Chapter 3
After Hào Rán left the hospital, he called a taxi and entered it quietly. Once inside, he frowned deeply, his face twisted like someone who had just been bitten by a dog.
After paying the hospital bills and other expenses, he checked his account balance again.
"Damn it… I only have 70,000 yuan left in my account," he muttered.
Then suddenly his eyes widened.
"Fuck! I completely forgot… I still owe the loan shark 350,000 yuan! I borrowed 250,000 yuan last month for my ex-girlfriend to host her birthday party and buy her an expensive gift. Damn it!"
He leaned back in frustration.
But after a while, something changed.
Hào Rán slowly began to smile.
Then he started laughing.
"Wow… that was amazing. The Merchant System is truly amazing."
The Merchant System's cold mechanical voice echoed in his mind:
"Congratulations, Host. You have achieved the Lifespan Contract. You are now awarded the ability to pause time for one minute.
You may extend the duration beyond one minute, but each additional second will consume your lifespan. For every one second extended, ten minutes will be deducted from your lifespan.
The duration limit will increase as the system upgrades. Please continue working hard, Host."
Hào Rán's eyes shone brightly.
The taxi driver glanced at him through the rearview mirror.
"What happened? Why are you smiling and laughing like that?" the driver asked.
"Nothing happened," Hào Rán replied calmly.
The driver frowned slightly.
"You look kind of creepy smiling like that. It's a bit scary."
Hào Rán ignored him and gave the driver the location he wanted to go to.
As the taxi continued driving, the radio suddenly crackled with a shaking, urgent voice.
"Breaking news! Breaking news! One of the top five families, the Zhāng Hàn Yì Chuánchéng Clan, has announced that their family elder is critically ill.
The Zhāng Hàn Yì Chuánchéng Clan is seeking any doctor or anyone capable of healing their family elder. Whoever can cure him will be rewarded with any amount of money, wealth, or riches they request."
The broadcast continued:
"The family elder is currently suffering from advanced lung cancer and does not have much time left."
The taxi driver sighed heavily.
"What a pity… The elder is a good man. He built many schools and helped countless poor people. If he dies, I'm afraid the Zhāng Hàn Yì Chuánchéng family will collapse. He's the one holding the entire family together.
Besides, there are many wolves eyeing their businesses already. Once he's gone, chaos will begin."
Hào Rán's eyes narrowed slightly.
He thought to himself:
"Why don't I try the ability the system just gave me the time-stopping ability? I can also try selling the lifespan I bought. The old man is already dying anyway… This could be good practice to test the system's full capacity."
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I hope it goes well."
He suddenly spoke to the driver.
"I'm changing my destination. Take me to the Zhāng Hàn Yì Chuánchéng family residence."
The driver glanced at him strangely but nodded.
"Okay."
Inside his mind, however, the driver thought:
"What a fool… So many top doctors have already tried and failed. And this young man from nowhere wants to try his luck because of money."
A few minutes later, the taxi arrived at the grand residence of the Zhāng Hàn Yì Chuánchéng family.
The mansion stood tall and imposing, guarded heavily at the gates.
Hào Rán stepped out of the taxi and paid the driver immediately.
He walked toward the massive gate.
Standing in front of it, he snapped his fingers lightly.
"Merchant System… pause time."