The rain kept falling.

Water poured from the eaves like a cascading waterfall, splashing onto the ancient backstreet below.

After hearing that the Sanctuary staff dormitory had been sealed off, Reese immediately closed shop and rushed to the workshop.

As she pushed the door open and stepped inside, her clothes soaked through from the rain, she was Zi-Cheng leaning against the wall, while Elena sat silently at the dining table, with a towel wrapped around her shoulders.

“Elena! Thank goodness you’re okay!”

Without a second thought for her drenched state, Reese hurried over and clasped Elena’s hands. But Elena didn’t respond. She sat motionless, her eyes vacant, staring at nothing.

“Ven, what happened?” Reese asked, her voice tense.

Zi-Cheng shook his head. “When I got to the dormitory, she was standing under a tree in the rain. Hasn’t said a word since.”

Drops of water slid from the tip of Reese’s drenched hair, landing on Elena’s knees. She glanced down and noticed the girl’s knees were smeared with blood.

Without a word, Reese quiet sat beside her.

“I know we only met yesterday,” she said softly. “But if you’re willing, I’ll stay with you. You can tell me what happened.”

Gently, she pulled Elena into a firm embrace, her words seemed to unlock something within Elena, as though a long-sealed door slowly opened. She saw the girl trembled, her wide eyes welling with tears.

“Last night… two senior staff who… did things to me… were murdered.”

Elena’s voice quivered like a frightened child’s, as if their deaths were somehow tied to a secret she couldn’t bring herself to reveal.

Instead of prying for answers, Reese simply held Elena’s hands, her presence steady and reassuring.

“They… they used to make excuses, and touched me… here….”

Elena hesitantly pointed at her chest, her finger lingered for a brief second before retreating, as though ashamed.

(Wait, what?)

Zi-Cheng couldn’t help but be taken aback. As a man, he’d admit Elena’s delicate figure might easily stir attention, but it was hard to believe that respected Sanctuary staff would abuse their authority for such disgusting behavior.

Yet, Reese remained calm and supportive. She didn’t even seem the least bit surprised, as though she had long heard whispers of such vile acts happening within the walls of the holy ground. It was simply part of her work with the merchant guild to keep tabs on everything happening in the city.

“The guards came to me earlier… they asked questions, so I told them everything… but then they looked at me like I was the one who killed them...”

“No, that’s not possible, silly!” Reese said gently, her voice soft but reassuring. “We were all at the workshop last night, and we all got wasted, remember?”

“But… I’ve heard drunk people can act… violent… What if, I got drunk and...actually… did it?”

Pfft—

Zi-Cheng couldn’t hold back his laughter anymore, and Reese quickly shot him a sharp glare. Elena pouted, her flushed cheeks puffing slightly in indignation, a look so cute that made Zi-Cheng’s heart skip a beat.

“Look,” Zi-Cheng said, stepping closer, crouching down to meet Elena at eye level, “You always stick your nose into other people’s business, and you help them out. Even your skills are all about helping others. You think someone like you would get drunk and kill two creeps?”

He gave his chest a confident pat, grinning as he declared, “I’d bet my life on it, there’s no way you’re the culprit.”

“So how did you hurt your knees?” Reese quickly changed the subject, her concern still focused on Elena’s injuries.

“Well, it was raining… so I slipped and fell….”

“That was it!?”

This time, even Reese couldn’t help but face-palm herself, clearly realizing her worry had been unnecessary from the start.

“You know, I actually brought you a gift, something that’s perfect for this occasion.” Zi-Cheng said, quickly reaching into his pouch and pulling out two bottles.

As he uncorked one of them, a sweet peachy aroma immediately filled the air. A pale yellow, gel-like substance dripped onto Elena’s knee like honey, and in an instant, the wound closed before their eyes, leaving her skin as smooth as if nothing had ever happened.

“No way…. It’s already healed?” Reese said, her face a mix of shock and amazement.

“Most recovery potions are made with herbs that leave a stinging sensation,” Elena added, “but this… this is different. Was this… made with Egg Peaches?”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

Zi-Cheng nodded with a smile, “It’s made with Egg Peaches and purified water…with a little bit of enhancement of my own, of course.”

In truth, the “Peach Potion” not only reduced irritation on wounds, but it also greatly accelerated the healing process, rivaling even some of the best potions on the market.

“Can you make more?” Reese nearly jumped, her eyes lighting up as she picked up one of the bottles. “This stuff will fly off the shelves! Do you have any idea if—”

“If you can make five hundred bottles for me?”

Victor’s hand appeared through the window, just like the night before, all five fingers extended as he prepared to make a deal.

“You again!?” Reese crossed her arms and tilted her head, her tone that of a merchant guild receptionist dealing with an annoying customer. “With all due respect, Silver Priest Victor, this is a private conversation between our guild and its artisan.”

“No formalities today?” Victor chuckled, his tone lightly amused as Reese showed her true colors, “Since when did Ventus become a member of the Golden Clover? Do you even have a contract with him?”

“He’s staying at our workshop, so of course he’s one of us!” Reese shot back, crossing her arms.

“That makes him a tenant at best,” Victor replied smoothly, “If other guilds find out the person behind the Egg Peach harvest isn’t under a contract with the Golden Clover…”

“Fifty bottles! We’ll sell you fifty bottles at half price! Just forget you heard anything!” Reese blurted, leaning forward.

“A five-hundred-bottle order, and you offer only fifty at half price? And you expect me to forget such valuable information?”

“One hundred bottles at thirty percent off! That’s my final offer!”

“Don’t you think doing business with the Sanctuary deserves a little more sincerity? We’re planning to promote this incredible new product during this year’s free clinic event. Just imagine how many people will see Golden Clover’s exclusive ‘Peach Potion.’”

“Two hundred bottles at twenty percent off. That’s as far as I’ll go!”

“Five hundred bottles at fifteen percent off. Final offer!”

Reese and Victor locked eyes in their lively duel, each knowing they were evenly matched. Then a faint smile crossed both their faces as they clapped their hands midair, sealing the deal. Unfortunately, Zi-Cheng, the man at the center of it all was completely sidelined, his temple throbbing with frustration but wasn’t able to do a thing about the situation.

“Aren’t you two even going to ask if I want to do this?” Zi-Cheng said with a stiff smile on his face.

“I’ll make it worth your while,” Victor straightened up, smiling in confidence. “In addition to the payment for Golden Clover, I’ll teach you some basic combat skills while you’re working on the order.”

“Victor’s going to teach Ven how to fight?” Elena’s eye widened in surprise as she jumped in as Reese gave Zi-Cheng an expression like he have just won the jackpot.

“You have no idea how lucky you are, Ven. Silver Priest Victor Hunt used to be a renounced guest instructor at the Combat Academy.”

“But I don’t plan to—”

“I know, you’re not into fighting at the arena,” Victor interrupted, his voice calm but firm. “But in this world, fights will find you, even outside the arena.”

Zi-Cheng froze at those words. It felt as if Victor had seen right through him, peering into the broken man who was beaten so badly he couldn’t fight back, his will to resist utterly crushed. Shame, anger, and fear surged through him all at once, threatening to drown him again.

“Don’t turn into a stranger again, please?”

Elena’s eyes, clear and deep like a still lake, locked onto his. Her gaze carried a genuine plea, a silent cry of worry and sorrow that struck him to his core. Though they had only recently met, she had never shown any scorn or pity. No matter how beaten down or humiliated he was, she patiently waited for him to open his heart, like a warm hand reaching into the depths of the abyss.

(Why do you insist sticking your nose into other people’s business….?)

Zi-Cheng remained silent, his emotions swirling as Elena’s words continued to echo in his mind. Her genuine act of sincerity cracked the icy barrier Zi-Cheng had created, bringing forth a silent, heartfelt gratitude.

In the meantime, Reese, who had been observing at the side, suddenly raised her voice.

“Sorry to interrupt, but, when is this free clinic event?”

It was a crucial question, one that nearly got brushed aside in the intensity of the moment.

“The medical team and Morris are well on their way with the preparations,” Victor replied smoothly, flashing Zi-Cheng a casual smile. “The event will kick off in two weeks.”

“Two weeks!?” Zi-Cheng nearly toppled over. Memories of his former business partner, Ming-Wei, waltzing into the office with outrageous freelance contracts came flooding back. The thought alone dragged him into waking nightmares of sleepless nights chasing impossible deadlines.

“Are you kidding me? How am I supposed to make five hundred bottles of potions in two weeks?”

Yet, Reese didn’t answer. Instead, she glanced at Victor with a peculiar expression, one that sent chills down Zi-Cheng’s spine. It was the same look his producer, Chan Sze-Ki, always had whenever the studio picked up a new job — that opportunistic grin brimming with greed.

“Hell no! You two hear me? No way!” Zi-Cheng shouted, frantically waving his hand. “There’s no way I can pull this off alone!”

But the writing was already on the wall. Reese’s bright, knowing grin mirrored Chan Sze-Ki’s perfectly, and Victor’s casual nod only confirmed Zi-Cheng’s fears. Despite being in another world, some things never seemed to change.

(No way I’m walking in this deathtrap!)

“I’m outta here.”

Zi-Cheng spun around and was about to walk away, but there was no way Victor and Reese would let their hard-won deal fall apart so easily.

“If you can’t do it alone, I’ll have Elena lend you a hand.” Victor suggested, his tone so casual it might as well have been about deciding what to eat for lunch.

(Wait...what?!)

“And don’t worry about the materials,” Reese chimed in smoothly. “The guild will handle the stock, and of course, there will be extra pay for all that glorious overtime.”

(Extra pay….!)

Zi-Cheng turned around, ready to argue, only to be met with Elena’s wide, sparkling eyes brimming with excitement.

(This is a tag-team ambush! A coordinated assault!)

But it was too late, his thoughts spiraled as he pressure mounted. Finally, he threw his hands up in surrender, a pained smile plastered on his face. “You’re not even giving me a choice here, are you….?”

Victor nodded approvingly, while Reese smirked like a seasoned negotiator closing a deal. And Elena? She was already rolling up her sleeves, ready to dive in.

And so, with no escape in sight, Zi-Cheng stepped headfirst into his new life – a grueling, sleepless grind that would haunt both his dreams and waking hours alike.