The child ran straight into the alley. After covering some distance, he stopped and looked back. No one was following him. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"Phew. I almost had it."
He sat down on a stone in the alley, panting as he muttered to himself.
"What's your name?"
A voice suddenly spoke. The child jumped, goosebumps rising all over his body. It belonged to the man he had just failed to rob.
He looked around for the source of the voice, but saw nothing.
Then he noticed the shadow on the wall ahead of him begin to flow like water. He stared at it as a figure slowly emerged.
"Ah!"
The child screamed and tried to run, but his legs gave way as he stood. He fell to the ground and watched the figure grow clearer.
"Don't come any closer!" he cried.
Only then did he make out the figure's face. It was a bearded man with a gentle expression.
But the child grew even more frightened. This was the man who had chased him earlier.
"What are you afraid of? I'm not going to eat you."
The voice was gentle.
Remembering how the man had appeared, the child realized he must be a Soul Master.
"Lord Soul Master, please forgive me and let me go," the child pleaded, his voice trembling with tears.
"I wasn't planning to hurt you."
An Chen walked slowly toward him.
The child could only stay where he was, trembling.
"What's your name? Why do you do this?"
The child opened his mouth, then fell silent.
An Chen sighed.
Just then, the child's stomach growled.
An Chen paused. He took two steamed buns and some water from his Ring and held them out.
The child swallowed, glanced at An Chen, then gritted his