Wen Gan Ting's face was as hard as moss. “Wen Xiang Yuan, what did you encounter in that world?”
“Do you think you can threaten me with this?!”
·
Nan Yue watched Fu Xi Ming lean slightly forward, her muscles beneath her clothes slowly tensing.
“You can investigate whatever I encountered or whomever I met, but the person I want to protect will certainly be protected.”
“However, without me, when will you ever hope to learn the truth you seek?”
Fu Xi Ming's gaze darkened. Neither spoke, and the atmosphere instantly solidified.
·
“Dear brother, who else in this world would dare to enter that world besides me?”
“They are all just foolish trash.”
“Do you want to be an entrepreneur reliant on the federation, or... the savior of the world?”
Wen Xiang Yuan's voice was exceedingly sweet, like honeyed syrup wrapped in frosting, tempting one to take a bite.
Wen Gan Ting's expression changed several times. Finally, he released Wen Xiang Yuan's hand, gazing at the purple bruise appearing on her chin.
This was a symbol of power.
If he wished, he could leave any mark on Wen Xiang Yuan.
However, Wen Xiang Yuan's words were indeed true; he couldn't understand why anyone would dare to enter that world.
Although their world was absurd and twisted, they... wouldn't die.
How could Wen Xiang Yuan, this delicate rose, dare to do such a thing?
Wen Gan Ting tilted his head. “Get the young lady some ointment.”
The two maids, who had stood motionless like statues on either side, now “came to life,” acknowledged his order, and left to fetch the medicine.
“How am I supposed to trust you?”
Wen Gan Ting scrutinized Wen Xiang Yuan. He had to admit, her words had successfully piqued his interest.
Yet, for some reason, he felt an inexplicable displeasure towards Wen Xiang Yuan like this.
It was as if... a bird confined in a cage wanted to fly elsewhere.
“How about we make a deal?”
Wen Gan Ting smiled, revealing his white teeth, which inexplicably reminded Wen Xiang Yuan of the monsters in human skin from purification missions.
“Do you think your ‘friends’ in that world would still support you once they knew your true identity?”
Wen Xiang Yuan's expression subtly changed. Wen Gan Ting leaned in, his lips brushing her smooth earlobe, his breath hot and sticky.
“Do you think they would raise their butcher's knives against you?”
·
“I guess you've encountered something very troublesome.”
Fu Xi Ming broke the stifling atmosphere, speaking first.
“I don't know what you need to protect that requires more secrecy than your very existence.”
“But I must warn you, I've seen too much of human nature. The person you protect with your life might be the one to stab you in the back most cruelly.”
“The people you believe in might not be as you imagine.”
“I need to know that my partner in this cooperation won't drag both of us into the abyss due to their softheartedness.”
Fu Xi Ming pressed on, instantly turning the tables.
Nan Yue couldn't reveal Wen Xiang Yuan's situation. She could risk herself because she possessed sufficiently strong abilities.
But Wen Xiang Yuan couldn't.
So all of Fu Xi Ming's concerns and warnings were valid, yet Nan Yue could only continue stubbornly.
For her, Wen Xiang Yuan was not just a teammate, but also the answer.
·
Wen Gan Ting's and Wen Xiang Yuan's faces were very close, his prominent nose almost touching Wen Xiang Yuan's cheek.
“A small experiment, let them see what you're truly like.”
“One should always be open and honest with friends, wouldn't you agree, my dear sister?”
Wen Gan Ting's gaze was filled with malice and mockery, as if watching a bloody, entertaining game.
Wen Gan Ting coiled around Wen Xiang Yuan like a venomous snake. “Do you dare to bet?”
·
Fu Xi Ming was like a leopard poised to strike, beautiful and dangerous.
“Nan Yue, do you dare to bet?”
·
Nan Yue and Wen Xiang Yuan, in different times and spaces, lowered their heads, then after a moment, looked up at the people before them.
For a moment, their faces were almost identical.
They smiled.
“I bet.”
Two voices, sweet and stubborn, arrogant and resolute, gently collided and merged across time and space.
Then they vanished.
When Nan Yue left, a new contact named 【Fu】 appeared in her friends list.
All chats with Fu Xi Ming would be encrypted, and she could be contacted directly for anything.
The news Nan Yue brought was too significant, and Fu Xi Ming had many things to attend to, leaving her no time to bother with Nan Yue further.
In Fu Xi Ming's words, “You really dumped a huge bomb on me.”
As Nan Yue walked out of the Sharp Blade building, her shoulders relaxed slightly, as if a heavy burden she had been carrying had finally been somewhat lifted.
“Your approach is very risky.”
As she left, Nan Yue told Shang Xi not to see her off, as she wanted to explore Eden by herself.
Considering that Nan Yue had Bai Yao, who had previously left Eden, by her side, Shang Xi wasn't worried about Nan Yue not adapting and readily agreed.
Nan Yue followed Jiang Siyan towards the subway. She had only ridden the subway in books and simulation tests; this was her first time encountering this mode of transport in the real world.
There was no requirement to swipe a card or buy tickets; a virtual light screen directly scanned facial information for registration, and points were deducted when they exited the train.
“It is very risky, but it succeeded, didn't it?”
Jiang Siyan remained noncommittal. “Fu Xi Ming is more dangerous than you imagine.”
Fu Xi Ming was a good partner, based on her convictions and willingness to act.
But she was, after all, a top 2 high-level player, and for her, the stability of the entire world mattered more than the lives of a few, dozens, or even hundreds of people.
If necessary, she would not hesitate to abandon Nan Yue to stabilize the world.
“Such a person is too unreliable to depend on emotionally, but Fu Xi Ming has a weakness.”
“Shen Nian.”
While calling Shen Nian Fu Xi Ming's weakness might be inappropriate, it was true: if world stability was Fu Xi Ming's goal, then Shen Nian's death was her bottom line.
For that bottom line, she could forgo her goal.
Jiang Siyan sighed softly. “I'm just worried that Fu Xi Ming's ability is too dangerous.”
If the future she saw wasn't satisfactory, she would immediately abandon Nan Yue.
Nan Yue smiled; she had naturally prepared for this.
Betting was never 100% safe to begin with.
Moreover, even if Fu Xi Ming's ability told her this couldn't be done, that the answer couldn't be found, Nan Yue wouldn't listen.
Foresight was just an ability. Nan Yue didn't even trust fate; why would she trust an ability attached to a person?
If foresight said she couldn't do it, she would still try.
Jiang Siyan sat beside Nan Yue, feeling a little strange.
If anyone else had said such words, he would only sneer, thinking they were overestimating themselves and courting death, not even bothering to persuade them.
But when Nan Yue said it, he found it quite captivating.
Rate on N.U.
