Chapter Five: The Cheapest Life

The death notice came from an internal Lu security number. Zhou Ye was not arrested, but he showed no relief. “They edited a living man into a corpse. What will they do with my grandmother's life?” “That's why we're going to the hospital,” Chenzhou said. Bai Yi barred the door. “The Trial of Profit is unfinished. Candidates may not leave the estate.” Chenzhou raised his rain token, a copper disk stamped with the closed-eyed crane. “Appendix Nine says a token holder may designate a candidate to withdraw. I designate myself.” The bronze register slammed shut. Every light in the estate went dark. In the darkness, Bai Yi lost his gentleness for the first time. “You would erase the name Shen Man spent fifteen years preserving?”