Strangers

Wen Xiang Yuan still had secrets she hadn't fully shared with them, and Gu Xiang Kai wasn't a fool; he knew that.

But that didn't change the fact that they were teammates who had relied on each other in life-and-death situations, having sacrificed blood and life for one another.

"It won't."

Gu Xiang Kai said calmly, "Taking even one more step forward isn't a failure."

Wen Xiang Yuan was somewhat surprised. She seemed to feel that Gu Xiang Kai shouldn't be able to say such things, or perhaps that such logic was inherently flawed.

But after a moment of thought, Wen Xiang Yuan burst into laughter.

"You're right. Every step forward is a good thing."

...

Meanwhile, inside Eden.

"Department Head Fu, Deputy Head He is here to see you."

A-Xiu, dressed in black, stood behind Fu Xi Ming. Her face was expressionless, making her look a bit like a robot.

Fu Xi Ming had been leaning back in her chair, smoking while looking out the floor-to-ceiling window at Eden. Hearing A-Xiu's words, she paused. After a long silence, she finally spoke. "Let him in."

A-Xiu opened the office door. He Jiu Chen nodded to A-Xiu and walked in naturally. A-Xiu closed the door behind them.

"I've told you many times, smoke less."

He Jiu Chen walked around to the other side of the desk with practiced ease, took the lady's cigarette from between Fu Xi Ming's fingers, and crushed it into the ashtray.

"You just came out of a mission?" Fu Xi Ming turned to look at him. "Why do you suddenly have the courage to see me?"

A cold smile played on her lips, reminiscent of the rainy night outside the glass.

It had been raining frequently in Eden lately, chilly and damp, much like Fu Xi Ming's current expression.

"It's not that I lacked courage."

He Jiu Chen's features softened, and he rubbed the space between his eyebrows. "I was afraid seeing you would make me weak."

Fu Xi Ming gave a cold laugh but said nothing.

"Xi Ming, you know I'm doing this for your own good."

"I don't need it."

Fu Xi Ming didn't look at him. She knew exactly how He Jiu Chen looked right now.

Eyes downcast, an innocent gaze, gentle and pitiful.

They had known each other for a long time. They were classmates in the Scavenger Training Academy, growing up together until they reached a level of immense power.

They had met Shen Nian during their most high-spirited years and together founded "Sharp Blade." They had firm goals and beliefs that supported them through the days they had traveled.

They knew each other, understood each other, and loved each other.

Scavengers did not understand love. They had no families and no lovers. Yet, no one ever doubted the love between Fu Xi Ming and He Jiu Chen.

That love had even been purified into something purer and more dependable through the life-and-death lines of the mission world.

But such a relationship had ultimately shattered.

After Shen Nian died, He Jiu Chen's personality changed drastically. He abandoned his original beliefs and the path he had sworn to take.

This was the fuse that broke their relationship.

Fu Xi Ming wanted to know what had happened to Shen Nian and if there was anything else outside the pollution.

But He Jiu Chen felt it was all futile. The world was already destroyed, and there was only more pollution outside. They had no other way out; purifying the current world was the only path.

He couldn't accept the person he loved walking a path that was known to lead to death, a path where sacrifice held no meaning.

Both he and Fu Xi Ming were incredibly stubborn.

"You've cooperated with that girl named Nan Yue?" Fu Xi Ming lit another cigarette, deliberately blowing a smoke ring into He Jiu Chen's face.

"You probably investigated her long ago. I remember you had just come out of a mission when you rushed off to the Green City State."

"Why the act?"

He Jiu Chen's eyes crinkled into a smile. His skin was pale, and the thin skin at the corners of his eyes revealed a faint reddish tint. When he looked down at someone, he looked like a puppy.

He laughed upon hearing Fu Xi Ming's words. "You're concerned about me. I went to the Green City State to find a man."

Fu Xi Ming choked on her smoke. He Jiu Chen immediately hurried to help her catch her breath and pour water, acting like a total lackey.

"I'm warning you, don't stand in my way."

Fu Xi Ming looked He Jiu Chen in the eye for the first time. "I will kill you."

He Jiu Chen sighed. "But Xi Ming, your ability isn't an attack-type."

Fu Xi Ming laughed. Her features were heroic and aggressive; she was very attractive when she smiled.

He Jiu Chen stared, momentarily dazed.

Fu Xi Ming leaned in, watching He Jiu Chen's ears turn bright red. She whispered softly.

"But if I wanted to kill you, would you even try to hide?"

He Jiu Chen froze, reaching up to rub his ear.

Fu Xi Ming was right. He wouldn't.

He just didn't want anything to happen to Fu Xi Ming; as for his own life, he had always been indifferent to it.

"Leave."

Fu Xi Ming turned around. "In the future, don't worry about my affairs."

"You don't need to clean up after me. I have eyes."

The image of the corpses floating in the suite's pool flashed through He Jiu Chen's mind, and a shadow crossed his eyes.

"A-Xiu is too busy. When she's not around, I'm always worried about your safety."

He Jiu Chen sighed. "That Nan Yue, she's climbing the rankings very fast. Should we call her to your side?"

Fu Xi Ming glanced at him. "I said, stop meddling."

...

Nan Yue and the others rested well for a few days. During this time, no one asked about Wen Xiang Yuan, nor did they mention the Eden Garden mission again.

"Will you be following us into missions from now on?"

In the evening, Nan Yue and Wen Xiang Yuan were sitting on lounge chairs on the balcony eating ice cream. Nan Yue asked with a mouthful of ice cream.

"Not necessarily."

Wen Xiang Yuan's voice was also muffled.

"My role isn't inside the missions."

Wen Xiang Yuan curled her legs up and rested her hands on her knees, looking at the unique architecture in the distance.

"I really want to go through missions with you, but more often than not, I'm not of much use inside them."

Wen Xiang Yuan turned to look at Nan Yue. "I have other uses, Nan Yue. I can help you."

She smiled. "And of course, you can help me too."

Nan Yue gave an arrogant huff. "So now we're partners instead of teammates?"

Wen Xiang Yuan smiled like a fox. "We'll be both."

"A teammate who always drags the team down can't realize their value. I want to form a more special relationship with you."

"I will tell you my plans and all my trump cards. The initiative to cooperate lies with you."

Nan Yue bared her teeth in a playful threat. "Careful, or I might not want you."

Wen Xiang Yuan laughed loudly and kicked Nan Yue playfully. "You wouldn't."

Before Eden Garden, Nan Yue wouldn't have dared to say that, and Wen Xiang Yuan wouldn't have answered that way.

After resting for two weeks, Nan Yue sent a message to Fu Xi Ming.

Strongest A-Nan in History: We're entering a mission tomorrow.

Fu: So soon?

Fu: Your ranking rose very quickly after the last mission. Don't you need more rest?

Strongest A-Nan in History: After this mission ends, we should be able to meet.

Fu Xi Ming keenly sensed that Nan Yue had likely found something crucial and only needed to enter another mission to confirm it.