She left without paying a single coin.
Chen Ye watched her retreating figure, bitterly wishing he could reclaim the potion.
"Should’ve drained her blood to brew a Miser’s Elixir," he muttered, sighing at the wasted effort.
...
Night fell.
The man stirred awake, rubbing his eyes. "Huh... Why did I pass out?"
"Where’s Ms. Shen?"
"Gone," Chen Ye replied, lighting a cigarette. "She skipped the bill. You pay."
"Oh..." The man blinked. "How much?"
"500,000."
"WHAT?!"
"Did she chew your coffee beans or demolish your shop?!"
Chen Ye exhaled smoke. "She betrayed my goodwill."
The man: "..."
"Look, boss, I brought her here because... my body’s failing."
"That day I—"
"Not interested in sob stories." Chen Ye tossed him an invoice.
Ignoring it, the man continued, "I earned this money... with my body. Daily diet: oysters, turtle soup, herbal tonics—cordyceps, epimedium, even centipede powder! Snacks? Goji berries and yang-stimulating stones!"
"Brother Chen, I’m crumbling! You were my last hope! I meant to set you up with her—never thought it’d backfire! Cut me some slack?"
Chen Ye’s eyebrow twitched. *He actually has the money.*
"Debt stays. Work it off here until paid."
"Don’t push it! The police station’s across the street—I’ll report you for extortion!"
Chen Ye grinned, producing a metallic-hued vial. "Just joking. Have a calming drink."
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The man gulped it—instantly stiffening, skin turning silver. He collapsed, paralyzed.
"Pay up?"
"...Yes."
"Work here?"
"...Yes."
"Good boy."
...
Days later, Chen Ye updated his files:
**Designation No.004: Hive Queen**
Physical alterations: Youthful curves, skeletal hands. Finger stingers secrete neurotoxins capable of paralysis, body control, and gender transformation in males.
Additional traits pending.
**Designation No.005: The Wall-Walker**
Skin, muscles, and bones mineralize upon contact with metal/stone. Can phase through walls via fusion with concrete/rock.
Side effects: Full metalization causes immobility; softer metals allow sluggish movement. Requires continuous contact with mineral source.
Initial test site: Café. Subject wore silver ring, triggering full silverization.
Formula: Stainless steel + marble + concrete scraped from restroom walls.
...
Chen Ye secured ¥760,000 from the Wall-Walker, solving his funding crisis. With free labor now handling the café, he dove deeper into alchemical experiments—unaware his creations were wreaking havoc beyond his walls.
...
That rainy night, a young man hyperventilated on crowded streets. "It won’t come here... Too many people... Safe!"
As the crosswalk turned green, he froze. Across the street stood a raincoat-clad figure in sunglasses.
"It’s here... NO!"
He grabbed a passerby. "Save me!"
"Psycho!" The man shoved him away.
A hand gripped his shoulder. "You okay?"
The youth whirled to see a plainclothes man. "It’s coming to kill me! A mermaid—scales, claws!"
"Calm down. What mermaid?"
The youth pointed—but the street was empty.
"Gone?!"
The investigator’s mouth split into a fanged fish-maw. "Like this?"
The youth fainted. The fish-face reverted to human, then into a raven.
"Pathetic. Cleaned your mess, No.002. You owe me tea."
...
At Beiling Police Bureau, exhausted detectives hunched over files.
Yang Yan scowled. "Weeping fish-men, invisible killers... This transcends human capability."
A bearded cop shrugged. "Chief’s a staunch materialist. Won’t believe in ghosts without proof."
"Remember that café across the street? Their coffee’s decent. Let’s grab some."
...
**Designation No.005: The Wall-Walker (Rat in the Wall)**