Seizing the Man

"The money wasn't enough?"

Gao Jing frowned. "How much do you want, then?"

"Ten gold coins."

The scar-faced warrior opened his mouth as wide as a lion's. "Outsider, my information doesn't come free. You think I'm easy to fool just because I'm alone? One shout from me, and you won't make it out that door. Want to try?"

He said it loudly enough to make people at several nearby tables turn toward Gao Jing with malicious smiles.

Goods grew dear away from home, while people grew cheap. Locals bullying outsiders was common, and the poorer and more backward a place was, the worse it got!

Gao Jing fell silent.

Greed glinted in the scar-faced warrior's eyes. "You don't believe me?"

"Forget it."

Gao Jing took ten gold coins from the pouch at his waist and tossed them onto the table. "These will buy your life."

The gold coins used throughout the Abyss were one-tenth the size of standard gold coins, and weighed only one-thousandth as much.

A life came cheap.

Gao Jing had said those words in Chinese.

The scar-faced warrior understood none of it and didn't care.

His attention was fixed entirely on the gleaming coins. "Glad you know what's good for you."

He hurriedly swept the coins into his pocket, his ugly face blooming with delight.

He didn't even notice Gao Jing leave.

Someone nearby called out, "Lao Lang, don't forget to share the spoils!"

"You got it!"

The scar-faced warrior waved grandly. "Drinks are on me today!"

Cheers erupted around him. The scar-faced warrior laughed, feeling as though he had reached the pinnacle of his life.

Just then, the back of his neck went numb, as if pricked by a needle.

A scorching current surged into his body, raced upward into his brain, and plunged his consciousness