Watching the bustling figures around him, Yang Zicang hesitated for a moment, then asked the film and television star from Earth:
–When did you come here?–
–Almost a year and three months now. Hah, seen any of my TV dramas lately?–
–I’ve watched quite a few movies, but TV dramas… only ones I watched with classmates on the computer.–
–Oh—still in school, huh? Truly, heroes are forged young. The drama your classmates were watching must be the one I filmed about Li Shimian just before I left, right? That was my first attempt at transitioning to TV dramas, and unfortunately, it became my last.–
So he had been missing from Earth for quite a while now.
Yang Zicang scratched the back of his head.
–Actually, I was supposed to start work later this year.– Yang Zicang chuckled, –Heh, as for TV dramas, they’re just too long for me. I’m into sports events, and on holidays, I hit the cinema. Too bad I won’t get to do that anymore.–
The surrounding crew carefully carried out the two charred-black bodies on stretchers, while every last fragment was also removed, leaving nothing behind.
Chen Yu let out a faint sigh, nodding slightly:
–It’s really nice hearing you say that—makes me a bit nostalgic. But that doesn’t mean we’ll never be able to watch it again. On the fifteenth of each month, those phantom images reappear in this city. When that happens, we can go to the cinema together. It’ll be dangerous, though… and we won’t be able to hear a sound.–
Realizing that what he said indeed happened on the fifteenth of every month, Yang Zicang’s heart pounded twice violently.
Did this mean he could still see his family? Even though they couldn’t see him. But he immediately prayed for it not to happen, because that would mean they might follow him over here too.
–Oh, right, we’ve prepared a gift for you. Are you free now?–
–I don’t care about gifts. Just give me what we agreed on earlier. Also, when I come next time, I’ll have the Zhang Fei armor.–
The subway’s silhouette rapidly faded away as Yang Zicang, with one hand gripping the door, disappeared with the accelerating train.
Tonight’s disaster had been almost single-handedly reversed by the young man before them, leaving everyone in the room burdened with mixed emotions.
Several people exchanged awkward glances, shoulders rising in a collective shrug.
–Told you, that guy’s not so easy to fool.–
……
On the wooden bed within the candlelit room, Mu Xiaoyu reclined half-lying, exhaustion written on her face.
Both her arms were in plaster casts, and a gruesome sword wound marred her abdomen—her gaze barely present.
–Don’t fall asleep, Xiaoyu,– said the old man at the bedside.
–I…–
The girl in the bed turned her head listlessly: –But… I’m so tired.–
Liu Ming grew anxious. No one had entered the room since he last contacted Yao Qiming half an hour ago. If Matt Chao showed up now, what could he possibly do?
The girl closed her heavy eyelids, and Liu Ming shook her body, urging:
–No, no, stay awake! Dawn is coming soon—hold on just a little longer!–
The door burst open with a bang, and Zhao Xuemei’s hurried figure appeared in the doorway. Catching her breath, she forced a smile and said, –She can sleep now.–
Upon hearing the words –can sleep now,– Mu Xiaoyu, despite the pain wracking her entire body, could no longer hold on and closed her eyes.
Liu Ming turned to look at her: –Didn’t you say that Matt Chao might come through in dreams?–
–We don’t have to be afraid of him anymore!– Zhao Xuemei whispered jubilantly.
Several excited people came running up behind her.
Seeing these people appear out of the blue, Liu Ming vaguely sensed that something must have happened.
But he couldn’t figure out what it was, nor how it related to the two of them in this room.
Suddenly, he seemed to hear the wind-like roar of a subway train cutting through a tunnel.
[Woo—]
The elderly Liu Ming tensed up and turned his head; the wall behind the girl’s bedside seemed to blur, the candlelight flickering.
–This—this is exactly what you were talking about!–
The old man suddenly stood up trembling, his chair scraping backward a few centimeters, producing a creaking sound against the floor.
–Matt Chao is really here, run for your life.–
Liu Ming wanted to pick up the girl, but his stooped frame struggled even to lift a chair, let alone a person.
A few people looked into the room from the doorway, while Zhao Xuemei nervously rubbed her hands together in front of her.
–Don’t worry, it’s your friend who’s here.–
–My friend?–
……
Just now, when Zhao Xuemei heard that Chu Chiang was contacting her, she thought she was hallucinating.
And that man, who had always calmly managed his Chronos teammates, was brimming with excitement tonight. Chu Chiang kept emphasizing, –Zhao Anlong is back!– Though he was gone again, he had left behind a gift, and Yang Zicang was about to deliver it!
Liu Ming couldn’t recall having any such friend.
–What friend of mine?–
Could it be a friend from the world I entered first? But he didn’t recall hearing about anyone close to him going missing.
Who could it be?
–Whew—ssh~–
Behind the sleeping girl’s head, a small half-glimmering image slowly emerged on the wall.
It was like a curtain being drawn back on the girl’s dream.
The scene of a train car appeared there.
As the door gently opened, it revealed a cold, handsome young man exuding a battle-hardened aura.
Liu Ming’s eyes bulged wide. He pointed at Yang Zicang in disbelief, with an expression as if he had seen a ghost:
–You—you bastard, how is it you? Where the hell did you go today?–
By all appearances, it was still the same person after not seeing him for barely half a day, yet the aura about him was entirely different! Moreover, he had grown symmetrical muscles.
Liu Ming waited for a moment, but no second person appeared from behind the door.
Only him?
–Where’s Matt Chao?– Liu Ming asked hesitantly, with a nervous tremor in his voice.
｛I’m on the facade.｝
The train’s voice rang out, startling those nearby into taking a step back.
This is the notoriously ruthless hero squad, Nightmare; it is said that unless one possesses exceptionally high Chronos, many will be swallowed by it and turned into puppets.
–Yang Zicang, you’re safe, that’s a relief.– Zhao Xuemei stepped forward.
–Thank you for your concern.–
The young man on the wall gave her a smile, then swept his gaze over the people in the room and at the doorway, before shooting a folded line toward Liu Ming.
In front of the old man, a tiny, ring-like gray-white circle, empty within, spontaneously materialized.
[300N.]
–This is…– Liu Ming sensed that he seemed to have gained many years of Chronos that he could naturally command.
–Here. Three hundred extra years of Chronos. Honestly, without Moxel, I can’t even contact you all. Once I’m done here, I’ll take you to claim your own Moxel.–
Liu Ming gaped in disbelief.
His sluggish mind had yet to process the information when the people at the doorway buzzed with murmured discussions—they had all heard the mental voice from Moxel:
[I’ve discovered the Chronos War Implement.]
–Wow! You’re a master now!– Liu Ming finally snapped out of it. –You can’t be serious—just one day, and you’re already this strong?–
The crowd smirked at the old man.
Seeing Zhao Xuemei’s graceful figure standing at the door, Yang Zicang unhooked his sheathed longsword and leaped lightly from the wall.
His feet hit the ground, and he straightened his slightly crouched legs, then strode toward the slender, striking woman before him.
A faint, elusive fragrance lingered in the air.
–Is this…– Zhao Xuemei gazed at the delicate, narrow sword.
–Yeah, it’s a gift from Zhao Anlong. He said anyone who tries to mess with it will be hunted to death by him for the rest of their lives. And he also said…–
A flush of crimson instantly crept from Zhao Xuemei’s cheeks to her ears.
–Don’t… don’t say anymore.–
Now Zhao Xuemei’s name had spread throughout the entire city; everyone knew she was the person Zhao Anlong cared about deeply.
Yang Zicang let out a sly chuckle and handed the weapon to the beauty before him.
–It takes a hundred years of Chronos to control it. Do you have enough reserve Chronos?–
Zhao Xuemei, still keeping her head down, nodded gently.
Seeing her like this, Yang Zicang refrained from asking further.
Even if she didn’t have much Chronos, Chu Chiang would certainly arrange everything for her—after all, this was a powerful war artifact costing five hundred years of Chronos per strike, likely the only one of its kind in this city.
Thinking of Zhao Anlong’s help and final curses, Yang Zicang said guiltily, –I still have a gift for you.–
–Huh, there’s more?–
Zhao Xuemei lifted her delicate face, her soft lashes fluttering as she gazed at the man before her, who had instantly taken on the same imposing aura as the former Anlong.
–Yeah, this is my gift to you, sort of as thanks for Zhao Anlong’s help this time. Without him, this city would probably have been ravaged.–
He raised his hand, and the Moxel floating before his chest flickered, the Quad darting into his palm.
Zhao Xuemei only then realized that this unfamiliar gift was from the man standing right in front of her.
–If you could learn one skill, would you prefer flames, snowflakes, or perhaps martial arts?–
–Skill?–
A stir rippled through the crowd around them.
Zhao Xuemei glanced at the sword in her hand, pondered for a moment, then said, –Of course, I like the snow a little more.–
The moment the words left her mouth, the fine Moxel threads on the man before her flickered and wove rapidly in orderly patterns, materializing an ancient-looking parchment scroll, translucent and ethereal.
As the energy-forged artifact was pressed into her hands, Zhao Xuemei’s gaze trembled abruptly.
Its effects and method of use surged into her mind through a torrent of data streams.
–Art Training Contract: Frostblade Art, ninety-seven years of cultivation experience, 100% completeness.–
The strikingly beautiful woman before him raised her head in disbelief, a zigzag line flickering across the Moxel on her chest.
{This… this can actually be learned directly?}
Secret techniques were rare to begin with, and one that could be instantly mastered through direct learning was utterly unheard of—yet here it was before her eyes, containing nearly a century of cultivation experience! The sheer impossibility left Zhao Xuemei dumbfounded, questioning whether such a thing could even exist in this world.
Yang Zicang nodded with a smile. –Next time you see Zhao Anlong, be sure to thank him for me.–
–This… all right, no—thank me! Eh, no, no, no—I can’t accept such a priceless gift.–
Suddenly receiving two treasures in one fell swoop left Zhao Xuemei flustered.
She had never imagined that what Yang Zicang called a gift would turn out to be this precious.
Just as she was about to return it, Yang Zicang turned and walked to the bedside, wrapping the sleeping girl, along with the thin blanket, into his arms. At this moment, Mu Xiaoyu’s face was pale and haggard.
Liu Ming felt as if he were dreaming. –Zi Cang, this is three hundred years, you know. You’re actually giving this to me? Hey, where are you going?–
–Lifespan means nothing to us anymore. What truly matters is staying alive in the present. Without strength, even ten thousand years of life is but fleeting smoke and clouds.–
It wasn’t until Yang Zicang leapt and sprang onto the suspended train door against the wall that he finally snapped out of it.
–A word from a top-tier expert…–
Liu Ming was speechless; it had only been half a day, but he had already fallen so far behind, as if they were from two different worlds.
–Have I fallen behind?– he murmured in a daze. –I only took a break for half a day.–
Zhao Xuemei rushed over to the bedside, speaking to the figure already inside the carriage on the wall:
–Are you going to treat her? Chu Chiang knows someone with pretty good healing abilities, but his fees might be a bit steep.–
–It’s fine. My friend has already prepared everything for me.–
The car door sealed behind him, the train transformed into a blur, dragging a hazy swirl of mist as it whisked through to the other side of the wall.
–His friend prepared everything for him?–
–This guy’s only been out for a day, but he acts like he’s been gone forever—just how fast is the time over there really moving?–
This is simply unbelievable.
The few at the door watched as Yang Zicang’s figure vanished into the train of nightmares, rumored far and wide, leaving their emotions churning in an indescribable turmoil.
GROUND STARS
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