You're Not Dead?

Suddenly, that figure turned around and waved toward her.

Jiang Siyan curled his lips into a smile. For a scavenger who had just arrived in the color city state, she was remarkably keen.

He also raised his hand and waved back.

...

For dinner that day, Zhu Xi Ning had browsed the forums and decided on Cantonese cuisine. Although Nan Yue preferred stronger flavors, the food at this place was truly excellent. The three of them even asked for refills of the rich broth several times.

During the meal, Nan Yue told them about Jiang Siyan, and Gu Xiang Kai was so shocked that his eating manners became significantly more refined.

"Why would a high-level player be in a psychological clinic in a color city state?"

No matter how you looked at it, Jiang Siyan seemed like someone who belonged in Eden.

Not to mention work—the points they paid for a consultation must be mere pocket change to a powerhouse like him.

"I don't know."

Jiang Siyan gave Nan Yue a very comfortable feeling. This likely had to do with his awakened ability; a healing-type awakened ability could naturally stabilize a scavenger's psychological value.

Moreover, Jiang Siyan was the kind of gentle and refined man who lacked the oppressive aura of a top-tier powerhouse. If it weren't for his striking appearance, his temperament would likely allow him to blend into a crowd unnoticed.

"The 'Sharp Blade' organization is like that too. Maybe Doctor Jiang has a similar goal."

Gu Xiang Kai nodded. "True. High-level players also need to find things to do."

Since they had slept too much earlier, the three of them weren't in a hurry to return to their rooms after eating and drinking their fill. Instead, they went for a walk in Central Park.

There were many people out for a post-meal stroll like them, mostly traveling in teams. Nan Yue sat on a bench and spaced out, while the two beside her slumped in their chairs in identical poses, staring up at the sky.

Nan Yue was enjoying the rare moment of peace when her gaze suddenly froze.

She wasn't sure if it was because the night was too dark, but she actually saw someone who shouldn't exist.

She sat up straight. It was correct... both the build and the face were very similar.

The two beside her were still imitating slumped geese. Nan Yue didn't call them and walked over toward the figure on her own.

"Wen Xiang Yuan...?"

Nan Yue stopped behind the girl. The girl was about four or five centimeters shorter than her, but her proportions were excellent, and a head of fluffy curls draped lazily over her back.

"Hmm?"

The girl turned around. Her eyes widened when she saw it was Nan Yue.

"Nan Yue?"

Nan Yue didn't know what to say for a moment, standing frozen on the spot.

It really was Wen Xiang Yuan.

But... hadn't she died in the Blooming Media Company?

"You... Aren't you..."

Nan Yue was rarely this incoherent. Wen Xiang Yuan clearly hadn't expected to run into Nan Yue here either. After a moment of stunned silence, she gave a small cheer and hugged Nan Yue.

"I didn't expect to see you here. This is wonderful!"

Nan Yue held Wen Xiang Yuan. The girl in her arms was fragrant and soft; she was a living person.

Once they both calmed down, Wen Xiang Yuan squinted her eyes and explained to Nan Yue.

"Oh, you mean that mission at the Blooming Media Company? I did die, but the real me didn't."

A flash of awkwardness crossed Wen Xiang Yuan's face. She lowered her head slightly, unsure of how to explain it.

Nan Yue understood. "Is it... your ability?"

Wen Xiang Yuan was silent for a moment before nodding. "Yes."

Nan Yue finally understood why Wen Xiang Yuan seemed so out of place among other scavengers. It was because Wen Xiang Yuan's ability was too unique.

She likely had a heaven-defying ability like resurrection. Such an ability was unheard of. If people with ill intentions found out, it would bring disastrous consequences to Wen Xiang Yuan.

She was essentially a stone for testing the path that could be used repeatedly.

Thinking of this, Nan Yue's expression turned serious. "Don't let anyone know about your ability. If you run into others who know you died, you need to think of another ability to use as an excuse."

Wen Xiang Yuan looked at Nan Yue blankly. Such an expression on a beauty made one's heart soften. Nan Yue was in a good mood and thought for a moment.

"Why don't you say your ability is invisibility?"

Invisibility wasn't a rare ability; it just had different time limits and trigger requirements. At least the school had introduced this ability in the ability descriptions.

So, although this ability was quite useful, it wouldn't be as conspicuous as Wen Xiang Yuan's real ability.

Wen Xiang Yuan's gaze toward Nan Yue became very gentle. "Okay."

Since Wen Xiang Yuan had such a heaven-defying ability, the inconsistencies about her were cleared up.

She looked like she had little experience and an ordinary ability, yet she had managed to survive all the way to a color city state.

As they were talking, Wen Xiang Yuan's stomach suddenly growled. She covered her stomach, looking a bit embarrassed.

"You haven't eaten yet?"

Wen Xiang Yuan hesitated. "...I have no money."

"I... don't have many points."

Nan Yue understood after a moment's thought. It was likely that although Wen Xiang Yuan's ability was very special, it was essentially a bug exploit, so the system wouldn't grant many points during settlement.

It was just a mystery why she had unlocked the status for a high-level city state...

Nan Yue didn't overthink it. She took Wen Xiang Yuan to find Gu Xiang Kai and the other.

When they saw Wen Xiang Yuan, their surprise was no less than Nan Yue's.

Zhu Xi Ning was extremely shocked after learning about Wen Xiang Yuan's special ability. She repeatedly expressed her envy, saying that such an awakened ability was actually useful, unlike her own useless one.

Gu Xiang Kai didn't say much, but perhaps because Wen Xiang Yuan was too beautiful, Nan Yue thought his face looked suspiciously flushed.

The three of them took Wen Xiang Yuan to the same Cantonese restaurant. Wen Xiang Yuan seemed to know this type of cuisine well and ordered several signature dishes herself. It was clear she was hungry when the food arrived, but her manners remained very elegant.

Gu Xiang Kai, sitting nearby, saw a plate of shrimp dumplings was out of her reach and handed it over. Wen Xiang Yuan looked at him and smiled softly.

"Thank you, Brother Gu."

Gu Xiang Kai gave a cool grunt and picked up his chopsticks to eat.

Zhu Xi Ning: "...Gu Xiang Kai, your chopsticks are upside down."

Gu Xiang Kai: "..."

With his cool persona shattered, Gu Xiang Kai began arguing heatedly with Zhu Xi Ning. Nan Yue was already used to seeing this.

Wen Xiang Yuan also watched them with a smile, sighing, "You guys have such a good relationship."

"I've seen many teams that are cordial on the surface but divided at heart. There are also those with very good relationships, and seeing them always makes me marvel. Even though there's no blood relation, you can have such deep bonds."

Zhu Xi Ning, whose mouth could scold five Gu Xiang Kais at once, still found time to ask Wen Xiang Yuan a question.

"Blood relation? Are there even people with blood relations left in this world?"

Wen Xiang Yuan froze and lowered her eyes. "I meant the people in the mission worlds... Many are clearly family, yet the things they do are so terrifying."

The three of them deeply sympathized, especially since the mission in Multi-fortune Town had left them with a lingering shadow.

"You can't really compare it like that. After all, the missions are distorted and polluted by fear. Even though human nature can be ugly, such appalling things wouldn't normally happen."

Nan Yue served Wen Xiang Yuan a bowl of porridge. Wen Xiang Yuan seemed a bit distracted, likely thinking of a certain mission.

Scavengers purifying the world would always encounter a mission that left a deep impression on them.