“It really worked!” Those were the first words Chen Youzai said when he opened his eyes.
Chen Youzai had never expected the transformation to actually work. So the most handsome person in the world really existed? The thought thrilled him, but it also made reality a little harder to swallow. If the most handsome person existed, then did that mean the ugliest person in the world did too? No… not necessarily. Chen Youzai steadied himself, already impatient to see his new face.
The sun blazed overhead like a giant microwave oven, baking the strength out of everyone below. Only then did Chen Youzai realize that he was standing in something like a barren plateau. Withered grass and stones covered the ground. A few people stood scattered nearby in tattered clothes, each holding a wooden stick of some kind. Every one of them was painfully thin, little more than skin and bones.
Chen Youzai could not help feeling sorry for them. How pitiful. Then he looked down at himself, and his sympathy vanished. There was some kind of restraint around his neck. Is this the legendary cangue? His hands and neck were locked so tightly that he could barely move. With effort, he lowered his gaze farther and saw shackles around his ankles too. What is this? Did I transfer into a prisoner?
The next second, his stomach cramped violently, twisting with knife-like pain. How many days has this body gone without food? Chen Youzai let out a weak groan.
No. I can’t stand another second of this. I’m changing back! So what if this body is handsome? Who’s even going to see it in a godforsaken place like this? With that, Chen Youzai decided to reach for the silver coin.
Then he realized one fatal problem. His hands could not move. What do I do? What do I do? Call someone over to help me? But no one else can see the coin! And I’m a prisoner. Who would listen to me anyway…?
Between his panic, weakness, and stomach pain, Chen Youzai was soon drenched in sweat. He was desperately searching for someone who might help when a tremendous force struck him from behind. With no warning at all, he crashed to the ground. The earth was covered with stones and the hard roots of dead plants, and the impact sent stars bursting across his vision. He nearly passed out.
“Get up! What are you dawdling for?”
The roar behind him snapped Chen Youzai awake. Trembling, he turned and saw a powerfully built man holding a leather whip. Chen Youzai had barely frozen for a second before the whip came down across his body.
“Wuwu…” Chen Youzai wanted to howl, but this body was so weak that only a thin sob came out. He felt horribly wronged. Back home, no matter how angry Mother Chen got, the worst she ever did was smack him. When had he ever suffered a beating like this?
His sobbing did nothing to move the burly man. Seeing the whip rise again, Chen Youzai hurriedly begged, “I’m getting up, Brother! I’m getting up! Please stop hitting me.”
He struggled to his feet, only to be kicked from behind and nearly fall again. Chen Youzai swallowed every complaint. He had no idea what might get him killed here, and dying in a place like this would be the worst possible ending.