Lan Hao Tian stepped into the bustling market, drawing a few frowns from the crowd before they quickly lost interest.
It wasn't him they were judging—it was the smell. A mix of sea salt and fish blood clung to his clothes, sharp and unpleasant. Still, after one glance, the people simply went on with their day.
He made his way to a clothing stall, his gaze locking onto a particular outfit. In his mind, formulas and calculations flashed rapidly—measuring dimensions, estimating fit.
"Damn, my brain in this world is seriously something else. If I had this kind of head back on Earth, math class would've been a breeze."
Without hesitation, he shot forward like an arrow, heading straight for the stall. Taking advantage of a moment when the shopkeeper wasn't looking, he snatched the outfit and, with a swift motion, swung himself onto the nearest rooftop.
Gasps filled the air. The shopkeeper shouted behind him, voice shrill:
"You little bastard! Give that back!"
Lan Hao Tian glanced back with a wide grin.
"Thanks for the help! If fate allows us to meet again—and I actually have money next time—I'll pay you back!"
The truth was, he didn't have a single coin to his name. The isolated island where he'd lived for over a decade never used money. Food, tools, and necessities were things people gathered or crafted together. Currency? Never needed.
Slipping into a quiet alley, he quickly changed into the stolen clothes and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Dry clothes really are better. Being soaked all over is just miserable."
But as soon as he said that, his smile froze. A second later, he slapped himself across the face.
"Damn it! What the hell is wrong with me? I'm a Level 2 Water Master! I could've just pulled the moisture out of my clothes, no problem! Was I… was I enjoying the thrill of borrowing stuff or something?"
The more he thought about it, the more he realized—he was changing. The image of his former, upright self felt like it was slowly fading away.
"No. Hell no. I won't let myself get used to this so-called 'borrowing' behavior."
He clenched his fists, swearing that from now on, if he could do something on his own, he'd never resort to "borrowing" again.
Just then, the sound of a horse-drawn carriage caught his attention.
He turned his head toward the sound and spotted a girl inside a caged cart, gnawing on a piece of bread.
Her face was smeared with dirt and mud, yet her beauty shone through. Chains bound her wrists and ankles, the cold iron biting into her injured skin.
"What the hell? A kidnapping? These bastards dare pull this kind of filth right in front of me?"
His brow furrowed, and a killing intent began to rise within him.
At that moment, the driver's voice drifted to his ears:
"Heh heh, look at the quality of today's catch. We'll be living easy for a while, boys."
The burly man sitting beside him chuckled.
"Too bad we can't have a taste of this premium merchandise, huh?"
"Idiot. Touch her, and the price drops. You want money or not?" the driver snapped.
"Haha, I was just joking!"
The girl said nothing. She simply lowered her head and continued eating in silence.
But Lan Hao Tian's anger was already boiling over.
There was no doubt now.
These men were slavers.
And there was no way in hell he'd let them walk away.
With a sharp breath, he sprinted forward and blocked the path of the carriage, his voice cold and unyielding:
"I'll give you one chance. Let her go, and I'll only break your arms and legs."
The two slavers scowled, clearly displeased by the sudden interruption.
They jumped down from the cart and drew their swords. One of them eyed the crystal pendant hanging around Lan Hao Tian's neck.
"Look at that. Bet that thing's worth more than the girl," the shorter one sneered.
The larger man grinned wickedly.
"Heh heh, all the more reason to kill this brat. Treasures belong to the strong."
Hearing that, Lan Hao Tian let out a quiet laugh—a laugh laced with death.
"Then I guess you've chosen death."
"Tch, acting tough, are you? I'll cut you down where you stand!"
With a roar, both men charged at once, blades raised high.
But before their swords could strike, Lan Hao Tian vanished from sight.
Their blades slammed into the dirt with a dull thud.
The cheap steel bent instantly on impact with the ground.
Faces twisted in disbelief, the slavers cursed aloud.
"Damn it! Where did that bastard go?!"
At that moment, Lan Hao Tian appeared behind the two men, his voice cold as ice:
"If you've got the guts to do evil, then you'd better be ready to die. Now disappear from this world, you filthy trash."
He raised both fists and slammed them down onto their heads.
The skulls of the slavers shattered under the sheer force of the blows.
They died instantly, their heavy bodies crumpling to the ground.
By now, the girl had finished her bread. She lifted her gaze and found herself staring at a handsome young man with striking blue hair, eyes locked onto her.
Her eyes drifted to the crystal pendant around his neck, then down to his physique. A gleam lit up her eyes as if she'd just found a treasure.
Clutching the iron bars of her cage, she grinned and said,
"Hey, can I come with you?"
Lan Hao Tian blinked in confusion.
Her demeanor didn't match that of someone who had just been kidnapped.
Not one bit.
He walked up to her and asked,
"Why do you want to follow me?"
"I've got a feeling that traveling with you will lead to all sorts of fun things."
"...Huh?"
The corner of his mouth twitched.
He'd lived two lives, yet this was the first time he'd encountered something this bizarre.
After thinking for a moment, he replied:
"It's dangerous to be around me. I suggest you don't."
"I'm strong. Don't worry. I'll be just fine," she said, beaming.
Lan Hao Tian narrowed his eyes in suspicion.
"If you can get out of there by yourself, then you can come with me."
Hearing that, the girl smiled brightly and said,
"You'd better keep your word!"
Crack! Crack!
No sooner had she spoken than she shattered the shackles on her wrists and ankles like they were made of clay.
Lan Hao Tian's eyes widened in shock.
He hadn't unlocked his Heavenly Eyes yet, so he couldn't see through her strength.
Before he could even recover from the surprise, she grabbed the bars of her cage and bent them outward with both hands, creating a wide opening.
She stepped out, looked at him with a mischievous grin, and said,
"Hehe, I think I've earned the right to tag along now, haven't I?"