The cold wind bit into Su Chen's skin as he walked along the empty streets.
His footsteps echoed against the pavement, his breath coming out in visible puffs.
He had no home. No money. No future.
But at least… he was alive.
That was enough.
---
The First Step
Su Chen wandered for hours, his thoughts a tangled mess.
His past self would have been overwhelmed by fear, panicked over what to do next. But now, after everything he had lived through, he was calm.
Survival came first.
That meant food. A place to sleep. Stability.
He still had a few valuables. He could sell them, find a cheap hostel, maybe even get a temporary job.
A normal life.
His lips curled into a bitter smile.
It felt almost ridiculous—planning for something so simple when, in another life, he had ruled over industries, wielded unimaginable power, and crushed his enemies with a single thought.
But that was no longer him.
His past life had ended.
This was reality now.
He had to accept it.
---
A City That No Longer Knew Him
As dawn approached, Su Chen found himself in front of a small pawn shop. The neon "We Buy Gold" sign flickered above the entrance.
He stepped inside.
The shop smelled of dust and cigarette smoke. Behind the counter sat an old man, his sharp eyes scanning Su Chen the moment he entered.
"What do you have?" the shopkeeper asked, his voice raspy.
Su Chen reached into his bag, pulling out the broken watch and the few pieces of old jewelry he had saved.
The shopkeeper barely glanced at them before letting out a scoff.
"Fifty yuan."
Su Chen's eyes twitched.
"Fifty? These are worth at least five hundred!"
The shopkeeper gave him a lazy smirk.
"That's business, kid. You can take it or leave it."
Su Chen inhaled sharply, forcing himself to stay calm.
He needed the money.
"…Fine."
The old man chuckled, tossing a crumpled fifty-yuan note onto the counter before pocketing the valuables.
Su Chen took the money and left without another word.
Outside, the city continued as if nothing had changed.
Because to the world, nothing had.
He was just another struggling man trying to survive.
---
The Decision
Sitting on a bench in a quiet park, Su Chen stared at the fifty-yuan note in his hands.
In his past life, he could have made this amount in less than a second.
But now?
It was all he had.
His stomach growled.
The logical choice was to buy food.
But logic didn't stop the bitterness in his heart.
Was this really how he was going to live?
As an ordinary man?
He clenched his fists.
For the first time since waking up in this world, doubt crept into his mind.
Could he really abandon the path of power?
Could he truly live a simple life?
As he sat there, lost in thought, the sky darkened.
The first drops of rain began to fall.
And somewhere in the distance, fate stirred.