Original and most updated translations are from volare. Please don't read elsewhere and stop supporting theft.

　　TL: Zhao

　　Editing: Krisaia

　　"So you went to see them already?" In an empty factory room, a man emerged from under a processing mill. He wore a pair of old, worn-out linen gloves, a set of discolored factory uniform, and a pair of protective gla.s.ses.

　　"Yeah, that's about it," A voice came from a lean figure sitting on a bench right next to the machine.

　　"Why are you here then? I've told you that I'm not interested in whatever you're up to. I'm satisfied with my life now." The factory worker removed his gla.s.ses and wiped off his sweat with his greasy gloves.

　　"I'm just here to see you," The lean man said with a smile, disregarding the dissatisfied expression of his friend.

　　"Hey, you're not allowed to smoke here." The worker frowned.

　　"Don't worry, I'm not going to set fire to your factory…" The lean man ignored the warning and lit up his cigarette.

　　The factory worker sighed and continued his work on the processing mill.

　　"I heard you wanted to see Aunt Wu?" The man inhaled a mouthful of smoke.

　　"Did the kid tell you that?" The worker turned around and stopped what he was doing.

　　"You don't need to go there. I've seen what you're capable of. You won't be able to win against Aunt Wu." The man flipped his lips and brought his cigarette to his lips again.

　　"Is that a challenge?"

　　"I'm only speaking the truth."

　　"Did she really force you into a draw?" The worker suddenly said.

　　"Not really. She only cast eight moves out of nine."

　　"What do you mean?"

　　"I'll admit that I did fall for a few of her tricks. Her way with the sword was exceptional too. She asked me to fight only until the ninth move, because that's how many she knew. I deflected the first three attacks and dodged the next three. I endured the seventh hit head on, but I had to block the eighth with my fists, and I'm pretty sure that I would have been forced to draw my own weapon to block the ninth sword attack."

　　"Why didn't she go all the way then?"

　　"She knew that there would be no going back if she went to the last move. She most likely wanted to avoid that…" The man said.

　　"Okay, so what do you want me to do?" The factory worker sighed and removed his gloves.

　　"I need you to kill someone for me." The skinny man bit his cigarette, his face hidden by a veil of blue smoke.

　　"Give me the name."

　　"Liu Meng. I'll teach you the last three moves when you've done the deed."

　　* * *

　　'The Fate Pill…' Li Yiming remembered what Bai Ze told him a long time ago. 'Bodhi Leaf, the Water of the Past Life, the Fruit of Nirvana… Resetting one's talent.'

　　"I took a look at your condition. It's quite a rarity to become a sage at level six, a full level earlier than usual, but you've still taken a shortcut. The power which resides within your body doesn't belong to you," Aunt Wu said as she sat on a stone bench nearby.