Barely able to breathe thanks to Mingu's help, the man mumbled something to Mingu. Though the words were unintelligible, Mingu realized the man couldn't even move properly yet.Mingu carefully moved him into the shadow of a building on the verge of colpse, concealing him. Anxious that danger might still lurk, Mingu scanned the surroundings and then hastily departed with his meager belongings. The man left behind remained still and silent in the darkness.Mingu walked silently forward, but his steps came to an abrupt halt due to sudden shadows. Instantly surrounded, he was seized by menacing-looking gang members before he could even resist. Even as he was dragged away, Mingu offered no pleas or struggles. As if it were a predetermined course, he was led away in silence by their hands.The gang leader scrutinized Mingu's face in the darkness, and his eyes flickered wildly. He frantically tapped the screen of his smartphone, seemingly searching for something. After a long struggle navigating between an internet search bar and a transtion app, the leader finally spoke in broken pronunciation."Me... lifespan... extend... please..."Taken aback by the leader's unexpected demand, Mingu wore a momentarily bewildered expression. He soon replied calmly."Healing injuries is possible, but extending lifespan is beyond my capabilities."However, the leader, as if he hadn't heard Mingu, repeated earnestly."Lifespan... extend... please..."Mingu shook his head once more with a look of pity."It's truly impossible. I don't have such an ability."At Mingu's firm answer, the leader's face instantly contorted into a menacing scowl. Displeased, he gestured roughly to his subordinates. The burly men immediately grabbed Mingu, dragged him into a dark and damp prison cell, and shoved him behind the iron bars. Beyond the firmly closing prison door, the leader's cold gaze could be felt.Imprisoned, Mingu showed no particur movements. The gang also left him alone, repeating the same offer for days."Extend... my lifespan... and I'll release you... immediately."Each time, Mingu merely shook his head, his lips tightly sealed. At his stubborn attitude, the leader would leave, smming the prison door shut in annoyance.Left alone, Mingu finally took a close look at the interior of the prison. It appeared old and dipidated on the surface, but strangely, there were no obvious weaknesses to exploit for escape. The small window had sturdy iron bars, and beyond them, a blue sky and leisurely drifting clouds were visible. Though it was a solitary confinement, Mingu strangely felt a sense of peace within it."Staying like this... might not be so bad..."However, that peaceful feeling did not st long.Several days ter, the leader approached the prison cell, roughly dragging along a stranger Mingu had never seen before. The man was trembling all over, seemingly terrified."Extend my lifespan. Otherwise, this man will die before your very eyes."At the absurd threat, Mingu could only gape, at a loss for words. Hadn't he already said it was impossible multiple times? Extending lifespan was truly beyond his power.Without waiting for an answer, the leader pressed the cold muzzle of a gun against the dragged man's head. And once more, he commanded in a low, threatening voice."Extend... lifespan..."Mingu's mind went bnk. Before he could even make an excuse, a sudden, dull roar ripped through the prison cell. Along with a fsh, the man's body colpsed limply, falling to the floor like a severed log. Red blood stained the cold prison floor.After that, the horrific events were repeated. The next day, and the day after that, the leader dragged new people and murdered them in front of Mingu. It seemed the man intended to continue sacrificing innocent lives until Mingu granted his ridiculous demand. When the fifth man was dragged in, trembling with fear, Mingu made a desperate decision.As the dragged man looked at Mingu with terrified eyes, Mingu let out a deep sigh and spoke in a voice filled with despair."Alright... I will extend your lifespan."At the unexpected answer, the leader looked rather bewildered and asked back."How?"'How indeed?' Mingu was inwardly surprised by the leader's question. Could it be that the man had seen through his shallow ruse?"If you release me... I will show you."Mingu said to the leader, trying to keep his voice steady. After a moment of hesitation, the leader finally nodded to his subordinates, and the firmly closed prison door opened. Mingu slowly approached the leader and quietly began to chant words, just as he would when healing injuries. But surprisingly, nothing changed. No light, no warmth was felt."Nothing is changing," the leader said in a cold voice. Then, Mingu replied with a faint smile."No, it is different. From now on."In that instant, Mingu suddenly embraced the leader tightly. At the same time, the pistol he had swiftly drawn from the leader's waistband was thrust deeply into the leader's abdomen."Bang!"The leader's eyes widened at the deafening sound. Before he could even react to the sudden situation, the gang members guarding the leader simultaneously aimed their guns at Mingu."Bang! Bang!"Loud gunshots shook the prison cell. Mingu felt a searing pain in his shoulder, but ignoring it, he grabbed the colpsing leader and began to return fire at the guards. Fmes fshed from the pistol in his hand with each shot, and in the fierce gunfight, everyone eventually colpsed powerlessly to the floor.Mingu also colpsed, groaning in pain from the bullet lodged deep in his abdomen. Hot blood flowed ceaselessly from his mouth. The sensations in his entire body were gradually fading. As his mind grew hazy and the world receded, Mingu suddenly had a faint thought that he wanted to face a different kind of end than before. A strong desire to end everything now washed over him.Mingu simply accepted the quietly approaching death in his fading consciousness.