I Met You, Just as You Met Me.

Although Fang Jie hadn't heard clearly, the Stellaron Spirit really had been talking, right?

"She was talking in her sleep. She was mumbling in her sleep just now... Poor thing. It must have been a very frightening nightmare."

Having settled Yae Sakura, Natasha answered.

"It's strange. Sampo's little concoction shouldn't have been that potent, yet she still hasn't woken up. She looks like she's asleep."

That was what Natasha had originally thought, but then Yae Sakura had shown up.

Perhaps aliens falling asleep was a kind of illness too. Maybe it wasn't so simple.

Then Fang Jie suddenly stepped closer and, without the slightest courtesy, picked up the pen she used to scrawl incomprehensible medical instructions—

What was he doing?

Fang Jie gazed deeply at the Stellaron Spirit.

She was truly pretty, especially when she didn't open her mouth—quiet, composed, beautiful.

What a magnificent face. I must leave my mark upon it!

—"I send the mayfly to heaven and earth, a mere grain amid the vast sea. I mourn the fleeting span of my life and envy the endless Yangtze. I would wander with immortals, embrace the bright moon until eternity. Knowing it cannot be gained at once, I entrust these echoes to the sorrowful wind."

The pen danced like dragons and snakes, a rampaging python disaster.

Natasha froze. By the time she tried to stop him, it was already too late.

"Guest, I cannot simply turn a blind eye to you treating a patient like this in my clinic."

Natasha couldn't just watch. She gave him a warning.

"My apologies, but please understand. This is a folk remedy for waking a patient."

Fang Jie's hand did not stop. He continued composing, his final stroke writing, "...sorrowful wind."

Natasha actually laughed. What kind of folk remedy was that?

Just as she was about to scold him, the Stellaron Spirit really did open her eyes!

Fang Jie's expression remained unchanged. In a gentle voice, he whispered by her ear, "Time to get up."

The Stellaron Spirit's eyes flew wide open. It took her a moment to recover from being hard-controlled by the bizarre dream and the whisper.

"You... what did you draw on my face?"

"Heh heh heh heh..."

Before things could get any worse, Natasha pulled Fang Jie away. As a doctor, her authority in her clinic was absolute, and she shoved him aside with considerable force.

"Shut up."

Better not let him talk. Natasha turned to the patient.

"You little sleepyhead, how do you feel? Is anything hurting?"

That familiar motherly air kept the Stellaron Spirit from immediately jumping up and fighting Fang Jie for three hundred rounds.

She still felt a little dizzy. It was just morning grumpiness. She wasn't tied up like a roast; instead, she had been placed on a bed somewhere—at least that suggested her life was not in danger for the moment. At worst, she had suffered Fang Jie's humiliation.

As for the specifics, she would have to ask the unfamiliar woman before her.

"I had a strange dream."

"That's good. You wouldn't wake up, and you kept saying strange things in your sleep. I was starting to worry."

Natasha said that was normal and soothed her. "Since you're awake, move your body a little. I'm Natasha, a doctor from the underground. You've been lying in my clinic for an entire day."

A doctor. Oh, right, it was her good buddy Sampo. She had blown up his coins, then there had been a Mimic, and then she had gotten incredibly dizzy and passed out.

Sampo, where the hell are you?

Even Fang Jie was here!

Where were Dan Heng and March 7th?

Thinking that, she politely said, "Hello, I'm Stelle. Just call me A-Xing."

"Hello... Hehe, you're quite polite."

Natasha chuckled, pointedly implying something to someone.

Come to think of it, it was strange. Natasha felt that the way he looked at her was definitely not how one looked at a stranger. It was a... familiar yet unfamiliar gaze, filled with amazement and tenderness, with goodwill mixed with a bit of mischief.

Have we met somewhere before?

As she pondered, she explained the situation to the Stellaron Spirit. "Sampo went to clean up the mess he caused. I'm looking after you for him for now. But judging by how you look, there shouldn't be anything wrong with your head or body. You're very healthy. If there's nothing else, I'll go tend to my other patients."

"There is something. Someone is after us. Is the Underworld safe?"

"Don't worry. The Silvermane Guards won't chase you underground. The surface and underground have been cut off for many years. Even during the underground's most chaotic times, the Guards never came down here."

Natasha's tone was gentle.

"Of course, I don't know why the City Builder gave the order to seal the city. They also suddenly released strange signals not long ago. Perhaps the blockade might suddenly be lifted? If that happens, you'll have accomplished what Underworld Fire has wanted most."

"Underworld Fire?"

"A civilian organization in the underground. Think of them as the underground's Silvermane Guards—except they have more human warmth."

The Stellaron Spirit still did not understand the weight behind Natasha's words. She was merely a beautiful Stellaron Spirit girl.

"Thank you. I need to reunite with my companions."

"No need to thank me. Treating illnesses and injuries is a doctor's duty. As for your companions..."

Like the Stellaron Spirit, Natasha deliberately ignored Fang Jie for the moment and told her where they had gone.

Thus, the Stellaron Spirit quickly confirmed at least two things.

First, Dan Heng had been lured away by Sampo.

Second, March 7th had abandoned her and gone out to wander the streets by herself.

As for Gepard... for now, she did not particularly care about the situation of that blond guy.

And Fang Jie too—go away!

No matter what, Stelle decided to find her two companions first, then have a thorough discussion with them about why they had abandoned her.

Do you know what I went through while you were gone? sob

Watching her march out of the clinic in high spirits, waving her bat at Fang Jie in warning before leaving, Natasha could not help but burst into laughter. When Fang Jie looked over, she covered her mouth.

"What an energetic little girl. Innocent and straightforward. But you really are mean-spirited, aren't you? You didn't even remind her."

Remind her of what? You didn't say anything either.

Fang Jie gave the older woman a subtle look. "Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Fang Jie. This is Yae Sakura, and this is Rin. She is somewhat special, so if possible, I hope Miss Natasha can ignore her."

Rin remained cold and had no objections.

"I understand. Then, Fang Jie... yes, Mr. Fang Jie, could you answer me—have we met somewhere before?"

Natasha was certain she had not misread him. She had that much judgment when it came to people.

"There are countless worlds in the universe, similar yet different. Within those worlds, there are countless people who are similar yet different. Their fates often travel along paths that feel familiar, overlapping one another."

Fang Jie had long been mentally prepared for this sort of "exposure," so he did not hide anything.

"You are not the person I have yet to meet. Your homeland was not as fortunate as hers."

"I see."

Natasha believed him. As for why—why not?

When the world had become bad enough, whether one believed or did not believe no longer mattered. One could only accept it... even if it was merely dreamlike babbling. Having a dream was always a good thing.

She asked curiously, "Then what kind of person am I in the other world?"

"Hmm, a dream-chasing mercenary who killed without blinking. Later, she earned enough money to fulfill her dream and left the organization, only for that dream to be shattered by a disaster. She returned to the organization and kept working, adopted quite a few children left behind by that disaster, then got kicked out of her organization before an even greater disaster came to an end. She chose to lead by example for the children. After peace came, she even had a chance to become the world's number one idol for a time. Her famous scenes always make people smile knowingly."

Fang Jie briefly summarized the story of the little island's explosion crow. It did not sound particularly specific or pleasant, and it was full of persecution.

"That sounds like a good story."

Natasha lowered her eyes. Because of her judgment of people, and certain people's reminders, she said, "Mr. Fang Jie, can you tell me why you came to the Underworld? Someone told me that I must be careful around you. I can trust you, but I cannot trust you."

Without Fang Jie knowing, Sampo had talked about him quite a bit.

"Be careful around me? Trust me, but not trust me?"

Fang Jie assumed it was March 7th and took a shot at her through thin air. Dan Heng was not that sort of person, and the Stellaron Spirit wouldn't work either—her skin was too thick to care about having dirt on her.

He answered her question. "Probably because I still have leverage over March 7th that I can laugh at her about for the rest of her life. As for why I came to the Underworld, I wanted to take a look. I've always wanted to come here."

That was not what Natasha wanted to hear. After hesitating for a moment, she chose to be direct. "Do you know that I am the leader of Underworld Fire?"

"Yes, I know. In the story I know, you are there."

Fang Jie treated her sincerely and met her eyes calmly.

"In the story of Belobog, which is about to perish, there are three kinds of Preservation. The first is the spokesperson of the concept of Preservation—the one in Clipper Fort, Cocolia, who heads toward despair through endless preservation. The second is rational Preservation—the intelligent machine Svarog in the mechanical settlement, who preserves civilization with an unwavering, unshakable goal. And the third is you, Miss Natasha, leader of Underworld Fire. You maintained the last order in this darkness. I believe you are also someone who represents part of Preservation's true meaning—someone who walks toward Preservation in despair."

"Sorry, I don't quite understand."

Natasha smiled. She could neither confirm nor deny the outsider's claim that Belobog was about to perish. The Underworld had long since lost hope. From a doctor's perspective, she was merely providing "end-of-life care," doing her best to sustain life. How could that count as Preservation?

Natasha continued listening to why Fang Jie had come here. Was he also a traveler seeking the Stellaron? Had he been forced to end up here due to rejection from the Overworld?

Fang Jie did not really understand the philosophy of Preservation either. He walked the path of Destruction.

But he thought that if a person's judgment of a situation was that they had to abandon one part in order to preserve another, when no matter how they chose, something was doomed to be abandoned...

Those who chose altruism were worth helping.

"It's fine if you don't understand. I've always liked one saying—those who uphold noble ideals should receive better outcomes."

Fang Jie looked at Natasha and extended his right hand.

"Miss Natasha, what can I do for you?"

"You came to the Underworld to... help me? Because you know another version of me?"

Natasha looked at that hand. She could not quite accept that answer either. It was too... based on personal preference.

Fang Jie truly was acting on personal preference. There was no stronger reason than that. "Not only you. At least for now, it isn't only you anymore. This concerns an adult's dignity."

"But I don't know what I could ask you to help me with..."

Natasha truly did not know. After all, she had only just learned that outsiders had arrived in the Underworld. She had not even considered asking for compensation when she decided to treat them.

"How about you first take a look around the Underworld? I'll take good care of your companions."

P.S. Good morning, good afternoon, and good evening, friends. I continue wishing you a good mood all day, because I have one too (?o?o)??

I Meet You, Just as You Meet Me

Dear viewers, the following content shall be revealed by yours truly, Sampo: the freshest Astral Express Nameless observation report!

Let's see how the various Nameless performed after arriving in the Underworld!

What was Mr. Dan Heng doing?

Oh, Mr. Dan Heng, burdened by a dark past, was integrating into the Underworld. Transforming into a cold-faced little azure dragon, he went to Fight Club to box.

Let us wish him victory in his first battle.

So what was our Miss Stelle doing?

Oh, heavens, what a cruel game of hide-and-seek. She was chasing them down with the power of knowledge all over her face, and all the children were laughing.

Let us wish her a fun time.

And Miss March 7th—Miss March 7th, linking what came before and after, carrying on the past and opening the future. The cruel hide-and-seek game began with her and ended with her. Now, she was about to head to Fight Club with Miss Stelle, whose face was filled with the power of knowledge.

Let us wish her... hmm, a fun time too.

Wait, there was another expert!

It was the Fragmentum. He was heading for the Fragmentum. It was Mr. Fang Jie. After "offering up wife and child," he accepted Miss Natasha's words: "I don't know what I could ask you for. Why don't you move about freely?" So he freely walked toward the Fragmentum.

What was he going to do? Killing intent and fighting spirit surged from him. Oh, he happened to meet Miss Seele, who had been waiting for him. She helped lead the way to Rivet Town. The destination was Rivet Town...

He wasn't Trailblazing. He was going on a killing spree!