Chapter 148

At ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍1:07 p.m. on the sixth day, at the wilderness Safe Point.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Ji Qing groggily opened his eyes, he felt as though something heavy were pressing down on him. With difficulty, he pulled one hand out of his sleeping bag, only to touch several fluffy heads.

Ji ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Qing stared in astonishment. “…Huh?”

His ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍muddled mind instantly cleared. He struggled to unzip one side of the sleeping bag, pushed away the several heavy weights that were keeping him from getting up, then freed a hand and hauled himself out of the bag.

He ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍yawned sleepily.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the group had arrived at the Safe Point last night, it had already been 1:04 a.m. But they were not able to sleep immediately. First they had needed to hide the vehicle, check the safety of the area within several kilometers of the Safe Point, and then inspect whether the Safe Point’s defenses were functioning properly.

By the time all of that was finished, it was already close to three in the morning.

They had all been tired to death, and in the end every last one of them had slept like the dead. Ji Qing had originally wanted to force himself to stay awake and check the surveillance equipment, but his drowsiness had defeated him outright, so he could only obediently go back to sleep.

Even after waking up now, Ji Qing still felt as though his head were full of fog.

It looked like he would have to get some more sleep later, Ji Qing thought.

Lowering his head, he checked the time displayed on his Terminal, then hesitantly looked over at the place where his three companions were sleeping in a heap. That was the truly strange part. He thought: The Safehouse has such a spacious underground chamber, so why did all of them crowd over beside me?

Could it be that the spot he had picked was warmer?

If that were the case, then it was not hard to understand why everyone had rolled over here in their sleep. But there was no point dwelling on that for now… Ji Qing rose, dusted off the hem of his clothes, and calmly walked toward the door of the Safe Point.

It was already afternoon.

The other three should wake up soon enough. Ji Qing planned to go fetch the vehicle he had hidden nearby first. Then, once everyone was awake, they could all drive back into the city together. Supplies outside the city were scarce. If they wanted proper rest and recuperation, they definitely had to return to an urban area.

But just as Ji Qing reached out to open the door, a sleepy voice rang out.

Leaning against the wall, You Xingluo rubbed at the corner of his eyes with one hand and asked, “What are you going to do, Qing?”

“Go get the vehicle,” Ji Qing replied casually.

“Then I will go with you.”

After saying that, You Xingluo wobbled his way toward Ji Qing at a half-run. He nearly tripped over the ground while doing so.

Ji Qing watched him and could not decide whether to laugh or not.

That little display from You Xingluo instantly drove away the last of Ji Qing’s sleepiness. Even so, he still asked helplessly, “Are you sure? I think you would be better off sleeping a little longer.”

You Xingluo patted his face and forced himself awake. “I am sure.”

“All right then.” Ji Qing could only sigh.

In any case, his own mind was not very clear right now either, and You Xingluo was not exactly clear-headed himself. Two half-awake people walking and chatting together were better than one.

With that thought, Ji Qing pushed open the door.

The wilderness outside was bathed in blazing sunlight, while a soft breeze drifted by.

The gusts rushing toward them carried the smell of grass and earth. Nearby pebbles rolled along in the wind, while the Reeds in the distant Swamp swayed with it, producing wave after wave of pleasantly rustling sound.

Ji Qing suddenly had the feeling that he was alive again.

Ji Qing had always liked being close to nature. Otherwise, he would not have deliberately gone out of his way to watch documentaries like 《Animal World》 and 《Nature and Science》. Unfortunately, as a child whose entire life had unfolded in the provincial capital, and whose university years had likewise been spent in a major city, he had never had much free time to spend wandering around the countryside.

Perhaps after graduating, he would go on a spontaneous hike or trip.

Ji Qing suddenly could not help smiling.

That did suit the course of his life rather well. Although the post-graduation hike he had once dreamed of in his original world had never begun, he had actually completed such a journey in the wasteland world many years ago. Those mountains and seas had once truly entered his sight.

He had simply forgotten them long ago.

The two of them walked one behind the other along a dirt path thick with Reeds. There were no Aberrants nearby, nor was there any need to stay particularly vigilant.

Ji Qing suddenly said, “That night when I went to find you, what were you talking about with that little boy?”

“Secret~”

“Hm?” Ji Qing turned around in surprise, then smiled helplessly. “All right, then let it be a secret.”

“You are not going to ask why I will not tell you?” You Xingluo pressed with some hesitation.

Ji Qing did not care much. “Then tell me whenever you feel like telling me.”

Since You Xingluo did not intend to tell him, there was no need for Ji Qing to insist. He had only brought it up because he could not think of any other topic and casually mentioned something he had been curious about before. A comfortable silence settled between them, but it was soon broken again by You Xingluo’s voice.

You Xingluo asked, “When I saw you that time, it looked like you came flying down from upstairs. What were you doing back then?”

So quickly it was his turn to be questioned? Ji Qing smiled and replied, “I wanted to see what the view looked like from the highest rooftop here.”

“Mm-hmm~”

“I used to live in a very high place,” Ji Qing added almost unconsciously.

“Mm-hmm. It must have been beautiful there, right?”

“Yes. Very beautiful.” A trace of nostalgia surfaced in Ji Qing’s eyes. He knew full well how beautiful a city nightscape filled with streams of traffic could be. Once someone had seen it even once, they would carve that scene into the deepest part of their soul.

And what was more, his home had been there, and his family as well.

Ji Qing let out a quiet sigh in his heart, then turned back to ask, “By the way—what are you planning to do after you go back? It would not be great if something like this happened again.”

“Sigh…” You Xingluo instantly pulled a miserable face.

But he quickly cleared his throat and said in a serious tone, “I am not sure yet. For the time being, I will not be showing myself openly. But I will need to trouble you all not to reveal my whereabouts either. Right now the enemy is in the shadows, while I am hidden deeper still. It is the perfect time to clean out some of the malcontents within the family.”

“Understood.” Ji Qing nodded.

Although the incident in Xucheng last night had caused a huge uproar, You Xingluo’s own appearance had not shown up much in the news. The Azure Dragon Gang presumably would not deliberately put out a missing-person notice, and the mastermind in Central City would be even less willing to make a move… Under those circumstances, it really was the right time to clear out a few parasites.

Ji Qing continued strolling toward the vehicle.

The wind today was especially light and soft, so much so that Ji Qing sincerely felt as though he were walking along a country lane, with a friend hiking behind him. After thinking of something, Ji Qing suddenly halted.

Looking back at You Xingluo, he asked curiously, “You are not going to ask me why, either?”

“Ask what why?”

“It is just…” A trace of hesitation touched Ji Qing’s face. “Are you not curious why I was able to know where you were?”

Ji Qing had wondered about that long ago, but because he had not had much time alone with You Xingluo, he had never asked. And now was a perfect opportunity, with the two of them alone and free to talk.

But a faint worry still rose in Ji Qing’s heart, because he had not even come up with a suitable excuse yet.

“Mm-hmm~” You Xingluo let out a sly hum.

He immediately took the answer Ji Qing had just given him and repeated it with a smiling face. “Then tell me whenever you feel like telling me.”

Good grief, was that the sort of line one could quote back like that?

The last bit of shadow in Ji Qing’s heart instantly vanished. He could not help curving his eyes into a smile. “All right. Then I will tell you sometime in the future.”

No matter what—

Until Ji Qing’s true identity was exposed, You Xingluo would remain his steadfast ally.

Prophecy truly was an exceptionally mysterious Ability, and Seers were as well… The existence of such things could not help but stir all kinds of feelings in Ji Qing’s heart. Sometimes Ji Qing felt certain that You Xingluo knew things he himself did not, but because of the Seer’s habit of speaking in riddles, Ji Qing often could not understand what he meant.

That was probably one of a Seer’s distinguishing traits too, Ji Qing thought with a helpless smile.

“Oh, right—” Ji Qing suddenly turned his head. “I still have not asked you. Before you came here, what kind of prophecy was it that you made?”

What sort of prophecy could instantly cripple You Xingluo’s Ability like that? Ji Qing felt that if You Xingluo’s Prophecy had not been restricted so harshly, he would have been able to leave Xucheng easily enough on his own instead of needing someone to rescue him.

Ji Qing then asked again, “How much have you recovered now?”

“…All right, I suppose?” Tilting his head thoughtfully, You Xingluo said, “Better than I expected. At the very least, there is no longer any concern for my life. But if I wanted to interpret a prophecy with precision, I am definitely not up to it.”

A blessing in disguise, at least, Ji Qing thought.

“So then, what prophecy was it exactly?” Ji Qing could not help pressing again. He was genuinely curious about You Xingluo’s reaction when he had mentioned the matter back then. If Ji Qing himself had not shown up with such perfect timing, he kept feeling as though something bad would have happened.

“I do need to tell you this, Ji Qing.” You Xingluo’s expression abruptly turned serious.

His pitch-black eyes reflected Ji Qing’s figure as he enunciated each word clearly. “A Black Tide is going to occur in the not-too-distant future. The time is roughly about a year from now.”

Ji Qing stared in astonishment. “…That suddenly?”

“Yes. It really is that abrupt.” You Xingluo nodded heavily, then let out a long sigh. “Sometimes I really cannot stand these unexpected turns of events. Not just the Black Tide—even this kidnapping.

“All of it is exhausting.

“At the time, I was honestly thinking that maybe I should just give up. But the moment I saw you come, I felt that I could keep holding on.” You Xingluo’s voice was very, very soft, carrying a numb sort of calm. “For me, being alive is nothing more than moving from one cage into another.”

Ji Qing fell silent.

His Ability was not Prophecy, and he had never known a second Seer besides You Xingluo. But after hearing You Xingluo’s words, Ji Qing suddenly realized that Seers might be the group most shackled by their Abilities.

Because a person’s entire life could often be summed up in just two words:

Fate.

Ji Qing raised his eyes calmly. “How long will it take before you come back?”

Whether it was rooting out the parasites within his family or interpreting the next prophecy of the Black Tide… all of that would require a great deal of time. Ji Qing already had the premonition that he would not see You Xingluo again for quite a long while.

“I am not sure.” You Xingluo shook his head regretfully. “Maybe next semester? I will be as quick as I can.”

“All right.” Ji Qing nodded.

The air between them fell silent once more.

You Xingluo walked silently behind Ji Qing, following him toward the vehicle. The distance between them and the Armed Vehicle grew shorter and shorter, while the time left for the two of them to be alone dwindled more and more. Looking up at the drifting clouds in the sky, You Xingluo suddenly let out a quiet sigh.

He truly wanted to tell Ji Qing everything he knew, but he also knew that he could not.

If he wanted fate to continue on its course, then he had to accept this silence.

And yet, You Xingluo still remembered the first meeting between himself and Ji Qing that he had once “seen,” or rather… perhaps it could not truly be called Ji Qing?

He had followed that person’s advice, though not without hesitation.

What You Xingluo had not told Ji Qing was this—

In truth… the two of them had not had a good relationship at all. It could even be said that they had only exchanged a few brief words. As humanity’s Seer, he had stood by his own position. Even if it had been wrong, it had still been right.

And Ji Qing, too, had stood upon his own road.

“I express my regret for the only meeting this life will ever grant us…” You Xingluo recited silently in his heart.

Those were words the other person had once spoken to him, yet he could not convey his own thoughts to that person. And by the time the future came… presumably, he would no longer be able to meet Ji Qing either.

Fate had already changed.

The one and only meeting fated for their lives had vanished. In the future, they would surely walk the roads each of them had chosen, and the time left for them to spend together was already very short.

But still—

Though that time was brief, it was precious.