“This little brat sure runs fast—he disappeared in no time.” Blake, panting heavily, waved his hand and said, gasping for breath, “I can’t go on.”

“If I run into him again, I’ll beat him half to death.” Ripped Jeans cursed as he watched William Carter’s disappearing figure.

William Carter glanced behind him; those two guys hadn’t caught up. William Carter instinctively looked at his own hand—his movements had been quick and precise, and when he made his move, Blake and Ripped Jeans hadn’t noticed a thing. It would be a long time before they realized their money was stolen. Those two were definitely no strangers to bad deeds, so this time they got what they deserved. A sense of accomplishment welled up in William Carter’s heart, and it was this very feeling that kept him wavering on the question of whether or not to keep being a thief.

William Carter was a thief, and a highly skilled one at that, yet he still lived a hard life.

There is honor among thieves, and it made William Carter feel a bit like a chivalrous hero.

William Carter slipped his right hand into his pocket, feeling the thickness, texture, and number of bills. His hand was as precise as a ruler—1,300. William Carter smiled slightly. It wasn’t much, but it was enough for him and Lily to live frugally for a few months.

As he passed by a roast duck shop, the aroma wafting out made William Carter pause for a moment. He glanced into the shop. Maybe today he’d buy something nutritious for Lily, William Carter thought, and headed toward the roast duck shop.

As he climbed the steps, a sudden sharp pain shot through William Carter’s back, making him grimace. The movement had pulled at his wound—those two guys had really kicked him hard.

He walked into the roast duck shop. The owner was a short, chubby uncle, busy packing roast duck for customers.

“Boss, one order of roast duck, please.” William Carter said, gritting his teeth against the pain in his back, his gaze falling on a promotional poster on the wall.

Enzes’ Legend? A new game from Tianxia Corporation?

It was hard to find a job these days—even many recent college graduates couldn’t find work, let alone someone like William Carter, who only graduated from middle school and had a checkered past. Suddenly, William Carter had the idea of becoming a professional gamer. He’d heard that when “Prehistoric” was all the rage a few years ago, many people made money as pro gamers. Maybe he could make a living that way too, and wouldn’t have to survive by stealing anymore.

Releasing on March 25th?

William Carter checked the date—Enzes’ Legend would launch in three days. But when his eyes landed on the bottom of the poster, he stopped and gave a bitter smile. A basic helmet costs ten thousand? There was no way William Carter could bring himself to spend that much. Ten thousand yuan was enough for him and Lily to live on for a year.

“Your roast duck is ready.” The chubby uncle handed a packed roast duck to William Carter.

William Carter took the roast duck, feeling its warmth in his hands. The delicious aroma made him swallow. He thanked the uncle repeatedly, “Thank you.”

“Heh, young man, no need to be so polite.” The chubby uncle smiled. He genuinely liked this young man. He often saw William Carter helping elderly people on the street—young men as kind as this were rare these days.

William Carter left the roast duck shop and trekked across half the city, heading home.

After walking down a long stone-paved street, William Carter arrived home. Lily wasn’t there yet; it was still early before school let out. William Carter glanced around the room—there was barely anything inside, but the few belongings they had were neatly arranged by Lily. The wooden shack was shabby and leaked when it rained, but it still had the warm feeling of home.

Thinking of Lily’s sweet smile, a warmth rose in William Carter’s heart as he set the roast duck on the table.

Hiss—a sharp pain shot through his back again. William Carter slowly took off his shirt.

Anyone who saw him would be shocked by the sight—William Carter’s body was covered in hideous wounds, hundreds of scars both large and small. His abdomen and chest bore many marks, some of which could have been fatal, yet William Carter had survived and grown even stronger. These scars were the testament to more than a decade of struggle.

William Carter glanced at the fresh bruise on his abdomen. Blake and Ripped Jeans had been wearing leather shoes and kicked him hard, leaving deep, dark bruises. The wound on his back was probably even worse than the one on his stomach. If William Carter weren’t so tough, he might have had to crawl home.

Better go see a doctor, or else Lily would worry again. William Carter put his shirt back on, left the room, and walked off into the distance.

William Carter lived in the slums of Xiu City. Not far from his home was a government-run Red Cross hospital, where treatment was free and the doctors were all volunteers—very kind people. Most of William Carter’s wounds, big and small, had been treated at that hospital.

William Carter headed toward the hospital. It wasn’t a big place, but it was a blessing for the slums. The people living nearby held the hospital’s doctors in high esteem—a gratitude that came from the heart.