The Price of the First Embrace

Wu Zhong felt utterly miserable. He only wanted to be an ordinary mercenary and take it easy.

Deliver some packages, run some errands—yet before he had even started, a massive blame had dropped right onto his head.

For no reason at all, he had enemies everywhere.

985 aside, he had originally thought he only needed to guard against ghosts and gods. Instead, the ghosts and gods had stopped acting personally and started playing military strategy.

Now, countless mercenaries were watching him, investigating his whereabouts.

His name had already spread throughout the Calamity Realm. He had become some so-called super rookie, a target of public criticism.

And then there were the Ruan Family and Tijuana. He had offended them beyond repair. The Day Patrol God had killed members of their families, yet they wanted to seek revenge on him.

And this was only the beginning... As long as he was alive, or the ghosts and gods of Mount Lu remained unresolved, he could forget about living peacefully.

"How could the Day Patrol God be so weak and still kill three Poly-Elemental Awakened?"

"The Ruan Family and Tijuana... they aren't that formidable, right?"

Wu Zhong felt like crying. Were the three dead people simply too weak? Surely those two great families were not especially powerful forces.

To his surprise, Xia Heng said, "It's hard to say how many Awakened families there are worldwide, but the Ruan Family and Tijuana can definitely rank among the top ten."

Wu Zhong's eyes widened. Two top-ten families? Then they definitely were not weak.

"No... how did they die at the Day Patrol God's hands?"

Luo Yi stroked his chin. "Little brother, do you have some misunderstanding about Awakened?"

"Without other means, no matter how powerful an Awakened is, they are no different from ordinary people when they have not activated Poly-Elemental Time."

"When they were crossing the river by boat, the Day Patrol God manufactured an accident and triggered an explosion. Of the six, three died and two were injured on the spot."

"Only one was unharmed because he was an all-weather Poly-Elemental user."

Wu Zhong had indeed found it strange. Why did Xia Heng and Yang Chunsha have to snap their fingers and activate Poly-Elemental Time before using their abilities?

Now it seemed that they had not been showing off at all. It was a necessary condition for activating their abilities.

Moreover, depending on their powers, Awakened might have additional conditions as well. For example, Yang Chunsha could not cast spells without books.

The three unfortunate Awakened had been instantly killed by the Day Patrol God before they could activate Poly-Elemental Time.

Thinking about it carefully, that was perfectly normal. A calculated attack against an unprepared target, an ambush combined with an accident—unless Poly-Elemental powerhouses kept their bodies hardened at all times, they would still die when they should.

Even the truck assassination on the Day Patrol God's first day, its weakest showing, had been extremely potent. If Yang Chunsha had been there, she likely would have died beyond doubt.

As for someone surviving, that did not matter either. The ghosts and gods were doing this to make enemies for him. If they failed, they could simply use the survivors to spread the rumors.

Wu Zhong rubbed his arm. "Is there no way to keep Poly-Elemental Time activated continuously?"

Luo Yi laughed. "How could it be that easy? Poly-Elemental Time has a time limit and refreshes every twenty-four hours."

"The available time each day varies from person to person. Some have longer durations, some shorter. The shortest is twelve minutes a day, while longer durations are whole-number multiples of that. The highest is 120 times, meaning it can be used twenty-four hours a day."

"You could call it a special kind of talent exclusive to Awakened. Some people are born with only one times the duration, while others are born with 120 times the duration."

"The latter are heaven's favored children. With a 120-times duration and the daily refresh, they can maintain Poly-Elemental Time around the clock."

Wu Zhong nodded. Xia Heng's implanted equipment was still inside his arm.

Over the past few days, he had constantly been able to sense the thing in his arm. And ever since Xia Heng had given it to him, Xia Heng had never said "Poly-Elemental Time" again when using his abilities.

Clearly, in order to lend him this power, Xia Heng had been maintaining his Poly-Elemental state at every moment.

"Brother Xia, you're an all-weather Poly-Elemental user, right?"

Xia Heng said softly, "More or less."

"Besides the initially random 'public duration,' it is also possible to increase the duration of an individual host later on, even the duration of a particular ability."

"That depends on how deeply you understand the host. When we resonate with hosts, we can experience the events of their entire lives."

"In theory, after you have completely experienced a host's life, you can borrow any of their powers for twenty-four hours, meaning there will be no time limit."

Wu Zhong suddenly understood.

But Luo Yi narrowed his eyes. "But that is only in theory."

"Resonance usually provides only a rough experience. If you want to experience everything in full detail, the time required is basically the same amount of time."

"If a host has lived for thirty years, then to experience every second of his life, you would need thirty years as well..."

"In that case, completely comprehending a host and reaching a twenty-four-hour duration is essentially an almost impossible task."

"Because the host is still living. His life continues, and his experiences keep growing."

"You spend thirty years comprehending someone's thirty years of life, but by then he is already sixty. In other words, you have still only comprehended half his life."

"So people with poor duration aptitude specialize in one or two Poly-Elemental Arts."

"They pick a good ability and focus on experiencing it, experiencing every part of the host's life related to that ability. Then, when borrowing that ability, they can approach twenty-four hours of use."

"But only approach it, because unless the host stops using that ability, the related experiences will continue growing as well."

Xia Heng shrugged. "What you described assumes that our thought speeds are the same."

"If his thought speed is 0.1 seconds, while mine is 0.01 seconds, then I am ten times faster than him."

"Then a so-called thirty-year life would only take me three years to fully comprehend."

Luo Yi lit another cigarette. "That may be true, but Poly-Elemental power cannot help you comprehend a life."

"I'm guessing your thought speed isn't that fast either. So you have some other Calamity artifact that can temporarily speed up your thinking, allowing you to comprehend a host in a short time?"

Xia Heng raised an eyebrow. "More or less, but sorry, I can't tell you."

"Tch... forget it, then. Cheers." Luo Yi took a large gulp of alcohol.

The two chatted as they drank, but Xia Heng could not hold his liquor that well. After drinking for a while, he could no longer keep up and signaled for Wu Zhong to take over.

Wu Zhong was speechless, but he could only accompany them.

Fortunately, Yang Chunsha could drink quite well too. The two took turns, and the atmosphere never cooled down.

After who knew how many rounds, Luo Yi still looked perfectly fine, while the other three were already dizzy.

Xia Heng's face was flushed as he said, "...That is more or less the situation."

"The ghost-and-god mark is essentially just a sacrificial offering mark. Now there is another group of mercenaries looking for us. Tell me, what should we do?"

Luo Yi chuckled. "With your traits, you can leave whenever you want with a single thought. Yet now you have come to me for help over a newcomer. This newcomer must be extraordinary. Can he really not command ghosts and gods?"

Wu Zhong pulled a bitter face.

At the same time, he wondered just how many Calamity artifacts Xia Heng possessed. According to Luo Yi, Xia Heng had another hidden one?

Even excluding his Awakened identity, he already had three Calamity artifacts: the ghost tattoo, teleportation, and the mysterious one that increased thought speed.

And he had claimed that the ghost tattoo was the only Calamity artifact he possessed.

Xia Heng curled his lip. "Why would I lie to you? I saved him not because he is especially powerful, but to deal with the ghosts and gods."

"Oh?" Luo Yi tilted his head.

With drunkenness in his eyes, Xia Heng slumped against the sofa, clasping his wineglass against his chest with both hands. "Those ghosts and gods gain nothing from killing people unless Ji Meng first marks someone as a special sacrificial offering."

"After killing them, they gain enormous benefits. I have not yet figured out what those benefits are, but I am certain there can only be one sacrificial offering at any given time. As long as the previous one is not dead, they cannot mark another."

"After discovering this, I decided to block Ji Meng's sacrificial chain. So when I rescued Little Wu, I was also just trying it out."

"Sure enough, the ghosts and gods immediately got anxious. They even started using their brains to spread rumors, hoping to kill with a borrowed knife."

"Unless there is absolutely no alternative, I do not want Little Wu to die. Because I know that if he dies, the next person marked by the ghosts and gods will definitely be me!"

Wu Zhong nodded beside him, his face full of gratitude.

But inwardly, he thought, Amazing, Brother Xia. I still have a lot to learn from you when it comes to making up nonsense.

Luo Yi stroked his chin. "I see. Interesting."

"Once a ghost-and-god mark is branded, it cannot be removed. You will be hunted relentlessly until death."

"And ghosts and gods grow stronger by the day. Over a longer time scale, a sacrificial offering is effectively doomed to die sooner or later."

"Unless there is a way to completely resolve the ghosts and gods of Mount Lu."

"Xia Heng, I bought the intelligence you uploaded. When you introduced the ghost-and-god mark, why did you not mention deliberately blocking the sacrificial chain?"

Xia Heng drained the rest of his glass. "Why would I say that? So everyone knows Ji Meng hates me and that I will definitely be his next sacrificial offering?"

"Wouldn't that make my enemies even more determined to kill Little Wu, just to drag me down with him? In a sense, Little Wu is my weakness."

Luo Yi gave Wu Zhong an indifferent glance. What weakness? He was clearly a shield, a buffer.

"Fine, don't worry, Xia Heng. It is rare for you to ask me for help. Since I have come, I will not refuse to help you."

"Just tell me, which route are we taking..."

Xia Heng drank his final glass. "The key is not which route we take. The mercenary world is full of hidden talents. Once there are enough people, even relying on luck alone, someone will definitely track us down..."

"When that happens, Little Wu has no means of protecting himself."

Xia Heng had finally brought it up. Wu Zhong felt a little excited.

Luo Yi understood what he meant and frowned slightly. "You want me to turn him into a mad-blooded vampire? Are you serious?"

"Yes, Luo Yi. Consider it a huge favor I owe you." Xia Heng pleaded.

When the other man showed no reaction and merely continued drinking, Xia Heng added, "Besides that, I will give you a two-meter-long piece of 'Speechwood.'"

Luo Yi raised an eyebrow. "Speechwood is good stuff, but it is not particularly useful to me."

"Xia Heng, you know the price I pay for giving someone the first embrace, right? I will acquire a random mental illness. The risk is enormous."

Xia Heng said, "I know, I know... How about this? I will also give you twenty kilograms of cinnabar wood and twenty kilograms of lightning-struck wood."

Yang Chunsha beside them was dumbfounded. She knew the value of these things. Xia Heng is absurdly rich.

Wu Zhong was more concerned about the so-called price. So turning someone into a mad-blooded vampire would cause the person doing it to randomly acquire a mental illness?

That was extremely dangerous.

It was clear that Luo Yi did not possess mental resistance. The reason he could live relatively normally was that the mental illnesses he had absorbed were within an acceptable range.

Things like obsessive-compulsive disorder or addiction disorders involving tobacco and alcohol could still allow him to remain lucid and rational.

But a random illness was another matter entirely. It might very well destroy him outright!

Wu Zhong had thought becoming a mad-blooded vampire only required someone else's help. He had not expected the price to be so high. If they were not close friends, one would probably not even dare ask.

"Xia Heng, I can obtain the things you mentioned as long as I have money."

"I will not give someone the first embrace for those things."

Luo Yi indeed refused. Wu Zhong understood completely. If it were him, he would refuse too.

Xia Heng sighed. "Name your conditions. Ask for whatever you want. If I can do it, I will. If I cannot, then forget it."

Luo Yi thought for a moment. "Sigh, I truly do not want to catch an unknown mental illness."

"Conditions? I lack nothing. For me, being able to smoke, drink, and sleep well is already enough in life."

Wu Zhong found it hard to understand him. "I understand, Master Luo. Forget about the mad-blooded vampire thing. Brother Xia was just mentioning it."

"To be honest, I do not want that ability all that much either. Just thinking about it makes me uneasy. I'm a normal person—why would I insist on getting a mental illness?"

"Master Luo has come to help me now, which already counts as saving my life. I do not want you to pay such a great price for me."

He gave up on it himself, prompting Luo Yi to glance at him.

Xia Heng frowned tightly, somewhat dissatisfied.

Mad-blooded vampires were exceptionally compatible with Wu Zhong. Wu Zhong possessed a mental bulwark, and combined with that, he would certainly become one of the strongest mad-blooded vampires in the future.

But Xia Heng could hardly say that in front of Luo Yi.

"Little brother, you really do think of others," Luo Yi said with a faint smile.

Xia Heng said gravely, "Don't listen to him, Luo Yi. Think it over some more."

Luo Yi smiled and nodded. "Sure. Everything is negotiable. You have come all the way to ask me..."

"It is only a first embrace. It is no big deal. Let me think about the exchange conditions first, all right? Can it really be any condition?"

Xia Heng nodded. Knowing there was hope, he said, "Think all you want. As long as I can do it, I will agree."

"Then, we are done discussing business, right?" Luo Yi stood up, stretched lazily, and yawned.

Wu Zhong hurriedly stood as well. "We are. Master Luo, get some rest early."

Luo Yi froze. "Huh? Now that business is done, shouldn't we start drinking?"

"..." Wu Zhong stared at him blankly.

He looked at the two large empty barrels of beer on the table. What did he mean, "start"?

"The four of us have already drunk ten kilograms..."

Without even waiting for Luo Yi to reply, Xia Heng shook his head. "Only ten kilograms. Didn't you see he's getting sleepy from drinking?"

Wu Zhong did not understand. Wasn't getting sleepy a sign of being drunk?

"But... didn't you already yawn?"

Luo Yi scratched his head. "This wheat beer has no kick. Drinking this little has ultimately caused some withdrawal symptoms. We need baijiu."

Wu Zhong's eyes went blank, and Yang Chunsha was frightened as well.

Was that even something a human would say? They knew he had severe alcohol dependence, but they had not expected it to be this severe!

He had drunk six or seven jin of wheat beer by himself, yet he could still experience withdrawal symptoms?

Wu Zhong's scalp tingled. "No... Master Luo, just how much can you drink?"

Luo Yi held out one finger and waved it.

"One hundred jin?" Wu Zhong felt he was already exaggerating to the extreme.

Luo Yi chuckled.

Xia Heng said, "Continuously drinking. With his physique, he metabolizes beer as he drinks it. He once drank for three consecutive days, five hundred jin in total... Mainly because there was no more alcohol available nearby."

"Huh?" Wu Zhong was too shocked for words.

Luo Yi clapped his hands, his face full of excitement. "Let's begin, let's begin! The real drinking starts now!"

"It is only fun when someone drinks with you. Hurry up and buy some liquor."

He rubbed his hands together and went to use the restroom. "Hurry up, get some strong stuff."