Chapter 38

Ming Yue couldn’t help but look up at Ming Jiao.

Ming Jiao felt strange under her gaze. “Why are you looking at me like that?”

Ming Yue averted her eyes. She couldn’t very well say she wasn’t quite used to seeing Ming Jiao as if she’d suddenly gained intelligence points.

She had always thought Ming Jiao’s starting intelligence was probably around five—after all, if it were zero, she’d be a fool, but she was clearly just a normally stupid person.

“It sounds like this happened many years ago. Are any of her enemies still at large?” Ming Jiao couldn’t quite understand. According to Ming Yue’s account, the private organization Hundred Flowers had considerable fame and status in the ability user community. The authorities would help regardless of legal principles or human compassion.

Ming Yue thought carefully. “It’s said to have been an organized, planned revenge operation. Those criminals set up Hundred Flowers’ members, essentially defeating them one by one in a very short time.”

“The main perpetrators involved were all captured and executed by the authorities, but a small number of peripheral participants weren’t caught. Probably the list of participants provided by the main culprits wasn’t complete—there are always those who slip through the net.”

So Xiao Ying had put herself out as bait, informing her potential enemies of her existence.

Ming Jiao sighed softly. The flames of revenge burned through the avenger’s entire life—she no longer had any life of her own to speak of.

System, [So tragic, alas.]

Ming Jiao thought for a moment before asking, “Were all the perpetrators involved back then sentenced to death? What exactly are the punishment rules for crimes committed by ability users?”

Ming Yue thought about it and said uncertainly, “The main culprits should all have received death sentences, but accomplices might be exiled to dangerous border areas. The living conditions there are extremely harsh, monsters appear frequently, and if you don’t fight, you die.”

Ming Jiao nodded thoughtfully.

Ming Yue lifted her dark, somber eyes to look at her, thinking she was considering Xie Chu’s future punishment. After a moment of silence, she spoke to comfort her, “Your case… The main culprit who harmed you not only violated the ‘Ability User Regulations’ by failing to register their identity but also hired killers to harm ordinary people and colluded with ability user criminals. Knowing the law yet breaking it—the lightest punishment would be exile to the border.”

Ming Jiao was taken aback, then nodded again.

She quietly sighed to the System, [What a kind and soft-hearted Little Black Cat. See how she’s comforting me.]

[Yes, she only thinks you’re another heartbroken person in this city. Little does she know that given the chance, you’d rather slap Xie Chu a few times across the face, and it’d be even better if you could smash his and the hunter’s heads while you’re at it.] The System sighed similarly.

Truly your soulmate who understands you best.

Ming Jiao said, [How about Xiao Ying’s situation? If her enemies are really out there…]

[We’ll right wrongs as we encounter them and use 100,000 volts to offer scumbags as sacrifice to heaven.] The System vowed confidently.

Ming Jiao laughed, [System, you’re strangely chivalrous. But as an enthusiast of satisfying stories, I can’t stand this injustice either. I’ll personally support you—electrifying all the injustices in this world.]

System: Indeed, personal support, since it couldn’t electrocute people from a distance.

[But Xiao Ying has already returned. I tracked her movement—while you were talking about her, she had already surveyed the surroundings. Unless her route changes, her final destination appears to be an old-style residential area.]

The System said, [That’s the area with the highest concentration of rental housing in the city. Xiao Ying probably lives there.]

Ming Jiao, [“As long as she’s fine, now let’s worry about our own safety.”]

The System understood immediately, [“Don’t worry, Host. I’ve expanded the search and protection range and confirmed there are no other ability users nearby. The one sitting in front of you doesn’t count, unless…”]

[“Unless what?”]

[“Unless it’s a top-tier powerhouse from this world deliberately concealing themselves, no one can escape my sharp eyes.”]

[“I see.”] Ming Jiao said.

The System, [“Born as a System, yet not omnipotent—I feel ashamed.”]

[“Getting cheekier by the day.”] Ming Jiao said, [“I’m not worried about that. What if we encounter the pinnacle of combat power someday? Could they see through your true form?”]

The System said, [“No need to worry about that, Host. I came to this minor world through formal review and approval, certified by the Heavenly Dao. Unless beings from higher-level planes come, no one can see through me.”]

Though certified, a system without a host couldn’t act alone—at least not at its current level. If unbonded, it would likely be sent back.

[“If we really encounter a top expert, I’d still prefer to play it safe and avoid scanning or probing recklessly. If we do, they might trace it back to you, Host.”]

[“Then we’ll just be careful. Peak experts aren’t common cabbages we’d run into randomly.”] Ming Jiao’s tone was light.

The System, [“Makes sense.”]

Having a system bound to her, enabling telepathic communication anytime and anywhere, was great in all aspects—except it was easy to get lost in conversation, especially when she was supposed to be talking to someone else.

Ming Jiao snapped out of her exchange with the System and reflected deeply on herself.

Fortunately, Ming Yue only thought she was distracted because of Xie Chu and could understand, but she wasn’t good at comforting others, especially since her relationship with Ming Jiao was still awkward.

In truth, Ming Jiao didn’t really need comfort or guidance. She said, “I’ll pay attention to what you said. At worst, I’ll go out less. But you and Nightingale should be more careful about your safety.”

Ming Yue still wasn’t quite used to her almost considerate attitude and nodded vaguely.

The food had arrived, and the reminder was given—she felt she could leave now.

Just as she was about to go, Ming Jiao asked, “Nightingale hasn’t been back for days either. Have you seen her recently?”

Thankfully, Ming Yue had grown accustomed to her concern for Tang Xiaoyu. In fact, she had seen Tang Xiaoyu more often than Ming Jiao lately.

Because Tang Xiaoyu was intentionally using her public identity to interact with Xie Chu—or rather, allowing Xie Chu to approach.

Xie Chu hadn’t been too obvious about it, just showing up at a few parties hosted by others in their circle and speaking with Tang Xiaoyu a couple of times.

Ming Yue herself had been invited to some of these parties, but nothing stood out.

However, after suspecting Xie Chu, every time she saw him, he seemed off—exceptionally scheming.

But she couldn’t mention any of this to Ming Jiao and could only say, “Nightingale is safe.”

Ming Jiao hadn’t actually expected to get information about Tang Xiaoyu from Ming Yue. She already knew about Tang Xiaoyu and Xie Chu’s recent movements from social media and friends who enjoyed stirring the pot.

Asking Ming Yue was to gauge her reaction and verify things—getting such a response wasn’t surprising.

However, if Xie Chu had always been clear-headed, he probably wouldn’t have asked Tang Xiaoyu out alone before settling the engagement with her. This was likely just laying the groundwork in advance.

But if Tang Xiaoyu took the initiative, things might be different.

Yet given Tang Xiaoyu’s personality, while she could control her emotions, she wasn’t very good at pretending to get along with people.

Ming Jiao pondered this silently. In her line of sight, Ming Yue had already stood up. “I should go.”

Ming Jiao immediately snapped out of her thoughts and saw her out. Despite her young age, Ming Yue worried just as much as her elder sister.

After taking a few steps outside, Ming Yue turned back to look at Ming Jiao. “Don’t go out these next few days. I’ll come again when I have time.”

Ming Jiao smiled. “No need to be so tense. I think you all should be more careful about your safety than me.”

Ming Yue lowered her head silently again. She kicked a small pebble at her feet before looking up to ask, “That friend of yours… how is she now?”

To care so much about a stranger mentioned in passing. Ming Jiao almost laughed but didn’t keep her in suspense. “She’s doing well. She started a new life later.”

Ming Yue breathed a sigh of relief, her dark eyes immediately brightening with relief.

That’s good, she thought.

Ming Jiao studied her. Though still young, Ming Yue didn’t act childish in speech or manner.

But unlike Tang Xiaoyu’s effortless control over everything around her, this child’s personality was somewhat depressingly gloomy.

Ming Jiao had met many people with similar temperaments before – insecure due to their upbringing, sensitive and overthinking, always the first to soften in conflicts.

The one who suffered, reflected, accommodated, and felt guilty was always her. Even when angry, it was silently stifled, never vented properly.

Such a disadvantageous personality, Ming Jiao thought.

Considering how enthusiastically Little Black Cat had visited and brought food, she decided to play the good person this once.

Ming Yue felt someone touch her neatly tied braid and looked up in surprise.

Ming Jiao gave a lazy smile. “Little Black Cat, I’ll tell you a secret to staying happy.”

Drawn by the sudden topic, Ming Yue overlooked the strange address. “What is it?”

“If you want to live happily, remove annoying people and things from your sight…” Ming Jiao glanced at her, “But you definitely don’t have the heart for that, so just stay away from them completely.”

Ming Yue still couldn’t quite follow how the conversation had jumped to this topic, staring at her blankly.

Ming Jiao said meaningfully, “Don’t overthink about people who’ve hurt you or made you unhappy. Such people won’t consider your feelings in return just because you’re thoughtful.”

“But isn’t that too cold?” Ming Yue looked at her somewhat confused. “Wouldn’t that ruin all relationships?”

Seeing her lost lamb expression, Ming Jiao almost felt pity. “There are always other people who make you happy and treat you well. Save your care for them or for yourself. For those not worth it, just give up or walk away.”

Ming Yue stared at her blankly. She hadn’t expected to talk this much with Ming Jiao before coming. For a moment, she really wanted to ask: Is this how you treat me too? Because you don’t care about me, you don’t care whether I suffer or not.

Seeing the look in her eyes, Ming Jiao knew the child was tangled up in her thoughts again. Her itching hand ultimately didn’t reach out to play with the little bun at the back of Ming Yue’s head.

She patted her shoulder lightly. “Nothing can be achieved overnight.”

The shimmering light in her peach-blossom eyes seemed to carry deeper meaning. “If you can avoid meeting that person, don’t go see her. Seeing less of her and prioritizing your own feelings is the first step toward change.”

After sending off the troubled Ming Yue, the System sighed first. 【Such deep emotional knots. But is it really okay to advise her not to come like this?】

【It’s perfectly fine. The hunter has been as quiet as if dead.】

Though the weather was somewhat hot, the evening breeze was cool and refreshing. Ming Jiao enjoyed the night wind contentedly. 【I’m safe staying in the bookstore, so her visiting me isn’t a necessity. You’ve seen it too – that child can’t even get properly angry. She thinks too much about others and suppresses herself too much. Does that look satisfying to you?】

The System sighed again. 【Host, I’ve discovered you can be quite considerate too.】

【Average. I’m only friendly toward good people.】 Ming Jiao smiled cheerfully. 【If you insist on praising me as gentle and kind, I’ll gladly accept.】

System: 【Modesty is a virtue, Host.】

【I know, but I don’t have it.】 Ming Jiao’s tone was frank.

It had been a long time since the System remembered there was a language in this world called speechlessness.

【…】

At the same time, Ming Yue suddenly stopped in her tracks, belatedly realizing something. “Who was she calling Little Black Cat?”

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Translator: Glariosa
Editor: Ruu

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