Looking into your eyes, I know you’re not mine.
The moment Ren Suo exchanged eye contact with Nine-tailed Fox, he was instantly mesmerized.
From endorphins to dopamine, from heart rate to blood pressure, from brain plasma to prostate, all of Ren Suo was in disorder.
The fragrance of chocolate when Ren Suo ate his first bar of chocolate when he was four years old, the fragrance of the rice dumpling rolls with beef briskets sold on the street after he played soccer, the fragrance when he walked into the flowering fields during his high school graduation trip with his friends, the fragrance of the crabs being cooked by his mother when he was accepted into the university, the fragrance of the grass when he laid down on the field with his friends, dreaming about their future…
All of Ren Suo’s beautiful memories came to his mind, and the joy and happiness he felt radiated all the way from his bone marrow into his brain. Ren Suo felt that his body was becoming heavier, but his soul was also becoming lighter.
Ren Suo felt a slight pain in his hand as Dong Chengling dug her nails into his palm, instantly breaking Ren Suo free from the mesmerizing dream.
In just one second, Ren Suo’s back was dripping with cold sweat. He shifted his gaze and looked at the crowd on the street beside him as he calmed his racing heart.
That was close!
He almost fell in love with Nine-tailed Fox!
Clearly, the person behind Nine-tailed Fox was a macho hunk who liked to eat crayfish, shamelessly played cute when chatting online and charmed people—it was none other than Ren Suo himself!
Nine-tailed Fox did not use any of her skills, but her [Seductive Scent] and the infinite images of her being formed were sufficient to affect the onlookers within range. Both men and women were willing to be charmed by her!
It had an extremely powerful effect close to that of a chemical attack. The charm of Nine-tailed Fox surpassed the ordinary senses and was closer to an attack of high-dimensional Reiki energy which directly caused anyone who watched her secrete the corresponding chemical substances to form memories and look up to the nine-tailed fox naturally.
Ren Suo could not comprehend the powerful influence she had in the game, but after he felt it for himself, he discovered how terrifying Nine-tailed Fox could be—
—It was like having Nine-tailed Fox as a seasoning to all of one’s beautiful memories, be it family, friendships, and love, such that one would naturally believe that she was an essential and inseparable part of one’s life.
If ordinary people all sought their “destined one” who matched all of their interests and habits, then the nine-tailed fox would be everybody’s “destined one”. Anyone would be willing to soften their stance and change themselves to welcome her.
Even Ren Suo was almost deluded by it. If not for the fact that he was a first-tier Practitioner with a certain level of resistance against it, as well as Dong Chengling’s timely obstruction, Ren Suo might well have fallen in love with Nine-tailed Fox from the Heavenly Palace, who was his creation.
It was actually not an enjoyable feeling… It was as if he was about to fancy his female self.
However, Ren Suo could not help but take another glance at Nine-tailed Fox. Her actions were undoubtedly like how Ren Suo controlled her in the game, but exactly what kind of soul was she?
Looking at her for the second time, Ren Suo did not fall into the trap which made his heartbeat chaotic, but instead, he saw the smile deep in the eyes of the nine-tailed fox.
Her eyebrows twitched slightly and her lips slanted upwards, as if she was playing an extremely enjoyable game.
However, she tilted her head slightly and looked at Dong Chengling who was standing next to Ren Suo.
Ren Suo also turned to look at Dong Chengling but happened to meet her clear but bright gaze as she looked at him.
Everything was taking place just like in the game, but there were just a few more twists and turns in reality.
Dong Chengling rubbed against Ren Suo’s left palm at exactly where she had pinched him previously. As they were holding each other’s hands very tightly, his palm was sweating and there was an indescribable and peculiar sense of stickiness.
However, Ren Suo stared intently at Dong Chengling’s mouth as he waited for a familiar line from her.
Dong Chengling saw Ren Suo finally looking at her and her solemn expression eased slightly. She turned to look at Nine-tailed Fox and said:
“Hello, I am Dong Chengling.”
At that juncture, Lao Zhao and several other Practitioners who were powerful enough to disrupt Ren Suo’s breathing current stepped through the eye-shaped hole that Ren Suo and Dong Chengling opened, bringing them from Tianjing in Xuan Nation to Qingkong Street in Tokyo of Fanying Nation.
“Relax your grip,” Dong Chengling said. Ren Suo felt his Reiki current decrease drastically from that of the Huangguoshu Waterfall to that of a small water pipe in a university dormitory. The space in the air which he ‘lifted’ with his right hand suddenly felt like thousand tons, making him release his grip instantaneously.
The space passage which they opened temporarily was closed, and the Practitioners and researchers at the side immediately got down to work. Ren Suo was pulled aside during his muddle-headedness—Qiao Muyi was waiting for him.
When Ren Suo saw her, he asked, “Why are you still here?”
Qiao Muyi glanced at Dong Chengling and said, “I am hoping for someone to devote himself to me, just like you.”
Without giving Ren Suo the chance to ask a question, Dong Chengling continued, “Thanks for your help this time, Ren Suo.”
Ren Suo scratched his head and replied, “Well, it’s time for you to tell me about what’s going on, although I can at least guess that the reason why I was made to stay had nothing to do with ‘further observation’, right?”
Qiao Muyi said, “Of course not, do you think you can stay just because you want to? You are not qualified to do that yet.”
“That place is the nation’s highly important medical facility which specifically accepts Practitioners and important people. Even the Reiki gathering equipment there is more than twice as effective as that of Lianjiang’s. It is not a place someone without at least a certain level of privilege would know about.”
Dong Chengling sighed. She frowned and said, “It’s because of me. I still have not managed to master my Awakened Ability over the last few days, which is why you have no choice but to be here with me now.”
Qiao Muyi smiled as she looked at the both of them and explained, “Ren Suo, you must know that the Awakening Ability is related to the Reiki meridian and that the Awakening Explosion is also a side effect of the formation of the Reiki meridian channel.”
“As you would have seen just now, Dong Chengling’s Awakened Ability is a space-type ability that is able to tear up space directly to create a space portal. This is much more powerful than the idea of “teleporting” you would imagine—in the most extreme case, the girl you are holding hands with right now could well be the person who leads humankind into a new era in the Milky Way.”
It was only at that time that Ren Suo realized he was still holding onto Dong Chengling’s hand. He tried to break away but Dong Chengling held his hand even more tightly…
“It’s not over yet,” an extremely serious Dong Chengling said. “It’s dangerous to just let go like that.”
Qiao Muyi continued, saying, “Naturally, the nation is paying much attention to the addition of a new Awakener with a space-type Ability. However, the problem now is that Dong Chengling is unable to cast the ability independently.”
“The process of you helping Dong Chengling to Awaken caused her Awakening Reiki meridian to extend onto you. Casting the ability requires the complete meridian channel to be present, and even though the Practitioners managed to separate both of you, she would be unable to cast the ability due to the disrupted meridian channel.”
Ren Suo turned his head to look at the area where the hole of the space portal disappeared and asked, “So the reason why I was asked to come was to allow Chengling to successfully cast her ability?”
“That’s right,” Qiao Muyi said. “Some special matters happened recently and just now, Xuan Nation especially needed to send people to Tokyo in Fanying Nation. And coincidentally, Dong Chengling was here…”
Ren Suo exclaimed, “So a space portal from Tianjing to Tokyo was made? Wow, that’s simply a miracle created by a goddess!”
Dong Chengling blushed slightly and she quickly said seriously, “Actually, if not for the other Practitioners who helped me to lock in the precise location and build the target location and environment, as well as without the best Reiki environment, I would not have been able to do this at all. I only made a small contrib— ”
“That’s enough,” Qiao Muyi interrupted as she waved her hand. She said, “Excessive humility is arrogance. If what you did is not considered a great contribution, then what about the other Practitioners who helped you, are they not more than spectators then? If you do not recognize your strengths, other people who can only wish to have your powers would be extremely embarrassed.”
“Is that so?” said Dong Chengling, slightly bewildered.
Ren Suo nodded his head and said, “Yes, it’s like those students who received close to full marks in an exam and are the top few students in the level, and yet they go around telling people that they did badly and that it is very embarrassing. They are simply mocking other equally diligent and hardworking students. Real humility is silently admitting that you are strong, rather than despising yourself which connotes a contempt for people who are weaker than themselves.”
“… You’re right,” said Dong Chengling as she nodded her head. When she said that, Qiao Muyi glanced at her.
Ren Suo suddenly thought of a terrifying prospect. He asked, “So, does that mean that Chengling will have to continue holding my hand like this whenever she casts her ability?!”
In that case, would he not become an “Intermediary for the Casting of Space-type Ability (specially belongs to Dong Chengling)”?
In that case, how would he be able to find the time to play his games?
How would he be able to obtain other keys?
How would he be able to…
Qiao Mu Yi asked coldly, “Do you not like that?”
“How can it be!” answered Ren Suo, almost subconsciously.
At that juncture, someone called for Dong Chengling, and she let go of Ren Suo’s hand with her usual expression. She smiled and said before leaving hurriedly, “Don’t worry, I will master my Awakened Ability very soon, I won’t make you wait too long.”
Qiao Muyi looked at Ren Suo playfully and joked, “Even if you are willing, Dong Chengling may not be willing to do so. The nation would be even more unwilling—how could they allow such a powerful Practitioner to have such a weakness?”
“Didn’t I tell you previously? The meridian channels of Awakened Abilities are ineffective when placed on other people, but conversely, it is a successful Awakened meridian channel which would be effective on the one who Awakened it.”
“Dong Chengling’s Awakened meridian channel has already been analyzed when treating both of you, and she is finding a way to complete the meridian channel perfectly.”
“As long as she finds the right meridian channel, you can retire gloriously as a one-time-use prop.”
Ren Suo pulled his lips as Qiao Muyi turned to signal to the personnel clad in the black vest next to her. She said, “The higher-ups have instructed that you have to continue staying here for a few more days. We don’t have as much time as you to Practice these few days, so you should enjoy your time here while you are given the opportunity.”
As she watched Ren Suo being taken away by the personnel clad in the black vest, Qiao Muyi turned to look at Dong Chengling who was not far away, listening as a group of scholars guided her. The space portal mission was of great significance, for the size of the space portal, the distance to the target and the effective duration were all important indicators for future reference. It depended on Dong Chengling to learn and remember how to balance all of these factors.
Qiao Muyi tilted her head and muttered to herself, “What did he mean by ‘how can it be’… Does he mean ‘how can it be that I don’t like that’, or ‘how can it be that I like that’… Perhaps, could the key to this mission really be him…?”
Looking into your eyes, I know you’re not mine.
The moment Ren Suo exchanged eye contact with Nine-tailed Fox, he was instantly mesmerized.
From endorphins to dopamine, from heart rate to blood pressure, from brain plasma to prostate, all of Ren Suo was in disorder.
The fragrance of chocolate when Ren Suo ate his first bar of chocolate when he was four years old, the fragrance of the rice dumpling rolls with beef briskets sold on the street after he played soccer, the fragrance when he walked into the flowering fields during his high school graduation trip with his friends, the fragrance of the crabs being cooked by his mother when he was accepted into the university, the fragrance of the grass when he laid down on the field with his friends, dreaming about their future…
All of Ren Suo’s beautiful memories came to his mind, and the joy and happiness he felt radiated all the way from his bone marrow into his brain. Ren Suo felt that his body was becoming heavier, but his soul was also becoming lighter.
Ren Suo felt a slight pain in his hand as Dong Chengling dug her nails into his palm, instantly breaking Ren Suo free from the mesmerizing dream.
In just one second, Ren Suo’s back was dripping with cold sweat. He shifted his gaze and looked at the crowd on the street beside him as he calmed his racing heart.
That was close!
He almost fell in love with Nine-tailed Fox!
Clearly, the person behind Nine-tailed Fox was a macho hunk who liked to eat crayfish, shamelessly played cute when chatting online and charmed people—it was none other than Ren Suo himself!
Nine-tailed Fox did not use any of her skills, but her [Seductive Scent] and the infinite images of her being formed were sufficient to affect the onlookers within range. Both men and women were willing to be charmed by her!
It had an extremely powerful effect close to that of a chemical attack. The charm of Nine-tailed Fox surpassed the ordinary senses and was closer to an attack of high-dimensional Reiki energy which directly caused anyone who watched her secrete the corresponding chemical substances to form memories and look up to the nine-tailed fox naturally.
Ren Suo could not comprehend the powerful influence she had in the game, but after he felt it for himself, he discovered how terrifying Nine-tailed Fox could be—
—It was like having Nine-tailed Fox as a seasoning to all of one’s beautiful memories, be it family, friendships, and love, such that one would naturally believe that she was an essential and inseparable part of one’s life.
If ordinary people all sought their “destined one” who matched all of their interests and habits, then the nine-tailed fox would be everybody’s “destined one”. Anyone would be willing to soften their stance and change themselves to welcome her.
Even Ren Suo was almost deluded by it. If not for the fact that he was a first-tier Practitioner with a certain level of resistance against it, as well as Dong Chengling’s timely obstruction, Ren Suo might well have fallen in love with Nine-tailed Fox from the Heavenly Palace, who was his creation.
It was actually not an enjoyable feeling… It was as if he was about to fancy his female self.
However, Ren Suo could not help but take another glance at Nine-tailed Fox. Her actions were undoubtedly like how Ren Suo controlled her in the game, but exactly what kind of soul was she?
Looking at her for the second time, Ren Suo did not fall into the trap which made his heartbeat chaotic, but instead, he saw the smile deep in the eyes of the nine-tailed fox.
Her eyebrows twitched slightly and her lips slanted upwards, as if she was playing an extremely enjoyable game.
However, she tilted her head slightly and looked at Dong Chengling who was standing next to Ren Suo.
Ren Suo also turned to look at Dong Chengling but happened to meet her clear but bright gaze as she looked at him.
Everything was taking place just like in the game, but there were just a few more twists and turns in reality.
Dong Chengling rubbed against Ren Suo’s left palm at exactly where she had pinched him previously. As they were holding each other’s hands very tightly, his palm was sweating and there was an indescribable and peculiar sense of stickiness.
However, Ren Suo stared intently at Dong Chengling’s mouth as he waited for a familiar line from her.
Dong Chengling saw Ren Suo finally looking at her and her solemn expression eased slightly. She turned to look at Nine-tailed Fox and said:
“Hello, I am Dong Chengling.”
At that juncture, Lao Zhao and several other Practitioners who were powerful enough to disrupt Ren Suo’s breathing current stepped through the eye-shaped hole that Ren Suo and Dong Chengling opened, bringing them from Tianjing in Xuan Nation to Qingkong Street in Tokyo of Fanying Nation.
“Relax your grip,” Dong Chengling said. Ren Suo felt his Reiki current decrease drastically from that of the Huangguoshu Waterfall to that of a small water pipe in a university dormitory. The space in the air which he ‘lifted’ with his right hand suddenly felt like thousand tons, making him release his grip instantaneously.
The space passage which they opened temporarily was closed, and the Practitioners and researchers at the side immediately got down to work. Ren Suo was pulled aside during his muddle-headedness—Qiao Muyi was waiting for him.
When Ren Suo saw her, he asked, “Why are you still here?”
Qiao Muyi glanced at Dong Chengling and said, “I am hoping for someone to devote himself to me, just like you.”
Without giving Ren Suo the chance to ask a question, Dong Chengling continued, “Thanks for your help this time, Ren Suo.”
Ren Suo scratched his head and replied, “Well, it’s time for you to tell me about what’s going on, although I can at least guess that the reason why I was made to stay had nothing to do with ‘further observation’, right?”
Qiao Muyi said, “Of course not, do you think you can stay just because you want to? You are not qualified to do that yet.”
“That place is the nation’s highly important medical facility which specifically accepts Practitioners and important people. Even the Reiki gathering equipment there is more than twice as effective as that of Lianjiang’s. It is not a place someone without at least a certain level of privilege would know about.”
Dong Chengling sighed. She frowned and said, “It’s because of me. I still have not managed to master my Awakened Ability over the last few days, which is why you have no choice but to be here with me now.”
Qiao Muyi smiled as she looked at the both of them and explained, “Ren Suo, you must know that the Awakening Ability is related to the Reiki meridian and that the Awakening Explosion is also a side effect of the formation of the Reiki meridian channel.”
“As you would have seen just now, Dong Chengling’s Awakened Ability is a space-type ability that is able to tear up space directly to create a space portal. This is much more powerful than the idea of “teleporting” you would imagine—in the most extreme case, the girl you are holding hands with right now could well be the person who leads humankind into a new era in the Milky Way.”
It was only at that time that Ren Suo realized he was still holding onto Dong Chengling’s hand. He tried to break away but Dong Chengling held his hand even more tightly…
“It’s not over yet,” an extremely serious Dong Chengling said. “It’s dangerous to just let go like that.”
Qiao Muyi continued, saying, “Naturally, the nation is paying much attention to the addition of a new Awakener with a space-type Ability. However, the problem now is that Dong Chengling is unable to cast the ability independently.”
“The process of you helping Dong Chengling to Awaken caused her Awakening Reiki meridian to extend onto you. Casting the ability requires the complete meridian channel to be present, and even though the Practitioners managed to separate both of you, she would be unable to cast the ability due to the disrupted meridian channel.”
Ren Suo turned his head to look at the area where the hole of the space portal disappeared and asked, “So the reason why I was asked to come was to allow Chengling to successfully cast her ability?”
“That’s right,” Qiao Muyi said. “Some special matters happened recently and just now, Xuan Nation especially needed to send people to Tokyo in Fanying Nation. And coincidentally, Dong Chengling was here…”
Ren Suo exclaimed, “So a space portal from Tianjing to Tokyo was made? Wow, that’s simply a miracle created by a goddess!”
Dong Chengling blushed slightly and she quickly said seriously, “Actually, if not for the other Practitioners who helped me to lock in the precise location and build the target location and environment, as well as without the best Reiki environment, I would not have been able to do this at all. I only made a small contrib— ”
“That’s enough,” Qiao Muyi interrupted as she waved her hand. She said, “Excessive humility is arrogance. If what you did is not considered a great contribution, then what about the other Practitioners who helped you, are they not more than spectators then? If you do not recognize your strengths, other people who can only wish to have your powers would be extremely embarrassed.”
“Is that so?” said Dong Chengling, slightly bewildered.
Ren Suo nodded his head and said, “Yes, it’s like those students who received close to full marks in an exam and are the top few students in the level, and yet they go around telling people that they did badly and that it is very embarrassing. They are simply mocking other equally diligent and hardworking students. Real humility is silently admitting that you are strong, rather than despising yourself which connotes a contempt for people who are weaker than themselves.”
“… You’re right,” said Dong Chengling as she nodded her head. When she said that, Qiao Muyi glanced at her.
Ren Suo suddenly thought of a terrifying prospect. He asked, “So, does that mean that Chengling will have to continue holding my hand like this whenever she casts her ability?!”
In that case, would he not become an “Intermediary for the Casting of Space-type Ability (specially belongs to Dong Chengling)”?
In that case, how would he be able to find the time to play his games?
How would he be able to obtain other keys?
How would he be able to…
Qiao Mu Yi asked coldly, “Do you not like that?”
“How can it be!” answered Ren Suo, almost subconsciously.
At that juncture, someone called for Dong Chengling, and she let go of Ren Suo’s hand with her usual expression. She smiled and said before leaving hurriedly, “Don’t worry, I will master my Awakened Ability very soon, I won’t make you wait too long.”
Qiao Muyi looked at Ren Suo playfully and joked, “Even if you are willing, Dong Chengling may not be willing to do so. The nation would be even more unwilling—how could they allow such a powerful Practitioner to have such a weakness?”
“Didn’t I tell you previously? The meridian channels of Awakened Abilities are ineffective when placed on other people, but conversely, it is a successful Awakened meridian channel which would be effective on the one who Awakened it.”
“Dong Chengling’s Awakened meridian channel has already been analyzed when treating both of you, and she is finding a way to complete the meridian channel perfectly.”
“As long as she finds the right meridian channel, you can retire gloriously as a one-time-use prop.”
Ren Suo pulled his lips as Qiao Muyi turned to signal to the personnel clad in the black vest next to her. She said, “The higher-ups have instructed that you have to continue staying here for a few more days. We don’t have as much time as you to Practice these few days, so you should enjoy your time here while you are given the opportunity.”
As she watched Ren Suo being taken away by the personnel clad in the black vest, Qiao Muyi turned to look at Dong Chengling who was not far away, listening as a group of scholars guided her. The space portal mission was of great significance, for the size of the space portal, the distance to the target and the effective duration were all important indicators for future reference. It depended on Dong Chengling to learn and remember how to balance all of these factors.
Qiao Muyi tilted her head and muttered to herself, “What did he mean by ‘how can it be’… Does he mean ‘how can it be that I don’t like that’, or ‘how can it be that I like that’… Perhaps, could the key to this mission really be him…?”
