Bao Chen was cleaning the plates in the bakery. It wasn’t really a bakery, though—it functioned more like a restaurant, with customers coming in for meals that stretched too much beyond pastries and bread. But he didn’t care about that. The layout of the place, the customers, the jobs—it all meant little to him. What mattered, above all, was his power.

A flicker of greed sparked in his chest as his eyes scanned the cluttered space around him, filled with baskets of discarded bread crusts, burnt pastries, and the stale remnants of dough that had long lost its freshness. His gaze shifted between the scraps, and he exhaled, slowly calming his mind.

[Devour]

The faint heat of his ability surged through him, a subtle pulse coursing across his skin. It wasn’t strong, not yet, but the power stirred in response to his will. Bao Chen halted the process, though. He glanced at the scraps, knowing that if he consumed them raw, it would only leave him feeling sick. No, he wasn’t about to poison himself over mere crumbs. He left out a sigh, i don't have enough energy to use it, myself it looks like I need to use system points.

"System, consume points to refine," he muttered under his breath.

A soft warmth spread through his body as the discarded food dissolved—not into nourishment, but into raw system points, the energy he needed to progress. His body tingled slightly with the consumption, but it was worth it. The points weren’t much, just a few, but to Bao Chen, they represented more than just waste. They were a step forward, a small but steady source of progress that he could use to refine his power and unlock new abilities.

[+3 System Points]

Three points. It wasn’t much, but every little bit mattered. Those scraps were worthless to anyone else, but to him, they were treasure. These small accumulations would help him on his path toward something greater, something he had yet to fully understand but knew was the key to unlocking true power. The refinement of his ability wasn’t going to happen overnight, but he would get there eventually, bit by bit

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He stood up from his crouched position by the bread crusts, The movement outside the bakery caught his attention. He paused, listening intently as a series of sounds reached him. There were voices, muffled but distinct. His name was spoken, and the hairs on the back of his neck stood up. He edged closer to the thin wooden door, trying to listen more closely.

“…You’re always welcome here, young Master Shen,” Wei Changfeng’s voice floated in from the other side, laced with a tone of deference.

young Master Shen said “You’re too kind, Changfeng. But I must admit, I came for more than just the bread today.”

Bao Chen edged closer to the door, keeping his presence hidden.

“What do you mean?” Wei Changfeng asked.

A pause. Then, young Master Shen’s voice dropped, almost conspiratorial. “Word has it that something… unusual happened near the southern district last night.”

Bao Chen narrowed his eyes. He was in the southern district, and the only suspicious thing that happened last night was... himself.

Something about Shen’s tone told Bao Chen this wasn’t idle gossip.

Wei Changfeng hesitated before replying, his voice cautious. “I’ve heard the rumors, but I don’t involve myself in those matters.”

“That’s wise,” young Master Shen agreed. “Still, you should be careful. There are people looking for answers—people who won’t hesitate to tear this village apart to find them.” young Master Shen glanced at the room where Bao Chen was hiding.

Wei Changfeng forced a smile and said, "Don’t worry, I’ll handle it."

Bao Chen frowned. This conversation wasn’t just small talk. Master Shen was probing, testing the waters. But why? Did they know something he didn’t? Did they know he was a time traveler, or did they think he was a ghost? Bao Chen’s mind raced as he thought about the possibilities. It was a matter of life and death. This was a different world.

As Bao Chen was deep in thought, a sudden sound outside the door alerted him that someone was approaching. He stepped back just in time as the storage room door creaked open.

Ling Yun stood in the doorway, her gaze flickering over him before she whispered, “Are you listening in?”

Bao Chen met her eyes, debating his response. Lying was pointless. Maybe he could get some information out of her.

Bao Chen lowered his head. “Yes, I was.”

She didn’t look surprised. Instead, she sighed, stepping inside and pulling the door shut behind her.