Chapter 1:-BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! I WANT YA IN MY—
Ugh.
Serene groaned, blinking hard as his eyes adjusted to the dim light. Cold stone pressed against his back. The air smelled damp.
"Where am I…?"
He turned his head slightly. Rough walls. Uneven ground.
"Is this a cave?"
How the hell did I end up in a cave?
I live in the middle of a giant city.
Kidnapped?
Why?
He let out a bitter laugh. He was broke—beyond broke—after wasting his money on that overpriced piece of junk that gave him nothing but anxiety. Even if someone did want a ransom, no one was paying it. Especially not for him.
He shifted his wrists. The ropes scraped against his skin—loose. Ridiculously loose.
"Seriously," he muttered. "Who ties knots like this?"
As he twisted and worked at the bindings, his thoughts began to drift. The cave blurred at the edges, his head lightening, floating—just like the first time he'd smoked weed.
Damn. Haven't felt this high in years.
Quitting was a mistake. Would've been dead by twenty-three anyway…
"Umm… hello?"
Serene froze.
"Huh?" He lifted his head. "Who's there?"
"I am Yuning from—"
"You think I know who that is?" Serene snapped. "I'm asking where the fuck you are."
"But you asked who is there."
"Suh—suh—shut it. I'm not in the mood. Just come out."
"I am just standing here."
His jaw tightened. "Here where?"
"Here. In the cave."
A pause.
"And can you tell me," the voice added , "why You're in my mind?"
Huh—what the fuck are you talking about? Why would I get into your dumb head?
"No, no. You are in my head."
"No—like, what the fuck? Why am I in your—"
"And I am not dumb."
"Oh yeah? Then just shut the fuck up and don't interrupt me again."
"Oh. Oh, okay. Sorry."
"Thank you. So, let's think this through. I was chilling on my bed, Saturday afternoon, just playing on my phone—and then I get sent into the head of some dumb fuck? How does that even hap—"
"I am not—"
"AHHHHHH!" Serene snapped. "Didn't I fucking tell you to keep quiet? Does your two-celled brain not even understand what 'quiet' means?"
"But I am not dumb. I am Shuyan—pronounced Shu-yan—meaning virtuous scholar."
"Soooo?"
"So I am not dumb, and you should stop calling me dumb."
"Soooooo?"
"I said I am Shuyan, not dumb."
"Sooooooo?"
"I am smart, Shuyan."
Serene sighed loudly. "Did no one ever tell you to judge the tone? Mate, I don't give a fuck even if your name means emperor." He paused. "Forget it. So… I'm stuck in your head, huh?"
"I am not—"
"Okay, okay, I get it. You're smart. Now can you use that smart brain of yours to answer my questions?"
"…Okay."
"..."
"Soooo?"
"…Are you being sarcastic again?"
"Sigh! No, I'm not!" Serene snapped. "I'm asking—am I stuck in your head?"
"Yes, yes. You are in my head."
"Do you know why?"
"Nope!"
"Okay, then why am I in so much pain? Can you tell me that?"
"I don't know why you are in pain."
"Can we switch, like before?"
"No. I don't want to."
"Whyyyyy not?"
"Because you are mean. And you ignore me when I am the one inside."
"Please. Just once?"
"No."
"Pretty pleaseeeee?"
"No, I don't want to."
"Urgh—listen here, you dumb fuck. You better let me do it or I will—"
"I don't want to hear it. I said I won't do i—"
"Ahhh, you son of a—"
After cursing for a long time and hearing countless I don't want tos, Serene finally stopped. He took a breath, then sighed, addressing the elephant in the room.
"Okay, okay. Now shut up—you don't have to."
"I won't do it."
"Sure, sure. Now tell me—how did you end up in here?"
"I came here to work."
"Who the fuck works in a cave?" Serene shot back. "And why are you alone in here? Also—aren't you a minor? Are you even allowed to work here?"
Ohhh, yes. I am a miner. I dig coal here and sell it to the Wang family. I heard their head was a merchant who made a lot of money and came to our village to retire. They also say his son is a virtuous scholar, a juren, and is studying for the huishi.
Hmm. So this guy's brain can't comprehend more than a single query, huh.
What did you say?
No, nothing. Sigh. So why are you alone?
I always work alone.
Sigh. I'm asking why you are alone in here. There should be plenty of villagers trying to grab this place from you.
Ohhh, you are asking why no one else is here.
Yes.
That's because only I can mine here. Do you see that hole right there? That's the only way in. No adult can come in here, so I am the only one who works here.
What about other children in the village? Judging from your attire and language, you should be in ancient China. I don't think the government cares much about human rights laws, let alone creating something like the FLSA.
What is falsa? Shuyan asked in a curious tone.
Sigh. A rule that tells people how children can work. Now can you tell me why no one in the village is sending children in here?
Serene's question seemed to trigger something dark. Shuyan's smile faded, and he spoke in a sullen tone.
"That's because they have a mother. Lu'er said her mother loves her very much, so she won't let her come here and be in danger."
Serene was still curious about Shuyan's family, and even about the ancient-China-version of nasty relatives, but his knowledge of psychology and a bit of common sense told him that if he continued, the kid wouldn't answer at all. So he wisely switched the topic.
So why the heck were you tied up? Are you using the rope as a sleeping bag?
What is a sleeping bag?
Well… how do I explain it? It's like a blanket, but one that covers the ground too.
No. I was tied up by a witch.
Huh? What the fuck do you mean a witch tied you up? Didn't you say no one besides children can enter here? And how are you calling that being tied? Mate, that's called covering, not tying.
That rope was so loose a single wiggle would've made it fall off. And who in their right mind ties a kidnapping rope with a bow?
I meant I was tied by a witch.
Ahhh, fuck. I forgot—you have the comprehension skills of a ten-year-old. But even then, why aren't you running? Even an ape would know to run once it's out of a cage.
What are you saying… com-pen-sa-tion acu-men?
Ahhh! Why are you not running away right now? What are you going to do when that witch comes back? Run! Run, you dumb fuck!
I am not—
I don't fucking care. Run, you piece of crap!
I don't want to.
Huh? What did you say?
I said I don't want to go.
Why? I don't know what that witch you mentioned is, or why she kept you here, but there is no way in hell this ends well.
I don't want her to not find me here and then follow me to my home.
So you mean you'd rather stay here and die so she won't harm your family?
Yes!
Why in the hell would you do that? Sure, you're not ruthless enough to abandon your family and run alone—but can't you take them with you?
I can take my sister with me. But we don't even have a single coin, and I can't do anything except mine. We would starve to death if we left.
I have plenty of ways to earn money. I can rob, steal, act, make pottery and furniture. Hell, I can even pass your dianshi and become a jinshi. Just run away from here. I'll make sure all your material needs are fulfilled.
No.
Why? I can really make a lot of money. I bought a 1.2 million villa and a Koenigsegg. That thing cost two million.
Still no.
You mot—
I believe you are really smart enough to earn a lot, but I don't trust you.
I am fucking stuck in your body. Do you think I can run off?
That's not what I meant.
Then why is it so hard for you to want to live?
I want to live. But if I don't trust you and die here, worst case, only I die. If I trust you and you fail, my sister dies with me. She is just eight. Her life should not end so soon.
Ahhhh, fuck!
...
Author shook his head. Sigh. Not again.
...
Oh yes. Do you really think your sister can live well without you? People aren't as kind as you think. They would abuse her. Sell her as a prostitute. Her whole life bathed in misery. Left alone in the world, she would resent you until death, wondering why you abandoned her, what she did wrong to deserve being left alone and helpless in such a cruel world. On her deathbed, she would look back at her lonely life and—
Serene felt he was close. Shuyan was trembling, fear clear in his voice, when suddenly he screamed.
"She is not alone! Father would take care of her. Yes—father! Father would take care of her!"
Serene froze.
A father?
That hadn't even crossed his mind. He snapped out of it quickly, searching for a way to break that hope before it solidified.
"Yeah, father would?" Serene scoffed. "Mate, are you sane? You're saying a father who sends you to die for a bit of money would take care of your sister? Let me guess—gambler? Or worse, a drunkard? You can risk your own life, sure, but you want to gamble your sister's future on a man who doesn't care if you die?"
He pressed harder.
"Parents aren't as reliable as you think. If they were, you wouldn't be here. So you should listen to me and never—"
He stopped.
Not because his conscience woke up.
But because he realized it was useless.
Residing inside Shuyan's mind, Serene sensed an intense resolution.
Shuyan was crying, yes—but the resolve to die here for his sister was overwhelming.
Naturally, Serene didn't believe in unbreakable resolve or emotions that couldn't be changed. His life had taught him that everything was susceptible to change. Nothing—absolutely nothing—was certain. But now wasn't the time to cling to his beliefs and gamble with his life. There was no time to crack Shuyan's will. Betting one's life on stubbornness was just another way of seeking death, and Serene had already paid that price once.
Sigh.
"Hey, Shuyan… can you talk?"
"Yes. Why?"
"Do you want to live?"
"Yes. Why wouldn't I?" Shuyan replied. "I want to be there for my sister in her life, but—"
"So you do want to live. You just don't want to harm your sister."
"Yes."
"Then would it be fine if I got rid of that witch?"
"…Yes, but how?" Shuyan hesitated. "Her body moved like a snake, twisting with ease. She was so strong—she took a full-strength hit from my hoe. I don't think you can trap her. She was injured, so she won't be careless."
"Why do you even have a hoe in a mine?" Serene snapped. "If you had a pickaxe, I could at least collapse the airway and outlast her."
"I don't have enough money to buy one," Shuyan said quietly. "So I use the hoe from home to dig."
"Sigh… fine. A hoe is good enough." Serene paused. "You said she was injured?"
"Yes. She had a knife stuck in her shoulder. Does that matter?"
"Of course it matters." Serene's tone sharpened. "I thought you were talking about some mythical creature when you said 'witch.' But if she can bleed from normal weapons, then she can die. For sure."
"Even if she can be killed," Shuyan said, voice trembling, "does it really matter if I can't kill her?"
"That's where traps come in," Serene replied calmly. "Traps are a weak man's best friend. Now let me out. I want to see if there's anything here we can use to trap that witch."
"…Sure."
With that, Shuyan relinquished control.
Serene took over—and immediately began scanning the cave, searching for anything that could be turned into a weapon.
"Hey, kid. Did you ever have a hard time breathing in here?"
Hey!
"Hey, motherfucker, talk."
Sigh. Take over if you can hear it.
Just as he said that, his mind began to rise again, control slipping from his grasp. But before he could shake the sensation off, a loud shout slammed into his thoughts.
"No! I never had that problem. I can breathe just fine!"
Serene wanted to curse, but he forced himself to calm down and asked again.
"Did you find any other holes around here?"
"Yes. There is one other that goes a bit down."
"I mean holes that let air in. Are there any?"
"No. Only this one."
"Good. Then grind the coal you collected into dust."
"Huh? Why? Steward Lu won't pay for coal dust."
"Ahhh. I want to make a trap with it, not sell it. Now do it if you still want to live. And do exactly as I say—because you might not mind dying, but I fucking do."
"Yes, sorry, sorry," Shuyan said quickly, already moving. He began grinding the coal into dust, apologizing as he worked.
After finishing, he gathered the fine black powder into a basket, crushing the last chunks with a rock. He was about to ask Serene if there was anything else to do—
When he heard it.
Footsteps.
The sound of fabric brushing against stone wasn't loud, wasn't unusual—but it sent shivers racing down Shuyan's spine.
"It's over! We're going to die!"
"The fuck you mean we're going to die?" Serene snapped. "The timing is perfect."
"It is?"
"Yes. Now toss the basket into the air and spread the dust."
"Like this?" Shuyan asked, still confused, still unable to understand why Serene was telling him to throw away the coal he'd worked so hard to grind.
"Yes. Now smash those two rocks together."
"This one?"
"Not that one. The flint and the pyrite."
"Huh? What did—"
"The black one on the right and the golden one on the left."
"These ones…?"
"Yes, yes, yes. Now cover yourself with that cape over there."
"But that's the witch's—"
"I don't fucking care. It's silk, and you need it if you want even a sliver of hope to survive. Now cover yourself with it and strike the rocks when the witch comes inside."
Just as Shuyan pulled the cape around himself, the footsteps stopped.
Someone stood at the cave entrance.
The figure looked human—but wrong. Strange makeup was smeared across his face. His garments were half torn, hanging loosely from his body. A shoulder-wide wound gaped open, treated with some kind of white powder and left fully exposed through the ripped cloth.
The man's eyes swept across the dust-filled cave. Then he smiled and spoke.
"Hey, kiddo. Do you know how hard it is to maintain my skin?" His voice was oddly pleasant, almost gentle—but beneath it lurked a nasal, hoarse growl that echoed unnaturally. "If it gets ruined, I'll pluck out your nails and eat you later."
The words alone were horrifying. The tone made it worse.
Shivers ran down Shuyan's spine. Even Serene felt it.
"Move!" Serene shouted inside his head. "Why aren't you smashing the rocks? Get rid of this bitch!"
The yelling snapped Shuyan out of his fear. He raised his hands and began smashing the stones together desperately.
Crack.
Again.
Crack.
But aside from chipping the rocks, nothing happened.
"No sparks?" Shuyan whispered, panic creeping back in.
"Man, you can't even hit a rock right! Let me out!" Serene shouted in anger.
But his words never left his consciousness. The only one capable of acting—Shuyan—was too focused on the rocks.
Fortunately, the transvestite-looking man didn't seem to mind. He pulled out a flint and steel and laughed.
"Ha! I didn't expect you to be so cooperative. But don't worry—I need to drain you of your essence first, then I'll eat you."
He licked his snake-like tongue across his lips and added, "But if you want to do both at the same time… I don't mind."
Then he collided the flint and steel in his hands, laughing cruelly.
After numerous failed attempts, Shuyan finally ceded control to Serene. Seeing the man's action, Serene couldn't help but chuckle inside his mind.
"Hey… hey, I didn't expect you to cooperate so well. Well, it's nice—I don't have to risk losing my hands."
He was about to duck back into the hole leading down, but he had greatly underestimated the witch's speed. The flint was far better at creating sparks than Shuyan's rocks. In an instant, it ignited the coal dust flying in the cave.
The cave had enough oxygen that the flick from the flint and steel instantly set the dust ablaze.
Flames rapidly spread through every particle, generating massive heat—and, most importantly, a shockwave.
The expansion caused by the burning coal dust, combined with the air inside the enclosed space, reached its limit, causing…
Boom!
The entire cave exploded. The burning transvestite was flung into the wall with enough force to crack it, shattering his bones.
Serene and Shuyan weren't unharmed either. They were thrown back into a crevice on the cave floor. Compared to the witch, they were in much better shape—but still collapsed from the pain. Serene was knocked out cold.
Fortunately, they were two, not one. Shuyan took over, dragging himself and Serene's body, battered from the fall.
It was grueling. Having been burned and smashed into a pit, moving was agony. But sheer will—and the thrill of surviving a life-threatening disaster—kept him going.
After barely dragging himself and the scorched, broken body of the transvestite out of the cave, Shuyan collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath.
Just as he was about to close his eyes and rest, he heard the sound of clothes rustling.
His eyes snapped open.
The transvestite's body was moving.
Fear surged through him. Trembling, Shuyan reached out and poked the body with a finger—then immediately jumped back when it twitched in response. His breath turned ragged. For a moment, panic threatened to overwhelm him.
Then he stepped forward again.
He picked up a rock from the ground.
Bang!
He brought it down on the man's head.
Bang!
Again.
Bang!
With three brutal strikes, he smashed the head into a mess of shattered bone and brain matter. The body finally went limp.
Still not convinced, Shuyan grabbed the knife from the corpse. His hands shook as he stabbed the chest—once, twice, again and again—until the ribs cracked and the heart was exposed.
He stared at it.
Silent. Still.
Only then did he release the breath he had been holding.
Even if this monster survived the explosion, there was no way it could live without its head or heart.
With the threat finally gone, Shuyan's strength gave out. He collapsed onto the grass, his battered body screaming in pain, and drifted into exhausted sleep.