Chapter One: A Death Date for Twenty Yuan

A silver antler fastened the stranger's cuff. Behind him, glass cabinets held a bloody ring, a scorched trophy, a cracked camera, and a specimen jar labeled SHEN YAN—SECOND DEATH. The vision lasted three seconds. Noise crashed back. Shen Yan caught the stall frame, sweating. The second hand remained still, but new words had appeared on the dial: 365 DAYS REMAINING. He fled to Listening Rain. The antique shop sat between two jewelry chains, narrow as a crack left by another century. Its owner, Luo Jingshan, was dusting a counter with a feather duster. “Nineteen minutes late,” Luo said. “Half a day's pay.” “Uncle Luo, have you seen an old watch that causes visions?” “Drinking counterfeit liquor now?”