Nan Yue remembered Lan Jing Shui saying he had lost an arm in that mission as well.
Jiang Siyan remembered it too. "Lan Jing Shui had a pretty rough time in that mission, but because of that, he woke up very quickly."
Nan Yue immediately realized that with Jiang Siyan's nearly heaven-defying healing ability, it wasn't easy for him to die even if he wanted to, let alone from injuries of that level.
He had likely inflicted countless wounds of all sizes on himself, but because his healing factor was too strong, they closed up almost instantly.
Without the stimulation of an open wound, he couldn't wake from the illusion for a long time, forced to relive his greatest fears over and over again.
...No wonder he went mad.
"Do you mind if I ask how you finally left the illusion?"
Jiang Siyan was silent for a moment. "Later, I realized it was an illusion, and I realized that leaving required the stimulation of pain from an external wound."
"I just kept trying until I found the right degree of it."
Jiang Siyan spoke nonchalantly, but Nan Yue's heart sank as she listened.
Ordinary wounds wouldn't be enough to pull someone with Jiang Siyan's recovery speed out of an illusion.
It had to be a fatal wound—pulling himself out just before complete death, healing while teetering on the edge of life and death.
Anyone would go crazy after committing suicide countless times.
"Then you..."
Jiang Siyan gave a somewhat mocking smile. "Are you worried I'll go mad?"
Nan Yue shook her head. "Do you still feel unwell now?"
Which scavenger wasn't a little crazy?
Those who survived had all, to some extent, done things that harmed themselves or others. Their psyches and moral boundaries were constantly being broken and battered.
They were all riddled with holes.
As for going mad—who wasn't?
But as a teammate, Nan Yue cared more about Jiang Siyan's feelings.
He could be a lunatic, but Nan Yue hoped he would be a healthy one.
Nan Yue was no saint. If she had to choose between hurting herself and hurting others, she could only hope her teammates were okay.
She didn't notice that Jiang Siyan stiffened when she asked that question. He stared at her, the emotions in his eyes so complex that she couldn't quite make them out.
"I just thought that if you still feel uncomfortable, we could go see another psychologist."
They said doctors couldn't treat themselves. Nan Yue hoped Jiang Siyan could get help.
The corners of Jiang Siyan's mouth slowly curled up. His glasses seemed to reflect a bright light.
"You don't need to worry about me."
"I've already found the best psychologist."
Jiang Siyan spoke the last sentence so softly that Nan Yue didn't hear it. However, she knew he wasn't someone who would force himself. Since he said there was no problem, then there was no problem.
"Do you know Fu Xi Ming?"
Jiang Siyan nodded. "A very formidable woman. She's highly goal-oriented and uses powerful methods. I wouldn't call her upright, but you can fully trust the depth of her obsession with Shen Nian's wish."
"You're right. Fu Xi Ming will be the only, and the best, partner for this."
Nan Yue lowered her head to think about specific details for the meeting with Fu Xi Ming. She didn't notice that Jiang Siyan's tone had changed while speaking to her.
If she had to describe what it was...
The strange feeling flashed by and vanished.
Lan Jing Shui's notification arrived quickly. Fu Xi Ming asked to meet her that afternoon at the Sharp Blade organization in Eden.
"Someone will pick you up once you arrive in Eden."
Nan Yue planned to take Jiang Siyan with her this time. To be precise, she wanted to go herself, and Jiang Siyan was just an accessory—the ticket to see Fu Xi Ming.
Jiang Siyan understood his role perfectly and followed Nan Yue quietly.
Zhu Xi Ning and Gu Xiang Kai came to the transmission point to see them off, both looking worried.
They didn't know much about Sharp Blade. Even if it was an organization with a good reputation, the matter Nan Yue was going to discuss was too significant. They were afraid Fu Xi Ming might just detain her.
"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."
Seeing Zhu Xi Ning's expression, Nan Yue stepped forward and hugged her.
Nan Yue rarely showed such outward displays of emotion. Zhu Xi Ning was startled for a moment before hugging her back tightly.
Zhu Xi Ning's voice turned nasal. "I can't see it... I can't see the fortune of this trip."
Nan Yue patted Zhu Xi Ning's back. "That just means it's a good thing. As long as it's not an ill omen, there's a chance."
"The path we've encountered was never meant to be a smooth one. We prepared ourselves for this long ago, didn't we?"
Nan Yue looked at Zhu Xi Ning. "Do you trust me?"
Zhu Xi Ning nodded heavily and took two steps back. "We'll wait for you to come back."
"You will come back."
Gu Xiang Kai didn't say much, but Nan Yue gave him a hug as well.
"Wait for me. If there's any news about Wenwen in the meantime..."
Gu Xiang Kai bumped his fist against Nan Yue's shoulder. "Leave it to me. Don't worry."
Jiang Siyan was waiting for her at the transmission belt. Nan Yue walked over and looked back with a smile.
"It's not like we're parting forever. See you in a bit~"
With a flash of light, Nan Yue and Jiang Siyan's figures vanished.
...
Three days ago.
Wen Xiang Yuan and Gu Xiang Kai were staying in the wooden building. Wen Xiang Yuan was quietly explaining some rules of the Opera Garden to him.
"This mission is quite broad. I suspect there probably isn't a specific protagonist."
Gu Xiang Kai nodded. "I think so too. The focus should still be on the Zhou residence. Stay close to me when we go back later. I'm worried the danger over there might be greater."
Wen Xiang Yuan smiled. "Don't worry, Brother Gu."
Gu Xiang Kai looked at the dimples at the corners of Wen Xiang Yuan's mouth and was momentarily dazed. But he quickly snapped out of it, feeling a bit awkward as he tried to find something to talk about.
"By the way..."
Gu Xiang Kai's words caught in his throat. He saw Wen Xiang Yuan's figure flickering.
It was a bit like... a flickering television with a bad connection.
"Wen Xiang Yuan!"
Wen Xiang Yuan's eyes widened. She watched her own hands appearing and disappearing as if she were seeing something terrifying.
"Brother Gu, tell Nan Yue I didn't..."
Wen Xiang Yuan didn't finish her sentence before she vanished completely.
Gu Xiang Kai's hand caught only empty air. He stood up abruptly, pacing around the room like a trapped beast.
"Wen Xiang Yuan!"
"Wen Xiang Yuan..."
Wen Xiang Yuan sat up abruptly, gasping for air. Her head throbbed as if it were about to explode. She was dripping wet, looking extremely disheveled.
Yet even so, her shadow cast upon the wall hinted at her perfection.
"What's going on!"
Wen Xiang Yuan looked up, her beautiful almond eyes like frozen ice. "Didn't I say that it's not allowed—"
Wen Xiang Yuan stopped, looking at the person in front of her in disbelief.
It was a man whose appearance and physique were both practically perfect. He looked seventy to eighty percent similar to Wen Xiang Yuan, clearly a blood relative.
"Wen Gan Ting, what are you doing here?"
Wen Gan Ting gave a cold smile. He took a towel from a maid standing nearby and leaned down to dry Wen Xiang Yuan's wet hair.
Rate on N.U.
