Miao Xin's Test

Hansite brought over mushroom soup and fried meat patties, and Su Ming immediately began to eat. After all, he had slept all day and was indeed very hungry.

"Younier, how's your injury?" Su Ming asked while eating. The little girl's forehead was fine, but her left hand still seemed a bit uncomfortable.

"Ah, it's nothing serious. I don't want to over-treat; I'll be fine after a couple of days of rest." Younier picked up the fish soup in front of her, blowing on it as she drank.

In non-emergency situations, avoid over-applying Healing Spell; allow the wound to heal naturally to some extent. This can reduce the risk of complications.

Maintaining the body's natural healing abilities also applies to Light-Element Disease Removal Spell. Healers often only use a fraction of the effects to maintain the activity of the patient's own immune system.

The other world has a thorough understanding of the balance between magic and natural physiology.

Of course, for fractures or injuries involving internal organs, the aid of Healing Spell is less effective, and it takes at least ten days to fully recover.

"How do the mushrooms taste? I grew them!" The unicorn refilled its small pot and put a dozen or so pancakes on the plate.

"Very good, plump and delicious!" Su Ming praised.

"Is everything going smoothly on your end?" Zijin asked him.

Miao Xin said everything went smoothly, so I'll go check on her after I finish eating.

"That's good. If you need to send something tonight, wake me up for help," the girl continued.

Realizing that Su Ming would continue working tonight, Hansite said, "Mr. Su Ming, I'll leave some late-night snacks in the window slats later."

You can heat it up and eat it if you're hungry.

"Okay, thanks."

After finishing his meal, Su Ming went to his workspace and contacted Miao Xin.

Miao Xin was taking inventory of the goods in the warehouse she had previously rented.

Su Ming looked around and found that quite a few things had already arrived.

"Good afternoon," Miao Xin greeted.

"Good afternoon," Su Ming replied. "[Tell me the specific progress.]"

[The spot procurement is going relatively smoothly. I placed orders with over a dozen suppliers at a 30% markup, and they are all working hard to source the goods. Half of the goods will arrive tonight, and the rest will arrive before tomorrow night.]

The sound of a car stopping could be heard outside the warehouse, and Miao Xin went outside to greet it.

Two movers were already waiting at the door. Miao Xin took the delivery slip from the driver and told the movers, "Same as usual."

The two movers immediately guided the truck to back into the warehouse, and after it came to a stop, they began unloading the goods according to the placement arranged by Miao Xin.

Everything went smoothly.

Miao Xin made notes in her notebook; the status of some items was changed from "In Delivery" to "Delivered".

Su Ming checked the list and found the progress to be quite good; things were arranged very well. Miao Xin, as expected of someone who had worked in a warehouse, was very familiar with this kind of business.

Miao Xin's phone rang again; it was a call from a supplier. After exchanging a few words, she added the supplier on WeChat and sent them the warehouse location. Not long after, another small truck arrived, this time from the machine processing plant.

"This is what we finished today; another truckload will arrive tomorrow night," the deliveryman said.

Miao Xin nodded, counted out the cash and handed it to him, "I'll need your help again tomorrow."

She made another note in her notebook.

Su Ming contacted the studio. The design engineer found several problems during the day and suggested some modifications, while the programmers also sent over the completed industrial control program.

Su Ming buried himself in his work until midnight before handing over the supplementary orders to Miao Xin. The movers had already left, the warehouse doors were closed, and only the Little Spiky Head remained inside.

The additions weren't many. Miao Xin took a look and sent the information to the suppliers via WeChat overnight, receiving replies that "there shouldn't be any major problems."

The remaining parts that needed processing were added to the machine shop's order. The quantity wasn't large, and the factory manager replied that they could handle it.

However, there were two pieces of equipment that puzzled her because their style didn't match the train's equipment at all: [a 30 MPa high-pressure air pump? A low-temperature high-pressure gas cylinder?]

The braking system of the Qianjin Class locomotive has a pressure of only fifteen atmospheres, or about 1.5 megapascals, which is far from three hundred atmospheres.

"I just wanted to verify a hypothesis," Su Ming explained. "We'll focus on the others first; this can wait, we can do it later."

[Understood.]

By the time Su Ming finished doing all this, it was already midnight.

He sent over the industrial control computer, programmable logic calculator, and a few parts first, so that he could debug the program.

Other goods will not be transported yet, to avoid leaving a lot of residue in the warehouse. It's not easy to handle at night, and there will still be a lot of people coming and going tomorrow.

Everything was proceeding smoothly, which made Su Ming feel much more relaxed.

He sent his skeleton servant to fetch the midnight snack Hansite had prepared for him, then walked to the carriage window and looked outside.

Tonight is a clear night, with a crescent moon hanging in the sky. A soft pinkish glow bathes the snow-covered landscape, creating a mesmerizing scene.

He raised his wrist and used his multi-function watch to find north, thinking that he had already entered the Arctic Circle and wondered if he would be able to see the aurora borealis.

Footsteps sounded, Su Ming turned around to find Zijin carrying a steaming bowl of lean meat porridge.

"I'm done with my work, I'm going to sleep right away." Su Ming took the pork porridge. "You should get some rest too."

"It's alright, I usually go to bed around this time too," Zijin said. "I just had to wait a little while."

"Is Younier's fracture serious?" Su Ming suddenly asked.

"It's alright, just two broken ribs." Zijin was somewhat surprised. "How did you know?"

"Hansite even made fish soup especially for her," Su Ming replied. "The key is that Qiluo didn't try to take it from her."

This reason is irrefutable.

"You've been too anxious lately, and I didn't want to add to your burden," Zijin explained. "But it seems that's unnecessary." She smiled. "You really are the same Su Ming who pays attention to every detail. Welcome back!"

During this period, Su Ming was indeed so busy that he was somewhat overwhelmed. Not only was there the train modification, but also the planning of the route and the preparation of the strategy for the Holy Mountain Divine Might Prison. The matters were numerous and varied.

"This is the first time I've led such a complex project," Su Ming said. "It truly exceeds my capabilities; the burden is too great."

I'm sorry, I can't help you with anything more.

Su Ming shook his head. "Everyone did a great job. Unicorn, Hansite, Younier, and Miao Xin really made up for my oversight."

"Hey, why doesn't my effort count?" Zijin's eyes widened.

"I have every right to say that to you," Su Ming said. But as soon as he said it, he suddenly realized he had let something slip and picked up his bowl of porridge to drink.

He changed his mind and came to the Tingbulike Icefield with the intention of rescuing Zijin's Stacy. But the whole thing was a decision made after weighing the overall situation, and there is no need to single this out, otherwise it would be a bit difficult from a scholar's point of view.

"Why?" Zijin asked, puzzled.

Su Ming smiled. "Because we're partners, it's only natural that I rely on you."

"Alright then." Zijin didn't suspect anything. She walked to the window and hummed a folk song from another world, depicting a group of children playing in the snow under the moonlight.

This was the second time Su Ming had heard her sing; the first time was when he was drunk on Willow Leaf Island. Unlike her ethereal singing on the island, the girl's voice now was full of vitality, carrying the warmth of everyday life.

You seem to be in a good mood.

"Of course I'm happy, because I can save my good friend Stacy," Zijin said. "I often think about her and worry about her current situation."

With the situation regarding the journey to the Dome Mountains settled and the overland plan seeing Dawn, she no longer concealed the matter.

Su Ming feigned surprise, "Stacy is your friend?"

"I'm sorry for keeping this from you, I didn't want it to affect my decision," Zijin explained. "Stacy is someone I've watched grow up; she's family, and a friend."

"Aren't you her teacher?"

"No, her teacher was the late Sebastian, who was also someone who had been kind to me."

Su Ming remembered the name: the healer who presided over the Life Alchemy that gave birth to the Zijin, the one with the white title. In this other world, non-combat professions don't have titles like "Saint"; having a formal title is considered the pinnacle.

The titles for most academic professions are related to birds.

"Do you remember the pact we made at the very beginning on the Cui'an Sea Cliff?" Zijin stretched out her arms. "You really kept your promise. I'm so excited about the journey ahead! I can't wait to see how you'll cross the Dome Mountains with its thousands of meters of elevation difference!"

On Earth, Su Ming had never climbed such a high mountain. Since arriving in this other world, he has experienced far too many things he had never done before.

"I'm really looking forward to it too."

He finished his porridge, wiped his mouth clean, and said, "Okay, I'm going to bed now. Goodnight!"

"Good night!"

Perhaps because he had slept too much during the day, Su Ming lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to fall asleep.

The snow-covered plains were utterly silent at night, without a single chirp of insects or the sound of wild animals. Most of the equipment on the Youth Civilization was either turned off or in hibernation, with only a small amount operating quietly, powered by lithium batteries.

Su Ming felt quite uncomfortable for a while.

He connected with the Little Spiky Head, and all sorts of subtle background noises immediately filled the room. In the warehouse at dawn, there was Yu Ming with unknown equipment; vehicles were passing by on the street; snowplows and sanitation workers were at work. A meatball stall was closing up shop, and the helper was still washing pots and pans.

Su Ming looked out the window and saw that the streets were already decorated with colorful flags. Although the streetlights were off, the reflections from the snow and clouds made the night still bright. The night was deep and quiet, the lights were dim, and the festive atmosphere permeated every corner.

The vengeful spirit had broken free of her fusion and was floating around in a random spot in the warehouse. She was exhausted after a long day.

Miao Xin couldn't quite understand how she, as a human, could leave home at six in the morning and work overtime until two in the morning to get back home.

How could someone have more energy as a beast of burden than as a ghost?

Noticing Su Ming's arrival, Miao Xin asked, "Su Ming, what's wrong?"

[I've got something on my mind, would you mind chatting?]

[A heart-to-heart talk?] Miao Xin was quite surprised. [What do you want to talk about with a ghost?]

[How can I comfort my parents? They've suffered a terrible misfortune; their son has left home and his future is uncertain. How can I comfort them?] Su Ming asked.

Miao Xin floated in front of Su Ming, "Are you sure you're not doing this on purpose to remind me that I no longer have a mother to comfort?"

[No, I'm asking for advice. Because only someone like you who has lost loved ones understands what is truly needed.]

Su Ming replied, while simultaneously preparing for the Vengeful Spirit Mark of Miao Xin in his sea of consciousness pulsating and twisting. The girl-shaped spirit body expanded, and the Nether Sea spread outwards. The wind swept through the warehouse, blowing up all the documents and swirling them into the spiral that appeared out of nowhere.

A string of runes materialized in Su Ming's sea of consciousness. This was a sealing technique targeting spiritual imprints that he had learned from a book called "In a Quiet Place." The price was that it would suppress Miao Xin's autonomy, but if she slid into losing control, he would have no choice but to activate it.

But in the end, Miao Xin calmed down on her own. The Nether Sea stopped spreading, and the ethereal blue Psionic Power rippled in the air, reforming into her long hair.

Su Ming breathed a slight sigh of relief. [Well done!]

A girl's hand reached out from the void, and Su Ming grasped it with his spiritual sense. A soft and cool touch came, and at the other end of the spiritual hand, Miao Xin was pulled out of the Nether Sea. The girl's form was restored, and the Psionic Power that permeated the surroundings returned to her body.

After Miao Xin revealed herself, her eyes were glazed over, and it took her a while to regain her senses. Her soul fire was somewhat shattered, indicating that she had consumed a great deal of energy.

[Su Ming, you've gone too far!] She was furious, but had to suppress her emotions. [I am a true vengeful spirit, very easily stirred by negative emotions! Especially when deliberately provoked!]

[I can't wait until something goes wrong and then be at a loss.] Su Ming explained earnestly, [You've been practicing and using Resentment Power frequently lately. I need to test whether your control has improved enough.]

Su Ming had to confirm this. Miao Xin's bottomless Nether Sea was hard to imagine what the consequences would be if it really got out of control. Once it erupted, not only would Su Ming lose his means of contacting Earth, but Miao Xin would also cause enormous damage to the surrounding area while destroying herself.

"So what you just did was a test for me?" Miao Xin asked weakly.

[Well, if you can't control it, I'll forbid you from practicing Resentment Power anymore.] Su Ming said, [but things are better than I imagined; your control has clearly improved, and—] he paused, [your willpower is also much more resilient than I could have imagined.]

[I don't like being praised by you in this situation!] Miao Xin complained, causing the Nether Sea to ripple slightly.

She calmed herself down and thought about it quietly. From a rational perspective, Su Ming's actions made sense.

[Su Ming, although... but I still have to say, losing control is like death for me again!] Miao Xin accused, [I'm reluctant to leave my current state; too many regrets can't make up for it. I'm unwilling to disappear in sorrow, but this unwillingness only intensifies my resentment, and that resentment pushes me further into the Abyss.]

Su Ming tried to understand the problem from the other person's perspective. "[You mean, a spiral downward spiral?]"

[That's the description. Every time this cycle happens, I don't know how I break free. I'm terrified of being swallowed up like this—] Miao Xin choked up as she spoke. [Even though you pulled me out, the fact that you pushed me into the water to test if I could drown still makes me feel incredibly sad.]