A Meeting at the Training Ground

The next day.

Though a torrential rain had just fallen all night, the sky was still as hazy as ever.

The Mist's presence meant the world was forever shrouded in this gloomy backdrop.

Only in a few bustling urban districts could the colorful glow of neon, after nightfall, conjure up a little illusory liveliness.

Following the contact information on the business card, Jiang Mian sent Ye Chenyang a brief message.

She essentially asked to meet under the pretext of seeking his advice.

He replied almost instantly, readily agreed, and suggested a drinks shop in South City.

When Jiang Mian found the place by following the address, she felt as though she'd returned to her Previous Life.

The shop had simple decor and bright lighting, and played some unfamiliar music. But when Jiang Mian saw the prices on the menu, she fell silent.

They were twice as high as those at the place where she'd delivered food last time.

To put it simply, one cup of the most ordinary milk tea cost as much as three days' worth of her meals.

Supplies were undeniably scarce in this world, but weren't these prices a little too inflated?

And yet, the shop was still fairly busy...

Was this how rich people lived...?

She couldn't help complaining to herself.

Ye Chenyang had already arrived and was sitting by the window. When he saw Jiang Mian, he waved her over.

Maybe because he wasn't working today, he seemed much brighter, with a more relaxed air about him.

"Jiang, over here."

Jiang Mian walked over and sat across from him, a little stiffly.

Ye Chenyang took in her small gestures and picked up the menu, asking,

"See anything you'd like to drink? It's on me."

Jiang Mian glanced at the menu and instinctively refused.

"Huh? No, you don't have to."

She looked as though the prices had stunned her, and her words came out a little haltingly.

As soon as she'd said it, she seemed to realize it wasn't quite right and added,

"Um... I'm the one who asked you out. Shouldn't I pay?"

"It's fine."

A flicker of surprise crossed Ye Chenyang's eyes. He seemed not to have expected Jiang Mian to offer despite clearly being shocked by the prices.

His voice softened unconsciously.

"Just call me Ye Chenyang. We're about the same age, so... we can be friends."

All things considered, this was only the fourth time he'd met Jiang Mian.

The first time had been at the Special Affairs Bureau. Jiang Mian had been quietly working among the Calamity remains, leaving him with an exceptionally strong first impression.

The second and third times, he'd seen her when she was extremely vulnerable.

But now, sitting across from him, she seemed so well-behaved and considerate that his ever-tense heart relaxed a little.

From what he'd learned so far, Ye Chenyang had a rough idea of what kind of person she was.

But... her future... why couldn't he remember anything about her?

He hadn't known Jiang Mian in his Previous Life. Perhaps something had happened before she had a chance to grow up?

Maybe he should keep a closer eye on her.

"It's not expensive. Let's celebrate your smooth discharge from the hospital, and... your official awakening."

Ye Chenyang smiled, his tone light. This little bit of money was nothing to him.

"...Thanks. Then... this one?"

Jiang Mian seemed to feel she couldn't refuse, so she ordered the shop's signature drink, which was also the cheapest item on the menu. Even so, she still looked embarrassed.

"Sure."

Ye Chenyang nodded to show he didn't mind, then placed the order.

"How does it feel after awakening? Have you noticed any obvious changes in how you sense your surroundings?"

He asked casually, as though making idle conversation.

"Um... my body feels a little lighter, and I can 'see' the way the wind moves. But... like last time, I can't control it steadily. It keeps rushing all over the place."

Jiang Mian held out her left hand and loosely curled it. The air around them seemed to pick up speed, but soon grew chaotic.

"High-tier Sequence abilities are hard to tame in the first place. Besides, the [Elemental] Path relies on the environment to move the elements, so it demands greater precision. Your current situation is normal."

Ye Chenyang's voice softened as he reassured her.

"Besides... a Natural Awakening brought on by intense stimulation tends to leave an awakener's abilities unstable at first."

"You've recovered and started trying to sense and control your abilities in such a short time. That's already very impressive."

Huh? That was a thing?

Jiang Mian didn't remember seeing anything about this "Natural Awakening" side effect in the materials she'd looked up.

From Ye Chenyang's tone... he seemed quite certain, as if he'd seen it with his own eyes.

Strange...

A puzzled look crossed Jiang Mian's face. She lowered her voice.

"There's such a thing? I've never heard of it before..."

"Mm... It's something the seniors worked out from experience. It's rarely mentioned in any materials, so it's normal you haven't heard of it."

Ye Chenyang brushed past the detail as though it were nothing, then steered the conversation back to the point.

"When it comes to controlling your ability, you can think of the 'wind' as countless threads. Try pulling on one strand, then let the rest of the wind follow your will."

"Like this..."

Jiang Mian nodded thoughtfully.

In fact, that was what she'd been doing all along. By tugging on just a little "element," she could produce an exaggerated effect.

But precise control meant suppressing its violent nature, which took a lot out of her. That was probably one reason she was going through Suppressors so quickly.

Just then, the drinks they'd ordered arrived, briefly interrupting their conversation.

Jiang Mian took small sips. The sweet, cool drink seemed to ease some of the fatigue brought on by Spiritual Erosion.

She hadn't taken the Suppressor she bought yesterday yet.

Her plan was to wait until she was nearing the end of the Second-tier stage before drinking it, to make the most of her time.

After all, she didn't know how many days one Suppressor would last.

For now, every extra day was a win—as long as she didn't start growing anything weird.

The atmosphere grew quiet for a moment. After thinking it over, Ye Chenyang spoke.

"Just explaining things can only get you so far.

"I know a Training Ground nearby that's open specifically to awakeners. If you don't mind, I can take you there in a bit."

Jiang Mian had been wondering how to let him witness her "rapid progress." Since he'd brought it up himself, she naturally agreed.

The Training Ground wasn't far from the commercial street where the drinks shop stood.

Calling it a training ground hardly did it justice; it occupied almost an entire street. There were both outdoor and indoor areas, and the facilities were extremely comprehensive.

The identity checks at the entrance were quite strict. Ye Chenyang brought Jiang Mian through the process quickly, and they entered a spacious indoor training area.

Their appearance immediately drew a number of glances, both open and discreet.

"Well, Brother Chen, what brings you here today?"

A young man in a black training tank top came over from the nearby strength-training area, greeting him familiarly.

Then his gaze fell on Jiang Mian behind Ye Chenyang. A knowing smile spread across his face. He clapped Ye Chenyang on the shoulder and said suggestively,

"First time I've seen you bring a girl along. Why here, of all places? Why not stroll down the commercial street or catch a movie? Instead you come hang out with us roughnecks and make us all jealous?"