Shen Ning wasn’t lying; she really knew jade and stone. On the surface, these stones all looked the same, dark and dull but with just a touch or a glance, she could tell if there was good stuff inside.
After opening a few spirit mines as green and translucent as jade, even the boss of the gambling stone market couldn’t help but become serious.
“Not bad, girl, you’re a pro,” he said.
“Of course,” Xu Chuyao replied proudly. “My girlfriend used to be a miner!”
Ránrán felt something was off, but her mother looked genuinely proud.
However, since Xu Chuyao thought that jewelry made from rare stones like radium looked too old-fashioned and didn’t suit a youthful beauty like herself, she had the boss craft small jade rabbits instead to decorate the dormitory table.
She refused the leftover raw materials, which made the boss’s stern face lighten a bit.
“Come by anytime.”
That was how the boss said goodbye as he saw them off. Xu Chuyao listened but knew in her heart that if they really came often, the one who’d be most unhappy was the boss himself.
Exiting the shadowy passage of the Underground Market, Xu Chuyao played with the small jade rabbit in her hand. The craftsmanship wasn’t exquisite due to time and skill constraints, but the material was good and translucent.
“Not bad, Shen Ning. Didn’t expect you had this skill,” the lively girl teased, gently nudging the younger girl’s waist. “Those hard days weren’t wasted—you actually learned something real.”
Shen Ning herself hadn’t realized she had this skill, and it wasn’t entirely from her miner days. When she touched the stones, she felt a unique resonance—perhaps because her Spirit Power awakening originated from some strange spirit mineral.
“How did you decide to give me a gift?” Xu Chuyao asked curiously.
“Isn’t today our date?” Shen Ning answered matter-of-factly.
Li Renhao had told her many times that on a date, you have to give your girlfriend a gift. The atmosphere was already set for that.
“Oh… emmm, alright then.”
By now, Xu Chuyao didn’t want to explain further; the original purpose of today’s outing wasn’t really a date.
Back in the small alley, Xu Chuyao saw the boss and his apprentice still chatting.
“It itches, really it itches,” the apprentice complained.
“Tough it out. Everyone’s itchy, not just you. If it really itches, just scratch hard.”
“Scratching makes me want to go to work; going to work makes it itch again.”
“Then just hold it in after scratching—won’t itch, and it keeps you from slacking off.”
Previously hidden by his hat, the apprentice now took it off, revealing a completely bald head. Xu Chuyao felt a bit sorry for the poor kid.
“Xu Chuyao, aren’t we going back?” Shen Ning poked her side. “The sun’s about to set.”
“Yeah, of course.”
Winter days were precious—morning till lunch passed quickly, and after a short stroll in the afternoon, the sun was already down.
Today had been good in Shen Ning’s eyes: a whole day of dating, visiting all kinds of places, taking photos, walking the streets, and giving her girlfriend a cute little gift.
From Xu Chu Qiong’s perspective… well, it was fine too. She gathered a lot of information.
Ránrán already had most of the info but had ignored it before. Now recalling it, some new ideas formed in her mind.
But everything had to wait until tomorrow when they’d check inside the tower.
After a full day in Ya Ha City, the Crisis Response Team from Center City shared their experiences in the QQ group.
A few boys had gone out to eat local delicacies and declared their favorite was the Flame-Grilled Chicken.
Two girls went shopping near the Academy, buying souvenirs like bracelets for friends at Shengling Academy.
Xu Chuyao said nothing, playing the expert, and just posted a photo in the group.
[Yu Yuwei: Wow, such a cute little rabbit. Is it made of jade?]
[Li Yao Not Wanting to Eat Fingers: Yes, made from spirit ore.]
[Li Yao Not Wanting to Eat Fingers: How do you guys know Shen Ning bought it for me?]
Actually, no one knew, and no one asked. But since the leader said so, everyone just gave their formal envy.
Putting down her phone, Xu Chuyao pulled up the quilt and lay down, ready to sleep.
Rest early; tomorrow was another busy day. After checking out the tower, it’d be about time to wrap things up. There wasn’t much fun left in Ya Ha City.
Shen Ning also climbed into bed, pulling the quilt over herself. The System’s constant oppression buzzed wildly in her ear.
“Zi, hey, good morning kiss. Don’t tell me you won’t kiss me good night? I know there’s no mission, but if there’s no mission, can’t you take initiative? Are you a System slave or a mission master?”
Well said, but Shen Ning was about to sleep.
After all, today she was in a good mood and didn’t want to cause trouble for herself. When it came to kissing, Yao Yao needed to liven things up.
Zz27
The third day in Ya Ha City.
Xu Chuyao had played with her phone a little last night but still woke up early the next morning—so early that Shen Ning was still asleep.
“I’m up, still… not really awake~”
She got dressed and quietly went over to the girl’s bed. After half a minute of mental hesitation, she turned and left.
She had wanted to draw a little turtle on Shen Ning’s forehead, but while searching for a pen, her eyes caught the cute jade ornament on her bedside table.
Seeing the gift Shen Ning had given her yesterday, Xu Chuyao’s human kindness returned, and she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“I really am beautiful and merciful,” the lively girl sighed, then headed toward the school gate, where Principal Qiu and others were already waiting.
“Has the application come through?”
“Yes, Miss Xu,” Principal Qiu opened the car door for her. “Please, get in.”
Shen Ning had a dream.
This was normal. For the past three years, she dreamed every night, and even during naps. It was rare for her not to dream in the morning.
But this dream was different.
She was still inside that mine cave. The light on her helmet was out, and only faint, distant lamps offered the slightest visibility. The familiar workers around her were suffering through painful mutations.
The girl squeezed the pickaxe in her hand.
“Please wait for me a little longer. I’m still more than one level away from Fourth Stage.”
Raising the pickaxe, ready to reproduce what had happened before, she suddenly heard a faint voice—
“Little Shen Ning, little Shen Ning.”
She was startled.
Only then did she realize that those who had completed the painful transformation weren’t wild or aggressive as usual, but stood quietly, watching her.
The one speaking to her was Uncle Liu, who had begged her to resolve their plight.
“Uncle Liu, you, you all…”
“Little Shen Ning,” Uncle Liu’s head bowed under layers of mineral deposits, his deep voice slowly coming through, “how have you been these past years? Are you doing well lately?”
“I…”
“Oh, pretty good, right? That puts my mind at ease.”
Without waiting for her answer, Uncle Liu hung his head and continued to speak to himself, “Uncle Zhang, Uncle Wang, Uncle Li, Qian Shuang… they’ve all found peace.”
These names were of those who had been buried forever in mutation.
Shen Ning lowered the pickaxe, unsure of what to say or do.
She didn’t understand why the dream, so consistent for three years, had changed. Was it due to her emotions and thoughts, or some objective influence?
The mine was dim, the girl standing under their gaze for what felt like an eternity.
“You should leave,” Uncle Liu suddenly said. “Take those you cherish far away from us… at least for now, far from things like us.”
Shen Ning bolted upright in bed, like someone just escaped drowning, gasping for air, sweat pouring down her forehead.
“What’s wrong with you? Lying around so long today? Last night you did nothing, yet in the whole multiverse, you’re the only one sleeping in.”
No time to indulge the System’s oppression, the girl quickly dressed, got out of bed, and ran outside.
The dormitory was close to the dining hall. She had just passed when she ran into her teammates eating.
“Shen Ning,” Zhong Ming waved to stop her. “You’re just in time. The dining hall closes in ten minutes.”
“I’m not eating. Where’s Xu Chuyao?” she asked directly.
“She went to that Ya Ha Tower thing.”
“How long ago did she leave?”
“Not long ago.”
Without another word, Shen Ning ran off, but seconds later ran back.
“Who can drive? Take me and catch up.”
The Crisis Response Team looked at each other, then Shi Yan stepped forward. “I can, but I don’t have a license.”
“Can drive is good enough!”
Meanwhile, Xu Chuyao sat in a wide SUV driven by Director Kang, with Principal Qiu in the front passenger seat. She sat alone in the back.
It should have been comfortable, but thinking about the investigation she was conducting made her uneasy.
After gathering several pieces of information yesterday, Xu Chuyao reviewed them again and felt some strange new ideas forming.
The battle report only detailed the casualties between their students and the Clown Gang, ignoring ordinary people on the tower. That was understandable—they hadn’t cared before, even during the Commerce Plaza battle summary.
The apprentice at the funeral shop complained of itching, and the boss said many were itchy, with doctors giving uniform advice. Why were the boss and shopkeeper unaffected? Was it because the apprentice wasn’t in the shop or alley during a certain period but out delivering goods? Then where did he catch the itch?
Finally, about the tower battle: the report said both sides were completely wiped out.
Logically, in such battles, both sides struggle fiercely until only two remain, one wiping out the other at the cost of his own life. Ordinary people either escape or are caught in AOE attacks and killed. Right?
But what if there was another possibility? That a thousand or so ordinary people weren’t just collateral damage but the real reason both sides perished together?
“Miss Xu,” Principal Qiu said from the front, “we don’t have permission. Only you will go up there.”
“Got it.”
Xu Chuyao answered casually. Suddenly, the SUV made a sharp swerve, nearly crashing.
“What’s going on?” Principal Qiu asked unhappily.
“A girl jumped out of the car beside us,” Director Kang said, exasperated. “She jumped right in front of us and blocked the way. And… it seems she’s the girl who came with Miss Xu— the one who gave the speech on stage.”
The girl who gave the speech?
Xu Chuyao blinked in confusion, rolled down the window, and looked out.
Good grief, standing right ahead on the main road was Shen Ning.
Her long white hair fluttered wildly in the wind, looking unrestrained and imposing.
Her crimson eyes fixed sharply on the car, as if her face bore three words: “No passing allowed.”