On the rooftop of the office building, Lu Yushan crouched at the edge.
Cold rain slid down his bangs and into his collar.
Lu Yushan made no effort to avoid it. He numbly stared at his phone screen.
[Ami Loan] Dear user, your bill for this period is overdue. Late fees will start accumulating at 0:00 tomorrow…
He closed it.
[North Collections] You little bastard, if you don’t pay up this month, the interest will double!
He closed it.
[Voice Message 91″]
Yushan, have you eaten yet?
It’s just that… Xiao Yao is about to start school, and the school is really pressing for the fees… If you have some money, can you transfer two thousand first?
If not, it’s fine. Auntie will think of something else…
In the background audio, he could faintly hear his uncle smashing a cup and roaring.
“That’s our daughter’s tuition! Why are you filling that deadbeat’s holes!”
“…”
Lu Yushan’s finger lingered on the screen for a long time.
He closed it.
Staring at the “collection” messages that stretched on for pages without end, Lu Yushan zoned out for a while.
In the end, he still pressed the power button.
The screen that went black reflected a pale, lifeless face.
Wet hair clung to his face. His eyes were murky, like a specimen freshly pulled from formalin.
Lu Yushan fished a crumpled cigarette from his pocket. The lighter clicked several times before it finally lit.
This was his first time smoking. He imitated the way adults did it in his memories and took a deep drag.
“Cough cough… Cough cough cough!!”
The pungent smoke burned into his lungs. Tears instantly sprang from the coughing.
He must have inhaled too hard. Lu Yushan suddenly felt a bit dizzy.
This is really hard to smoke.
He casually flicked the cigarette he’d only taken one puff from.
The still-glowing cigarette fell from the rooftop along with the rain curtain.
If it had been him from two weeks ago, he might have just taken one step forward and ended it all.
But now, it was different.
An unusual scent rode the wind and rain into his nostrils.
He looked up.
A grotesque creature that could barely be called a living thing glided past overhead.
That was the smell of a monster. No…
[General Bureau Report] Delta-class monster core recovered. Minimum price 3000…
It was the smell of money. Xiao Yao’s tuition. It was enough.
In an instant, the boy’s figure was swallowed by bright light.
In its place stood a petite girl with red hair fluttering in the strong wind, holding a long magic staff.
She lightly jumped. A magic circle half a meter in diameter instantly unfolded beneath her feet.
With a tap of her toes, a white sonic boom cloud exploded in midair.
The girl shot toward the monster in the sky like a red meteor.
***
The world spun.
This was Gu Lingyue’s only sensation at the moment.
She had used half her life to crawl out of the deformed luxury car.
As soon as she landed, her legs went soft, and she slammed hard onto the rough asphalt road.
Her knees burned with pain.
They were probably skinned.
Damn it…
Gu Lingyue gritted her teeth and staggered into the dark alley beside her.
There were no tears in her beautiful eyes, only bone-deep hatred.
As long as I make it back alive, even if I have to throw in everything I own, I’ll kill you bastards.
However, reality was often harsher than ideals.
At the end of the alley, several sleazy youths were blocking the way.
They held steel pipes and folding knives in their hands.
Their eyes were like those watching a lamb ready for slaughter.
Gu Lingyue looked back. The retreat was blocked too.
“Miss Gu…”
The lead thug stepped forward.
A nauseating smile hung on his face.
His gaze roamed brazenly over her torn clothes.
“Young Master invites you to come with us. Or… lie down and come?”
The surrounding thugs burst into laughter.
Gu Lingyue didn’t need any interpretation to guess what filthy thoughts were in these scumbags’ heads.
She took a deep breath and secretly tightened her grip on the utility knife in her pocket.
“Then, sorry about this.”
The leader lost his patience.
With a wave of his hand, several burly men grinned ferociously as they closed in.
Despair surged like a tidal wave.
Just as Gu Lingyue prepared to fight to the death—
Boom—!
A massive unidentified object plummeted from the sky!
The asphalt road cracked instantly.
Stone chips flew like bullets.
Blackish-brown, foul-smelling slime splattered all over the people around.
As the dust settled, everyone looked on in horror. What had smashed into the ground was a monster!
It looked like a giant bird that had been skinned, its body covered in pulsating pustules.
But now, most of the monster’s body had been stomped into the concrete.
Hiss—Aaaah—!
The monster let out a screech like nails scraping a blackboard, sending chills through everyone’s hearts.
Then, a nauseating rotten stench spread.
“Ugh…”
One thug close by immediately dropped to his knees and vomited.
The previous arrogant aura vanished in an instant. Everyone was trembling, legs too weak to move a step.
But the real shock came next.
On the monster’s back stood a petite red-haired figure.
A black cloak splattered with several brown streaks of monster blood.
An exquisite staff as tall as her body gleamed with flowing light.
And that cute face filled with “annoyance.”
A magical girl?!
The lead thug swallowed hard and tried to act friendly.
“Um… may I ask…”
The word “please” had just left his mouth.
Smack—!
Lu Yushan didn’t even glance at him. He swung his staff like a golf club, smashing it hard into the monster’s head.
The monster thrashed wildly.
Flesh flipped out from the wound.
Several semi-transparent tentacles with strong acid lashed toward Lu Yushan like venomous snakes.
Gu Lingyue’s pupils shrank. She subconsciously held her breath.
Sizzle sizzle sizzle—
The tentacles hit.
The red-haired girl didn’t dodge, nor did any imagined barrier appear.
A scorched wound appeared on the girl’s fair face, trailing a wisp of green smoke.
But that was all.
The scorch mark healed at a visible speed.
The charred spot flaked off, restoring it to its original state.
“Annoying.”
The girl muttered softly.
Her tone held no fear, only deep irritation.
She raised her staff high.
The top of the staff visibly glowed with light.
Boom—!
A heavy, powerful strike. Dust flew everywhere.
Everyone present felt a tremor from the depths of their souls.
The massive shockwave sent the surrounding thugs flying.
Amid the swirling dust, Gu Lingyue heard the terrifying girl coldly add:
“Three thousand, credited.”