I stood up and patted away the dust that accumulated in my body. Thinking of the current situation puts a load in my mind. With people awakening their powers one by one, the world is in fear of what the future will bring us. As a supposedly a 'normal human', I should also be in the side of those against about mutants freely walking in the streets, like that Senator Kelly. Yet, as a human with cultivation, I can justly protect myself from harm, but, as a result, I will need to cultivate again from scratch.

"Haaah"

I heaved a sigh.

I cleared up my mind. For now, I should focus on what's on my plate first.

First, I focused my consciousness inside the storage ring. It was full of treasures and manuals. Then, I brought out 30 kilos of silver. The silvers were processed, as they appeared as a bar. I brought out a total of 30 silver bars. I don't know the current exchange rate of silver, but I think it was enough to get me through tonight.

After I brought out the silver bars, I found a piece of cloth in my storage ring and used it to bind the bars. I then turned towards the exit of the alley, preparing myself to leave. I trudged the path I took in entering to leave the alley. It was a zigzagged alley, which I chose specifically to avoid being interrupted.

But at that time, when I walked towards the final turn, several voices reached my ears.

"Hey, hey, hey, kid! Is this all the money, huh?!" (Voice 1)

"Be honest! Did ya hide anythin' from us?!" (Voice 2)

"Bring it all out, or else!" (Voice 3)

I saw three rough men encircling a hooded figure. The first voice came from a mohawk guy with piercings all over his face. He holds a wallet in his left hand and a metal bat in his right hand, resting it on his shoulders. He gave off a what you can call 'thug #1' aura. The second voice came from a fatso. His shirt marvelously failed to tuck his belly away. He also holds a metal pole, gripping it from end to end and resting it on his shoulders. While the final voice came from a bald man whose face is full of tattoos. You can't see a clean part on his face. He said those words as he holds the knife in his right hand, waving it off towards the hooded figure.

"I-I did not h-hide anything! I-I swear!" (Hooded one)

The one in the hood spoke, denying the three men of their accusations. Surprisingly, it was a voice of a girl.

"I'll give ya one last time. Bring it all out, or boss'll get mad!" (fatso)

The fatso spoke, seemingly tired of playing games with the hooded girl.

Bashii!

He smashed the nearby trash bin to threaten the girl. As a result, the girl was terrified. The thugs started to question and harass her again, as she looks like she's about to cry. The light in her eyes dimmed.

Then, they noticed my presence. The four of them simultaneously turned to me, looking surprised to see a person in this alley. Furthermore, a person wearing a traditional Chinese dress.

"Hey, hey, who're you?! Huh?! (Mohawk guy)

The mohawk guy spoke out first, then he pointed his metal bat in my direction. I was only 10 steps away from them.

"What are you wearing?! Why are you here?!" (Tattoo face)

"What are ya doin' here?!" (fatso)

They bombarded me with questions. The tattoo face guy swears out loud, while the also fatso threatens me with his metal pole. The hooded girl, who's facing in my direction, was surprised. Then the surprise turned into hope as the focus on her eyes resurfaced.

"I was just passing by"

I replied with a light tone, not wanting them to continue bothering me, as I will be late if those pawnshops close before I exchange the silvers. In the worst case of that happening, I will be sleeping in a park tonight with an empty stomach. I definitely don't want that. Thus, I tried to avoid joining in their conflict as much as possible and continued to walk away.

As I said those words, the complexion of the girl turned back to hopelessness.

I'm sorry, but I'm not kind enough to help those in need. I don't have a hobby of meddling in some people's business. Plus, I've experienced my fair share of trouble too.

I apologized to her in my mind, as I tried to walk away. But then, tattoo face came close to me and blocked my path.

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"What's in that bag? Answer!" (Tattoo face)

He said while eyeing the thing I was holding in my hand.

"None of your business. Now move."

I replied with a bit of displeasure, not liking the fact that he still stopped me even though I already ignored them. The two other guys who heard my reply sneered and gripped their weapons harder.

"Heh. You're dead!!" (Tattoo face)

Then, tattoo face slashed his knife at the makeshift bag I'm holding.

Klank! Kla-klank! Klunk!

Thus, the items stored in it scattered on the floor.

Silver bars.

The trio's eyes started to shine as they looked at the dozen pieces of silver bars on the floor. Then, they turned their stares at me, maliciously grinning at the same time.

"Haaah"

When they started to approach me, I heaved another sigh. They mistook it as me being helpless, however. But in truth, I was internally cursing out my unluckiness at times like these. Guess I'll need to finish things out quickly.

Klunk!

I dropped the bag of silver. Their eyes immediately followed it dropping to the floor, producing a muffled sound. I used that moment.

I immediately dashed towards the mohawk guy with the metal bat. While he was still distracted by the silver bars, I positioned my palm in his solar plexus and gave it a slight nudge.

"Guaah!" (Mohawk guy)

He flew 3-5 meters backward, letting out a muffled groan at the same time. The mohawk guy lied on the floor, twitching and spasming from time to time. Foams coming out from his mouth. The two guys, witnessing their comrade just lying there unmoving, turned towards me.

Rage filled their eyes. The fatso immediately swung down the metal pole toward my head, roaring out at the same time. I stepped sideways to avoid it. The metal pole met the floor, denting it lightly. I quickly measured his strength and was amazed at the fact that this fatso has 1/4 the muscle strength of an awakened cultivator. In short, he was slightly stronger than me, who still hasn't taken a single step in unlocking my genes.

I guess this was because of the fats in his body, storing enough energy to release stronger power. But, because of these fats, he was also slow in recovering his stance and following up his attacks.

I stretched out my hands, formed a claw and aimed it at his face. His eyes widen in surprise, tried to avoid it but failed. He shrieked loudly, as I put pressure on my hands clutching his face.

Then, I immediately kneed his chest. He fell on all fours, coughing out loudly, as air escaped his lungs.

"Aaaarrghhhhh!" (Tattoo face)

When I turned around, I saw tattoo face charging straight at me. He was moving slowly like he's in a slow-motion video. He continued to slash his knife in my direction, all of which I avoided. After several slashes, he was already panting. Issuing another war cry, he thrust out his knife, aiming at my face.

Thus, I caught it with my thumb and index fingers.

He stared at the knife between my fingers, his mouth agape.

Then, he slowly lifted his head; I can see the reflection of my face in his eyes filled with horror.

"Wh-what the hell are you?" (Tattoo face)

I replied with a sincere smile, and punched him to the face. He flew crashing into the trash bin and lied there unconscious. Meanwhile, the fatso stared dumbfoundedly at the scene. He was already half-standing, still clutching his chest.

I walked towards him, with a smile still on my face contrasting with the dreaded aura around me.

"H-hiiiii! D-d-d-don't come near me! B-boss will kill you! Do you know our boss?! He's the kingpin around these areas, you're on his territory!—"(fatso)

When violence failed, they tried to threaten me.

Yup. This is your typical 2nd rate thugs, alright.

But, I'm not having that shit today. I am still hoping that I can exchange the silver bars for money so I can find a bed and food tonight.

I quickly shut him up by clawing his neck and smashing him to the floor. He fainted before he can let out a scream.

"Haaah"

I heaved yet another sigh, not knowing how many times I've sighed today.

I stretched out my body and it produced cracking sounds, signifying stiffness in my joints. Even though the enemies are only three, they are still armed with weapons. I now need to be careful to avoid any injury, as I don't have the rock-hard defense I have back then. I was spent.

When I fought them earlier, I utilized a little bit of my Essence to strengthen my arms. Although I said 'little bit', that amount still put on a heavy load towards my dantian. The whirlpool in my dantian just formed a little while ago, thus the circulation of my Essence is still slow compared to a normal cultivator. When applying Essence on my arms, I utilized the stored Essence I intended to use later.

If I compare it to something, it will be like a battery exhausting the energy stored within. Thus, now, my body is in its weakest state. Heck, I even think I will have trouble carrying the 30kg of silver later. Thinking of the silvers…

I quickly scurried towards the silver bars scattered on the floor. I picked up the cloth and deemed it impossible to bind the silvers with it. That tattoo face really messed up my plans.

I piled up the silver bars with each other and looked for something that can bind the silvers together. Just then, my eyes met with someone sitting on the floor. It was the hooded girl.

"Hey, you"

I called out to her, to which she replied,

"H-hiii! I-I did not see anything! I did not see anything!" (Hooded girl)

while inching away from me. Seeing her actions, I scrunched my eyebrows.

I just saved you, didn't I?! Well, technically, I just save myself some trouble but still! This ungrateful brat.

I complained inside my head. Then I slowly walked towards her. The girl, seeing my displeased appearance closing in, closed her eyes tightly as she began to shed out tears silently.

I stretched out my hands towards her; or more specifically, towards her back. I reached out and grabbed her backpack. Then, I took it off her. Opening it, I saw nothing inside. I walked away from her and went back to the silvers.

Confused about what is happening, the girl slowly opened her eyes. She was surprised to realize nothing happened to her body; not even a scratch. She was dumbfounded for a moment, but then she stared at me putting the silver bars in the bag.

After I finished putting it all, I closed the bag. I put it in my back and stood up, preparing to leave. But then,

"W-wait!" (Hooded girl)

The girl called out to me. Facing her, I saw her standing up unsteadily. Taking a closer look at this girl, she got a weirdly white-colored hair. Her eyes taking the same color as her hair, just a shade darker. At first, you will get an impression that she's blind, just looking at her eyes. But she can see clearly, as she stared holes in my figure. Her facial features are also not bad, her nose bridge being high and all. But she was thin, not a single baby fat on her cheeks.

Seeing my inquisitive gaze, the girl spoke as she closed her eyes.

"T-take me with you! Please!" (Hooded girl