a thumb-sized, cloud-shaped piece of white jade, crudely carved from cheap material. Years of wear had polished it smooth, even giving it a faint glow. This was his mother's only legacy.
"Mother... is there any meaning to living like this?" Yunfei murmured, gazing dazedly at the pendant.
"One day, my little Yunfei will grow up... soaring like a cloud under the clear sky, free and unburdened..."
His mother's loving words echoed in his mind. He scrubbed the tears from his face and slapped his cheeks hard.
"I can't stay like this! Mother's birthday is soon... I must save money to repair her and Grandfather's graves. I won't let Mother see me unhappy!"
After a few deep breaths, Yunfei calmed himself and began reflecting on the day's events.
"What was wrong with me? On the street... it wasn't me anymore. How could I have provoked those rich brats?"
"Now I'm myself again, but... my mind feels crowded with strange things. Yet when I try to grasp them, they slip away..."
"Was it just exhaustion... hallucinations? But I felt completely normal before."
He thumped his head several times, straining to dredge up elusive memories.
"Equipment Enhancement Technique... what is that?"
Just then, the bed beneath him lurched violently. He nearly tumbled off.
"Ugh, loose again? This piece-of-junk bed..."
Bending down, he saw the left leg was visibly shorter. Something had been propping it up, but his fidgeting had knocked it aside.
Yunfei fished the object from under the bed and hefted it in his palm—a brick.
As he moved to wedge it back under the leg, a string of information flooded his mind.
"Equipment Grade: Ordinary."
"Attack Power: 9."
"Enhancement Requirement: 1 Soul Point."
The sudden intrusion startled him. His hand jerked, and the brick clattered to the floor. The information vanished.
Glancing around fearfully, he found nothing amiss. After a long pause, he mustered courage and picked up the brick. As expected, the details reappeared. He set it down—gone. Lifted it—back again.
"So... this refers to it? But what does 'enhancement' mean?"
"Enhance..."
The moment the thought formed, Yunfei felt an emptiness in his chest, as if part of his soul had vanished. It lasted only an instant before fading.
"Enhancement successful."
Another flash of information. He looked down at the brick in his hand.
"Equipment Grade: Ordinary."
"Enhancement Level: +1."
"Attack Power: 9."
"Additional Attack Power: 1."
"Enhancement Requirement: 2 Soul Points."
The brick felt slightly heavier, or maybe sturdier—he couldn't tell if it was his imagination.
"More details... Attack Power—does it mean lethality? Enhancing boosts it? What kind of nonsense is this? Am I dreaming?"
He pressed against a bruise on his waist and winced—not a dream.
"This... could it be related to my bizarre behavior earlier?"
He pondered fiercely but found no answers. Giving up, he decided it wasn't harmful—no discomfort at least.
"What if I enhance it further...?"
Curiosity bubbled within him.
"Enhance."
That heart-stopping sensation returned. Yunfei fixed his gaze on the brick.
"Enhancement successful."
"Equipment Grade: Ordinary."
"Equipment Enhancement Level: +2."
"Attack Power: 9."
"Additional Attack Power: 2."
"Enhancement Requirement: 3 Soul Points."
He waved the brick. It truly felt more solid now.
"Let's enhance it a few more times..."
Soon after...
"Enhancement successful."
"Equipment Grade: Ordinary."
"Equipment Enhancement Level: +6."
"Attack Power: 9."
"Additional Attack Power: 6."
"Enhancement Requirement: 7 Soul Points."
But when Yunfei attempted another enhancement, the result changed.
"Enhancement failed."
"Huh?? Failed?? What does that mean?"
He checked the brick. The Enhancement Level had dropped from +6 to +5.
"Oh... it can fail? And failure reduces a level?"
Now wholly captivated, Yunfei treated it like a fascinating new toy.
He stopped checking after each enhancement. Instead, he stared at the brick and chanted internally:
"Enhance."
"Enhance."
"Enhance."
"..."
Growing excited, he chanted fervently. Suddenly, dizziness washed over him. His soul felt drained, consciousness fading as he slumped onto the bed.
Just before blacking out, a final string of information flickered in his mind:
"Enhancement successful."
"Equipment Grade: Ordinary."
"Equipment Enhancement Level: +10."
"Attack Power: 9."
"Additional Attack Power: 16."
"+10 Additional Effect: 1% chance to inflict up to 3 seconds of forced stun on target upon attack (headshot increases probability to 5%)."
"..."