Time... Is About Right

"What do you mean?"

Li Hao froze for a moment at her icy tone.

In his mind, Jiang Mian should have let him do whatever he wanted. But the look on Jiang Mian's face now... He had never seen her like this.

Could the little white flower he'd randomly picked have come with poisonous thorns?

What's more, his ability kept warning him of extreme danger.

Li Hao instinctively activated Steel Bones. A faint metallic sheen appeared on his skin, further enhancing his physical abilities.

Then he suddenly exerted force and tried to yank his hand free.

But Jiang Mian seemed to have anticipated it. The moment he pulled, she let go.

Li Hao stumbled back two steps before managing to steady himself. He stared at her, shocked and uncertain.

"You're not Jiang Mian?! Who are you?!"

That strength just now... It had actually made him ache a little?

How was that possible?

Seeing him so flustered, a mischievous delight rose in Jiang Mian's heart.

This guy had pestered her for so long. It was time to collect a little interest.

Jiang Mian tilted her head, her expression curious and playful, and spoke.

"You humans... Are you always this impatient before indulging your desire to educate and train someone?"

"..."

You humans?!

Li Hao's mind went completely blank.

A Calamity?!

And a highly intelligent one that could disguise itself as a human!

Had it... taken over Jiang Mian's body, or was the person in front of him... not Jiang Mian at all?!

A great fear engulfed him at the thought. He stammered.

"Y-you... Cal..."

He was an Awakened, sure, but he had no combat experience at all. When he fought, he usually just swung wildly with whatever punches he could come up with, or relied on brute strength to win.

Against a real Calamity, even one with a much lower sequence than his, he wasn't necessarily going to win.

Seeing Li Hao look so scared he was nearly out of his wits, a gleam of delighted satisfaction flashed in Jiang Mian's eyes.

This was kind of fun, wasn't it?

No wonder the books said many Calamities liked to play "little games before dinner"...

"Pfft... Hahaha..." She couldn't help laughing.

Her clear laughter echoed through the empty storeroom, instantly dispelling the tense atmosphere from moments ago.

"Just kidding, dumbass! Look at how scared you are..."

Jiang Mian reined herself in a little, but a wicked, little-devil's grin still lingered on her face, as if this were her true self.

"Y-you were messing with me?!"

Li Hao's mind crashed again.

Jiang Mian's laughter felt like a naked humiliation. His face twisted, and he flew into a Red Heat.

"Of course. I was just joking with you. I didn't think you'd scare so easily."

She nudged her glasses up, wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, and taunted him.

"Looks like you're not just stupid—you're also more timid than a mouse."

Jiang Mian looked at Li Hao's flushed face and the way he glared at her as if he wanted to swallow her whole, then nodded with satisfaction.

"That's more like it. That impotent, furious look suits you."

Her tone was light, but every word hit home.

"You're a useless bully who only picks on the weak. This is as far as you'll ever get."

The string of insults sent Li Hao into a complete Red Heat. He lost all reason.

"I'll kill you!"

He roared and lunged at Jiang Mian with reckless abandon.

Now, he had only one thought: tear the suspicious Jiang Mian in front of him to pieces!

The moment his fist came crashing down, Jiang Mian calmly spun around and slipped to one side at an impossible angle.

Bang!

Li Hao's punch missed and smashed into the wooden crate behind her. The crate burst into pieces, sending wood chips flying.

He pulled back his fist and whipped around. Jiang Mian stood calmly to one side, still wearing that mocking, contemptuous smile.

Li Hao was grinding his teeth in fury. He couldn't be bothered to think about what was going on with Jiang Mian anymore. He roared and charged at her again.

A bizarre chase unfolded inside the warehouse.

Outside, Red Hair and Green Hair leaned against the door, listening to the commotion inside with confused expressions.

"Hey, A Jie, listen to that..."

Red Hair blew out a mouthful of smoke and scratched his head.

"Why are they laughing and yelling? Now something keeps clattering and banging. Can that girl's build really take it?"

A Jie pressed his ear to the door and listened. But the door was too thick, and he could only hear muffled sounds.

At first, when they heard Jiang Mian laughing and Li Hao roaring, they exchanged lecherous grins, thinking Brother Hao was "training" her. But soon, something seemed off.

"This isn't right... Sounds like that girl's leading him on a chase? Brother Hao's chasing her?"

"No way. Jiang Mian's all skinny arms and legs. How could she outrun an Awakened like Brother Hao?"

A Jie was skeptical.

"The place inside's so small. Could she really lead Brother Hao on a chase around it?"

Just then, another loud crash came from inside the warehouse.

The two exchanged a look, both seeing the unease in each other's eyes.

But the door had been bolted from the inside, so they could only look around nearby for something they could use as a tool.

"Quick, find something! We'll pry the door open!"

On the street near Jiang Mian's new home.

Ye Chenyang brought his motorcycle to a stop, then opened his left palm. A faint golden pattern glowed there.

He had just finished a day's work and was getting ready to go home.

However, the power of Eternal Day within him seemed to be stirring strangely, guiding him in a certain direction.

One of the Radiance Path's main abilities was to provide a landmark that pointed the way through the Mist.

As someone at the very peak of the Radiance Path, his perception had always been exceptionally keen.

But this source... It felt neither like a Calamity nor an Awakened. It was utterly strange, and it made him think of Jiang Mian from before.

He didn't know her name, but she had left a deep impression on him.

He had only caught a fleeting glimpse of her then, but now, he sensed the faintest overlap?

"I'll go take a look..."

As far as he could remember, Base City No. 144 had always been uneventful. But beneath the surface, it seemed to conceal turbulent undercurrents.

Ye Chenyang turned the key, started his motorcycle again, and headed in the direction his senses indicated.

The "wind" in the air today seemed unusual, too.

Inside the warehouse, Jiang Mian's figure darted about like a light-footed swallow. Using the extreme speed and agility granted by Gale, she dodged and weaved through the cramped space.

"Huff... huff..."

Li Hao was panting heavily now, clumsy and disheveled.

Jiang Mian stood in the middle of the warehouse and straightened her windblown hair.

It sounded a little unreal, but by using Gale's extended abilities, she could clearly "hear" the sounds around her and sense the air in her surroundings.

Nearby, Red Hair and Green Hair were trying to pry the door open. Farther away, she heard a motorcycle engine. It sounded like... Chili Fried Pork, the person she'd met at the Special Affairs Bureau before?

At the same time, she heard two sets of hurried footsteps. One of them was probably Lin Yun? The other was unfamiliar...

"Heh..."

Jiang Mian's lips curled into a slight smile. Facing Li Hao, she made a "bang" gesture with her hand.

"Time... is about right~"