Chapter 2

After silently chanting “Enhance,” Ding Yi immediately noticed a white light emit from the wooden plank beneath him—and a new prompt popped up before his eyes:

【Enhancement successful. Remaining lifespan: 8 years and 32 days】

“What the hell?! I’m only in my early twenties—why do I only have eight years left to live?!”

The message hit Ding Yi like a punch to the chest. He nearly jumped off the bed in shock. Whatever joy he had felt from unlocking his “cheat” system was now mostly gone.

“No, something’s off… Even with my injuries, my lifespan shouldn’t have dropped this drastically… Unless—”

Ding Yi sat upright on the wooden bed, his mind racing. Then, a sudden memory flashed—those past few days he’d been eating nothing but dried meat and murky water given by that elderly couple.

“Could it be the food…?”

The thought sent a chill down his spine, but he quickly forced himself to calm down.

“Thinking about it won’t help. First, I should inspect the plank.”

Taking a deep breath, Ding Yi looked down at the wooden board he had just enhanced.

What was once cracked, dented, and aged beyond repair now gleamed like new—smooth and flawless, with a fresh coat of deep red lacquer that shimmered unnaturally on this broken-down bed.

【Refinished Redwood Plank】

【A premium redwood plank. The lacquer coating repels insects and prevents decay—definitely top-grade material!】

“It actually worked! And it didn’t just repair the surface—it even added anti-rot lacquer!?”

Ding Yi was stunned. This enhancement wasn’t just fixing things—it was rebuilding them from the inside out.

“If that’s the case…”

He immediately examined his arms and legs, hoping the same enhancement logic applied to himself. But after several minutes, nothing changed.

Disappointment flickered in his eyes.

“So I can’t enhance my own body… That’s a shame.”

Sighing, Ding Yi quietly pried the redwood plank loose and hid it between the bed and the wall.

Lying back down, he began strategizing his next move.

“So far, this enhancement ability works without a clear rule, as long as something is ‘enhanceable’…”

“That old couple—Wei and his wife—definitely mean me harm. I need to deal with them soon.”

“Also, my lifespan… It’s critical. If enhancing drains it, then surely there must be a way to increase it too.”

“And finally, I need to uncover the secret behind why no one dares step outside at night.”

Ding Yi reviewed his entire situation in his head and laid out a plan.

“No matter the circumstances, logic always works.”

That was something his old math teacher used to say—and right now, it was keeping him sane.

Soon, the first rays of sunlight squeezed through the cracks in the wall, signaling dawn.

And right on cue, Ding Yi heard footsteps—soft, dragging shaa-shaa sounds—outside the door, followed by a slow knock.

“Ding boy, come have breakfast.”

The hoarse voice echoed through the wooden door, bringing a grim chill to the otherwise sunlit room.

But Ding Yi replied without hesitation:

“Coming!”

A short while later, he was seated at the rickety wooden table with the old couple, eating breakfast.

“Ding boy, you’re still injured. Eat more.”

The old man Wei pushed a bowl of rice porridge—served in a worn-out wooden bowl—toward him with a smile.

But after everything he’d experienced last night, Ding Yi was more suspicious than ever. He instinctively twitched an eyelid before calmly responding:

“Old Master Wei , I’ve been eating your food these days without giving anything in return. I can’t accept this anymore. Please, you eat instead.”

He slid the bowl back toward the old man.

Wei’s smile froze for a split second—clearly surprised. But then he recovered and chuckled:

“Ding boy, we’re old. Don’t have much appetite. Go ahead, eat, eat.”

As he spoke, his sharp, sunken eyes locked tightly onto Ding Yi, which only made Ding Yi’s suspicions feel all the more real.

Still, he didn’t refuse again. He picked up the bowl and slowly began eating.

Seeing him finally take a bite, the old man’s grin deepened, exaggerating the already grotesque wrinkles on his face.

But then, Ding Yi casually asked:

“By the way, Old Master Wei… I thought I heard screaming outside last night. Did something happen?”

At this, Wei and the old woman immediately exchanged glances.

Then, with a flat tone, the old woman asked:

“You didn’t sleep last night?”

“I did. Just woke up briefly,” Ding Yi replied calmly.

“Hehe… Must’ve been a dream,” said Wei, shaking his head.

“Yeah, maybe,” Ding Yi nodded. He rotated his shoulder and added,

“Oh right—thank you both for looking after me. My injuries are much better now. I’m planning to leave in a few days.”

At that, the old woman—who had remained silent—suddenly shot to her feet.

Her expression twisted into a snarl as she lunged forward, grabbed Ding Yi’s arm with both hands, and shrieked:

“You want to leave?! Where do you think you’re going?! WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU’RE GOING?!”

The sudden outburst startled Ding Yi. He instinctively tried to pull away, but to his shock, it was as if his arms had been clamped in iron—completely immobile.

Fear surged in his chest.