1: debt collectors

The air in the rented room was murky, filled with the sour, decaying smell of cheap instant noodle seasoning mixed with dust.

Lin Yu sat at the table, his back slightly hunched.

The dim light cast two heavy shadows in his sunken eye sockets.

He extended his right hand, his bony fingers picking up A Small Pebble, covered in gray dust.

As his fingertips touched the rough stone surface, a faint gray glow emanated from his palm, gently enveloping the pebble.

The glow lasted for three seconds, then suddenly receded.

He opened his palm.

The pebble was gone.

In its place was a card, entirely gray.

On the front of the card, a perfectly ordinary A Small Pebble was drawn.

【A Small Pebble】

Lin Yu, expressionless, tossed the newly made card onto the corner of the table.

A small mountain of gray cards had already piled up there.

He reached out again, to pick up the next pebble, his movements mechanical, repeated thousands of times.

The screen of the phone on the other side of the table suddenly lit up, the light filtering through the cracks quite dazzling in the gloomy room.

The caller ID showed "Brother Wang (Debt Collector)".

Lin Yu ignored it.

The phone rang stubbornly, its vibration causing the damaged back cover to emit a buzzing lament.

The ringing stopped.

A text message notification popped up.

【Lin Yu, if you don't pay up today, I'll break one of your legs.】

The screen went dark.

Looking at the cramped room, it was like the remnants of something repeatedly chewed and spat out by a giant beast.

The words "Pay your debts" were spray-painted in glaring red on the wall.

The wardrobe door hung open, clothes haphazardly pulled out and strewn all over the floor.

Clearly, the place had been ransacked more than once.

Lin Yu's gaze never left the pile of cheap raw materials in front of him.

His world seemed to consist only of this table and chair, and a pile of pebbles.

This was his only way to fight against the entire world.

“Bang!”

“Bang! Bang!”

The old security door let out a heavy groan, unable to bear the weight, and the door frame trembled.

A crude male voice came from outside the door, filled with undisguised fury.

“Lin Yu!”

“Open the door!”

“I know you’re in there, stop faking your death!”

Lin Yu’s hand, clutching a pebble, paused for a moment in mid-air.

He didn’t turn around.

Only, in his deep-set, bloodshot eyes, something stubborn was slowly hardening.

He slowly put down the pebble, braced his hands on the tabletop, and slowly stood up.

His body swayed slightly from prolonged malnutrition.

But he stood very straight.

Each tremor of the door caused dust to fall from the walls.

Lin Yu turned around, facing the door that seemed ready to fall apart at any moment. He walked towards it step by step, his movements slow, each step like a struggle against his physical weakness.

Years of sitting at a desk and malnutrition had left him truly without the strength to do anything.

Even his sole [Card Creation] was only sustained by sheer willpower.

The curses from outside the door did not stop.

“Damn you, Lin Yu, you owe money and won’t pay, how long do you plan to hide?!”

“If you don’t open the door, I’ll tear this damn thing down today!”

Lin Yu’s hand rested on the cold doorknob. He didn’t hesitate, twisted it, and pulled it open.

The door opened.

Three men stood outside the door. The leader was bald, a thick gold chain around his neck glinting in the dim hallway. He was Brother Wang. Behind him were two subordinates, one tall and thin, the other short and sturdy, both with menacing faces and crude, snarling tattoos on their arms.

The three men were poised with a fierce demeanor, ready to rush in the moment the door opened.

But when they saw Lin Yu’s appearance, everyone froze.

A belly full of prepared curses got stuck in their throats.

The Lin Yu before them, rather than a person, was more like a skeleton draped in human skin. His cheeks were deeply sunken, his skin a grayish-white from prolonged lack of sunlight, his lips cracked and peeling. The faded old clothes hung loosely on him, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.

Brother Wang subconsciously took half a step back.

He wasn't afraid of Lin Yu. He was afraid Lin Yu would die here.

In this state, let alone breaking a leg, even a slight push could cause him to fall apart. If he really died in his hands, not only would the money be lost, but he would also get into huge trouble.

The two subordinates behind him exchanged glances, their ferocity replaced by astonishment and a hint of apprehension.

The air fell into an eerie silence.

Lin Yu paid no attention to the dramatic changes on their faces. He simply opened the door, then turned and walked back, sitting down again at the dilapidated table.

He reached out again, picking up a pebble.

Throughout the entire process, he didn’t even spare the three debt collectors a glance.

This utter disregard infuriated Brother Wang more than any violent resistance. But he didn’t dare to actually make a move. This stifling feeling made his chest heavy.

“Hey!” The tall, thin subordinate finally couldn’t hold back, stepping forward. “What the hell are you playing at? Brother Wang is talking to you!”

Lin Yu’s hand didn’t stop.

The gray glow once again lit up from his palm, enveloping the new pebble.

The light receded, and another 【A Small Pebble】 card appeared in his hand.

He casually tossed the card into the small mountain, making a faint “clatter” sound. The sound was particularly clear in the dead silent room.

Brother Wang’s temple throbbed.

In all his years of debt collecting, he had seen people throwing tantrums, begging for mercy, and even fighting with knives.

But someone like Lin Yu, treating him like air and playing with pebbles, was a first.

“Lin Yu.” Brother Wang suppressed his anger, trying to make his voice sound as steady as possible, but the gritted teeth were unmistakable. “I don’t want to waste words with you. Today, this money, you must pay.”

Lin Yu finally reacted.

He didn’t turn around, but simply put down the hand he was about to use to pick up the next pebble.

“The money, I will pay.”

His voice was hoarse, like two pieces of sandpaper rubbing together.

Hearing this, Brother Wang’s expression softened a little. It was good that he was willing to pay.

“Smart of you. You know the account number, transfer it now.”

“But not today, as you know, I don’t have money right now,” Lin Yu added.

Brother Wang’s recently softened expression instantly darkened again. “Are you messing with me?!”

“I’m not messing with you.” Lin Yu’s back was still to them, like a stubborn statue. “What I owe you, including the principal, interest, late fees, and penalties, not a single cent will be short.”

The short, sturdy subordinate scoffed: “Easy to say! Not today, then when? Next year? The year after?”

Lin Yu was silent for a moment.

Then, he said something that made all three of them feel bewildered.

“Don’t worry.”

“When that day comes, you’ll know.”

With that, he seemed to have no intention of continuing the conversation, bracing his hands on the table, and making to stand up to close the door.

This was a blatant dismissal.

Brother Wang was completely enraged.

Messing with me? Messing with me, Old Wang!

He lunged forward, grabbed Lin Yu’s shoulder, and pressed him firmly into the chair.

“If you don’t give me a clear answer today, you’ll never get up again in this life!”